I’ve been on a matte eye shadow kick for several months now with occasional lapses into shimmers. But mostly it’s been matte shadows for me ever since I saw how super-shimmery shadows call attention to my not so perfect eyelids.
In January, Tarte introduced Colored Clay Matte Be Mattenificent Shadow Palette (their first matte palette), and it got my attention.
First, the packaging is a real eye-catcher. It comes in a substantial gold metal compact with a beautiful purple mineral-type pattern on the top.
Inside, it has a huge mirror that, to me, is good for checking out your full face after applying the shadow with a smaller magnifying mirror. It also comes with a usable double ended brush that’s handy if you’re traveling and don’t bring your brushes with you.
The palette comes with six shadows and two liners that you could also use as shadows for a dramatic smoky eye, but that would be too dramatic for me. It also comes with blush in “elevated”, a very pretty rose-mauve shade. The shadows are basically neutrals (I consider pale pink and purples to be neutrals).
Tarte provides instructions on how to use the shades that you certainly can choose to ignore. I do from time to time. Nevertheless, Tarte suggests using:
- sand out from the crowd (vanilla-like beige): base
- peach for the stars (to me, it’s peachy-mauve): lid
- two plums up (beautiful medium plum): outer corner
- pink outside the box (pale pink): lid
- rose to the occasion (deeper mauve/brown): crease
- view from the taupe (yes): crease
- dream in chocolate: liner
- don’t stand black: liner.
The one thing that bugs me a bit about this palette is the the Amazonian Colored Clay shadows are very soft, powdery and a little messy. To apply, you need to be sure you pick up just a bit and pat the shade on before blending to minimize fallout. With this method, I haven’t had much fallout when I apply them (actually, you can see a tiny bit of fallout that I missed in my photo), but they’re messy in the case, which I don’t like. I’m always cleaning up the case afterwards because I like things on the neat side. 😉
That said, I love the shades. For me, Urban Decay’s Basic palette is a little boring, a little too basic with too much brown. I really like Tarte’s very pretty, very natural looking shades. I think these colors would suit a wide array of skin tones, and would look very different depending on your shade. They are just so wearable. On me, “peach for the stars” is more of a base shade, and “sand out from the crowd” is a striking light shade that’s great for illuminating the inner corners. The plum shade is a perfect corner shade, but if you go bold, it would be great in the crease or for a smoky eye. The shades lasted on me for 8-10 hours over primer, and I believe that primer is a must with these light, powdery colors. So, if you can get past a little powderiness, it’s a lovely, versatile palette.
Here, I’m wearing:
- sand out from the crowd in the inner corner
- peach for the stars in the middle of the lid
- two plums up in a V at the outer corner
- rose to the occasion lightly in the crease
- elevated: blush.
(I tightlined with Urban Decay Zero, Estee Lauder DoubleWear Pencil Liner in Graphite, and Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara in Black.)
Tarte is a cruelty-free brand, and their product line is formulated without:
- parabens
- triclosan
- sodium laurel sulfate
- gluten.
The product is made in the USA, though the brush is made in China.
It costs $36 for 0.85 oz. It’s widely available at Sephora and Ulta. I bought mine online from tarte.com. I believe I got a 20% off coupon for signing up for their emails. While I was at it, I bought the Tarte lash curler which I’ll review soon, in order to qualify for free shipping.
Ingredients:
So do you wear any matte shadows? If so, do you have a favorite?
I know Tarte can do a beautiful job with matte shadows. I guess the difference is the Amazonian clay formula. It’s a shame to have fallout with such a quality palette. Looks gorgeous on you.
Shalunya recently posted…Ulta Haulage!
I probably overstated the fallout, Shalunya! It’s a beautiful palette, and I used it just last night and loved it…again. Because the first ingredient is talc, there is usually some fallout with any shadow or blush that’s talc-based. But with less on the brush, it’s no problem. Thanks for your comment!
I love Tarte and natural palettes so I’ll totally have to check this one out next time I’m at the store.
Leigh recently posted…Urban Decay Electric Palette Review, Photos and Swatches
It is such a great palette, Leigh. I love the muted shades, and the deep purple is beautiful. Thanks for visiting 🙂
I wish I could love mattes but I always feel something is missing when I wear strictly matte.
MarciaF (beauty info zone) recently posted…Fight those dark circles with derma e Evenly Radiant Dark Circle Eye Creme
Lots/the vast majority of women feel the same way you do, Marcia. They miss the shimmer or sparkle. But I have red hair, and often wear sparkly earrings, accessories and/or clothing so a matte eye sorta tones things down for me. When I want some shimmer, I can use the pearl powder that came with my IT Naturally Pretty Matte Palette to add some bling to my matte shades 😉
Gorgeous packaging from Tarte .. however, I’m going to skip this one. I did buy the It Cosmetics Matte Luxe Transforming Eye Shadow Palette and love it! Now I have my eye on the Two Faced Chocolate Bar palette.
Monica
MonicaP recently posted…Lilac, purple, tan and navy
Monica, that’s so interesting. I adore the IT Cosmetics Matte Naturally Pretty Palette. I’m not familiar with the one you bought, so I will look it right up! For most people, one matte palette is enough. I am the exception. Yes, the Two Faced Chocolate Bar palette is so cute. Do you have a 15% off coupon from Sephora’s Beauty Insiders? Today’s the last day to use it!!
I love tarte!! Tarte is the absolute best, and there products are so great. I really think, at this point anyway, all products should be cruelty-free.
Alisia Compton recently posted…Authors in Bloom Blog Hop: Enter to Win an e-Reader, Gift Card, and 12-Month Subscription to Martha Stewart Magazine
I agree, Alisia, with both of your comments. Tarte is a great brand with beautiful products! And yes, all brands should be cruelty-free. It is shameful that they all are not at this point.
I haven’t tried Tarte products, yet. But I like the range of matte shades. Matte shades has always been my favorite, no specific favorite brand, but I am currently using little round pot eye shadow from Bourjois.
Dima Al Mahsiri recently posted…Healthy Diet for Your Hair Care
I like Bourjois products too, Dima. They are or were sold at the big Sephora in Boston, but I don’t get there as much as I’d like. Mattes rock!
Such a lovely palette. I love the soft rose and plum combination. Very elegant. I keep looking at this palette because I think I could get a lot of wear out of it, but I just wish it had one or two shimmers.
That’s a great description, Karen. It is elegant! I have a pearl powder from the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Matte Palette than turns mattes into shimmers. So when the mood strikes me, I can use that to create a shimmer. Lately, I am kinda in a matte mood, though I do use a few palettes with shimmers too.
I find mattes to be tricky and a bit harder to blend but I have great experience w/ Tarte so I may give this palette a try! The packaging reminds me of agate
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…Survive Spring With These Must-Haves! The Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup 4/12
Thank you, Kath, that’s the word: agate! I was trying to think what the cover design was supposed to be, and I couldn’t come up with the name. I don’t find these hard to blend, no different from blending shimmers. 🙂
Love the way it looks in the little container!
Thanks, Sue! I gotta Instagram it 🙂
Beautiful palette and beautiful you! Thank you for the review!
~Zhenya
http://beingzhenya.com
Thank you so much, Zhenya, and thanks for commenting 🙂
Actually I hardly ever wear matte shadows except to blend out my crease! I am LOVING your large photos, you look great! I do really like the packaging on this palette.
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Heal Your Scars with PureHealPlus (PH+)
Thanks so much, Tina. I feel kinda funny about posting the big photos of me, but I figure if I’m trying to show the makeup and I haven’t cracked the code on eye close-ups, I have no choice. The packaging of the Tarte palette is absolutely gorgeous. It’s so worth the money. I know matte isn’t everyone’s thing but it suits me and I have a pearlescent powder from my IT Cosmetics Matte Naturally Pretty palette that shimmers up any matte shadow if I’m in the mood for a little glam 🙂