first impressions: tarte rainforest after dark palette

Hey guys!

I wanted to get this review up and running for you as soon as I could because who doesn't love Tarte Limited Edition palettes? Considering this has been out for about a month maybe already, I'm not sure how much longer it will be available due to it being part of the Fall collection. I literally waited for two weeks before I touched this palette. As this is a first impression (which is a little harder to do over a blog than on a video), I really wanted to swatch these and get my thoughts down straight away so that it could be a true first impression!

I can imagine the one question that is on all of my Aussie beauties lips right now - Bek, Tarte is 't readily available in Australia.. Or its some outrageous price, do you really want to dangle this in front us and drain us of valuable funds? Well, never fear my lovely readers - stayed tuned to the end to find out where you can find this at a reasonable price AUSTRALIA BASED! 

So back to the palette. I didn't take a photo of the outside packaging (girl was way too excited to swatch these bad boys, so forgive me), but due to it being called the Rainforest After Dark Palette, it is a deep brown colour, and has a tree-like (like wood) pattern. It is also adorned with a gorgeous gold snake with a purple jewel on its forehead. Its really simple and glamourous packaging honestly, I'm super impressed and love how it looks!

Now to the actual contents of the palette. Its focused on more neutral eyeshadow shades, with some taupe-y purples as well. I love how it also includes a highlight and bronzer, as well as a limited edition blush! As Tarte are really known for how long lasting and pigmented their Amazonian Clay Blushes are (which are something like $30US a pop), its so great that they included what looks to be an almost full sized blush in this palette. The other great benefit about this palette is that because you can do your cheeks and eyes with it, it makes for a great travel palette to maximise space in your luggage!

In terms of the pigmentation of the shades, I will say that there seems to be a slight white film on my palette. I'm not sure if it's just mine, or if all Tarte palettes come with this, but it is a bit misleading on how pigmented the shadows actually are. Once you swatch past this, the majority of the shades have great pigmentation! They're all super buttery and blendable, and the shades all work together as well. You have your transition shades, your lid shades, your outer corner shades - there isn't an actual matte highlight colour, but the highlight shade itself can come in handy for your brow bone and inner corner. 

Here are come swatchy swatches for you:

Champagne,  Enchanted & Park Ave Princess

Bare to Explore, Make a Mauve, Plum Away With Me, Up to No Gold, Tan-Gled Up in You & Don't Turn A-Brown

As you can see from the swatches, the light colours will need to be built up a little more to have better pigmentation, but the rest go on super smoothly and are pretty pigmented from the get go. I love this palette so much, and although we're going into Spring here in Australia, I can see how easily this would work for Fall or Autumn. The shades are just perfect, being almost vampy but neutral at the same time. This is limited edition, so if you are interested I highly recommend getting your hands on it ASAP!

Now for the exciting part - I have discovered a website that is AUSTRALIAN BASED and stock brand such as Tarte, Lorac, Urban Decay, Sigma and Nars at super affordable prices and free shipping over $99! The website is www.myqty.com, and if you are a follower on my Instagram page, you may remember that I recently did a Sigma F80 Copper Brush Giveaway with them. I highly recommend this website to you guys - its genuine, and who doesn't want access to all these brands without paying an arm and a leg? BTW QUICK DISCLAIMER - I am NOT sponsored in anyway shape or form with MYQTY. I just love that this is available to you and I, and of course I want to share that with you guys.

I've also got a small discount code available for you guys - use the code 'beautybybek' to recieve 10% off brands such as Sigma, Real Techniques, Coastal Scents and Bdellium Tools (exclusions apply)! Head there now and treat yo' self!

You can find the Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette here on their website for $54.95AU. It is sold out at the moment but will hopefully be restocked by the end of the month!

Until next time my loves..

xxxx