Let’s cut to the chase. I don’t like cheek or lip stains. I don’t like anything that stains, period. Tints too, for that matter. They all dry too quickly and the colours tend to be too stark and on lips, they are too drying. No likey!
So picking up something called Stainiac from TheBalm is perhaps something only a glutton for punishment does. A vain attempt to prove to myself that cheek stains or tints just don’t do nuts for me. Ironically, I’m glad I picked Stainiac up though. It proved to me just how wrong I could be.
I love Stainiac! 😀 The colour I chose is Beauty Queen, a rosy berry pink!
Unlike many cheek and lip stains or tints out there, Stainiac is a gel based product, not liquid based. For what its worth, it does not dry immediately when it touches the skin so there is time for you to blend the product to get the tint you want.
Beauty Queen is described as a Berry Pink and the colour is bright in the tube, and when you swipe it on the skin, as the swatch below shows. In fact, it looks a lot like Benefit Benetint. However, once you spread it out, it softens into this very pretty rose-pink tint. I actually use about 2 layers to get it looking as it does in the picture and its so easy to blend out. You don’t have to work super fast or end up with stripes on your cheeks and I like that. Also because its a gel, its easier to blend out somehow.
Ever since I got this one, I’ve been taking it on my travels. It applies well over powder or liquid foundation without causing my concealer to slip, which is excellent and for me, it lasts practically all day. The slim tube is practical, doesn’t take up space and the colour is pretty. Works especially well when I’m out and about or when I want a quick flush of colour and don’t want to mess with brushes.
I apply Stainiac as follows:-
- Smile and swipe gel stain on the apples of the cheeks
- Using fingers, blend out colour
- Layer on for more intensity as preferred
If you prefer, you can use Stainiac as a base colour and layer some powder blush over it. When your powder blush wears off, you’ll still have a hint of colour left on your cheeks which is very pretty.
I do have some gripes about packaging. Whilst I love the slim small tube, I don’t like the doe foot applicator which looks like one from a lipgloss. Also, I anticipate problems when it starts to run out (I’m about 1/4 of the way through it already!) because I’m not sure if I can get everything out from the tube since its a gel and sticks to the sides of the tube. I would like a squeeze tube, perhaps. I think it might work better.
Pros: Light texture, Gel texture is easy to work with and does not set too quickly, Slim practical packaging, No risk of spills
Cons: Not quite a fan of the doe foot sponge applicator, Packaging can pose problems once you start reaching the bottom of the tube
I love the formula in this one – no risk of splotchiness, does not dry quickly, pretty colour… what more can a girl ask for? 😀 There are 3 colours – Beauty Queen as shown here, Prom Queen described as Rosy Pink and Homecoming Queen described as Soft Peach. I’ve already got Prom Queen on its way to me 😀
Oh its a cheek and lip tint but I use it strictly on my cheeks. I much prefer wearing lipglosses or lipsticks and I did not like the colour nor feel of this on my lips. It felt weird.
Have you seen or tried Stainiac from TheBalm? I don’t love cheek tints or stains but I give this one two thumbs up! 😀
Paris B
TheBalm Stainiac comes in 3 shades and retails at RM55 at Sasa stores in Malaysia. Mine was US$17 from NonPareil Boutique online.
That looks lovely on you! I’m not much of a fan of cheek tints after cleaning a dropped Benetint off the bathroom floor but the tube would be a good idea for travel.
Thank you Sam! I never took to Benetint. It always left me looking like Bozo the clown 🙁 But this one’s really much better, and less risk of spillage coz its a gel! 😀
I’ve been wanting to get that for a long long time!! ^.^ But… I never had the courage to try as it looks crazy pigmented… Looks pretty on you, gah! why does everything work on you?? 😀
Because I buy the the ones that do mah… 😉 Hehe… But seriously, I think you’re tanner than I am? I think it’d look nice on tanned skin. Its not scary at all on the skin, just a gentle flush of rosey pink
Hmmm… I use the same color in Revlon Photoready as you do, and its the perfect match ^.^ but you look so fair and I’m so dark. Its the same as the Lancome Teint Miracle… So yeah..
Actually the Revlon Photoready foundation colour I have is too dark for me. They don’t carry a light enough shade locally 🙁 And I swear I was wrongly matched to Teint Miracle. I’ve given it to a friend who’s a little bit darker and it suits her fine 🙂
Tint is my enermy but I think I might try this after reading your review. You said it doesn’t interfere with your concealer and powder. I wonder how andy why? I have to apply cream blush before any powder and mix it very carefully with concealer or else they just kill each other off. There is so much more I have to learn and try!
This is on my to BUY list now. I am falling in love with TheBalm after finding a HG in its concealer.
I think you’ll like this too. I’m not a fan of tints so for me to like this one is something! I usually apply all cream blushes before powder/foundation too. I think they cause the concealer to slip because of the silicone content, and because we tend to rub at the area to blend it and so we rub off some of the concealer. I love how this one doesn’t mess my makeup and that I can use it as normal 🙂 I also recently ordered some stuff from TheBalm and I’ve been wanting to try the concealer, but the colours are just too off for me 🙁
Wow…! Finally a lip/cheek stain that we can blend <3
Like you, I hate that fact that lip stains tend to dry up rather quickly and you really have to be extra careful not to accidentally smear it elsewhere. Ack!
I didn't know that I can purchase TheBalm products in Malaysia. T_T
Thanks for the review and will definitely run to SaSa now to check it out 😉
I didn’t know about TheBalm too till I walked into a Sasa store recently haha! I think you should look in the bigger Sasa stores. Like you, I find most tints dry up too quickly and on lips and cheeks, they can get really blotchy. This one doesn’t but I don’t like how it feels on my lips.
Just an update…
I drop by the nearest SaSa to try out the Stainiac. But decided NOT to buy it, cuz you’re right; it does feels weird on my lips. However, i’m now eyeing theBalm’s BalmShelter tinted moisturiser. Have you tried this?
Haven’t tried Balmshelter – the colours didn’t look like they might suit me, but then I’d always done a hit and run at Sasa counters since I’m deathly afraid of their SAs 😛
Not sure if you already know this, but you find the gel sticking to the sides of the tube where the doe-foot applicator can’t reach, try this:
– Screw the cap in very tightly
– Hold the very end of the applicator side of the tube
– Shake the tube really hard (the less runny the formula, the harder the shakes!) in a window-wiper motion
The swings and shakes should force the gel back to the very end of the tube. 🙂 I do this all the time with my Etude House Dear Darling Lip Tint, which has a dense, jam-and-jelly density.
Thank you for the tip AB! I will be sure to do that once the level starts dropping too low 😀
thanks for the review, the color looks great on you! my main complaint about this and similar products is that they stain the fingers when you dab it on 🙁
Hey Jan that’s a great observation. I do detest that whole finger staining thing too 🙁 The only consolation I have is that this one doesn’t stain my fingers as badly, and it does wash out. At the end of the day when I wash my face, I don’t have stained skin so its quite a relief! 😀
Wow, I must try this out! Thanks Paris for the review =)
You’re welcome 🙂 Hope you like it if you try it!
Yeah!x3 🙂
I’ve been looking for an excuse to pick up something from The Balm! Was controlling myself because err… think I’ve got enough makeup items already… if that’s possible! 😀
HAHA! Erm… I’ll withhold comment on quantity of makeup 😉 I like the blushes I’ve tried from TheBalm. I hear their eyeshadows are nice too. Will have a palette on the way so I’ll probably give it a go and see how it fares.
Thanks for the review. It looks lovely on you!
Thank you Gio!
Your lip colour is really nice. 🙂 What colour is that?
Hmm… you know what? I can’t remember 😛 It could be the Lancome L’Absolu liquid lipstick or a Dior. Sorry!
that’s nice! a tint that doesn’t dry fast! good for you to have it there! nice review miss paris and it looks good on you!
Thank you Issa!