Product Review: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Oasis

"All good things come in small packages". This is especially true for the travel/deluxe sized makeup I recently have been obsessed with. I purchased my first ever Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush since I have been on the lookout for a long-wearing blush that can withstand the sweat and oil mine I call my face (lol!). I wanted to try Exposed since they say it looks good on a lot of skintones and it's the best.

But since I don't want to spend money (around Php 1k) on a full-sized product I might end up not liking, I opted to go with a mini-sized blush first.

The closest shade (to Exposed) I could find was Oasis (which is part of their Skin Squad Discovery Set).

A long-wearing, supremely soft blush infused with Amazonian clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun.

Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place while also hydrating the skin naturally to restore moisture, reducing the appearance of dry, flaky skin.

Product performance: This 12-hour blush universally benefits all skin types for a fade-free, flawless finish in shades ranging from soft to vivid and matte to shimmer to suit a wide variety of skin tones.

How to: Using a blush brush, fan over the apples of the cheeks, blending along the cheekbone.

From www.tartecosmetics.com

It is a lovely nude with a hint of pink. I love how natural looking it is. And eventhough it is pigmented, it's almost impossible to go overboard. Even if you add too much, you won't end up looking like a clown.

I like how natural looking it is, in fact, you can get away with passing it off as a "real" blush/flush on the cheeks.

Just look at that swatch!

Now that I am done gushing about how beautiful this blush is, let's talk about its cons.

First off, it doesn't really last 12 hours on me, which is okay because I don't really need it for 12 hours, but I was hoping it would last at least 8 hours or a full shift at work. Sadly, on me, it only lasts 6 hours at the most (I have normal-oily combination skin). Aside from the wear time, it can also kick up a lot of powder. I suggest using a stipple brush when working with Tarte's blushes to make picking up the product easier. Lastly, although I cannot attest to this, I 've read and heard reviews about some of their shades, especially the ones they include in their holiday sets (that are made in China) from 2015 onwards, having a different formula. They say it's drier and a bit more powdery than their "original/regular" blushes.

For the final verdict... I love this blush, even with its cons!

Not having to reapply my blush until after 6 hours is good in my book (maybe they can just remove the 12 hour tagline for consumers not to expect too much). And because this color is close to perfection, I would continue to use it and hopefully, if they offer this in full-size, I can get one in the future.

'Till next time, makeup junkies!

Xoxo,
Missus C

This Just In: Tarte, Joeur, Bench, Beauty Mnl Hauls

“You must first let go of the old before you can make room for the new.”

With the coming of the new month, comes new makeup. And to make room for them I decided to let go of some of my palettes. Now, this post is not really about those I let go of, but rather the new ones I acquired.

Let's start with the non-makeup items (but still beauty related) I got from Beauty MNL and Bench. I got myself some skincare products from Skin Genie. I loved the scrub included in my Saladbox so much, I had to try a few other items from them. It didn't hurt that Beauty MNL had free shipping until December 11 (up to 2 orders only) so I nabbed their Apple Cider Vinegar Cream (Php 350) and Pit Perfect Underam Whitening Cream (Php 200). They threw in a sachet of Coco's Secret Recipe Milk, from Dearberry for me to try, which was nice of them.

Apple Cider Vinegar Cream

CLAIM TO FAME: A skin-clearing cream that purifies and refines the complexion with apple cider vinegar

FAST FACTS: Clarifies, nourishes, and hydrates the skin; aids in skin healing for smoother, clearer tone; promotes collagen synthesis for a more supple texture; formulated with apple cider vinegar, green apple, virgin coconut and jojoba oils, green tea extract, and vitamins E, B5, and C

PERFECT FOR: Oily skin types, or skin with blemishes and enlarged pores

SPECIFICATIONS
WHAT YOU GET: (1) Apple Cider Vinegar Cream
NET WEIGHT: 50g

Pit Perfect Underarm Whitening Cream

CLAIM TO FAME: A whitening cream that gently lightens dark underarms

FAST FACTS: Moisturizes and conditions; brightens and smoothens; works to control odor for all-day freshness; formulated with natural extracts that protect skin from pigmentation and dark spots; enriched with an herbal cream base, tea tree oil, and floral and papaya extracts

PERFECT FOR: Dark underarms caused by shaving and deodorants

SPECIFICATIONS
WHAT YOU GET: (1) Pit Perfect Underarm Whitening Cream
NET WEIGHT: 50g

From www.beautymnl.com

After hearing that Bench has launched some new makeup items I had to check them out after passing by one outlet. I heard their nail polishes (Php 59 each) were good, so I picked one to try and a matte top coat to change it up (it turns out I won't be needing the matte top coat for this polish as it already dries down matte) if I get bored. I got a gorgeous plum shade (Midnight Plum) that would look great this time of the year. Moving on to makeup, I also got an eyeshadow stick (Sandstone) for Php 149. It's a champange color that's not glittery and I intend to use it in the inner corners of my eyes to highlight and make them pop.

Paint Box Vegan Nail Polish

Our Vegan Nail Polish is perfect for all the nail lacquer addicts who constantly have the desire to beautify their nails.

This products boasts its Keratin content and its Vegan Formula which means it has:

• NO Formaldehyde (a cancer-causing agent)
• NO Toluene (a skin irritant found in glue and gasoline)
• NO Di-butyl Phtalate or DBP (associated with birth defects and male hormone disruption)
• NO Animal derivatives
• NOT tested on animals

Eyeshadow Stick
A creamy eyeshadow that promises smooth application. Easy to blend with its sponge tip and leaves no crease.
Size: 4 gram / 0.14 oz
From http://shop.bench.com.ph

Next stop, the Tarte and Joeur products I got. Lately, I 've been obsessed with travel/deluxe-sized makeup items as they are cute, easy to slip in my bag/purse and are most of the time a steal, as I get the chance to try products without commiting to full-sized items (imagine if it turns out I don't like them) from expensive brands I would have otherwise not purchased. I've been dying to see if the hype surrounding Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes is real so I got one in the shade Oasis (Php 550) together with their Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara(Php 500). I've heard some of their blush shades, especially the ones included in their holiday sets have a different formula (being made in China and all), so I had to do extra research to make sure this shade is still the same old formula they used to have (review coming up soon).

Lights, camera, lashes™
4-in-1 mascara

A lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning mascara infused with olive esters to condition, treat, and protect lashes. 

Product performance: Our lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara could be considered a push-up bra for your lashes—a 4-in-1 (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) plus it’s dermatologist- and clinically-proven to increase the appearance of lash volume. 
From www.tartecosmetics.com

Yeah, that blush deserves another picture.

I also couldn't let some Joeur lip crèmes pass me by without trying them.

Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

This weightless, long-wear liquid lipstick offers full

coverage color with a soft-touch finish that glides on smoothly and lasts all day. 

From www.joeurcosmetics.com

I've added them on my wishlist ever since I saw Allanarama talk about them on her videos. I got these lovely shades called Terra and Papaye. These are minis (4ml) which is around Php400.

Oh, hello there, beautiful swatches.

These next items from Etude House are things I didn't purchase but I actually won as the October commenter on Martha Sta. Barbara's blog (thanks again! ;)), www.thebeautyjunkee.blogspot.com, she holds a top commentor monthly giveaway there. 

And that wraps up this month's haul! This should last me a lifetime (lol!) I think I won't be buying anything again until next year. Well, except for the subscription boxes, masks and palettes I already ordered and are on their way (Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to me! 😂). Teehee!

Xoxo,
Missus C