Tarte is one of a few cosmetics brands that only uses natural, eco-friendly ingredients for their makeup. I have a few of their beauty products in my collection but my most favorite and most used item has to be their famous Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blush. I purchased one color at a time and I've had 7 so far (I'll be reviewing only 6 today since the 7th one is more of a highlighter shade that I'll probably review later in a separate post).
Contrary to a lot of natural beauty brands, Tarte makes their packaging so much more colorful and fun! The packaging of these blushes are super lightweight and color coordinated, meaning the color of the packaging reflects the color of the blush inside. This is actually really useful for us girls who have different shades of the same product as we can quickly spot the color we want in our stash. The full size compacts come with a pretty good size mirror while the smaller ones (come in a set) do not. Another great thing about the packaging is the blush pan can be popped out and deposited in a separate magnetic palette in case you wish to carry it along with some other products for travel. How very thoughtful! :)
The blush design itself has the Amazon river embossed in the middle which I think is a nice touch. The formula is truly remarkable in the sense that it works on any skin types – for oily skin, it controls oil; for dry skin, it hydrates. These blushes are intensely pigmented and finely-milled so a soft hand during application is a must. They may look a bit powdery at first, but they go on very smoothly and are easy to blend. Since they are so soft and crazy pigmented, I'd recommend using a fan brush or stippling brush for a natural-looking application. Build a sheer layer first, then add more to increase the intensity if desired. Tarte boasts a 12-hour wear but I find the color starting to fade just a tad bit on my cheeks at the end of day (8-9 hours) especially for lighter shades.
I have swatches of 6 colors to show you in this review – Magic, Fantastic, Dollface, Blissful, Exposed, and Tipsy.
Magic – matte bright coral pink
Fantastic – matte bright barbie doll pink
Dollface – matte mid tone pink
Blissful – matte peachy coral
Exposed – matte muted pink / rosy nude
Tipsy – matte bright coral
All colors except Fantastic show up really nicely on my skin tone of NC30. They make my cheeks look warmly flushed in the most natural way while giving a matte finish that is perfect for my oily skin (I tend to avoid shimmery blushes since they accentuate oiliness). My favorites are Exposed and Blissful. Exposed is just a perfect color for everyday wear or on days when you are out of ideas. It is in such high demand that it's constantly out of stock on Sephora website. Although appeared light brown in the pan, it goes on subtle pinky nude that would compliment any looks. Blissful may look intimidating in the pan but with proper application, it gives a hint of warm peachy coral on the cheeks that looks healthy and completely natural. My least favorite is Fantastic since the color is so stark against my skin tone but I can see this being a gorgeous color on fairer skins.
These Amazonian Clay blushes come in a wide range of colors so chances are you will find something that suits you. Soft, amazing color pay off, and good for your skin, these blushes have a reputation they are very well deserved. A lot of sales events are coming up this Fall and I am planning to get my hands on a few more of the pinker shades. I'm thinking maybe Amused and Achiote. With so many beautiful colors, it's hard to make a decision!
Do you own any Tarte blushes? What are some of your favorite colors? Give me some suggestions for my next purchase. :)
Purchase
฿1,200 at Sephora Thailand
