The Balm Instain Blush In Houndstooth – Review & swatches

Would you look at the packaging? It’s soooo freakin’ cute!

Instain Blush In Houndstooth
theBalm’s long-wearing, 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.

The Balm Instain Blush In Houndstooth

The Balm Instain Blush In Houndstooth

The Balm Instain Blush In Houndstooth - Swatch

The Balm Instain Blush In Houndstooth - Applied

My thoughts
For me it’s a gorgeous pink mauve blush that I can wear every day. On the website, it appeared a bit deeper but in reality it looks light and leans more towards pink. I think this color would look absolutely beautiful on medium skin tones. I, for one, am a fan.

Houndstooth doesn’t contain visible shimmer and appears matte. I am extremely impressed with its texture. The powder feels soft and silky to the touch and blends like a dream. Moreover, the pigmentation is just wow! I would suggest keeping a light hand during application for you can easily overdo it. So far, I haven’t experienced any major fall-out issues with this. The staying power is also quite remarkable – lasts around five hours on a hot, sweaty day.

Overall, it’s my new favorite color along with my Tarte blush in Exposed. LOVE IT!

You might like it if…

• It’s very soft and easy to blend
• You think it’s extremely pigmented
• You think it’s long lasting

You might not like it if…

• You go overboard with application
• You think it’s pricey

My rating

4.5/5

The Balm Instain Blush is priced at PKR 2700 and can be purchased online through the website. If you live in Pakistan, you can also get it through Makeup & Accessories.

What do you think about it? Have you tried it yet?

PR sample(s) for consideration. This, however, has not affected my opinion. My loyalty is to my readers and being honest is my utmost responsibility. I have given my sincere opinion about the product(s) mentioned in this post. For more details, please go through my Disclosure Policy.

If you have any questions, you can have a look at FAQ or email me on info@sarahassansblog.com.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer – Review & swatches

There has been quite some rave reviews of this product all over the internet so of course I had to give it a try.

Mary-Lou Manizer
Meet Mary-Lou Manizer, a seemingly innocent honey-hued luminizer that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - Swatch

My thoughts
The packaging is just adorable to begin with. And you get plenty of product for the price you pay which is amazing. I mean seriously, I have been using it for a month and a half and it still looks like it hasn’t been touched at all.

I wouldn’t label it THE BEST highlighter out there. It definitely has its cons. But let’s focus on the good parts first. I like the texture and feel of the product; it’s finely milled and spreads like butter. It’s also very pigmented hence you need a tiny amount to get the job done. It has a beautiful champagne hue which appears very natural against my complexion (NC25-30 in MAC). The best part about Mary-Lou is perhaps that it doesn’t appear shimmery or glittery on my face. It almost looks like I’ve applied a cream highlighter. It also looks absolutely gorgeous on the inner corners of the eye and bridge of the nose.

It lasts surprisingly well on my skin considering that my T-zone gets slightly shiny after 3-4 hours.

The only thing that troubles me is that it’s still a bit too metallic for my liking. I mean, I could clearly see those imperfections and pores getting emphasized soon as I apply it on my cheek bones. Moreover, it has the propensity to look patchy if not blended properly.

To wrap up, I’d just say it’s a very good highlighter and I personally enjoy using it. But it’s definitely not the best one I’ve tried. I still need to explore my options and settle for something that doesn’t emphasize my pores.

You might like it if…

• You think the packaging is adorable
• You get plenty of product for the price you pay
• It doesn’t appear glittery/shimmery
• It gives a gorgeous, natural-looking glow on your face
• The texture feels good. It’s also finely milled

You might not like it if…

• It emphasizes pores on your face
• It looks patchy if you don’t blend properly

My rating

4.5/5

The Balm  Mary-Lou Manizer is priced at $24 and can be purchased online from the website. You could also pick this online for Rs. 2400 from Rouge.

What do you think about it? Have you tried it yet?

PR sample(s) for consideration. This, however, has not affected my opinion. My loyalty is to my readers and being honest is my utmost responsibility. I have given my sincere opinion about the product(s) mentioned in this post. For more details, please go through my Disclosure Policy.

If you have any questions, you can have a look at FAQ or email me on info@sarahassansblog.com.

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush – Review & swatches

The Balm Cabana Boy blush is 'The Bomb'!

Cabana Boy Blush
Nothing is more satisfying than being indulged, and this dusty-rose blush will ensure that you have all the boys attending to you. Its subtle shimmer catches the eye while plum undertones provide a glow that is oh-so-natural whether you are pool-side, beach-side or bed-side.

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush - Swatch

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush - Swatch

My thoughts
Before I begin, I must say I love how The Balm does its packaging – it’s incredibly catchy.  The cardboard packaging with retro style illustration on it is nothing but irresistible.

Cabana Boy is a dusty raspberry pink with micro golden shimmer. The glitter is so delicate; it merely gives a glow to the face without highlighting any flaws. In my opinion, it’s a great choice for medium skin tones. Personally, I think it’s the most versatile shade in my stash right now. I say this because I’ve experimented with it quite a few times. First you need to know that it’s remarkably pigmented so make sure you keep a light hand during application. If applied lightly, it gives a gorgeous flush that’s perfect for day time. If built slightly heavy, it translates into this deep sexy shade which is absolutely wicked for a night out.

The soft buttery texture makes blending such a breeze though, you may notice some fall out in the pan because of that. It also lasts pretty long on my cheeks which is fantastic. I feel the packaging is not very travel-friendly. Even though it comes with a magnetic closure, I would still be super cautious if I were to travel with it.

All in all, I am truly enjoying it. It’s a must-have!

You might like it if…

• You have medium to tan skin tone
• You expect good pigmentation
• The silky soft texture makes blending a piece of cake
• You expect it to last long
• It doesn’t highlight imperfections

You might not like it if…

• You think traveling with it is rather inconvenient
• You think it's pricey 

My rating

4.5/5

The Balm Cabana Boy Blush is priced at $21 and can be purchased online from the website. You could also pick this online for Rs. 3000 from Makeup & Accessories – a fresh new store on Facebook.

What do you think about it? Have you tried it yet?

PR sample(s) for consideration. This, however, has not affected my opinion. My loyalty is to my readers and being honest is my utmost responsibility. I have given my sincere opinion about the product(s) mentioned in this post. For more details, please go through my Disclosure Policy.

If you have any questions, you can have a look at FAQ or email me on info@sarahassansblog.com.