Tarte’s Achiote Cheek Tint & Lip Luster Duo

Pick the Fruit of the Lipstick Tree! Tarte has an awesome two-piece QVC spring exclusive–a cream blush and a lipstick, both in the shade Achiote, a peachy coral. The achiote has long been used by American Indians to make body paint, especially for the lips, which is the origin of the plant’s nickname, lipstick tree. I need a lipstick tree in MY backyard!

I love cream blushes for over 40 women as it gives a youthful glow to the cheeks. The blush is a little sticky, but once on cheeks it’s doesn’t feel sticky at all. It blends beautifully and can be applied for a sheer wash of color or built up. I use my duo fiber brush to blend for a completely natural “I’ve been playing outside” look. Lighter skinned beauties will appreciate the touch of pink in this blush so as not to appear too orange and darker beauties can control the application to choose the intensity they prefer.

The Tarte Achiote cheek tint and lip luster duo is available at QVC and retails for $35. I do wish Tarte would make these—the blush and the lip luster, part of the permanent line.

Le Métier de Beaute Radiance Powder Rouge

Le Métier de Beaute Radiance Powder Rouge in Echo is very finely milled, very pigmented and has a buttery texture. The color is an amalgam of pink and coral, perfectly balanced to not appear too pink or turn orange. There a slight golden sheen that imparts a subtle glow complimenting warm skin tones beautifully. ‘Radiance’ is a fitting description; there is no glitter or apparent sparkle, just a pretty golden sheen that adds luminosity to the face. I DIE! This is what I thought NARS Orgasm would do for me, but instead it was a glittery mess.
The quality of this blush is also evident in the lasting power–no fading even after 15 hours of wear. It seems to melt into the skin rather than sitting on top and looking powdery. Echo is truly stunning; a perfect choice for us women over 40 to get our glow back!

Le Métier de Beaute blushes weigh in at 0.13 oz. and retail for $30. Le Métier de Beaute Radiance Powder Rouge is available from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush in Tipsy

This spring Tarte introduced an amazing product– the Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush, a collection of eight shades infused with Tarte’s new miracle ingredient Amazonian Clay. The clay, harvested from the banks of the Amazon River is supposed to keep your skin in balance—absorbing oil and hydrating dry areas making it suitable for every skin type and age! I’m a fan of the Amazonian Clay Foundation so I wanted to give the blush a try. Inspired by Tarte’s best-selling shades of cheek stains and lip tints, the colors range from soft to vivid and are supposed to last an amazing 12 hours.
Tarte also boasts the formula contains “Vitamins A and E, two natural preservatives that act as anti-inflammatory emollients and protect against free radical damage, Vitamin C, an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents oxidative stress and premature signs of aging, while brightening the skin.” I don’t know about all that but I know Tarte really delivers on its promise with these blushes—the quality is excellent, they are highly pigmented and really do last for 12 hours. Having dry cheeks, these blushes do not look dry or cakey on my skin and in reading reviews on the Sephora website, they seem to last just as well for oily skin types.

Tipsy is my favorite—helloooo, its coral! The compact is orange, but it’s a really nice pinky coral that imparts a lovely pinky peach flush. Apply with a skunk brush or very light hand! These blushes are some of the most pigmented I own. If you’re blush fades quickly and you like natural cruelty-free products with good-for-your skin ingredients, this blush is for you! I suggest going to Sephora to test the shades, they apply differently than they look in the pan and read on a computer screen. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush retails for $25 is available exclusively at Sephora and sephora.com

Benefit Cha Cha Tint ($29)

Cha Cha Tint a “mango-tinted lip & cheek stain” joins her sisters Benetint and Posie Tint in the Benefit lineup of cheek and lip tints. In fact Posie Tint and Cha Cha Tint may well be twins as they both have the same liquid gel texture. The texture makes it so much easier than the original watery Benetint—the thicker gel gives you more time to blend. The packaging—a small jar with a brush applicator is the same for all three. It’s scary bright orange when you open the jar, but rest assured it’s much subtler when applied. I use it by patting several small dots along the cheekbone and blending with my fingers; for more intense color, you can build by applying another layer.

Cha Cha Tint is a great product for the hot humid summer months—since it is a stain, it won’t melt off or look dry and cakey. It lasts all day and gives a soft, peachy coral flush that really does look natural. It can also be used on the lips, although I haven’t tried that yet.

Benefit Cha Cha Tint is not available until June 1st, but if you simply cannot wait, HSN has the Benefit Now To Wow! Collection which includes Cha Cha Tint, Instant Brow Pencil, BADgal Lash Mascara and High Beam for $43.50.