Gift, Affiliate Links
A few months ago, Marcia generously sent me a bunch of new products from Bobbi Brown’s relatively new brand, Jones Road. I used and reviewed a cream eyeshadow called Just A Sec that I really liked (here).
Jones Road Miracle Balm
What is it?
One of the other products that she sent was Jones Road Miracle Balm. Bear in mind that Jones Road’s tagline is “Clean No Makeup, Makeup”.
What is Miracle Balm? I had no idea, and I’m still not sure that I get it. Here’s how Jones Road describes the product on the website:
…Miracle Balm is the secret of no-makeup makeup: a wash of soft-focus moisture to perfect and enhance skin. A light-reflecting superproduct that’s as versatile as it is simple to use. Wear Miracle Balm alone or layer on top of foundation for an instant refresh.
So I guess it is a hydrating blurring product? It kind of reminds me of two blurring balms that I tried out quite a few years ago: Yves St. Laurant Touche Eclat Blur Perfector (reviewed here in 2015) and L’Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur (reviewed here in 2013). Both created quite a buzz when they were first introduced, and then they disappeared. They were products that I had great hopes for, but then ended up seldom using. Not sure why Bobbi Brown felt the need to reintroduce this product.
What’s It Like?
Miracle Balm is a stiff, somewhat greasy balm with a sheen. It’s key ingredients are jojoba/castor oil and beeswax.
I believe it can be worn on its own or on top of foundation. It can be used all over the face for added hydration, sheen, a touch of color, glow, and blurring imperfections. Or it can be used in certain areas that you want to camouflage, highlight or moisturize.
You can apply it with your fingers, brush or sponge. You’re supposed to start using it by breaking the surface with your fingertip and then warming up the balm to soften the product (though it doesn’t say how to do that).
My product is so stiff that breaking the surface has not been doable.
It comes in a large, 3 inch diameter tub containing 50 g/1.7 oz. of product. That’s a lot of product! It would take me several lifetimes to use up this product.
Miracle Balm comes in 9 shades, and I received Dusty Rose, the shade I would have chosen if I were buying it for myself.
My Thoughts on Miracle Balm
Miracle Balm, sadly, isn’t for me. The Dusty Rose shade has no discernible color which is a shame because I would most likely use it as a combination blush/highlighter on or near my cheeks.
The product is both stiff and greasy, two negatives in my book. I couldn’t imagine applying this all over my foundation because I think it would smear. Perhaps in the dead of winter it would be a nice product to apply to bare, dry skin?
I thought maybe Miracle Balm would sink into my skin and dry down over time, but on me, it doesn’t. It stays sort of sticky, another negative for me.
Other Reviewer’s Thoughts on Miracle Balm
Jones Road Beauty products are sold only on the Jones Road website/e-commerce site. Reading the customer reviews on the Jones Road site where the product is rated 4 stars out of 5 with 9903 reviewers, you would say this product is undoubtedly a hit. People love the glow and wash of color it gives. Several reviewers bought the product in a few different shades!
But I managed to find 9 reviews on Google where it is rated 2 stars: they are much more in line with my experience: tinted Vaseline, clear Vaseline, sticky, colorless.
Other Info
On Jonesroadbeauty.com, Miracle Balm is priced at $38. It’s not vegan, but it is cruelty-free.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Mica, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officianlis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Tocopherol, May Contain +/-: Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Iron Oxides/CI 77491/CI 77499/CI 77492, CI 77163/Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77861/Tin Oxide, CI 45410/Red 28 Lake
I am not entirely sure if this is intended as a type of moisturizing luminizer, or if it has some sort of primer type properties, but the fact that it can be used on top of a foundation makes me think that it is a type of highlighting balm. It is quite pretty on your skin, but I am not really sure about its purpose!
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This is something Ive been wanting to try and still do! LOL A shame you cant see it well on your skin. This is the color I wanted too. Stephanie from Brighter Darling has reviewed and demo’d these in a few shades and I think the brighter pink she showed would be a better choice for me if I end up buying it. I don’t mind grease and shine. lol But I would be mad if it doesn’t soften like it should and didn’t produce any color. I already have RMS beauty living luminizer for a “no color” shine/highlighter type product.
Hi, Allison – This doesn’t sound like a pretty or enjoyable product; But since it contains jojoba and castor oils, it’s therapeutic for the skin. I wonder if it goes over foundation to blur the makeup so it looks more natural and less made up? The different shades it comes in must be for some reason….It seems to be a mystery to almost everyone but Bobbi Brown. Lol! She must use it to blur the obvious appearance of makeup? Very interesting… – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
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My niece loves these but I didn’t care for the one I bought myself. i don’t know if it works better on younger skin. So far I’m not a fan of the line.
Not sure how you used it when you didn’t even break the top seal on the product to put it on your hand in the photo? Sounds like a bit of user error
Hi N, thanks for your comment and sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I had surgery. I was given the Miracle Balm in the late winter/early spring in the North, and it was as hard as a rock. In order to break the seal, I would have needed to scoop it out with a spoon or a sharp knife. In May, we finally had a strangely hot day and the top seal melted! I was able to get beneath the seal, but it didn’t make me love it, unfortunately. It was greasy, shiny and the color didn’t do much for me. I was happy to have a chance to try it, but it didn’t suit me. That’s why I gave the 4/5 ratings from the Jones Road website since others seemed to like it.
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I have dry skin and have now purchased in several colors. I put this on my face with my fingers after my moisturizer. I use a small amount of concealer or foundation to cover and dark spots or imperfections. I’ve noticed that now when I use foundation it feels like I have too much makeup on and the minimal look w just the miracle balm and spot touch up feels and looks so much better. It doesn’t feel greasy to me but maybe that’s because my skin is drier. My skin looks great though, so that’s been a benefit.
That’s great, Beth. Incredible that you can do without foundation when you use it! The Miracle Balm that I received seemed so stiff, initially, and it took till the weather warmed up in late May for me to be able to use it. I usually prefer cream products so I expected to like it, but it just didn’t do anything for me. From reading a ton of reviews, it seems to be a polarizing product: you either love it like you do or you don’t. Guess I’m in the latter camp. I would be back and try it again, but I think I tossed it. If you purchased Miracle Balm in several colors, it is definitely working for you. Thank you for letting me know how you use it and the benefits it’s been providing for you!!
It didn’t leave any color on your skin because you didn’t follow the directions. You are supposed to break the seal with your finger. I have the miracle balm and three colors, and I am obsessed!
When I finally could break the seal, it still did nothing for me. And it felt greasy even on my dry skin. Not for me. I’ll stick with blush. But I’m so glad you enjoy using it! Obviously, it has fans coz now so many other brands are copying JR Miracle Balm.
I think maybe one of the reasons you didn’t like it is because it seems like Dusty Rose would be the wrong color for you. You seem like you have a medium to dark skin tone you would probably like flushed or Miami Beach. Dusty Rose is best used as a highlighter and it doesn’t really give a bunch of color it gives a gleam. Maybe, when they offer the mini sizes again probably around the holidays you could try a small pot and see if you like it. You really need to put quite a bit of pressure on the top in order to break the seal but it does break no matter whether it’s cold or not it definitely feels hard and you wonder at first did you just spend that much money on a tub of Vaseline. But I promise it’s worth it once you try the right colors. I actually own all of them and I love them for a different reasons. One of my favorites oddly enough was Au Naturel. It’s colorless but slightly pearlized. I put it on all over my face and it’s like I have a filter. The tiniest bit is enough and it works best if you tap it on and use the warmth of your fingers to blend it into your skin.
Cheyenne, my skin is fair, in certain brands fair/light. Dusty Rose was fine. I didn’t like the look or the feel of it. Period. The end. I have such a huge stash that I can move on to a million other products. It was just my opinion. It doesn’t mean that others shouldn’t love it. I’m sure I have things I love that others don’t. I’m glad, however, that you do really like Miracle Balm. Enjoy!