Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case Review & Swatches
As you know I purchased the Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case ($59) this weekend during the Sephora Holiday 2016 Preview Event. The Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case is one of a few different palettes that will be available for a limited time with the Tarte Holiday 2016 Collection and holds a slew of gorgeous eyeshadows and other makeup goodies for creating Holiday looks.
I have to admit the magic of Tarte’s Holiday Collections hasn’t worn off for me. I still get excited when I start seeing Holiday makeup trickle in from Tarte. Although, like many of you, I realize deep down in some dark corner of my mind I know I’m going to be disappointed.
Sadly, that was the case with the Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case!
Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case comes housed in identical packaging as the new Tarte Tartetist ToolBox Brush Set. It has a rather funky, jazzy print that reminds me of the 60’s. I don’t know if it screams Holidays but if you like vintage prints this might be your jam. Unlike the brush set you can’t use this as a keepsake box or a clutch after the makeup is gone. It would be nice if the trays we’re removable and you can keep the box to store small makeup items or tiny treasures. But sadly, you can’t remove the trays without destroying the entire box. The packaging is a bit bulky but that’s the standard for Holiday Palettes right?
This contains 24 eyeshadows which are 0.031 oz in size each. The price for Tarte’s Holiday Palette remains around the same give or take a ten dollar bill over the course of the last ten years so, they have been anywhere from $49 to $59 but never higher. However, over time the contents have become considerably smaller in size. At one time many of Tarte’s older palettes had full size eyeshadows but they have become increasingly smaller the last three years or so. This does contain other items but again, these are small compared to palettes from year’s past.
The palette also includes a deluxe size Tartiest Lash Paint Mascara in Black (Review), as well as Amazonian Clay Blush in Moment (Coral), Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Unique (shimmer) and Provocative (matte), and Amazonian Clay Highlighter in Authentic (champagne) all of which are 0.158 oz each. There’s also a new product here which is the Rainforest of the Sea So Fine Micro Liner in Black. And finally a deluxe size Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Ovbi is included (review)
The palette is arranged with the eyeshadows located on the left hand side and the blushes on the right hand side with a little compartment that closes and locks which holds the liner, lipgloss, and mascara. I thought that it would have been better arranged if the blushes were under the locked compartment to protect them versus holding the other essentials inside that small space. Unfortunately, the eyeshadows have no cover aside from a clear film and the blushes are also protected by that same film. The tiny compartment puzzles me in all honesty and seemed an unnecessary feature to hold the gloss, etc…! I thought for a second that it popped out as Tarte is big on creating smaller palettes you can take with you! But, nope, this isn’t removable.
The palette for the most part is made of up warmer neutrals! I realize this upsets people as they want to see more color from Tarte but honestly, I go to Tarte for good nudes and neutrals. That’s what they are known for. So, if you’re looking for bold, vibrant shades I’d say look elsewhere as that’s not what you get from Tarte. The palette is made up of three finishes which are matte, micro-metallic, and some semi-satin shimmers. I was most excited about the micro-metallic eyeshadows! They look incredible but sadly, the formula isn’t as great. They have an overspray which gives them a far nicer metallic finish than you actually get on eyes. Under the over spray the shadow texture is dry, crumbly and not very pigmented. I think this is expressed fairly well in my swatches as you can see how it swatches in a crumbly powdery mess. The mattes are equally bad. It’s sad because Tarte’s Holiday Palettes are what introduced me to good mattes. I hated mattes in the past and many of Tarte’s Holiday offerings included them and I tried them one day and was impressed with the silky consistency and easy to apply formula. Sadly, the mattes in this palette are very sheer with a drier consistency that dragged on lids during application. I hate to say but out of the 24 shades here there were only two shades I’d raved about which were Metal Work (on my lids below) and Selfie Portrait both of which had a smooth, velvety texture and a pretty metallic glimmer. It’s sad that the rest of the shades weren’t equally as lovely.
One item to rave about is the Amazonian Clay Blush in Moment which had a powdery texture but applied smoothly and wore well for 12 hours straight without fading. The highlighter shade in Authentic was equally lovely with a powdery texture but nothing dry or chalky and very easy application that provided a pretty gleam on my cheekbones. Unique and Provocative both had denser textures but also applied easily. I find both shades were difficult and hard to swatch due to the density of the powder. It was also difficult picking up color with a brush but they did build easily and applied well.
The Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case is sadly filled with a good deal of eyeshadow duds. There aren’t any stand out shades here that you don’t likely own from other Tarte Holiday Palettes or at least variations of them. I wouldn’t mind the dupes so much but the formula just wasn’t up to par with Tarte’s standard offerings. For those interested, the palette is made in China which isn’t something I typically use to judge quality as I have a few Made in China palettes I like.
Sadly, this one is a dud!
You might want to swatch it in store before going in for a purchase.
The Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector’s Makeup Case is available now at Sephora.com and launches soon in stores.
Did you buy it?
What were your thoughts on the palette?
Do share!