Makeup artist Bobbi Brown has been known for her innovative and at times polarizing cosmetics. With her brand Jones Road Beauty, Brown has leaned in to the "no-makeup makeup" trend, providing consumers with a line of skincare-makeup hybrid products that prioritize hydrating ingredients and “your skin but better” results. The brand’s Miracle Balm has proven to be no different.
Celebrity makeup artist Amanda Grossman has dubbed the creamy balm a true multitasker as it can be used as a bronzer, highlighter or blush. It features emollient ingredients, including jojoba and argan oils, antioxidant sea buckthorn berry oil and some essential oils that give it a citrusy scent. (Note: Our pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab have noted that a patch test is recommended before trying because essential oils may irritate sensitive or reactive skin.)
The hydrating tint can be layered onto the skin to reveal a sheer wash of pigment that also keeps the skin looking supple and, according to makeup artist Emily Dimant, it is also easily applied under or over foundation. Miracle Balm comes in 13 tinted hues that work on a variety of ages and skin tones, from fair to deep. Au Naturel, Flushed, Miami Beach, Pinched Cheeks, Pinky Bronze, Golden Hour and Bronze suit all skin tones. Happy Hour, Sunkissed and Dusty Rose cater to lighter skin tones, while Tawny, Magic Hour and Cocoa Bronze match medium to deep skin tones.
How do you use Jones Road Miracle Balm?
Much like coconut oil, the first step is to “break the seal.” Gently press your finger into the center of the balm until the surface (satisfyingly!) cracks. If not, it'll just go on like a clear balm. After piercing the top and a few finger swirls, apply a dewy glaze of color on lips, cheeks, eyelids and décolletage.
Dimant says it comes with a slight learning curve, but its buildability grants users room to play around. "Thin and light layers are the way to go with this product," she says. "You can apply the balm with your fingers, palms, sponge or brush. My preferred way is clean hands because of the warmth of our skin." For bronze-y colors, Grossman picks up a large brush to buff into skin for an all over glow.
Our honest thoughts
Application
Like Dimant says, the balm comes with a bit of a learning curve: I had to add more firm pressure when breaking the seal and swirling the pigment. A few taps onto the cheeks got me a pretty hue. The creamy consistency bodes well for buildable application, but I found it sat atop skin instead of melting in.
Another staffer with oily skin found the consistency thick and sticky — comparable to Aquaphor. "I didn't really enjoy the process of cracking through the crust with my finger in order to actually get to the pigment," says a GH Staff Writer.
She added that an applicator could've made the process go smoother, while multiple layers were the only way for her to see any pigment.
Color payoff
Rather than coverage, the Miracle Balm gives a dewy effect that makes my face look brightened. Flushed and Miami Beach layer a healthy-looking rosiness to the cheeks, while bronze Magic Hour warmed up my complexion. Au Naturel gave a subtle hint of gloss but didn't quite live up to the high shine I expected.
Wear
As a firm follower of the minimal makeup trend, I found that the Miracle Balm leaned into exactly what I love about it: Natural yet glowy results. The results, however, varied with my co-workers with oily and sensitive skin. "As the day went on, I think it ended up looking more oily than the subtle glow and pigment that it provided when I first put it on," a GH Staff Writer adds.
Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann also noted that while she initially thought the balm would be great for dry, mature skin that could use"a touch of liveliness and sheen without looking overdone," she ultimately decided that it did not work for her sensitive skin.
"This balm did not disappoint for the first few hours, keeping skin plumped and soft, but as time passed, it began to feel heavy on my skin, making me look tired and sweaty and needing blotting paper," Wizemann said. "The abundance of essential oils like grapefruit, orange peel, rosemary leaf and geranium, as well as sea buckthorn fruit oil, may have been too much for my sensitive skin, and the balm left it flushed and annoyed enough that I did not reach for it again."
Is Jones Road Miracle Balm worth it?
Normal to dry skin folks may find a better match in the hydrating, high-shine formula, rather than oily types. Grossman drops the tip to reserve it for the cheekbones, neck and lips, helping avoid additional greasiness. One GH reader, 59, noted that it worked "great" for their mature skin type. While chic on a bathroom countertop, the white packaging is also victim to any traces of color left behind on fingertips when opening and closing the jar.
Otherwise, the Miracle Balm delivers a lovely subtle color that doesn't go overboard. Considering its versatility and easy swipe application, it makes a great glossy companion for pared-down summer days.
SHOP THE JONES ROAD BEAUTY MIRACLE BALM
More of the best glowy natural makeup to shop
Those with oily or sensitive skin types who can't find a match in the Jones Road Miracle Balm, fret not: We also rounded up the top tier blushes, highlighters and bronzers that mimic similar results. Not to mention, a few are favorite picks from our Beauty Lab.
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Jacqueline Saguin was a commerce editor within the GH Institute where she regularly collaborated with the scientists and chemists at the GH Beauty Lab. She regularly reported on expert-recommended products within the beauty and wellness space, from the best blush to LED face masks. When writing this guide, she tapped professional makeup artists for application tips and documented her testing process.
Cameron Jenkins is a GH Staff Writer who regularly covers beauty and provides her unfiltered opinions on viral products documented her testing of this product. She also partnered with the Beauty Lab to provide more background on the ingredients used in this product as well as tips for consumers with sensitive and reactive skin.
Jacqueline (she/her) was a commerce editor for Good Housekeeping from 2021 to 2024. Prior to joining GH, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
