Monday Minute// Tarte Gifted Mascara

Good Morning, 
This Monday morning I am going to talk about the new Tarte Gifted Mascara. I have been trying out this mascara for a couple of weeks now. I picked up the little baby version of it from Ulta. There are a lot of high end beauty brands that will release travel versions of their mascara for a very reasonable price. I highly recommend that if you are wanting to try out a more high end mascara that you look to see if you can buy the travel size version first. Mascara is pretty personalized, each one has a new fangled wand, different formulas that provide length, volume and curl, etc. I for one am not to needy when it comes to mascara. I have been blessed with long, definitive lashes. All I want in my mascara is some separation and a little bit volume, non clumpy/flaky. Thats it. So it does not take much to impress me when it comes to mascara. 

As for the Tarte Gifted Mascara, I like it. I certainly love the bamboo type packaging, very sophisticated yet organic, much like the brand itself. The wand is not shaped weirdly in any way and gives good separation to my lashes. I picked up this mascara because I had heard from many different sources that the formula was rather excellent. I don't disagree with that, however I do think that this formula makes for a much more natural look. My lashes do not look fake when I wear this mascara. Which is much different then what the market demands at the moment, I kind of appreciate that. 

I also like the fact that this mascara even feels natural, when I touch my lashes they do not feel crunchy or like they are being weighed down with product. They feel just like my lashes, as if nothing was on them, very soft, which is a plus in my book.

Overall, I am not calling Tarte Gifted "holy grail" mascara but, I like it. I am very pleased that I got the travel size so not only can it come with me for if and when I travel but also because after this mascara is done and dusted I can go out and try out another. 

Have you tried Tarte's Gifted Mascara? Tell me what you think of it. Also what are your favorite mascara's? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 

I hope you all are enjoying your Monday morning! 
See you next time

- A 

SHOP//

Tarte Gifted Mascara Mini - $10 

Sat// October Beauty Favorites

Hello everyone! Happy Saturday! I hope you all had a great Halloween and start to November. October, was a pretty rough month for me with all sorts of ups and downs, but I did find that I was loving some amazing products last month and thought that although we are making good headway through November already I would share what products I was loving last month.

The Bodyshop Vitamin C Skin Boost Serum

I thought I would start things off with a skincare favorite this month. Although I do my best to take care of my skin I seem to be in constant battle with it. Dealing with hormonal acne, scarring, etc. When applying foundation I have to deal with the underlying texture of my "worse for wear" current skin. However, last month since starting work at The Bodyshop I have been taking home some products to try and let me tell you, when I tried the Vitamin C Skin Boost one morning before foundation I was left feeling legitimately shocked at how smooth and soft my skin felt. Not only does this serum boost radiance ( which I need living in a place with fairly little sun this time of year) but it also acts as a wonderful primer that helps to smooth everything out. Also, not to mention that it has an amazing citrus smell that is great to use in the morning. Usually, serums tend to be used at night so they can get straight to work, but this product is a early bird and now a staple in my morning routine.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation

This product I mentioned recently in my "Whats In My Makeup Bag" post ( X ) and I also wrote up a full review on it a while back. (X) This product has been a long time favorite of mine. During the month of October this found its way back into my life because being on the go from morning till night requires a little touching up now and again. It also was a lifesaver for when I didn't have time in the morning to apply my favorite liquid foundations, I just brought this guy along and could easily and quickly get my base done "lickety split!"

Becca Shimmering Perfector in Opal 

If there was a "mega favorite" among these favorites this product would be that favorite. Highlighting, is probably my favorite step to my makeup routine I feel that adding a beautiful glow to my complexion just pulls everything all together, ( like adding a final glaze to a piece of pottery.) This particular highlighter gives that "modelesque" glow to the skin and it is just breathtaking. If you want to read my full thoughts on this gem I did a full post here. (X)

MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow 

I wasn't sure I was going to mention this because I just wrote a full post on this guy (X) and it was also a discovery towards the end of the month but I have just been using and loving this eyeshadow so much. Whether you use it all on its own or in conjunction with other shadows this color is simply gorgeous and so versatile, perfect for the fall and the winter season ahead.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte

This recent release from NARS has stolen the hearts of many including my own. The luxury packaging, the ultimate color saturation ( we're talking "one swipe" full on color here!) the long-wear formula. Its all perfection and I crave to have more of these luxury lipsticks in my collection. The color that I have in Charlotte is a sumptuous oxblood/berry toned hybrid that is a masterpiece on the lips that I was sporting a ton last month. ( As I plan to do also, this month!) 

BodyShop Color Crush Lipstick "Crazy Sexy Crimson"

If you are looking for a more affordable option for a dark and beautiful lip, this lipstick was also a favorite last month. Another pick from The Body Shop, The Color Crush lipstick line certainly surprised me with how moisturizing and comfortable this felt on the lips. This little guy also comes with me in my makeup bag so when I feel like dressing up a look I can just pop this little baby on and be on my way.  

And that is a WRAP! for my monthly beauty favorites during the month of October! As I said above typically October, is one of my favorite months of the year but last month was pretty rough and stressful, the overall unhappiness I was feeling was only amplified by the fact that I knew it was a favorite month, however, I have been working hard and trying to sort things through. I have made a bunch of changes and changes that are still in the making. ( Will be updating you guys on some of that very soon.) 
It is almost a relief to me that the month of October is done now because I am not so focused on lost time and I can let go. Hello November, and hello! to new beginnings! 

I hope you all are enjoying a great weekend! 
What were your favorites this month? Let me know in the comments below!

For more beauty, lifestyle and fashion keep up with me and The Bats & Rabbits blog on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin and Instagram! Links are in the sidebar.

See you all soon! 
- A 


SHOP//
BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Boost Serum $26 ( Right now on sale for $16.20 on The BodyShops Site!)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Mineral Foundation  $36.00

Becca Shimmering Perfector in Opal $39.00

MAC Cranberry Eye-Shadow $16.00

NARS Audacious Lipstick in "Charlotte" $32.00

BodyShop Color Crush Lipstick in "Crazy Sexy Crimson" $12.50 ( Now $7.50 on sale!) 

F O U N D A T I O N- R E V I E W : Tarte Amazonian Clay Mineral Foundation

Hello my dears, hope you are all well. Today I finally bring you another foundation review! Featuring: 

Tarte's Amazonian Clay Airbrush Mineral Foundation. 

A little while ago I picked this up during Sephora's 15% VIB sale. I was intrigued by all the rave reviews I had heard about it and wanted to try it out myself.

I don't tend to be a mineral foundation girl, they usually don't give me the right amount of coverage and usually the packaging gets to me. Having to use the plastic sifters 

(not getting enough product out or way too much and thus getting powder all over you. ugh.) I just have had bad luck with powder foundation however after some research I was read to give this guy a try. 

 Packaging/Design

   I wanted to highlight Tarte's impeccable    packaging on this product first and foremost because it addresses one of my biggest problems with loose mineral foundations. It  has a net sifter! When you push down with     your brush the product transfers on the brush.  The cover also has a stopper so product does not get out when you travel with it! The rest of the design is really pretty too with     Tarte's famous "bamboo look" and the container looks like frosted amber glass. Really sleek and down to earth. I like!

Color Range

I really like Tarte's color range for this product with 11 different shades to choose from with both pink + yellow + neautrel undertone choices.

Tarte has made it pretty easy to find your shade which most of us would find convenient. I am in the shade : fair honey ( fair skin with peach undertones) ( because I am a fair and pale lady!)

Application

  The application is simple but I was  persnickety about the brush that is supposed to be used with this product. The "airbuki"  kabuki brush. I thought I could get away using this foundation with my Real Techniques Buffing brush and I tested it out for a couple weeks. 

It worked okay, it didn't help me spread the powder evenly across my face. I wasn't convinced so eventually I caved and got the    "airbuki" which is the one that works better  of the two but it wasn't a drastic  difference. I might have lived without it but  hey, its also super cute. (Whaddya goin do?) 

Coverage

Alright, so as I was using this upon first application I made a very contemplative face while looking at the mirror. Unlike, my Sephora Airbrush Liquid base, this product does not make the face look flawless in the first few seconds you wear it. It might even leave you unimpressed. HOWEVER, when you have finished the rest of your makeup and you have let everything set in it starts looking better...then maybe a few hours later. It 

looks mighty impressive. I am not sure what 

kind of sorcery is in this but this product really does look better with wear! 

Finish

Besides the sorcery of looking better with wear the finish is just... natural!

 It just looks like skin when you put it on. Does not look powdery or "cakey" and I don't find it makes me too shiny. Along with that note this product does last relatively long on the skin. At least on my skin which is ( dry/combination skin) It just looks nice, nothing more to say about that. 

Price

And lastly comes the price of this baby. Which retails for $36.00. Right in the middle of the road I think. 

However, then you have to tack on the price of the brush which is $26 on it's own which is why I was kinda persnickety about it..( it feels like highway robbery.) 

When it comes down to it the foundation is very worth the price and the brush...maybe not. But, I will leave that to your own discretion. 

That is all I have about this product! 

Let me know what you think in the comments down below and please don't be afraid to send me a tweet about anything and everything!

@AllegraShortll

See ya later! 

- A