This post is long overdue but these products are still available to purchase, even if not in this exact state. Tarte is a brand that has a heavy social media presence as well as a strong relationship with big influencers that extends beyond just PR. They take them on vacation, most likely sponsor videos and invite them to Coachella and Bora Bora like it’s the local Costa. I know Tarte products are cruelty free which is a major plus, but can’t deny that their marketing strategy leaves me weary. It is getting harder to trust people online, if a brand took me on a fabulous vacation for the launch of a palette I would be reluctant to say the palette sucks ass. Not because I want to be asked back, although that is something to consider, but because it would feel ungrateful. Moreover, Jackie Aina recently said that after she included a Tarte product in a ‘Products I Don’t Like Tutorial‘ Tarte removed her from their PR list, which is pretty petty and unprofessional of a brand if you ask me.
Onto the actual products, this entire set minus the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (which I already reviewed right here) was available on QVC UK. I bought it with my own money because I really wanted to try the Rainforest of the Sea foundation after hearing so many YouTubers including Huda Beauty rave about it, and the whole set was a good deal (under £50). This was live on the site around May last year but QVC constantly have deals for different brands on their site where you can try a lot more products for less money.
I mentioned the Rainforest of the Sea foundation in my April Favourites post (read here). The dropper/dispenser is trash, you have to shake the bottle aggressively for it to work and I still end up swiping the wand all over my face because it is so difficult to actually get product on your face. Major flaw there. The coverage is very light in my opinion. It is definitely buildable but I have to use a lot to get the medium coverage I like. If used with a sponge, however, the coverage is better but I prefer to use a brush in the morning. The best thing about this foundation is that it doesn’t transfer. It is the only foundation I have that doesn’t rub off when I touch my face. Apart from this, I don’t actually think it is worth the money. It lasts well enough throughout the day, there is some shine and separation after about 6 hours wear, but it doesn’t do anything magical so I won’t be repurchasing this foundation.
This is not a palette I would buy separately. I don’t think anyone can ever have enough palettes but this one disappointed me. The blush barely shows up on my skin, the colour is lovely and I think anyone with lighter skin would love it. The shadows were slightly inconsistent especially on the top row. Sandcastle is patchy and difficult to blend, best used packed on as an eyeliner. Tide and Sunset barely show up on my skin and have no colour payoff, can be used to set eye primer. The bottom row is marginally better with Reflection and Horizon being the best shadows in the palette, nice pigmentation, creamy formula and pretty colours. Driftwood is a lovely plum colour but is not as rich as I would like. The colours in this palette are uninspiring. I love purple tones especially on brown eyes but I already own the Tartelette in Bloom palette and this shade range looks a little similar. I highly recommend the Tartelette in Bloom palette over this one.
Swatches (above): –
Sandcastle (matte shadow) ¬ dark matte brown
Sunset (matte shadow) ¬ medium brown, dark sand coloured matte
Tide (matte shadow) ¬ light sand beige matte
Mystified (matte blush) – matte pink, slightly coral blush
Swatches (above): –
Driftwood (shimmer shadow): deep plum with a slight shimmer
Horizon (matte shadow): very pretty mauvey purple matte
Reflection (shimmer shadow): stunning warm champagne shimmer
The Lights Camera Lashes mascara (£22) is fantastic, the formula is somehow wet but not messy and creates lovely full, lifted lashes that are clump-free. It doesn’t smudge or run and removes easily enough with a double cleanse. I really like this mascara and find myself reaching for it a lot. The Opening Act Lash Primer (£18) is great for giving serious length and because it coats your lashes in the white formula it makes it easy to ensure all your lashes are completely coated in the follow up black mascara. Together they work really well without being too much or too thick, they keep your lashes looking like lashes but just better. You can also layer the Lights Camera Lashes mascara for more volume and oomph and both the mascara and the lash primer make my lower lashes extra long too.
The Amazonian Clay Silk Eyeliner in Black, like the eye and cheek palette is unavailable so I assume it has been discontinued. It doesn’t live up to its name at all, it doesn’t feel or look silky, creamy and smooth. The black isn’t intense and it just looks rough and messy on the eyelids. You would definitely have to use it a few times to get even coverage. I don’t mind scribbling on the lid and using it as a black cream base for an intense glitter shadow but I could happily throw this away to be honest. This was just as disappointing as the Limited Edition Eye and Cheek Palette.
Last but not least is this Coconut Infused Lipstick in the shade Rosy Mauve. I can think of so many people who would love, adore, cherish and wear the shit out of this shade but alas this is not a flattering colour on me which is my only qualm. Overall, it is a nice, creamy, pigmented and astonishingly comfortable formula. It has a cream finish with a slight sheen but that can easily be matted down with some powder or tissue. It doesn’t last very long and has the wear time of an average lipstick. It’s a lovely shade and formula, just not for me. This isn’t on their website either but their new Colour Splash Hydrating Lipsticks (£18) sound like they have a similar formula.
The collection came with the gold makeup bag which you see in the photos. I use that bag all the time, especially when travelling. Although, not many of these products impressed me I am still glad I got to try them out. The foundation, double ended foundation brush and double-ended mascara are the products I use most. Tarte do amazing brushes and lots of great products that are better suited to my needs for instance their Amazonian Clay foundation is supposed to be perfect for oily skin. I won’t be repurchasing any of this collection. Thank you for reading, I appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog, please leave a comment below with any products you have tried from Tarte and don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin’ and my other social media. Expect a lot more posts, I am brimming with ideas at the moment and really want to attack this blogging thing with all I have. Take care.
What products have you tried from Tarte?