How EXCITED was I when I saw Tarte's instagram post on the Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation?! I can't put it into words. And I don't even want to because it would probably be embarrassing; with giddy being one of the main bolded, italicized, AND underlined words. Moving on.
I've been wanting to find a good powder foundation for summer, but I find powder foundation to be the hardest to find a formula you love. This sounds like shopping around to me, I just didn't want to spend the money to test things out; even at the drugstore. But because it's TARTE, and because it's amazonian clay, I just knew that this foundation couldn't disapoint. I HAD to have it.
It also has a special little brush, the Airubuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush, that was made to go along with the powder foundation... but it's $26.00. For a brush. That's $62 for this foundation (which is $36) and it's special little brush. Worth it? I got the brush just so I could tell you!
First Off, The Packaging:
I think this deserves a special little comment. It's different. I love the wooden cap and the design. This screams Tarte to me. Simple, classy, earthy, natural-looking, and even sturdy. Love.
Inside is the noteworthy part; you find there is a mesh covering where the product comes out. Not just a plastic sifter that you're going to have to turn over to DUMP the product out; a mesh piece that you PUSH your brush into to pick up the product. Cool! The rest of the inside is like a little bowl to catch the powder that gets away. Love it. It's a loose powder but without the mess! Great idea.
The Foundation:
♥ Coverage: It's called a full coverage foundation and it definitely is that! I'm continually impressed with the coverage that comes from this powder. It's just as good as a full coverage liquid foundation. I will say that it doesn't cover up my hyperpigmentation perfectly and I'm experimenting with ways to get the most of it. Keep reading for my tips!♥ Staying Power: You're not gonna find anything better. I've never had a powder foundation hold up for long periods of time on my oily skin, but this one does! It looks great even at the end of a busy and hot summer day. Thouroughly impressed. Thank you Amazonian Clay!
♥ Finish: Semi-matte and natural. Tarte's Amazonian Clay products are so loved by many because it is great at combating oil without drying skin out and has great staying power. I find that this powder foundation keeps my shine at bay, doesn't cling to any dry patches, doesn't look powdery AT ALL, and actually seems to nourish my skin (feels better for you than a nasty liquid mask). I don't know how Tarte does it, but they do it right! I am pleased to find that this is a powder foundation that holds up in the summer, but is somehow moisturizing enough that I will love it in the fall as well! (Yeah, I just called a powder foundation moisturizing... AND oil-controlling. I don't understand either.)
The Brush:
While the brush is made very well and it is VERY dense, soft, good at buffing the powder foundation out, matches the packaging, and looks cute, I will say that it is dupe-able. If you already have a somewhat flat-top brush that is dense and soft enough to really buff the product, you can skip it.
My Tips:
♥ Make sure whatever you put on before (moisturizer, setting spray, or even concealer) has time to fully set in. You don't want to apply a powder foundation to a wet face.♥ Don't use silicone-based primers. (Which I tend to love underneath liquid foundation.) No amount of setting time will keep any powder foundation from clinging to this type of primer and looking cakey.
♥ It looks most natural and flawless on clean skin. Because I want something to help with hyperpigmentation and to even out the texture of my skin, I sometimes wear the L'oreal Magic Beautifufying BB Cream very lightly applied underneath. Because it is SO lightweight and doesn't add much of a layer or moisture to my face it works well under this foundation.
♥ I like to buff the product into my skin really well, but when you get to areas where you have larger pores (like next to your nose and center of your face in general) I make sure I am always sweeping downward. When you go in circles or upward you push the foundation directly into your pores and it tends to leave this little dip in the center of the pores and emphasizes them. Go only downward and it will smooth right over them and make them disappear!
