Tarte Chic to Cheek Amazonian Clay Blush Set Review

Its only September but Tarte has started to release their holiday collection. I'm far from being ready to think about the holidays but I have to admit I've been thinking about this year's holiday beauty releases for a while! The collection is called "Sweet Dreams" and right now its only available on the Tarte Website, but it will most likely be available at Sephora shortly. There are seven different gift sets available now on the website and I picked up "Chic to Cheek" Amazonian Clay Blush Set.

The set consists of four mini Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blushes. The size is 0.05 Oz. For reference, their regular blushes are 0.20 Oz.

Even though you are only getting 1/4 the amount of blush you get in the regular size, the packaging is only a little bit smaller than the original blushes. Speaking of the packaging, it is just gorgeous! Its embossed with a golden floral vine pattern dressing them up for the holidays. Just as in their regular blush line, the blush color coordinates with the outside packaging. I really love this about the Tarte blushes, it makes them so easy to grab the color you want.

The colors included in this set definitely have a fall/winter vibe with all matte shades of rose and berry.

Amour - Tarte describes this as a rosy pink. It gives your cheeks that perfect flushed look like you've just come in from the cold.

Classic - Tarte describes this as candy pink. I think this leans more coral than pink but its a more muted coral that makes it fall appropriate.

Prim - Tarte describes this as soft apricot pink. I don't really see the apricot color, I'd describe this is a perfect true mauve.

Daydream - Tarte describes this as plum nude. This is the perfect berry shade, its not too dark but can be built up.

I've never met a Tarte blush I didn't like! I also have the 2012 "Fantastic Foursome Blush Enthusiast" set that was just like this one with 4 mini sized blushes. I really like that they changed the packaging up with this set to dress it up for the holidays.

All four colors are spot on-trend for the season. Like the full sized Amazonian Clay blushes, the formula of these is amazing. They're incredibly pigmented and wear all day. If you're in the market for some new blushes for the colder months, this is a great way to try 4 new colors without breaking the bank, and of course they will make a great gift!

Charlotte Tilbury Haul & Review

I am so excited to share with you my first purchases from Charlotte Tilbury! Charlotte is a UK based celebrity makeup artist who launched her own makeup line last year in the UK. After seeing some of her products in action on various blogs and YouTube videos I was just dying to get my hands on some! Alas, they were only sold in the UK and with the shipping and outrageous exchange rate they were just way out of the budget! I follow her on social media and was SO excited to find out that her line was finally coming to the US this fall! The line is now sold at Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Beautylish, Bergdorf Goodman and her own new US Website. Heres what I picked up:

Filmstar Bronze & Glow

This is the product I was most excited about. It is a sculpting and highlight kit that Charlotte uses on her celebrity clients to shade and highlight features to achieve red carpet ready looks.

The swatches didn't come out that great in the picture but trust me its gorgeous in person. Sculpt is a warm, bronzey contour shade while Highlight is a celestial champagne beige. Both sides have a slight hint of shimmer but it is extremely finely milled and adds a bit of natural glow in all the right places. I've even used it for a simple eye look with highlight on my lids and brow bone with sculpt in the crease. Can we please talk about the packaging!? This is probably the prettiest makeup packaging I own. Charlotte modeled the Filmstar Bronze & Glow after the glam cigarette cases of the 1920's. Its art deco inspired with a modern twist with the Rose Gold color.

K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Nude Kate, Hepburn Honey and Bitch Perfect

Charlotte describes her lipsticks as having "fallen from the lipstick tree" which is an anti-oxidant that "naturally protects lips from UV damage and external pollution leaving them cashmere soft and irresistible." She developed 10 shades that were inspired by fashion icons. The formula is soft and highly pigmented and leaves the lips with a slightly luminous finish thats very comfortable to wear.

Nude Kate - This is a beautiful nude shade, inspired by Kate Moss. Its a lighter nude but leans more on the peachy side so it doesn't give you that dead lips look. Its one I would describe as "the perfect nude" that will go with any look.

Hepburn Honey - This is a darker honey-toned nude, inspired by Audrey Hepburn. It is slightly darker than the nudes I usually gravitate towards. Although its a darker nude that leans more brown its not too dark for my skin tone and I've been really liking colors like this for fall.

Bitch Perfect - This is a light pink-coral shade. I just love the name! Its one of those your lips but better shades that make you look fresh and put together.

These are definitely luxury beauty items. I'd put them in the same category as Chanel or YSL, as in the price is high but so is the quality. The rose gold packaging is just so pretty and luxurious. This is really only the tip of the Charlotte Tilbury iceberg. There are a lot of other products on my wishlist that I have yet to try such as the Magic Cream, Wonderglow primer, Cheek to Chic blushes and her eyeshadow quads.

I purchased mine through Beautylish and I wanted to share that they are running a promotion for new customers where you get $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more. Any little bit helps!

August Beauty Favorites

Since I started blogging, I've been wanting to get into a routine of doing a monthly post on my most used products. As we transition into a new season I thought, what better time than now to do my first favorites post! These are things that I've genuinely been using and loving throughout the month which includes both new products and things that I've rediscovered.

August was a hectic month. We traveled a lot which meant living out of suitcases half the time. I've been packing and repacking my travel makeup bag nonstop. I've had it kind of half unpacked on my vanity all month. This made it really easy to see what products I've been getting the most use out of lately. Here's what made the list:


Urban Decay All Nighter 

This is a great setting spray that really helps elongate the wear of your makeup. It has also been a staple in my rotation to help combat makeup breakdown in the heat and humidity we've been having.

Lorac Pro 2 Palette

I've been loving the Lorac Pro 2 palette this month. It has the same half matte/half shimmer shadow split as the first pro palette but this one is more cooler-toned. This time they've switched it up by adding in some brighter colors along with some great staple neutrals for everyday. Its been perfect for summer but there are also some great deeper shades in the palette that will transition beautifully into fall.

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara

This mascara gives my lashes some serious volume. I actually hated this mascara when I first got it. Its a really wet formula which applies heavily and left my lashes volumized but clumpy. It required alot of combing through to get a pretty effect. I got frustrated and left it untouched for a few months and when I picked it back up last month I was in love. The formula had dried out slightly and now it is magical. If you have this and didn't like it at first, definitely give it another try, it gets better!

Tarte Exposed Blush

This the perfect summer blush that I've gone back to year after year. I'd describe it as a rosy nude. It gives a natural muted flush to my skin when I've gotten some sun. Its a color that I don't have to think about, it goes with everything.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

This has not been a great skin month for me so I was thankful to have found a new go-to full coverage concealer. Its a nice all-in-one product that is great under the eyes for covering dark circles and also does an awesome job covering blemishes and dark spots. As the name suggests, it is very long-wearing and doesn't break up halfway through the day.

Everyday Minerals Eye Kabuki Brush

This is the brush I've been using for concealer. I've actually had this for years and decided to bust it back out this month and give it another try. It works so well with my Pro Longwear concealer! I use it two ways. For under my eyes, I dot on concealer and then go in with this brush to fan it out and blend it in. To cover blemishes, I dot concealer on the back of my hand, dip my brush in and then stipple the brush over the blemish. It provides great coverage without looking cakey.

Sephora Pro Airbrush #56 Foundation Brush

As I mentioned before, I had a rough skin month in August and was looking for a fuller coverage foundation application and this brush was perfection for that. I'm a devoted Beauty Blender user and this is the first foundation brush that I've fallen in love with. It blends beautifully and gives that natural airbrush finish I get from my Beauty Blender but with a fuller coverage. The bristles are buttery soft and it feels so nice on my skin.

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

This is from the new "A Novel Romance" collection. Its a medium fuchsia with a matte finish. I've really been loving brighter lips lately and this is a great hot pink thats not too hot or crazy to wear to work. It is long-wearing and when it does fade it leaves a good deal of staining color behind.

Maybelline Luxe in Lilac Color Elixir

This is from the Bleached Neons summer collection. Its a vibrant plum that I'm actually wearing today. The color has a muted Radiant Orchid vibe that I think will transition nicely into fall as it leans more on the purple side. I love the formula of the Color Elixirs. They're creamy and comfortable to wear with great color payoff that isn't sticky. The only thing they're lacking in is staying power but I really don't mind reapplying throughout the day.


What have you been loving lately?