Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation, $36
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation…so refreshing to have a product with an absurdly long name! It’s been a while.
I’ve never been a fan of caking on product to hide problems. Even when I was in the throes of ridiculous skin woes, I wouldn’t do it. That doesn’t mean I’d go bare-faced…but troweling on Instagram-ready, drag-worthy makeup does not seem like a healthy choice for problem skin.
The Purchase
Over the holidays, I finally ran out of the powder foundation I was using on lazy (read: most) mornings where blending a cream or liquid product was out of the question. Armed with a 20% off Ulta Platinum voucher, I picked up Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. I like the idea of mineral powder foundations; even though bareMinerals didn’t blow me away with its lofty claims, it is a decent product that is user friendly. My hope was that I’d find a better shade match and a similar level of user friendliness in this Tarte product.
Packaging
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation comes in a wide jar with a twist-off top. Instead of a plastic sifter like most of us are accustomed to when it comes to loose powder foundations, this foundation has a strange, bouncy mesh. The idea is that it only releases a bit of product at a time onto your brush so you don’t overapply or waste.
The cap was cleverly designed with an inner cylinder that rests against that mesh to prevent product from getting all over inside. It’s highly effective, but it prevents ease of application that many people coming from other products like this are used to. That whole, “swirl, tap, buff,” mantra that bareMinerals beat into everyone’s head is a thing for a reason; it is easy and provides reliable application with loose mineral foundation. Unfortunately, the design of the cap does not allow for any such shenanigans. Instead, I used the lid of something else to do the same thing.
Brushes & Coverage
I recently picked up the Tarte Airbuki brush, which was designed specifically to be used with Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. The bristles fit perfectly into the mesh sifter well, but I haven’t put it through it’s paces enough to have an opinion I feel worth sharing. I assume the short, densely-packed kabuki-style bristles ought to result in a full-coverage application.
Primarily, I use the Makeup Geek Face Buffer brush to apply this, and I like the results I get. I get a medium coverage with this brush.
Wear
I always use setting spray due to my T-zone, and I do find this wears better with a primer than without. With benefit Porefessional and Urban Decay All Nighter, it wears solidly for twelve hours. Without primer and with spray, it wears solidly for 6-8, and OK for the remainder. It touches up well, however.
Shades
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation comes in fifteen shades. I’d rate it as decent, but there isn’t much love for the ladies on the deeper end of the spectrum. I use Light Neutral (which is also what I use in Shape Tape).
The Bottom Line
So far, I’m happy with it and plan to repurchase. I doubt it will be hardcore full coverage, but I don’t think it is reasonable to expect a powder to be, anyway.