Archived Post

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette ($45.00 for 0.87 oz.) includes two highlighters, a yellow correcting powder (which could be used as a highlighter, depending on your skin tone), two contour powders, and one blush. The quality is disappointing, depending on the shade, but the biggest downside is that it’s one-size-fits-all mentality. Obviously, this will flatter some and not work at all for others. I think the powders are a little on the chalky side, so I don’t know if they would work well on drier skin (I am normal right now, so I didn’t notice it overly much on my skin). The powders also seemed to have a little sweet smell, which was unusual.

Highlight (Tarteist) is a light, yellowed beige with warm undertones and a satin finish. It is a very subtle highlighter that gets more noticeable as it is buffed and blended into the skin, but it is never emphasizing or even shimmery enough to rise to the level of a moderate highlighter. The texture was smooth and silky without being powdery. It lasted for seven hours on me, but as a heads up, it looks chalky on my skin tone (medium). YSL Golden Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is brighter (95% similar). Chanel Jardin de Camelias (LE, $80.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Make Up For Ever H104 (P, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar). Laura Mercier Highlight 01 (P, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). KVD Beauty Lucid (PiP, ) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar). YSL Rosy Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Light Cocoa (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Hourglass Brilliant Strobe Light (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Highlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar). YSL Lumiere Divine (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Paloma Highlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). Dior Cosmopolite (LE, $45.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC Too Chic (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Correct (Tarteist) is a pale, light-medium yellow with a matte finish. It is designed to correct, though I also think that yellow powders can be used as a “matte highlight” on yellower skin tones as well. The texture is quite powdery, and it was harder to blend out without losing all of the effect. It started to fade after seven hours on me. Tarte Enhance (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Dolce and Gabbana Eva (P, $51.00) is more muted (90% similar). LORAC Yellow Highlight (P, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). NYX Cream (P, $5.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Illamasqua Cirrus (P, ) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Make Up For Ever H108 (P, $23.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Contour Soft (Tarteist) is a light-medium brown with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff with a firmer consistency, so it wasn’t as powdery to work with and blended better without sheering out, though it doesn’t build up intensity either. The color wore well for seven hours. Zoeva Heavy Crown (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Terra (P, $68.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Crevasse (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS Talia (Contour) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). MAC Taupe (P, $24.00) is cooler (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Light (P, $44.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Matte Bronze (LE, $70.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever S116 (P, $23.00) is lighter (85% similar). YSL Golden Contouring Contour (PiP, ) is cooler (85% similar). Make Up For Ever S112 (P, $23.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Zoeva Unfinished (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Skinny Dip (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). KVD Beauty Shadowplay (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). NARS Melina (Highlight) (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). Smashbox Bronze (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Tarte Shade (PiP, ) is darker, glossier (80% similar). Illamasqua Steal (P, ) is darker (80% similar). Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Contour Deep (Tarteist) is a medium-dark taupe brown with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a lightly dusty consistency. The color blended out fairly well and lasted for seven and a half hours. Tom Ford Beauty Moss Agate Sculpt (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Sepia (LE, $23.00) is darker, brighter, glossier (90% similar). Smashbox Contour (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). KVD Beauty Subconscious (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Medium (P, $44.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). LORAC Medium Contour (P, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). LORAC Light Contour (P, ) is lighter (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Medium (PiP, ) is glossier (85% similar). NYX Hollow (P, $5.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Too Faced Medium Cocoa (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Dior Independent (823) (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Accentuate (Tarteist) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had medium, buildable coverage with a lightly dusty texture. This faded really fast on me–six hours of wear–and I wasn’t expecting that at all. Stila Dusty Rose (LE, ) is darker, brighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Overexposed (-, ) is lighter (95% similar). Tarte Amazed (LE, $29.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Elevated (LE, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar). Chanel Innocence (160) (P, $45.00) is warmer (95% similar). Chanel Jardin de Chanel (LE, $55.00) is lighter (90% similar). LORAC Underrated (LE, ) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). Tarte Celebrated (LE, $29.00) is lighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Glow (Tarteist) is a light, ivory white with a pearly shimmer. It had semi-sheer coverage with a firmer consistency in the pan, which made getting product on a brush more challenging–I would recommend a flatter, denser brush to achieve visible coverage. This shade wore well for seven hours on me. Givenchy Moonlight Saison (P, $52.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Chanel Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder (LE, $72.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Catrice Champagne Campaign (P, $5.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). Becca Pearl (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). LORAC Shimmer Highlight (P, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Delice (78) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). YSL Lumiere Divine (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Cle de Peau Pastel (11) (P, $55.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). NYX Ice Queen (P, $5.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Fanny Pack (PiP, $10.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarteist

LELimited Edition. $45.00.
B-
B-
8
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
7.5
Texture
7.5
Longevity
4.5
Application
80%
Total

Highlight (Tarteist)

LELimited Edition.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
90%
Total

Correct (Tarteist)

LELimited Edition.
C+
C+
7.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
7
Texture
7.5
Longevity
4
Application
78%
Total

Contour Soft (Tarteist)

LELimited Edition.
B-
B-
8
Product
8
Pigmentation
8
Texture
7.5
Longevity
4.5
Application
80%
Total

Contour Deep (Tarteist)

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

Accentuate (Tarteist)

LELimited Edition.
B-
B-
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
8
Texture
6.5
Longevity
4.5
Application
81%
Total

Glow (Tarteist)

LELimited Edition.
D+
D+
6
Product
7
Pigmentation
6
Texture
7.5
Longevity
4
Application
68%
Total

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Tarte Highlight Powder
Tarte Highlight Powder

Tarte Highlight Powder
Tarte Highlight Powder

Tarte Correct Powder
Tarte Correct Powder

Tarte Correct Powder
Tarte Correct Powder

Tarte Contour Soft Powder
Tarte Contour Soft Powder

Tarte Contour Soft Powder
Tarte Contour Soft Powder

Tarte Contour Soft Powder
Tarte Contour Soft Powder

Tarte Contour Deep Powder
Tarte Contour Deep Powder

Tarte Contour Deep Powder
Tarte Contour Deep Powder

Tarte Contour Deep Powder
Tarte Contour Deep Powder

Tarte Accentuate Powder
Tarte Accentuate Powder

Tarte Accentuate Powder
Tarte Accentuate Powder

Tarte Accentuate Powder
Tarte Accentuate Powder

Tarte Glow Powder
Tarte Glow Powder

Tarte Glow Powder
Tarte Glow Powder

Tarte Glow Powder
Tarte Glow Powder

Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette
Tarte Tarteist Contour Palette

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Make Up For Ever HD
On eyes:
  • Tarte In Bloom Eyeshadow Palette
On lips:
  • Tom Ford Holden Lip Color

28 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Ebony Avatar

Ugh. Sorry this disappoints. I like Tarte blushes, but for my Tan-Dark Tan skin tone, there’s very little else in their range that I can work with.

I totally appreciate you pointing out the need for more diverse color selections in these sort of ‘one size fits all’ palettes.

You get all the cookies, Christine! ?

Rachel Avatar

I must be in the minority. I had no interest in this until I saw your swatches. I have very fair and cool skin and I feel like I would have a use for every shade.

Julie Avatar

Well boo! The colors look like they would work for me, mostly, so it’s a shame this didn’t perform better! Love the full face pictures,,,your contouring skills are so fierce, we may have to call you Kristine! Happy thanksgiving!

Lisa Avatar

Ha-ha! Kristine, the long lost Kardashian sister? LOL!!
Naahhh… She’d have had to have heavier contour not just under her cheeks but around her forehead, then all the yellow under her eyes so that there’s at least 4 shades difference between the areas!
No hate, just bugs me when you see super browned forehead then this super white hair parting right above! 😛

Katherine T. Avatar

Yeah, when I first saw this, I was trying to figure out how many people could actually wear all the colors. I guess if you were fair, you could use the darker colors as blushes, but I’m not a big fan of these one-size-fit-all palettes. It’s too bad the quality isn’t better because the packaging is really elegant, and if these colors worked for you, this would be a great one to grab in the morning when you’re in a rush.

Linda Avatar

Not surprised to hear it’s powdery. Unfortunately I have the impression everything in the tarte line is dry and powdery, as is my experience with their blushes and foundation and anything I’ve swatched in store.

Kayle Avatar

I feel this would have been better if there were at least 2 or 3 variations. The contour powders look like they’d only work on a select few skintones and that blush powder is so light! Companies really need to realize that contour shades aren’t a universal thing

Lorraine Avatar

It’s too bad because you look great in the last pic, from that alone I’d want the palette but then going back and reading the review…. I guess not 🙁

What contouring palette would you recommend for pale neutral skin tones? I realize the colors in this would work but as you said, the quality wasn’t there…

Em Avatar

That’s too bad. This seems like kind of a disappointment. The soft contour and blush do look good on you, though. And I LOVE that you gave face in that last picture! 😉

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!