TheBalm InStain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blushes in Toile, Argyle, Lace, and Houndstooth

on
Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Many Canadians will know that TheBalm is not as widely available as it once was since it was taken out of Sephora locations. I think there are some Rexall locations that carry the line, but as I never go to Rexall (and there is some ridiculous shipping/duties fees if ordering directly from TheBalm's website), I jumped at the chance of picking these up on Nail Polish Canada (I got three of them in a value set, and then bought one separately), who started carrying TheBalm sometime last year. The InStain blushes are meant to be long-wearing, staining blushes that come in six shades "perfect for all seasons and skintones," though TheBalm doesn't claim much more than that. Each blush comes in a slim cardstock case with a magnetic close and a mirror spanning the entire lid. The packaging design of these blushes is inspired by InStyle magazine, complete with an illustration of a woman, "headlines" ("Spring for this blush," "Color that won't quit," "The fastest way to a flirty flush," "The quickest way to make you blush," "Rosy cheeks all day and night"), and a barcode on the cover of each blush. Each InStain blush comes with 6.5 grams of product, and retails for $24.

Toile (cover)

Toile (inside)

Argyle (cover)

Argyle (inside)

Lace (cover)

Lace (inside)

Houndstooth (cover)

Houndstooth (inside)

Toile, Argyle, Lace, and Houndstooth

Toile is a medium-dark bright coral-pink in a matte-velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and more coral than MAC Fleur Power, more pink than MAC Modern Mandarin, darker and brighter than Hourglass Diffused Heat, brighter and more orange than Hourglass Radiant Magenta, brighter and less warm than NARS Amour, and more pink than NARS Torrid.

Argyle is a light-medium slightly cool-toned petal pink in a matte-velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and darker than MAC Dame, slightly darker and more matte than MAC Lovecloud, cooler and more matte than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush, warmer and more muted than NARS Gaiety, and darker and slightly brighter than Tarte Dollface.

Lace is a medium bright blue-toned bubblegum pink in a matte-velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and darker than MAC Peony Petal, lighter and more muted than NARS Desire, slightly darker and more matte than NARS Angelika, brighter and more matte than Clinique Plum Pop, and cooler and less sparkly than Tarte Adored.

Houndstooth is a medium-dark pinky plum in a matte-velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is less plum than TheBalm Cabana Boy, less brown and more matte than MAC Plum Foolery, more plum and more matte than MAC Gentle Mineralize Blush, slightly more plum than NARS Outlaw, and brighter and more pink than NARS Oasis.

Straight up, this is one of the most gorgeous matte blush formulas I've ever come across. They're so smooth and silky and buttery that I'm more inclined to call them velvet than truly matte, and they're never powdery or dusty. They're incredibly pigmented so a little goes a long way; like, seriously, a light dab of your brush into the powder is enough to get a full-blown flush. They apply incredibly evenly and blend out really well, too, which can be hard to find in a matte-finish blush. Not quite staining, as it comes off easily with regular make-up remover, but the wear-time, as implied, is impressive: a full ten hours without fading on my combination-oily skin. 
10 comments on "TheBalm InStain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blushes in Toile, Argyle, Lace, and Houndstooth"
  1. yea i've been eyeing these for a while. the color and quality seem really awesome!!
    Jenn
    A Beautiful Zen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're phenomenal! I've always been a huge fan of TheBalm because the quality of their products is always consistent, and these are no exception. :) I'm tempted to get the other two shades just to complete my collection, lol.

      Delete
  2. I got rid of theBalm Hot Mama and sort of fell out of love with the brand. If only they didn't come in paper packaging! Anyway, I had no idea these were designed like InStyle mag. Explains a lot, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, that's too bad! I have so much love for the brand. Tempted to get their highlighters, too, LOL.

      I don't mind the cardstock packaging, to be honest. It's less bulky. Not as prestigious, but their packaging's always meant to be more cute and playful than "luxury" to me, anyway. The quality of these blushes trumps any qualms I have about the packaging, lol.

      Delete
  3. I love the redder shades, but theBalm's weird pinup girls kind of piss me off.

    I think I'll just get Modern Mandarin :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! Why do they piss you off? These aren't really pin-up girls, to be fair... they're more cartoonish than anything. I think they're pretty cute, actually! I like the packaging of these more than their other blushes, though.

      In any case, Modern Mandarin is still a must-have. :D

      Delete
  4. Omg Argyle is sooo pretty. Do you think Lace would look okay on Asian skintones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, for sure. I actually think cooler tones look amazing on Asian skintones. Our skin naturally warms up a colour, so it doesn't end up looking as blue. :)

      Delete
  5. Loving ALL of these shades, except Argyle (may be a bit light for me). I'm not loving the packaging though, although it doesn't turn me SO off that I'd never buy 'em if I had the chance. theBalm really does make a gorgeous powder formula though, it's true!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'm at that point where the packaging of something won't deter me from getting it as long as the formulation is STELLAR. :P

      That having been said, I actually think the packaging of these is really cute! I'm really tempted to get the two other shades that I'm missing, just to complete the collection, lol. I think if there was one you need to get, it's Toile -- especially with your tan! :D

      Delete

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