To be honest, I don’t think I’ve really met a blush that I didn’t like—some, I liked less, sure—but it was love at first swipe with these blushes from Tarte. I’ve amassed quite a collection of four shades over an embarrassingly short amount of time, but these are just so awesome that I couldn’t resist. Let me tell you about my small but heavy-duty collection.
First, here’s the description for the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush For Cheeks:
A long-wearing, supremely soft blush infused with Amazonian clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun.
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.
Powered By: 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.
Wow, that’s a mouthful and then some! Normally, I would be all MEH at product descriptions this promising, but that’s a whole other story if they deliver and these do. One other thing I like about them is that they are formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, pthalates, GMOs, and triclosan. Phew! Are you excited yet?
Natural Beauty
Since it is a very deep and bright strawberry red matte shade, Natural Beauty isn’t really the first shade I would reach out for when I plan to test out a product. I believe I saw it on Estée of Essie Button, and I wanted one for myself, pretty much just like that. I am very impressionable, I’m discovering.
When I dipped a blush brush and swiped it on my cheek, my eyes widened at the amount of color that was deposited. I really couldn’t quite believe it. It looks very scary in the pan, but it’s very wearable. It’s easy to sheer out and to layer as the formula is very blendable. Though they don’t last a full 12 hours (at least, not in my experience), they do last quite a while.
Tarte Natural Beauty, Swatch
Flush
The next shade I got was also not “in character.” Like, if I was a fictional character and I wore Flush, I think the public would definitely decry that move as OOC! Alas, I love this one, too. I find myself reaching for it more than Natural Beauty, to be honest. It’s a matte berry shade that leans a bit bright pink, but I promise that it’s very wearable.
Tarte Flush, swatch
Exposed
I searched high and low for this color, since the seller I get the Tarte blushes from didn’t have this in stock. It’s beautiful and natural. Definitely a blush that easily pairs with other colors. It’s a matte nude shade that, I believe, would also be good for either an all over or contouring bronzer. It’s a definite bestseller and I can see why.
I have to apply a lot for it to show up, though. I don’t know why that is. Also, I find that it doesn’t stay on as long as my other Tarte blushes. I love its understatedness, though. Sometimes you just want a “quiet” face, and this blush is perfect for those days.
Tarte Exposed, swatch
Blushing Bride
Ah, how could I forget about my plums? Blushing Bride is a plummy rose that is CHOCK-FULL of shimmer, which is what deterred me from buying it. It was the first shade I wanted, next to Exposed, but I do not like glitter on my face. However, further reading has shown that the shimmer doesn’t really show up. I took my chances, and thankfully, all those people were telling the truth!
Tarte Blushing Bride, heavy swatch. Swirl your brush, tap, then apply to cheeks for dispersal of pesky glitter!
All of my Tarte Blushes, swatched. L-R: Natural Beauty, Flush, Exposed, Blushing Bride
All of the blushes have a fine-milled consistency. They’re not chalky or a pain to apply. I don’t think you would have a problem with them, either, if you’re a bit heavy-handed when it comes to blush application, since they are so easy to blend out. They stay on for a long time, too, so that’s good. I love the thought of these being made with “Amazonian Clay.” Other ingredients include vitamins A, C, and E. To learn more about these ingredients, click here.
The blush pans are quite large (0.20oz. or 5.6g, a little more than NARS, but a little less than Shiseido) and you really need a small dip with your brush to get such a powerful pop of color on your cheeks. It’s quite insane. They’re not that pocket-friendly, though I would argue that if you favor a blush color (i.e. corals, reds, pinks, nudes), it would be such a great idea to invest in one blush that you can count on everyday, 100%. I personally like to collect rotate products, which is why I have a few of them here.
The compacts are made of plastic and are colored according to their shade, which is both cute and efficient. There is a large mirror on the inside of the cover, which has a pretty embossing on the top. It is quite cutesy but it doesn’t look cheap or kiddie. You can transfer these to Z-Palettes easily as well.
The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes retail for $25 or around Php 1,200+ through online retailers. They get an A+ from me, which I know doesn’t mean much but they get it anyway!
I ordered a bunch of NYX blushes, a Tom Ford blush, and an Illamasqua Blusher Duo before I got my hands on these, but I think I’m pretty set. In the business of blushes anyway.
I was trying to take some swatches on my hand, and look who showed up! 🙂
Now that we’ve got this obsession out of the way, what are some of your favorite finds lately?
Softly Sometimes 
Hi Carina, what’s your skin tone and what shade would you recommend for a NW25, for a natural flushed look? i’ve been eyeing this blushes since last year
Hi Gian! Sorry, I haven’t been matched to a MAC foundation, so those numbers often mean nothing to me D: maybe you can look around the Internet and see other beauty reviews?
If I were to be shamelessly honest, just the brand name (‘Tarte!’ It sounds so nature-y. And just like…clay) and packaging (such a pretty addition to the makeup kit!) of this blush are enough to pique my interest. I’ve never tried it though, but I since I’ve been looking for a nude or ‘natural’ blush shade, I think I just might start with Exposed. By the way, did you get this from an online retailer based in Manila?
Well, you’re in luck, because they’re awesome products, too! What’s your skin tone? I feel like Exposed will show up on fair-medium tones, it is very very very subtle on me, so that’s just a word of caution for you 🙂 and yes, all of these were bought here!
Yes, where did you get these? They’re beautiful! I think Exposed and Blushing Bride are my favorites.
I just checked the NARS site because I recalled a lovely bold and red blush after reading this (Exhibit A) but found they have a new blush called Seduction that is a beautiful wine color. Looks like a less shimmery version of Blushing Bride perhaps?
Try out stuffinstyle on Multiply and Make Up Pro on Facebook! 🙂
Yeah, I wanted to try Exhibit A, but maybe after a while! And yeah, I’ve been lemming after Seduction but I’m not sure I would look good with a dark red blush.
I love these blushes! I love Exposed but it dosnt work much for me, I have tried! I wear Tipsy with a tan, it’s bright but get so natural. I also love the stains!
I haven’t tried Tarte’s non-face products! Exposed is great for some color but you’re right, I do tend to layer another color near my hair line for a bit more depth when I wear it out.
I’m not as bold when it comes to blush, but I’m thinking of trying something that’s a cool pink. Maybe Nars Gaiety.
Cool pinks look weird on my skin tone! Haha I like warmy colors 😀
Ooh I’m loving exposed! 🙂
blissful is really nice too! a warm peach! 🙂 do you think 2 of these blushes will fit in a small z-palette? 😀 been thinking of transferring!
Oh, I’m not sure, but maybe! ShadesofKassie has 6 in the large (?) rectangular one! 🙂
Hey! I’ve nominated you for the Inspirational Blogger Award and Versatile Blogger award because I love the look and content of your blog. Can’t wait to read future posts! More info can be found on my post http://cosmeticaitlin.com/2013/02/22/blogger-awards/
xoxo
Caitlin
Yay! I love Tarte! 🙂 can’t decide whether I like Dollface more than NARS’ Orgasm, altho the latter tends to last longer on me. Sadly I don’t think plum shades work for my skin tone so I can only go with bluer pinks or peach as the warmest.
p.s. This might be weird but I also like the smell of the Tarte blushes. They smell so…clean. Lol.
Does Dollface have shimmer also? Haha we’re opposite! I love plum and warm blushes on on me 😀 I’ve got to smell those blushes some time. I haven’t smelled them yet!
Ah nope, Dollface is quite matte. 🙂 It’s gives me a really soft, pink flush which is a welcome break because Orgasm is so peachy and shimmery. I will buy Exposed when my next paycheck comes!
Btw, I wanted to get your opinion on this — what do you think is a good lipstick shade to match a blue/white dress for a wedding? 🙂 I’m not sure how I want my makeup to look because blue is such a tricky color for me!
Lol I don’t know! Is it a navy or a bright blue? I think I would go with a nude, a coral, or a deep dark vampy red if the blue is dark enough.
I have been so tempted into buying Tarte blushes because I’ve heard they’re such great quality products… I think you just sold me into actually getting some. 🙂
Awesome, let me know which one you end up picking! These blushes are so good, let me tell ya!
carina, i wanna ask since im asian too (indonesian) my skintone is warm with yellow undertone (about nc35-40),,which ones will u suggest for me? give me idea for natural, pink, peach/coral? think about exposed, will it shows on me? then how abt flush on me? thx dear
Hi Helga, thanks for the comment! I think my skin tone is similar to you. Exposed is natural but it doesn’t show up too much so I don’t know if you’ll like that so much. The effect is really, really subtle and just adds a bit of warmth and not much of a blush or flush.
Flush and Natural Beauty are great choices though neither are peachy or coral-ly. For a warmer blush, I would go with Natural Beauty. For a cooler pink flush, I would go with Flush. 🙂 Hope that helps!
thx so much, carina 🙂
pretty! i’ve always sort of wanted one of these, but they just don’t seem quite right for me. something about the texture i suppose! i love burberry blushes – i’d say those would be my favorite powder formulas
Ah! We don’t have Burberry cosmetics here, but I’ll try to grab one (LOL) when I go on my next trip out of the country 😀
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Do you happen to have a multiple back-up of any of those shades? I have an unused, brand-new one of Blissful http://cottoncandyc.blogspot.com/2012/05/tarte-amazonian-clay-12-hour-blush.html , in case you wanna swap 😀
Oh man, now I want it. Haha! I’d love to swap but all my Tarte blushes are used! I can help you sell/swap it though. 🙂
You have a collection! 😐 I think I’d go for Natural Beauty, I’d like to be scared next. 🙂
Haha! Flush actually scared me the most, but I didn’t have that color yet so yay to daring~ I’m looking at their more coral blushes, but I think I’ll wait a few months before getting it because they’re not LE or anything like that anyway. 🙂