Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

A few weeks ago, Mary asked me if wanted anything from the States since her boyfriend was going to Las Vegas. Naturally, I asked for some more Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes; they are a whopping $8 cheaper over there, and with the lower retail tax rate as well, I'd be saving quite a bit of money (in fact, enough money to buy another Tarte blush!). Tarte came out with some new shimmery shades last month for Spring, and of course, I had to have them. They are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $33 in Canada.

Clockwise from top: Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. Many of the shades are "inspired" by their Cheek Stain shades, and most of them are actually named correspondingly.

Frisky (close-up)

Adored, Frisky, and Glisten

Adored is a medium bright cotton candy pink with shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to NARS Angelika, and cooler than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush.

Frisky is a medium-dark bright reddened coral with shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has intense pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the intensity of the shade. It is more shimmery than Illamasqua Tweak, and is less pink than MAC Salsarose.

Glisten is a medium pink peach with gold shimmer-sheen. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to NARS Orgasm, and slightly more pink than MAC Springsheen.

Even though Adored and Glisten are really dupeable, these are just gorgeous, and totally worth getting. The wear on these are phenomenal, and I actually find the formula to be softer, smoother, and more finely-milled than even NARS. They are blendable and buildable and just go on like a dream. I am thrilled that Tarte released some softer, more shimmery, and overall more wearable shades than their more intense matte blushes, which can look harsh. I don't usually have a problem with wear-time with most blushes, but Tarte's 12-hour claim is absolutely true — it looks just as fresh after 12 hours as when I put it on. No need to worry about rushing to get these, since they have been added to the permanent range... But you may want to rush, anyway, because these are just too pretty to resist. Blush fiends, unite!