Tarte

Before and After: Tarte Big Ego Mascara

July 23rd, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

This mascara’s hot pink tube means there’s a 99.999% chance I’ll be able to find Tarte Big Ego Mascara in the black hole that is my makeup bag. (Also, I’m wondering if I’m the only person who secretly wishes that the actual color of this mascara was hot pink to match the packaging. Hmm…)

tarte big ego mascara brush — Tarte Big Ego Mascara, $23

Two coats of this featherweight formula, which Tarte designed for mega length and volume, sweep my lashes up waaaay past their tips, hoisting them up and out. The curved, slightly hourglass-shaped brush (which is like a mellower version of Too Faced Damn Girl), is surprisingly easy to tuck under the lash base, too.

That said, the part of me that will happily wear bat wing falsies to go buy a loaf of bread at Target demands (politely) more volume…
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Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

November 1st, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

IMPORTANT (not really, but you know what I mean): There’s a Sephora VIB sale in November, so this week I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup workhorses that I think are worthy of your wish list.

If you have stick-straight, skinny lashes like mine, you’ll totally understand the magic behind this product. Like the fabulous feline and the feisty toddler who boss me around, my lashes do not listen to me… Every morning, I go through the same routine. I crimp my lashes with my curler and say a prayer to the beauty goddesses. “Please, please hold this curl!”

Then, my lashes straighten out.

I spent decades looking for a mascara that would hold a curl while boosting my roots so my lashes could soar high up to the heavens above — and yes, I wanted these things without having to deal with a trail of flakes on my cheeks or blackened smears smudging my lower lash line.

Well, love, this is it. ?

I’ve mentioned Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara a few times before, but I haven’t given it the love it deserves.

It’s been around for-everrrrrr, and I always return to it because it hoists every last lash (even the ones on the outer corner, which are the droopiest of the droopy ones for me), and then stretches them out so the tips extend way beyond their natural length.

Plus, the volume? Dialed up! Like YSL Faux Cils, but a tinge less intense at the roots.

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Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: The Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Palette

October 30th, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

tarte tartlette in bloom palette final — Wish list-worthy

Guess what…? There’s a Sephora VIB sale in November, so this week I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup workhorses that I think are worthy of your wish list.

Ignore the inside voice inside your head that’s always saying, “Do you really neeeed another neutral eyeshadow palette?” because this one with its matte neutral brown and beige eyeshadows, and its shimmery taupe, gold and copper accent shades, parts the clouds for me, and I say this as an unabashed hoarder of neutral palettes. I love them because you can wear them all the time and for any occasion. But the Tartelette in Bloom Palette rises above the rest IMO.

I use this palette to “cheat” the look of a deeper set eye, which is something I deal with every day since I have hooded lids. This 16-pan palette bucks the current trend of warm red and orange-y browns, and instead boasts a bevy of cool-toned shades and neutral browns, which are great for carving out a crease.

tarte tartelette in bloom palette swatches — YUMMY!

The makeup maestros at Tarte found a way to seamlessly weave these long-lasting, pigmented shadows into each other so that even if you’re rushing (or, even if you don’t know what you’re doing), you can still buff and blend your way into something that looks like you spent hours on it.

tarte tartlette in bloom palette — Another day, another pic of me in pajamas.

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A 10-Minute Minimalist Makeup Tutorial: Gleaming Rose Gold Wings With Glossy Cheeks and Lips

February 1st, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

nudestix golden rose top pic — You CAN do this in 10 minutes!

I’ve been wearing this look with gleaming rose gold wings and glossy cheeks and lips lately, most recently to brunch with my friend Cindy, and on the day I did this side-roll ponytail tutorial.

It’s borderline glam, which I like, but it’s still quick and easy. From start to finish, you can do this in 10 minutes.

There are three things about this look that help keep the time from spiraling out of control.

1. The concealer is doing the heavy lifting.

I’m not wearing any foundation at all. There’s just a medium-coverage liquid concealer with a natural satin finish, which I’m using for spot treatments to even out specific places, and I’ve chosen a liquid concealer that can be built up in layers wherever I need the extra coverage (it’s nice to have that option).

2. Pressed powder gives you more control.

The concealer is set with a medium-coverage pressed powder, which is handy for 10-minute looks, whereas loose powder is usually messier… Pressed is just easier for me to grab and go.

Also, pressed powder tends to look sheerer than loose powder does for me, which provides a lot more control over how much powder actually ends up my skin.

Basically, I’d rather apply less product and have to build it up to the coverage I want than accidentally apply too much powder and have to remove the excess… It’s always easier to add makeup than take it away, IMO.

3. A creamy eyeshadow pencil corrects any mistakes with the liquid liner.

Running the cream shadow along the edge of the liquid liner helps to hide any dips and imperfections. There’s also a subtle transition of shine from the high beam gleam of the liquid liner to the softer shimmer of the pencil, which gives some subtle complexity to the liner.

Alright… Are you ready for the breakdown? I hope so, because here we go! 🙂

nudestix golden rose breakdown — Before and after

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Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette Vol III

September 8th, 2017 by Karen 6 Comments

tarte rainforest of the sea vol iii — The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol. III palette

I’ve always been intrigued and a little bit confused by the name of Tarte’s “Rainforest of the Sea” palettes.

Because it’s a little confusing, right? I picture a rainforest literally emerging from the sea like an Amazonian Atlantis, or something from a kids cartoon.

There’s absolutely no way sober people came up with it.

Tarte’s latest color canopy, the Rainforest of the Sea Volume III Palette, is available now for $36.

Yup, they made a third one!

I don’t know if you remember the second one, but I thought it was epic. EPIC.

I never tried the first Rainforest of the Sea palette (my friend Jessica reviewed it for MBB), but I love the heck out of the second one and its beautiful, buttery, satiny blues and browns.

They’re to die for and so creamy. Easy to blend too.

tarte rainforest of the sea vol iii closeup — I see you, shimmer!

Volume III is more metal. It has seven high shine metallics and one matte beige. Like Volume II, the shadows are a super creamy combination of a powder and a cream, and they feel slightly bouncy, so you can practically blend them in yo’ sleep.

Or, when you’re half-awake because you didn’t get enough sleep, ha!