I haven't written a review in a while so I decided to start with something I've been obsessed with: the Tarte Waterproof Shadow Sticks! I'm all about a simple and easy routine for the mornings. These help me look put together without much effort.
⇥ AT A GLANCE ⇤
Formulated with Amazonian clay, vitamin E and mineral pigments to soften lids without tugging or pulling, these rich shadows can be layered to create a look for every occasion. The Tarte Waterproof Shadow Sticks and emphasEYES Clay Shadow Stick are long-wearing, natural, and high definition.⇥ THE BREAKDOWN ⇤
Each stick comes with 1.64 g/0.058 oz. According to QVC, the MSRP is $60 USD for 5, so each stick is $12 USD ($206.90 USD per oz). When I bought these from Sephora, I got them on sale for $10 USD.
➢ emphasEYES Clay Shadow Stick in Champagne -- I'm not actually sure what the name of this product is. It isn't labelled on the packaging and I cannot find this product online. This might have been the only one they offered in the line but I'm not 100% sure. The shade is on the rose-y side of what I normally associate with champagne. The satin-bordering-on-shimmery finish is lovely and brightens up my tired eyes.
➢Waterproof Shadow Stick in Champagne Pearl -- This is what I usually associate with champagne: a pale yellow-y beige. This isn't yellow-y by any means but it does lean warmer on my eyes. This has a frosty finish that doesn't look garish. The shimmer particles in this shade are very fine, giving this shadow an almost metallic look.
➢Waterproof Shadow Stick in Smoky Topaz -- It's a taupe that leans more on the grey-ish brown side. The cool tone helps my tired eyes look less red and swollen. While it's not what I think of as a traditional matte, Smoky Topaz comes off that way on my eyes.
➢Waterproof Shadow Stick in Copper -- A copper shade...not sure what else to say. It is darker than what I associate with copper but I appreciate that because most coppers are too orange-y or warm that it makes my eyes look swollen. Even though it's a darker shade, it blends out well.
⇥ INGREDIENTS ⇤
smoky topaz, copper Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate,
Mica, Polyethylene, Lauroyl lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Kaolin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491).
champagne pearl Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Mica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate,
Polyethylene, Lauroyl lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Lecithin, Tin oxide, Tocopherol, Kaolin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491). ⇥ PACKAGING ⇤
Packaging is a twist up pencil. It is fully retractable, so don't worry about twisting out too much product. I don't remember if the tip was pointed or not when I received these but the rounded nub that they are now isn't a problem. The rounded nub helps me apply my eyeshadow quickly. If I wanted to apply these with more precision, an angled liner brush helps do so. The cap has cracked slightly on a few of these pencils (this always happens to me but I'm not sure why!) but I don't have a problem with the cap coming off randomly. The fact that the outer tube matches the color inside is a helpful touch. I don't have very many of these pencils but when I have them in my cup, it helps me find the colors I want to use very quickly.
⇥ FORMULA & FEEL ⇤
These pencils are quite creamy for being pencils. The pigment on these is quite good--I only need to go over once with Copper and Smoky Topaz for full opacity and twice for Champagne and Champagne Pearl. I didn't have a problem with these melting or breaking off so that's reassuring.
⇥ SCENT ⇤
I don't detect a scent from these at all, which is good. :D
⇥ APPLICATION ⇤
They glide on easily without tugging on my lid, which I highly appreciate. Blending is a dream with these. Even the dark shades, like Copper and Smokey Topaz, blend into my skin very well. I've had trouble getting a soft edge with some other eyeshadow pencils but these can be blurred seamlessly like my powder eyeshadows.
⇥ WEAR TIME ⇤
Wear time is phenomenal. I can get 6 hours without any creasing or fading. I have quite oily and hooded eyelids so anything that sticks around this long is a miracle. Did I mention that I use these without primer?? Around 8 hours, I start noticing minimal creasing towards my inner corner; my eyes are more hooded in that area. These work well as a base for other eyeshadows to adhere to. I usually just use these one their own though.
⇥ OTHER THOUGHTS ⇤
Since I want a quick and easy eyeshadow look for the mornings, I can't wait 30 seconds for my eye primer to set before going in with eyeshadow, which can take an additional 5-10 minutes depending on what I'm going for. I don't know about everyone but I like to take my time to apply and blend my shadows into almost nothing which can take up a good chunk of time. These cut eyeshadow time down from 5-10 minutes to less than 1 minute.
My go to eye look lately is either Champagne or Champagne Pearl all over the lid and Smoky Topaz in the crease. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll add Copper in the outer corner to warm things up and darken the look.
⇥ BOTTOM LINE ⇤
I highly recommend these pencils! I love how easy they are to apply and blend. They last a fairly long time, which is good because I rarely touch up my makeup throughout the day. Since they're in an easy, twist-up format, they are great for travel.
My only complaint would be that I can't find them anymore. I bought these from a Sephora Sale a couple of months ago so I got them for a really discounted price. I've seen them on Tarte's website a couple of times as well as on Sephora's so I'd check them whenever they have a sale. They're being sold in a set of 5 under the name of Cream Shadow Wands but from the looks of it, they are the same as the ones I'm reviewing here. I'd snatch them up quickly in case they sell out. I'm contemplating whether or not I want to pick up this set. Since I already have 3 of the shades here, I'd only be getting two new shades: Sage and Sugar Plum. I'm such a fan of Smoky Topaz and plum shades that I might as well pick this up and give the others to friends or something.
⇥ WHERE TO BUY ⇤
➢ QVC | Buy
XOXO,
MWAH ♥
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Disclosure Statement: All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above and was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Links are not affiliate links and are provided for the readers' convenience. I cannot guarantee that the product(s) will work for you. I do not approve or endorse the products or information available on these sites. Proceed at your own risk.
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