Review & Swatches: Tarte Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush in Tipsy

I think I speak for all beauty product lovers in the U.K when I say that we would love it if Sephora could make a return to our shores because this time round, we are ready and prepared for all the joy one shop can bring. I remember the Sephora store in Brent Cross shopping centre (Timbaland and Monsoon now stand where it once hid) but I never actually ventured in because, well, I wasn't really in to the whole beauty world back then. We probably all regret it now because if Sephora has been the success it should have been, we would brands like Tarte Cosmetics at our disposable and not have to long for them over the internet.

I first came across Tarte when I was in New York a few years back but I didn't really spend a lot of time in front of the stand because I had other brands catching my eye but after seeing it on blogs and hearing about it on Twitter, I automatically had the sudden need for it. My cousin came over from the U.S last month and picked up a few bits for me so this was obviously on the list because I had to make the most out of the offer (Thanks Pooj!)

From what I've gathered online about the product, they're really long lasting and the Tarte website claims they are built to last for 12 hours so it automatically had my intention. I also grabbed the following information from their website:

These solar-baked blushes are infused with Amazonian Clay, nature's most perfect ingredient. These nutrient rich and skin-nourishing Amazonian clay blushes restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day.

The soft blush is great for all skin types:

• Oily skin: Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place
• Dry skin: Amazonian clay hydrates skin naturally to restore moisture so your blush wears better & longer
• Dull skin: Amazonian clay improves the appearance of skin clarity and skin texture
• Combination skin: Amazonian clay is completely intuitive; gives skin an overall smooth & even appearance

I'm not entirely convinced that a key ingredient in one blush can be perfect for all skin types because everyone is different but to cut a long story short, Tarte suggest that the Amazonian clay is balancing, hydrating, smoothing and improves the appearance of skin clarity. Those are a lot of points to live up to!

The packaging is pretty basic with nothing really interesting to write home about. The plastic casing is sturdy and the clasp to open and close the lid is quite tough so if you were planning to throw this in to your handbag, you wouldn't need to worry about it popping open and exploding in your bag.

The inside of the casing holds a mirror and the product which is ideal if you needed to add more blush to your cheeks on the go, while the actual product is embossed with a leafy design as well as the Tarte logo.

Swatches:

The product itself has quite a different texture because it was powdery but so soft that it felt almost cream-like. I own a lot of blushers but I can genuinely say that I don't have one like this because the colour is so vibrant it's a little bit scary and I'm still trying to figure out what the best way to apply this will be. Fingers or brush?!

Single swipe:

Blended out:

Tipsy is a vibrant coral and it remains true to form once it has been blended out which means I'm already in love with it. I was half expecting it to be too bright to actually wear without some sort of sunglasses warning but after blending it out, it left a pretty coral flush on my cheeks which was exactly what I was after. The powdery finish of the blush disappears once after the product has been blended with a brush and it actually sits more like a cream blush, strangely enough. There's something about the product I just can't put my finger on because it's so different from everything else I have and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Since taking the photos of the swatches you see above, I've tried applying the blush with a stippling brush, blush brush and my fingers and I can safely say that a stipplng brush is not the way to go. It picked up too much product and the patting motion of the brush didn't really do the product any justice because it didn't sit right on my cheeks. Using a lighthand, a blush brush does the trick and makes it a lot easier to build on but just don't get too excited and swirl your brush in there over and over again because a little goes a long way. I used my fingers to apply it and although they were sufficient, the finish wasn't as polished as I like so I think I'll be sticking to my blush brush from now on.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush is available in 8 shades from Sephora in the U.S for $25. I've looked for U.K stockists and can't seem to find it anywhere so it might just be one of those things you'll have to put on your wish list or do a swap for.

Have any of you tried the Tarte Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush? If so, what did you think of it?

Until next time...
Keep swivelling those hips in your