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).

Tarte Young, Wild & Free Palette

Somehow I always seem to feel when QVCUK does an update on their Tarte stock.  I'm just surfen the net and than a little voice says "go check out Tarte on QVCUK" and voila, 9 out of 10 there'll be a restock and new items.  And usually the new items are on an introductory price (which is just a fancy word for sale or discount) so there no excuse not to buy something, as a matter of fact you should buy right then and there because it's on sale.  Right?  So it's no surprise that this cutie found his way home to me even though I wasn't planning on buying it.

I really love the fun factor of the palette, it's like a feel good palette.  I smile every time I pick it up, even on a pre-coffee monday morning it makes me smile.  I feel like this is what the world needs: more kindness and more confetti (and more makeup)!

After buying the Tartelette and Tartelette in Bloom palettes I completely fell in love with Tarte.  Their palettes are just so userfriendly and the eyeshadows are great quality.  The only thing is that their colorsheme seems to be the same all the time: neutrals.  And this palette is no different.

There is a particular smell to this palette when you open it.  It's a sweet smell that reminds me of the whole Too Faced chocolate frenzy.  I'm no fan of funny smelling eyeshadows, it makes me hesitate to put it on.  I mean, I don't like putting perfumed things on my eyes even if they are dermalogicaly tested.  It just doesn't feel right to me.

from left to right:

wow, party, dream team, lucky charm, weekend, virtue, happy place, simple life

The quality is what you expect from Tarte eyeshadows, great pigmentation and smooth application except for Wow.  What bothers me about the palette, and this is the first time I've felt this with a Tarte palette, is that the finish of the palette itself isn't up to normal Tarte standard.  Maybe it's just mine or maybe it's just the batch but you can see that Simple Life isn't put in straight.  The pan even comes out of the palette slightly on one side.  I noticed it the moment I opened my palette and I feel that just isn't right.  I assume it's just a fabrication error since I don't see this on pictures of others but it's still there.

There are tutorials for a day and night look that come with the palette which is always nice for when you're lacking inspiration (or on a pre-coffee monday morning).

If you're looking for a nice neutral palette and you like sweet smells you can always take a look at this palette.  Overall it is a good palette but I do prefer the Tartelette palettes over this one.

Where to buy:

Tarte.com does ship internationally so you can buy it directly from them (taxes and duties may apply).  You can also buy it at Qvcuk.com together with an LCL mascara for £38 (app. 45€).

Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte eyeshadow palette in Europe

I think I saw the first pictures of this palette popping up on several blogs last fall and I immediately knew I just had to have it.  Simply because a) it has all matte eyeshadows, b) it’s a neutral eyeshadow palette (aside from nail polish another one of my weaknesses) and c) it’s hard to get in Europe (trigger!!).  I searched all over the net but the only site that ships Tarte in Europe is QVCUK and they don’t carry the whole Tarte range.  Unfortunately the Tartelette palette was nowhere to be seen.  Until one friday night in february when I was surfing the net aimlessly - I know, how exciting are my weekends, right?- and ended up on QVC, there it was: the Tartelette palette ready for pre-order.  Without giving it another thought I took out my credit card and ordered it.  Oh, the thrill of it!!! Finally it would be mine!! 

It took the palette a while before it reached me.  QVC send me a letter to let me know the shipping date was postponed but then, somewhere in april, there it was!!  And I haven’t regretted buying it a single second.   It’s just good quality eyeshadow, with a nice range of matte eyeshadows.  No extravagant colors but a palette you can use everyday but you can also use to do an ‚it’s saturday, I haven’t been out in weeks so now I’m going all smokey eyed just because I can’ look with.

I’m sure there are palettes that are easier accessible in Europe but for me the fact that it’s harder to get is just part of the thrill.

Where to get it in Europe:

You can still put the palette on your wish list at QVCUK.com .  Introductury price is £28,92.

If you live in Germany, The Netherlands, Norway or the UK, you can also order it at sephora.com (you lucky bastards!) for €41,60.