Tarte Rainforest of the Sea: Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette

This year, Tarte came out with a new collection called Rainforest of the Sea, which currently includes 23 products. What sets this collection apart from their regular range is the inclusion of Tarte's Rainforest of the Sea complex: Antioxidant-rich algae is mixed into a "nutrient-rich complex of marine botanicals that have been preserved in coconut oil" to provide a formula that is "hydrating, brightening, and fights environmental aggressors" and "promote an all-over radiant complexion." The Rainforest of the Sea collection includes skincare, makeup, and tools. The Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette, which is described as "a highlighting trio palette with three universal shades for strobing and perfecting... featuring a versatile trio of silky perfecting powders, [so] you can filter and reflect light for a soft focus glow. The middle Filtered Light shade is your go-to setting powder in a universal matte sand that brightens and corrects any darkness under the eyes. Paired with two full-size, luminous perfecting powders, they're perfect for illuminating the contours of the face for a natural-looking glow that flatters all skintones." It is housed in a gold rectangular mirrored compact with a teal-blue water design spanning the lid. Each Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette contains a total of 10.5 grams of product, and retails for $50 CAD online and in-store at Sephora and online at Tarte.

Sunlight, Filtered Light, and Moonlight
Sunlight, Filtered Light, and Moonlight

Sunlight is a light warm brightened champagne gold with champagne shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more muted than MAC Double-Gleam, cooler and more muted than Becca Champagne Pop, more gold than Becca Moonstone, more muted than Anastasia Beverly Hills Summer, darker and more muted than Anastasia Beverly Hills Sunburst, and brighter and more frosted than Hourglass Brilliant Strobe Light.

Filtered Light is a light-medium warm yellowed beige in a soft matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low-medium pigmentation and sheer to semi-sheer buildable colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar though more matte than Hourglass Diffused Light, more yellow than MAC Light Plus Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, cooler and more beige than MAC Neutralize CC Powder, cooler and more beige than Ben Nye Banana Powder.

Moonlight is a light-medium warm peachy beige with champagne-silver shimmer-sheen in a frosted finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more muted than MAC Soft and Gentle, more beige and less metallic than MAC Beaming Blush, less pink than Anastasia Beverly Hills Crushed Pearl, more muted and less frosted than Becca Opal, more muted than theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, lighter and more shimmery than Hourglass Euphoric Strobe Light.

When this collection first rolled out and reviews of this palette started creeping up online, it had really mixed reviews. But after playing with it for some time, I'm starting to think either Tarte fixed any production issues with it (I bought this one in the summer, and it originally launched in February or March) or people just don't know how to use this palette properly. First things first, the two frosted highlighters in this palette — Sunlight and Moonlight — are both incredibly smooth and finely-milled, with great pigmentation and full colour pay-off. They have a beautiful pearlized finish but they're not as bright or metallic as Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors, or MAC's Mineralize or Extra Dimension Skinfinishes. I'd say they're more in line with Anastasia Beverly Hills' Glow Kits, where they're not as creamy as the Becca ones, and they're softer than MAC's offerings (which are baked, so they don't have that buttery texture to them). Either way, they're easy to build up and easy to blend out, and they leave a lovely radiant illumination on the skin that isn't too blinding but isn't as subtle as, say, the Hourglass' Ambient Lighting or Ambient Strobe Powders. Both shades will work well on fair to medium-dark skintones, but I do think they will start to look ashy on dark to deep-dark skintones.

I think the issue most people have with this palette is the matte highlighter, Filtered Light. I've read that some people think it's too dry, too sheer, too stiff, too chalky, etc. And some people don't give it any love because they don't know what to do with it. I will agree that it is powdery — there is some kick-up and dustiness — but I have no issues with actually getting the product on to my brush, even after swatching it with my fingers (e.g. the powder didn't hold on to any oil to form build-up). I actually find that it works wonderfully as a soft undereye brightener and a great all-over face highlighter (especially for those who are oily and want to highlight their T-zone without adding more shine). People have to understand that it is not your standard "highlighter" — it works the same way as a colour correcting powder. It's sheer and is meant to add natural brightening and highlighting to the face. And because it's not as yellow as many colour correcting powders out there, it is actually a lot more universally flattering than many other similar products. I didn't find it to look caky or heavy, either, and it sits well on oily skin without creasing or fading. I've found myself reaching for this palette a lot, especially when I'm on freelance jobs. It really deserves more attention; I don't love all of Tarte's products, but they did really, really well with this one.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: True Love, Fearless, and Flush

To celebrate getting approved for Tarte's pro discount, I went on a little shopping spree earlier this month during which I picked up the three new shades of Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush that are new for Spring 2014 and will be added to the permanent range (!). Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $31.
Clockwise from bottom right: True Love, Fearless, and Flush
True Love, Fearless, and Flush

True Love is a medium-dark vibrant watermelon coral in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more coral than Natural Beauty, more pink and more matte than Frisky, darker and more reddened than MAC Fleur Power, more reddened than MAC Whole Lotta Love Pro Longwear Blush, lighter and less bright than MAC Salsarose (PRO), and more pink than Illamasqua Tweak.

Fearless is a medium vibrant warm passion pink in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more pink than True Love, darker and warmer than Amused, more pink than MAC Fleur Power, darker and brighter than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush, and brighter and warmer than NARS Mata Hari.

Flush is a light-medium cool-toned pink in a satin finish. (Note: This is an entirely different shade from the original Flush, which was a dark berry shade.) It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler than Dollface, darker and brighter than MAC Well Dressed, lighter than MAC Dame, darker and brighter than Illamasqua Katie, and lighter and more muted than Illamasqua Nymph.

Fans of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes can rejoice at three more lovely additions to their permanent range! Having almost all of the shades from this line, I can say that Tarte is really working at making more widely flattering shades. I actually find it kind of funny that they discontinued the original Flush, which was their darkest shade, and gave the same name to their now lightest blush. On that note, Flush actually darkens and brightens on the cheeks despite looking very light in the pan and in a swatch, so it does show up well even on medium skintones (on my NC30 skintone, it showed up as a natural rosy shade with only a hint of cool undertones), though those with medium-dark to dark skintones will find it starting to look ashy. Both True Love and Fearless are fun and cheerful, though I do recommend using light layers with both as they can go on quite bright. I was reading some initial reviews that these are stiffer and less pigmented than their original formula, but I didn't have any problems with these at all; they went on as smoothly and pigmented as all their other shades. I found that they were easily layerable and likewise easy to blend out. If you're a fan of the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush formula, these are fun, new shades to look into for Spring!

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipsticks in Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold

Last month, I found out that Tarte has an online pro program that offers approved make-up artists a 40% discount on all of their products. It's completely free to join; you just have to send proof that you're actually a make-up artist, and if you get approved, your online account with Tarte automatically processes the pro discount. Obviously, I had to jump on this, so I sent them my info and they approved me a couple days later. And then I may have gone on a little shopping spree. My haul included five shades of their Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick, of which I will review four (the fifth one is limited edition and no longer available in stores so I'm leaving that one out). The Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick is Tarte's "first long-wear, clay-infused lipstick. A unique blend of emollient-rich butters (mango, avocado and shea) is encapsulated in this Tarte 12-Hour Power™ formula to achieve rich, vivid, and long-wearing colour that applies smoothly and won't fade away." They are packaged in long bamboo tubes featuring a leaf-pattern design in the colour of the lipstick shade. They are scent- and taste-free. Each lipstick contains 2 grams of product, and retails for $34.
Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold
Whimsy, Inspired, Pure, and Bold

Whimsy is a medium vibrant cool-toned fuchsia pink in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less purple-toned than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme, darker and brighter than MAC Pink Nouveau, less neon than MAC Candy Yum-Yum, lighter than Urban Decay Anarchy, lighter and brighter than Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia Perfect Rouge, and lighter than NARS Schiap.

Inspired is a medium warm rosy brown in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though more pigmented than MAC Modesty, cooler and more pink than MAC Kinda Sexy, lighter than MAC Glamour Era Mineralize Rich Lipstick, more brown and less glossy than MAC Impressive Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more pinked than Urban Decay Liar, more brown than Illamasqua Climax, and similar though more pigmented to Revlon Pink Truffle Lip Butter. 

Pure is a light-medium peachy beige-brown in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more peach than MAC Cherish, slightly lighter and more peach than MAC Posh Tone Mineralize Rich Lipstick, less brown and less glossy than MAC Tea Ceremony Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more peach than Urban Decay Naked2, slightly darker and more brown than Urban Decay Naked, and less brown than YSL 4 Sweet Honey Rouge Volupté. 

Bold is a medium-dark vibrant true coral in a cream finish. It is a permanent shade shade. The texture is creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and more pinked than MAC Vegas Volt, similar in colour but much more pigmented than MAC See Sheer, more muted and less reddened than MAC Lady at Play Mineralize Rich Lipstick, darker and more orange than MAC Ultra Darling Sheen Supreme Lipstick, more muted and more orange than YSL 27 Rose Paris Rouge Volupté, and softer and more coral than Clinique Heftiest Hibiscus Chubby Stick Intense.

There are only nine shades in this lipstick range, but there is something for everyone, and I have personally found my perfect nude in Pure and my perfect MLBB in Inspired. Bold is a gorgeous true coral that doesn't lean too orange or too pink, and is vibrant but not neon or in-your-face bright. Whimsy warms up on lips to become a beautiful, vibrant pink that hints at blue undertones but doesn't veer into magenta, and it actually looks much softer on the lips than in a swatch so it's a lot more wearable than many fuchsia pinks out there. Shades aside, it's the formula of these lipsticks that's to die for. Incredibly creamy, glide on effortlessly, and go on completely opaque in one swipe. They stay vivid and hydrating on the lips during the entire duration of wear despite drying down to a semi-matte finish. They don't wear a full 12 hours for me, but I don't expect non-stain lip products to wear that long, especially through drinking, eating, and smoking. Realistically, the lighter shades wear about four to five hours without fading and the brighter and darker shades wear about eight before needing to touch-up. Still impressive wear-time for such a creamy formula, and I didn't experience any bleeding, feathering, smudging, flaking, or settling into lip lines.

The major downside of these for me is the packaging. They're housed in bamboo tubes that feel flimsy, and the bullets feel loose at the base like they're going to fall out or break. They're also significantly longer than your average lipstick, and added to the fact that they house less than the average amount of product in a lipstick (these only have 2 grams of product, whereas MAC's and NARS' have 3 grams, and YSL has 4.5 grams), they feel much more breakable and are a bit more cumbersome to use. Granted, the lipsticks are so creamy and pigmented that the lightest pressure will give you amazing colour pay-off, but they still feel delicate to use. As cute as the packaging looks, it really does feel incredibly cheap. At $34 a pop (that's another thing: how is it a whopping $8 more in Canada than the US?!), you're paying entirely for the stellar formula. If you can get past the packaging, then these are definitely worth getting, especially if you like your super-pigmented, cream-finish lipsticks.

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Poppy, Tulip, and Plummy Rose

Last month, Tarte released a brand new range of their Amazonian Butter Lipstick that is exclusive to Sephora. I was looking up Tarte's Maracuja Oil during their VIB sale last month and the colourful packaging of these lipsticks caught my eye. The more I read about them, the more I wanted to try them out, so I picked up three shades. Sephora describes the Amazonian Butter Lipstick as "a moisturizing, creamy lipstick" that "adds a splash of rich colour and creamy shine for a perfect pout." The lipsticks are "enriched with sustainably harvested cupuacu and murumuru butters to deliver intense moisture and help restore and soothe even mature lips." They are housed in yellow gold metal tubes encased in floral-printed cardboard packaging, and each shade of lipstick has a different floral pattern. They have a light mint scent and flavour. Each lipstick contains a total of 3.1 grams of product, and retails for $19. 
Poppy, Tulip, and Plummy Rose
Poppy, Tulip, and Plummy Rose

Poppy is a medium vibrant warm poppy red with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is similar to MAC Lady Bug, more muted and warmer than MAC Everyday Diva Mineralize Rich Lipstick, brighter and more reddened than NARS Manhunt, warmer than Revlon Cherry Tart Lip Butter, brighter and more red than Chanel Rebelle Rouge Coco Shine, and more red than YSL Corail Incandescent Rouge Volupté Shine.

Tulip is a medium warm rose pink with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and more muted than MAC Grande Dame Mineralize Rich Lipstick, brighter and more pink than MAC Impressive Sheen Supreme Lipstick, warmer than Revlon Berry Smoothie Lip Butter, more pink than Chanel Monte Carlo Rouge Coco Shine.

Plummy Rose is a medium dusty rose pink with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is cooler and less brown than MAC Cosmo, darker and glossier than MAC Brave, lighter and more pink than MAC Impressive Sheen Supreme Lipstick, similar though more pigmented than NARS Dolce Vita, cooler and more pink than Revlon Pink Truffle Lip Butter, warmer than Chanel Fetiche Rouge Coco Shine, and brighter and more pigmented than Chanel Boy Rouge Coco Shine.

A really lovely formula; it's super-hydrating, applies smoothly, feels weightless, and has great colour pay-off. If I were to compare it another formula, I'd say it's most similar to MAC's Mineralize Rich Lipstick or YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine. It's definitely creamier and more hydrating than Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, and far more lightweight than MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipstick. And despite having only eight shades at the moment, I think it's a nicely curated range with something for everyone. I was only able to get my hands on these three shades because all the other ones were sold out during the VIB sale (which is fine because I think these three are suitable to wear all year round), but I probably will get some of the other shades in the near future. It's essentially a lipstick/lip balm hybrid formula, which isn't new in this day and age, but they do feel lovely nonetheless and I can see Plummy Rose being many people's go-to as a MLBB shade. The packaging will be a hit or miss with most people — while the bright floral designs are cute and whimsical, the cardboard packaging does lack that weighty feel of a luxury lipstick. At $19 a pop, though, these are a great high-end (and cruelty-free, vegan-friendly) option for less, especially for those seeking something more moisturizing and made with more natural ingredients.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Charisma and Dazzled

Apparently, I've made it my life mission to own all of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes. Tarte came out with four new shades some time last fall, and due to budgeting or self-control or whatever you want to call it, I only let myself buy two. I will likely buy the other two shades when I return to New York in May, though, since they're $5 cheaper in the US. Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $31 (note: the Canadian price has decreased by $2 since last year).

Charisma and Dazzled

Charisma and Dazzled

Charisma is a medium-dark reddened coral-pink with soft gold micro-shimmer in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Tipsy, less red than Frisky, and darker and more red than Glisten. It is less pink than MAC Fleur Power, brighter than MAC Pinch Me, and darker and more red than NARS Deep Throat. 

Dazzled is a medium browned rose pink with subtle gold micro-shimmer in a satin finish. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more pink than Exposed, much less yellow than Buff, and less peach than Peaceful. It is more shimmery than MAC Blushbaby, and more pink than NARS Douceur.

Dazzled is very dupeable, but is one of those office-friendly, "everyday" kind of shades that everyone should have. Charisma, on the other hand, is a perfect marriage of red, coral, and pink that is gorgeous for summer or when you want a pop of colour that isn't overly bright. The wear on these are phenomenal, and I actually find the formula to be softer, smoother, and more finely-milled than even NARS. They are blendable and buildable and just go on like a dream. I don't usually have a problem with wear-time with most blushes, but Tarte's 12-hour claim is absolutely true — it looks just as fresh after 12 hours as when I put it on. No need to worry about rushing to get these, since they have been added to the permanent range... But you may want to rush, anyway, because these are just too pretty to resist. Yes, indeed, the Tarte blush love is still going strong.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

A few weeks ago, Mary asked me if wanted anything from the States since her boyfriend was going to Las Vegas. Naturally, I asked for some more Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes; they are a whopping $8 cheaper over there, and with the lower retail tax rate as well, I'd be saving quite a bit of money (in fact, enough money to buy another Tarte blush!). Tarte came out with some new shimmery shades last month for Spring, and of course, I had to have them. They are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $33 in Canada.

Clockwise from top: Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Many of the shades are "inspired" by their Cheek Stain shades, and most of them are actually named correspondingly.

Frisky (close-up)

Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

Adored is a medium bright cotton candy pink with shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to NARS Angelika, and cooler than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush.

Frisky is a medium-dark bright reddened coral with shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has intense pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the intensity of the shade. It is more shimmery than Illamasqua Tweak, and is less pink than MAC Salsarose.

Glisten is a medium pink peach with gold shimmer-sheen. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to NARS Orgasm, and slightly more pink than MAC Springsheen.

Even though Adored and Glisten are really dupeable, these are just gorgeous, and totally worth getting. The wear on these are phenomenal, and I actually find the formula to be softer, smoother, and more finely-milled than even NARS. They are blendable and buildable and just go on like a dream. I am thrilled that Tarte released some softer, more shimmery, and overall more wearable shades than their more intense matte blushes, which can look harsh. I don't usually have a problem with wear-time with most blushes, but Tarte's 12-hour claim is absolutely true — it looks just as fresh after 12 hours as when I put it on. No need to worry about rushing to get these, since they have been added to the permanent range... But you may want to rush, anyway, because these are just too pretty to resist. Blush fiends, unite!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

I was so impressed with the first three Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes I bought that I went to Sephora with Mary last week and snatched up three more shades because I had a $20 off coupon through their VIB program. (Liz, it looks like we may start that circus tent, after all!) They are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with what I imagine is the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $33 in Canada.

Clockwise from bottom: Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. The shades are "inspired" by their Cheek Stain shades, and most of them are actually named correspondingly.

Flush (close-up)

Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

Blushing Bride is a medium raspberry-plum with gold micro-shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. I believe this is the only non-matte shade of the range. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the intensity of the shade. It's much brighter and less brown than MAC Flirt & Tease, and less pink than MAC Breezy.

Flush is a medium-dark magenta-berry in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's extremely easy to over-do considering the intensity and brightness of the shade. It's slightly less violet than MAC Rhubarb.

Natural Beauty is a medium bright strawberry red with pink undertones in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's extremely easy to over-do considering the intensity and brightness of the shade. It's slightly more pink than MAC Salsarose.

These blushes are absolutely gorgeous, from the texture to the wear to the shades. All of them are so smooth and silky and blendable; they go on like a dream! I've never personally had a problem with the wear-time of blushes because I always wear it on top of primer (MAC Face Protect SPF 50) and powder foundation (MAC Studio Fix Powder) rather than on bare skin, so I can't actually say if this has a longer wear-time than my other blushes. Theoretically, though, because they're so pigmented and finely milled, they should wear longer. Given the intensity of these three shades, they are extremely easy to over-apply, so I recommend using a very light hand or a duo fibre brush.

I have combination skin where I'm very oily in the T-zone and normal in the cheeks; I will agree that these blushes do give my cheeks "an overall smooth and even appearance," but most blushes look like that on me, so I'm not sure I really notice a difference with their "Skinvigorating" ingredients. Moreover, a lot of the skincare-like claims with these blushes ("improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness, and texture") would require using these blushes everyday, like skincare, to really test their efficacy. In the end, I would recommend these for how they look and wear as blushes, since at the core, that is what they are. I actually see these shades working really beautifully on darker skintones because of the intensity, though those with light to medium skintones who are looking for more dramatic blush shades should also check these out. They will, however, end up looking quite severe on fair skintones. Regardless, Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush formula is probably one of my favourites to date, and I would check them out either way, 'cause there's a shade for everyone!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Amused, Blissful, and Exposed

I asked Mary to pick me up some goodies on her recent trip to Las Vegas, including three shades of Tarte's highly-rated Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush. (Thanks, Mary!) It was Tarte's Cheek Stains that really put them on the map, but seeing as I'm not a fan of gel or cream blushes, they were a miss for me. So when Tarte released these powder blushes, I was super-excited to try them. Of course, I got sidetracked with other products and kind of forgot about these ones, so when Mary offered to grab some stuff for me in the States, I jumped at the chance to pick up a few of these babies (she saved me over $25 just from the lower retail price and lower sales tax rate!). Each blush is housed in a mirrored compact with the corresponding blush shade, contains 5.6 grams of product, and retail for $33 in Canada.

Clockwise from bottom: Amused, Blissful, and Exposed

Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." Tarte promises that this blush "minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place" for oily skin types, "hydrates skin naturally to restore moisture so blush wears better and longer" for dry skin types, "improves the appearance of skin clarity and skin texture" for dull skin, and "gives skin an overall smooth and even appearance" for combination skin types. The shades are "inspired" by their Cheek Stain shades, and most of them are actually named correspondingly. Each blush is imprinted with what I imagine is the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest.

Blissful (close-up)

Amused, Blissful, and Exposed

Amused is a medium bright cool-toned passion pink in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the brightness of the shade. It is cooler than MAC Dollymix, warmer than NARS Desire, and brighter than NARS Angelika.

Blissful is a medium warm coral-peach with a touch of pink in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the brightness of the shade. It is more pink than MAC Pinch Me, brighter than NARS Deep Throat, and lighter than NARS Torrid.

Exposed is a medium soft beige-brown with a touch of rose-mauve in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way, but it's hard to over-do because it's such a muted colour. It is more pink than MAC Prism, lighter than NARS Oasis, and less brown than NARS Douceur.

These blushes are absolutely gorgeous, from the texture to the wear to the shades. All of them are so smooth and silky and blendable; they go on like a dream! I've never personally had a problem with the wear-time of blushes because I always wear it on top of primer (MAC Face Protect SPF 50) and powder foundation (MAC Studio Fix Powder) rather than on bare skin, so I can't actually say if this has a longer wear-time than my other blushes. Theoretically, though, because they're very pigmented and they're in a matte finish, they should wear longer. These give me the look of most other matte blushes, but I like that these don't look powdery when applied (they can look powdery in swatches). However, they are easy to over-apply because of the high pigmentation, so I recommend using a lighter hand or a duo fibre brush.

I have combination skin where I'm very oily in the T-zone and normal in the cheeks; I will agree that these blushes do give my cheeks "an overall smooth and even appearance," but most blushes look like that on me, so I'm not sure I really notice a difference with their "Skinvigorating" ingredients. Moreover, a lot of the skincare-like claims with these blushes ("improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness, and texture") would require using these blushes everyday, like skincare, to really test their efficacy. In the end, I would recommend these for how they look and wear as blushes, since at the core, that is what they are. For those who are looking for some outstanding matte blushes, definitely check these out.