Mindfully Polished: Baroness X

Baroness X Matte Swatcher's Balm

*Purchased by me*

Hey there! I have something a bit different to share today! I am going to be talking about one of my new cuticle care loves: Baroness X's Matte Swatcher Balm! I had heard continuous praises about this balm in the Baroness X Facebook group, and in other various groups; naturally, my curiosity got the best of me, and I ordered some to try out!

The Matte Swatcher Balm is described on the site as "a hydrating, low sheen balm then this is the product you've been waiting for. Removing your polish with acetone can leave your fingers ashen and your cuticles dryer than ever. We all want to moisturize post mani but leave the oils and shiny things for repair and overnight wear. During the day and for photos you want something that looks and feels a little more natural. That's where this balm comes in! It absorbs quickly and leaves a powdery yet smooth feeling behind." As with numerous other indie products, this balm is cruelty free.

There are numerous scent options available for this balm, and they include: Unscented, Pistachio Macaroon, Peppermint, Viva La Juicy, Watermelon Lemonade, Carnival, Froot Loops, Berries and Cream, Yuzu, and Passion Fruit; there is also a "Surprise Me!" option. Size options for the balms are either 10 grams or 20 grams. Descriptions for all of the scent options are available on the site, right here!

The two scents that I picked up to try were Pistachio Macaroon and Carnival. The balms are packaged in sturdy plastic containers, with the name clearly printed on the clear portion. The lid is a screw-top, and it is easily removable.

The balm itself is smooth and non-greasy, as promised! I like to apply it in two different ways: Either with my finger, or with an angled brush. The brush that I use is made by eyes.lips.face (elf), and it is very inexpensive-- about $3.00. They can be found at Target, and at some drugstores!

As for the performance of the balm, I have to say... I am IN LOVE! It applies non-slick and non-greasy, as promised, and is still moisturizing. My cuticles feel soft immediately after application! Here is a before shot of my cuticle:

And an after shot:

I definitely recommend picking up a container for yourself to try, if this sounds like a product that you would be interested in! A little goes a long way, and I think that I will have this around for a good while. The small container (10 g) costs $5.00, and the large container (20 g) costs $9.00.

The ingredients in Baroness X's Matte Balm are: mango butter, jojoba oil, beeswax, coconut oil, aloe leaf extract, hemp seed oil, sweet almond oil, mineral oil, cyclomethicone, silica, arrowroot powder, tapioca powder, cetearyl alchohol, ceteareth-20, vitamin e, fragrance oil*, essential oil*

Oh, and what is this stunning creation on my nails, you ask? This is a polish also made by Baroness X, and it is named Dulcinea. Dulcinea is a violet jelly base with red-shifting-green shimmer and translucent flakies.

Each polish from Baroness X comes with a cabochon on the top of the bottle, so that you are able to know what the polish looks like when applied.

I was able to get Dulcinea opaque in four coats. Because it is a jelly, and because it has so many complex elements, it does require multiple coats, in order for the dimension to be evident. If you don't want to do this many coats, however, it can also be used as a topper with many other colors! That's the fun thing about these types of polishes: The possibilities are endless! Shown in my swatches are four coats plus glossy top coat, under a daylight bulb.