Tarte Big Thrill Collection Review, Photos, Swatches
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Local ULTAs May Still Have This In Stock…
Tarte Big Thrill Collection ($48.00) is a large box set/palette that contains sixteen eyeshadows (0.08 oz. each), four blushes (0.16 oz. each), and three lipglosses (0.20 oz. each). Â It’s a palette that’s really loaded with value, because you’re getting so many shades and high quantities of each. Â The average individual powder eyeshadow is around 0.05 oz.–these are even larger–and the average blush is right around 0.16 oz. (and Tarte’s full-sized blushes are 0.20 oz.), too. Â Many lipglosses are between 0.17 and 0.24 oz., so these fall right in the middle.
I’m so bummed, because I’ve had this for a little over a week and started testing it as soon as it arrived, but it just sold out online. It’s an ULTA exclusive, so I’m hoping that some may still be available in stores. I already did the bulk of the work (writing the actual review is the “fastest” component of the process–it’s the photographing, swatching, editing, and testing that take up most of the hours!), so I still wanted to share with you.
Shooting Star is a shimmering pale white–not too stark but not too creamy. It had good color payoff, but it was a tiny bit powdery. Too Faced Vanilla is more matte. MAC Laundry Daze is less shimmery. Givenchy Lune Mysterieuse Les Ombres de Lune is a little yellower.
Giant Peach is a soft peach with a barely-there frosted finish. It had great pigmentation and was soft, blendable, and easy to work with. bareMinerals Peace is more satiny. bareMinerals Stealth is a touch more orange.
Totally Taupe is a medium brown with champagne sparkle. There’s a touch of gray, but it was fairly warm and didn’t look like a taupe on me. It had decent color payoff but could be a little sheer to work with. Bobbi Brown Pink Chandelier is a bit warmer. Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon is a touch lighter. Tarina Tarantino Fantastical has a stronger sheen.
Brilliant Bronze is a medium-dark bronze with warm, orange-red undertones and a frosted finish. It had great, true-to-pan color payoff, and it was soft, smooth, and blendable. This shade is very, very dupable, though! It’s a classic, basic shade, so if this was the only shade you liked, there are lots of individual options. Chanel Intuition is a touch darker. MAC Mulch is a little redder-toned. Urban Decay Deeper is less orange-toned. MAC Bronze is richer, warmer.
Cloud 9 is a pale beige with neutral undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation, and it was just barely powdery–but very soft and easy to blend out. It is extremely similar to Urban Decay Kinky, MAC Vanilla (slightly warmer), bareMinerals Chance (pink-toned), and MAC Blanc Type.
Pop of Pink is a light pink with warm, yellow undertones and a frosted finish. It had just so-so color payoff, as it was a bit sheer in places and needed to be layered or used wet for greater intensity. MAC taupeless is a touch pinker and has more sparkle. Chanel Harmonie du Soir is very similar. MAC Invicible Light is a step lighter.
Amazed by Amethyst is an eggplant purple with a soft, frosted shimmer. It had great pigmentation and was soft, smooth, and not at all powdery. Urban Decay Rapture is purpler. theBalm rem is purpler, lighter. Illamasqua Queen of the Night is very similar.
Pumped About Purple is a blackened purple with red undertones and a very fine violet-red micro-shimmer over a satiny finish. It had good color payoff, but it was a little dry. MAC Spellcaster is similar in color but has a matte finish. Urban Decay Rockstar is purpler, lighter.
Silver Burst is a bright silver-tinged white with a frosted, metallic finish. This shade had out-of-this-world pigmentation, though it was a little powdery. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is very comparable in color–less frosted.
Next Level Lilac is a mauve-tinged taupe. It’s a little gray, mauve, and brown at the same time. It has a mostly matte finish, and the color payoff was lovely. Tom Ford Enchanted is purpler. Urban Decay Bust is darker.
Intergalactic Metallic is a gray-shimmered, soft black with a soft, frosted finish. It had great color payoff, and it was soft and smooth to the touch. Urban Decay Gunmetal is warmer. Urban Decay Asphalt is quite similar. Bobbi Brown Gunmetal is more satiny.
Jump for Juniper is a deep, dark blue with a hint of green to give it a teal-like edge. It has a mostly matte finish. The color payoff was nice, and the shade wasn’t powdery. Inglot #340 is a touch greener.
Clay Crush is a pale beige with a gray tinge. Perhaps you may call it a light greige! It’s cool-toned and has a matte finish. The only dupe I could think of was MAC Double Feature 6, which is a bit darker and browner.
Rush of Gold is a orange-yellow gold with a metallic, frosted finish. It had good pigmentation but was a little loose. L’Oreal Gold Imperial is yellower. MAC Sweet & Sour is a touch cooler-toned.
Go for Green is a medium yellow-toned green with a pearly finish. It had good color payoff, but it was a little powdery. Dior Garden Pastels is similar in color but has a frosted finish. Wet ‘n’ Wild Earth Looks Small From Down Here is more olive. Inglot #412 is more metallic, so it is also a bit lighter.
Exquisite Emerald is a green-teal shimmered red-brown. This is more of a duochrome shade. It had good color payoff and applied smoothly. MAC I’ve Got a Crush On You has more of a teal duochrome. I suspect MAC Green Brown is also comparable.
Blushes
Park Ave. Princess is a warm bronze-shimmered tan brown. It has great color payoff, and it was soft and smooth. This shade lasted for eight hours without fading. Urban Decay Toasetd,/a> is similar in color but has no shimmer. MAC Light Over Dark is similar but has a stronger sheen.
Angelic is a pale gold-shimmered white gold highlighter. It had a lovely soft, smooth texture and good pigmentation. This shade wore for seven and a half hours without fading. NARS Albatross is most similar, but it has a cooler-toned base color. theBalm Solid Gold is more golden.
Thrilled is a strawberry pink with a frosted sheen. It had good color payoff, and it was soft and smooth. This shade lasted for eight hours without fading. MAC Easy Manner is lighter. Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel is a touch lighter. MAC Stunner is closest but softer.
Curious is a warm-toned pink-coral with a soft, frosted finish. It had excellent pigmentation with a soft, finely-milled texture that was easy to blend. It lasted for eight hours without fading when I tested it for wear. MAC Legendary is lighter. theBalm Don’t You Want Me is a little more muted. Tarina Tarantino Parasol is pinker. Tarte Blissful is brighter.
Lipglosses
Strawberry Sensation is a medium pink with lighter pink shimmer and warmer undertones. It’s semi-opaque on lips, and it looks a lot less pink and more coral on. It lasted three hours on me. Revlon Papaya is more orange. MAC Strictly Plutonic is less pink.
Apple-a-Day is a sheer fuchsia rose with iridescent fuchsia shimmer. I had trouble getting this shade to apply evenly. It wore for two and a half hours. Burberry Hibiscus is darker. Le Metier de Beaute Hibiskiss is redder. Bobbi Brown Electric Violet is pinker.
Abra-cad-apricot is a brown coral with a creamy finish. It’s semi-sheer and milky, so it does settle a little bit into lip lines. It managed to stay on for three hours. MAC Everlasting Nude is pinker, brighter. MAC Temper Tantra is less orange.
OVERALL, I like the palette a lot, and I think the quality is pretty good across the eyeshadows and the blushes.  I liked the variety in the colors available for the eyeshadows in particular; there were some neutrals but several colorful hues as well, and they had a range of finishes from more matte to fairly frosted.  A few shades were powdery, but the majority were soft, blendable, and pigmented.  All of the blushes (though, one is more like a bronzer and the other a highlighter) are warm-toned, though.  I think perhaps a berry or plum blush would have been a good inclusion. The lipglosses aren’t fantastic but aren’t bad; they’re just… gloss. They tended to wear away faster than the average gloss, and though they’re touted as a hydrating formula, they were neither drying nor hydrating.  They had a fruity scent and were slightly tacky.
Tarte Big Thrill Collection Review, Photos, Swatches
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Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Shooting Star Eyeshadow
Tarte Giant Peach Eyeshadow
Tarte Totally Taupe Eyeshadow
Tarte Brilliant Bronze Eyeshadow
Tarte Cloud 9 Eyeshadow
Tarte Pop of Pink Eyeshadow
Tarte Amazed by Amethyst Eyeshadow
Tarte Pumped About Purple Eyeshadow
Tarte Silver Burst Eyeshadow
Tarte Next Level Lilac Eyeshadow
Tarte Intergalactic Metallic Eyeshadow
Tarte Jump for Juniper Eyeshadow
Tarte Clay Crush Eyeshadow
Tarte Rush of Gold Eyeshadow
Tarte Go for Green Eyeshadow
Tarte Exquisite Emerald Eyeshadow
Tarte Big Thrill Collection
Tarte Park Ave. Princess Blush
Tarte Park Ave. Princess Blush
Tarte Angelic Blush
Tarte Angelic Blush
Tarte Thrilled Blush
Tarte Thrilled Blush
Tarte Curious Blush
Tarte Curious Blush
Tarte Strawberry Sensation Lipgloss
Tarte Strawberry Sensation Lipgloss
Tarte Strawberry Sensation Lipgloss
Tarte Strawberry Sensation Lipgloss
Tarte Apple-a-Day Lipgloss
Tarte Apple-a-Day Lipgloss
Tarte Apple-a-Day Lipgloss
Tarte Apple-a-Day Lipgloss
Tarte Abra-cad-apricot Lipgloss
Tarte Abra-cad-apricot Lipgloss
Tarte Abra-cad-apricot Lipgloss
Tarte Abra-cad-apricot Lipgloss
Thank you for these reviews. WOW Christine, your eyebrows look fab!
FWIW Exquisite emerald looks remarkably like MAC Club to me.
Coincidentally MAC “Ive got a crush on you” looks like Club as well.
Wow this post must have been a lot of work to prepare, a lot of photos and they are all gorgeous! Thank you for the review, I wish I could find Tarte here! =(
I agree. Thanks Christine !!
For me, the thing that looks best in this kit is the blushes. It’s like a full blush collection in one box
I really like the Thrilled and Curious blushes. The eyeshadows look really nice too!
I really, REALLY like this palette. WHYY does it have to be sold out?!! That beige-grey is STUNNING! And those purples…*sigh*
Great value.. with the added bonus of a blush wardrobe. Not for me, but a great kit nonetheless.
I’m such a sucker for cute packaging and Tarte always has the best. Unfortunately, I already have some similar products and I can’t justify spending fifty dollars on a pretty box. Oh well. Thanks for the review/swatches!
Those blushes look gorgeous on you. Very natural and give you a glow.
The Angelic blush really needs to be made permanent…
The eyeshadows are all gorgeous, as well, but I can’t help feeling within my tarte stash I have all of them covered (at least close enough). Still,if the blushes were portable, I’d be very tempted!
WOW I absolutely love the eye look. Never would have thought to do a swipe of color like that. I might try that with some of my bolder shades that I’ve been too scared to use lol. And the abracadapricot gloss color looks great!
Love this! I didn’t want it before, as I find that I don’t use huge palettes nearly enough. But I’m a sucker for Tarte. And well, I like the colors and now I kinda want it. But I really really really don’t need it.
I love this new review format, it’s so helpful!!!!!
Thanks for all of the great pictures! 🙂 I love the eye look especially.
Christine, do you know where the individual products (eyeshadow, lipgloss, etc) are made in? Which country? Thanks! 🙂
The bottom of the box says made in Taiwan and distributed by Tarte.
It’s crazy how fast some things sell out this time of year! And then the others are still lingering on deep discount at Valentine’s Day. 😀
This is a great, thorough review – thanks for sharing it whether or not Ulta’s managed to keep it in stock!
Hnn, this is pretty cool! I’ve been thinking about getting my roomie a makeup “starter kit” for Christmas, and this would get her off on the right foot. I’ll have to check out the Ulta near my house to see if they have any left.
I really wish I can find an overseas website that sold Tarte that also shipped to new zealand because this looks amazing.. On another note, I really am liking this new picture series that you are doing for all these inspiration looks, so much easier to follow!
I am loving a lot of the items in this set. Very nice!
They still had it at my Ulta on Saturaday 11/24. There were several in the Tarte aisle and several in the aisle near the back (same aisle as the Pop makeup line) with a bunch of other gift sets and extras of Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 palettes. I don’t know if all Ultas are set up the same but they had at least 5 on the shelf when I was at my store. Plus Sephora might have their Tarte gift set (which has similar stuff in it)they are sold out on the Sephora site but maybe in stock in a Sephora store too.
I got the Sephora set and loved the colors, glosses and blush (only one blush in that one, though).
🙂 L
I am seriously in love with the eye shadows. I would so buy this just for the eye shadows. I’ve never owned anything by Tarte before, so I was wondering if you could recommend me some products that would be the best to start with first?
Readers seem to love their blushes the most, and their eyeshadows are well-loved by some (others not so much – usually the complaints are sheerness/muted colors/powderiness).
If you do want to try the shadows, I’d go with the original NaturalEyes palette, as it has the most variety of colors, if that’s what you want. Otherwise, all of the other permanent palettes lean very neutral.
I’m one of those who love the softer, more natural affect of these shadows. However, if I want more intensity, using them damp or with a cream base and/or primer makes a huge difference. HTH
I really like their LipSurgence products – they range from sheer to semi-opaque and matte to sparkle finishes. The jumbo pencil/crayon is easy to apply even without a mirror (says the girl who swiped it on in the car today) and they’re really moisturizing and comfortable to wear. They have a few lip sets out for the holidays, so if you can find one in stock that might be a good place to start.
The Amazonian Clay blushes are also really nice, and I picked up the Maracuja airblushes and I really like them, too.
I really love Tarte blushes and eyeshadows. I don’t dig giant palettes like this because they are SO huge that I’m not likely to use them much. But that’s a personal preference.
I personally find the pigmentation in Tarte eyeshadows to be great. I have NeutralEyes volume 1. I’m not a huge matte lover but the palette contains 8 mattes and 2 shimmers and the matters are very creamy. Not powdery at all. To get my shimmer fix, I like to wear them over UD primer potion in greed. I also have the Eye and Cheek palette. It’s NOT as good a value compared to the mega palettes, but for me, portability makes it a better value. I use it a lot and that makes it worth it. Carried Away is more portable than this one, but I don’t really want the glosses and the eyeshadow palette is bigger than I prefer. And it only includes 1 blush. So based on personal use, I decided that the Eye and Cheek palette (with my Sephora coupon) was the best value for ME.
The Curious blush goes so beautifully with your coloring!:)
I was able to pick this up today at my Ulta. They still had several and it was more perfect in person.
My local Ulta still has a TON of these! (And an absurd amount of the Love of Lipgloss set.)
The eyeshadows look great, but I haven’t got a lot of use for face powders that or glosses. I feel like I’m all set w/that stuff and don’t need to buy more.
LOOOOVE shadows “amazed by amethyst” and “juniper”!