March 15, 2013

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation Review & Swatches

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 33

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation is available exclusively at QVC.com starting today.

This is Tarte’s first ever full coverage powder foundation enriched with Amazonian clay. It couldn’t be launched at a better time considering Spring is on the way and Summer soon after. With the warmer weather powders are definitely a nicer option in the warmer weather to mattify skin and keep it shine free and gorgeous!

I was given all the shades to swatch for you recently by Tarte and I’ve been wearing it all this week daily.

Here are my thoughts!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 2

This is a sheer to full coverage mineral rich foundation powder with a silky, fined milled texture that delivers moisturizing coverage in a weightless formula. It’s available in five color selections and includes the new Tarte Airbuki Foundation Brush for application.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 32

This comes in an interesting jar that features a net covered sifter. This sifter is about the size of the Airbuki’s head so you can dab the brush gently onto the net and it will sift the perfect amount of powder onto your brush without creating a mess of powder. This is ideal for me as I’m a heavy handed with makeup and this sifter prevents me from over doing things and allows for building up color as I go. A stopper located in the top covers the sifter when the foundation is not in use, again, preventing a mess as this means powder won’t go all over the place should you wish to travel with the jar. It’s a little bulky but you can use that stopper to buff and disperse powder onto your brush. I typically swirl and tap into the a jar top when I’m using powder but this small stopper prevents that however, it is the perfect size for swirling your brush around but just gives you less space to work with.

The powder has a silky yet semi-matte texture which feels heavy at first but remains very lightweight and breathable once you work it into the skin. It’s an odd powder in some ways because it has a rather cool, refreshing feel almost like MAC Magically Cool Powder. You want to make sure you prep well if you have drier skin for the smoothest finish on the powder as I found it dragged slightly on my patchy areas. Good moisturizer followed with a good primer will ease the way for this powder and create the softest, smoothest appearance on dry skin. Oily skin will love it as it has a lightweight, mattifying finish. I find application followed up with a mist of your favorite setting powder (again for dry skin users) will give this a dewy, flawless appearance.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 15

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 16

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 23

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation

It will conceal most major problems such as redness, darkness, acne scarring, etc…and does offer sheer to full coverage depending how you build. You can actually play and build all you like and coverage remains fresh and natural looking. Some powders have a knack of making it known you’re wearing makeup but Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation always looks very fresh and natural no matter how many layers you apply. In cooler weather it wore strong for a good eight hours on my skin. I’m unsure how it’ll perform in more humid conditions but I think it should survive heat well as it has a texture that melds to skin very well.

Tarte Airbuki Foundation Brush is actually the key to the beautiful finish the foundation provides. This is a short bristled, dense kabuki brush that really works perfectly to blend the powder into skin. It’s also an excellent brush for drier areas as buffing well prevents the powder from sticking to flaky areas. I still recommend good moisture on dry skin but this brush definitely aids in creating a smooth, even finish.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation 17

I’m not a powder foundation user personally but this type of coverage and formula could convert me. Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation will make powder and powder foundation users very happy indeed! If you like pigmented powder foundations that keep skin looking natural and shine free you’ll love this!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation Swatches

�Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, Rich (Deep)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation Swatches 1

Fair, Light, Medium

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation Swatches 2

Medium, Tan, Rich (Deep)

It’s available now exclusively at QVC.com

If you tried it I would love to hear your thoughts!

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

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

  • Tammie

    Fair looks pretty darn pale! I hope it is anyway, I just ordered it lol…I can’t turn down 2 easy payments…somehow it’s just easier to swallow that way >.>

    I also hope it isn’t too sparkly…

    • the Muse

      no sparkles chica! none at all 🙂 I hope it works for you!!!!!!! I agree, love QVC Beauty Mortgage payments!

    • Cj

      Fair does look pretty light… Hmmm I can’t decide if I wanna order this or not lol! Muse tell me what to do please!

      • the Muse

        lol cj…you don’t need it….;-D there does that help? 😀 probably not!

        • Cj

          You liar! You said I didn’t need it but I totally did! This foundation is amazing!!! Totally changed my opinion on powder foundations and got me really into them! I think I bought like 3 different powder foundations over the weekend lol! I like dampening the little brush with fix+ it makes it more natural and less matte. LOVE IT! Now I just need to find a good hydrating primer 🙂

          • the Muse

            LOL! I’m so happy to hear you liked sweets ;-D

          • Tammie

            ikr this stuff rocks! I put it over a thin layer of BB cream and it doesn’t cake at all, I love it <3 <3

  • StellaDiva

    I don’t sense the same excitement you had for the Clarins mineral foundation. Which do you find to be more buildable? I like more of a medium to full coverage on some areas of my face.

    • the Muse

      this has WAY more coverage than the Clarins one Stella. So def more pigmented.

      • Jennifer F

        What about the medium? Is it more pink (cool) or yellow (warm)? Do you think it will accentuate my fine lines?

        • the Muse

          Jennifer I discussed drier skin and such in the text but I have no experienced with a fine lines on my face. It’s smooth on my dry skin so long as I prep. medium has strong beige undertones a little peach/orange to it.

  • Rachel

    Back to the same color choice issue with Tarte. It’s my favorite brand, but 5 shades? Especially if it’s as pigmented as you describe, I can’t imagine it being very forgiving. From your swatching and wearing it this past week, do you think it can be forgiving? Thanks, Muse!

      • Naomi

        I think that ‘forgiving’ here must mean that if it’s as pigmented as you say, the color match has to be more exact to pull it off. Like, in a less pigmented product, if the closest color available is a bit too pink or yellow, or too dark or light, it can be made to work with some blending because it’s relatively sheer.
        Like if I buy a lipgloss that turns out to pull mauve on me, my own lip color will show through and unify the mauve with my own coloring somewhat, but if it was a full coverage lipstick, there is no subtlety or forgiveness. It would be a clash with my coloring that not even the most gracious observer could find the goodwill to overlook.

      • Rachel

        Sorry, forgiving in terms of skin shade. I’m an olive toned medium or tan usually, and I was wondering if the peachy medium looks like it can be wearable to a range of “mediums”, or if your coloring would have to be just like the swatch color for it to work.

        • the Muse

          rachel it’s hard to say not knowing your exact tone or having ever seen you. Medium seems universally for many medium tones but might be too dark for someone with more neutral or lighter under tones. I know if I try going down a shade I look pasty. hope this helps!?

  • Aida

    How would say it compared to Bare Escentuals foundation powder? Are they similar in any way?
    Thanks 🙂

    • the Muse

      thicker consistency Aida, I know weird, but it has like a more velvety thicker texture than BE. BE always feels thin and almost silicone-like, this doesn’t have that type of texture, to me it kinda feels almost wet…cool, refreshing, and it buffs in to a soft, smooth finish.

  • Sarah D

    Thank you for reviewing and swatching! Does the fair have yellow or pink undertones? I am so.interested in this (especially the brush) but Tarte is generally too yellow!

    • the Muse

      read through comments sarah replied to a few already about undertone on fair 🙂

      • Sarah D

        Yeah I read them, don’t think they’re all showing up on my phone though because I only see that the fair is really pale….which is good for me! Thanks tho!

          • Debra

            I think there’s some confusion. Are you describing fair or light? That’s the description you give above for light. I ordered the fair because QVC said the colors run darker than Tarte’s usual foundation. Can you provide any insight into that?

  • Melissa

    I like how on QVC’s site the fair gal looks like Daenerys Targaryen.

  • Winni

    Eeeeee….I wanna try this. But in saving my coin for the It Cosmetics set!!

  • ashley

    A mix between light and medium would be perfect. But alas the color selection is lacking. Good for my pocket book I guess.

  • amy

    I love the ideaa of this, and it sounds amazing, but I’m somewhere between Fair & Light. I just wouldn’t know which way to go…

  • Janelle

    Not enough colors! It does look more pigmented that BE though which is good, but with so few colors I doubt that I will find one that will blend appropriately for me. I like a heavier coverage at times (like now when I had a facial with extractions last week I am still a little red). Other times I like sheer.

  • ~T

    Humm, so If I want a medium pink undertone should I mix Medium with Light or Medium with fair?

  • Heather

    Hey! I’m having trouble choosing a shade. In the photos the fair looks really pale, I wear light in the liquid. I read a review were someone else wears light and she said she should’ve bought fair. Plz help! I want to buy this now, thanks for your help!!

  • Heather

    I forgot to ask, what shade is in the main photos of the product?

  • Danielle

    I got super interested in the product after reading your review, went to their website straight away with credit card in hand, but quickly found out I can’t purchase it since I live in Brazil! Damn it! Do you think people will sell this on eBay eventually?

  • Josie

    Thanks for the review Muse! I’m trying to figure out which shade to order (like everyone else)… What shade do you normally wear in the tarte amazonian clay liquid foundation or bare minerals original foundation? i’m hoping knowing what shade you normally wear will give me a better idea of how to interpret the swatches you included so i can decide what i should order too 🙂 Also- if you’ve tried the tarte amazonian clay BB cream what shade do you wear for that? thanks so much!

  • Miss_Silk

    Ohh must try this~! Thank you for the swatches, the shade Medium looks like a good shade for me ^^

  • Annie

    Will this be available at Sephora any time soon? Really want to try it but if it’s going to be available at Sephora soonish I may hold off on ordering from QVC.. just so I can see the actual product before I buy.

  • Angel

    Oh Muse, you’re a Tarte enabler LOL! Now I want this and that new concealer. My friend came over tonight and just had to look at my makeup stash. She just laughed at me, said I wouldn’t live long enough to finish all of it LOL! And I just keep buying. It’s such as sick, fascinating addiction. Always looking for the latest and greatest. I mean really, how many shades of red lipstick can there possibly be?! Surely I own them all. But I’m always on the hunt for that next new perfect red. God, I really need this foundation. Powder is my go to for foundation as it holds up well on my oily skin and doesn’t break me out like liquid does. Ok,trotting off to stare at the Q website again. They need a frequent buyer program over there 🙂

  • Jen

    Thanks for the review! It looks amazing! Sorry to ask, but would you know if it will ever become available on the Tarte website or Sephora? Thanks!

  • Kierstyn

    Is it ok if I don’t really want the foundation but am dying for that brush?
    I just need to have the brush. Like now. Now!

  • Nancy

    Hi Muse!
    I’m wondering if the medium shade would fit a NC35 (MUFE35-40) skintone?
    I’m really tempted to order this, but I’m scared that it’ll be too dark or light for me.

  • Kayla

    Oh I am so, so, SO excited for this for the upcoming Florida summer! I hope it will hold up on my oily skin. I’m lighter than NC15, so I’m really excited to see how light Fair is. Is it neutral/pink/yellow?

  • Allysun

    This looks good I want to try it but looks like it has NO SPF? srsly.. Tarte, please add SPF! Granted, I use base w/SPF but that just won’t do.
    Oh and dear Muse, would you say this is suited for oily skin? Bare Minerals turn me into a grease ball in a few hours..

  • catazure

    Wow, Muse! I am rotating 3 foundations (IT celebration, IT lqiuid and MUFE face and body) and swore I was not buying any others for a while.
    I believe “for a while” has just passed and I am going to have to have this.
    Thanks, as always, for anothehr helpful review. You really look at the things that are important to me.

  • Denise B.

    On the QVC presentation, Maureen said the colors run dark and to go one shade lighter than you wear in Amazonian Clay liquid foundation. I am wearing Ivory for winter, so does that mean Fair would be too dark?

    • Suselew

      I wear Ivory as well, but QVC will never get more than the standard FIVE shades despite the full line having many more shades. I talked to Tarte and the Ivory version of this won’t be available until the exclusivity to QVC expires. That won’t be anytime soon, unfortunately.

      • Denise B.

        I waited a year for QVC’s lock on Amazonian Clay liquid to expire. I can do it again!

  • Sophie

    How well do you think this will blend into skin tones that aren’t exactly the shades that are available? Sounds like an amazing powder foundation if it actually manages to fully cover up redness and acne scars!

    • the Muse

      if I go lower in a shade sophie I tend to look pasty…the coverage is heavier so that wouldn’t work for me.

      • Sophie

        Gotcha. Guess I’ll try to color match with their liquid foundation and see how that goes…

        Thanks for the review!

  • Azia

    So happy you have swatches of all the colors! I was eyeing this on Instagram the other day. I think I’d be Tan, it looks nice and yellow.

  • Mermaid

    I would need Ivory as well. I ordered Fair, and am hoping for the best!

    • Tammie

      Hopefully it looks as pale in person as it does on Muse’s arm…I’m getting worried now that everybody is speaking up about it maybe being darker, eek!

  • Olivia

    Is the net like a stretchable mesh? What happens if you get to the last 25% of it, can you still reach the powder? or does it need to be flipped over or something?

    • the Muse

      it’s a stretchable mesh, you can just cut into if you don’t like it or you’re hearing the end of the product. If you flip it over powder will pour out of it, you don’t need to do so though, pressing the brush against it will coat the brush in powder as I mentioned in the review. Hope this helps.

  • Olivia

    Thanks! I’m looking into getting a powder foundation for combination skin. Thinking about getting this because I love Tarte! Are there any other powder foundations you can reccommend?

    • the Muse

      i really the Clarins one Olivia that I recently reviewed. I don’t use powder foundations all that much, I’m more of a cream foundation user as I have dry skin :-/

  • Olivia

    That’s ok! I don’t really wear powder ones either, but I’m looking around to invest in a good one. Would nc25 be ok for the light shade? Maureen on QVC said to go down one shade, but I think fair would be wayyyy to light.

  • Tiffany

    THANK YOU for the review and swatches!! I’ve had my eye on this and I wasn’t sure if I was Tan or Rich, looks like I’m closer to Tan. Thanks, Muse!

  • Alli

    Ooh this looks like it’s right up my alley! The little kabuki kinda reminds me of the one that comes with Bourjois Mineral Matte ( another great recommendation from you, Muse) of which I have three due to the fact that I ordered not really knowing which shade would work for me. Thank you for this review, I have this in my cart but was waiting to hear your thoughts on it.

    • the Muse

      you’re most welcome alli 😀 it does indeed remind me of that brush. Don’t you love that stuff?! That’s my HG concealer 😀 AWESOME stuff but I think they dced it?! SOB! I hope you like this update me I’d love to hear what you think ;D!

  • Tammie

    Just wanted to let all my fellow pale friends here know that Fair is indeed good for those of us in the NC10-15 range, I got it yesterday and I am wearing it today and it’s great! I can’t speak for the lasting power yet (though nothing lasts long on me lol) since it’s only noon here, but so far it’s really nice!

    Sorry Cj I think you need it lol

    • Cj

      Ordering ASAP! Thanks for letting us know about the shade 😀 that was the only reason I was holding off lol

      • Tammie

        Yay! You are very welcome :). I’m glad it turned out to be pale enough, I was getting nervous!

  • Synthony

    What color would you recommend for very pale (like NC 15… Maybe lighter) with pink undertones, but lean more toward neutral? Also, would this work well on dry skin?

  • Evilyn1983

    Muse, I just got this today & will be wearing it tomorrow. My question is, do you think wearing this with a light foundation underneath will be overkill? I mean, I don’t really have acne, but I have some fresh hyper pigmentation on one cheek. Do you think this powder will provide enough coverage on its own sans foundation? I am applying my Retun-A daily & the spots are fading nicely.
    Love your blog & thanks to you, I opened a QVC card & am THIS close to giving in & ordering the Clarisonic Aria. <3

    • the Muse

      I think so, that’s a ton of coverage, not sure you need foundation plus the powder….it’s really up to you though, if you’re comfortable that’s all that matters 😀 I think the powder is plenty of coverage. aw thanks <3!!!!!!!!!! very flattered! Hope you like the Aria :D!

  • Alli

    I ordered this in Medium and got it the other day. I love it- especially the little buki. My only problem is that the medium is too orange 🙁 . So, I ordered the light and I’m going to see how that looks. I’m keeping the medium though just in case I need to mix it with the light, as I have never been a shade light in foundation. I did hear that they said on QVC to order a shade down than your usual shade so maybe it will work . In any event I’m STILL keeping the Medium because to me, the price is worth it just for the brush. I just love that thing!!

  • Mayette

    The description says that there is a Light-Medium, but it isn’t one of the available shades to purchase. Do you know what that’s about, Muse?

    I’m thinking there will probably be an extended shade range once it hits stores, maybe?

    • the Muse

      not sure mayette you might want to call qvc they might have mislabeled it? i imagine it will have more shades but unsure when it will be available outside of QVC, prob after Summer.

      • Mayette

        Thanks, Muse! I e-mailed them and got a very underwhelming answer: “I am sorry, unfortunately that shade is not currently available.

        Unfortunately, we don’t know when a particular item will be restocked or
        will be shown on the air. Please feel free to check back with us in the
        future for updates on availability.”

        Sigh.

        • the Muse

          sorry mayette someone mentioned they will be available at the Q until June only so perhaps that shade will launch at Sephora/Ulta or from Tarte directly soon! crossing fingers!

          • Cyndi

            Could you list the ingredients? Any Bismuth oxychloride or mica? Thank you!

  • Ani_BEE

    Fair looks perfect for me! I’ll have to wait till Sephora get this before I can order it to Canada.

  • Jennifer F

    New colors added today! They have light/medium now, yay! Check out QVC.

  • Erin

    How to the shades compare to the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation? I wear Fair in that, but the Fair swatch here (the powder) seems even lighter.

  • Ms Kita

    That Rich shade seems too dark and Tan is probably too light for my NC45 skin. Ordered Tan anyway. Hope it works! I loved the Deep in the liquid, but it was a tad bit off in color. Thank goodness it was a sample. Wish me luck! I’m wearing the Tan to church today for the first time (it arrived yesterday).

  • Nancy

    i ordered the medium from qvc and it was also too orange for me but not to worry because my daughter is darker than i am and she is making great use of it. i was able to order another one in light-medium and it is perfect for me. i love it so very much. i did not experience a cooling effect but either way it really covers up redness and marks quite well. when i touch my hands to my face, it feels moisturized and not dry or cakey at all. instead of a moisturizer, i pat on tarte’s maracuja oil and then buff the powder foundation on. btw, i am combo oily t-zone.

  • Quennie

    Can you please, please, please do a good swatch on the new medium-light color in the powder foundation by Tarte.

  • Mandy

    Do you know if the FAIR is the same as the FAIR HONEY? If not do you have any comparisons or color swatches of that? Q sells one and S sells the other and I have no idea which to get if they are different.
    HELP!!! =)

  • Morgan

    Hi! I’m super late, but do you think the “tan” color on qvc is actually “tan sand”….which is the official tarte shade? It’s still available on qvc, and I would love to purchase, but I’m nervous it won’t be tan sand…which is my color in this specific tarte foundation. Any insight you have would be much appreciated 🙂