theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette ($28.00 for 0.59 oz.) is a limited edition follow up to Vol. 1 (which is still available, but I don’t have it and haven’t seen it myself). It includes one highlighter, four eyeshadows (or liners), lip/cheek color, and a lipgloss.
As other theBalm products are packaged, this one is also in cardboard packaging with a full-sized mirror on the interior of the lid. The palette opens about two-thirds of the way down so that one side covers or reveals the powder products and the other side covers or reveals the cream products–this is a really nice feature, because it helps to limit any loose powder from contaminating the cream products. It contains a good amount of product and is a good value overall.
- Promiscuous Pearl is a pale beige with champagne shimmer. It adds a soft glow on cheeks without being overwhelming. If you like Mary Lou-manizer, you’d like this one, just as a more neutral version. The texture is still really buttery and soft, so it is blendable and finely-milled and doesn’t emphasize pores. It reminded me of Chanel Beiges Ombres Tissees.
- Jinxy Jasmyne is a sooty black that looks morre intense in the pan than it does on the skin. It has a mostly matte finish, but it’s rather dry and ends up being chalky and uneven. When applied, it can easily darken the crease, but you really need to use a fluffy brush (remember to tap off any excess!) to make this one work. Application is better with a damp brush, like one might use if you were to use it as an eyeliner. It’s similar to a lot of matte blacks, like MAC Carbon.
- Manic Maribel is an orange-y copper with a frosted golden sheen. The pigmentation is opaque with soft, blendable color. It’s almost the same as Bare Escentuals Louder. It’s a little lighter than shades like theBalm Meep Meep, Urban Decay Baked, and MAC Amber Lights.
- Open to Offers Olwen is a muted teal-blue shot through with silvery-blue shimmer. This shade is also in the Shady Lady Vol. 3 palette. It has good color payoff and a dense, buttery texture. Inglot #413 is a bit lighter but similar.
- Lavish Latoya is a medium-dark purple with subtle red undertones and a frosted finish. It was on the sheerer side, though. Urban Decay AC/DC is quite similar with a slightly more metallic sheen. Bare Escentuals Encore is also similar. Milani Purr-fect Purple is a little lighter. theBalm All the Way Annie is a bit darker but still close.
- Strawberry is a poppy red that can be applied opaque or blended out for a sheerer look. On lips, it’s much pinker–more like a slightly coral-pink with a creamy finish. The color coverage is mostly opaque. It’s not as dark as MAC Ultra Darling. NARS Niagara is more coral. It’s pretty close to Bobbi Brown Pink.
- Nude is an opaque beige nude with a cream finish. MAC C-Thru is similar in color, but this is much more opaque.
It’s not my favorite palette by theBalm; I think it has promise and potential, but it’s not fully there. The color combination is off for me–this is not a palette that lends itself to a lot of versatility. I feel like you really need to pull in products from your stash to make the palette really pop. The cheek/lip color is pretty but vibrant enough that it doesn’t pair well with the eyeshadows. I was disappointed in the texture and payoff of Jinxy Jasmyne and Lavish Latoya was just slightly under-performing. Shades like Manic Maribel and Lavish Latoya are found in a lot of brands, so this wouldn’t be a palette for long-time beauty aficionados. As a face palette, I’d have liked to see a powder blush, rather than a mega-sized black eyeshadow.
Where to Buy: theBalm, $28
The Glossover
The overall quality of the palette is there, but the color combination doesn't resonate as well with me--as a face palette, it needs more in the cheek department; it's too eye-heavy.
See more photos & swatches!
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Promiscuous Pearl Highlighter/Shadow
theBalm Promiscuous Pearl Highlighter/Shadow
theBalm Promiscuous Pearl Highlighter/Shadow as highlighter, MAC Strada as blush
theBalm Jinxy Jasmyne Eyeshadow
theBalm Jinxy Jasmyne Eyeshadow
theBalm Manic Maribel Eyeshadow
theBalm Manic Maribel Eyeshadow
theBalm Open to Offers Olwen Eyeshadow
theBalm Open to Offers Olwen Eyeshadow
theBalm Lavish Latoya Eyeshadow
theBalm Lavish Latoya Eyeshadow
theBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 Palette
theBalm Strawberry Lip/Cheek Cream
theBalm Strawberry Lip/Cheek Cream
theBalm Strawberry Lip/Cheek Cream
theBalm Strawberry Lip/Cheek Cream
theBalm Nude Lip Gloss
theBalm Nude Lip Gloss
theBalm Nude Lip Gloss
theBalm Nude Lip Gloss
Disclosure
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Product & Review FAQ
Where can I purchase it? How much is it?
theBalm, $28.
Is it limited edition?
Yes.
Any dupes?
See individual shade reviews! :)
So I just got this palette & I swatched it too, except my black was super buttery & pigmented that dipping a brush in it LIGHTLY dug a HOLE into it & there was so much fallout, I was going to go crazy! & then I decided to remove it with my Bobbi Brown makeup remover (I love it!) & the black shadow left a stain on my arm & my eyes when I tried it out that wouldn't go away! :( Boo. Since I ordered this from theBalm, I'm totally going to return it. The colors were also very similar to their other palettes too. Total bummer times 2! I was bummed they didn't include powder blushes to make it more of a "Face" palette & now, I'm just super bummed about everything from this palette! Although your highlighter/promiscuous pearl is buttery, mine was super rough & hard to pick up with brushes & applicators! Seems like our Jinxy Jasmyne & Promiscuous Pearl got switched up!
Is it horrible that I'm never going to buy anything from TheBalm for full price now that I've found a bunch of their stuff at TJMaxx (and just recently, Marshalls) for $10 to $20? |: I love that Strawberry lipgloss though, it looks fab. Out of Cast Your Face/The Balm and the Beautiful and Shady Lady Vol. 1-3, which are the two you'd most recommend? I'm trying to talk myself out of getting all of them LOL.
That tends to be an issue when brands sell too often at discounted prices!
Wow the two lip products are more pigmented than any other I've seen in palettes!
They have these pallets at Marshalls for like... $13. Too bad people who shop there love to open things, stick their fingers in them and then dump them all over the store... /end bitter consumer rant.
So sad :(
I really, really, really love this palette, especially the lip/cheek tints!
Enough to buy? :)
This is one of the few times I actually like a balm packaged with eyeshadows. I think I need a fainting couch. I'm not terribly impressed with the shadow/liner black, but maybe it's one of those things that needs to be applied wet like a cake liner? Really, aside from the black and the pearl, I'm tempted. This is also pretty smart packaging. When I would buy balm/lipgloss palettes, the fallout from the eyeshadows would fall into the lip palette--needless to say, it was pretty disgusting.
The thin swatch on the right is applied wet with a liner brush! :)
I love Lavish Latoya shadow, but I'm not a fan of any of the other shades in this palette...
The lip/cheek cream is SO pretty! I have C-Thru and I don't find it similar at all in colour (regardless of opacity) to the swatches I see of the Nude lipgloss! The eyeshadows are blah.
They're very similar on me!
The eyeshadows aren't doing it for me, but the cheek/lip colours are gorgeous!
At least you like half the palette ;)
Did you also line your waterline with open to offers olwen? P.S. The lip colors looks very good on you! :)
No, I used Estee Lauder Electric Teal!
I have the first Balmbini palette (actually, I bought three, one of which I gave to my sister-in-law) and it is fabulous. When I heard about this new one, I was ticked that it probably wouldn't be available where I buy TheBalm products. But, having seen it here and the other week when you first showed it, I realize it's not something I'd bother with, to be honest. Not nearly so good as the first one.
I could see that!
The palette looks cute, but I don't like palette's with cream and powder products in one.
There are two separate compartments, so-to-speak, so you won't have the contamination issue that you normally would.
I really like the Balms products, but the highlighter is the only thing in this that I really like, the rest I could live without..plus I would be afraid that at some point the black might crack and ruin my entire palette, but thats just me I guess its a huge section of black shaddow you have to worry about..thoughts?
I dropped this from 6 feet over tile and had no cracking of any shades, so it wouldn't be a concern for me.
Good to know, im always afraid of dropping any of my products lol
You nailed this review. I got Vol. I from TJ Maxx for 16.99. And it is a full face palette which is what's missing here. And for this price, I mind as well get Vol 2, or 3.
The price makes it palatable, even if it doesn't seem like a "face" palette so much!
I am a big theBalm fangirl, but I feel that this palette has been poorly put together. I can imagine not using it much if I get it!
I could see that - I definitely not think it has the appeal that a lot of other theBalm palettes have had!
Ooh, I love Strawberry. It's a cute palette, but the other shades look pretty easy to dupe. Great review.
Thanks, Carrie Ann!
i think the packaging is very inviting and i love the purple shade and nude lippie. but seeing how it didn't really passed your standards, this could just be another "pretty" palette.
Love the black. Been hunting for a true matte black forever! No gold specs, no gray tint. Mac carbon falls short.
You should try Sugarpill Bulletproof - this black is average, IMO!
:o that strawberry shade looks neon in the pan, omg Sorry for OT but I was wondering if you're planning to review the Revlon lip butters? I always love your swatches!
No, I don't have any at this time, sorry!
This will probably be asked a bunch of times but what are you wearing on your eyes? It's all so pretty!
This is theBalm’s Balmbini Vol. 2 palette on the eyes with Estee Lauder’s Electric Teal Kajal on the lower waterline/lash line.
Your final thoughts: Just what I was thinking! haha! thanks for the swatches! I've been waiting :P
No prob, Lisa!
wow.. the products are so pigmented.. even the gloss and lip and cheek cream.. very nice
The strawberry gloss looks really pretty! I love the shadow colors in this palette.
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