Tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Liner

Hello again readers!

I have been holding onto this product since October (I bought it when I was still working at the Haunt!) and I haven't been itching to share my thoughts on it. After working, I stopped using this liner in lieu of other liners that I wanted to use up. Now that I've rotated this back into use, I regret ever letting it go.

This liner was a sort of a "treat". At being $24 a pop, it was something that I was really hesitant on taking the final plunge onto investing in, since before my most expensive liner has only ever been about $10 (and often cheaper, thanks to sales!). 

The packaging was nothing to write home about, it was unnecessarily bulky with the cardboard flap taking up most of the space. I would have preferred a paper insert, or better use of the space on the smaller box instead. Just a waste issue.

Inside the packaging was a plastic tube, and I was surprised to find it came with a brush! The brush is a wooden handle with "gold" metal ferrule and cap for the end of the brush, with a very fine brush tip. The brush has a bit of an angle to it, making it easier to get right against the lash line. The eyeliner is a basic plastic matte black tube, with a gold plastic cap. I really like black and gold color schemes, even if gold has never been my favorite. It looks luxurious without being too over the top.

This liner is unique, in the way that it's dispensed. I was expecting to have to apply the product onto a makeup palette and go from there, but it actually has a dip in the tip to act as a reservoir for product. It's extremely handy, as I NEVER squeeze out too much product (as of yet!). It's always better to use too little and squeeze out more than try to guess how much you need. It doesn't dry up as I'm dipping my brush into the product, which is sweat off my back so I don't worry about the product drying before I can even use it.

The issue I have with the tip, is that it does get dirty with leftover product. I just take a cotton round with a little bit of alcohol (or a q-tip!) and clean it, and also disinfecting it for the next use. It's easy to maintain, just takes a little more effort than some other eyeliners I've ever used.

The product has such a wonderful, creamy consistency. It's not too thick (though it's thicker than anticipated) and it applies incredibly easily. It doesn't go on patchy, and it's extremely easy to get a very fluid line on the lid. It goes on with a sort of velvet sheen, and then dries down to a true matte black. I was really impressed with just how matte the product was, it was like having little black holes on my eyelid! It was intense, and I loved it.

The liner lasted through an intense testing period. While I was working at the Haunt, I would wear it for at minimum six hours, at maximum nine hours, and it would still be perfect (or pretty damn close to perfect) by the time I would go to wash it off. That includes sweat, tears, water being thrown at my face, rain, and rubbing at my face in frustration. I was blown away with how great it was. On a regular day (for everyone who isn't dressing up as a murderous doll) it lasts the entire day. Even if I go to rub at my eyes, it'll last through that abuse. If I continuously rub at my eyes it'll start to smear or flake off, which I have come to accept from every eyeliner I try, but through regular wear and tear? It performs fabulously.

The biggest issue I've had with the formula, is the same issue I generally have with products that come in a squeeze tube: the product separates in the tube. It's an easy fix, smacking it against my palm and sort of kneading the tube with my fingers to mix the product. I've only had ONE day where the formula separated, and since then I haven't had any issues with it (and that was because I had it sitting in disuse while I used other liners).

I love this liner, and it hurts a little bit that I love this so much, because that means I'll want to pick up another one when this runs out! Which, is sad for my poor wallet, but good for my makeup looks!

This liner retails for $24, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good quality, matte black liner.

Thanks for reading!