Tarte

For Potent Pigments in Petite Pencil Packaging, There’s the New LipSurgence Power Pigments by Tarte

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 16 Comments

Tarte Fearless — Wearing the new Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigment in Fearless on my lips

I shop in the petites section, I collect mini perfumes, and I have a reoccurring dream where I’m opening my front door, and there on the ground before me is a basket of baby munchkin kittens looking for a nice lady to adopt them.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I do believe that good things come in small packages. 🙂

Cute! The new Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigments, $24 each

Like these sleek LipSurgence Power Pigment pencils by Tarte. They’re new for spring, streamlined and skinny (unlike my favorite tabby), and being added to the permanent line.

Compared to Tarte’s existing 0.10-ounce LipSurgence pencils, these diminutive 0.04-ounce ones, which are supposed to be more pigmented, are so petite that I almost mistook them for travel minis. The bigger versions look downright gargantuan by comparison!

Tarte LipSurgence Power Pigment comparison — The O.G. larger pencils on the left and the new Power Pigments on the right

What’s the skinny on Tarte’s tiny LipSurgence Power Pigments?

They’re available in eight vibrant, look-brightening shades.
The antioxidant-rich formula has a refreshing hint o’ peppermint (both flavor and scent).
According to Tarte, the tiny tubes make precise application easier, while minimizing waste and the size of your carbon footprint (uh…).
They also contain vitamin E, an antioxidant, as well as a natural anti-inflammatory and preservative; shea butter, which is supposed to help skin maintain its elasticity; and carnauba wax for smoooove application.

Each of the eight shades is also designed to perfectly pair with one of Tarte’s new recently repackaged Cheek Stains (review coming soon).

[Continue reading…]

Ready, Set, Bow! Tarte’s $49 Bow and Go 3-in-1 Gift Set Makes Gift Giving Easier

November 14th, 2013 by Karen 17 Comments

Tarte Bow and Go 3-in-1 Gift Set — One of the three boxed kits you get in the $49 Tarte Bow and Go gift set

Tarte Bow and Go boxes — Just add bow and go!

MBB FUN FACT: Despite my love for Biggie and Tupac, I can’t rap worth a damn, but when it comes to wrapping — as in gift wrap — I do alright, if I do say so myself. 🙂

I owe it all to the extensive training I received as an Emporium Capwell gift wrapper in the winter of ’92.

GURL, don’t make me take out my scissors, ’cause I will wrap those boxes like WHOA! (Complete with swirly curly ribbons.)

The $49 Tarte Bow and Go 3-in-1 gift set, which actually has a pretty cool schtick, comes with a gold ribbon (not shown in any of these pics), and I was all set to tie it around the three included gift boxes, but wouldn’t you know it? Tabs took off with the ribbon, and now it’s MIA.

Story of my life…

You’re supposed to tie the ribbon around the boxes (all of them, or just one if you plan to break up the set), add your to/from tag and BAM! — you’re done. A gift on the go.

If I were a grumpier gal, I’d probably go on and on about the lost art of gift wrapping, and how I’ve got nothing but love for this set because 1) I think the colors are gorgeous, and 2) it’s a pretty good price, considering that you could get three gifts out of it for about $16 each ($49 for the whole set).

Tarte Bow and Go Lip Surgence — Kit 1: the Lipsurgence Kit includes (from left to right) Lipsurgence Lip Cremes in Precious, Promise, Thoughtful and Wonder

Tarte Bow and Go Smolder Eyes — Kit 2: the second kit comes with two tubes of Lights, Camera Lashes, and SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners in Matte Brown and Fig

[Continue reading…]

I Wonder If Yoda Would Like The Tarte of Giving Collector’s Set & Travel Bag

November 6th, 2013 by Karen 25 Comments

The flowing words not today.

Writer’s block girl currently has. Through it she’s working. Apologizes she does for sounding like Yoda. 🙁

New The Tarte of Giving Collectors Set & Travel Bag pics and swatches here are.

The set comes with…

20 x .07 oz Limited-Edition Amazonian Clay Eye Shadows
8 x .059 oz Deluxe Maracuja Lipglosses
0.23 oz Deluxe Pure Maracuja Oil
0.08 oz Deluxe Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment
0.05 oz Deluxe Limited-Edition Amazonian 12-Hour Clay Blush in Memorable
0.17 oz Deluxe Cheek Stain in Flush
0.16 oz Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-In-1 Mascara
Travel Makeup Bag

It’s available now at Sephora and sephora.com.

Tarte The Tarte of Giving Collectors Set Travel Bag — It opens up to reveal three parts…

Tarte The Tarte of Giving Collectors Set Travel Bag Eye Palette — Products for face, cheek and lashes

[Continue reading…]

A $48 Cruise? Yup, With the Tarte Gorgeous Getaways Portable Palette Set

October 16th, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

If you’re setting a course for adventure this year and plan to live out of a suitcase for any length of time over the holidays, you might want to treat yourself to an early, travel-friendly gift — Tarte’s Gorgeous Getaways Portable Palette Set ($48).

Like upwardly mobile kitty modeling moguls, it’s built to go places, but even at home, it looks gorgeous on a dresser.

Like cruise ships, it’s divided into layers.

The powder eyeshadows and blushes hang out on the top tier…

[Continue reading…]

The Tarte Off the Cuff Holiday Blush and Bronzer Palette Prompts Impromptu Compliments Like, “What Are You Wearing on Your Cheeks?”

October 14th, 2013 by Karen 26 Comments

Three reasons to freak out when you open the Tarte new $42 Off the Cuff holiday blush and bronzer palette for the first time…

1) The bracelet totally looks like something by Kate Spade.

Tarte Off the Cuff Packaging — That cuff there in the middle detaches so you can wear it as a bracelet.

NOTE: The included cuff isn’t one of those cheesy throwaway pieces that come with some holiday sets. It’s actually really cute and looks kind of expensive.

Love it!

2) The blushes are off the hook.

Honestly, YES! I’ve been waiting for what feels like eons for Tarte to release a blush palette like this because the only thing more fabulous than a single pan of Amazonian Clay Blush is a palette filled with five of them.

Well…technically, four blushes and a bronzer.

When the Amazonian Clay Blushes came out a couple years ago, they set my blush world on fye-yah .

There have been times when I’ve applied them before the crack of dawn, and through some probably ancient, long-lost magic they look just as natural (not at all like they’re just sitting on top of the skin) and fresh 14 hours later, with nary a hint of fading and zero patchiness whatsoever.

I’m still not entirely sold on the whole Amazonian clay angle — like whether it’s actually responsible for how how well I think these blushes perform — but I have to say, the pieces in this kit are spot-on fantastic.

Who knows? Maybe it is the clay… It’s supposed to give your skin exactly what it needs, when it needs it, adjusting to your needs at any given moment, be it extra moisture on your dry patches or oil absorption on your shiny spots, and it seems to do just that.

Tarte Off the-Cuff Swatches — Swatches on my NC42 forearm…

With the palette, you get a bright matte rose blush, a shimmery plum, a matte nude melon and a matte bright pink. The bronzer, the shade on the far right, is a medium golden brown.

All of them, the blushes and bronzer, should go well with most any eye look. Plus, they’re easy to blend and smooth like John Legend.

3) The whole kit and caboodle’s a pretty fantastic deal.

A full-sized 0.2-ounce Amazonian Clay Blush regularly goes for $26, so five of them would set you back $130.

With this kit, though, you get five 0.15-ounce pans — so, yeah, a little smaller than normal — for what works out to $8.40 each.

That’s a lot of choices and variety for $42.

Tarte Off the Cuff Blush — That’s the bronzer, and the bright pink blush (second from the right in the palette) on my cheeks

[Continue reading…]

The Aqualillies for Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette Is Making a Splash With Me

April 2nd, 2013 by Karen 38 Comments

I usually ditch darker smokey shades and crisp cat liner looks when summer rolls around and opt for sheer washes of gold, beige or tan on my lids instead — most of the time — maybe also with a splash of teal along my lash lines for oomph.

Tarte’s new limited edition waterproof Aqualillies palette ($38) could easily keep this particular surf baby singing through summer with its mix of six summery powder eye shadows, all of which should be neutral enough for most guys and gals and skin tones from cool to warm.

Aqualillies for Tarte open with names — Cute names, yeah?

Most of these colors, all but the dark brown shade, apply with sheer-to-medium pigment on my tan NC42 skin, making this a perfect palette to reach for when I feel like a light wash of color.

And they can handle more intense eye looks, too, as long as I tap any excess powder off my brush before applying (to prevent any unwanted fallout), and use a few layers to build up the colors.

Eye Shadow swatches from the Aqualillies for Tarte palette from the left: Hammock, Bikini, Barefoot, Parasol, Sundeck and Poolside — Eye Shadow swatches from the Aqualilies for Tarte palette from the left: Hammock, Bikini, Barefoot, Parasol, Sundeck and Poolside

“Make a splash this summer with tarte and the Aqualillies! This limited-edition waterproof palette, inspired by America’s most glamorous synchronized swimming group, includes 6 new eye shadows, bronzer, highlighter, and a limited-edition Amazonian clay 12-hour blush. All show-stopping shades are tucked inside a classically elegant, mirrored compact.”

— tartecosmetics.com

Along with the eye shadows, Tarte also tucked in a coral matte blush, a shimmery champagne highlighter and a matte tan bronzer, to round out your look out.

Aqualillies for Tarte swatches from the left: Champagne Highlighter, Park Ave Princess Bronzer and Captivating Blush — Aqualilies for Tarte swatches from the left: Champagne Highlighter, Park Ave Princess Bronzer and Captivating Blush

Everything in the oversized palette is also powered by Amazonian Clay — one of Tarte’s favorite ingredients.

On my combination dry/oily skin, with the help of a good primer, I get between 8-10 hours of wear time from these pieces on both my eyes and cheeks.

Pretty great.

[Continue reading…]

The Plucky Pink Tarte Energy LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint Puts Pep in This Cat Lady’s Step

March 18th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

I guess it was a good thing I slicked Tarte’s $24 Energy LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint on my lips before Tabs and I left the house for his morning walk; otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up with him!

Yeah, I have no idea what got into your nephew this morning… Instead of casually strolling along like he usually does, stopping and starting to nibble on shoots of grass and inspect behind tires, he straight-up trotted like a show dog! — with his twitchy tail up, his head held high and proud, and his low-hanging tum swaying back and forth as he galloped around the circle.

I was smiling from ear to ear like a proud stage mom as he pulled me along. 🙂

And it was quite a workout, too. The big cup of coffee I had first thing this morning probably helped me keep up with him, but I also think the soft shine of Tarte’s $24 Energy LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint put an extra spring in my step.

Ingredients: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, caprylic/caprictriglyceride, vegetable oil/Olus/Huile vÃ©gÃ©tale, candelilla cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Cire de candelilla, cera alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, hydrogenated vegetable oil, castor oil bis-hydroxypropyl dimethicone esters, ozokerite, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, dimethyl isosorbide, stevioside, salicornia herbacea extract, limonene, palmitoyl hexapeptide-14, linalool, ascorbyl palmitate, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean) oil. (+/-): titanium dioxide (CI 77891), red 28 lake (CI 45410), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), red 27 (CI 45410).

New for spring, this latest member of Tarte’s lightweight, non-sticky family of twist-up LipSurgence pencils is one of those products that changes colors like a mood ring on your lips.

According to Tarte, the Skintuitive formula responds to your personal pH balance and your “energy,” resulting in a personalized shade of pink all your own.

It’s a gimmick, sure, but it’s one of those gimmicks I like, because it takes some of the work out picking a matching lip color, in that you can’t really control what color you’re gonna get. With energy, it is what it is, ya know? Your color is your color, and that’s that.

When Energy touches my lips, BAM! It goes from being a sheer baby pink to a medium rose petal pink in just a few blinks of an eye.

[Continue reading…]

Two Swipes Will Have You Hooked and Ready For Pancakes! The Tarte Awakening Cheek Stain Rallies Brunch Enthusiasts, 5-Minute Makeup Fans and Blush Scaredy Cats

March 14th, 2013 by Karen 27 Comments

Blueberry pancakes, eggs, hash browns, refill after refill of piping hot coffee (with extra cream and a teaspoon of sugar)…

Oh, man… My muffin top just quivered with delight. It’s only Thursday, and I’ve got Sunday brunch on the brain! It’s all Tarte’s new $30 Awakening Cheek Stain’s fault.

There’s just something so right about going out for weekend brunch or breakfast noms wearing minimal makeup, ya know? I usually lack the coordination/motivation to do a full-on look early on a Sunday morning, so out come my five-minute minimal makeup routines, like this one here: brows, tinted moisturizer, under-eye concealer, mascara, gloss and barely-there cheek colors like Tarte’s Awakening, a nude pink gel blush that’ll leave your brunch buddies wondering whether you’re wearing any blush at all.

Being a part-time lazy girl, I love this thing. I swipe the stick twice on each cheek either directly on bare skin or tinted moisturizer. Then, I blend in the edges with my fingers and bam! — pinched, flushed cheeks that look like I just finished a brisk walk.

Awakening gets the whole “no-makeup makeup” thing totally right. Just enough color for perky cheeks, and I think the slightly shiny finish, with its faint hint of shimmer, keeps it from looking fake or flat.

[Continue reading…]