Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush ($35.00 for 0.20 oz.) includes four, deluxe-sized blushes and a synthetic, blush brush.

The Amazonian Clay Blush formula is supposed to have 12-hour wear along with a “supremely soft” texture. There’s a lot to like about Tarte’s formula, as it is softer (sometimes dusty), blendable, and fairly smooth with good pigmentation, but for me, I rarely get 12-hour wear–I do get between 8 and 10-hour wear, though. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that the blushes in the set were representative of the quality of the regular formula. The blushes are disappointing; two of the four were so stiff that I had to scrape off layers of product to get enough product to transfer and show on the skin as a swatch.

Value

• Full-size cost: $28.00 for 0.20 oz., $140.00/oz.
• Set cost: $35.00 for 0.20 oz., $175.00/oz., plus full-sized brush
• Value: $28.00 worth of blush, $20-30 value for brush, $48 to $58 total value

Genius is a muted, medium rosy mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was incredibly powdery and dry to the touch, which resulted in a color that sheered out too easily on the skin and did not want to stick to the skin evenly. It seemed to brighten on my cheeks, almost like when a matte powder darkens on the skin due to the natural oils. It lasted for seven hours on me (which is a far cry from 12).
ColourPop Cruel Intentions (LE, $8.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Tarte Fetching (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Irreplaceable (LE, $29.00) is brighter (95% similar). ColourPop Mistress (LE, $12.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). Too Faced Your Love is King (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). Tarte Amazed (LE, $29.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). By Terry Savannah Love #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Happy-Go-Rosy (P, $29.00) is brighter (90% similar). theBalm Houndstooth (P, $22.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Estee Lauder Pink Ingenue (P, $34.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Parakeet (DC, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar). Tarte Icon (LE, $29.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Kosas Longitude Zero (Blush) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Angel Pride IV (LE, $30.00) is warmer (90% similar). The Estee Edit Purr Pink (03) (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). NYX Mauve (DC, $5.00) is lighter (85% similar). NARS Out There (LE, $30.00) is warmer (85% similar). NYX Dusty Rose (DC, $5.00) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Glass Slipper (DC, $12.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize Glo (Blush) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Royal is a muted, rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a satiny sheen. It had such a stiff texture that made it difficult to use at all; I could not get product to transfer on my brush, and I could barely get any color to transfer after jabbing a finger in the pan–I had to scrape off layers of product to loosen it from the pan, which is what I used for swatches (both on my arm and on my face). Without scraping and mangling the powder, it had next to nothing for color payoff and not enough product to blend or diffuse across my cheeks. It lasted for eight hours on me. Tom Ford Beauty Plum Ombre (LE, $55.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Ven Conmigo (LE, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar). Laura Geller Roseberry (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Unearthed (LE, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar). LORAC Ray (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Corol #2 (LE, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar). Makeup Geek Puppy Love (P, $10.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Surratt Beauty La Vie En Rose (P, $32.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Animal Instincts (LE, $24.00) is darker (85% similar). NARS Body Talk (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Milani Bronze Burst #2 (PiP, ) is warmer (85% similar). bareMinerals The Guest List (LE, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar). KIKO 105 Dark Rose (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Milani Cocoa Felicita (P, $7.99) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Vibrant is a bright pop of orange-coral with warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The consistency was soft, just a bit dusty, but blendable and sat well on the skin. It had more of a natural matte finish when blended on the skin, so it didn’t look dry or flat applied. It had good pigmentation as well. On me, the color wore well for just over eight hours. Tarte Mistletoe (LE, ) is darker, more muted (95% similar). KIKO 108 Orange Coral (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (95% similar). Anastasia Desert (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar). LYS Beauty Kindness (P, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Cover FX Pink Dahlia (Left) (PiP, ) is more muted (95% similar). Rose Inc Daylily (P, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar). Make Up For Ever B308 (P, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tarte Genuine (LE, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar). Chanel Blush Camelia Peche (LE, $45.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Lured to Love (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Honey Thief (P, $22.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Kitsch (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar). Milani Coral Cove (05) (P, $8.99) is darker (90% similar). Dior Coral Flight (462) (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Chanel Coco Code (LE, $70.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Precious Rocks (864) (LE, $45.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Palatial (LE, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). Moira I Respect You (P, $8.50) is warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Summer (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Let's Dance (LE, $12.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Pop is a bright cotton candy pink with neutral-to-cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. This was the other shade that had an incredibly stiff, firm texture; I had to scrape away at the surface of the pan to dislodge enough powder to show swatches or to use it, but what powder was dislodged was softer and more finely-milled than Royal, so I did not have any issues with applying or blending out the color once I was able to pick up product with my brush. It lasted for eight and a half hours on my cheeks. Sephora Flirt It Up (P, $14.00) is cooler (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Flush (P, $60.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Digital Baddie (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). Tarte Surreal (LE, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Exposed (LE, $30.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Whistle While You Werk (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar). Tarte Flush (P, $29.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar). Jouer Kiss Me (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Amore (51) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Hot Pursuit (LE, $30.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Whimsy (LE, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Exhibitionist (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Take the Cake (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Happy-Go-Rosy (P, $29.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Temper (-, ) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Pink Wink (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Coloured Raine Damage Control (Blush) (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). theBalm Argyle (P, $22.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar). Natasha Denona Pink (PiP, ) is darker, more muted, warmer (85% similar). Chanel Tweed Evanescent (130) (LE, $45.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Sculpted Cheeks Brush is a larger cheek brush that flares from the ferrule to a rounded edge. It looked more like a highlighting brush than the average blush brush, but it definitely works for applying cheek color. It had a lot of spring, and I would say floppier than desired for precise cheek color application. I liked it more for blending or using with something very sheer than applying a pigmented blush, as it seemed to apply in a very large area. The brush itself was fairly soft and wasn’t prickly or scratchy when I tried to use. I didn’t experience any shedding or issues after washing it a few times, but my experience with is limited. The brush head was 24.28mm in width, 48.15mm in length, and 24.28mm in thickness. It had a total length of 6.50 inches / 16.5 centimeters.

[Please note: it is not possible to average the Sculpted Cheeks Brush scores with the blush scores as the things they are measuring are different, so I have only taken the Product rating for the brush to average a Product rating for the set.]

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush

Tarte Genius Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Genius Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Genius Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Genius Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Genius Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Royal Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Royal Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Royal Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Royal Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Royal Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Vibrant Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Vibrant Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Vibrant Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Vibrant Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Vibrant Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Pop Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Pop Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Pop Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Pop Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Pop Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Brush  

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Brush  

Tarte Sculpted Cheeks Brush