Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector's Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette ($42.00 for 0.64 oz.) includes eight eyeshadows, two blushes, and one bronzer. Tarte says it’s supposed to “empower you to play up your look from daytime to playtime,” though I’d say it’s more apt to say day to night, as there are some smokier, darkening shades that you could use for a more “nighttime” look. I tend to associate “playtime” with brighter, bolder, or more unique colors and/or finishes. It’s a disappointing palette with two exceptionally dismal eyeshadows and one unimpressive blush that really bring it down, but there were few shades here that were actually good.
I can understand when some feel that neutral palettes have reached a point of total saturation of the market, and I also understand that many are still hunting for just-the-right neutral palette. I also get that some brands have certain aesthetics, such as tarte, where they lean more towards neutral shades, which is perfectly fine. With that being said, I am a little confused why tarte released three neutral palettes for summer: this one, Poppy Picnic (C+), and Showstopper (B). Sadly, none of these were as good as their warm-toned neutral mega-palette V2 (A-) from last August or the all-matte neutral-hued Tartelette (B+). The majority of the shades in this palette were similar to other shades Tarte has done in the past (more so than usual it seemed to me).
Compassionate is described as a “cream.” It’s a light, slightly brightened beige with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had decent pigmentation but was powdery, so it was a little harder to work with on the skin so it didn’t look dry. It lasted for six and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Vivacious is described as a “rose gold.” It’s a light-medium, muted gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good color payoff with a soft, blendable consistency that stayed in place for seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Pretty is described as a “bronze.” It’s a dark, coppered bronze with warm undertones and a soft, frosted finish. It had great pigmentation with a really soft, smooth, and blendable texture. The color lasted for eight hours on me before fading. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Powerful is described as a “dark brown.” It’s a dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had so-so pigmentation with a powdery, dry texture that was difficult to blend on the eye. It wore well for six and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Energetic is described as a “taupe.” It’s a medium-dark, purple taupe with cool undertones and a matte finish. The color payoff was sheer with a very powdery, thin consistency that made it difficult to apply and blend on the skin. It lasted for five and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Eco-chic is described as a “light plum.” It’s a dusty, muted mauve with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was, unfortunately, very powoder, which led to poor application, excess product everywhere (in the pan, applied–even after tapping off the excess). I had to really pat and pack it on and minimally blend the edges to keep it in place, but it was faded after five and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Charitable is described as a “soft pink.” It’s a brightened, light pink-white with cool undertones and a satin finish. It was powdery but fairly pigmented, so I think it would apply better over a primer to avoid it sheering it out. It does get chalky on my medium complexion, so it is likely better suited for fairer skin. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Glamorous is described as a “dark plum.” It’s a deepened purple with a mostly matte finish and subtle, warm undertones. It had richer pigmentation, but the texture was somewhat powdery and dry, which made it harder to apply and blend evenly. It lasted for seven hours on me before creasing. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Trustworthy is described as a “nude mauve.” It’s a pink-peach with a satin sheen and warm undertones. The texture was very stiff and firm, so it was difficult to get any color coverage out of it. I used a paper towel to rub down the top layer, and the powder was easier to use, but it was very thin and dry–powder everywhere–and didn’t want to adhere to the skin well. It lasted for seven hours, which is quite below the 12-hours claimed. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Empowering is described as a “rose nude.” It’s a subdued, medium rosy pink with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good pigmentation, but the texture was incredibly powdery to work with, even on the skin. With enough blending, I was able to tamp down a lot of the powderiness. This shade lasted for eight and a half hours on me. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Park Ave Princess is described as a “bronze.” It’s a medium-dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a golden frosted sheen. It had good color payoff but had a powdery, drier texture. It didn’t look, powdery on the skin, thankfully, and it was blendable and easy to apply overall. I don’t understand why this product looks different in every palette I have. I just reviewed it in the Showstopper palette where it’s a darker, lightly warm-toned brown with a satin finish, and here we have this one that has several times the amount of warmth and shimmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Empower Flower
LELimited Edition. $42.00.
Compassionate
LELimited Edition.
Empowering
LELimited Edition. $29.00.
Park Ave Princess
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Vivacious
LELimited Edition.
Pretty
LELimited Edition.
Powerful
LELimited Edition.
Energetic
LELimited Edition.
Eco-chic
LELimited Edition.
Charitable
LELimited Edition.
Glamorous
LELimited Edition.
Trustworthy
LELimited Edition. $29.00.
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette (Click to Enlarge)
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette
Tarte Compassionate Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Compassionate Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Vivacious Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Vivacious Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Pretty Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Pretty Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Powerful Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Powerful Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Energetic Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Energetic Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Eco-chic Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Eco-chic Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Charitable Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Charitable Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Glamorous Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Glamorous Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow
Tarte Trustworthy Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Trustworthy Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Trustworthy Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Empowering Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Empowering Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Empowering Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Park Ave Princess Amazonian Clay Bronzer
Tarte Park Ave Princess Amazonian Clay Bronzer
Tarte Park Ave Princess Amazonian Clay Bronzer
Compassionate (inner lid), Vivacious (middle of lid), Eco Chic (outer lid), Energetic (crease),
Compassionate + Vivacious (brow bone), Sephora Flirting Game Eyeliner
Compassionate (inner lid), Vivacious (middle of lid), Eco Chic (outer lid), Energetic (crease),
Compassionate + Vivacious (brow bone), Sephora Flirting Game Eyeliner
You pulled out a good look, though. That bronzer looks HOT on you.
Thanks, Ginny! 🙂
Agreed! That bronzer and the “empowering” blush look very good on you.
Wow! What a slap in the face by Tarte. I have been craving a palette that contains high-quality cheek products. Boo.
Tarte’s blushes are SO hit or miss!
I picked up this palette last week. I’m lucky that both of the blushes seem very pigmented on me. I was afraid that the first one wouldn’t show up, but I had to sheer it out! I was disappointed that the two white eyeshadows are nearly identical, and that 1 or 2 of the others are powdery. this was my first time using tarte. ..hopefully in the future, the eyeshadows will be of better quality. I actually think that’s blushes look fantastic on you in these pics!
I think Tarte can be better for sure, but I’m glad the blushes are working better for you! 🙂
I completely agree with your thoughts on this palette. Pass.
I was surprised that there was so much powderiness here, because I’ve felt like Tarte has done a better job minimizing that in their formula lately. It’s not totally absent from their mattes/satins, but this felt more old school Tarte to me.
I’m so confused with park ave princess. I have it in a single form, its not orange has little shimmer. I have it in 2 palettes and they are all different. Even in this palette its golden with shimmer and different from the rainforest and showstopper. The pic of the actual product in this palette and the swatch look different from the one you have on the grade glossover scale. the one on the grade sheet is curved in the photo. I don’t think it’s the same color. i want the pap that is on your grade scale its not as shimmery. Do you remember which palette that is? I wish they would just make 1 color.
Thanks
EXACTLY! It makes no sense, and it is very frustrating!
The one in the photo is from the Showstopper palette!
It seems that Tarte does have different manufacturers and also the ingredients for Park Ave in this palette and in the Showstopper palette vary, according to your photos. This palette here is made in China; I can’t make out from the photo of Showstopper where it was manufactured, though.
I have the colour in the blush/bronzer duo named “Power Couple”, and that one is made in US, though I don’t have it right here so I am not sure of the ingredients at the moment. Of course when a company sources from various producers, they can still hand them all the same recipe to manufacture, but it might be that they only ask for a certain product (for example here: bronzer in powder form, and maybe some key ingredients as guidelines) to deliver to them instead. That could explain the variations, though of course it does not reflect well on the brand if a colour changes all the time.
It might be that such reasons also explain a lot of the varying user reviews for cosmetics in general, such as on Makeupalley, when a manufacturer changes ingredients and sources all the time.
Of course there are stil plenty of brands that have consistency in their products, too and the different opinions are for individual reasons and not due to a changing product.
That could explain some of it for sure! It is a real shame that they haven’t made sure that their products are consistent, though, and it is just totally wacky that Park Ave Princess is SO out of sorts.
Both of the blushes look too light for me and I have enough neutral shadows so this is an easy skip. That bronzer is gorgeous though! I don’t know how I’ve never noticed how pretty it was before
That’s probably because the bronzer changes color every time it’s released, LOL!
The only thing this will be collecting is dust on the store shelves. Their products have been so uninspired lately! I do love that purple look. Reminds me of the shadow Rashida Jones wears throughout Parks & Rec. I wish i knew what color that was on her!
I had to go for something “cooler” than the typical neutrals, haha.
Tarte is capable of making such wonderful shadows and blushes (well, I guess all companies are but the Tarte blush I have is in my “top 3” of all brands) so it’s disappointing when they release something as “iffy” as this. And again I have to say “Enough already with the Park Ave. Princess bronzer in EVERY palette”
I really love some of their eyeshadows, but some of them are big misses… and I’m so over seeing Park Ave Princess and its 10 variations!
They also seem to keep releasing the exact same eyeshadows but in new palettes/collections and with new names. Maybe because they don’t have a “core” of single, permanent shadows (the way companies like MAC or UD, etc. have or like Tarte has with its blushes) they feel they can get away with this. And maybe they can and it sells but every time I see some new eyeshadow palette from them, or a palette like this one, I immediately start thinking “aren’t those almost exactly the same as the shadows in Eyeshadow Palette V.2…” and all the other LE palette releases that honestly seem to look very much the same (maybe they’re not but I can never get excited enough to bother checking!). I really do like some of their eyeshadows and wish they really did have a permanent selection/collection of shadows to choose from.
They really should do a core line, if only so we can stop pretending like they’re always new shades, LOL!
I keep wanting to call this Emperor Flower, lol.
lol!
Meh, Tarte has issued too many neutral palettes already and the shadows are starting to look the same. I hope they don’t become like Bobbi Brown where the last 20 palettes seem to some variation of brown
What’s crazy to me is that despite repeating a lot, they can’t seem to nail down the formulas.
I have decided that my disappointment with Tarte probably has more to do with me wanting something from the brand that they just won’t provide. I fell in love with them a few years ago because of their stand alone blushes. I purchased all of the matte ones and they wore really well on me. So I took a chance on their eyeshadows from a holiday palette and they totally failed me. I also never really fell in love with the lipsurgence because chubby lip pencils are a dime a dozen. I have picked up all three round palettes they’ve done. The one from a few summers ago that they did with Aqualillies was really cute and had a pop of turquoise among the neutral colors which made it feel very summery. Then I really did like the Rainforest palette, but it took me months to actually pick it up because I’ve seen so many neutral palettes from them. I really feel like every palette they put out is just the same colors rearranged. They really try to come out with limited edition blushes, but there’s only so much you can do with blush colors, so again, they all start to look the same. I think i’m happy with my collection of matte blushes from them, and I may keep picking up the round palette each year (though I haven’t seen this one in person yet) just to kind of collect them. They’re not bank-breaking at $38 and they really are an all-in-one travel set. Anyway –
tl;dr – I want color and innovation and lovely eyeshadow textures. I have to make peace with the fact that that’s not Tarte
I wish they would at least put out consistent products at this point 🙁
Too bad. The swatches look nice.I will be passing! 🙂
If only it performed better!
I’m scratching my head over this and Poppy Picnic. The reviews for both that I’ve read on various sites are mixed, but the two definitely don’t seem to be just OK from what I’ve seen on the web. The holiday stuff and Tartelette are so good…what did Tarte change when doing these LE? You would think they’d stick with the winning formulas.
I wish we knew! 🙁
Is this a dupe for the Kat Von D palette? Most of the colours look the same – ho hum another neutral palette. The only lovely aspect is the bronzer – so pretty on you Christine.
Not really – less shades, less mattes!
I really like the eyeshadows in this palette, but I also loved them in the last 12 or so palettes tarte used them in, just by other names…
They are sooooo many repeats.
Bummer. I was looking forward to Tarte’s summer collection. This really bites the big one, other than the two blushes. Those I like. The bronzer looks great on you but the swatch makes me shudder LOL
Me too! 🙁 It had such a bright, summery feeling to it in promos.
I feel like Tarte is at its best when they’re focusing on smaller palettes or singles. The bigger sets seem to have issues, likely because they’re trying to keep the costs down.
I could see warm-toned girls liking this for an all-in-one, but there are too many better neutral sets out there at this price point!
There are so many neutral palettes out there that it’s stiff competition!
I actually just bought this today and I’m only seeing this review now. Despite that I don’t regret the purchase. I feel like I’ve either been really lucky with tarte’s products, or they just have consistency issues. For example you gave Glisten in the Poppy Picnic palette a D, but my blush was really soft and I had no problems with it. The same thing happened in the Rainforest After Dark palette. This is not to say I’ve never gotten a product from tarte that I felt missed the mark. But I almost wonder what would happen if you did a blogger swap. Look for another beauty blogger who had a good experience with a tarte palette and swap to see if theirs was indeed better. Cause I sort of think that might be happening. Too many people are posting very different reviews for the same products. Regardless if this product preforms well I’ll happily keep it. If it doesn’t live up to my expectations I have no problem sending it back.
I’m really glad you’re loving yours! 🙂 My permanent Glisten/standalone is so different compared to the one in my palette.
As pretty as I thought it looked at first, I now realize the shades in this palette wouldn’t really be right for me.
Easy skip!
Is it just me, or is Energetic the least fitting names for a shade ever?
*name
Haha! I had the same thought.
The park avenue princess bronzer in this palette looks nothing like the one in my Aqualillies palette!
I swear it’s different every time!
I was really hoping energetic would be a great shade! I guess the Colour Pop is a good dupe though!
It is close!
i just bought this and the moment i did, i knew i made a mistake. I’m gonna return it now, what newer palette should I pick up instead that you recommend?
Are you looking for a neutral palette? What’s your skin tone?
yes! and I am a light to medium skin tone
Make Up For Ever Vol. 1!
thank you!!
I picked this up last weekend and tried to get it to work all week. I bought it mostly for the blushes as I love theirs, but like you I was very disappointed and actually just returned this last night 🙁 The pigmentation is just horrible.
I’m glad you were able to return it, at least!
Tarte’s offerings this spring are just blah, boring and uninspired. The last time they did anything even remotely interesting to me was the Aqualilies palette, which I missed out on, but did get to see it on my daughter. It looked really pretty and made for some interesting looks that she created with it. These new ones ? Nope!
Hopefully they’ll find the magic of Aqualilies and put out something interesting soon!
lol at powerful being 74/10 in longevity
Thanks so much for letting me know! I fixed it. It was supposed to be 7 for longevity and 4 for application.