TheBalm Instain Blush

About 2 months ago, TheBalm did a 50% off sale to celebrate their new website. They also launched their new Instain Blush on the same day (April 1) and I picked one up called Swiss Dot which is a gorgeous peach colour. There are 6 Instain blushes in total and I was so tempted to get them all but I have too many blushes as it is :P

TheBalm Instain Blush

It's packaged similarly to their other blushes like FratBoy. It opens up with a mirror inside and has an outer box made of cardboard. I love that if I dropped this blush, it would be less likely to shatter than a blush in a plastic palette or casing.

Swiss Dot in the sun.

Swiss Dot indoors

It actually looks quite scary in the pan as it's definitely a strong peach that leans heavily towards orange. The consistency is quite like a powder blush and it's super pigmented so people with fair skin would need to use a really light hand when applying this.

If you look at the swatches below, you can see that it's really easy to overdo it. I did 2 swipes on my arm with a finger and it was already too much. I wiped the blush off with a wet wipe after 5 minutes and it stained so much that I couldn't wipe it off anymore.

Swatches in sunlight
Top left: 2 swipes, Top right: blended out
Bottom swatches: stain after 5 minutes

Swatches indoors
Top left: 2 swipes, Top right: blended out
Bottom: stain after 5 minutes

The best part of this blush is that it stains really well so that you really don't need to reapply blush during the day. However, you need to work fast as if you make a mistake, it would be really hard to correct it. To be honest... I don't really reach for it that often as I'm scared that I'll make myself look like a clown :P But.. it's still a gorgeous colour that's not so common that you would already have dupes of it in your makeup collection. Let me know if there are similar colours out there though!

This blush retails for $22 on the US site (www.thebalm.com) but I picked it up for only $11 :) I don't think this is available in Australia/David Jones yet but if any Aussies want to get it, TheBalm does do international shipping :) The shipping fee is expensive... but it would be worth it if you split the shipping costs with a friend.

More Than Adored Giveaway

Sarah from More Than Adored has just launched a giveaway to celebrate 200 followers :)

Please head over to her blog and support her and her giveaway (just click on the photo below). She's giving away a LORAC Pro Palette! :)

Blog sale! Nothing over $10 :)

Hey guys,

I sold a lot of my stuff at my last blog sale but I have a few more things to sell. Nothing is over $10 :)

All products were purchased with my own money from Priceline and department stores.

As always, if you want to buy something, leave a comment below with your email address and I'll get you a shipping quote :) Please let me know if you are from outside Australia as the shipping costs will vary.

1. OCC lip tars in Divine (SOLD) and Pageant (ON HOLD). Used 1-2 times each - $5 each

2. Lancome mini juicy tubes (unsure of colours as they were purchased in a Christmas pack). All have been swatched - $2 each

3. Revlon lip butters in Berry Smoothie, Fig Jam and Peach Parfait. Used 2-3 times each - $4 each

4. YSL Golden Gloss (swatched once or twice) - $5 (SOLD)

5. Revlon Photoready  blush in pinched. Used twice - $5

6. MAC lipsticks in Watch Me Simmer (broke at the base but limited edition and not for sale anymore. Good for melting down, putting into a pot or using a lip brush) and Lustering (tiny bit melted at the tip, swatched once but otherwise ok) - $8 each

7. MAC lip glasses in viva glam and pink lemonade (Both ON HOLD). Both opened but not swatched or used. $6 each

8. YSL mini lipstick in Blond Ingenu. Swatched once - $3 (ON HOLD)

9. Dior lipstick. Swatched once. Unsure of colour but can check - $9 (SOLD)

10. YSL Touche Eclat. Used twice - $10 (SOLD)

11. Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Love Child. Used twice - $5

12. Revlon Kissable Lip Balm in lovesick. New - $4 (SOLD)

13. Bourjois translucent powder. Opened but new - $3

14. Revlon lip butters in cotton candy (SOLD), brown sugar (SOLD), sugar plum (SOLD) and cupcake. New - $4

15. Revlon lip butter in strawberry shortcake. Used once - $4

16. Revlon Suede lipstick in It Girl. Used twice - $4

17. Australis Colour Inject lipstick in Samba. Used once - $2

18. Face of Australia Peaches and Cream. Used once - $2

19. Rimmel Kate matte lipstick in number 103. Used twice - $2

20. TheBalm lipstick in Ima Goodkisser. Used once - $7

21. Maybelline Shinesational lip gloss in Peach. Swatched once - $1

22. Bourjois mascara. New - $3 (SOLD)

23. Bourjois healthy mix foundation in 53. Used a handful of times - $3 (ON HOLD)

24. Bourjois healthy balance pressed powder in 53. Used twice. - $2 (ON HOLD)

25. Revlon Kissable lip balm in Honey. Used 3-4 times - $2

26. NARS velvet gloss lip pencil in new lover. Used twice - $7 (SOLD)

27. TonyMoly lip balms in peach and cherry. Both used once - $2 each.

28. Lancome mini Hypnose Star Mascara. New - $2 (ON HOLD)

29. Rimmel Kate lipstick in 16. Used twice - $2

30. MAC eyeshadow in cork. Used once - $7 (ON HOLD)

YSL glossy stains Peche Cerra Cola (27) and Coril Fauve (12)

If you follow me on Twitter, you'd know that I'm always raving about the YSL glossy stains to anyone who'll listen to me. A few weeks ago, I picked up 2 more and someone asked me to do some swatches :)

I picked these up for $34 each from Sephora. I'm not sure how much David Jones and Myer are charging for these as I've heard that the price of the YSL glossy stains have been dropped to $33.95 although the online sites say $50. Also, I've never seen number 27 at any YSL counter so I'm not sure if it was ever released in Australia (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Left to Right: Peche Cerra Cola (27) and
Coril Fauve (12)

Left to Right: Peche Cerra Cola (27) and Coril Fauve (12)
Swatches photographed in the sun

Left to Right: Peche Cerra Cola (27) and Coril Fauve (12)
Swatches photographed indoors

Peche Cerra Cola (27) is a light peach/pink colour. It's definitely an every day colour as when it's applied, it looks pale pink and then 30 seconds later, it darkens a little and blends in really well with my lips.

Coril Fauve (12) is a bright pinkish-red colour that's bordering on coral. It's super duper bright on the lips which I love but it's definitely not for the faint hearted.

Like the other YSL Glossy Stains that I've tried, Peche Cerra Cola (27) and Coril Fauve (12) both last for about 2-3 hours before I need to do a touch up as I've generally eaten or drunken something by then.

Left to Right: 27 and 12
Swatches wiped down with a makeup remover wipe
after approximately 5 minutes

And as promised in my revlon lip butter review, I decided to go against lip swatches as I'm pretty terrible at photographing good ones. I went for face shots this time but I didn't realise how hard it would be! I've got my hat off to those who manage to take good photos all the time :P

Peche Cerra Cola (27)

Peche Cerra Cola (27)

Coril Fauve (12)