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theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush ($22.00 for 0.20 oz.) is described as a “petal pink.” It’s a bubblegum pink–a light-medium, blue-based pink–with a matte finish. NYX English Rose is more shimmery, darker. MAC Stay Pretty is warmer. MAC I’m the One is brighter. Chanel Pink Explosion is slightly darker. Bobbi Brown Pastel Pink is a bit darker. See comparison swatches.

It had rich, true-to-pan color payoff. It packs quite a punch, so I’d recommend using a light hand to build up the color to your desired intensity. The texture is soft, finely-milled but not powdery. It blends well if you use a light touch, but I noticed that it has a tendency to stick where it’s placed once it is buffed into the skin to a degree. Argyle lasted well without fading or becoming patchy for a solid ten hours, so it is indeed long-wearing. It removed easily, though, with makeup remover, whereas a traditional stain would still leave something behind, so I wouldn’t describe this as a cheek stain, but it was an exceptionally long-wearing powder blush.

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush
theBalm Argyle Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

40 Comments

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Amanda Avatar

So glad you reviewed this! I absolutely love thebalm but was waiting for your opinion/swatches on these before I picked any up. Such an all around great brand!

Alyssa Avatar

Do you think maybe applying with a stippling brush and then using a clean brush to blend would help to ensure that you won’t accidentally get “clown cheeks”?

Jamie Avatar

I absolutely adore these blushes. I bought 3 of them when they had their 50% off sale awhile back right after these launched. If they ever have a sale like that again I’ll get at least one more of them. Beautiful shades!

Jennifer K. Avatar

I’ve been collecting blushes lately and love using them. I recently got theBalm’s Frat Boy and Down Boy blushes as well as Mary-Lou Manizer from their Hautelook sale. All-around great brand! This will be on my wishlist down the road. It’ll take a while for me to hit the pan on the other two I just bought.

MissHighSociety Avatar

The silly thing that annoys me with this product is where we can read: “Wear it well” and then translated to french “Vous va bien” in the inside on the package.

The actual correct translation would have been “Portez le bien”… It’s just a bit annoying that companies try to look fancier by writing french things on their product and don’t do it correctly… :S

Emily Avatar

I actually saw that and came here to see if anyone would say something about it :p
Yeah, that’s weird. And silly. I guess “Portez” doesn’t flow as well.

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