A couple of times a year, beloved makeup brand, tarte, offers a Create-Your-Own Beauty Kit sale that lasts just one day and allows you to choose seven full-size items from select products in a one-time box. Each order gets you six full-size makeup items (in your choice of shade/color), plus a makeup bag for $63.00! The choices are limited to select offerings, and one per category, but there are a ton of items and shade options to choose from. Haley is the veteran reviewer of this box, but I was lucky to also get in on the action this time around!
This box is no longer available for sale.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this One-Time Beauty Box
The Box: tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit
The Cost: $63.00 with free shipping.
The Products: A makeup bag, foundation, and 5 other beauty products of your choice!
Ships to: The US for free
Tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit November 2019 Review
Here's everything I chose in my custom beauty kit! Even though it launched at 7 am ET, I didn't get around to choosing it until after 10 am and there seemed to be plenty (if not all) still to choose from, so that is reassuring. I ordered on the 6th of November, it shipped on the 7th, and I received it on the 12th.
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Metallic Gold Makeup Bag with Tassels
First, here's the bag I chose! I am always drawn to tassels for some reason and just adore the three tiers of red and pink. The 10-inch long gold metallic bag they're attached to is quite roomy and fits everything I ordered inside with a ton of space to spare thanks to the 4-inch deep base. The zipper is gold to match the exterior and the interior of the bag is a satin-like black fabric. I've been using this as my makeup bag to carry back and forth to work all week so I guess I can say I'm a big fan.
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tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation in Light Beige - Retail Value $36.00
I've never really tried a powder foundation before but it seemed like a lighter way to get coverage, so I thought I'd choose this and give it a whirl. As always, when shopping online, I get nervous about picking the right color for my skintone, so I hopped over to Sephora who also carries tarte but has a "shade finder" tool. Once I was satisfied with the info, I popped the light beige (light skin with pink undertones) shade into my virtual bag and hoped for the best. When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised and thought I got it pretty close! Since I don't use a lot of powder normally, it took me a minute to get an even tone and there was maybe a little blotchiness the first time around. I just kept swirlin' tho and I got a nice amount of coverage which gave my skin a nice sunkissed glow. Quite pleased with this and have been using it more often than my BB cream. What I also really like about this powder foundation is the netting between the powder and the top that allows easy application to a brush without overdoing it at once.
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tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dazzled - Retail Value $29.00
How pretty is this blush?! The compact, the design in the pressed powder- it's all just lovely. Lately, I've been using cream blushes but this product spoke to me and the color "dazzled" looked like the perfect shade for my cheeks. I normally stick to mattes, but this one has quite a bit of gold sparkle in it which I ended up really liking. The mauve color is super subtle, so I was able to gradually build on it to get the desired amount onto my cheeks. It blended nicely and didn't make my face look over-the-top glittery. The gold sparkle really just gives it a shimmery boost in the light. Another winner!
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tarte Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Fan Brush - Retail Value $30.00
I just love a big ol' fan brush and I didn't have one, so I jumped on this as a selection. I do have a quite small fan brush that I use for highlighting and thought this one may be overkill but it's really not. It works especially nicely on my cheekbones and picks up a fair amount of product to transfer with little pressure to my face. The bristles are soft and fluffy and the handle is lightweight and fun. This is a solid brush!
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tarte Busy Gal BROWS Tinted Brow Gel in Medium Brown - Retail Value $18.00
We all know how important a good brow game is these days, and I like to try all the different options. I don't always have the best luck with tinted gel because I feel like there is less control with a wand. I saw how tiny the wand on this one was though which made me rethink using a brush with powder. I chose the medium brown color but once it came, I realized I could have probably gone darker. This one still worked alright though! I will say that the tiny thin brush is a lot nicer than others, but I was having a tough time getting enough product that would really make a difference in my brows. It took me longer than usual with several coats to see results, but that may have been due to the color I chose. I still missed the control of a brush with powder a little here, but it did make me want to embrace a wilder, brushier brow that mine are capable of.
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tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in Black - Retail Value $23.00
First of all- I love the bamboo tube for this mascara. As it's the third Amazonian clay product I chose, I can see that I am really intrigued by all of it. This mascara didn't really change my life, but it did give my lashes definition and deeper pigment which in turn made them look longer and fuller. I always appreciate a wand with short bristles because I feel like it allows less of a chance to clump, and of course, the pointed tip makes it easier to get into the corners of my lashes.
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tarte tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Namaste - Retail Value $20.00 (On sale for $15 at tarte but sold out)
This liquid lipstick is so soft and creamy! I'm a sucker for nude mauves so "namaste" fits the bill for me. This formula goes on really smoothly and easily while keeping my lips soft and hydrated. It doesn't get flaky or feel dry but I did notice it start to need a touch up after a few hours of wear. I think "lip paint" is a great name for this because it is thick and opaque but without feeling heavy on my lips. Once dry, I didn't notice it transferring super easily either which is a plus for kisses and coffee mugs alike.
Here are swatches of the powder foundation, blush, and lipstick on my hand.
Here's a look with everything together! It's really quite subtle which is preferred for me.
The Verdict: I just love the tarte Build-Your-Own Custom Beauty Kit! There is exceptional value no matter what you choose and the one I got (minus the bag) retails at $156.00! Although $63 is a bit steep in the subscription box world, the fact that you can choose every item and they offer several popular products, I think this is a great way to try tarte if you haven't before or the best time for tarte enthusiasts to stock up on products they love. I'm quite pleased with all of my selections and am happy that the shades worked out even though I was a little worried with a few.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you order today? Sadly, no. tarte only offers these Create-Your-Own kits twice a year! (The next one should be expected in May 2020.)
Value Breakdown: At $63 for this box, you are paying approximately $9 per item (which is half the cost of even the cheapest makeup item I chose)!
Curious to see what else you could choose? Check out what Haley got this time in her latest review!
Check out all of our tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more makeup boxes!
Did you nab a tarte Build Your Own Custom Beauty Kit? If not- will you be marking your calendar for next time?
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