May 10, 2011

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush - THOUGHTS and SWATCHES...



Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush
A long-wearing, solar-baked blush that lasts up to 12 hours. Infused with natural clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types for a fade-free flawless finish for an amazing 12 hours. Inspired by Tarte's best-selling shades of cheek stains and lip tints, the colors range from soft to vivid to suit a wide variety of skintones. For oily skin types, Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Those with dry skin will benefit from the clay's nourishing and hydrating properties, which naturally restore skin's moisture. Combination skin types can rely on its ability to zero in on skin concerns and deliver benefits to restore complexion harmony. The result? Blush that wears better, longer, and truer!

This blush features the following Skinvigorating™ ingredients:
  • Vitamins A and E, two natural preservatives that act as anti-inflammatory emollients and protect against free radical damage
  • Vitamin C, an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents oxidative stress and premature signs of aging, while brightening the skin
  • Amazonian clay, a nutrient-rich, multitasking, skin-balancing clay that reduces dryness and flakiness, improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness, and texture while removing oil from the skin's surface for smooth application and wear

Size: 0.2 oz
Price: $25


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Available Shades (Individual)
Amused - bright pink
Blissful - warm peach
Blushing Bride - plumy rose
Dollface - light pink
Exposed- nude
Flush - deep berry
Natural Beauty  - muted strawberry red
Tipsy - coral


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My Five Ps

Price 
The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are priced at $25 for the 0.2 oz. Let's do some comparisons shall we...These are $5.50 more than a M∙A∙C Powder Blushes which retail for $19.50 for 0.21 oz plus you can get M∙A∙C Powder Blushes in pan-form only for $16.50. But M∙A∙C Blushes are among the cheapest medium-end blushes around! 

Toss in other brands such as NARS Blushes which are a doosie at $27 for only 0.16 oz and Illamasqua Powder Blushes that come in at $24 for 0.14 oz. Laura Mercier Blushes are $24 for 0.13 oz and And the kicker is MUFE Blushes which are $19 for only 0.08 oz. When you compare the price versus the amount of product you get far more from Tarte than any of these other brands for about the same price or less.

So even though the $25 price tag may sound a bit daunting, you are getting a good amount of product versus other comparable medium-high-end brands.


Purchasing
The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are available at Sephora stores, Sephora.com, Ulta stores and Ulta.com. There are 8 shades available in tones of pink, nude, coral and berry which can be subtle to bright depending on your tastes.

Packaging
The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are housed in a mirrored compact which is the same color as the blush inside. This makes storage and using quite easy since you know what color you are picking up just by looking at the packaging. The compact is hard plastic with a solid snap-close tab for great protection when traveling or simply storing these blushes. The outer top lid is embossed with the Tarte logo and a pretty flower design. On the back there is a clear printed label detailing the blush name, size, shelf-life, manufacturer, etc.

What is also great about this packaging is that it is magnetized and the blush pan is easily removed/depotted. You can simply use a pointy implement to push through a small hole in the back of the compact and pop the blush pan out. No muss, no fuss!




Product & Performance
The huge marketing ploy for these blushes is the 12-hour wear as evidenced by the name alone - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes. Now honestly, I have never really had an issue with any blush fading throughout the day...or maybe I don't pay enough attention to that. Hahaha! So I tend to judge blushes based on smoothness, blendability and overall finish.

I tried 2 of the shades available plus 1 that was a part of a set and not sold individually. The colors I chose were Blissful which is described as a warm peach color which translates as more of an orange coral for me and Exposed which is described as nude and comes off as more of a rose nude. The next shade was the one I didn't like at all and thankfully it is not sold separately - it is Adored which is a blue based light pink and silver glitter (not shimmer).

The first 2 shades, Blissful and Exposed, are very very subtle on my skin when blended in and they give a great hint of color without being overbearing. This is something I like in blushes since I never want to see my blush color full on. These blushes blended seamlessly into my skin without leaving any tell-tale signs of application - no streaking or blotchy spots. And while I wouldn't describe the texture as creamy, they are very soft and smooth on the skin. The key thing for me here is how flawlessly they blend onto the cheeks like second-skin. These colors have a natural matte finish without shine or sheen which allow them to look very flattering on the skin without looking out-of-place.


The shade I happened to get in a set, Adored, is not my fave at all. The glitter particles are just far too chunky and get everywhere. The base color is quite nice but the silver flecks are a bit too bothersome for my tastes. I think Dollface is a much better version of this bubblegum pink without the glitter.


Now since Tarte touted these as long-wear I had to that out for myself...yes they are long-lasting with fading or disappearing. But again I have never had an issue with blushes fading (or I am in denial) maybe because my cheeks are pretty normal - neither oily or dry. The blushes also give a smooth flawless finish to the skin which is always appreciated. Plus antioxidants? Who doesn't love that little tid-bit.

Overall
I think the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are great blushes and are worth the price tag. The shades I tried are very subtle on my skin but they are easily built up for bolder (but not too intense) color. There are also brighter shades to try out if you prefer stronger blush colors or are darker skinned. Darker skin ladies may realize that these blushes add a light flush to the cheeks rather than in your face color....I like that look but you may not.  I love how seamlessly these blend into the skin with very flattering natural finish. Remember these are subtle blushes so if you love bright in-your-face color these may not wow you. Also, if you prefer glowy or frosty finishes these may not be up your alley either.

 
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PICTURES & SWATCHES

Exposed - nude  
Slightly peachy nude but very nude nonetheless. Great for an effortless flush.


 Blissful - warm peach
Very beautiful soft orange coral. Adds a summery glow to the skin.

Adored - light pink with silver sparkles
Nice barbie pink base color with silver sparkles that get everywhere. This may be a bit too light for darker skin tones. Dollface is a nicer version of this blush without the messy sparkles.




5 comments:

  1. I am in love for Blissful - gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous... I need it :-) thanks for another great review/swatches**

    http://makeupblah.blogspot.com

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  2. Great review! I've read so many good things about these blushes! Blissful is calling my name! :)

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  3. So much hype about these lately, I'm definitely itching to try these out!
    And Tina, I have to say again, I absolutely love your reviews! Very detailed, clear and concise! Keep it up! :D

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  4. blissful is my favorite! it's the perfect peachy pink :)

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  5. Thanks for the nice swatches! I owned Tarte Adored one time and it shows up as cool pink on my NC30 skintone. I have to agree that the sparkles migrate everywhere, it drove me crazy, lol. I would love to try Blissful during summertime.

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