THE BALM ! MARY LOU AKA THE MANIZER PRESSED POWDER, SHADOW, SHIMMER AND HIGHLIGHTER!
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house..." Oh screw it: you know the rest of the story and honestly, I'm too festive-fried to go on about it 
! Goddess Granny who is already in a January state of mind not because I don't enjoy the Holidays but because they simply wear me out! The only "rosy glow" of good-cheer and joy to the world I have right about now is from standing over a hot stove trying not to burn the cookies I'm making! It will all come magically together as it always does (or doesn't in some cases) and we will survive yet another Holiday season in spite of it all!
I'm at that point of no return however where if I don't get a hot bath, fresh hair color, a manicure and a bit of rest soon I might hurt someone if they ask me "what I'm doing" for the Holidays one more time. Sucking a candy cane to a sharp-point aka instant weapon if I need one is somehow satisfying my needs in a pervy-way right about now!
Enter a compact sent to me by either an angel who cheats on her halo-reflected glow or a fabulous elf who "gets it" when the photo-op with Santa comes around and since it arrived in my mailbox-things have been improving!
You've gotta' love this girl: "The Balm" founder and CEO Marissa Shipman goes and buys a bunch of books about how to make makeup and launches a fabulously creative and cool cosmetics company! I have used her quirky and well thought out products for a long time and often gifted them as well because they are SO cute and SUCH high quality-you can't mess up! Throw in a solid dose of good humor and charming originality in the packaging and names and you have a company whose fabulously edited-line of great stuff just keeps getting better!
When one comes up with a name like "Mary Lou aka the Manizer" you know they want you to smile! The name might well grab one's attention at first but the gorgeous and luminous power inside the adorable compact will be what keeps you coming back for more! Sheer and with a glisten like the prettiest snowflake in the sun, this refined powder illuminator is nothing short of MY personal Holiday Miracle on 54th Street right now because it makes me look prettier than I feel: you can use this to highlight your cheekbones, on your browbone above the eye, as a shadow, on the cupid's bow above your lip, in the inner corner of your eyes, under your eye applied with a liner-brush, down your cleavage...it truly is a "do it all" product that lights up you up from within, lasts all day, and never settles either into tiny lines and creases or acts all grinchy and changes color like some do when they morph to a sticky pink or muddy gold...this one stays true to itself and to you!
I'm a hot- mess lately for ridiculously deep lip colors (trying to track down Chanel's "Obscure" as we speak-are you listening Santa?) and read the other day that's it's "much to girly" to also wear a blusher when you're going for that vamp in the shadow of the streetlight look on your lips or eyes that's HUGE these days! This perfect multi-tasking highlighter finishes your skin and adds just enough heavenly definition and glow to define and add a sexy otherworldly-polish to one's face without getting all girly....I personally like girly but understand the way of and reasons for a good smolder as well!
Beautifully made compact with oh so clever graphic and there is a LOT of product in here: I can't think of a better or better priced highlighter available that really is a "one shade for all" like this one is: it's perfect on everyone regardless of skin tone and is sheer enough so that those of us with a bit more "refinement of age" on our skin don't have to worry about ending up looking all Barbie-glittery...although I like that look too 
! This is a grown-up flat out SEXY shimmer that softly whispers dirty words in your ear rather than drunkenly licking your neck leaving behind huge lipstick smears...
I hate to sound like a broken record but damn this is a great product and again, one of the newest in my personal "Holy Grail" plastic bin that lives under my vanity: I have sparkly crown-stickers all over it so "it" knows how special it is compared to the other bins (yes,they get all catty and jealous...) IF a product makes it into this bin, it has a really good shot at being used up and purchased again.
It is sold out at Sephora but read the DOZENS of great reviews and you'll know why I'm also jumping on this sleigh ride of sparkle:
This is one product that I promise will brighten your spirits and your face no matter your mood !
Sending you and yours all the joys of the season: thank you all for making my life and Holidays not only merrier but more beautiful in every way possible! Merry Christmas and lots of love!
How do you sparkle and what do you use for highlighter? Who else is a huge fan of The Balm?
Buy It Here!
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Reviews
I really like the handful of theBalm products I've tried-an e/s palette, lip stain, and tinted moisturizer. The quality is great and the prices are competitive for the quality. I'd love to try this luminizer! I have a few highlighting products already, including some of the infamous "balls," but it's always fun to see what else is out there to give a fabulous glow!
I've been wanting to try TheBalm forever. However, I manage to leave Sephora w/o buying any of their products. I came so close to buying one of their lipsticks last week, but didn't. One of these days I'm going to break down and buy on of their products. Maybe I will get this highlighter, as I'm not a fan of the liquid highlighters.
Sounds fabulous! I must get it if GG and Gigi recommend it!
Ooh, Goddess Granny this sounds right up my alley!! I have been looking for something similar to wear instead of blush when I'm rocking my brightest of red lipsticks or vampy smokey eyes. This sounds just the ticket - and it looks like it can do it all, from face to body! Perfection. Here's hoping I can find a local stockist! Thanks again for a great year of reviews and wonderful moments in 2009. All the best for the impending Christmas explosion - I'm sure all will be well in your house. : ]
I so wanna try this brand!
This is truly one product I've been eyeing for quite a while but just never got around to actually buying. Though, with such a glowing review, I'll think I'll have to actually pull myself together. In fact, there's quite a few things I would like to try from this brand, since even here in Sweden it is reasonably priced and I keep reading only good reviews.
Where in Sweden can you buy theBalm? I visit Stockholm quite often. I really want to try Down boy or Cabana boy :)
Merry Christmas to you, too!! I wish I could use this, but it would only accentuate my uneven skin texture, horribly.
http://ediblelove.wordpress.com/
Sucker for packaging, love te design. May look into this.
my goodness! what a fabulous product! i absolutely love bronzers and highlighters!!!!!! a light dust on your cheeks make sig difference to the contour of your face. but i only really ever just use one, either bronzer or highlighter or blush...i find them too much when used together.
My new Ebay Store: cossiepieMy blog: http://lazyscorner.blogspot.com/
I want this sooooo badly!!! I love this type of product and am very happy with my EDM one but....you can always try out more! I'm hoping the texture is subtle bc i always tend to get a bit too much with my EDM! I hope santa leaves this under my tree or in my stocking :)
OOOOOO I love the packaging!! i love how all these companies are doing all these super cute stuff now!! Thank you for the wishes!! HAPPPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU TOOOO!! I hope santa is good to all of you meg heads!! =D
I am going to get some new faces so I can try all of this good stuff! This said as I sit here in my jammies on yet another cold, whenaretheygoingtoplowusoutofheresoicangotothegymday.Did ya get that? I do like a multi-purpose high-lighter product and I like the ease of the powder. I bet I might even have one or two (keep counting) up in my bathroom. This is the perfect day to clean out the cosmetics drawers. Or not.
ahhooo prettythis looks like a really fun company! love their packaging and yeah check out those reviews! awesome. happy holidays to everyone too!! :)
makeup makeup makeup!!!!!!!
merry christmas! ive never used the balm and i dont have a highlighter. i was avoiding them b/c someone said highlighters amplify any "texture" on your skin. since i had pimples, i didnt want that. w/ my skin more clear, i'll look into doing some highlighting.
http://www.youtube.com/ashleya1002
Really want to try
The packaging is so cute, and I love the name! I've never found a highlighter I liked, but this one seems to be a slightly different shade than the others I've tried. I'll have to give this a try sometime. Happy holidays, Goddess Granny. I too am ready for January!
when i hear the words "shimmer" i get the shivers. I think shimmer looks really.. well odd put on. Maybe because I'm so young, and I don't know how to apply it yet..Love the packaging though!
Ooooooh how pretty is that I do love pretty things !!!! I have to say I love compacts and this one is calling my name !!! :-)
I prefer to sparkle with my nail polish. I got China Glaze Emerald Sparkle from Meg after cashing in my points and just love it. Since then I've picked up Ruby Pumps and Dorothy Who, both gorgeous sparkle polishes.
Yay~! This is also my favorite product on my profile!Yes, it does have a lot of product in it and for those who love shimmer like myself, it's a great highlighter. It instantly brightens up your face when applied over your T-zone like magic.
http://blingnerd.blogspot.com/
So glad I'm not the only one who has a "holy grail" bin! In my case, a huge pewter bowl, for easy access and aesthetic acceptability. Anyway, I have a shadow/highlighter that I got in a "mystery bag" that I purchased from Beautyticket.com. I like to get them every so often, I enjoy the surprise, and the dollar value of the products is amazingly high. It's called "natural blonde" and it's in a little dark pink container with a light pink lid, made out of cardboard, and the company name is very hard to read, but it's "beautee" something. I have to get a magnifying glass or something to read it so I can track it down once I reach the pan, which I know I will, it's that great!
that sounds perfect for me i would us more for a touch up hopefully i can find it in a store
What cute packaging! I really like it -- even the formatting on the website! Definitely going to be looking further into this =) Great review, Goddess Granny -- I laughed aloud at the candy cane weapon!
I am in love with not too overpowering shimmer! And the packaging is so cute!
http://blacknailpolishandlipgloss.blogspot.com/
This looks so cute. I use a shimmery eye shadow palette sometimes.
I love the packaging of The Balm products. I've tried their concealer and lip gloss. I'm using a Becca pressed shimmer powder as my highlighter at the moment, it's lovely and subtle.
http://www.beautifullyglossy.blogspot.com
haha "Sucking a candy cane to a sharp-point aka instant weapon if I need one is somehow satisfying my needs in a pervy-way right about now!" You kill me! :)
I am always a sucker for shimmer! Definitely want to try this out
Britt♥
I use this facial spray that I got from Meg! I love it and it sprays right onto my face to brighten it up. It gives it a less cakey matte look, and makes it shimmer slightly
Oh Goddess Granny you are my soul SISTER! I feel exactly as you do! About this time of year and about this product. I KNOW ladies, I've had a lot to say about shimmers lately but this one takes the cake. Out of the three that we've reviewed lately this one does it ALL! It is a TRUE highlighter, because it brings the light to your face and brightens without accentuating any of the wrinkles or fine lines. I am shocked at how much I love this chit. I use it in the typical manner, above/below brows, tops of cheeks bones, tip of chin, cupids bow and shoulders and chest. Mind you, I don't employ all of these techniques at once, moderation is key when we are talking shimmers. This is one of the few highlighters that actually fools the eye when it comes to fine lines. It's not all glittery but I KNOW even the hotties in their twenties will be as drawn to this as the women in their sixties and the rest of us in between. It really is the best out there. Another simple but great technique: apply shimmer directly under beautifully groomed brows and the tiniest bit to the inner corner of the eyes, next line the top lid only with a true black liner, then add some neutral blush and finish with a dramatic red lip. Very glam, very old Hollywood, and 100% awesome! (Goddess Granny, come on already, get your ass to Cali so we can let off some steam!) I have to say, I love all you Meg Heads, Happy Holidays to the most amazing women I know! MUAH!
I can't wait to try this product. Looks fantastic. I love anything like that. It also looks a great deal like Benefit. Their products are great. Off to the dept stores or other places for more, as if I haven't already spent a friggin fortune on MAC. I can't stay away from that counter. I go insane!! The best by far lip colors and lip liners on the planet!!! I am a huge advocate for their makeup. I've been using it since 1998......... huge fan.
Chanelisbest
I have heard so many good things about this brand, and that compact is adorable! Can't wait to try this one. I don't use a highlighter often, but I have a Victoria Secret brand one that is pretty good.
Oh Goddess Granny - I always love your reviews! I can literally hear your voice as you express your thoughts - I agree - I am ready for January too! First off I have to say how completely clever were the Balm marketing people who came up with the name "Mary-Lou Manizer"?!!! The entire compact is just adorable! The fact that the compact provides a crystal clear mirror inside the cover for your viewing needs is a plus too! The luminizer is really a magical product! If you are older like me and have lost your natural luster because the skin drones have been sucking the life out of your face - the Balm's Luminizer is a gift to your days! I gently caress my face with a soft brush deftly coated with this lovely Luminizer and just like that I have a look of radiance! I only need a little! It's absolutely wonderful around your eyes too and lasts for hours and hours! The compact is just such a sexy item - you'll love to leave it lying around but be careful because THIS is a compact that will be snatched up in a heartbeat and not by a Grinch! Your best girlfriend might actually cross the friendship line if she sees this! Once a female spots this cute compact and experiences the magnificent shimmer which resides inside - she will become as dangerous as the sexpot pictured on the front of the Balm Luminizer!
Jeanasina!
The stuff sounds fantastic. Jeanasina, your comment on the skin drones sucking the life out of your face is hilarious! You're so funny. You don't have a thing to worry about. You look fabulous dahlink! (picture Billy Crystal saying this) or Ricardo Montalban... whichever one you fancy! ha! Anyway, yes, taking a toll on the face issues. I guess stress is the ultimate worst. The worst ever.. I need to just unwind, get a massage and get rid of the STRESS! There should never be anything so nasty as that word. It makes people crazy. I will try any product for skin. I love skin care products. They're fun to try and to buy. What can I say.. major product whore that I am.
Chanelisbest
i do have a tiny kabuki brush from the balm...it's ok quality.
Merry Christmas to you to! Thank for all your wonderful reviews. Coming from a teenager who didn't really have anyone to learn from, this means a lot. I look forward to read more in the New Year!I love the top design of this to.
savemesomemoney.tumblr.com
I loved this highlighter. It didn't make me glittery or overly shiny, just healthy looking. I was very impressed. I recommend adding this to your wishlist.Happy Holidays Angie. Have a Merry Christmas and prosperous and happy new year.
Beste Hilsin
sounds great! I would like to try this out! Thanks and hope you have a Merry Christmas!!
And Merry Christmas to you and your family as well, Goddess Granny!I personally try to avoid luminizers/shine/etc. because they make my already huge pores look even bigger :( I have tried MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, and it's alright.
♥ Lipgloss and Spandex: a blog for gals who look good and run fast
Oh I really want to try this!!!! I love anything that glitters and will brighten my complexion. Merry Xmas to everyone too!!! Have a super safe holiday too :)
Happy Holidays! :) I just picked up NARS Albatross and I'm in love! It gives the most perfect glow & sheen to your face.
My Beauty Blog:http://www.glam-morena.com/
i have got to get my hands on this baby!!!! major amount of want going on here!! I have really really nearly ran pout of my fave eyeshadow (which i always used as a highliter on cheekbones and my cupids bow as well as my eyes-it came in a set an d is not sold as a single :(so i have been on the hunt for a perfect all round highlighter shade-well i guess i found it! i will be ordering this with my xmas money the day after boxing day! cant wait!
I've never heard or use of this company. Must be a US thing :) I personally use either EM's Natural blush as a lovely iridescent highlighter or Benefit's MoonBeam. They're both really lovely.
I love the balm's lip gloss and lip pencils. I will definitely give this a try.
I was shopping for Christmas just like everybody else lol and when I saw this @ Sephora I had to have it this highlighter is fabulous SO pigmented sooooo glowing it was a lil pricey but I still wanted it until I saw the GIANT line =s I was in a rush (and still am lol) and couldn't wait I was so frustrated cause I am a highlighter addict ! hopfully I will have 5 minutes soon so I can buy this AMAZING product <3
Chloe http://thehollywoodheels.blogspot.com
this is BEAUTIFUL....... I love the packaging... and the product LOOKS AND SOUNDS AMAZING.. this is going down on my must-have list.
sounds amazing and I love the pic on the compact.
Letitahttp://letitaslogic.blogspot.com/
Wow looks amazing
This sounds wonderful! I love shimmer! I am obsessed with shimmer! And I dont have a highlighter at the moment! Mabey its time for a self gifted christmas present! Havnt tried any products by the balm. But like many women here we love a product with fun names and flashy packaging!
Tan is Love