Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Review -- The Balm Balm Voyage! Makeup Palette


 If you've been following the blog for a while, you know that I am a complete and utter fanatic when it comes to The Balm.

In fact, it's probably the one brand that I would actually call myself a "collector" of -- it's pretty much a given that I'm going to buy any and everything that they put out.

That's why I didn't hesitate for a second to order The Balm's new holiday palette, Balm Voyage!

And as usual, I'm certainly not sorry that I did.


The Balm Balm Voyage! Palette's adorable packaging

The Balm Balm Voyage! Palette's inside cover and mirror

The Balm Balm Voyage! Palette
Like all of The Balm's products, the packaging for Balm Voyage! is beyond adorable. Since the palette is travel themed, the retro artwork depicts pretty women in various locales across the globe.  The palette itself is made of the same heavy-duty cardboard that the rest of their palettes are. It also features the same two flaps that The Balm's other palettes with powder and cream products have to help keep fallout from the powders from getting into the creams.

The palette contains 16 powder eye shadows which are named for plane seat assignments.  They include: A4, a shimmery dark green; B4, a shimmery dark brown; C4, a coppery brown with silver micro glitter; D4, a shimmery dark olive green; A3, a shimmery light silver; B3, a matte gray with purple undertones; C3, a matte mid-tone brown; D3, a shimmery light gold; A2, a mid-tone purple with a satin finish; B2, a shimmery sea foam green; C2, a matte teal; D2, a shimmery light peach; A1, a shimmery light mauve; B1, a matte beige; C1, a shimmery pale gold; and D1, a shimmery yellow gold.

From l. to r.: A4, B4, C4, D4

From l. to r.: A4, B4, C4, D4

From l. to r.: A3, B3, C3, D3

From l. to r.: A3, B3, C3, D3

From l. to r.: A2, B2, C2, D2

From l. to r.: A2, B2, C2, D2

From l. to r.: A1, B1, C1, D1

From l. to r.: A1, B1, C1, D1
There are also three cream lip/cheek stains: Second Officer, a cool red; First Officer, an orange-y coral; and Captain, a fuchsia.

From l. to r.: Second Officer, First Officer, Captain

From l. to r.: Second Officer, First Officer, Captain
For the most part, all of the shadows in the palette are up to The Balm's usual standards with a creamy, well-pigmented formula. There are a couple of shades that are slightly drier than usual, though -- like C4 and A2, but even those can easily be built up so they're nicely pigmented.

I love a bunch of shadows in the palette, but the standouts are B2, C2 and A1.  Of course, D2 rates high with me too since it's a lovely brightening peach shade.

The lip/cheek stains are all highly pigmented and creamy.  I have to be careful when I use them as cheek stains, though, and blend them really well since my skin is so fair.  As lip stains,they can be a little drying, but topped with a balm or gloss, they're perfectly comfortable on the lips. On both the lips and cheeks, they last a good long time too.

The palette retails for $42.50 and is available on The Balm's website. I'm hopeful that it will turn up on HauteLook in the next couple of months or so (like many of The Balm's products do), so if you like the palette but the not price, you may just want to be a little patient.

Balm Voyage! would make a lovely gift for any of the makeup lovers in your life this holiday season, but it's also a great little treat for yourself.

Is the Balm Voyage! Palette on your holiday wishlist? 

3 comments:

  1. The Balm makes the best palettes. They are always so unique and have everything for nude or more experimental looks. My personal favourite colours in this one would also have to be B2 and C2. So gorgeous!
    If I could change one thing though it would be the lip/cheek colours. Maybe it´s just the resolution of my laptop but the red ones look fairly similar. If they had chosen a darker berry tone instead of Captain, it´d have been perfect.

    ..Since you already have quite a few Balm palettes, might I ask you which one is your abolute favourite so far? :)

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    1. It's not just your laptop -- Second Officer and Captain are very similiar. Second Officer is more of a true red, while Captain is more of a pinky shade, but they're close enough that both aren't really necessary. In general, I'm not a fan of mixing these cream products with powder products. I'd prefer it if the palette was all shadows because honestly, I just don't use the cheek/lip stains as often.

      Choosing my favorite The Balm palette is like asking me to pick my favorite kid. LOL It's probably a tie between The Balm Jovi Palette and the very limited edition Muppet Palette they came out with a couple of years back. Honestly, though, I've really enjoyed every one that I've gotten and definitely use them more than any of my other palettes.

      I know you like the Balm Jovi Palette too, so I definitely think you would enjoy the Balm Voyage Palette. :)

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    2. Generally I´d also prefer it if Lip and Eyeproducts were seperate but strangely enough I am using the ones in Balm Jovi. So you´re making Balm Voyage really a temptation for me right now.

      That Muppet Palette looked like a lot of fun! I remeber quite a few german bloggers wanting that one...

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