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Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette ($38.00 for 0.73 oz.) is a new, limited edition round compact that features six eyeshadows and three cheek products. It’s a decent to good eyeshadow palette, and though none of the shades are particularly unique, it may be nice for travel. The one thing to keep in mind is you may need to take your own brow bone/highlighter shade, as the cheek highlighter is pretty over-shimmered relative to the finishes of the eyeshadows. I think last year’s Rainforest After Dark palette was better coordinated, though, as the really warm-toned blush doesn’t complement the eyeshadow shades as well as it could. The quality is about the same, and I think if you normally use primer and like the colors included, you may really enjoy the palette. Most of the shades wore a little shorter on me, which brought down the overall rating.

Fame is a brightened pop of medium orange with warm, reddish tones and a mostly matte finish. It had good color payoff with what seemed like a soft, silky consistency in the pan, but it wasn’t as blendable as it could have been in action. Though Tarte touts the wear of the formula at twelve hours, it lasted for eight and a half hours on me.
See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Park Ave Princess is a dark brown with subtle, yellowish undertones and a semi-matte finish. You can find this in their permanent range as well, and if you have more than a handful of Tarte palettes, you probably have it in another palette as well! It had good pigmentation with a lightly powdery texture that was blendable on the skin and wore for eight hours. I feel like every version I have of this product is a little different than a past version; the one in this palette is a bit darker and less warm/red. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Champagne Pink is a brightened, pink-tinged white with a metallic sheen. It had a really soft, blendable consistency that yielded great pigmentation that could be applied easily on the skin. I recommend applying with a very feathery brush (I used a fan brush), as it can emphasize pores. It lasted for eight and a half hours on me. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Showstopper Copper is a muted, medium-dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and silver sparkle. It had good pigmentation with a silky texture that ran thin but was still blendable and easy to work with. It lasted for seven hours on me. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Go for the Gold is a softened, dirty gold with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. The texture was slightly dry and thin, which gave it a semi-opaque result on the skin, while it had a tendency to sheer out further when blended on bare skin. It lasted for six and a half hours before creasing. This was the kind of eyeshadow that greatly benefits from a primer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

You’re a Natural is a muted, peachy-brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had decent to good color payoff that had a soft, silky texture. It could get a smidgen powdery in the pan, but it applied evenly and blended well on the skin. On me, it started to crease after seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Steel the Scene is a medium-dark, taupe brown with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It had nice pigmentation with a soft, buttery texture that was really easy to blend on the eye. It wore well for eight hours before I noticed slight creasing. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Rose to the Top is a darkened, rosy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was intensely pigmented with a smooth, blendable texture that was dense and creamy. The color lasted for eight hours before creasing. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Dim the Lights is a deep, dark brown with neutrla-to-warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It is more pigmented than it appears in the swatch, but the texture is a little powdery and doesn’t stick as well to bare skin, though it was buildable enough when I was using it on my eye in practice. It was fairly blendable and stayed on for seven and a half hours. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Showstopper

LELimited Edition. $38.00.
B
B
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
8
Longevity
4.5
Application
86%
Total

Fame

LELimited Edition. $29.00.
B-
B-
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
8
Texture
7
Longevity
4.5
Application
82%
Total

Park Ave Princess

PiPPermanent in Palette.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
8
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
88%
Total

Champagne Pink

LELimited Edition.
A-
A-
8.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
9
Longevity
4.5
Application
90%
Total

Showstopper Copper

LELimited Edition.
B+
B+
9
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
88%
Total

Go for the Gold

LELimited Edition.
C
C
7
Product
8
Pigmentation
7
Texture
7
Longevity
4
Application
73%
Total

You're a Natural

LELimited Edition.
B
B
8.5
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
8
Longevity
5
Application
86%
Total

Steel the Scene

LELimited Edition.
A-
A-
9
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
91%
Total

Rose to the Top

LELimited Edition.
A
A
9.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
96%
Total

Dim the Lights

LELimited Edition.
B
B
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
8
Texture
8
Longevity
4.5
Application
84%
Total

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette
Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush
Tarte Fame Amazonian Clay Blush

Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer
Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer

Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer
Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer

Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer
Tarte Park Ave Princess Bronzer

Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter
Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter

Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter
Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter

Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter
Tarte Champagne Pink Highlighter

Tarte Showstopper Copper Eyeshadow
Tarte Showstopper Copper Eyeshadow

Tarte Showstopper Copper Eyeshadow
Tarte Showstopper Copper Eyeshadow

Tarte Go for the Gold Eyeshadow
Tarte Go for the Gold Eyeshadow

Tarte Go for the Gold Eyeshadow
Tarte Go for the Gold Eyeshadow

Tarte You're a Natural Eyeshadow
Tarte You’re a Natural Eyeshadow

Tarte You're a Natural Eyeshadow
Tarte You’re a Natural Eyeshadow

Tarte Steel the Scene Eyeshadow
Tarte Steel the Scene Eyeshadow

Tarte Steel the Scene Eyeshadow
Tarte Steel the Scene Eyeshadow

Tarte Rose to the Top Eyeshadow
Tarte Rose to the Top Eyeshadow

Tarte Rose to the Top Eyeshadow
Tarte Rose to the Top Eyeshadow

Tarte Dim the Lights Eyeshadow
Tarte Dim the Lights Eyeshadow

Tarte Dim the Lights Eyeshadow
Tarte Dim the Lights Eyeshadow

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On lips:
  • ColourPop Sweet Thing Lippie Stix

70 Comments

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Christina D. Avatar

“Steel the Scene” and “Rose to the Top” look lovely AND you gave them both an A — but I am done with Tarte. I’ve been disappointed by them too many times.

Katherine T. Avatar

Overall, I think this is a nice palette for the price and convenience. If you’re in a rush in the morning and don’t want to dig through your whole stash to find shadows, blushes, and highlighters, this is a great palette to grab. But since I’m a makeup junkie, I have these colors in my stash already, so I can’t justify getting this. And as nice as Tarte’s neutral palettes are, I do wish they would come out with some more colorful shadows.

Mariella Avatar

If only the blush in this were more pink or rose – I’d be all over this like fleas on a dog! But the blush (and the fact that I’ve dupes for Steel the Scene and Rose to the Top) might make me hesitate with regard to buying this BUT it would be such a nice travel palette (if only that blush were more pink….). I might still cave on this, though….

Michelle Avatar

I know this might seem crazy, but I like mixing cools and warms. . . I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on my makeup when I’ve done this, as recently as this weekend from an Armani makeup artist. So that is never a deal breaker for me. Quite the opposite.

charlotte Avatar

I agree, that was the first thing that struck me, the blush is really out of place in what is essentially a cool palette.

BonnieBBon Avatar

I love my Rainforest After Dark palette so much that I thought I was converted into a buyer of the round palettes but NOPE. I do not like this at all. It reminds me of the shag carpet that was in my Aunt and Uncles family room when I was so little of a kid I have memories of its look and stale cigarette smell permanently embedded in my brain and nose. Thanks Tarte for the unwelcome childhood flashback! You’re welcome temptalia comment readers for me sharing that hideous carpet scent tinged memory with you 😛

Gpatrick Avatar

How does the blush in Fame compare to the other coral offering, Captivating? It was in the Aqualillies palette and is now sold as a single as well.

Pami Avatar

This palette is too warm for me, and like you noted, it doesn’t even contain a brow-bone shade! I do like the champagne pink highlighter. I’m enjoying my Rainforest After Dark palette from last year as a great all-in-one travel palette.

I’d like to note that I did end up getting the It Cosmetics QVC TSV, and ironically, the face disc that came in that is about the same diameter as these Tarte round palettes while a little thinner, and the bronzer, highlighter, and blush, are very close to the Rainforest palette too! I actually prefer Tarte’s in all but the blush, and I like the eyeshadow shades more than the It Cosmetic’s trio.

To put it in perspective, when you think of getting the six eyeshadows, and all full sized blush, bronzer and highlighter in such a handy case, it makes you realize what a terrific value it is. So I guess I’m saying that if you like the shades in this palette, I highly recommend getting it.

If you prefer the more neutral to cool shades in the Rainforest After Dark palette, or missed it last year, Tarte recently brought it back on their website. For reference, I’m NW15-20 (cool, pink undertones) with hazel brown eyes and very dark brown hair. I especially LOVE the first two eye shadows for anytime wear. They’re very flattering. Also, I didn’t have any of the problems with the blush that Christine experience. I meant to do an update to my post after I received and used the palette, but never got around to it. Anyway, here’s the link to Christine’s review http://www.temptalia.com/tarte-rainforest-dark-eye-cheek-palette-review-photos-swatches

I hope Tarte continues to make palettes in this format!

Rachel R. Avatar

It’s not as warm as I’d thought it would be. I like it, but don’t need it. I think I’d rather have the Poppy Picnic palette, if I were to get one.

koolchicken Avatar

I actually bought this from Ulta days ago and I’m still waiting for it to arrive. I had a special 20% off coupon (that worked even on “Prestige Brands”) and I love tarte so I figured why not? I depot everything so I’m not worried about the blush not working well with the eyeshadows. I’ll just split the set. And although I’d never normally buy an orange blush I’m glad it has it. I saw a look on You Tube that intrigued me and this is a great opportunity. Hopefully this palette works out, Rainforest After Dark is probably my favorite one ever.

Christine Avatar

Which eyeshadows from Tarte have you tried, Brenda? A few years ago, I didn’t like them at all, but more recently, some of them I like (some I still don’t like, lol).

I don’t know how you can have Park Ave Princess be permanent… and then different every time. It is a relief to know I’m not the only one who has encountered that!

Lizzy R-E Avatar

Mine just came in from Ulta. Given that I’m more or less rebooting my makeup collection after a couple stints in Germany I love that this has a good selection of neutral eyeshadows and I needed an orangey/peachy blush to round out my bag 😀

Sarah Avatar

I bought this palette not too long after it was released. I was especially attracted to the peach blush and neutral shades even though I have too many neutral shades. I have never tried Tarte products before so I decided to give this a try. I like that it is quite compact and I can easily travel with it. I was actually surpised the bronzer showed up on my med. tan skin. I loved the blush and kinda wished it was sold separately. Overall, I really enjoy this palette and is easily one for everyday.

April Avatar

Thanks for the review Christine! I like this palette especially for traveling however I’m not in love with the blush, do you know if the palette is the type where you can pop out the blush and put another one in its place?

belle Avatar

i ordered this today.. i’m so excited! thanks for you review by the way! it makes me feel so good and say that i made a good decision… <3 <3

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