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Sunday, May 7, 2017

The Balm INSTAIN Swiss Dot, Toile, Houndstooth, Pinstripe & FRATBOY Blushes Review and Swatches

The Balm's INSTAIN & FRATBOY blushes are the last blushes to review in my blush collection. I purchased these awhile back, during The Balm's 50% off Sale (annual sale). I try to take advantage of this sale, because The Balm's products have proven to be very HIT or MISS (for me) over the years. How did I like these? They were hit, with only one miss! HaHaHa Read my thoughts on each below.


 Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)

 

The Balm Fratboy - Sweet

This was my favorite blush out the group. Fratboy is a pinky-peach shade of blush. It's very uplifting on the face. I love the football field mirror and quote "So many men...So little time".


The Balm INSTAIN Swiss Dot - Sweet

The next blushes are INSTAIN Long Wearing Powder Staining Blushes. The Balm gives no color descriptions, so I'll do my best to describe them. Swiss Dot is a peach shade. It's a very pretty color, that's great for Spring & Summer. You'll find that their INSTAIN blushes are very pigmented in the pan & when swatched. When applied they go on strong, so you must blend them out.


The Balm INSTAIN Toile - Sweet

Toile is a red blush. Never had one of those before! LOL I have plenty of red lipsticks, but not blush. It looks intimidating in the pan, but applies rather softly. I liked it on my cheeks. Very rosy!


The Balm INSTAIN Houndstooth - Sweet

Houndstooth is a mauve. I liked this color as well. It's definitely more Fall/Winter.


The Balm INSTAIN Pinstripe - Bittersweet

Pinstripe is purple! It may look ok to you here, but it gave off a "bruised" effect to my skin (face). So I'll probably be passing this one on to someone else. Unless I keep it for a Halloween ghoulish look. LOL

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28 comments

  1. the blushes are so gorgeous kim! i honestly cant decide which one is my fav!

    Abigail Alice x

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  2. Oh the purple one is very different - I can see why you didn't like it as much as the others. Looks okay in the picture on your face but it's very bold on your hand. Wonderful that you were impressed with so many of these Kim! :)

    Hope you had a great weekend :)

    Away From The Blue Blog

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  3. It's too bad Pinstripe didn't work out but I can understand why you wouldn't want a bruised appearance Kim. All the other shades look like winners and 50% off is certainly a good deal :)

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  4. My favorite is Swiss Dot ~ Thanks for share great swatches~
    xx

    www.sakuranko.com

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  5. They are all lovely Kim. 'So many men so little time' though, haha! Have a great week girl.

    http://www.fashionablyidu.com/

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  6. These blushes are so gorgeous. I love all shades. Very nice review dear <3
    http://www.rakhshanda-chamberofbeauty.com

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  7. These all look super pigmented and beautiful shades. I have only one of the blushes from the range and love it x

    Laura
    Pink Frenzy

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  8. Yay for only one miss, Kim:D I think the "sweet" shades are sweet indeed and would suit most skin tones. I don't think I've tried The Balm blushes before...good to know they're good quality.
    Have a great Monday:)

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  9. I keep meaning to tell you, Kim - I thought of you the other week because for the first time ever, I saw The Balm products in person! Monoprix, the local grocery/everything store here in Paris sells their products in some stores, which I admit totally shocked me since I've never seen them anywhere in Canada. I know you've had a lot of misses with the brand so I didn't really consider trying anything, but I may now go back for a blush since most of these look so lovely!
    xox,
    Cee

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  10. Toile is definitely pretty on you! It's too bad the other shades didn't work out as well!

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  11. These blushes all look gorgeous! But I don't think I have ever seen a shade like Toile! It looks just as pretty on you as it does in the package though. Xo

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  12. Such pretty colors!

    http://www.myclusterofthoughts.com/

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  13. I recently swatched fratboy and fell in love. I love my products from The Balm! I haven't come across a major dud yet.

    http://asequinloveaffair.com

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  14. These are sooo cute, I love the packaging!

    Lauren x Huggled

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  15. I have never bought anything from theBalm before as I find them to be overpriced. I might pick up one or two things if I ever come across a good sale but other than that I probably wouldn't spend much $$ on the brand. That said, Fratboy is so pretty on you, Kim and it's totally my kind of shade too.

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  16. They look really good & I’m not going to lie - I’d probably just buy them because of the adorable packaging! haha

    TFM - Life & Style

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  17. These are all pretty shades! I was just looking at them the other day inside a store that I can buy professional hair products in with my cosmetology license, I was surprised to see some makeup brands displayed and the balm was one of them!! I love the way frat boy looks!! All the instain ones look beautiful too! That's too bad about the pinstripe one!

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  18. The packaging looks so retro. This shades are so pretty.

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  19. So many men, so little time. Story of my life, ha! I have not tried anything from the brand yet, but I love the tongue in cheek vibe they have.

    Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

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  20. Houndstooth is such a pretty shade and goes really well with your lipstick. I really love the shade, which one is it? I have a thing for lipsticks and I always ask people what they are wearing LOL

    Yiota
    http://pinkdaisyloves.blogspot.com.cy

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  21. The packaging is adorable! The shades are very pretty except purple. That is an odd color for blush and can't see that looking right on any skin tone. Although some odd colors have become trends in lip color. Someday I suppose there may be an odd trend in blush tones too. :)

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  22. Frat Boy is a popular one. The Balm INSTAIN Swiss Dot is my favorite of yours. I want to try the Bahama Mama bronzer because people rave about that. One of my H.G. blushes is Hot Mama from the Balm. You would prob love it!

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  23. I love blushes and these are so pretty!

    xo Jo

    http://www.whiterosesandcoffee.com/

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  24. I do agree, the Frat boy is the most flattering - love the vintagey look on the package too.

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  25. These blushes are so beautiful!!! I love the no makeup looks, and these all look so natural!!!
    xoxo

    Ileana

    Novelstyle Blog

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  26. I think I could wear only the Fratboy blush because the others would stand out too much on my skin. Peach blushes (light peach like Fratboy) is the darkest blush I can regularly wear. By the way it's the most flattering of all on you too! Loves and loves, Valeria

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  27. I'm loving Toile, but theBalm is mostly a pass for me.

    ♡ http://kayxcake.blogspot.co.nz

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