Review: Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte Cosmetics is not only popular for their famous cheek stains, but the beauty philosophy of "health couture." In short, it's a campaign of products made with good for your skin ingredients in runway worthy packaging. These skinvigorating ingredients glamorize the everyday woman by improving and nourshing the skin while providing coverage as needed.

Smooth Operator SPF 20 Foundation
This is a oil-free lightweight foundation that provides light to medium coverage. It's chock full of skinvigorating ingredients including chamomile extract, vitamins A, C, and E. I'm not really a liquid foundation person, but I haven't even touched my mineral foundation since this! It's a super moisturizing formula, almost like a tinted moisturizer but better. It's just as light as tinted moisturizer but provides much more coverage without the heavy feeling. It blends into my skin effortlessly and again, feels super moisturizing. It has a creamy consistency but applies lightly and gives me a dewy, glowing finish. I can only describe it has one of those "me but better" feeling products. I'd consider it a splurge for $35 for 1.7 oz, however, it has quickly become a potential Holy Grail product for me. While I like the air brushed finish mineral makeup provides, I like this dewy, fresh look better and I'd be willing to shell out for it.

Provocateur Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 8
Even though I may have found a loveable liquid foundation, I'm not ready to totally give up on mineral makeup. Plus, it's not always suitable to wear liquid foundation on a daily basis. There aren't any mineral pressed powders on the market and this one is stands out in its' gorgeous purple quilted packaging. But, don't even think about it if you need medium to heavy coverage. It provides light to medium coverage at most. It feels as light as it applies, doesn't cake, and nicely evened out my complexion. It is a matte powder and if you're used to using EDM like I am, this is not creamy but more silky feeling which I think is the difference in coverage. It's great alone, but even better over the liquid foundation as a setting powder. Maybe you recall my Thevi Review in which they had a similar product for $30, but frankly, I'd much rather pay $28 for this, from well-known Tarte.

The Eraser Concealer
This click pen style concealer promises to "erase" any blemishes that you may have. Again, it's packed with skinvigorating ingredients to help reduce dark circles, puffiness, and redness. I really like the product itself. It does a great job of concealing my circles and small blemishes. It's easy to blend, smooths out my skin, and doesn't feel even the least bit of heavy. I believe it does the job it claims. My only dislike is the click pen packagaing, which is actually a twist and makes a click sound. I just don't like how I have no control over the amount dispensed into the brush tip. I'll click it twice and nothing. I'll click it a few more times and it'll be over flow. I've probably wasted a good amount of product because of my lack of clicking skills. I think the problem is that click is slow to dispense product. So you should be patient, wait between clicks, and refrain from doing several clicks at once. However, I do like the fact this click pen concealer is great to travel with for touch ups. It's ready for use without the hassle of a brush, q-tips, or clean fingers. Considering the brand, I don't find $19 to be pricey and it's definitely cheaper than YSL's concealer pen.

Infinite Glow Palette
This palette brings together some of the best selling Tarte products in one. You get Park Ave Princess Mineral Bronzer, Tipsy Cheek Stain, and Mayflowers 24.7 Lip Sheer all presented in a faboluous little faux croc palette. While I have many blushes to boast, my face color collection does lack a selection of bronzers and Park Ave Princess is most welcome! It's a shimmery, deep yellow gold with brown undertones, almost like a rose gold. A little will go a long way as it is very pigmented! I also love the texture, which is extremely velvety and applies ever so smoothly. Next to it, sits Tipsy, which is absolutely gorgeous. It's a bright coral pink with a hint of white or silver shimmer. It's become one of my favorite shades of blushes and without a doubt I will buy a full-size! Lastly, Mayflowers is a beautiful rosy pink with gold shimmer. As implied by the name Lip Sheer, it is of course sheer, despite how bright it looks in the pan. And Lip Sheers can even double as a Cheek Stain too! 3 products packed into a convenient, snazzy palette for $30 is a bargain considering that the full-size bronzer and cheek color is $28 a piece.

All products available at Sephora or TarteCosmetics.com.