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FIRST IMPRESSIONS ┊ Holiday 2014: ☃ Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette ☃

Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

⇥ AT A GLANCE ⇤

This limited, holiday edition blush palette from Tarte features 5 new, exclusive shades. Made to last up to 12 hours, the key ingredient, Amazonian clay, balances skin beautifully to allow for better, longer, and truer wear.

⇥ THE BREAKDOWN ⇤

The Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette includes the following exclusive shades: Breathless, Embraced, Whimsy, Bashful, and Irreplaceable. Breathless, Whimsy, and Irreplaceable are matte while Embraced and Bashful are shimmery.

The entire palette retailed for $42usd for 0.79 oz total. Each blush contains 4.5g/0.158oz ($53.16usd per oz). A regular blush contains 0.2 oz for $26usd ($130usd per oz).

⇥ INGREDIENTS ⇤

Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tricaprylin, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Alba, PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Tin Oxide, Mica, Carmine (CI 75470). (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 6 And Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).

Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

⇥ PACKAGING ⇤

The packaging of this blush palette is quite nice. The gold case feels a bit plush to the touch and looks very old-school glamor. The secure spring closure ensure that this palette would not randomly spring open. I do appreciate the full sized mirror included as that helps me when I'm doing my makeup. If the palette could be propped open on a table, that would be ideal. Most of the time, I hold the palette close to my face anyway so it's not a big problem for me. Also, the name is not written onto the packaging itself but on a loose plastic sheet. It's not that big of a deal since these are limited edition anyway but if I want to mention them in a Favorites or something, I gotta keep the plastic sheet...

⇥ FORMULA & FEEL ⇤

Like all Tarte blushes, these are very, very soft and buttery feeling. The silkiness of the blush makes it quite easy to blend. Embraced and Irreplaceable are the softest to the touch. Whimsy and Breathless feel a little dry compared to the buttery softness of Embraced but nevertheless, they aren't chalky or dry at all!

⇥ SCENT ⇤

These blushes do have a funny scent but that's only if you put your nose super close and give it a good sniff. When I'm applying them on my face, I don't detect a scent.

⇥ APPLICATION & PIGMENTATION ⇤

Hands down, these are one of the best blushes on the market! They are very pigmented yet they blend into the skin seamlessly if you take the time to properly blend them. As a light-medium skin toned girl, I don't have much problem finding a blush to show up. For darker toned girls, it's very hard to find something that would show up--which is why I'm so excited about this palette. Sure, it's so pigmented that I have to remind myself to tap lightly but for girls who have a hard time finding blush that's pigmented enough, these will do the job well, especially Embraced and Irreplaceable. As these blushes--save for 2-- are extremely pigmented, I would go lightly--two or three taps using a very fluffy brush, no more than that unless you want to go for clown face. When I first got this, I applied Embraced like I do with my other blushes and was shocked by the intense pigment. Blending furiously with a clean brush helped tone it down a bit. Adding my regular powder on top also helped but the lesson was learned: tread very lightly with these.

⇥ WEAR TIME ⇤

As I never wear makeup for more than 12 hours, I cannot attest to that claim. I can however, vouch that these are quite long-wearing. I usually wear makeup for 6-8 hours unless I'm purposefully wearing something for longer to test a claim. I have a natural flush to my cheeks so it can be hard to tell if the blush is still there. When I take off my makeup, I can tell the blush was still there because my natural skintone underneath wasn't what was previously there, if that makes sense. Since these blushes look so seamless on the skin, I can only tell they were even there when I take everything off and compare my face before and after. 

Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches
From left to right: Breathless, Embraced, Whimsy, Bashful and Irreplaceable
Breathless looks beige in the pan but on my face, it looks like a very pale pink. As you can see from the swatch, it sort of melds into my skin. This particular brush applies best on my skin tone with a dense brush and 3 layers. This is one of the 3 matte blushes in this palette.

Embraced is an orchid purple color with a silver sheen. The blueness in this shade clashes with my skin tone so I rarely wear it. It is the most pigmented of the bunch as I've mentioned before. It's also the most shimmery but not obnoxiously so. The silver sheen adds a nice glow to the face without being noticeable. Orchid is the Pantone color of the year so it fits right in this year's blush releases.

Whimsy is a cool-toned Peptol Bismol pink color. Cool tones usually don't work on my face but this one adds brightness to my face. I can't overdo it though or else it makes me look sallow and chalky.

Bashful is a coral color with a golden sheen. On my skin, it translates as a watermelon pink color. It's anything but bashful on the face. Though it looks faded in the swatches below, it's only because it's next to Irreplaceable, which is insanely pigmented, IMO. I like this tone of blush as the slight red lean adds a believable flush to my face. On a slight tangent, finding a natural-looking blush isn't just about something that is light and fades into your skin (that helps but isn't the end all) but it has to do with what color you normally blush. For me, it's a reddish watermelon color so this mimics that perfectly. End tangent, as I'm sure you want to hear more about these amazing blushes lol.

Irreplaceable is a raspberry rose color. For those who are looking for a good fall color, this one is perfect if plum isn't your thing.
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

⇥ OTHER THOUGHTS ⇤

I'm sure you've noticed these but the hair pins are quite cute. They are tacky but a nice touch of glamor for the holiday season. Last years' palette didn't have it but had a bow wrap bracelet instead.
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

I'm sure you're all curious as to how this palette, Pin Up Girl Blush Palette (PUG) compares to last year's Off the Cuff Blush Palette (OTC) so I have swatches below of some similar shades! I'll let the photos speak for themselves ;)
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches


Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

Size wise, last year's palette is much more compact. The magnetic closure was more convenient and safe because I don't have to worry about the clasp on the PUG breaking off during travel (it sticks out a bit). I like texture of OFT more too--the glittery exterior looks sleek and sophisticated. PUG does looks elegant and like a real clutch (though you cannot take the blushes out of the palette). In terms of quality, I have to hand it to PUG--pigmentation and blendability is spot on. OFC is good but it's dry in comparison. Both palettes have a bit of powdery kick up if you swirl your brush too vigorously but color pay off and longevity totally makes up for it. Just put in a little more effort to keep it clean and you'll be fine.

Last year's palette contained the same amount of product for the same price. I liked that OTF has a bronzer included but if bronzer isn't your thing, 5 blushes is a good compromise :)
Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

Tarte Pin Up Girl Blush Palette review and swatches

⇥ BOTTOM LINE ⇤

I like this palette. The blushes aren't as conventional and less dupeable, imo. A lot of them are more fall-toned but can work well on deeper skin tones. They look and blend naturally into my skin while staying put for a solid 8 hours. Unfortunately, this is sold out on Sephora (curses for not getting this up sooner) but I think all Tarte blushes are wonderful in terms of performance and color selection so I recommend grabbing one if you can! I've seen these holiday blush palettes on sale randomly throughout the year so keep a keen eye about you as there may be more available next year.

⇥ WHERE TO BUY ⇤

SEPHORA || Buy
TARTE || 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.

2 comments

  1. I loved reading this! Thank you for this article!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Makeup With A Heart11/19/14, 12:13 AM

    You're welcome! I thought it would be too long but I think they go well together :)

    ReplyDelete