6/23/2012

TheBalm's Stainiac: A Hint of Tint for Cheeks and Lips

With Summer finally underway (bye,bye good hair days, hello frizzies!), I often find myself gravitating more towards cream, liquid, and stain blushers, since they seem to perform better on extremely hot and humid days. June marks the beginning of rainy season over here (it's actually pouring outside as I write this post), and with the humidity levels rising, I've been reaching for TheBalm's stainiac almost every single day.


Stainiac is a light weight gel-like formula that comes with a doe foot applicator. The stains gel-like consistency allows the product to spread and blend easily. Stainiac doesn't dry quickly, providing enough time to ensure an even streak free lovely flush. I love the velvety soft doe foot applicator. I find the doe-foot to be much easier to work with than a brush or fleet tip applicator.

I love using this stain on both my cheeks and lips, the pigmentation is fantastic! Stainiac can be applied lightly for a subtle, yet natural flush, or built up for a more intense vivid color. I love how this product feels on my skin, as well as my lips. Neither my cheeks nor lips ever feel dry, tight or constricted. Also, the staying power of this product is ridiculous! This stain last ALL day and then some!! 

From left to right: Homecoming Queen, Beauty Queen, and  Prom Queen. 

Homecoming Queen: An exquisite orange Popsicle stain that's playful, yet sophisticated. My favorite of the three Stainiacs.  

Beauty Queen: A charming raspberry stain.

Prom Queen: A flirty strawberry stain. 

A few weeks ago, I was at the Les Merveilleuses Laduree beauty counter (like you do :P), and the SA's keep complimenting me on how beautiful my makeup looked and how they loved my blush and lipstick. I was wearing Homecoming Queen on both my cheeks and lips, with Urban Decay's Lip Gunk in Shifty as my gloss. By the way, here’s some personal advice, if you’re going shopping for makeup, even if you're not intent on buying any lipsticks, don't wear an industrial strength lipstain like I did, since it will make all lipsticks trying futile :P


Stainiac is an amazing product, an absolute favorite! I adore all three of my children equally...okay, maybe I have a little more love for Homecoming Queen, then the other two, but their all gorgeous just the same :P If your a lover of cheek stains or interested in purchasing one, I highly, HIGHLY Recommend TheBalm's Stainiac!


Stainiac can be purchased at thebalm.com (TheBalm does offer international shipping) or wherever else TheBalm is sold and retails for $17.00 (8.5g/0.3oz). 

Have you ever tried TheBalm's Stainiac?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

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3/27/2012

Read My Lips: TheBalm Lipstick Swatches

Hey you!

Don't you hate it when you want to write a post, but your mind draws a blank and you don't know how to start it?? Well, I guess we can consider the previous sentence as the intro, and just move on, since this post won't be favorable to the product.

Now, first let me say that I really adore TheBalm cosmetics, but there lipsticks leave much to be desired!

TheBalm's Read My Lips Retail for $17.00 (4g/.14 oz).

 Letter to the editor, Wanted, Smut, Scoop, Gossip, Classified.

I love the paper packaging of these lipsticks. The paper (eco-friendly :D) is made to look like vintage newspaper prints, very eye catching and appealing.  Reminds me of the newspaper wall at Subway (the restaurant).

 from left to right: Classified, Gossip, Scoop (shot indoors on an overcast day).

from left to right: Classified, Gossip, Scoop (with flash).

Classified: A pinky beige nude.

Gossip: A bubble gum pink with silver shimmer.

Scoop: A coral pink.

From left to right: Wanted, Letter to the editor, Smut (shot indoors on an overcast day).

From left to right: Wanted, Letter to the editor, Smut (with flash).

Wanted: A strawberry pink red.

Letter to editor: A reddened berry with bronze shimmer.

Smut: A plum berry with silver shimmer. 

The texture of these lipsticks feels more like a waxy lip balm than a lipstick. The pigmentation goes on sheer yet shiny. Now the smell...they have this chemically vanilla mint scent. Basically they smell just like a dentist's office...no, I'm serious, they do!! Not a scent I want to have on my lips! Mint is an ingredient in these lipsticks, so during application there is a slight tingle on the lips. Not a lip plumper "I'm in pain tingle" but a cool minty tingle, but this sensation is temporary. After an hour and a half of wear, the only trace of these lipsticks was left in my lip lines, not an attractive look.

When I bought these lipsticks, I really wanted to love them, but I have to say that they're a big FAIL! Read My Lips lipsticks are nowhere near as superb in quality, texture and performance as other products from TheBalm. I guess Read My Lips is TheBalms one hiccup product and for $17.00, I'm going to need a tall glass of water!

What is the worst lip product you've ever tried?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

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3/23/2012

TheBalm Shady Lady Vol.1: swatches, look and My PJ Shirt :P

Hey all,

So before I start counting sheep, I wanted to do a long overdue post on the TheBalm Shady Lady Vol.1 Palette. I know this palette has been discontinued for some time now, but you can still find it online through ebay, and other vendors like hautelook.com.

I consider TheBalm to be an indie makeup brand that holds it's own along side its herculean cosmetic counterparts. TheBalm is slightly similar to Benefit Cosmetics, in that, both companies have made a niche for themselves in the beauty world through their unique packaging and tongue n' cheek product names. In addition to adorable vintage inspired packaging and cheeky names, this brand's products deliver beautiful pigmentation, outstanding performance and high end quality.

Don't you just love the eye shadow names :)

From left to right: Caught in the act Courtney, Shameless Shana, Luscious Lani.

Caught in the act Courtney: A matte rich dark brown with tiny gold flecks.

Shameless Shana: A shimmery tan copper.

Luscious Lani: A light shimmery pink champagne.

From left to right: Jealous Jordana, Risque Renee, Curvy Cami. 

Jealous Jordana: A shimmery muted dark emerald green with green flecks.

Risque Renee: A dark matte navy blue with blue flecks.

Curvy Cami: A shimmery muted plum with gold fleck and a gold sheen.

From left to right: Jet-setting Jennifer, All about Alex, Easy Wheezie.

Jet-setting Jennifer: A light shimmery cream champagne gold.

All about Alex: A khaki grayed olive shimmer.

Easy Wheezie: A shimmer muted gunmetal grey with a purplish blue undertone.

Today's look was created by using the TheBalm Shady Lady Vol.1 Palette :)

This is a very simple casual look, nothing too dramatic today.

These eye shadows really hold up. I've had this makeup on for about 11 hours without retouching the eyes.

Sorry for the blur, but it's past midnight.

Changed into a t-shirt and getting ready for bed.

Products used:

Face:  

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (Medium 2).

Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal Brown.

Inglot Face Blush in #32

TheBalm eyeshadow in Jet-setting Jennifer as a highlight along the cheek bones and nose.

Eyes:

Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer in NW25.

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base.

All about Alex on the lid.

Easy Wheezie in the crease and lower lash line.

Jet-setting Jennifer on the brow bone and inner corner.

Mac Opulash mascara

Laura Mercier Full blown Volume Mascara on the bottom lashes.

Lips: 

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Raspberry.

I simply adore TheBalm's eye shadows and blushes. This is a brand that deserves much more attention then it receives. I'll be posting more of my TheBalm products, so please keep an eye out for future posts :)

What you tried TheBalm?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

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