Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush in Exposed

I admit I have a bit of a soft spot for Tarte but aside from eyeshadow palettes I haven't really tried anything from them.  Mainly because I order most of my Tarte products online from Qvcuk.com and eyeshadowpalettes are a safe bet and also because they don't support the whole range.  Take this bluch for instance, I wanted this one since I saw it online on a youtube channel but it was never available on Qvcuk so when a friend went to Dubai and mentioned she would be doing some shopping I asked her to bring this blush along.

Exposed is described as a nude pink and that's a perfect description for this color.  The color is part of the Tarte naughty nudes blush collection and is a great blush for a more natural everyday look.  

The pigmentation is good and I love that you can take the pan out of the compact.  No depotting horror scenes to get this one in your Z-palette.

Now, when I want a blush, I'll just buy it (unless it is out of a normal price range) and I did pay a bit more than what it's priced on the official Tarte website (apparently prices are higher in Dubai) but it wasn't until I was typing this post that I began to wonder about blush prices.  I think I may have been watching way to many youtube video's by Stephanie Nicole and she always does a price breakdown and comparison.  So I thought I'd do a bit of the same and this is the result:

	gram	€	€/gram	source
Colourpop	4,2	7,45	1,77380952380952	colourpop.com
Makeup Geek blush pan	4,25	11,2	2,63529411764706	beautybay.com
MAC powder blush/pro palette refill pan	6	19	3,16666666666667	maccosmetics.be
MAC powder blush	6	22	3,66666666666667	maccosmetics.be
Makeup Geek blush compact	4,25	17,3	4,07058823529412	beautybay.com
Tarte	5,6	28	5	tartecosmetics.com
Makeup Forever sculpting blush	5,5	31,55	5,73636363636364	makeupforever.be
Bobbi brown blush	3,7	29,5	7,97297297297297	parfuma.com cosmeticary.com
Benefit	varies between 5 - 9 gram	34		inno.be

Small note: shipping costs and taxes/duties weren't taken into account making this but I think it gives a pretty clear overview of the price range Tarte is in.  Do you find this cost breakdown useful and should I do more of it or not?  Let me know in the comment section below.

Overall I'm very happy with this blush, it's a great everyday color and suits almost everyone.  This will definitely find its place in my everyday routine.

Where to buy:

In Europe you can buy Tarte at QVCUK.com (where you do pay shipping but no duties/taxes as it is shipped from within Europe) and Tartecosmetics.com (they offer free shipping on order €75 and up but you'll have to pay customs so take that in account).

NOTD: Orly Breathable treatment + color in Nail Superfood (20919)

You know how you walk into a store and you are drawn to the same thing over and over again?  And no matter how long you try to be sensible, at some point you just think "ah crap, let's just get it over with and buy it already"?  (Please don't answer no to these questions because you'll make me feel like a freak)  Well, that's what happened to me and this color.  Every time I passed it I just had to take it off the shelve, look at color, roll the bottle in my hand, only to decide that I already have so many similar colors and at €13,49 this is not a cheap nail polish (in my book anyway).  But one day I gave in, I just needed a little pick me up after a day at work (yes, I blame work!).  And can you blame me? If this color doesn't get you in the springspirit than I don't know what will.

Orly has always been a bit of a mysterious brand to me.  I never really knew much about them but at one point a few years ago, there were a lot of beauty bloggers talking about their Bonder base coat and that became my first Orly product.  I loved it!  But when it came to their polishes I never really felt like there was a buzz surrounding them like there is with other brands like O.P.I, Essie, Zoya ... Recently I noticed Di had started selling Orly and my interest was sparked.

According to their website the Breathable formula prevents chipping an peeling, is infused with argan oil, Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin C.  No top or base coat is needed and is a 13 free formula*.  It is marketed as a treatment + color for stronger, heathier nails.  I can't really say anything about the treatment part.  My nails are in pretty good shape and really don't wear nail polishes long enough for them to work as a treatment. 

Nail Superfood is described as a Bright Watermelon Creme color, to me it's a warm bright pink color. The formula applies easily, there was no trouble with streaking and it took me 2 thin layers to get the result shown on the swatch.

The brush is great, not too small, not too thick and the bristles don't feather around.  I also love the grip of the top, it feels a bit like rubber (which will make it hard to keep clean) which, combined with the engravings, give you a solid hold on the brush while applying you polish.

*ORLY Breathable Treatment + Color is formulated without: Toluene, Formaldehyde,

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, 

Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP), MEHQ/HQ, MIT, Parabens, Animal Derived Ingredients or Gluten

Where to buy:

In Belgium you can buy Orly at DI or online at Orlybelgium.be, the Breathable treatment + color polishes retail at €13,49.

Mac Technique and Mac haul

I still feel a bit overwhelmed when I enter a Mac store even though I've been inside plenty a time (I'd say at least once a month now that we have a Mac in my hometown Leuven).  There's just so much to choose from, sometimes I wish I could be locked in a Mac shop for a night just so I would have time to try out everything.  Unfortunately that's never going to happen but a good alternative is to book a Mac Technique class.  Last week I went to my third (I think) Mac Technique, the first one in Leuven, and I took my bestie along (if you're Dutch speaking you can read her blogpost about it here).

A little surprise was waiting for us, a black Mac Technique makeup bag

 and a travel size mascara (which I threw in my handbag and of course

 it's nowhere to be found, it has probably disappeared in that secret section

 of my handbag where stuff just magically disappears in and just as

 magically turns up again someday).

Mac Technique is like a private group makeup class, we were 7 including myself, and the reason for booking one is different for everyone.  Some people just started using makeup, others wanted to learn more about techniques and others (like myself) just wanted to test products/colors that are out of the comfortzone.  All of this is under supervision of well trained Mac MUA's (Katleen, Elke and Eva in our case) and served with snacks, drinks and lots of laughs ... all the ingredients for a fun friday evening!

MAC HAUL!!!

(and a sample size foundation and concealer)

When you sign up for Mac Technique you have to buy a voucher of 60€ that you can use to buy products on the night itself.  Needless to say I had no problems spending my 60€ and then some.  

Mac eyeshadows in Coppering (bottom) and Nocturnelle (top)

I was brave when they asked me what colors I'd like to use on my eyes.  I went with "you can choose, I'm open for everything and anything".  After a bit of whispering (I admit I did get a bit nervous at that point), Katleen and Elke introduced this duo to me: Nocturnelle and Coppering.  I know purple and orange tones go great together yet I never really try this combo on myself.  But these two were great together!  I even got some compliments from the man when I got home ...

Mac fluidline pencil in Metropolis

I used this on the outer part of my upper lashes, smudged it out and immediately decided to buy it.  The color is described as a deep metal grey and since black can be a bit harsh on me, this is a great alternative.

Mac lip scrubtious in Candied Nectar

I'll be doing a blogpost on lip scrubs soon but this one got me hooked on its smell alone.  You'll see more details on this soon so stay tuned!

Mac blushes in Blush All Day and Harmony

(I couldn't get the colors to appear correct in this picture)

I used Blush All Day on myself and since I've been looking around for a new blush colors I decided to get it together with Harmony (Eva was wearing this one and I was looking for a more brownish blush).

Mac blushes in Harmony and Blush All Day (top row) 

compared to a cool toned Sculpting powder in the color Sculpt

As you can tell by this picture, Harmony is actually very wearable and not at all too brown.

Mac cremesheen lipstick in Crosswires

Crosswires is described as a bright pink-orange and this color has been on my wish list for ages so I finally decided to just buy it (and make space for new items on my wish list).

Mac mini Zoomlash mascara in Beets Me

I admit I bought this for my makeup kit because aubergine colors are a necessity.  I love these mini mascara's, they come in a few different colors and since you usually don't use these colors on a daily bases there really is no need to buy a full size one.

I really love these Mac Technique classes, I always have so much fun and come home with goodies that I probably never would've tried if left on my own.  So if you want to venture out in to the Mac world of makeup go check out your local Mac store for Mac Technique dates.