March 16, 2012

Tarte The Miracle of Maracuja Collection Review & Swatches

It’s today, it’s today.

The new Tarte The Miracle of Maracuja Collection premiered on QVC early this morning. Some of you have taken full advantage of the set and have it in your greedy hands already.

What do you think so far?

The value of $60 for eight full pieces is quite a bargain particularly if you’ve never tried Tarte before. The set is also available on an auto delivery option which seals in the $60 price tag and allows you to get two more sets (in different seasonal shades) sent to you automatically in the next few months. If you missed my post, I already have images available of the sets that will follow after your first order just click here to view them.

Let’s take a look!

Here’s what you get:

  • Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (Your Choice of Colors)
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Beauty and the Box Eyeshadow Quad (Shades: Silver Mist, Pink Cloud, Purple Fog, and Dark Ash. These are based around a dominate shade of purple with shades of white, silver, and black for a purple smoky look(.
  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
  • Tarte Maracuja Lip Gloss in Peaceful
  • Tarte Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Smooth Eyeliner in Black
  • Tarte Maracuja Airblush Bouncy Blush in Shimmering Poppy
  • Tarte Maracuja Oil
  • Tarte Bamboo Blush Brush

I’ll start my review with the eyeshadow quad. First off, this is darling packaging. It reminds me of a Benefit Powder Blush. It’s a small floral box with a flip top lid that houses four strips of eyeshadow for a smoky purple eye look. I had no problems getting to the shadows and found they were situated in a user friendly way within the box. Sometimes strip style eyeshadows can be a tad irritating to use but these are large enough to fit a brush or sponge into. They are also large enough strips that you aren’t running into one shade when reaching for another.

The formula is different for Tarte who typically favors a thinner, silkier texture with their eyeshadows. These are a velvety, creamy shadow that have super pigmentation so do go gently during application and build slowly. The selection of shades is a tad intimidating at first but I highly suggest watching/recording one of today’s shows on QVC for application techniques. I took note that they applied these differently on different skin tones and eye types for a variety of looks. Darker skin got purple all over the lid with silver and black accents where as lighter skin got the paler pink applied on the inner half of the lid with the darker shades making an appearance on the outer v (this is how I applied it below). You can apply these in a number of ways and dress them up for evening or day looks. I prefer more warmer shades of shadow but these cooler shades create a very elegant smoky eye.

Shades:

  • Pink Cloud (pale pink)
  • Silver Mist (shimmery silver gray)
  • Purple Fog (deep royal purple)
  • Dark Ash (intense black matte)

To add a bit of drama you can use the Tarte Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Smooth Eyeliner in Black on the upper lash line and waterline. For my look I kept this to my waterline only. This has a creamy formula and a rich black pigment. It glides on beautifully without tugging or skipping. Just a note about the pencil’s retraction, you might think the pencil is faulty because once retracted up it does not swivel back down. Avoid swiveling it up if you don’t need to it as it is built in a way that does not allow it to swivel back down which seems to be the norm for retractable pencils on the market today. I realize getting a pencil like this might make you think it is faulty, it isn’t, this is actually how the pencil is supposed to work.

A very excited part of the collection is the newly launch Tarte Maracuja Airblush Bouncy Blush which you’ll receive in Shimmering Poppy. Tarte was also kind enough to include a full size Bamboo Blush Brush for application of your new blush. This brush has soft, friendly bristles. The brush is the equivalent of a MAC 187 and allows you to achieve an airbrushed effect with the Airblush, of course, if you prefer, you can also apply the blush with your finger tips. This is a soft, creamy blush that blends easily and flawlessly no matter what tool you use to apply it. It has a shorter wear time for me since cream blush and my skin aren’t a happy couple. So I do see it fade within two hours and a touch up is necessary. The shade, lovely in the compact, comes across a tad too orange-y on me for some reason. It’s rather gorgeous if I build it up but if I go with a simple wash I end up looking unusually orange so I do suggest a little bit of a heavier hand during application if you end up feeling the same with the end result and a lighter hand. The blush is exclusive to this set but I have hopes Tarte will release in this Summer in a few shades as a worldwide launch.

Also included is Maracuja Divine shine Lip Gloss in Peaceful (this is swatched above in the blush photo on the right hand side) which is a nude pink. This shade is quite sheer so a little lip stain underneath will get you the best benefits. I’ve reviewed the formula in more detail in another post which you can view by clicking here. Peaceful is an exclusive shade and not available for retail elsewhere.

And finally you get full sizes of Tarte’s Pure Maracuja Oil, Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, and Lights, Camera, Lashes! Volumizing Mascara. I’ve reviewed all three of these in past posts and have included links for you to look back at within this post.

The value of getting Tarte’s Pure Maracuja Oil, which is $46 retail, practically covers the cost of the entire kit alone so you can see what a great value you are getting here.

Overall, Tarte has again successfully creates another fine value for us. I think the oil and concealer in the next two shipments might be a bit too much for some so you might want to set those aside as swap bait on various makeup forums when they arrive or give them away to family and friends as you might be challenged to use up the original shipment’s offerings before the next shipment arrives due to the larger size of the oil and pigmentation of the concealer. The kit is well above the value price of $60 and you’re getting all full size products here, so there isn’t any skimping in regards the quantity plus you get to try two newer products not yet available from Tarte, the blush and shadow quad.

I think it’s rather a thrilling little bargain!

Did you haul it?

Available now at http://qvc.co/Qbeauty using item number A225243.

Did you order it?

Please do share your application techniques for the shadow quad, I’d love to hear.

And share your thoughts on the set, I know reader’s find other comments about a product very helpful.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Lisa

    “I’ve reviewed all three of these in past posts and have included links for you to look back at within this post.”

    Muse, where are the links?? For the life of me I don’t see the links and I’ve been searching and searching for the concealer review and not having any luck. Help!!

    • the Muse

      sorry lisa, I’m updating the post, my concealer review went missing hehe. apologies, will update shortly. very odd. but the links for the oil are there! 🙂

      • Lisa

        I found the oil, you make me want it! Thank you so much I’ll watch for the concealer review. xo

        • the Muse

          it’s so odd b/c I intentionally did a review on the concealer when it originally launched in another set. but it seems to have disappeared?

          just some brief details until I firgure out what the heck it went: it’s very concentrated, so a little goes a super long way. It’ll concealer most any issues, darkest dark circles, etc…as the pigmentation is absurd on it. I do find it a bit thick and grease-paint-like though which makes it a little difficult to blend at times. I’m not actually in love with it but it is hailed as amazing by many tarte users ;-D

          • Lisa

            I think I’m going to have to get this TSV. My wallet does not thank you, but I do LOL!!

  • Ruth

    oh wow, that’s so pretty! I had just talked myself out of getting this set since I’ve been buying a craptastic amount of books lately. Seeing it on you (and you look mahhhhvalous dahhhhling! ) and now i need it again! you are such an enabeler!!

    • the Muse

      aw thanks ruth MWAH! love ya hun! what books? anything I need? ;-D I actually skipped release day this week and didn’t buy a single comic, was such a proud moment in my geeky life!

      • Ruth

        I have to get to my comic shop and catch up, but the books…oh the books! Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Karen Hawkins, and Ally Carter, those authors have been in the area doing book signings. and then just accumulating Karen Marie Moning, simon green, vickie petterson, lillith stcrow, maryjanice davidson…and more authors that i can’t seem to recall right now! it’s A LOT! I like to read mostly urban fantatasy and the market is abundant with really entertaining works right now for both adults and YA. Have you read any of those authors?? also, did you see the last ep of the walking dead??

        • the Muse

          awww I thought you mean new books as in comics ;-D damn girl! I haven’t read KMM in a very long while. I have read Kim Harrison, Karen Hawkins, and Ally Carter. I’ve always wanted to get into that alpha and omega series that PB has out, have you read that? curious minds. YA has been better than adult novels lately ;-D there are so many great fantasy/adventure novels in the YA category it’s obscene and don’t get me started on supernatural.

          • Ruth

            Have you read Michelle Hodkin’s The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer? that shiz is twisted! highly recommend! I’ve totally read PB’s A&O series and really enjoyed them. they start in an anthology on the prowl but are set in the world of her Mercy Thompson series. I know what you mean by so many good stories in the YA. During my teen years there wasn’t really a YA market, what we read inbetween kids book and adult was harliquen books. they were like romance lite and we thought we were the stuff reading them too! I just read Moning’s Fever series and they were soooo good! so I picked up the first in the highlander series, hopefully I’ll like them as much. She’s coming out with a graphic novel this summer, new story with Mac & Barrons. I still haven’t finished that stack of comics that got the last time that I made it to the comic shop! the next on my comic list is the Dark Shadows series that they started up reciently. and corpse exhumed. i picked up the first issue last fall and loved it and just picked up the rest they’re in that stack to read with everything else. If I never leave the house for the next 6 months, I still don’t know if I’d get though everything!

          • the Muse

            i read the The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer when it originally came out. amazing novel, off topic but have you read the beautiful creatures series yet? brillant as well. I’m going to try out a&o on your rec, curious minds. i dunno how old you are, but we had a really great ya run with stuff by rl stine, and a ton of scholastic serial novels back in 7-8th grade and hs ;D and of course tons of harlequin thrown in there lol those were the days! I haven’t read her in a long time I think I read one of the fever series and proceeded to not pick up the other ones, I started maya bank’s highlander series but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for so kinda left it after second book. interesting, graphic novel could be very interesting. oh funny i have the next corpse exhumed on prebook, can’t wait for june! ;-D good stuff! didn’t start the dark shadows though, didn’t even buy, I fear we’ll be saturated with a ton of dark shadows stuff soon :-/ lol tell me about it. my tbr pile is absurd ;D

          • the Muse

            ps where did you fine your LCE issues? couldn’t find these in stores, only online

    • the Muse

      lmao you did? why Canada? oh wait, sold out on amazon us eh? 🙁

      • Ruth

        yuppers! In the discussion forum, someone made mention that it was still available in canada. sooo, like a rabid fangirl, whipped out the AmEx and begged them to send it to meeee!! while it’s out, i’ll just trundle over to qvc and plunk it down there too. i also paid next semester tuition too, Ms. AmEx may have to go into hiding for awhile.

        • the Muse

          lol ruth! I gotta hope over to the amazon ca site, is it more $$? just curious. I ordered it at the start of the month from amazon us but noticed it was a little cheaper (five bucks) on target. Not that I care about the five bucks but just in case amazon us can’t fulfill my order for some reason I need back up resources ;D!

  • JenJ

    *sitting on hands* gaaaaahhhh!! what’s up with no easy pay! hmph! *chants* i don’t need this, i don’t need this, iiiiiii doooooon’t neeeeedd this!!!*

  • Ruth

    it was a little bit $437 USD and $10 for shipping. it’s still available from target. I never remember to check target! I shop there all the time but the online store somehow always gets forgotten. from amazon us, they did cut off the pre-ordering, so hopefully they didn’t overbook their quantities anticipating cancelations and buyers regret.

    • the Muse

      that’s not too bad. I’ll need it for back up if amazon did over order. I doubt it though, they normally come through for me all the time *crossing fingers* you don’t wanna order from target anyway, I’ve always had really poor results with them. They pack badly…no bubble wrap, etc..with makeup purchases, things just tossed in a box. I almost always get something damaged from them 🙁

      You should revise your order from amazon ca as todd and the book of pure evil season 2 comes out april 3rd (I think, ordered it a while ago so forget exact release date) is out soon, might as well get it with your DS order if you’re a fan of the show.

  • Ruth

    i’ve never seen it! I’ve heard about from a podcase with Jason Mewes, it it awesome??

    • Ruth

      I ordered the Tinkerbell items from Pixi and they came secured in the box and no damage to them at all. I was probably just lucky.

      • the Muse

        not me 🙁 I ordered some sonia k stuff and it was just awful. all broken, big box for small items, no packaging to secure it. also had it happen with other items I ordered. I stopped ordering from their site b/c of that!

    • the Muse

      o m f g you never seen it? awesome stuff ;D! I watched the first season online about a year ago? and it was absolutely hooked. I decided I really didn’t want to deal with rewatching it online again so ordered season 2 off amazon ca. season one I had ordered from amazon us, doing a rewatch now actually. awesome stuff. kinda campy horror slash brilliant death metal/heavy metal. it’s fun. plus hey it has Mewes in it. come on that’s of course making it all the more brilliant ;D! you can prob watch first eppy somewhere on youtube and if you like it order season 1 and 2. essential stupidity for geeks. lol

      • Ruth

        I think that I’ll put it on my birthday wish list, since it’s coming up soonish. Mewes is completely awesome and he just runs off at the mouth and makes me laugh so hard! and he’s pretty HAWT too! that sounds right up my alley. if it is geek essential viewing, it will be mine!!

        that totally sucks about the Target business! since they have online items only, it would be nice to be able to order from them and know that they have the same shipping quality as amazon.

        • the Muse

          happy early bday! def hot ;-D and love when he just goes on and on ha…completely an addictive personality ;-D I love him even more with the shorter hair now. Mewes has a kinda small part in it as a yoda slash janitor type character lol but still funny! shipping sucks with them for me, I dunno, maybe I’m just unlucky but every single time I order from them it just blows. i stick to amazon when possible.

          • Ruth

            thank you, sweetie! I’ve only ordered from them the one time online but like you, have had excelled exprience with amazon. I liked Mewes in the day with long hair,but as times and styles change, the short hair looks really good on him.

            did you see on IMDB he’s going to be in zombie hamlet? i wonder of they’re going to make Yorick talk and his teeth clatter together?that would be awesome!

  • kiwikiwidragon

    Ahhhhhhh……I want this but don’t want it all in the same time….

  • Ruth

    we ran outta room!

    I really dig patrica briggs’ work, see if you were closer, I’d lend them to you! her characters are life like, you can fit them into your seamlessly into your local neighborhood. the gist of the story is anna is an omega werewolf that can calm the rage of an alpha to create a balance. She comes from a pack that abused her because they didn’t know what she was and was trying to force her into submission. Charles is an alpha wolf who does know what an omega is and falls in love with her and takes care of the abusive pack.

    I haven’t read beautiful creatures yet, but i keep eyeballing it evertime i got to target because the covers are so pretty. I’m attacted to them like a magpie!

    I guess that I’m a couple of years older than you, i’m 35 and goosebumps was just a bit after me. I did read christoper pike and L J smith, and s e hinton. who doesn’t love the outsiders?? I loved that book sooo much, I stole it from the library! I KNOW! that’s unbelivably horrible in retrospect but at the time, that book had to be mine!

    I pick up LCE from third eye comics in annapolis, md. owner used to be my local comic book guy until the shop closed down and he opened his own shop. he’s done a lot for the comic community by having artists come and do signings. he also started a local comic con, which is next weekend. but since i’ve spent soooo much and am dreading my cc bill, i think that i’m gonna have to pass.

    I hear what you’re saying about dark shadows, but I couldn’t help it with the comic, it had barnabus on the cover and it had to go home with me.

  • blu3java

    hey muse, can you tell me if the black bristles of the brush are made of natural hair or synthetic hair? thanks! ^_^

  • Majick

    Glad I caved. I really like the concealer- it is thick but you need so little for coverage and it really blends well if you tap with your ring finger, use tarted concealer brush, or a damp beauty blender sponge. I use med but switched one of my kits to light last time and will prob switch one of these for tan. Then I will be able to blend away as my skin changes with the seasons.
    Love the brush. Love the lipgloss (silly me bought one at reg price because it was so cute. LOL
    Really like the oil. Looking forward to trying the blush. Mascara is one of my Faves.
    I was going to get the foundation duo but I’m still using foundation from last years rev. Love it and a little goes along way. That deal was spectacular if you got it. The brush is AWESOME!

  • Lisa

    Muse, love your reviews! I got this set on a preorder and I love it to death! I think the pigments in the shadows is their finest yet and I hope they continue with this trend in their shadows. I love the cool colors and have worn it tons. I agree the blush doesn’t stay on a really long time, but i love the pop of color and love the brush. Black liner is very black, check. Thanks for the hint on the non retractable, found out the hard way. Ha ha. The lip shine is sooo good for your lips, but agree you should use some color underneath. Who doesn’t love love the mascara? And because I’m a bleach blonde and proud of it, I use the maraca oil on the ends before I go to bed when I know that I’m going to wash my hair in the morning. It really helps. And sometimes I use it over my eye cream. All in all, the price is outstanding and the products are good for you too!

  • Susan

    I wanted to buy these products so bad. But by the time they were in my cart the price of the shipping and handling and the taxes brought it up to another thirteen dollars I couldn’t justify the expense. It sure got my attention and I really wanted it but I just couldn’t bring myself to indulge. I certainly wouldn’t get it auto shipped. That gets really expensive quick. I wonder where everyone seems to get the money for all these products? I certainly can’t afford it all. Next time I need some product, I’m going to need some foundation, I want to try this. Are you all happy with it?

  • SminkLillis

    Saw that fab brush and looks like those foundations would work good together with it, by the way, have ya all seen that kinda cool choose the right colors helper makeup brand Jane Iredale got on their website? I just think more brands should do more fun things like that 🙂

  • Majick

    One thing I noticed about this kit’s concealer is it’s smaller than the one from previous TSVs. THis one is 8g vs. 12g from the last TSV.

    THis tube will still last 1/2 a century. LOL

    • Majick

      Oh, and on Tarte’s website the new product is there and it is 8g for $24. It’s also totally out of stock right now. I think this is exclusive to the Q for a time? That could be why.

      This kit is priced wonderfully but I may have to find a taker for a bottle of oil or two. I still have almost a full bottle from when it launched.

    • Ruth

      this is my first tart purchase and I’ve already tried the concealer, that stuff is amazballs! it covers my acne scaring like nobody business! it is crazy thick and a little dab will do ya.

  • Majick

    I can’t seem to shut up right now. LOL

    ONE MORE THING… I was pleasantly surprised to find an eye primer sample and a sample of the new self tanner in my first kit. I LOVE when Maureen adds little “extras”.