The Balm - Instain Blush Swatches - Lace, Toile and Pinstripe

The Balm revamped their website & reopened April 1st w/ a 50% off sale. The site crashed quickly. It's still not up!

Anyway, I got lucky & was able to view their website through a back door link. I only wanted to see their new 6 instain blushes but after seeing them, I couldn't resist. I LOVE blush. I wanted to order all 6 but I was good and got 3. I was only good because hubbster was sitting right next to me - ha ha.

I got pinstripe - a shimmery plum. Toile is a gorgeous strawberry color and lace is bright pink. These blushes are a stain in powder form. They also have argyle (petal pink), houndstooth (mauve) and swiss dot (peach) . These retail for $22 each.

Toile

Lace

Pinstripe

Toile, Lace & Pinstripe

There is some serious pigment in these instain blushes. Surprisingly, pinstripe is the most pigmented of the 3. I love the color - it's gorgeous. Toile and pinstripe are hard to blend - I suspect lace is the same way. I have toile on one cheek and pinstripe on another - I couldn't chose!

I don't know when their site will be back up again.They are going to announce their re-opening on their facebook page. They are supposed to have a 24 hour 50% off sale upon re-opening. Bad news - all the instain blushes are on back order until May :(

UPDATE 4/8
The site is back up!
http://www.thebalm.com

Ipsy - December

 

Contents:



Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Zero - Deluxe Sample

Mai Couture Highlighter Papier in St. Barts - 25 sheets

Mirabella Primer for Face & Eyes - Full Size

Be a Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess - Full Size

NYX - Loose Pearl Eyeshadow in Charcoal - Full Size

 

 

The bag - love it!

 

Hot Mess, Charcoal Eyeshadow, Zero Eyeliner

 

 

Hot Mess - Holy pigment! It looks red in the tube but came out a coralish color.

I like it.

 

 

Highlighter Papier - I'm not sure about this. I haven't tried it on my face yet -

it kinda looks like a mess!



 

 

November's Box

 

 

Box Contents

Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire - Full Size

The Balm - Meet Matte Eyeshadow in Matt Batali- Deluxe Sample

Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel - Deluxe Sample

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in Daredevil - Deluxe Sample

Scarlet Intense Eyeliner in Black - Full Size

 

 

Pretty - It's a matte dark brown plumish color. I probably won't use it often

but I'm keeping it. I love the balm's products. I recently got all their blushes

and all 4 are beautiful (swatches coming soon!).

 

 

 

 

 

Millionaire by Nailitini

Bare Mineral's lip gloss is pretty but there is nothing special or different about it. The eyeliner by Scarlet is very pigmented but it's also very smeary. I haven't tried the eyebrow gel yet. This was a either or item - others got Benefit's They're Real Mascara mini. Nailtini's polish is in such a cute bottle. I have nothing like this in my polish collection. I hope we get to try more colors! I swear I took a picture of the bag - I can't seem to find it.

What do you think about Ipsy's November & December bags?

Ipsy - Oct

Ok, I'm going to call them Ipsy now. I've accepted the change :) Their October bag is epic. Its awesome. Its fantabblyastic.

A fellow MUTster inspired this months bag. You rock Amber!

I'm really excited to try the balm's body builder mascara. I already have a million mascaras opened so I haven't tried it yet. It has big shoes to fill - My HG is Lancome's hypnose drama. I've heard rave reviews about it though.

Another liquid liner...yikes! It looks like a nice, high end one. Probably going on ebay.

A deluxe sample of Couture Colour's pequi oil treatment. It's supposed to help control frizz & revive super damaged hair. I haven't used it yet. It's in this huge bucket of "stuff to try". Yep a bucket.

I got the lip bomb in #2 (red). I wanted to trade it for #9 (nude) but after looking @ my stash, I decided to keep it. I have so many pinks/nudes already. That said, this is so not me! It is really pigmented & gloss though it did feather. This sucker retails for $35.

 I got set #8 which is the one I really wanted. I LOVE the deep eggplant color (the sparkly dark purple). I broke it while trying to get the pan out (broke all of them actually) so I'm planning on buying the whole set full size. They are quite reasonable at $1.99 each plus you get 20% off w/ your Ipsy code. They are super pigmented.

Box Contents:
Couture Colour Oil Treatment - DS .5 oz $12
Be a Bombshell - Liquid Eyeliner - FS $14
Coastal Scents - Eyeshadow Pan Minisx4 $3.96 ($7.96 FS)
the Balm - The Body Builder Mascara Mini $5.54 (FS $19)
Mireness - Lip Bomb - FS $35

Total Value $70.50     I paid $10

So glad I canceled BB!

Swaps

I'm addicted to makeup.  I've been trying to spend less so I decided to put up a trade list on MUT. I had no idea what I was in for. I made nearly 30 trades in two weeks! And over $70 on shipping. I got some awesome loot, here's some of my favorites

 

I LOVE the Muppet Show. I grew up watching it, even had my bedroom decorated muppets. I had no idea this palette existed but I when I saw it, I had to have it.

I really like the marbella liner. I got 2 eyeko skinny liners in olive & purple. A stila smudge stick in oscar fish and stila sparkle liquid liner in curacao.

 

Who Doesn't like LipSurgence?

 

Deborah Lippmann's Private Dancer! I was definitely regretted canceling sample society that month. So glad I was able to swap for it.

 



 

I love this blush. Its brightens your face & has pretty gold undertones.

 

 

I canceled Julep today. So, now I'm down to crave, glossy & my glam (now called Ipsy - wtf?). I was introduced to the madness that is little black bag. I have to cancel, I'm way too addicted! I could open up a new bag everyday. I'll have pics up soon. I signed up for a season of loose button which is based in Canada, another quarterly sub. And I heard that Wantable.co is launching desktop on the 24th & will have updated fall boxes to purchase.