theBalm Instain in Houndstooth - "theBalm’s long-wearing, STAINING powder blush is a fashion must have! With six shades, perfect for all seasons and skin tones, it will give your cheeks color that won’t quit." via thebalm.com | 6.5g, ₱ 977.50/$22 from Luxola.com

theBalm Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush in Houndstooth

Hello guys. Happy Monday to everyone. It was a 3-day weekend so I got plenty of rest + relaxation. I want to start the week on the right note so I am posting a (blush) review.

This blush is part of the six-shade (Argyle, Lace, Houndstooth, Pinstripe, Swiss Dot and Toile) Instain line from theBalm. I've already done a review of Toile and I liked it so much that I decided to buy another shade - if it was up to me, I would totally (totally!) buy all of them. 

theBalm Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush in Houndstooth

theBalm in Houndstooth: (L) No Flash, (R) With Flash

Houndstooth is described in theBalm's website as a "mauve" which I think is quite (like totally) apt. It's a medium-dark pinky berry plum with mostly matte finish, though I do detect some sheen (no shimmers or glitters).

On Cheeks and Eyelids: theBalm Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush in Houndstooth

The formula of this blush is very much similar to Toile - smooth and non-chalky. It's very finely-milled and feels very soft. It didn't readily cling to wet skin so it applied evenly and was easy to blend out and soften.

theBalm Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush in Houndstooth

theBalm Instain in Houndstooth applied on cheeks and eyelids

The color you see in the pan is pretty much what it looks like on the skin. You only need a (teeny) tiny amount to achieve full color and saturation. Since this blush is really pigmented, this is the time to whip out that duo fiber brush. You just need to lightly tap on the blush and apply on your cheeks. You can then build up to a more pronounced color if you want. This blush lasted pretty much the whole day on me, despite me being sweaty and prone to oily skin.

theBalm Instain in Houndstooth applied on cheeks and eyelids

Pros
- Subtle, everyday shade
- Highly pigmented and opaque
- Smooth and buttery texture
- Buildable color
- Applies evenly
- Lasts long
- Relatively affordable

Cons
- None!

theBalm Instain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush in Houndstooth