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Tarte Carried Away Collection Review, Photos, Swatches

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Get Carried Away with This Kit

Tarte Carried Away Collection ($54.00) is a Sephora-exclusive set that contains one blush (0.05 oz.), one finishing powder (0.07 oz.), one mascara (0.16 oz.), one face brush, eight lipglosses (0.059), and twenty-four eyeshadows (0.06 oz.). It is all housed in a soft case. The eyeshadow palette is cleverly tucked away inside of the case, behind the mirror. It’s currently out of stock online, though it can be found in-stores.

Face Products

  • Adventurous (Amazonian Clay Blush) is a warm-toned, muted, reddish-brown with a rosy iridescent sheen. It had good color payoff, and it was soft and smooth applied. This shade wore for seven hours on me. NARS G-Spot is redder. MAC Stratus is more intense and a bit redder. Tom Ford Savage is a touch darker. MAC Buddy Up is similar.
  • Finishing Powder is very finely-milled and soft. I did not test the wear of this item.
  • Face Brush is fairly soft, dense, and blended out the Adventurous blush well.
  • Lights, Camera, Lashes! (Mascara) didn’t flake or smudge on me when I’ve worn it in the recent past.

Lipglosses

The eight glosses included in the set were sheer to semi-sheer, thin, and wore for an average of two hours. Several of the shades looked very alike when applied.

  • Heath is a sheer orange-red with gold shimmer. Chantecaille Glaze is similar–a bit brighter.
  • Casey is a sheer, neutral-warm light pink. It just looks clear on me–any sheer, shimmer-free gloss with a pink-tinted base will work in its place.
  • Mel is a sheer, cool-toned pink with no shimmer. MAC Infinitely Likeable is creamier, more opaque. MAC Pagoda is a touch bluer-based, lighter.
  • Anne is a sheer raspberry pink with no shimmer. Bobbi Brown Cosmic Pink is comparable on.
  • Jena is a sheer red-pink with no shimmer. This gives lips a slight reddish tint. MAC Fabulous Fun is a touch brighter and has shimmer.
  • Mer is a light-medium pink with yellow undertones and gold sparkle. Tarte Darling is similar; smaller shimmer. MAC Floating Lotus is pinker.
  • Ali is a darkened fuchsia-pink with light pink shimmer. MAC Dress Kimono is redder.
  • Nuria is a brightened pinky-red with no shimmer. MAC Dress Kimono is closer in color to this shade but has sparkle. Le Metier de Beaute Hibiskiss is similar, has slight shimmer. Burberry Hibiscus is darker.

Eyeshadows

Snowfall in Paris is a shimmering white with a subtle warm undertone. It has a frosted finish and so-so color payoff–there’s noticeable sheerness. Tarte Shooting Star is less shimmery. MAC How to Marry is whiter. Dior Night Golds is very similar. Too Faced Vanilla is more matte.

Golden Gate Bridge is a soft, darkened gold with a frosted, metallic finish and orange-brown tones. It had good pigmentation and was soft and smooth. Dior Night Golds is a bit darker. Tarte Canary Diamond is less frosted, more metallic. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine is yellower.

Volcanic Ash is a dark, smoldering brown with a cool undertone and dark champagne shimmer. It had good pigmentation, and the texture was a little dry. bareMinerals VIP is incredibly similar. Too Faced Licorice is more matte. Cinderella Cinders is also similar.

Pyramid Gold is a light-medium bronze with a champagne metallic sheen. It had nice color payoff with a soft, smooth texture. MAC Silk Stocking is very similar. Chanel Harmonie du Soir is darker. Urban Decay Echo Beach is less warm-toned. Dior Fairy Golds is sparkly.

Pearl River is a pale pink-tinged white with a frosted, metallic finish. It is slightly sheer but goes on smoothly. Tarte Macaroon is more frosted in finish. MAC Winterscape is a bit cooler-toned.

Seychelles Sand is a medium taupe with a strong gray tone. It has a matte finish, and it was actually a little less pigmented than anticipated though not powdery. Tarte Sailboat is lighter. Bobbi Brown Slate is darker. Bobbi Brown China is warmer.

Touchdown in Londontown is a vibrant violet purple with cool undertones and a fuchsia-pink edge. It has a pearly sheen. The color payoff was good, but it was a little powdery. Make Up For Ever #26 is similar but a cream product. Clarins Enchanted is similar. Tarina Tarantino Violet Storm is less pink. Inglot #441 is purpler.

Martha’s Vineyard is a deep, blackened purple with red undertones and a matte finish. This shade was a bit dry, and so it ended up sheer, too. MAC Indian Ink is purpler. MAC Shadowy Lady is similar. Tarte Pumped About Purple is shimmery.

Pebble Beach is a warm, peachy beige with a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff and was smooth to the touch. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is very similar. Cinderella Midnight Hour is a smidgen darker.

Boston Brick is a darkened taupe with a hint of warmth and a matte finish. It had good color payoff and wasn’t powdery. Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige is lighter. Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha is grayer.

Spanish Sangria is a gold-shimmered plum with soft pink-red tones. It had so-so color payoff–a bit sheer. Tarte Ice Wine is similar but more muted.

Napa Grapes is a darkened eggplant purple with a matte finish. It had decent color payoff but was powdery. OCC Overlook is shimmery. MAC Fig. 1 is comparable. bareMinerals Nightcap is also comparable. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is a touch lighter.

Georgia Peach is a soft peach beige with a matte finish. It had good color payoff, and it wasn’t powdery. MAC Sahara Dust is pearly. Urban Decay Skimp is lighter. Inglot #390 is grayer.

Tuscan Sun is a coppered orange with a metallic sheen. It had excellent pigmentation and was incredibly smooth and easy to work with. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is a touch darker. Urban Decay Penny Lane is softer. Tarte Cabana is less metallic.

Acai Jungle is a medium-dark red-toned bronze brown with a softened metallic sheen. It had great color payoff and was soft and smooth to use. MAC Ever Elegant is more orange. Cinderella Chateau is slightly subdued in comparison.

Coral Reef is a pink-ish orange with gold shimmer-sheen. It’s one of the more interesting shades in the set–there’s something about it that says “tamed fire” to me. It had good color payoff and was soft but not powdery. MAC Hot Paprika was the closest I could think of, but it is a bit redder.

Iceland Air is a cool-toned white with a frosted, metallic finish. The payoff is so-so with some sheerness. MAC Winterscape is similar, perhaps not as stark. MAC She’s Got Class is similar in color but more frosted. Cinderella Ball Gown is comparable in color.

Mystic Seaport is a darkened lavender with a frosted, metallic finish. It was a bit sheer. MAC Digit is lighter. Too Faced Cut the Cake is more matte.

Concrete Jungle is a medium-dark gray with a satiny sheen. It had a drier texture and sheerer color payoff. Urban Decay Desperatoin is a bit darker. bareMinerals Chateau is darker and cooler-toned.

Hampton Waves is a bluish-teal with a mostly matte finish. This shade had good color payoff but was very powdery, so it was easy to blend away into something sheer. Giorgio Armani Ecailles Black Pearl is shimmery. bareMinerals Water has a slight sheen.

Sunshine State is a pale, sparkling gold. It has a chunkier, more glitter-like texture, which also resulted in sheer color payoff. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is a touch darker and less sparkly. Tarte Bellini is darker and less shimmery/sparkly. Cinderella Charming is less sparkly. Dior Couture Gold is a touch lighter.

Hawaiian Palm is a muted, light-medium green with a soft golden sheen. It had so-so color payoff, but it applied smoothly. bareMinerals Wicked is lighter. Wet ‘n Wild Comfort Zone is similar. MAC Juxt is yellower.

Olive Grove is a olive brown with golden shimmer-sheen. It had good pigmentation but was a touch powdery. Tarte Match Point is lighter, more golden. Inglot #433 is greener.

Sin City is a dark, sooty gray with brown undertones and a little bronze sparkle. This was the worst performing shade in the palette–super sheer and powdery. It looks a lot darker swatched than it did in the pan. Tarte Stiletto is lighter.

Overall, it’s a set that’s certainly worth its price tag, even despite some imperfections. I think if you already own a few Tarte eyeshadow palettes, you’re going to run into enough overlap for it to be frustrating. (The same is true for several brands that launch mega-sized palettes and sets like this one.) I like the inclusion of the face products, because it helps make the whole kit a great starter selection to give to someone. I think the lipglosses are a little drying and similar to each other, so they’re not my favorite. The formula was thin and didn’t wear as long as the average gloss. The eyeshadows come in “quads” in a way, which instantly creates several distinct looks to try. Some of the eyeshadows are great, some are good, and a few are so-so.

Tarte Carried Away Collection Review, Photos, Swatches

B
8.5
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8
Longevity
4
Application
84%
Total

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Adventurous Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Adventurous Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Adventurous Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Heath Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Casey Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Mel Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Anne Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Jena Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Mer Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Ali Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Nuria Lipgloss

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Snowfall in Paris Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Golden Gate Bridge Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Volcanic Ash Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Pyramid Gold Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Pearl River Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Seychelles Sand Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Touchdown in Londontown Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Martha’s Vineyard Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Pebble Beach Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Boston Brick Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Spanish Sangria Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Napa Grapes Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Georgia Peach Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Tuscan Sun Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Acai Jungle Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Coral Reef Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Iceland Air Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Mystic Seaport Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Concrete Jungle Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Hampton Waves Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Sunshine State Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Hawaiian Palm Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Olive Grove Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Sin City Eyeshadow

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

61 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Cat G Avatar

Wow that’s a lot of eyeshadows and some of them really pop, which I love! I don’t know if it’s worth it for me for a B grade though… After the last time I bought a B product that just doesn’t work for me at all (a lipstick) I haven’t bought one since…

Dolce Avatar

I have this and I love it! It’s my first foray into the world of Tarte and I was pleasantly surprised with the pigmentation of the blush and shadows. (For me, there were only two eyeshadow colors that were patchy/lacked pigmentation.)

blueraccoon Avatar

I picked up three sets from Tarte this season, but not one of the big kits (I got the lipsurgence set, the SmolderEYES set, and the fantastic foursome blush set) and I think between those three, I don’t need this. It’s certainly nice, don’t get me wrong, but I think the quality in the smaller sets that focus on one product each is better.

blueraccoon Avatar

I love them. They’re incredibly creamy and smooth, but really pigmented, and once they set they don’t smudge at all, but they come off easily with makeup remover. I so recommend picking them up.

Mariella Avatar

Thanks for confirming for me that I need this set. I saw the dark green/black shade (Rainforest?) used in a tutorial and felt I had to have it. Then I saw it came only in this LE set and, well, what’s a girl to do but buy the whole thing? I love the Sephora chubby pencils as shadows (and as liners) and UD somewhat less so (they are a bugger to blend) so I’m sure these will be great for me.

Rachel Avatar

The packaging on all of the Tarte sets is just gorgeous! I have a thing for tribal prints at the moment. I really like the idea of the face products in their usual packaging, not in little pans. It makes it so much easier to swap and change the things you want to carry. Some of the eyeshadows look like incredible colours, but the lip glosses look quite boring.

Wwendalynne Avatar

Wow, Christine, it’s so great you have reviewed these Tarte palettes for everyone. With some much product packed in, there’s a lot of work involved with the reviews; just the photos alone.. Oy! I’m sure with Christmas coming up everyone really appreciates your reviews.

This particular collection is very tempting to me. I like quite a few of the eyeshadow combinations and the inherent value is also very compelling. If I were still on the road frequently for work, there would be no hesitation and I would probably already own this. As it is, I feel I’m barely scratching the surface of what I already own… still..

Kafka Avatar

I didn’t like this set but I thought I was just mistaken in my impressions after Dusty gave it a glowing review. About a month ago, after his reviews, I hightailed my tush to Sephora to test it, focusing specifically on the greys, blue-greys, blue-greenss and purply-eggplants. I found the colours EXTREMELY muted. (So that last photo of yours is a bit of a shock. LOL). Not just muted, but sheer (and occasionally) patchy as well.

And your review bears that out, much to my enormous relief. (Yay, it wasn’t just my imagination!) Sin City was terrible; utterly depressed me in fact. I kept swatching and poking at the pan, but it looked even FAINTER than it does in your swatch. Mystic Seaport, Concrete Jungle & Martha’s Vineyard were, as you say, sheer as well. (I actually muttered, “Concrete Jungle my foot! Where the hell is the concrete??!?!”) I thought Hampton Waves was less intense than it appeared in the pan and was somewhat muted. Napa Grapes didn’t swatch as intensely as it did for you but it was as patchy as your swatch seems to look. I didn’t test any of the neutrals, orange-y, taupe-y, super light or shimmery colours because they weren’t the main draw at all. You KNOW how difficult it is for me to resist a bargain — let alone a huge deal like $500+ worth of product (or whatever the exact breakdown was in that PR release last month) for as little as $54. But, nahhhhh, this one ended up easy to resist. I think if I didn’t dislike warm, neutral or pale colours, it would have been much harder to resist as some of those looked very pretty in the pan.

Christine Avatar

I was super bummed about Hampton Waves, because you know me, teal-fanatic. It did perform better on the lid than I anticipated after swatching, but it was a picky little shade. Tarte seems to do muted shades overall (though Londontown in this one is probably the most vibrant shade I’ve seen by Tarte!), so if you like muted/soft colors, totally the right place to go!

Lauren Avatar

Gorgeous! I have to admit, after seeing these reviews, I’m totally tempted by the Ulta set even though I SO don’t need a giant makeup palette. I really love Tarte eyeshadows. I didn’t try them for ages but I got 2 palettes recently – one is the NeutralEyes palette which is mostly matte and the second is the Eye and Cheek palette and I love them both SO much. I actually like the shadows better than Urban Decay because they just don’t crease on me. I know that you gave the NeutralEyes palette a C or C+ (I checked it after I bought it and almost returned it because of that), but I actually find the shadows to be very pigmented and blendable. I absolutely ADORE the Eye and Cheek palette. It doesn’t come with the bells and whistles of the big palettes but it’s so much more usable to me. It has 6 beautiful shadows and 2 different Amazonian Clay blushes. It’s less product for almost the same price, but that one really is the best palette to put in your travel bag.

Dani Avatar

I love it!! I’ve never owned any tarte cosmetics before but I’ve always wanted to get the blushes because exsparkage raves about it so much. I wanna get all the blush colors! This collection is so pretty and convenient especially for a beginner, you have everything in it to start off. ^_^ love your reviews.

Lauren Avatar

I wanted to say thank you for these amazing reviews with so much detailed commentary and the wonderful step by step looks. I read several beauty blogs but yours has the most thorough reviews. I trust your reviews more than anyone else’s.

xamyx Avatar

These are the only eyeshadows I’ve been wearing since I got this about 2 months ago (I bought 2 UD palettes just prior, and they have been sitting untouched).

I was actually very impressed with all the purply shades, especially Touchdown in Londontown. It was one of the few shades I swatched in the store, and I grabbed it immediately. I absolutely love the bush, and it is the one product I never get excited about.

xamyx Avatar

I also agree on the glosses being far too similar to one another; however, I don’t find them drying at all, and they actually last longer on me than any other I’ve tried. I find I get around 3 hours, as opposed to the usual 1, but I think it’s due to the fact they are so lightweight that I barely feel them, therefore I’m not constantly rubbing my lips together the way I do with a thicker gloss.

Raquel Avatar

hi christine! just wanted to tell you my opinion about the site template, for me personally it would be much easier to see more side by side comparisons rather all in one vertical line. specially if its a big post like this! i feel its easier to understand and relate the colours to each other when you dont have to be scrolling down.. but its just my advice! 🙂

Charlotte Avatar

I’ve seriously considered picking this up.. mainly for the shadows. I’ve seen several reviews but no one mentions the quality/integrity of the shadow palette. It looks kind of flimsy to me.. what do you think? Would it hold up well to daily use outside of the case? Does it simply fold closed or is there some type of magnetic closure?

Christine Avatar

Hey Charlotte,

If you tote it around and let it slosh around for a year, you’ll find it gets dinged and the like. Just having it out on your counter/vanity? I think it’d be totally fine. It’s sturdy cardboard with a magnetic (I turned it upside down and the lid stays closed). If you’re familiar with theBalm’s palette, I’d say it’s similar in style and overall size, too.

Debbie Avatar

All those pics and swatches probably took tons of time and energy. really apreciate you doing them!

Christine, did u even go on a honeymoon after your wedding? I don’t think your posting has stopped or delayed since your wedding.

Christine Avatar

It’s genuinely coming from the way we feel. The blog is one consideration, but I have taken various vacations so while a pain, is something I can and have done in the past 🙂 We see each other 24/7 (we both work on Temptalia full-time) and have lived together for five years (the whole time, seeing each other very near 24/7 – the only time apart was when I was at school!).

Ani_BEE Avatar

I know a number of people that take their “honeymoon” months later. Also after throwing a wedding I would not be surprised people are plan out and out broke after it considering how Expensive they can be to just rent things.

Debbie Avatar

Maybe you should just take a vacation by yourself and consider that your “honeymoon”. Since you and your hubby spend almost 24/7 together, maybe it would be good to get away from him for a little bit! hahaha 😛

Anita Avatar

I’d really appreciate it if you put the pictures of the four swatches under each zoomed up picture of the part of the actual palette… It’d be very helpful!
(:

Alicia Avatar

I got this collection and was told by the SA at Sephora that when the eye shadows pop are worn over an eyeshadow primer. They are pretty sheer on their own, but then put them on over primer and it really makes a difference.

Thanks for all the work you do with your reviews!

Kaitlyn Avatar

That’s so odd! I found the glosses to be very moisturizing, and on me they last as long as any of my other HE glosses (longer than DS). I guess that just goes to show how things perform differently on different people. 🙂 Great review! I <3 this set so much!

Peggy Avatar

Ah, I just got this yesterday using my VIB $20 off coupon! What a steal for the amount of product you get. Love it!! Lot’s of fun to play with too.

Anna C. Avatar

I wanted so bad to get this set… But it’s sold out everywhere! 🙁

It’s so frustrating to watch a review on it, knowing that I won’t be able to get it… LOL

Great review Christine, as always! It takes a lot of effort to do something like this! 🙂

Natasha Avatar

I just got this as an early X-Mas present to me since i”m going to be on the road for 3 weeks. This is a perfect kit for travelling. I love the case with the pockets on both sides — put my brushes, pencils and mascaras on one side and my concealer, BB cream samples along with the blush, powder and mini-glosses on the other side. All the make-up I need in one easy-to-pack container! And it’s purple and gold!

I also like that the glosses are separate so I can carry the one I’m wearing with me for touch-ups — most palettes have glosses in useless little pans.

Also, the color choices are work beautifully with my coloring. I was a little concerned about the blush until I actually saw it! Gorgeous.

December may be a chaotic month for me, but I’ am going to look gorgeous!

Olivia Nguyen Avatar

I just bought them and tried it out today.. The pigmentation of the first quad is very disappointing, the colour payoff is not that great… I just wonder if i did something wrong while applying it, cuz the Volcanic Ash turned out to be very sheer and not at all pigmented.. Did i do something wrong Christine? :'(

Courtney Avatar

I’m all conflicted because I got this as a gift, but I’m not sure if I want to keep it or not. The glosses are all colors I’d wear…but they’re also all colors I own via MAC. I love shadow quads cause I suck at coordinating colors, but I’m not sure that I’m crazy about any of these.

Jenny Avatar

First comment ever on the site! Loved this review! I had bought the set but wasn’t sure I wanted to keep it because of mixed reviews on the eyeshadows but after reading this I decided they were still a good value. Loved all the detailed close ups of the kit in this post. Your photos are very high quality.

Charlecia Avatar

Love this palette and finally got my hands on it yesterday!! Do you remember the names of the colors you used for the first eye look? I’m assuming Tuscan Sun and Coral Reef but what are the other colors? TIA 🙂

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