Tarte Create Your Own Beauty Box Review – June 2019

ByHaley FayeJun 13, 2019 | 54 comments

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 box

Tarte recently had a create-your-own beauty kit sale that let you pick 7 items of your choice: 6 full-size items (in your choice of shade), plus a makeup bag for $63!

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 inside box

Your choices were limited to select offerings, and one per category, but there were a ton of items and shade options to choose from! Click here to view our post with all of the options this time around!

This box is no longer available for sale.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 all items 2

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 all items

About The Box

The Box: Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit

The Cost: $63

The Products: A makeup bag, foundation, lip product, eyeliner, mascara, blush, and concealer of your choice!

Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit June 2019 Review

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 packing list

Here's the list of what items I picked this month. You can see all of the possible options that were available when this bag launched here.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 marble bag

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 marble bag 2

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 marble bag inside

Marble Cosmetics Bag - Estimated Retail Value $15

I love how chic and trendy this bag is! I wasn't sure if it would end up being small, but it actually fit everything I ordered inside, which means I should be able to carry everything for a full face easily enough. The outside is a shiny vinyl, which is easy to wipe clean and pretty waterproof if it ends up getting splashed a little while on the counter. It's also lined with a pretty purple color.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 water foundation

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foudation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in 8s (very fair with yellow undertones), 1 oz - Retail Value $39

I was hoping Tarte's new Foundcealer would be an option for this bag but it wasn't, so I grabbed their Water Foundation. I love that it has SPF! It also has a medium coverage and natural finish. It feels lightweight and is buildable. I really like this. My only complaint is that the dropper top is awkward; I'd much prefer a pump.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 blush

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 blush open

Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Peaceful (soft nude-peach), .2 oz - Retail Value $29

Tarte's blushes are what got me into the whole brand! I first tried their blush in the shade Exposed, which is my holy grail blush if I could only ever wear one blush forever. The formula is great because it blends well, has good pigmentation so a little goes a long way, and it lasts all day for me. This shade, Peaceful, is a pretty nude-peach and is a great shade for me for Summer.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 mascara

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 mascara open

Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara, .31 oz - Retail Value $23

Liz introduced me to her favorite mascara, Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes years ago. This mascara, the "Flashes" mascara is a more dramatic version. The brush is silicone and has rows of bristles that really grip your lashes and help with length and definition. I also have no problems with this mascara smudging.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 lip gloss

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 lip gloss open

Tarte Cosmetics Tartiest Glossy Lip Paint in Double Tap (cool mauve), .2 fl oz - Retail Value $20

I've never actually tried Tarte's lip gloss, and this cool mauve shade was calling my name. I actually love this! It feels hydrating and it doesn't feel sticky to me. The color is perfect to throw on any day. This is a shade that would work well for anyone, too.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 deoderant

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 deodorant back label

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 deodorant open

Tarte Cosmetics Clean Queen Vegan Deodorant, 2 oz - Retail Value $14

This time around, Tarte had some non-cosmetic products for selection like deodorant and dry shampoo! I didn't know they made either of those! I've been very interested in trying a cleaner deodorant so I was happy to snag this one from a brand I already love. I've only worn this for today, but I think it smells good, it feels fine when applied, and I didn't notice any issues with its effectiveness. I'm looking forward to trying it more days in a row.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 eyeshadow palette box

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 eyeshadow palette

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 eyeshadow palette cover

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 eyeshadow palette close

Tarte Cosmetics Glam on the Go Eyeshadow Palette - Retail Value: $30 (found here for $24)

A palette! Tarte offered a couple of palettes this time, which I think was also new for them. I'm a sucker for a solid eye shadow palette, especially one like this that has a range of light to dark, and offers shimmer and matte. My formula for my eye looks is a light shimmer shade on my lid, a matte medium shade in my crease, and a darker shade (either matte or shimmer) on my outer corners. And the pale matte is great for highlighting the brow bone and inner corners. The packaging is also lovely - there's a nice big mirror on the inside of the lid and the front cover of the palette has a holographic image of two flamingos that moves when you tilt it back and forth. Adorable.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 swatches 1

These top three swatches are the foundation, lip gloss, and blush. You'll see these actually on my face below, too.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 swatches 2

Under the foundation, lip gloss, and blush, here are the swatches of the 6 eye shadows.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 products modeled

Here's my finished look with everything in my kit! I'm wearing the foundation, eye shadow, mascara, blush, and lip gloss. I really love how perfectly the foundation matches for me, and the finish is natural.

Tarte Create Your Own Kit June 2019 products modeled close

Here's a better look at the eye shadow!

The Verdict: These Tarte Build-Your-Own kits are not to be missed! They're one of my all-time favorite beauty box releases of the year. It’s refreshing to have them offer you your choice of each category rather than having it be a total mystery like typical subscription boxes. I can choose to use the discount to try new-to-me Tarte products so I'm not risking paying full-price or take the opportunity to stock up on my favorites. And all are full-size! The value is fantastic for the products you get. This box cost $63 including free shipping, and my 7 items add up to a retail value of about $170 including the makeup bag. I am absolutely happy with that!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, Tarte only offers these Create-Your-Own kits twice a year! (Last year they released in May and November, but this year the first one was pushed back to June. I'd still expect the next one in November 2019)

Value Breakdown: At $63 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

Marble Bag: $5.56
Foundation: $14.45
Blush: $10.75
Mascara: $8.52
Lip Gloss: $7.41
Deodorant: $5.19
Eye Palette: $11.12

Check out all of our Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit reviews and the best beauty and makeup subscription boxes of 2019!

What do you think about the Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit this time around? What did you get?

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Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Makeup Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Haley Faye

Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

Read More By Haley Faye >

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54 comments

Dot

I tried their foundaclear from Ulta and don’t care for the foundation that much as I do their Amazonian clay which I adore , but I ended up buying it off QVC bc you get the foundaclear foundation and tarte foundation brush for $39.00 which is a steal . I’m not really a QVC person , but I know my prices and that’s a deal . I returned the one to Ulta which is $39.00. Y itself. No FOMO here for this tarte deal since they didn’t have much I wanted , I have so much Tarte from beauty boxes which equal out to be a better deal . Just crossing my fingers for the next Dilliard collaboration with new beauty 🤞

Coco

Haley- I love that lip color on you. It looks fabulous! I agree that it seems like a color that would work well for everyone.

Anne

So I got two orders because its a great deal and there are a number of things I wanted to try. I bought two of the water foundation in slightly different colors because I wasn’t sure which one. One of the foundations has the blue rubber top (newer one) and has an expiration of 2/21. The other one has the older push button top like in the review and does not have an expiration date – just a Lot CE81 on the bottom. I could not figure out how to look up the Lot number so no idea if its expired or not.

Other than that I got:

1. Flamingo Bag
2. Pink Tassel Bag
(both are a good size and really cute)
3. Tarte Glam on the Go Palette – really pretty
4. Radiance Drops (wanted to try something different)
5. Clay stick waterproof concealer
6. Blotting powder and paper set
7. Opening Act lash primer
8. Arch brow pencil and gel
9. Maneater mascara
10. Tartist Lip Paint in red (its not bad, but really drying)
11. Lip architect double ended lip pencil and lipstick
12. Dry shampoo (its pretty awesome)

and the two foundations.

Everything came pretty quickly with nothing broken. I got a really good deal and can try some new products too.

Picked this deal up last year too.

Emily

Wow! I haven’t missed this deal in years and have never had problems, including this time. Sounds like tarte really let down a lot of people.

Becca

Yay, I love mine! Everything came as ordered and my foundation expires in 2021 and has the new pump. I would do this deal again for sure.

Jamie

As a follow up to my comment that I received a long expired foundation in my order.. the replacement arrived today and was also expired as of 08/2018! This is absurd. I have sent an email to Tarte (it’s just about past live chat business hours) and hope to get this situated. Frankly, I expected better of them than this.

MissPippa

I must be lucky. I got everything I ordered and I could not believe how quickly it arrived. Tarte is a brand I am just getting into. I recently received their Drink of H2O in another subscription box & loved it. Glad I gave this build-your-own box a try because I like everything I got.

Mine arrived completely missing the palette in the review. They offered mascaras and pencils, which I refused, and I absolutely don’t need. This is horrible business practices. I ordered it as soon as it became available in the email. There’s zero excuse for them not to have it in my order. Reading about them shipping expired products from 2018?!?! Inexcusable. I am absolutely finished with Tarte. I buy enough NARS, Pat McGrath, etc, that I don’t need their products. I should have never taken the chance. Never again.

Nadia Archuleta

NARS tests on animals. If you can avoid buying their products, please do so! 🙂

So happy with my box, loved everything. In case anyone interested with the manufacture thing. I got two products( mascara and lipstick)made in Italy. Two products (powder faoundatuona nd blush)made in USA, two products ( brush and brow product)made in China. Happy with my purchase.

Marion

Sounds like a lot of people had issues this time! Yikes! I don’t remember seeing these types of issues with past CYO boxes, but maybe I wasn’t paying attention.

I am very happy with my box. I’ve constructed several boxes during past CYO events & never pulled the trigger, but this time there was only 1 category where I didn’t want any of the offered products (LE Fairy Lights LCL mascara up for swap! 😉😉😉), so I got the deal! I guess I am lucky that the only mishap with my order was that the cap came off my dry shampoo & dispensed a tiny amount of product. (it didn’t even get on the packaging of any of the other products, so I didn’t contact Tarte about it.)

DawnS

Every time this box comes up I get so tempted. I love their products but too many of the shades that I want tends to be out of stock by the time I look when I get to work in the morning. So I end up passing. Seeing some of the expired stories and the out of stock items that people had already checked out with and paid for scares me even more.
It is also what keeps me from FFF and PS as I always worry by the time I get to choose the 1 or 2 items I really wanted will be gone and my money lost.
Guess I am just a chicken lol.

Mel

What I ordered:
* Water Foundation
* Tartiest Glossy Lip Paint in Snap
* Arch Architect
* Lights,Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara
* Radiance Drops
* Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer
* Pink Bag

What I received
* Radiance Drops
* Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer
* Pink Bag

Yes, my top four items were missing. They also threw in some lipstick in the color Skinny Dip, which is horrid to me. I e-mailed them right away, and received a response with other options to choose from because, of course, the items I ordered were out of stock. I responded, then never received a response. I called customer service last night, and they are FedExing the foundation to me, but had no replacement options for the lipgloss, no eye options, and only Maneater mascara. I have at least 10 other mascaras, but none are waterproof, so I was not interested. I am supposed to receive a refund for the three items they cannot send, but they couldn’t tell me how much of a refund I will be receiving. Considering it’s half the box, i certainly hope it’s half of what I paid.

First time getting this box, and will have to think long and hard about doing it again. I know if I do, I will pay with a credit card, not PayPal, so I can dispute the charge.

Mel

Update: Tarte refunded me $28 of the $63. I assume because the three items I will never receive cost less that the three items that I did/will receive. Fair enough. Although, I never would have bought the highlighting moisturizer or the radiance drops, but I was thinking about buying the foundation, so I’ll look at it like I bought the foundation and received the other two items as a free gift. 🙂

SquirrelyGirl

You can very easily dispute charges with PayPal. As easy as with a “regular credit card”

Why do you say that about Paypal? Did you have issues?

In my experience Paypal makes it super easy to dispute charges. I always select Paypal as payment for that reason. I’ve never been denied disputes when using Paypal but I have with Amex. Another card I have eventually decided in my favor but it took forever. Can’t remember which bank it was but it was for LLB. Paypal has always been super fast with disputes.

Lori

Same experience with Paypal here. If I’m unsure about a company or purchase, I always make sure to use Paypal because of how easy it’s been in the past.

Mel

Oh really? Good to know. I only disputed a charge once, for a car side mirror, and was not given back all of my money. The company sent the wrong color and year so it was unusable. That was many years ago, though.

Ally

The only “note” I have (take it or leave it!! No biggie!) is the foundation looks a little pinkish to me.

I see that you bought the yellow undertone, but did you swipe blush over your whole face? I know sometimes people do that. I’m certainly no expert
and it’s always possible it’s the color balance on my device.

Everything else looks great and I appreciate the review! 🙂

Haley Faye

Ha, no, I didn’t put blush all over. 🙂 Something may have been weird with the lighting (it’s been rainy here and natural light has been scarce), or maybe my skin was a little redder from exfoliating that morning. I can see what you mean in the photos – in person it looked just right for me! Thanks for reading!

Karen

I think the foundation looks good. I guess I can see where your face looks a little ‘peachy’ toned but definitely not like you have blush everywhere just a healthy flush. I’ve been very interested in undertones lately and at first glance I would’ve guessed you are cool toned but looking at your bio picture I do see more yellow than pink undertones..and like you said it can be hard to tell in artificial light and from a picture online. To my understanding a warm toned (yellow undertone) skin can still appear to have a peachy hue to it. Either way I think its a good match for you, very natural looking! As a fellow fair skinned lady I know how hard it can be to find the right foundation!

Amii1024

Where are the expiration dates located? I looked on my shape tape and can’t find!

Jackie

Only foundations with SPF have expiration dates.

Justjamey

All makeup expires and has dates. Sometimes its on the box or packaging, and sometimes you look it up online by batch codes.

Im glad i caught this thanks to this site!! I missed the, both times last year even though i was on here often i still missed it. Lol.

Going to give some away for bday and christmas gifts….i didnt see the dedorant or i would have maybe tried that. I got the setting spray that works well for me. I got the pink bag with the pom pom lol. I do need to check my foundation date. I havent worn it yet.. ive never liked theor masceras, because theu dont wash off well, and make my lashes feel gunky and darn near pull them out no matter what low or high end remover ive tried. But i got some pink one with cute damgle things on it. I was going to get the one woth the lash curler, but ive read they break easy, so wemt for the mascera i havent tried in hopes it works better then the others.

I also got radience drops. Wasmt expecting them to be so runny. It was sold out everywhere, so i figured id het it and try it.
Then got a bullett lipstick amd i bough a brush seperate that was on sale, it was a champane one woth hearts amd glitter that move around in the handle amd lip gloss came with it…was hoping it would be better quality but it seems cheap and not very good quality

Rachel

The Exposed blush is what got me into Tarte as well and I absolutely luv their blushes! I think this one is my fave box I did! Recycling was the next day though so I unpacked everything before rem I wanted to take a photo lol.

Tracy

It’s strange – I picked the Water Foundation and the applicator is a dropper. It looks totally different than what’s shown here. I *love* mine and the match is absolutely perfect for my skin. I wonder why we seem to have different bottle/applicators?

Haley Faye

Oh, I googled the foundation and I see what you’re saying! Tarte’s website shows it with a blue rubber piece to squeeze to get product in and out of the dropper. Sounds like you got new, more functional packaging! The pump on the top of the dropper on mine is definitely a little awkward.

Haley Faye

Tracy, What does yours look like? Mine in the review is a dropper, too! But it’s the kind with a big button on the top of the lid that’s a pump to get the product in and out of the dropper. Interesting.

Jackie

Sounds like you got the newer version, because that one you’re describing is shown on Tarte’s website. Someone below said theirs was expired. The one in the review might me the old version as well.

Jackie

Though Sephora shows the version in the review, so who knows. Just check your expiration date to be sure 🙂

Michelle

Mine is still being processed and hasn’t even shipped yet. Ahhhh!!!

Mouthycole

I didn’t think mine had shipped either because it was showing that it was still processing also. But then, yesterday it was at my door. I was very pleasantly surprised. 👍

Nina

Did you email them? I kept checking too and it apparently did get sent.. even though my confirmation email still said processing. They emailed me the shipping info after I contacted CS

Tracy

I got two boxes because I wanted to try two types of foundation. Unfortunately, the eye shadow I received in one of my boxes was completely wrecked. They offered me a list of things to replace it with, which was great…but then what I chose magically became out of stock two days later. What was left were items I had zero interest in receiving.

Overall I still got a good deal, but the whole OOS situation reminded me of FFF, which is not a good association for me.

Jean

You look gorgeous! The foundation looks no natural. I got mine yesterday and I’m happy. I don’t like my lip color much but that happens sometimes when you pick colors online. Everything else is a win!

Jackie

I like the blot party and hamptons palettes I got. The lip paint I received was very watery so I had to contact them. Also not sure about the foundation color, the light sand shape tape looks pretty light, might have to stop at ulta and see what color they would recommend.

Tiffany

I’m bummed I missed this. Was trying to save money, which didn’t happen. Lol

Maybe next year!

Jamie E

I got mine a few days ago and immediately noticed my water foundation was expired. August 2018!!! So please check yours and make sure it’s still good. I live chatted with a representative and they’re sending me a replacement.

Haley Faye

Jamie, Great idea. Thanks!!! I will have to check mine. I’m glad to hear you’re getting a quick and proper response from Tarte. In the past, I’ve had great experience with them replacing products for me, too. Last time, my concealer had leaked but still was mostly full. I let them know, and they just sent me a whole new one, too, even though my first one was super usable still. Grateful for my experiences with their customer service.

Nina

How did you check the expiration?

On the bottom of the bottle they will have the expiration date printed 🙂 That’s how I found mine!

Tracy

Yuck!! I hate it when this happens. These companies need to be on top of things like this. Even if it hasn’t been opened, it’s super easy for bacteria to become an issue in makeup. Expired anything is bad.

Oh no! Mine is the same! Do I need to return and ship back the old one after I contact them? I’m glad I didn’t open mine yet!

Jamie E

No they’re replacing it free of charge with no need to send back the expired one. Hope you have as seamless of an experience! I’ll report back about the replacement when it arrives. 😊

Redhed36

Mine is lost in transit and have to wait until the 20th b4 Tarte will look into. 😭

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Tarte Create Your Own Beauty Box Review – June 2019

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Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit June 2019 Review

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