Baroness X Matte Swatcher's Balm Review (plus a bonus swatch!)

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. 

 

Dulcinea is currently available in Baroness X's shop, and it is $13.00 for a full size (15 mL) bottle; you can find the listing for it right here! 

Please be sure to check out Baroness X on social media! 

Baroness X shop: http://baronessx.com/

Baroness X Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baronessx_polish/

Baroness X Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baronessx/

The X Army (Facebook fan group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/baronessXfans/

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I'll see you next time! 

♥ Megan

My Favorite Cuticle and Hand Care Items: Sunny's Body Products and Ever After Bath and Body Products

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, I want to tell you about some of my favorite products for cuticle care and hand care. While this is not everything that I use, they are the products that I use most frequently.

My love for cuticle and hand care began with Sunny's Body Products, after I won a couple of her products from a Twitter chat. I quickly became addicted to them, and amassed a rather large collection. Sunny (which is her nickname; her real name is Sanaz) has numerous products available in her shop, and she has a spreadsheet of scents that you can choose from; there are SO MANY! Florals, fruity, masculine, seasonal, and my favorite, food-related. Her shop is accessible here, and the spreadsheet of scents is available here.

Sunny offers two different types of cuticle oil: An Intensive Cuticle Therapy, and a regular Cuticle Oil. The Intensive Therapy changes your cuticles almost instantly, and it is packed with loads of healing oils that hydrate and heal. This oil comes with a dropper applicator. The regular Cuticle Oil is divine, and it comes in a rollerball applicator.

Intensive Cuticle Therapy (left) in Caramelized Pralines and Regular Cuticle Oil (right) in Hot Chocolate

Another of my favorite products from Sunny is her Hand Butter. This is also packed with lots of moisturizing oils, and it feels amazing. A little bit goes a long way when applying it to your hands, and the moisture that it delivers lasts a long time! Hand Butter is also available in all of the scents that Sunny offers!

Sunny's Hand Butter in Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Hand Butter is super creamy and moisturizing!

The last item from Sunny's Body Products that I have to share with you is her On the Go Hand Lotion. This lotion is light and moisturizing, and it soaks in almost instantly, so you aren't left with greasy hands! This lotion can be made in any of the scents that Sunny offers, as well.

Sunny's On the Go Hand Lotion

In addition to Sunny's Body Products, I have also recently fallen in love with some of the products that are made by Miranda, the bath and body care genius of Ever After!

Miranda has recently developed a product called Cuticle Crelly, a light, moisturizing cuticle cream that soaks in quickly and leaves soft, smooth, and moisturized cuticles. You can get sampler packs of Cuticle Crelly, if you want to try out different scents, or you can buy larger containers of it. You can see all of the different available scents in the pull-down bar right here!

Ever After Cuticle Crelly in Peppermint Kisses

Finally, I have Ever After's mani fizzies! These are perfect to use when you want to pamper your hands and soften your skin; all you need to do is drop them in a bowl of warm to hot water, let them fizz up, and soak your hands for about 15 minutes. After you're finished, rinse your hands with water and pat them dry, and they will be smooth and moisturized! Mani Fizzies are available in different scents as well, and you can find them in Ever After's shop right here.

Ever After Mani Fizz in Sugar Cookie scent

And there you have it: Some of my favorite cuticle and hand care products! Which products look the most interesting to you? And, what are some of your favorite cuticle and hand care products, and from which shops? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by, and I'll see you next time!
♥ Megan