theBalm How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette ($32.00 for 0.70 oz.) contains six shades of cream products that are designed to be used on the lips and cheeks. The formula is described as having a “smooth finish that won’t streak or fade.” In the past, I haven’t been a huge fan of theBalm’s multi-tasking lip/cheek products as they can be drying on the lips (which is a problem that many lip/cheek products suffer from), so I was wary about this palette. After wearing and trying all the shades on lips and cheeks, it’s definitely an improved formula. I think they function and wear better–and more comfortably–as cheek products than lip ones, but they’re more tolerable on the lips. Some are more comfortable than others as lip colors, so you can check my shade-by-shade review below for more information on those. As blushes, these are true creams–they don’t set or dry down completely or feel like powders on the skin, so they have dewier finishes. They’re blendable and buildable, but they tended to wear for six to seven hours.
Cider is a light peach with a faint hint of pink and a luminous sheen. It had semi-sheer color payoff, and this particular shade didn’t really build–it started and stayed at the same intensity. It lasted for six and a half hours on me. As a lip color, it did accentuate imperfections on the lips somewhat, and it wore for two hours–very slippery on the lips–but was somewhat hydrating. MAC Lured to Love (LE, $25.00) is a powder, so it has a different finish. MAC Something Special (P, $21.00) is darker, pinker. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
Cobbler is a vibrant, orange-toned red with a luminous sheen. This shade had buildable color payoff that could be worn as a sheer, reddish tint or a bolder, brighter, candy-apple red. As a blush, it wore well for seven hours, and as a lip color, it managed three hours and was lightly hydrating. Kevyn Aucoin Fira (P) is more orange and a powder. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
Pie is a muted, pinky-red with a luminous sheen. It was buildable to semi-opaque coverage both on lips as well as cheeks. When I tested it as a blush, the color wore well for six hours, and as a lip color, it wore well for three hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Chanel Intonation (69) (LE, $38.00) is warmer, brighter. theBalm Toile (P, $22.00) is a powder. MAC Posey (P, $21.00) is more muted. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
Crisp is a warm-toned coral with gold shimmer and a frosted finish. The color was buildable to mostly opaque color coverage both on cheeks as well as on lips. The golden sheen is less prominent when I wore it as a blush than when I did as a lip color. On the lips, it was drying, and the frost emphasizes any imperfections easily. On cheeks, pores were slightly emphasized. It wore well for six and a half hours on cheeks and four and a half hours on lips. Clinique Peach Pop (02) (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, powder. Chanel Intonation (69) (LE, $38.00) has no shimmer, brighter. NARS Soulshine (Together) (LE, $29.00) is a powder. MAC Fleet Fast (LE, $21.00) is a powder. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
Candy is a cool-toned, bubblegum pink with a luminous sheen. It had good color payoff, and it was easy to apply and blend on the skin. On cheeks, it lasted for six hours, and on lips, it wore well for two and a half hours and was lightly hydrating during that time. Sleek MakeUP Macaroon (P) is very similar. Bobbi Brown Summer Pink (LE, $26.00) is darker. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
Caramel is a muted, orange-brown with a luminous sheen and warm undertones. It had mostly opaque color payoff, and the color was buildable and blendable. The color lasted just over six and a half hours when I applied it to cheeks, and on lips, it managed to last for three hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. MAC Early Morning (LE, $25.00) is shimmery, powder. MAC Fiery Impact (LE, $25.00) is powder. MAC Optimistic Orange (LE, $21.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches. (If you’re looking for similar shades for how it appears on lips, here are some comparison swatches.)
How 'Bout Them Apples?
PPermanent. $32.00.
Cider
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Cobbler
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Pie
PiPPermanent in Palette.
See more photos & swatches!
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Lip & Cheek Cream Palette
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cider Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Cobbler Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Pie Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Crisp Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Candy Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
theBalm Caramel Lip & Cheek Cream
They are pretty colours! I would wear some of them on the cheeks and some of them on the lips. Mostly the shimmery ones would just stay on the cheeks for me.
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to wear Crisp on lips again!
I actually really liked Crisp on your lips!
I got this at the recent Balm sale. Will I like it? Why I’m holding off on the MUFE cream blushes. Hm…they’e actually very pretty on you but seem light as blushes. I’m usually wary of blush/lip colors but these look lovely on your lips as well.
As cheek products, the biggest downside was really wear – they’re buildable and pigmented, but they wear a little shorter than average for me. If you prefer your cream products to set down to powder, these don’t do that!
Well that is just too bad! The wearability factor is so key. Busy people (including me!) need products that last! Pretty…but do I really need to carry a palette, even a small one, around for touch ups!
I love this palette! Cider, Pie, and Candy are my favorite.
Yay!
I’m loving Crisp Lip & Caramel but not sure I can justify the entire palette for just those two :/
You don’t think you’d wear any of the others at all? I think if you’d wear some of the others here and there, it might be worth it. If you wouldn’t touch ’em, then probably not.
I was really hoping to pick this product up because it had cute packaging but not sure now because of the grade. What are some other good budget cream blushes that I can try?
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush, NYX Cream Blush, or Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush
I picked this up during theBalm 50% off sale despite limited reviews. I’m kind of sad because of the grade, but I bought it to use as blush. Since I never wear cream blush on it’s own, I’m hoping layering a similar powder blush will increase its wear time!
If you use it as a blush and if you set with a powder, you should be okay 🙂
I’m a sucker for cream blushes, I think they last longer on me than powder, but you had issues with staying power so I’m hesitant. I’ll keep these in my mental “back pocket” for now. Thank you as always for the review!
Cream blush usually wears a little shorter on me compared to powder, unless they are cream-to-powder!
The packaging for this brand (as well as benefit) is just such a turn-off for me. If I’m paying mid-range prices for the product, I can’t be bothered with packaging reminiscent of what’s sold at Claire’s… That said, the colors are pretty, and for 6 pans $32 *is* a decent price, but I think I’d rather pay more to *not* have that packaging.
Lots of people really liked the packaging, but it definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
It’s cute, but I can just see myself reaching for it as I’m doing my makeup, then putting it down immediately because it would be in the backnof my mind that it’s “tween” makeup. I know that even within those products, there are some real gems, but the majority is horrible.
I also find such a disconnect between the packaging & pricepoint. It seems the targeted demographic would be younger, yet they can be a bit pricey, if not on sale.
I think theBalm is a great brand, personally! Not every product is A+ but there are many high quality products/formulas.
I’m super excited about these, though mildly annoyed that my order from a week ago is still processing (though I suppose it’s understandable given the high volume of orders they must have had during the sale). Cobbler looks especially great!
I hate the packaging though. Too much wasted space and I dislike the shirtless men. Ah well!
Hope you get yours soon, Emi!
The put a Pug on it…I have to get it for that reason alone lol
Aww!
Do these smell like apples?
I didn’t notice a scent!
I can’t stand theBalm’s packaging!
Aw, that’s too bad!
These look lovely! May have to be my first purchase from the balm. Do you know if they will be released in the UK & If so when?
I’m not sure what their UK distribution is!
This is a really pretty palette, but I think I would definitely only use this as cream blushes.
They’re best as blushes!
This packaging is my absolute favorite! It is beyond cute.
It is really fun!
Cobbler and Crisp are absolutely lovely!! What a cute palette – the names alone are making me hungry!
Haha!
I am not sure why I’ve never been interested in the brand at all. I feel like none of their products are really unique to anything I don’t already have. I know a lot of people love their packaging but it is such a turn off for me. I like more sleek packaging and definitelly a believer that less is more. Too much going on. I’ll be passing on these.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess! 🙂
I’m still not really feeling this palette. Most of these look better on the lips to me, so not as multipurpose for me as for others!
If you just like them on lips, I would pass!
Caramel and Pie are particularly beautiful on you, Christine (although, as usual, they all look great on you – how do you do it, woman?!) 😀
The random shirtless dudes photoshopped onto it are a little jarring though – I love the ‘saucy vintage’ theme of the cover – why couldn’t they have had more cute girly pinup art on the inside? 🙂
The packaging is definitely a love/hate thing it seems!
I liked the palette…but what i like the most is the lipstick you are wearing in the blush swatches photos!!
Which is it????????????
Revlon Elusive
oohh checked it out..looks pretty!!
ditto! I may check that shade out now. Although, though we have similar skin tone, some lipsticks look so different on Christine than they do on me!
These look really nice, but to be honest, I realllyyy wish they hadn’t put the shirtless guys on there. It just seems kind of tacky. Other than that, the packaging is adorable!
It is the type of packaging you either love or hate!
These are pretty! Somehow I a not very inclined to multiples so not really excited! Gud to know these werent a total disaster as lip stains. Usually such products only works for me as cheek colors!
Yeah, multi-tasking products usually are better at one thing than all things!
Yeah, these are definitely not for me…they look way too wet and sticky, and they look like they would just sit on top of the skin.
They are fairly dewy on the skin, so I could see it sliding on oilier skin types!
I like the look of Pie and the rest of them aren’t my type of shades; but for that one shade, I don’t think I’ll invest.
Definitely not worth it if you only like one shade!
Thanks for the review Christine! I was expecting to see each product on lips and cheeks at the same time in your swatch photos, so that jarred me somewhat – however WHAT is that pink lip you’re rocking in the cheek shots?! I can’t stop looking at it!!
Revlon Elusive!
They look best on the lips I think 🙂 They look a bit greasy 🙂 But very cool product!
They have a fair amount of slip!
I’m kinda undecided if I want this or not. I’m not sure if they would work as blushes on mineral foundation or if I could set them with translucent powder. I’m not really into dewy finish.
Sounds like a skip!
Hi Christine!
What are you wearing on your lips in the blush swatch photos? Love that shade!
Revlon Elusive
I think they look beautiful and the packaging is the cutest! The only thing is that I don’t ever wear cream blush. They disappear really quickly on my skin.
Aww! Have you tried cream-to-powder blushes?
I haven’t really come across one, but i’ll keep my eyes open!
Nice set and beautiful colours but I would wear these on my cheeks rather than lips.
Makes sense!
I would’ve bought it if it were powder blushes, I really love the packaging and the colors !
Aww!
I tend to have a love hate relationship with cream blushes. That being said, the look fantastic on your skin!
It took me awhile to come around to them!
Forgive me if you’ve already posted it somewhere on the page (I looked everywhere and couldn’t find it!), but what lip color are you wearing in the “cheek” photos? I’ve been searching for a good pink lip and that color is so pretty on you! 🙂
Revlon Elusive!
I got Pie in my Birchbox this month and the texture is really cool. I was shocked that this as a blush lasted til way after work! That’s never happened before! I would never have tried it since these 2-fors seem gimicky, but it really is cool!
Awesome! 🙂
I love this palette! It’s truly one of my all-time favorite palettes. It’s versatile and every color is flattering. Cider is a bit too light for me, but I love every other color. Overall this is really a terrific buy.
Glad you like it, Shayni!