NARS Gina has always been my HG orange-peach blush (full list of my HGs here). Seriously, I can't find the sunny-healthy pure orange glow Gina gives me in any other blushes. Yet, this changed when I received Smashbox's fusion blush in Regal from a swap. The latter came in the fall collection in 2009. I've not been impressed by Smashbox before (their Photofinish primer light broke me out, their under eye concealer [forgot the name] makes my undereye area shimmery, mascara smudges etc). But this blush is clearly different from the previous Smashbox experience I've had.
When I opened Smashbox Regal blush, I immediately dug out NARS Gina and put them side by side. Although both of them look kind of pink in the first picture, but they actually aren't pink. Both blushes belong to the orange peach family (NOT coral). Upon first glance, NARS Gina is a much brighter orange than Smashbox Regal. the latter is a much subdued orange in the pan. NARS Gina is matte, Smashbox Regal, however, contains half-matte and half-shimmery on each side of the blush. But the shimmer didn't show up at all when swatched (YAY ^_^).
Smashbox Regal is housed in a magnetic compact with a leather (or faux leather?) packaging, with a special logo printed on it saying 'fall 2009 collection'. NARS Gina comes in the usual black rubber compact. You may notice I taped the NARS compact with tape, that's because after a while, the NARS black rubber will start to degenerate and peel, and it gets extremely awful and sticky when you touch it. I can literally touch it only after I taped it up. 
This initial swatch told me these blushes are dupes for each other, lol. 
Since it didn't show up well in the first pic, I applied more to get it to show up in camera...
Here's how they look on cheek:
Both blushes show up the same on my cheeks. I like them both :) However if I were to choose one, I'd pick Gina because it's insanely pigmented, I only need a light swipe! Yet, the rational side of my brain tells me Smashbox Regal contains more product (7 grams) versus Gina's 4.5 grams, lol! I found myself reaching for both equally, I can't live without orange blushes especially on rainy and cloudy days, or on days with sleep deprivation.Do you have a favourite orange blush? Do share yours!
