Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

The Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette ($46) is a new, limited eyeshadow palette that launched with the Tarte Works of Tarte Holiday 2016 Collection. Actually, the Color Vibes Eyeshadow Palette is one of a few palettes for the Holiday season! Both Sephora and Ulta will get their own limited edition palettes as well with the Sephora one available this weekend at the Early Access Holiday 2016 Event.

The Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette is loaded up with 20 eyeshadows that are grouped into four quads.

Here’s my thoughts and review.

The Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette comes in a swirled purple compact with a HUGE mirror. If you’re the type of person that sits at your desk or vanity to do your make you’ll definitely appreciate the massive mirror inside this palette. The palette pays home to 20 total shades, four of which are used as eyeliners. As I stated above the eyeshadows are grouped into four quads two of which create nude, neutral looks, one that creates a smokier blue look, and the last creates a plummy pink look. The eyeshadow shades are 0.07 oz each and the liners are a little smaller at 0.05 oz each.

You might feel like the Color Vibes Palette is a little uneventful when compared to past Tarte Holiday Gift Sets that have included a range of blushes, lipglosses, and cute makeup bag accessories. For example, Tarte Away Oui Go Portable Palette & Collectors Set that launched with the Tarte Holiday 2014 Colection was $48 and included 16 full-size eyeshadows 4 blushes, 3 lipglosses, and a deluxe size mascara. Granted, the Color Vibe Palette contains more eyeshadow but if you’re wanting a variety filled Holiday Palette this might not be the pick for you as it concentrates strictly on eyes. Unlike many of Tarte’s past Holiday palettes this does not contain removable quads. This means you’ll have to travel with the entire palette versus the cool pop out design of past palettes that allowed you to select a quad to take with you. None the less if you’re an eyeshadow lover, this might be the pick for you. This palette is made in China for those who interested.

Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette Swatches (Illusion, Exhibit, Pop Art Princess, Modern Icon, Getty Up & Go)

Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette Swatches (Inked, Glaze, For Realism, Color Vibes, Seascape)

Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette Swatches (Style, Pixel, Love Hue, Different Strokes, On the Monet)

Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette Swatches (Mosiac, Base Coat, Medium, A Beautiful Degas, Venus)

I wouldn’t say this is Tarte’s best palette when it comes to shade variety. Many people are always saying they want to see more color from Tarte. I actually don’t mind the fact Tarte concentrates on cooler pinks and purples or nudes, neutrals, and naturals. It’s actually what I like about the brand. They are dependable creating solid natural shades that flatter my brown eyes. So, unfortunately, if you wanting vibrant, bold, pigmented shades, I think you’ll have to look to another brand. This particular palette is filled with nudes, pinks, and plums which is what Tarte specializes.

Unfortunately, I actually didn’t actually love the shades in the palette. There are some shades that are nice like Different Strokes and On the Monet but if you’re comparing this color palette to past ones, I think you’ll agree that past palettes represented a much wider array of colors that were much richer, warmer, and nicer looking. These shades look a little drown out and lighter.

The formula is a little hit or miss here as with many of the Holiday Palettes. Some shades are fantastic, others run a little drier. where as others are a little powdery! Stand out shades for me were On The Monet, Base Coat, medium, A Beautiful Degas, Venus, Mosiac, Style, Exhibit, Pop Art Princess, and a few others. All of these shades had a soft, thin, velvety texture that applied and blended easily. Some shades that were nice but disappointed me was Different Strokes, this was such a lovely sand dune shade and the texture was silky but a little powdery. I had issues with it adhering to my lid for some reason. On my bare lids, it dusted on and sheered away very quickly. I also experience problems with Seascape which swatched nicely but applied very patchy likewise with Glaze and For Realism. There’s definitely a mixed bag of formulas, textures, and finishes here. I found myself becoming frustrated when I was trying to blend because many of the colors ended up going muddy on me. It was a little difficult to get any real definition and contrast from many shades.

I have to say the Tarte Young, Wild & Free Amazonian Clay Palette was such a joy to work with and I couldn’t help but wish the Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette was as cohesive, velvety, pigmented, and as easy to apply as that palette.

I was a bit disappointed with this one. The color line up was a bit uneventful, the application proved a little painful, and the shadow formula on many shades wasn’t quite what I know from Tarte. This isn’t one of their better palette offerings sadly.

The Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette may evoke excitement in fans of the brand but you might want to take a breather and wait for the Ulta and Sephora Tarte Holiday Palettes to launch before settling on this one. It doesn’t offer anything new that most makeup fans likely already own. Not to mention this is strictly an eyeshadow palette and not quite the fun filled everything palettes Tarte typically launches for the Holidays that include blush, lipgloss, and other makeup! That alone might just convince you on waiting for the rest of Tarte’s Holiday 2016 Collection to arrive!

Eyes: On The Monet (outer v into crease), Base Coat (brow highlighter), Different Strokes (all over lid), Pixel (middle lid)

The Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette is available now at tarte.com and will hopefully arrive soon at Sephora.com and Ulta.com.

Will you be purchasing it?