Before Orgasm became a blush and not just a blush-worthy word, François Nars was a French kid obsessed with fashion, watching his chic mother mix eyeliner with elegance in Tarbes. After graduating from the Carita Makeup School in Paris, he moved to New York in the ’80s and the rest is beauty history.

He quickly became the go-to artist backstage, working with legends like Steven Meisel and crafting iconic looks for Vogue, Elle, and runway shows galore. But François was never one to play it safe. Frustrated with the lack of creative makeup options, he launched NARS Cosmetics in 1994 with just 12 lipsticks at Barneys. Bold shades, cheeky names, and that sleek matte-black packaging? Instant cult status.

From “Jungle Red” to “The Multiple” stick, NARS wasn’t just makeup it was a mood. His best-seller, the universally loved Orgasm blush, is basically a rite of passage for beauty lovers.

Though he sold the brand to Shiseido in 2000, Nars kept full creative control, shooting his own campaigns and guiding product development. He’s worked with fashion houses like Marc Jacobs, Versace, and Calvin Klein, blending makeup artistry with full-blown visual storytelling.

François Nars didn’t just create a brand, he created a beauty revolution!