Review Time: TheBalm Instain Blushes

Review Time: TheBalm Instain Blushes

I like blushes, I do- but sometimes I feel like with blush it's very much a "don't go fixin' what aint broke" and I have been rocking my ELF studio blushes for awhile. However, my gripe with ELF lately and with makeup in general actually is WHAT is with all the glitter lately?

Don't get me wrong, a great shimmer and shine is definitely something I enjoy- hell even a little glittery eyeshadow on the lid is up my alley, but I don't like looking like a damn disco ball. I don't. Most girls don't. Hookers do, but seriously- Are makeup companies actually going to go where the hooker demands are?

So really when it comes to a blush, I like something either luminous or matte because normally I have either a strong eye or a rockin' lip look OR I'm going insanely natural.

Now, I orginionally heard about TheBalm when it was in Sephora but I never really paid much mind until I saw a makeup artist using the products. After that I scoured youtube for reviews and found a girl named EmilyNoel83 (love her reviews, you should check her out) and she raves and raves about TheBalm. So one day she did a review on these blushes and in my mind I was like, "Looks amazing, but $22 a blush? You're freaking kidding me".

Til I was walking around Kohl's with Crystal and found a set of them for $35 AND I HAD A DAMN COUPON.

Yeah, worth it. (Frankly even $35 is still a crazy good deal).

So typical to TheBalm, the packaging is pretty adorable- but unlike Benefit, it's actually functional and easy to store in a drawer.

The set came in a big box but each blush was in it's own sleeve, and on each blush it's printed like a magazine.

Each blush is named after a fabric type and then they print the same namesake fabric inside each boxed blush. I think that's stupid precious.

In the kit comes (left to right) Toile, Houndstooth, and Argyle. I think in the full collection of blushes there are 6 total, so for $35 you're pretty much halfway there.

From left to right: Toile, Houndstooth, Argyle.

Toile is very much the quintessential "peachy pink" but it's pretty dark, I think it looks better a bit sheered out or applied with a light hand.

Houndstooth is so damn pretty. It's definitely a mauve tone, but it actually picks up as a very natural looking color. For as pale as I am it still looks very believable. 

Argyle is the most natural color. On fair tones it's noticeable but not overly so. Although it's a cool toned pink, I think it'd look nice on just about everyone.

So here's the claim:

TheBalm's longwearing, STAINING powder blush is a fashion must have! With six shades, perfect for all seasons and skin tones, it will give your cheeks color that won't quit.

And here's what I think about that:

Totally, freaking, accurate.

I know it's pretty rare for me to agree wholeheartedly because companies love to stretch their claims rather than just saying what it really is- but theBalm is pretty damn accurate on this one.

The blushes hang on all day, they apply easy and just look good.

Now, my only downside thing is that these aren't totally fool-proof. They are heavy on their pigments and on some of the darker tones it's better to build up slowly or apply on the more sheer side. These aren't like ELF shades where you can just swish your brush around like crazy and go to town. This is like a "tap tap tap, apply" situation.

But all together, these are great. I wish their prices weren't so damn hefty, but they are selling theBalm at Kohl's now so at least you'll get good packaging deals and you might be able to use coupons here and there. I would definitely check it out- especially if you got christmas gift cards to blow.

-SamanthaK