tarte turns TEN

Happy, happy birthday to our amazing friends at tarte, who have shown women everywhere that eco-conscious beauty is more than skin deep. That going green doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice. That you don’t have to settle. And that sometimes less is more. Especially when the “less” means zero parabens, petro-chemicals, pthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances. To celebrate their birthday, tarte sent me a party favor, two limited edition products to celebrate “a decade of high-performance natural beauty.”

If there is one tarte product that has reached icon status that’s the cheek stain. It was my first introduction to tarte all those years ago, and I have a bit of an obsession with them. I’ve yet to find a shade that isn’t flattering (though I am partial to flush, tipsy, and dollface). Enter the TEN cheek stain ($30). I don’t know what I love more: a pink that’s perfect from summer (faux) tan to winter pale, or the fabulous gold studded T-E-N that adorns the case. It might be a bit of both. What can I say? Just because I want my makeup eco-friendly doesn’t mean I don’t want it to look as fabulous as the less than eco products I’ve sent to the recycling bin. TEN cheek stain is available in stores and online, including tarte.com, beauty.com, Sephora, Henri Bendel and QVC.com.

While I hate to say I’d ever judge a book by it’s cover, the brass-studded case of tarte’s TEN collector’s palette is as beautiful as its contents. The set includes ten eyeshadows that you can use to create looks for day or night, from subtle to smoky. There’s a matte beige and a soft black, along with a variety of shimmering hues. (They even include a cheat sheet for getting a great smoky eye or jewel-tone lid.) The set also includes a great shadow brush, a double-sided liner in black and plum, and a travel-sized tube of lights, camera, lashes! (which first caught my attention when my friend B, who is truly a mascara connoisseur, first raved about it). The TEN palette includes $182 worth of product for $44, and is available exclusively at Sephora and sephora.com.

PROMO ALERT: The tarte generosity keeps going this week while they extend their Friends & Family 40% off sitewide discount to you! Shop tarte.com through August 9th and enter promo code FFAUG to receive 40% off and receive a free gift, too!

Happy tenth birthday tarte -- can’t wait to see what your teenage years bring! xo alex.