REVIEW: Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette Swatches

Tarte has been known for user-friendly products with natural ingredients and beautiful packaging. The Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette is no exception. The first time I saw this palette, I knew I just had to get it! This eye and cheek palette is not only beautiful to look at but also very versatile and extremely good for travelling. Please read on if you want a more in depth review!

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette, Embossed Packaging Box, Step-by-Step Guide

Infused with tarte’s iconic Amazonian clay, each fade-free, blendable formula is inspired by the glitz and glam of Hollywood and is perfect for camera-ready makeup looks.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette: Contents
The Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette contains 6 (0.04 oz each) Amazonian clay eyeshadows, 0.21 oz Amazonian clay blush in Fame, 0.14 oz Amazonian clay matte waterproof bronzer in Park Ave Princess, and 0.14 oz Amazonian clay highlighter in Champagne Pink. It also contains a step-by-step guide to transform work day looks into the more sophisticated evening glam.

Eyeshadow swatches dry (with finger) and wet (with MAC Fix+ and brush) under artificial indoor lighting

Swatched under artificial indoor lighting

Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Blush in Fame: This is a full-sized award-winning formula. I don’t believe you can purchase this shade separately as of yet. It is a beautiful matte soft pink coral. The only downside in that I like to swirl a big fluffy brush in my blushes so I have to be a bit more careful not to accidentally touch the other shades in the palette.
Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess: A warm matte sun-kissed bronze. This does have a slight orange undertone but I believe it will work seamlessly with many skin tones.
Amazonian Clay Highlighter in Champagne Pink: This highlighter has a very sharp sheen depending how much product you apply and how strong you want your highlight. I don’t use highlighters on a daily basis and when I do, I prefer a very subtle glow-from-within look which this highlighter can achieve because it’s so blendable. It reminds me of the Mary-Lou Manizer The Luminizer by theBalm but with a slight pinker undertone. This works really well with the blush included in the palette.

All eyeshadows can be applied dry or wet. When dry it gives a more dusted look very suited for daytime. When wet it accentuates the sparkle pigments giving it a more lustre/frost-like finish that reflects light so nicely especially for the “Go for the Gold” and “Rose to the Top” shades! The only true and pure matte shade is probably “You’re a Natural” which is the perfect nude to brush across the whole lid for days you want some colour or to use as a transition shade. It matches my neutral skintone really well so I will definitely be using this shade a lot.

The only shadow that I don’t really gravitate towards is the darkest shade “Dim the Lights”. It is a dark chocolate brown with minor sparkle but the pigmentation is not as strong as the others and tends to have fall out when used dry. When using this shade I prefer to use it wet as an eyeliner and on the lower lash line.

All of these are formulated using Tarte’s famed Amazonian Clay, a white clay said to be able to provide the perfect balance for both oily and dry skin. The ingredients allow these products to apply smoothly and last all day. I have had no problems with break-outs or skin irritation with my dry-combination and extremely sensitive skin.

I bought this palette from Sephora $38.00 USD ($46.00 CAD). Keeping in mind a regular 0.2 oz blush retails at $28.00 USD ($34.00 CAD), you get the full sized blush in this palette PLUS a bronzer, highlighter and 6 eyeshadows for just $10 USD more! The bronzer and highlighter are both decently sized (half the amount of a regular-sized product worth $30 USD each) and the eyeshadows have enough product to last a long time.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette and Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette Size Comparison

V E R D I C T
This is a very versatile all-in-one palette that is perfect for travelling. This compact is lightweight, sturdy and measures approximately 2.5 inches or 10.5 cm in diameter. My first impression was that it’s bigger than I thought it would be but it’s a good size for all it contains and still very easy to carry around. It contains all necessary components for a short travel trip and is great for daily use as well. It’s portability, quality and great value make it a buy that is worth every dollar. I will be bringing this with me on my trip next week! I definitely recommend this palette to those who like to travel with minimal luggage or who like to bring a small compact in their purse for touch-ups. If you’re new to Tarte products and want to experiment with their formulations, this is ideal because it gives you a bit of everything.

I hope you enjoyed this review and be sure to follow me on instagram (@ takara.boxx) for more updates! If you want close-ups of any of the swatches or a swatch under different lighting (ie. daylight), let me know in the comments below 🙂

Have you tried this palette and what do you think of it?

Until next time,
K e l l y