Tarte Cosmetics Tartelette Amazonian Clay Palette

Although I have had the Tartelette palette by Tarte Cosmetics for well over six months, I am definitely more than a little late to the game in reviewing it. This palette includes twelve all matte eyeshadows and currently retails for $45.  It's also important to note this product is gluten free.  In fact, Tarte's products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl, sulfate, and gluten. (There is currently a 15% discount offered on many items on Tarte's website, including this palette, which runs from December 26, 2015 and ends on December 31, 2015.  Use code TARTE2015 at checkout for the discount. They also offer free shipping on orders over $25 so it's worth checking out.)

The palette contains twelve matte eyeshadows in a range of varying neutrals. Some of the eyeshadows have a warm tone while others are cool toned.  While the overall concept of the palette is a great one, I wasn't entirely impressed with the payoff and blendability of some of the colors.  Although I was able to blend the colors into my crease so that I wouldn't have any harsh lines, I did have to work at blending the shadows. I have other colors that don't require as much work.  However, that hasn't deterred me from using this palette. I do find myself reaching frequently for this palette when I want to create a soft and neutral look but I have also used it for a more dramatic look as well as a classic smokey eye.  This palette is very versatile and although it does not include any shimmer colors, I really don't mind that.  I prefer matte shadows anyway.  Recently, Tarte released a new twelve shadow palette called "Tarte In Bloom" and that includes some shimmer sides as well as matte colors.  I am not sure if I will be picking that one up, though.  I do like the shades included in this palette. I love the transition colors as well as all the highlight colors. While some of the darker colors do have fallout, I wouldn't call that a negative of this palette. Many shadows from various cosmetics brands, especially darker shadows, have fallout.  Just make sure you do your face makeup (foundation, concealer, etc.) after you've finished your eye makeup OR if your do your face makeup first, make sure you bake under your eyes while doing your eye makeup so that if there is any fall out you can just dust it off after you're done. 

Free Spirit - light yellow beige
Force of Nature - warm medium brown
Dreamer - dark brown
Multi Tasker - dark brown with a red undertone
Caregiver - light pink with a cool undertone (have used as highlight, crease transition, & all over lid)
Natural Beauty - light pink taupe
Best Friend - medium dark purple
Bombshell - dark black purple (there's black added to this shadow to give it a darker color)
Supermom - very light beige (love this as a highlight)
Wanderer - light medium brown
Power Player - warm taupe brown
Fashionista - very pigmented black but I've had fallout during application. Excellent to darken your crease, smoke out lower lash line, or all over the lid for a classic smokey eye.

Have you tried this palette? What are your thoughts??

Five Minute Makeup

As someone who loves makeup, I want to look my absolute best at any given time of day.  While it’s definitely a lot easier to “put on your face” when time is available, the luxury of extra time usually doesn’t exist in the mornings.  Below is a simple 5-minute makeup routine that can easily be done in the mornings.

 Step 1:  Always start by applying an oil-free sheer tinted moisturizer or a lightweight foundation evenly to your entire face.  You can use a foundation brush or a sponge to ensure the moisturizer is applied evenly, or you can use your hands to apply the moisturizer as well.  If you’re not a fan of using tinted moisturizers, you can always combine a small amount of your favorite moisturizer with a small amount of your favorite lightweight foundation and combine the two either in the palm of your (clean) hand and then onto your face.  Ultra-Lite oil-free Moisturizing Dew with SPF 15 by DDF (Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula) is wonderful.  Aveeno also makes some great moisturizing face lotions that won’t break the bank!  MAC recently released their new Studio Watertight foundation.  It comes in a dropper bottle and offers medium coverage. I love this for daily use. (30 seconds)   If you have oily skin, you can apply a primer first.  It allows your make up to last longer. If you don’t have oily skin, or just aren’t fond of primers, you can skip this step altogether.

 Step 2:  This is the time to cover up any blemishes or dark undereye circles with concealer.  A good cream concealer can last all day if applied correctly. Remember, less is more.  The more concealer you apply to a “trouble spot” the greater it actually appears.  Some amazing and fabulous products to try are MAC’s Pro Longer Concealer, MAC’s Select Cover Up, Tarte Amazonian Clay Creaseless Concealer, and Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. While these are a bit on the pricey side, they are amazing products that do not budge and offer wonderful coverage.  A good and affordable alternative would be Maybelline Fit Me Concealer as well as their Instant Age Rewind Concealer.  A little goes quite the distance and effortlessly conceals dark undereye circles as well as blemishes and light scars. You can apply this using a concealer brush, a Beauty Blender sponge, or your ring finger. Your ring finger gives the least amount of pressure when applying makeup to your face and the warmth from your skin really aids in blending the concealer out beautifully. (45 seconds)

 Step 3:  Apply a medium color shadow to your eyelids with a good quality eyeshadow brush.  If you really don’t like wearing shadow during the day, you can skip this step.  However, at this point you should also consider applying a small amount of highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes.  It really helps brighten your eyes and your entire face.  (45 seconds)

 Step 4:  Using a pencil liner, line your top lids only.  You do not need to make the line heavy. Just follow the line of your lid. Or if you really don't like lining your eyes, you may want to consider simply tightening your upper lash line only or skipping this part all together. (15-30 seconds)

Step 5:  Set your makeup with a little bit of powder using a good quality powder brush.  Whether you use loose powder or powder from a compact, always apply it with a good quality powder brush.  Make sure to tap the brush to remove any excess powder you may have picked up. (15 seconds)

 Step 6:  Apply a hint of blush to the apples of your cheeks.  Tap off any excess blush before you begin to apply.  Smile in a mirror to find the apples of your cheeks and using light strokes, apply from the cheeks outwards to your temples.  (15 seconds)

 Step 7:  Apply a little bit of bronzer to your jaw, cheekbones, forehead, chin, and nose.  Be careful not to overdo it with the bronzer.  It is meant to accent certain features and not to be applied all over your face.  Tap the brush to remove any excess powder.  Laguna by NARS has to be one of the best bronzers available, in my opinion, but use whatever you have and remember to use it sparingly. (20 seconds)

 Step 8:  Coat your upper lashes only with black or brown waterproof mascara.  The color is your preference.  Brown is more natural while black amps your look up a bit.  A tried and true classic is Great Lash by Maybelline.  Need a little volume?  Use Maybelline’s Volum’ Express “The Falsies”.  It adds a ton of volume and it doesn’t cake.  Another tried and true favorite of mine is L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara.  Whatever is your favorite mascara will do just fine. (15 seconds)

 Step 9:  Finish with a coat of your favorite clear or nude lip gloss.  Wet’n’Wild  makes some incredible colors and none of them retail for more than $2-$3.  NYX  Cosmetics also offers some amazing glosses with excellent pigmentation and none retail for over $5. The color pay off and pigmentation are comparable to some major high end brands.  Gloss shouldn’t be something you spend your money on because you’re constantly reapplying it.  There are so many amazing drug store alternatives available. (15 seconds)

Hope this helped with your morning routine.  Sometimes 5 minutes is all you really need.  I’d love to hear if this was helpful to you!