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!

The Balm Stainiac in Prom Queen

I am pretty new to the world of the Balm, but what I have tried, I've been impressed with! The Balm Stainiac is one of those products with a cult following, and I can see why! 

 Stainiac in Prom Queen (a pretty red) is a stain that can be used on lips and cheeks and for $18, you get a lot of bang for your buck, as a little goes a long way. 

 Another thing I love about the Balm is the cute, cheeky packaging. I love when a brand finds their niche and just owns it! 

 The actual tube of product is silver and the brush is just your basic wand, which works great with lip application, but not so much with cheek application, as this stuff sets and stains fast! 

 This is a very watery formula, which I think works well, because at least it gives you a few seconds of playtime. Prom Queen is a gorgeous candy apple red color and looks great on pale skin gals! I promise, not too vampire-ey, no Cullens here! 

 This is the stain left from having the swatch on for about 15 seconds and then wiping it off, crazy right? This stuff lasts! It gives you a healthy stain on the lips that works throughout the day. Just refresh with some balm to keep your lips from getting too dry. Gorgeous! 

 The effect is so natural and pretty, very flushed damsel in distress if you like that...or flushed butt kicking warrior queen...if that is more your style. 

 I am so in love with this stain on my lips, but on cheeks, for me it is a no-go...too hard to blend so fast!  Overall, super thrilled to have Stainiac in my life! Do you have a fave lip stain? 

The Balm Stainiac in Prom Queen

I am pretty new to the world of the Balm, but what I have tried, I've been impressed with!   The Balm Stainiac is one of those products with a cult following, and I can see why!  

  Stainiac in Prom Queen (a pretty red) is a stain that can be used on lips and cheeks and for $18, you get a lot of bang for your buck, as a little goes a long way.  

  Another thing I love about the Balm is the cute, cheeky packaging. I love when a brand finds their niche and just owns it!  

  The actual tube of product is silver and the brush is just your basic wand, which works great with lip application, but not so much with cheek application, as this stuff sets and stains fast!  

  This is a very watery formula, which I think works well, because at least it gives you a few seconds of playtime. Prom Queen is a gorgeous candy apple red color and looks great on pale skin gals! I promise, not too vampire-ey, no Cullens here!  

  This is the stain left from having the swatch on for about 15 seconds and then wiping it off, crazy right? This stuff lasts! It gives you a healthy stain on the lips that works throughout the day. Just refresh with some balm to keep your lips from getting too dry. Gorgeous!  

  The effect is so natural and pretty, very flushed damsel in distress if you like that...or flushed butt kicking warrior queen...if that is more your style.  

  I am so in love with this stain on my lips, but on cheeks, for me it is a no-go...too hard to blend so fast!   Overall, super thrilled to have Stainiac in my life!   Do you have a fave lip stain?  

The Balm FratBoy Review and Swatches

Many of you may have participated in the Balm 50% site wide sale for their relaunching. I did!! One of the things that I got was the FratBoy blush. I have been wanting this for a long time, and to get it for around $11 was amazing!

 

There are a few reasons I wanted it. The first was that I have never tried any Balm products before, can you believe that? Everyone always raves about their shadows and blushes, and I figured it was about time I got on the bandwagon. The second reason I chose this one out of their other amazing blush offerings was the name. FratBoy? Yes. I was in a sorority in college, so of course, this just seems fitting that I have it.

 

I was really impressed with the Balm's service and shipping. I know their site crashed for a few days, but once it was back up, ordering was easy, this was shipped to me very quickly and wrapped really securely. I love the packaging as well! Even though it is cardboard it is sturdy. It comes with a sleeve with the same front picture (to save) and the inside has a mirror surrounded by a football field and says "So many men, so little time".

As much as I feel that the sentiment didn't apply to me, this is still an amazing blush.

 

 

The pigmentation on this blush is fantastic. When I apply, I barely have to touch the blush to get enough for both of my cheeks. This will last me much longer than most relationships with frat boys, I am sure.

 

 

The color is a medium pink and it gives the perfect girlish flush. Perfect for sorority socials and grocery store runs alike.

 

This is literally the perfect blush for my skin tone and I have been wearing it daily. So even if you have never been in a sorority, I promise this blush will thrill you longer than your "Rush Crush".

 

Have you tried this? Love the Balm? Let's here!

 

 

 

 

The Balm FratBoy Review and Swatches

Many of you may have participated in the Balm 50% site wide sale for their relaunching. I did!! One of the things that I got was the FratBoy blush. I have been wanting this for a long time, and to get it for around $11 was amazing!

 

There are a few reasons I wanted it. The first was that I have never tried any Balm products before, can you believe that? Everyone always raves about their shadows and blushes, and I figured it was about time I got on the bandwagon. The second reason I chose this one out of their other amazing blush offerings was the name. FratBoy? Yes. I was in a sorority in college, so of course, this just seems fitting that I have it.

 

I was really impressed with the Balm's service and shipping. I know their site crashed for a few days, but once it was back up, ordering was easy, this was shipped to me very quickly and wrapped really securely. I love the packaging as well! Even though it is cardboard it is sturdy. It comes with a sleeve with the same front picture (to save) and the inside has a mirror surrounded by a football field and says "So many men, so little time".

As much as I feel that the sentiment didn't apply to me, this is still an amazing blush.

 

 

The pigmentation on this blush is fantastic. When I apply, I barely have to touch the blush to get enough for both of my cheeks. This will last me much longer than most relationships with frat boys, I am sure.

 

 

The color is a medium pink and it gives the perfect girlish flush. Perfect for sorority socials and grocery store runs alike.

 

This is literally the perfect blush for my skin tone and I have been wearing it daily. So even if you have never been in a sorority, I promise this blush will thrill you longer than your "Rush Crush".

 

Have you tried this? Love the Balm? Let's here!