There are a lot of products that I've had my eye on for a long time but haven't yet gotten around to picking up. One of those products that I've been lusting after for literally years is theBalm's Mary Lumanizer, which I think has basically reached cult status at this point. During Holiday 2016, when theBalm released The Manizer Sisters Luminizing Collection palette, which contains Mary along with Cindy and Betty, I waffled a little bit but still wanted it. So when I saw it on sale at my local Rexall for 50% recently, I instantly picked it up. I mean... I had to, right?

Like every since piece of packaging theBalm does, this palette is absolutely adorably appointed. With each of the mugshot-style pinup artwork from the individual packaging on both the sleeve and the palette itself, it seriously can't get any cuter. I also feel like this cardboard packaging is quite sturdy and I love that it comes with a mirror.

Mary-Lou Manizer

Everything I'd always heard about this highlight was how intense and gorgeous it was - and it is, but with one caveat. Because I'm fair, particularly at this time of year, this champagne shade is quite close to my skintone, so I don't think I get the intense bam! that everyone was talking about. That said, I think that's what I love about this. It gives a really pretty sheen to the skin without being glittery, but because it's close to my skin tone it doesn't look like too much or overly highlight texture on my skin. The formula of this is pretty much perfect, as far as I'm concerned. It's smooth and creamy without ever feeling chunky and it applies and blends really smoothly into the skin.

Cindy-Lou Manizer

Honestly, based on how it looks in the pan, I thought this shade was going to be a little bit deeper, but it's actually quite light. On my skin tone, this is definitely a blush topping type of shade generally, but for a really light, glowy cheek look I do feel like I could also use this for my blush when I'm at my fairest. I think this is going to be a shade that I reach for a lot in the summer when I really want glowing, dewy skin. Again, the formula on this powder is really beautiful and I can't really complain about it. It's smooth and creamy, not overly pigmented, and applies really nicely.

Betty-Lou Manizer

Clearly this is the shade that I was the most unsure about before I bought this - and it remains the shade that I'm most unsure about. It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, and the formula is absolutely lovely, but for my skintone I'm just not sure I'm going to be able to make this work as a face product. On deep skin tones, I think this would be absolutely stunning and give a really beautiful glow, but for me I think it's going to end up being an eyeshadow. And trust me, as an eyeshadow, Betty-Lou is top notch as a lid shade and also for a one shadow look.

To be honest, I think the reason I hesitated in buying this when I first saw it was because I wasn't really sure how these shades were going to work with my fair skin, and I think that could actually still be the one caveat I have for this palette. I think for medium to deep shades, all three of these shades are really going to be usable as face products, but on fair skin they'll take a little bit more precision and I think Betty-Lou will almost certainly have to be an eyeshadow. Still, I'm so glad I bought this because the quality of it is just top notch and I know that I'm going to get a lot of use out of it - particularly in the summer, when I think this palette will shine!