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Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush ($26.00 for 0.20 oz.) is muted, medium rosy mauve with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. This shade has been part of the permanent range for awhile, but it is being repromoted alongside the three new shades, and I thought it was a good excuse to update photos/swatches of it as well as pull new dupes. The Amazonian Clay Blush formula is supposed to have 12-hour wear along with a “supremely soft” texture. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage (up to semi-opaque) with a dusty, lightly powdery consistency that does kick up a noticeable amount of powder in the pan, but it didn’t appear dry or chalky on the skin. The color wore well for eight hours, which is in line with most formulas for me, but it is below the length claimed. MAC Blushbaby (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). LORAC Cinematic (P, $23.00) is warmer (85% similar). Makeup Geek Puppy Love (P, $10.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Plum Ombre (LE, $55.00) is warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals The Love Letter (LE, $22.00) is cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Fetish (DC, $26.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). bareMinerals Golden Gate Matte (LE, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar). KIKO 105 Dark Rose (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Tarte Risque (P, $29.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Prim (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Capri (P, $58.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Surratt Beauty La Vie En Rose (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Estee Lauder Alluring Rose (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). KVD Beauty Piaf (Shade) (DC, ) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Tarte Unearthed (LE, $29.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Impress (LE, $29.00) is cooler (85% similar). Laura Geller Roseberry (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar). Tarte Seduce (P, $29.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Chanel Rose Bronze (02) (P, $45.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Elevated (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter ($26.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a luminous sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, smooth, and blendable texture that wasn’t too firm or too loose in the pan, while it didn’t kick up powder like most of the Blush range, which was a nice surprise. I think the texture is more refined and smoother with this highlighter formula than the blush formula. It produced a nice glow to the skin without looking metallic or overtly shimmery, so I think anyone who likes a light to moderate sheen may find this to their liking. The highlighter lasted for eight and a half hours on me (but not the 12 promised!). Clinique Gold Celebration Pop (LE, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Melt Cosmetics Stargazer (P, $39.00) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Camelia de Chanel (LE, $80.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) (PiP, $75.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Beach Babe (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar). Becca Champagne Pop (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). rms beauty Grande Dame (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Glowing Nude (002) (LE, $58.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Makeup Revolution Liquid Champagne (P, $9.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Mistress of All Evil (LE, $10.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Huda Beauty Capri (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Chisme (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Cover FX Celestial (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Dior Precious Rocks (001) (DC, $56.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Rêve Salé II (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Ray of Light (P, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar). theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (PiP, $24.00) is warmer (95% similar). Dior #001 (DC, $56.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Stunner (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty The Afternooner (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Exposed

PPermanent. $29.00.
C+
C+
8.5
Product
7
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
6.5
Longevity
5
Application
79%
Total

Exposed

PPermanent. $28.00.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
7
Longevity
5
Application
91%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter
Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Highlighter

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Tarte Poker Face Metallics Shadow
  • Tarte Dame Metallics Shadow
  • Tarte Sinful Metallics Shadow
  • Tarte Scarlet Metallics Shadow
  • ColourPop Truth Super Shock Shadow
  • Sephora Eccentric Diva Contour Eye Pencil
On lips:
  • Tarte Rave Tarteist Lip Paint

37 Comments

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Lulle Avatar

I love the shade of Exposed, but I’ve had mine for a while and the surface has become so hard that it’s difficult to pick up color. I never used it with a wet brush or kept it in a humid room like the bathroom, so I don’t know what happened 🙁

Claire L Avatar

I read on a Fb makeup group that you could try using sticky tape to lift off the top layer of a blusher so that the hard bit comes off. I don’t know how successful that is with Tarte blushes but you could give it a try before resorting to sharp implements!

Mariella Avatar

I’ve had that happen with a few pressed powder foundations and I agree with Christine – it’s oils from your skin (or moisturizer) transferring via your brush. I have a PUR Minerals brush that is quite scratchy and I use that to sort of “sand” off the top layer of the product, exposing the better stuff underneath. You could also try gently scraping with your fingernail.

Diana Avatar

I use disposable mascara wands (one-time use disposable wands) to remove the hardened outer layer of products. Works very well, and more hygienic than scratching powder off with your fingernails if you use a clean wand each time.

kjh Avatar

The blush got the same grade as in 2011. At least they didn’t mess with it. I find Tarte’s regular blushes to be a bit drier than I would prefer, and never had that buy it in every color sensation. Also, never sprang for a blush palette. Only have 4: this, blushing bride, naturally pretty, and elevated, or whatever came in Mattnificent. They don’t get as much rotation as they deserve, though. Now MUFE, I started to gobble up right away, once I started….and I TRIED to resist. Tarte’s formula isn’t for everyone, but what is?

Cody Avatar

This is kind of obnoxious, but I really love the exposed blush.It’s one of my holy grails and I got it in a set that rI paid basically retail of the blush for the whole package. I don’t totally feel like I would pay 26$ for the highlighter, because it’s so obnoxiously sheer. It looks like I would have to pack this on for days to get any sort of color pay off compared to my ofra highlighter or benefit watts up

Christine Avatar

The highlighter isn’t sheer – it is actually quite pigmented, as in fully opaque… For cheek products, I provide a separate, blended out/diffused swatch on the right side of the regular swatch. Did you mean that it isn’t shimmery enough for your tastes? I don’t have Ofra products, but it is just as pigmented as Watt’s Up.

Katherine T. Avatar

Exposed is such a cult classic shade, but every time I swatch in store, I don’t know what to make of it. It doesn’t look too exciting on my hand, but I think I need to get over my germ phobia, and put it on my cheeks to see how it looks. The highlighter is pretty, but I have enough dupes.

Melissa Avatar

That lipstick you are wearing is gorgeous! I have the Exposed Highlighter being delivered today, I am excited to try it out. Great post!

Claire L Avatar

Interesting to see what Exposed blush looks like on the skin, it’s so popular. I love the highlighter, but not getting it though!

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