theBalm Instain Blushes Review & Swatches

Hey there peeps!

After what feels like FOREVER, I'm back and blogging! And today I'm reviewing for you theBalm Instain Blushes :)

Packaging:
The blushes are in a cardboard compact that comes with a pretty decent sized mirror and a magnetic closure so its all pretty secure and excellent for travel! The best part is the fact that they look like little magazines! How adorable is that?!

Pigmentation and blendability:
All of these blushes are highly pigmented so a little goes a long way.  However, they can get a little tricky to blend sometimes so using the right brush is essential. I like to use a fluffy brush thats not too dense so I don't put too much on and they blend easily.

Texture and Longevity:
These blushes are smooth, non-powdery and super long lasting! I recommend you use these when you have a long lasting foundation on to avoid the clown-like appearance at the end of the day when all your face makeup has faded off but the blush is still holding on!

Houndstooth: is a mauve  with a satin finish. Perfect for fall.

Toile: is a coral  with a satin finish. Its both peachy and pink which gives a beautiful color to the cheeks.

Lace: is a bright pink with a matte finish. Gives a nice "flushed" effect to your cheeks

Photos and Swatches:

theBalm Instain Blush: Houndstooth

theBalm Instain Blush: Houndstooth 

theBalm Instain Blush: Houndstooth

theBalm Instain Blush: Toile

theBalm Instain Blush: Toile

theBalm Instain Blush: Toile

theBalm Instain Blush: Lace

theBalm Instain Blush: Lace

theBalm Instain Blush: Lace

Swatches (from left to right): theBalm Instain Blush in Houndstooth, Toile, Lace [taken outdoor in daylight]

Swatches (from left to right): theBalm Instain Blush in Houndstooth, Toile, Lace [taken indoor with flash]

Disclaimer: I swatched the blushes heavily so you can see the color of these clearly. However, this is not what will look like on your cheeks so don't be afraid, lol.

Who I would recommend these to:

I would recommend these to anyone looking for super pigmented, long lasting blushes! So that makes it especially perfect for weddings and parties, which is what I use these for. However, I wouldn't recommend these to anyone who is just starting out with makeup as using these blushes does require a bit of technique.

My favorite:

Definitely Toile! Its such a unique color and looks beautiful on :)

Where I shop theBalm:
My brother actually bought me these from www.amazon.co.uk when he was in the UK over a year ago. However you can order from their official website too: www.thebalm.com


If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below or reach me at my Facebook or Twitter :)

Sephora Lipstick Haul: First Impressions & Swatches

Heyy there :)

I've been to sephora twice this past month and picked up three lip products. Two of them I picked up at a 20% off (exclusive for VIB members) which was suuchh a steal!

There'll be swatches at the end so stick around :)

1. Sephora Glossy Lip Pencil - #05 Glossy Pale Pink

Its a warm glossy pink perfect for everyday! Also the fact that its crayon style makes it so easy to use. However, its a bit on the sheer side and so the lasting power isn't that great.

2. Sephora Lipstick #08

This is actually a repurchase since I gave the last one to my sister several months ago. I have loved this for long and let me just start off by telling that this is one of the most long wearing formulas I've ever tried. Even soap and water has nothing on this! Its a beautiful muted pink with slightly mauve undertones and a completely matte finish. I love wearing this with grey smokey eyes.

3. Sephora Cream Lip Stain #01

This is also one of the most long lasting lipsticks I have! Its a warm tone, almost like a chilly red which you can't go wrong with. Its goes on like a cream/liquid at first and dries completely matte, and will not budge unless you have ridiculously oily food. One of my faves!

Here are swatches. 

From top to bottom- Sephora cream lip stain #01, Sephora matte lipstick #08, Sephora glossy lip pencil #05

On the 25th of June Sephora held this Beauty Invite thing for which VIB's got an invitation beforehand, although it was open to all. It was a really fun event with snacks like mini sandwiches, macarons, drinks and even a mascot which was the most funniest thing to me (imagine a huge mascot in a makeup store, that too with a ghutra haha. Ghutra is a scarf like thing arab men wear on their heads, I'm sorry I'm just awful at explaining.)

Also, they had free gifts for VIB's which was so awesome and I thought I'd share this with you guys.

If you shop and sephora often and don't have a VIB card yet then I'd definitely recommend you apply for it! Definitely worth it because you get to know about the latest brand releases, exclusive discounts, free gifts, beauty events and pretty cool stuff like that.

Click the link below to learn how you can get the VIB card:

http://www.sephora-me.com/card-program/pid32.html

Goodie bag I got at the beauty invite

So thats it for my haul and first impressions! Don't forget to leave me your feedback :)

Where I shop Sephora at:

Andalus Mall

Salaam Mall

Red Sea Mall

Mall of Arabia

If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below or reach me at my Facebook or Twitter :)