Tarte Cosmetics Newness

Tarte is a brand that is fast becoming a favourite of mine - the packaging is to die for, and the products are such great quality with amazing results. The latest batch of loveliness has just hit QVC UK - here are a few things that are on offer.

First up is the Amazonian Butter Lipstick Trio in the shades Guava, Lychee and Mulberry. Can we take a moment to appreciate the packaging please? Gorgeous cardboard casing with floral patterns all over them... swoon. Right, the lipsticks! As you may imagine, I don't always bother reading boxes, I just want to get to the product, and that was the case here. My first thought as I tried these on my lips, was just how buttery they were, then I realised they were called Amazonian Butter lipsticks and that yes, they are infused with Amazonia cupaucu and murmuru butters. They are intensely moisturising and hydrating, and feel so comfortable to wear.

The three are sheer lipsticks, but with enough colour for it to be there, like an insanely pigmented balm. Guava is a reddy-coral with tinfy flecks of golden micro-glitter. You can't see it on the lips, but it adds to the 3d-effect once it's on. Lychee is my absolute favourite - a really easy to wear purpley nude, I just love it, and it will take pride of place in my handbag so I can wear it as much as possible! Mulberry is a deeper, rosy nude that will be great for autumn.

Next I tried the BB Tinted Treatment 12-hour Primer. This is designed to be used either as a primer to other make up, or as a BB Cream on it's own. It's oil free which is a bonus for me, but doesn't give me enough coverage to wear on it's own - nor is it the kind of finish I like. It claims to be buildable - the top photo is my hand which one layer on, and some more squeezed on. The bottom photo shows my hand with 2 layer on. Although it doesn't work for me as a BB Cream, I am really enjoying using it as a primer - it minimises the appearance of pores, and my foundation glides on top of it. It came with a stippling brush which I am absolutely in love with. The hairs are so short and firm that you can really work your foundation into your face. The bamboo handle and golden metal is a lovely touch too.

The other brush I have been trying is the Buffy Bamboo Face Powder Brush - another great quality brush, it feels so floppy and soft when you use it to apply powder to the face. It gives a nice even distribution of product so as not to look cakey. I have been using it with the Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder which is also amazing. It's a white loose powder which is so finely milled that it creates a little dust cloud when you close the lid. It leaves your skin with an airbrushed finish, and controls shine without looking powdery. I have extremely oily skin, and my make up lasts a lot longer than usual since I've started using this.

So there's my little round-up of Tarte newness. I urge you to go and try some of their stuff out, as you may have already guessed - I am loving it!

Tarte Cosmetics 12 Hour Survival....

I was recently sent a rather lovely box from Tarte Cosmetics, asking me to take on their 12 hour challenge. The range of their products they had sent claim to last for 12 hours, and they wanted me to put this to the test.

The box of goodies couldn't have come at a better time, as later that day I was off to join singing sensation Harvey on tour with Little Mix as his makeup artist. Long days - lots of travelling and busy evenings, surrounded by some super-glamourous people (yes Little Mix, I'm talking about you!) definitely call for good quality, long lasting makeup - so I was eager to give it a go.

The first thing that struck me was how gorgeous the packaging is. The Amazonian Clay blush is so well thought out - a mirror in the lid, a striking pattern on the actual product, and then, one quick swoosh, and you can pop the pan out of the palette to add to your Z-palette which can be very useful for space-saving in your kit, or even at home.

The colour I received was Flush - a pretty dolly-pink which is really rich in pigment, and true to it's name, gives you a nice healthy looking flush to the cheeks.

What I loved about the eye products is that they come with a brush, and not a crappy little applicator you want to chuck the minute you first touch it... an actual, amazing, proper brush! The Brow Mousse comes with a double ended bamboo brush which has a spoolie at one end to comb your lashes into place, then an eyebrow brush to distribute the product into it. The brush is thin so if you like to draw a line at the base of your brow, this is the perfect size to do it with for a natural finish.

I tried out the Brow Mousse in Medium Brown, which I think is a little on the dark side for me, but it still works. It was my first experience of working with a brow mousse, and I absolutely love it. In fact, I've worn this at every available opportunity since I first tried it. It's a whipped, airy texture, and leaves your brows looking so much more 'done', without looking un natural.

The Waterproof Eyeliner also comes with a double ended brush - one fine brush for using the liner as as standard liner, and another slightly thicker, small domed flat brush for using the liner in a more smokey way, or to apply it all over your lid. The liner feels like a cream product on application, but sets and dries leaving a gorgeous finish. I used the bronze which is a lovely shade just the right amount of metallicness to it.

The Lights Camera Lashes mascara is like nothing else I've ever tried. It gives you the blackest, most defined lashes I have ever seen. Full of drama in just one coat - it's amazing. I imagine it would clump if you used it for lots of coats, but I've been doing about 3 coats and it's changed my lashes for the better. I will definitely, definitely be re-buying this!

So.... as it happens, I ended up travelling overnight up to Blackpool and had about two hours sleep all night. I don't know about you, but when I have minimal sleep, my make up always seems to fall off my face, so this makeup definitely had something else to contend with! Once I had arrived we had a bit of time to kill before the show - so we headed to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I had made the decision not to go on any rides, but it seems Harvey had other ideas (although The Mouse roller coaster was as scary as I'd go.... that thing is SCARY!). It was a day full of fresh air, giggles and screaming.... and the make up was staying put! We made a quick stop then off to that evenings venue ready for soundcheck and to get him ready....

The photo on the left was taken at 7am, the photo on the right at 7pm..... apart from reapplying lip gloss, and powdering my face - I didn't need to touch anything else! The eyeliner (which I had worn as a shadow) had creased slightly, but nothing too unsightly. The blush hadn't faded, and my brows and lashes were looking fab (even if I did say so myself!)

I am completely head over heels in love with some of my new discoveries, and can't wait for the new Tarte show to start on QVC tomorrow so I can see more of their products in action!

You can check out more of the range that's available in the UK on the QVC Beauty website