Tarte Clay Play Face Shaping Palette

If you'd asked me when this was first released if I'd purchase another all-matte, neutral palette, the answer would've been a resounding NO.

After watching many YouTube videos where this continued to be casually referenced as being really good by some of those who don't generally push products, I decided to take a plunge.

$46 and 12 matte neutral shades later, I can't put this down. It's my new go-to buddy for everything.

A quick note for any vegan readers- I spot carmine in three shades, so this isn't a vegan palette. It is a cruelty-free brand.

A word of warning- due to the gold metallic interior and the giant mirror, this is awful to photograph, let alone in a way that represents the colors accurately.

Visually, it's a really pretty palette, right? I hope this is a permanent addition to Tarte's line because it's just that good.

I'd originally planned to post a long, raving entry about this because of just how often I reach for this (at least 4-5 days per week), but this one's really hard to photograph.

Let me show you swatches in two different lighting setups, and then we'll talk about the genius of this palette.

Ambient Lighting:

Studio Lighting:

This is one of the least-hyped releases that has had the biggest impact on my daily routine. One of the best parts about this palette is that it reminds us that powders can be used anywhere on the face. Your bronzer? Chuck it in the crease. That brow powder? Use it as a contour (I do that often). This is a great set of 12 neutral mattes that I've used as eyeshadow, contour, bronzer, and brow powder. All I really need is a blush and a neutral highlight (that can double on the eyes) and I'm set to go for the day. There aren't many palettes that you can say that about.

These shades work well for me and I suspect this will be the second Tarte palette that I completely pan (Tartelette in Bloom was the first- I'm actually working to completely use it up.). Don't sleep on it for being completely boring- these are those shades you can always use.

Two New NYX Releases: In Your Element Lipsticks & 3 Steps to Sculpt

During Ulta's recent Fall Haul event, I picked up items from two recent NYX collections. These don't have anything to do with each other, but I just wanted to pair them for the sake of simplicity.

Let's start with the newest release- the limited edition In Your Element Collection.

I picked up three of the lipsticks ($9, 4g/0.14oz each) the first day of the Ulta Fall Haul sale. In full disclosure, I swatched and decided to pass given the price point the prior day at a NYX store. But at $6ish each, I was in. (Side note: I see that price hike and perhaps working with influencers is pricing NYX out of its core customers.)

I also went back later and swatched more shades but stayed with my original 3 selections.

Let's start with my selection from the Metal Collection (each of the six palettes have three lipsticks)

I was really feeling Fall despite it being 93 the day I purchased this.I picked up Glossy Deep Berry.

If you're looking for the gorgeous packaging to be reflected on the tube, sorry to disappoint.

These are black with holo writing (yes, it actually is- don't come for me). Nicer than the average NYX tube but not stunning like the palettes.

OK, back to Glossy Berry.

It's quite pretty- and screams Fall. I know I have a few similar shades in my stash, but I couldn't resist this formula.

Here's how Glossy Berry swatches on my hand:

And here's how it looks applied to the lips- no foundation, lipliner, or other tricks (as usual) in my photos.

Top: Direct studio lighting, Bottom: Ambient room lighting

I think this is a shade I'll reach for often this fall. I'm not sure why I've never previously gravitated towards NYX lipsticks, but this is just lovely. And although I think $9 is steep in general, it's still well placed at the drugstore, price-wise. It pulls a lot redder on my pigmented lips, but I'm digging it. Now, if it would be cool enough to rock this.

Next, let's go to the Air Collection.

Sigh. I knew I shouldn't do it, but I picked up Matte Rose.

It's lovely warm matte pink lipstick.

There's nothing wrong with this. In fact, it's really pretty and I'll be reaching for this starting in about January a lot. I think we've established that these pinks are my weak spot when it comes to lipstick.

One caveat about these mattes- they're really like satins. They're not matte matte (which I love).

It's just lovely, right?

Here it is on my lips:

Top: Studio lighting Bottom: Ambient Lighting

Here's the deal. I love this shade, but I own so many of these. I often use the blog as an excuse to enable my bad purchasing habits. I'm so happy to have this, but I'm going to tuck it away until after Christmas because it's winter/spring color for me. I find the formula to be really pretty.


Let's wrap up with my selection from the Fire Collection. Spoiler alert: it's my favorite of the three.

I selected the only color to have sold out as of Wednesday at my local Ulta: Matte Mauve.

Like the Matte Rose, it's more of a Satin than a true matte-which is glorious in my opinion. I also question the naming of this as mauve. Trust me when I say this isn't any mauve I've ever known. If you're ordering blind, you need to be acutely aware of this.

Here's a swatch of non-mauve mauve:

Can we agree that's a brick-terracotta color not mauve? It's glorious for fall though.

Here's a lip shot in studio lighting:

And an "in the wild" shot when I was wearing it out and about in natural lighting (iphone photo).

In that photo, I also applied over foundation-covered lips. And yes, it looks more matte.

When I was in the sun, however, the gleam showed up. Sorry for the angle, but I was actually trying to capture my highlighter and eyeshadow not my lipstick!

This is a new staple shade for me this Fall and it's the winner of the collection. I'd buy this at regular price.

I find these non-matte mattes to be really comfortable and highly recommend the formula. With 18 shades, you're likely to find your new favorite somewhere in there!

If you're looking for me to do a review of any of the In Your Element palettes, that won't be happening. They're a hard pass for me for multiple reasons. The packaging is beautiful, but $30 for a NYX palette is absurd in my mind. Even on sale I didn't want to reward that large of a price jump. More importantly, I wasn't impressed by the formula. Had I bought one of them, I wouldn't have touched it ever again. If I were to ever do an anti-haul, this would've been at the top.

Next up: 3 Steps to Sculpt Trio ($11.99)

This came out a couple of months ago, but I still consider this to be a relatively new release.

I swatched this at a local NYX store and was really impressed by the quality but I didn't need any new contour kits. The next day, this went on sale at Ulta. So off my money went. You receive 3 5g/0.18oz powders in the trio. They're nicely sized for a precision brush.

There are 4 different kits- Fair, Light, Medium, and Deep. I've got the Fair kit here to show you.

 

I've been on a contour purchasing kick as of late. This is the only one that has a highlight (and the highlight is the letdown of the three).

Let's go to the swatches, and then I'll talk about my experience wearing this.

Left: Studio, warm light. Right: Artificial, cool light

The reason why I'm showing two sets of swatches is that the truth to the naked eye lies somewhere in-between.


Let's start with the low point of the three- the highlighter. It looks pretty in the pan but it's chalky and glittery. I'd never wear it on my cheeks; I've used it in the inner corner a few times when I had the palette out already. To be honest, I'd have liked the trio better if this was a duo without it.

If I'm going in terms of worst-best, next up is the contour. The first two times I wore it, I thought I ruined my contour. It's extremely pigmented and quite warm. As a fair person, I prefer a very cool contour.

However, I've come to enjoy it and have figured out how to make it work. I either do it under some tinted finishing powder (to help diffuse) or use the tiniest bit. Two or three quick dabs (like Subculture-soft dabs) will more than do an entire contour; I do one at a time and build with a Wayne Goss Face Brush. (It's also lovely in the crease as an eyeshadow.)

My favorite product in the trio is the matte highlighter. Nope, I don't use it as a highlighter but the powder is delightful. I've been using it as a non-shimmering undereye setting powder. It's glorious for that. I don't crease with this powder, which is a rarity. I'd rebuy an entire palette of just the matte highlighter.

This is one of two contour palettes/duos (ironically, both from the drugstore) that I can see myself grabbing for travel because they're multitasking powders. If you overlook the chalky, glittery highlighter it's a great value.

Bottom Line: NYX is stepping it up as of late. I'm interested, but not liking the price creep I see going on.

Urban Decay Shape Shifter Contour Palette

Anyone who has been paying attention to my weekly drawers knows that I've been playing with the new Urban Decay Shape Shifter Contour Palette in Light/Medium ($45) for more than a month. I'll 100% admit that this was an impulse purchase in Ulta one night. That said, I have thoughts. Many thoughts. I also don't regret the impulse.

I'm not always the most consistent when it comes to contouring. Let's just get that on the record.

This is a new product in that it combined both powder and cream contours into one palette. It's a great concept, and nice for travel.

The compact is rather slender and is gorgeous.

This reminds me of the UD Naked Ultimate Basics- only in a taupe.

A++++ on packaging.

In total, the palette contains 5 x 2.15g of cream products and 4 x 3.7g of powder products.

I think the one of the coolest thing is how this is laid out:

Normally, I detest mixed cream/powder palettes, but UD solved it by putting a mirror between the two!

Let's start out with my favorite formulation- powder.

This shows up much cooler than real-life, but since I've swatched and abused it, I didn't want to reshoot in different lighting. My swatches are more true-to life.

You get a champagne shimmer highlight, what works for me as a slightly yellow face powder, a contour, and a deep, red bronzy shade. Only the highlighter is shimmery; the rest are matte.

This shows a bit more of the powder texture, but again- this pulls cooler than real life.

Since I've been playing with this, I've noted just how pigmented these are. When I use them, I absolutely have to tap off my brush. And then tap again. And then use a light hand. That said, I like this kit.

Now, over to my arch enemy- cream products.

For whatever reason, I struggle with cream products. In this palette, you get a shimmer highlight, a light peach corrector, a concealer-type color, a deeper warm brown, and a dark cool brown.

Swatched from the highlighter- deep shade.

I think I could use the peach corrector with a light hand, and if I blend like crazy and use a teeny bit the contour shade might work. The highlight is beautiful. I'm too pale for the others.

Bottom Line: This is a highly pigmented palette. I think it has an innovative shape and design, and am enjoying trying to challenge myself to use it.

Giorgio Armani Luxe is More Palette

A quick note for you, dear readers. I've been doing my best to faithfully get one post up per day, but I may have to start spacing the content out a bit. Work and family life has gotten crazy- I'm planning some family-related travel at some point this month (not telling the internet when I'm coming/going though) and may not see a day off until Palm Sunday. I rely upon the weekends to shoot photos and outline posts, so I'm quickly running out of time.

But we'll see.


Today I have a very special item to talk about with you. It was actually Armani's holiday 2015 offering, but it's currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Armani's own website. I'll be honest, I was compelled to write this after not seeing a lot of love for this.

Enter the Giorgio Armani Luxe is More Palette.

This ultra-pricey ($140), double-decker eye/face palette is stunning and, appropriately, luxe.

As you can tell by my box, it's been in heavy rotation (ie the box has been taken in and out of the drawer over and over:

Let's talk about the palette. First off, it's huge. It's not the size of the traditional Armani palettes.

This is the pouch (with brushes) that it comes in:

Pretty standard.

The palette itself is a light gold, with Armani's signature on top:

Here's the bottom. You might get an idea of the scale:

Inside, it contains a lot of product for your $140. Upper level is comprised of 10 of the best neutral eyeshadows around:

Let's look at some swatches.

Here's the upper row (the rose gold is a color I use at least 2-3 days a week):

You have, L-R, a perfect nude to smooth out imperfections and act as an anchoring base, a divine rose gold, a light burnished gold/copper, and a light tan shimmer with gold leanings. Amazing.

Here's the middle two:

That's a mostly-matte charcoal that really is almost black and an icy, true silver metallic shade. Love!

Here's the bottom row:

L-R, you have a metallic white (needed as a finishing highlight), two taupey brown shimmers, and a rosy dark brown shade that you just want to cuddle.

Put together, you have an expertly curated set of 10 neutrals. You can do anything from the lightest look to a deep, sultry smoky eye with this palette. It's literally all you need if you're traveling. Even if this was all you got, these would ring in at $14 each, a bargain for Armani.

But wait... there's more.

I normally hate all-in-one palettes, but the eyeshadows swing up to reveal the second level:

OK, hear me out on this. You have a finishing powder and two creams that can be used for concealers (per the instructions). It's meant to flatter a medium skintone. You know I'm a NW15, so here we go on how to make it work. There are also 2 cute little Armani sponges.

Here's the lower level swatched (powder between creams):

Now, here's the hack on how to use this one. CONTOUR!

First of all, a very light dusting of the powder is pretty universal on most light-medium skintones. The powder is also great for absorbing powder, so that's how I've used it- with a light hand.

I've used the creams for subtle contouring and love them as such.

Bottom Line: This is an investment. It's luxurious. It's Armani. But these products perform at such a high level that the lack of love for this palette (now a staple in my stash) that I felt compelled to talk about it. Check it out if you can- it's worth it.