the Balm 'How 'Bout Them Apples?' Cheek & Lip Cream Palette: Thoughts, Swatches, and Review

First, Happy St. Patrick's Day. Are you doing anything fun! I am only wearing green eye shadow and liner today because I have no green clothes!
Today's post is about the relatively new the Balm 'How 'Bout Them Apples' Cheek & Lip Cream Palette ($32). I picked it up during their 50% off sale a few weeks ago...the one that kept shutting down. Miraculously, my order went through, but if yours didn't, they are having another one to make up for it soon...and this should be on your list!

This palette is big, and housed in a sturdy cardboard casing with a cute picnic pin-up girl on the outside. Too adorable...and I am pretty sure that pug is Wheezie, the Balms' chief pet officer. Cute!

The back shows all the colors and the ingredients, but honestly, there is very little difference on the colors, as you can see, kinda unhelpful, but that's okay...just open it up!

This features a full-size mirror and the pans are very good size, maybe just slightly smaller than a stand-alone cream blush. But my favorite part? You guessed it---the hunky guys representing each shade! Too funny!
Let's get onto swatches and more detail!

 'Apple' Cider is the first shade on the top left of the palette. It is the lightest-- a cool pale pink with just a bit of dustiness to it. The most creamy of them all, which causes a bit of patchiness in the swatch, but nothing that can't be smoothed out on the cheek. Cider is accompanied by a brooding cowboy with some tattoos. Also, there is no smell to any of these cheek creams.

'Apple' Cobbler is the red of the bunch. This is such a juicy shade, and really reminds me of a red delicious. Creamy and great on both lips and cheeks, but be warned, a little goes a long way! I use a stippling brush to make sure I don't overdo it. Cobblers' cowboy looks all chivalrous tipping his hat at us, doesn't he?

'Apple' Pie is the closest this palette comes to a hot pink, but it has just a hint of coral. A universal shade, in my opinion. And I think this cowboy looks a bit like Cillian Murphy if you squint?

Oh 'Apple' Crisp, you might be my favorite! While all the other shades are luminous creams, this has some gold shimmer to it. It really is gorgeous. This one is very easy to blend and gives the prettiest sheen to cheeks. A great shade to dab on the middle of the lips to work your pout as well! And you definitely want to work it, because Crisps' boy is very cute!

Not only handsome, but also sweet--- Candy 'Apple' is a lighter than Pie but still vibrant pink/coral that runs just slightly cool-toned. A little bit of this and some beachy hair would be the perfect summer look. These last a long time on the face, just as the Balm powder blushes do. I get about 8+ hours of wear, depending on how hot the day is. Since these are creamy, I set them with translucent powder on hot days. On the lips, I only get a few hours wear, but they are non-drying.

Caramel 'Apple' is a dark rose/brown shade that is simply gorgeous and rounds out the palette nicely. This is a 'my lips but better' shade on lips and gives a slightly more dramatic cheek. My only problem with caramel is that this cowboy looks a little bit awkwardly photoshopped... ;).

Overall, I would pay the $32 for this palette, but getting it half off is even better! The concept is fun and will make you smile every time you open it, the product is quality, and if you are new to cream blushes, this is an entire wardrobe all in one palette, and they can double as lip creams.

So, 'How 'Bout Them Apples?'

Tell me who your favorite cowboy is in the comments!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée in Paradise Poppy: Swatches and Review

Hi Pandas! I have a product I picked up on my trip to Maui that I could not love more even if I tried! Josie Maran's Coconut Cheek Gelées are getting rave reviews everywhere, and I had to see about the madness for myself! 

 I picked up the gorgeous coral pink color called Poppy Paradise ($22) even though it was so hard to decide between colors! 

 

According to Josie Maran's website, these Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelées are 50% coconut water, have the amazing benefits of Argan oil, and are a hybrid cream/gel stain that can last up to 14 hours.

 

And yes, these definitely stain. Even if it is on your fingertip for .03 seconds, it will leave a stain, so there is power in this formula, which is great for those long days!

 

 

I think the color itself is incredible: so vibrant and juicy looking and I didn't want to even dip into it because it was so pretty! Now, let me tell you all the other amazing things about this cheek gelée. All natural ingredientsRecyclableParaben freeNo synthetic fragranceVeganGluten freeCruelty free Um, that is pretty amazing! Not only are you wearing a product that is great for your skin, but it healthy for the environment as well and I totally support that. Go Josie! 

 Here is the tiniest amount of product (this will last you a lifetime) on the back of my hand. The color is a warm pink with a hint of coral and I love it. This is also really easy to blend because of the high coconut water content.  

 On cheeks it gives the most natural flush of color. I know what I will be wearing the rest of the summer! Panda Approved Have you tried these amazing pots of joy? Do tell! 

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée in Paradise Poppy: Swatches and Review

Hi Pandas! I have a product I picked up on my trip to Maui that I could not love more even if I tried!   Josie Maran's Coconut Cheek Gelées are getting rave reviews everywhere, and I had to see about the madness for myself!  

  I picked up the gorgeous coral pink color called Poppy Paradise ($22) even though it was so hard to decide between colors!  

 

According to Josie Maran's website, these Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelées are 50% coconut water, have the amazing benefits of Argan oil, and are a hybrid cream/gel stain that can last up to 14 hours.

 

And yes, these definitely stain. Even if it is on your fingertip for .03 seconds, it will leave a stain, so there is power in this formula, which is great for those long days!

 

 

I think the color itself is incredible: so vibrant and juicy looking and I didn't want to even dip into it because it was so pretty! Now, let me tell you all the other amazing things about this cheek gelée.   All natural ingredients Recyclable Paraben free No synthetic fragrance Vegan Gluten free Cruelty free   Um, that is pretty amazing! Not only are you wearing a product that is great for your skin, but it healthy for the environment as well and I totally support that. Go Josie!  

  Here is the tiniest amount of product (this will last you a lifetime) on the back of my hand. The color is a warm pink with a hint of coral and I love it. This is also really easy to blend because of the high coconut water content.  

  On cheeks it gives the most natural flush of color. I know what I will be wearing the rest of the summer!   Panda Approved   Have you tried these amazing pots of joy? Do tell!