My Problem with Tarte

Pictured above is the Taretlette 2 Tartelette in Bloom palette. I bought it in... March maybe? Around my birthday. I had a gift card. In any case, since that time, I've used it maybe twice. Purchased at the same time was the Too Faced Chocolate BonBons palette, which I reach for all the time. So, why don't I use it as much? It's a nice palette, sure. It's got some really pretty warm tones and a maroonish color, which I'm all about. It blends well. And it smells like chocolate (so does the Too Faced palette). I forced myself to use it recently and remembered why I don't really reach for it. I got a reasonably maroon smokey eye using the cream shade in the middle row, and the bottom row colors. Everything was fine until I went for Funny Girl, the shade that's circled. This color is fucking impossible. It's so damn stiff in the pan that you have to grind your brush into it. Used dry, there's little color pay off. Used wet, there's some color pay off. But overall, it's a shit eyeshadow and I expect more from a prestige brand. The other shimmer in the palette isn't this awful, so what the hell, Tarte?

Complaints about that one shadow aside, if you look at the palettes Tarte puts out, they're all the same. You literally only need to buy one Tarte palette because they're virtually identical. This palette isn't even very different from the original Tarte palette, except this one is more warm where the other was more cool (and apparently all matte). The Young, Wild, and Free palette, the Grav3yardgirl palette, Tartelette Tease palette, Showstopper palette, even their contour palettes all look the fucking same. There's no variety, no originality, no change. It's neutral palette after neutral palette and it's fucking boring.

Honestly, you get 12 shadows for $45, with one shadow that's absolute shit. Personally, I'd go for a Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette; you get 16 shadows for $49 with nice warm tones and in my experience, Too Faced shadows blend like a dream (I don't personally own this palette but I've played with it in Ulta). The collections and collaborations they come out with are also a lot more imaginative and varied (I'm still kicking myself for not getting the Ulta exclusive holiday palette).

I'm still going to make myself use my Tarte palette, because I bought it, and there are genuinely some really nice shades in it, but it's certainly not my favorite.

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick Review

Disclaimer: I received these products free from Influenster to try and review. All opinions of the product are my own and I am not receiving any compensation for this review.

The colors I received were Rebel Red and Nude Flush, both very pretty colors in the tube. Nude Flush is a pretty pinky-nude, and Rebel Red is a blue-toned bright red. I can understand, with the trend in liquid lipsticks, why Maybelline has jumped on the bandwagon. But, a few things to consider:

1. These lip colors do not dry down matte. Maybelline does suggest applying a layer and blotting for a more matte effect. If you're looking for a liquid lipstick that does dry down matte and doesn't transfer, this product isn't for you. The name is a definite misnomer.

2. They smell... perfumy and weird. And that smell has a taste. I didn't find the fragrance all that appealing, honestly, and it lingered.

3. The doefoot applicator is long and a little awkward for precise application. It's not horrible, and this is a drug store product, it's just a little off the mark.

4. Nude Flush is really pretty and applied well. Rebel Red was kind of patchy and I had to go over it a couple times for even coverage. No bueno.

These do glide on very creamy and have a bit of a moussey texture that's not unpleasant, although if you get a little too much on it can feel a bit gloppy. Blotting helps, or rubbing your lips together a few times. There's a bit of a tingle to them, which I've heard described as a cooling effect, but it's not bad or unpleasant. These don't feel drying, which is a plus. But they're definitely not that long-wearing and will transfer when you eat or drink. Overall, an okay product, but probably not one I'd buy on my own, however if you're getting started with liquid lipsticks or don't want one that's ultra-matte (or matte at all) these are a good jumping off point.