Review: Tarte Cheek Stains

Tarte Cheek Stains have won several favorite blush awards and have been dubbed a beauty must-have by many. They are, of course, unique in the sense they are not your typical powder blush. Cheek Stains are much longer lasting than the latter and essentially...well, a stain of color for the cheek.

If it's not a powder, what is it? The Original Cheek Stain is actually a water-based gel stick, however, I wouldn't really call it a gel. When I think of gel, I think of hair gel or gel toothpaste, you know, something gelly. This is not at all gelly, but a very moist solid. If you swipe your finger across, you'll instantly feel the dampness and collected some dewy color. The Natural Swirl Cheek Stain is a heavy feeling, cream stick, with no dampness.

Now, you can apply both types of stains in several ways. You can use clean fingers or a sponge, or just direct application to the cheek in a dabbing or smearing motion. Then you simply blend away! I prefer to my fingers because it offers more control and frankly, because it feels too sticky all at once. Plus, if you have foundation and such on, I feel like you're transferring product and contaminating the stick. And my only displeasure is the actual application itself. For me, it's just plain sticky and I initially dread the feeling of applying it. After the stain dries though, the sticky feeling is completely gone, it feels light as can be, and I'm a happy camper. It should also be noted that the Natural Swirl, in my opinion is stickier in application than the Original.

If you've been hesitant to try out stains because you think it might be too bright, have no fear, these stains are very sheer. A few layers will give the lovely tint of color and nothing more, but the pigmentation is buildable. So, if you're skin is darker or just want more noticeable flush, it will still work for you. And as expected, the color is definitely longer lasting than your average powder blush, with probably little to no fading after 6 hours.

Available at Sephora or TarteCosmetics.com for $28 each. Note, that these should last you a very long time. I've used both plenty of times and I don't think I've even caused a small dent in amount left. Just make sure your cap is twisted tight. The Original also has an additional protective cover that you should keep use of too.

Review: Too Faced Lip Injection & Shadow Insurance

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Too Faced. I have a few of their combination palettes, but I've wanted to try these two particular items for quite a while.

Lip Injection Extreme
At first glance you might see this as a lip plumping gloss, but it is actually a serum to be used daily. It promises with morning and night use for a minimum of 30 days, you will see long term pouty results. Lip Injection Extreme works in the following ways (description from taken box):

* Marine Sponge - Clinically proven collagen penetrates the lips with a dehydrated form of collagen that rehydrates itself using the body's own moisture to replump and added up to 20% more volume while it moisturizes lips. Visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and mouth area wrinkles.

* Collagen Booster - Maxi lip is proven to stimulate and increase collagen to plump lips up to 40% fuller and decrease lines up to 30%, while increasing lip moisture up to 60%, long term!

* Instant Blood Vessel Dilators - The technology found in the original "Lip Injection" dilates blood vessels filling lips with a lasting rush of blood and lasting rush of blood and oxygen for up to a 20% plumper pout!

* Botanical Cocktail of Avocado Oil and Jojoba - Hydrates, moisturizes, and soothes lips for fuller, sexier and more kissable lips.

To be honest, I was a little hesitant to try this. I like my lips as is and I don't really care for them to be plumped up. But I've always wanted try a lip plumper, so I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. I bravely swipped some of it on and within 1 minute, I felt a slight tingle (nothing unbearable though). I waited a full 5 minutes before glancing back in the mirror. Results? I think there was a bit of plumping, especially on my bottom lip! And the box said to apply the serum generously, but I couldn't muster up the courage to do so. Even with just a little application, I definitely saw a difference. So I can deduce that with generous application, you'd get results like that of Angelina Jolie. I think those unhappy with their thin lips will appreciate Lip Injection Extreme and find it worth a try. While you might consider $27.50 to be costly, I'm sure it's much more affordable than going to your local plastic surgeon. Plus, no fears about needles, botched results, and you can do it in the privacy of your own home.

Shadow Insurance
Are you covered for creasing, fading, or melting shadows? Shadow Insurance promises to give you a full coverage policy against it all and...it delivers! Packed in little toothpaste like tube, the product comes out skintone color but dries invisibly, with the texture similar to liquid foundation. It makes your shadow color that much more vibrant and longer lasting. I don't have problems with creasing (since I have no crease), but I do issues with shadows fading and lasting throughout a hot, summer day in Florida. I can confidently say that Shadow Insurance works and works well. How does it compare to UDPP? Honestly, I think they are pretty similar in effectiveness, both intensify colors and have fade proof abilities. I'd say that an important difference is that it's very difficult to blend shadows with UDPP, while Shadow Insurance is blend friendly. And that gives Shadow Insurance a slight edge in the battle of shadow primers. The factor that crowns Shadow Insurance over UDPP is ultimately the packaging. The cost of no longer hassling with slicing hard tubes open is just $17.

All items are available for purchase at Sephora or TooFaced.com.

Review: Tarte Cosmetics II

In addition to some of their face products, I have a few Tarte lip and eye products as well. I find that many of Tarte produdcts to be very innovative and not very drugstore dupe-able. Perhaps some of the shades can be duped, but not the concepts behind them.

Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss
This is a very unique gloss. It has an inner berry boost and outer clear gloss that combine as you squeeze to create a good for your lips gloss. The inner berry boost is formulated with their signature T5 Super Fruit Complex, skinvigorating ingredient. T5 is mix of 5 active superfruits extracts including goji berry, acai berry, maracuja fruit, acerola fruit, and pomergranate. While it's packed with fruit, you'd assume it'd be fruity, but it's surprisingly not. It contains peppermint oil which gives the gloss a fresh minty scent with a cooling effect on the lips. It's almost like a medicated gloss, which I think is pretty nifty! It combines the soothing properties of a balm or chapstick with a gloss in pretty packaging. And this gloss is pigmented and provides high shine. Is it sticky though? Slightly, but it makes for better lasting power. For $21, it's more on the pricey side but complete not a deal breaker.

Enbrightenment BriteSmile Whitener and Gloss
This product is also unique, linking 2 products into 1 convenient double-sided packaging. On one side there is a lip gloss and other side BriteSmile's teeth whitener. It is click style brush pen (on both ends), where you move a ring that's in the center to control which product you click. I don't really mind click pens, but you do have to be extra cautious about the click amount to product dispensing ratio. While it is packaged in sleek, shiny purple plastic, it's completely oapque. That means, I can't see how much product is left, which is a little annoying. The gloss itself is not super pigmented, but gives you a wash of color and is tad sticky. The two available colors Radiant Red and Pearly Pink both intentionally have blue undertones to make your teeth look whiter, not to mention packed with T5 Super Fruit Complex. As for the BriteSmile Whitener, there maybe has been a tiny whitening effect but I've only used it a few times, not daily. I think the idea of two products are great, especially since I'm a cosmetics junkie and hopeful dental student. While $26 seems expensive, the BriteSmile pen alone is $30 and you don't get any gloss either.

EmpashEYES High Definition Eye Pencil
This is a super slim, mechanical pencil. Note that with some pencils you can twist all the way up and then back down, but this is NOT that kind. So as a warning, do not twist it up for fun or else you'll be very upset (I did not do this to this particular pencil, but I have done in the past with others). The formula is very creamy, so the eyeliner just glides on effortlessly without the least bit of tugging. It is a little smudgy for the waterline, but not so much over UDPP for the upper. Since it can be smudgy, you can get lovely smokey eye effects with it. And even though it is prone to smearing, the fact that it's so slim makes it that much easier to line your eyes. I'm not a very good liner and I more than often mess up, so I was estastic with application. It's practically fool proof and I think great for a beginner. But this is not a waterproof, not going to budge on you through a hurricane weather eyeliner. It's a soft, sexy but not trying too hard, natural looking but I might have to touch up on through the day eyeliner. I'm pretty fond it so $18 is worth it to me.

Lock & Roll Creaseless Eyeshadow Duo
This dual-ended eye product promises waterproof, creaseless cream shadow. And of course like other Tarte products, it contains skinvigorating ingredients like vitamin E. One end, Lock, is a cream based shadow and the other end, Roll is a loose powder shadow, which are color coordinated. You first apply the cream shadow and let it set 10 seconds. Then you go over it with the loose shadow and when combined with the cream, it creates a crease proof seal. Well, having monolids, I don't really have a problem is shadows creasing on me seeing that I have no crease. But I do have a problem with getting shadows to last through out a hot, humid, rainy day in Florida. Verdict? It's pretty good alone in extreme Florida weather, but even better with UDPP or Shadow Insurance. Since the color I have is quite shimmery (Rose Gold), some of the shimmer does fade through out the day but with a primer, not nearly as much. I think the product is very fun, different, and keeps its' budge proof promise. For $17, I don't think it's too costly, but considering I use an eyeshadow primer reguarly, it's not an absolute must-have.

All products can be purchased at Sephora or TarteCosmetics.com.

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.