Tarte

Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipstick and Sea Quench Lip Rescue Treatments From the Rainforest of the Sea Collection

March 30th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 13 Comments

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drench Lip Splash Lipstick

My first Tarte product ever was a twist-up lipstick in pencil form. Lipsticks like it weren’t widely available at the time, and it was so convenient to just pop the twist-up color in my messenger bag before running off to class.

Several years later I discovered Tarte pure performance glamazon 12-hour lipstick, and it remains my favorite lipstick formula to this day.

Needless to say, I have fond memories and high expectations for Tarte lip products.

The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea collection has something special for Tarte lippie lovers in the form of two new formulas — the Drench Lip Splash Lipsticks and Quench Lip Rescue lip balms — both of which are incredible.

I mean, now I know what the sirens must have been applying to their lips in those famous Greek myths to lure in the sailors…

Each of the $22 Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipsticks is housed in a beautiful purple and golden reminiscent of the other metallic packaging in the range. The packaging sizzles with style and practically exudes summer “cool.” Right now I’m fanning myself and dreaming of hot summer nights, but I digress… 🙂

On the other hand, the $19 Tarte Quench Lip Rescue lip balms take a more whimsical approach to the collection’s aquatic, summery theme. Colorful tubes in marine teal, pink and violet are embossed with sea life, and since I’m a sucker for packaging and these are too cute, I’m all aboard.

Equally adorable, Tarte’s $19 multitasking primer/moisturizer, Lipsaver Treatment Primer, features life preservers. Of course.

Like the packaging for all of these, the formulas could not be more different.

Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipstick is 100% pigmented and matte (although I’d describe the texture as something akin to a suede, rather than the dried down velvet of so many liquid lipstick formulas that are popular now). Promising to protect your lips while delivering intense hues from nude to neon pink and blackened purples, it can be a challenge to apply (more on that later).

Incredibly hydrating Tarte Quench Lip Rescue lip balm is like a cousin to Drench…only it likes to swim a lot more. It leaves lips looking wet while moisturizing them with essential oils to keep them plump and healthy. Only slightly tinted, Quench would be an ideal lippie for on-the-go application without a mirror.

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Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation and Aquacealer Concealer: For a Complexion as Smooth as the Smoothest Seashell

March 29th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 23 Comments

If there’s one piece of mythical holy grail makeup that I’m basically always on a mission to find, it’s The Perfect Foundation. Although I’m not one to buy several different foundations at once, I do delight in testing new formulas whenever I finish one (you’ll almost never catch me using the same foundation twice).

Formulas are always described as being “out of this world,” and in many cases I think they actually are quite innovative. That’s one of the things that excites me about foundation. On top of that, a great foundation and concealer can make all the difference in the world to really set off your makeup.

The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea collection includes two fabulous, unique base makeup formulas with their Water Foundation and Aquacelaer concealer.

First, Tarte Water Foundation ($39 for 1 fl oz. bottle) will have you ready for summer fun in the sun because it contains SPF 15.

I tend to apply additional sunblock products beneath my foundations, even the ones that have SPF, because you can never be too careful with your skin, but it’s also a relief to know that my base products also have me covered (ha, see what I did there?) when.

Although the formula is full coverage, Water Foundation contains as much as 20% water, which is meant to hydrate skin while also covering redness, blemishes, unevenness and dark spots. The applicator (shown down below on the left) is a pipette-style dropper that picks up a fair amount of product from the bottle. One “pump” of the dropper sufficiently covers my full face, but I find that it works best when I put one full pump on the back of my hand first, and then pick the product up with a brush from there to blend on my face.

As for Tarte Aquacealer Concealer ($26 for a 0.34 fl oz. bottle), the luminous and creamy formula is like a serum in that it feels emollient while blending and sets to an incredibly hydrating, refreshing finish, particularly around my under-eye area.

Formulated to conceal and brighten under the eyes, as well as cover blemishes and a whole gamut of other skin concerns, Aquacealer is a high-coverage workhorse when it comes to hiding skin unmentionables.

And I love the GIANT doe-foot applicator! I mean, seriously, it’s like Tarte took a growth ray to one of your favorite lip gloss applicators and grew it threefold! Why aren’t all concealers equipped with this kind of doe foot?!

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4 Lipsticks I Love That No One Ever Talks About

March 25th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 31 Comments

Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery on my lips

Well, I’m sure that some people did talk about them back when they were first released, but they seem to have fallen into oblivion in favor of more recent launches…

We beauty lovers are a little like spoiled children sometimes, don’t you think? We like our brand new toys for about 10 seconds, and then we want newer, shinier things to keep ourselves entertained. 🙂

But today is a different day, and I’m bringing back the love for four these not-so-recent lipsticks I absolutely adore!

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — Clockwise from the top left corner: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Rebellious Rose, Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery, Maybelline SuperStay 14HR in Fuchsia Forever, and NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage

Swatches NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — L-R: NARS Carthage, Maybelline Fuchsia Forever, Tarte Fiery, Estée Lauder Rebellious Rose

1. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage ($28)

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Ringing in the New Year With the Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Palette

January 1st, 2016 by Karen 37 Comments

Good morning, my wonderful, amazing, glorious, sweet friend, and…

I’m so happy to be spending another year with you, and this is gonna be a good one, too. I can feel it! — and no, this time the feeling isn’t gas, LOL! 🙂

There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world, but… Well, no buts. There is. Life is scary sometimes and complicated, but it’s also great.

I wish you health, happiness, fun, laughter, compassion, kindness, sweetness, beauty and love in 2016. That would make me the happiest girl in the world. May the universe bless you with health, happiness and love, my friend, because what else is there, really?

Now…we have swatches. 🙂

OK, seeing as how I pretty much wore Tarte’s $45 Tartelette In Bloom clay palette for, oh, almost the entire month of December, I figure that it’s probably time I give it a quick swatchy-poo.

Yeah, I can’t remember the last time I wore the same palette for almost an entire month, both because I haven’t been wanting to wear a lot of eyeshadow lately, and also because I have a short makeup attention span.

Basically, Tartelette in Bloom is the latest version of the last Tartelette palette (that one was $44, and this year’s is $45), but I think it’s even better.

Like last year’s, it has 12 neutral powder eyeshadows; contains Tarte’s trademark super ingredient, Amazonian Clay; lasts all day long on my lids with very minimal creasing; and it’s cruelty free (like all of Tarte’s products).

This time around, though, the shadows are richer, more pigmented, and I think they’re also more interesting.

“Introducing our tartelette 2 in bloom palette – featuring 12 brand new, never-before-seen shades. With 9 mattes and 3 lusters, these lid liner and crease pairings allow you to create stunning, smoldering looks without the guesswork.”

–tartecosmetics.com

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The Tarte Light of the Party Holiday 2015 Makeup Case in Action: Smoky Brown Eyes, False Lashes and Fuchsia Lips

October 10th, 2015 by Karen 10 Comments

Dude, I wish I’d gone to a party tonight wearing this look I did with the new Tarte Light of the Party set from the holiday 2015 collection, but instead of rocking out, I watched three episodes of 90210 (the original 1990s series; I’m re-watching it on Hulu) and ate cookies with my cat on the couch.

For what it’s worth, I did seriously consider going to the Starbucks down the street to get something warm and sweet (and decaf) and to get my butt out of the house, but I wussed out…

I do have to say, though, that if there is a beverage at Starbucks worthy of this kind of va-va-va-voom makeup, it has to be their Pumpkin Spice Latte, because those things are a party in yo’ mouth. I estimate the number of Pumpkin Spice Lattes I’ve had over the past month to be somewhere between obnoxious and obscene.

This was the makeup look I was wearing in the Tarte Holiday 2015 video — smoky brown eyes and matte fuchsia lips.

The eyeshadows are from Light of the Party ($59; it’s available now exclusively at Sephora), and that fun fuchsia lip — it’s called All Fired Up — is from the MAC Magic of the Night holiday color collection, which’ll be available on the MAC website starting October 18, and then a few days later in stores on October 22.

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Tarte Holiday 2015 Collection Highlights

October 9th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Zac Posen, my favorite eye-rolling judge on a fashion reality TV show
SUBJECT: These Tarte holiday 2015 collection palettes

My darling, please, when you can fit into your busy schedule, I would LOVE a few matching outfits to go with these new Tarte holiday 2015 collection palettes. I’m talking dresses, and if it’s not too much trouble, could you also make something stylish for my plus-size tabby cat?

Incidentally, do you do maternity wear?? Or fabulous feline fashion?

Never mind. To quote Tim Gunn, your charming coworker, I’m sure you’ll “make it work.”

Love,
Karen (Makeup and Beauty Blog)

I got momentarily lost in a sequin-fueled reverie this afternoon while I ooh’d and ahh’d over these two Tarte palettes from two of the brand’s new holiday 2015 collection sets (which are on counters right meow). I don’t know how many minutes passed before I realized, “Oh, right! I should probably put on my makeup now.” LOL!

Not knowing where to start, I defaulted to my makeup happy place — smoky brown eyes, big lashes and bold lips — but I see a lot of other looks with these in my immediate future.

The two sets here are called Light of the Party ($59) and Greatest Glitz ($49), and they’re both very well balanced, with a good mix of mattes and shimmers, cool and warm tones, and shades for everyday makeup and evenings on the town. If you like traditionally pretty looks of the kind that celebs like to wear on the red carpet, I think you’ll really like them both. They’re two of my favorite things from the Tarte holiday 2015 collection.

Both sets include multiple pieces, and here are pictures, but for the full 411 on both sets, check out the video at the top.

The Tarte Light of the Party set ($59)

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Tarte Fall 2015 Energy Noir

September 10th, 2015 by Karen 33 Comments

tarte energy noir palette — Tarte Energy Noir Clay Palette ($38)

“Energy Noir” = “Energy Night” or “Night Energy.” That’s the name of Tarte’s fall 2015 collection, which has been out for a while now. Thank you, high school French. Or, rather, merci beaucoup, high school French.

Geez…I could have sworn that “noir” meant “night.” Well, someone clearly wasn’t paying attention during vocab in high school French class… Guess who that someone was. 🙂

Energy Noir! You may have strolled by Tarte’s fall 2015 Energy Noir collection recently at Sephora. If it aroused your curiosity, but you’re wondering if it’s worth your time, here’s a closer look at three of the 12 pieces, including the $38 Energy Noir Clay Palette (thumbs up!). I’d even go so far as to call this eyeshadow and cheek palette one of my fall faves.

tarte fall 2015 park ave princess — Tarte Park Ave Princes Contour Palette Vol II ($38)

tarte fall 2015 lash primer — Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer ($22)

It’s kind of funny that I’m wearing something in this video review called Energy Noir, because when I filmed it — this was a couple weeks ago at the height of Baby Girl’s first trimester antics — I had absolutely NO energy at all, and as for energy at night? Forget about it. My mom called me one night at 7:15, and I was like, “I gotta go to bed now!”

Haha! It’s so true though.

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Tarte The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer: For Contouring You Can’t Miss

May 15th, 2015 by Karen 14 Comments

tarte sculptor contouring — Two of the three Tarte The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizers ($24 each)

This too shall pass…

That’s what I mumble under my breath now whenever I see a new contouring product.

Because there are just so many of them!

It’s not that I’m anti-contouring, though. I’m not. I actually love the look when it’s done well on other people, but there are so many new contouring products coming out, and I don’t really like the look of sharp contouring on me.

That said, if you do, get it, gurl. Express yo’self. Tarte has some creamy new contouring pencils you might find interesting.

Tarte’s The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer is available in three $24 limited edition shades — Park Ave Princess, Park Ave Princess 2 and Park Ave Princess 3 — with each being a different take on a creamy deep brown with a matte finish. They’re made for contouring cheeks, noses, foreheads, and neck and jaw lines, and they were released with the Summer 2015 Poppy Picnic Collection.

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