Reviewing the Tarte Custom Kit

Update: Act fast! This kit is available again today only, October 30th!!

Tarte. I used to love Tarte. I mean, I say used to, but I still own and use many products from the brand. I also have given gift sets to several people around the holidays (their Christmas gifts are awesome). But I hadn’t bought anything in a while. I don’t go through makeup as fast as I used to, and I have been working down my collection a bit, so purchasing things have been kind of on hold.

But then I saw the Tarte Custom Kit Sale. I have passed on it in years past, but not this time.

Here’s the deal if you don’t know. You have one day to make a decision and customize a kit of seven full-size products for a flat rate of $63 (plus local applicable taxes, but with free shipping!). They offer this sale twice a year only, and it is banking on that quick decision — if you decide to sleep on it, it’s gone. This was such a struggle for me because I usually need to think hard about a purchase. I’m just so indecisive, so I usually let it slip through my fingers. Not this time! I took that plunge.

But Cait, why are you even telling me this if I can’t even buy this thing? Well, Tarte is going to make this offer again in another few months, and you want to be ready. Here’s what happens.

Also, note, before we start…these are the items that were available when I purchased. I things get sold out, they often get subbed with other things.

Choose a Foundation

The first item that you get to pick is a foundation. Since foundation is such a finicky product to buy, I’ll break these down individually. Your options are

• Face Tape - $39

This foundation comes in a whopping 50 shades. It’s also vegan. I didn’t love this one when I tried it. It broke down quickly and I wasn’t a big fan of the way it wore throughout the day on my dry skin. However, lots of people love this. I just didn’t see it. I didn’t pick this one.

• Babassu Founcealer Skincare Foundation - $39

This was my pick. It’s also vegan, but only 30 shades. I had a sample of this one and I love it. I have a great shade match, and it covers my pores flawlessly.

• Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation — $36

Oh boy, this powder foundation? It goes way back. I used this back in the day when Tarte was the first (only) high-end makeup I had access to in my little town. If you like powder foundation, this is a good one. I think the shade range is pretty abysmal, but like with any foundation, if you can find a match, it has potential. It is also full coverage, which I have found super rare for a powder foundation.

• Clay Stick Foundation — $29

Off all the foundations, this one has the worst shade range. I don’t love stick foundations to start with, but this one is ok relatively speaking. It has nice medium coverage, but it doesn’t build. up at all, so you don’t have much flexibility. My big complaint is that it was hard to work with and tricky to blend. But if you’re a stick foundation expert, you might have good luck with this one.

Choose a Face Product

• Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush — $29

• Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer — $30

• Skin Gloss Glass Highlighter — $19

• Sugar Rush Fresh & Frosted Highlighter Palette — $23

• Hamptons Weekender Contour Palette — $19

• Blot Party On-The-Go Mattifiers — $34

• Amazonian Clay Tinted Finishing Powder — $34

This category comes down to what you need in your collection. Things did get sold out very quickly here. I already own quite a few of the 12-hour blushes. Right now, I’m moving a lot of my collection into cream products and lighter coverage. Since working from home, I don’t often need to get dressy, and it’s looking like that’s going to continue, so I’m trying to be realistic. I ended up with the Skin Glass highlighter for these reasons, but there’s such a good range of choices here, and I think you’ll find something that you’d like to add.

Choose an Eye or Brow Product

• Rainforest of the Sea Seaglass Eyeshadow — $22

• Busy Gal Brows Tinted Brow Gel — $18

• Double Take Eyeliner — $24

• Sugar Rush Keep Calm, Sunnies on Eyeshadow Palette — $25

• Chrome Paint Shadow Pot — $22

• Leave Your Mark Eyeshadow Palette — $30

• Easy on the Eyes Clay Liner - $19

I waffled a lot in this category. I ended up going for the Clay Eyeliner. What caught me was the color. It was a deep burgundy that I thought would work for my style. I love it. It' doesn’t smudge and I’m happy with it. I think any of these would be fine though. I thought hard about the Seaglass Shadow but didn’t think I’d wear the electric blue it came in very often.

Choose a Mascara

Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara  | Big Ego Vegan Mascara | Maneater Mascara

Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara | Lash Paint Mascara

Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara | Opening Act Lash Primer

I’m not going to break these down individually. Tarte makes a good mascara. I have oily eyelashes, so I prefer the waterproof option, but the rest of them are also totally fine. Depending on what you look for in a mascara, I’d say that the general standard is the Lights, Camera, Lashes. It is the best all-rounder on the list. All choices here retail for $23.

Choose a Lip

H2O Gloss — $19 | Color Splash Lipstick — $21 | Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint — $20

Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint — $20 | Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint — $20

Double Duty Beauty Glide & Go Buttery Lipstick — $18

I mean, pick a pretty color. I went for the Creamy Matte Lip Paint. It’s my favorite formula that they make. There’s also an identical product in their Sugar Rush line that comes in some brighter colors, but I just love the way it looks and feels. I picked a creamy nude to add something extra versatile to my collection.

Choose a Bonus

• Baba Bomb — $39

• Sugar Rush Shower Sugar Body Scrub — $18

• Frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser — $22

• Glow With the Faux Foaming Self-Tanner With Mitt —$39

• Foundcealer Brush —$28

• Setting Superpower Powder Brush — $32

• The Shaper Sponge — $18

I ended up going with the Frxxxtion Stick. I really, really wanted the self-tanner, but it sold out WHILE I was shopping. So, not my first choice, but I do really like the Frxxtion stick. It’ll be great for travel too (do you remember travel?). You just rub it on your face and all your pores are clear! Like magic! Too bad about the tanner though. I didn’t need brushes or more sponges…so this one was pretty easy.

Final Thoughts

Lastly, all those goodies need somewhere to go. There were a few options for makeup bags to pick from. I honestly couldn’t remember which one I picked until it arrived. It was a nice tropical print. In these photos, I’m only wearing things I got from the kit:

Based on the items I picked, my bag (which, reminder, was $63), was worth $142 retail. Their website says it can be worth $200, but that’s only if you’re careful to pick the highest value items. I’m still happy with the value and I’m happy that I got pretty much everything you need for a full face in one easy swoop. This would be a great gift, especially for someone who is just getting started in makeup or is about to make the transition to buying higher-end items.

Did you jump into the Tarte Custom Kit, or are you keeping an eye out for next time, or total pass?

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