Shimmer! Glimmer! Sparkling! Shine! You know the holidays are here when all the makeup collections are all blinged out. The next few weeks, Makeup Junkie will be featuring holiday goodies that should be on your wish list whether it's for someone special or yourself.
For The Ultimate Glamazon -
Tarte Cosmetics The Jewelry Box ($52 USD): I. Am. In. Love. This box of makeup heaven is packaged in a luxe gold quilted box adorned with a detachable gold and black necklace that I've been wearing every chance I get! I love layering it with my gold chain link necklace - it looks fab with any party dress or wear with a plain ol' shirt to amp up your look.
After you've been dazzled by the necklace, your eyes will pop with excitement once you open up the box! The kit comes with 32 new eye shadows, 8 lip glosses, a Tarte best-seller of Park Avenue Princess Mineral Powder Bronzer full-size, full-size shimmer powder, and five deluxe long-wearing shimmery eyeliners.
I did a quick swatching of the shadows so some of the shades might not look as pigmented but they are and have good staying power. I love that it comes with a good amount of matte shadows. A lot of holiday palettes are all shimmery but I love layering shimmer and matte textures together. It looks more wearable and in photos looks more flattering. The liners are pretty and add a little fun and sparkle to your lash line. For long-wearing liners, I found they started to fade towards the end of the night.
The shimmer and bronzer are gorgeous and leave your skin looking radiant. However, on my med-dark skin I have to apply a couple of layers to really see the bronzer. I adore all the lip glosses. I was expecting them to be really sheer but these glosses pack a punch. You can wear each on their own or layer to make a custom shade.
Not only will this thrill the glamazon's in your life (or you), but it will fancy those who only wear all natural products. The price is definitely worth it from packaging to product. Go crazy and create 100 different looks this season!
For The Sophisticate -
Tarte The Royal Collection ($43 USD): This is for the woman who just needs all her essentials - no fuss or muss. The Royal Collection will keep you looking polished with 16 exclusive wearable eye shadows that can bring you from day to night. The palette packaged in it's signature purple also includes deluxe sizes of Clean Slate Natural Face Primer, Lights, Camera Lashes!, MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Primer, a Vitamin-Infused Pink Lip Gloss.
Again, the palette comes with a good mix of shimmery and matte shadows. Lately, I've been wearing the grey-mauve matte shadow with one of the light matte pinks, black liquid liner, and soft nude pink lips. All the shadows are gorgeous but this combo works for day or night and has a '60's mod feel to it. Love it.
The primer is great and makes your skin feel really smooth. I love primers and have a collection that is growing! I had always wanted to try the mascara. It promises to volumize, lengthen and curl. When I first apply it, I love it. My lashes look lifted and feathery, but the formula is kind of soft and by the end of the day my lashes start to droop. The primer definitely added fullness to my lashes especially since I've been using Latisse (will have to do a separate review for that), but my lashes would clump more when I applied any mascara over top.
I love the Tarte glosses because they don't feel sticky on the lips and they are good for you inside-out. This pink gloss has gold flecks in it and looks lovely for those days when you want a sheer shine. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Jewelry Box but it offers great value!
Have you tried any of these must-have limited additions from Tarte? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?
Both palettes are available at Sephora locations and Sephora on-line.
