tarte Cheek Stain Swatches And Review
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I love, love, love blush. I love blush more than you. Don’t argue; just accept it as an undeniable truth.
One of my first blush loves when I was introduced to the wonderful world of high-end makeup was the iconic tarte Cheek Stain.
These sweetly scented, sheer blushes had me at “HELLO!”
Blushing Bride Cheek Stain was my very first, but I quickly collected them all. As a makeup novice, I loved how foolproof and effortless they are.
They are just sheer perfection.
Now, over a decade since I first fell in love, tarte has rebooted this classic. It’s a leaner, meaner, blushing machine.
The tarte check stains ($30) are now housed in gorgeous, printed casings and are smaller and more makeup bag friendly.
tarte Cheek Stain Review
While they say the formula stayed the same, these actually set after 30 seconds and don’t budge.
That being said, I will now take the time to address a controversy that has been buzzing over these new cheek stains:
Yes, they are half the size.
Yes, they actually reduced the size last year, but nobody realized it until now when they changed the size of the packaging.
Yes, they are the same price.
Yes, you get half as much product for the same amount.
BUT, as someone who was extremely bothered by this change prior to trying them: these updated products are very different from the old cheek stains.
Old tarte Cheek Stain vs. New tarte Cheek Stain
Not only have the colors changed from the old formula, it seems the nature of the product has changed.
The older cheek stains felt tacky hours after the initial application and required a layer of sheer powder to set.
They also required a reapplication mid-day to keep the color fresh. These do not.
So, if you are on the fence about these because they are half as much, know that you will not need to reapply these like you had to with the old formulation.
The new and improved tarte cheek stains are available in creamy and sheer gel formulations.
They seem to have a little more slip to them than the previous version, so they blend even easier than the old version.
You can use a little or a lot and really build-up to the color payoff you want.
If you’re a weirdo like me, you may also sniff these and detect a subtle lemon fragrance. Delightful!
Here are the new shade descriptions. Just for fun, I’ve included the old shade descriptions in parentheses along with my personal observations/comparisons:
Fearless, Blushing Bride, Blissful, Tipsy
Fearless, Blushing Bride
Fearless -Shimmery yellow pink cream (NEW color)
Blushing Bride – Shimmery bright Barbie pink cream (old version: red plum, no shimmer gel) The new version is a completely different color than the previous Blushing Bride incarnation
Blissful, Tipsy
Blissful – Warm peachy pink cream shimmer (old version: Deep coral rose) The older version is darker with less shimmer and has more pink to it
Tipsy – Shimmery peachy coral cream (old version: shimmery peach cream) The older version is deeper in hue and has more peach to it and less shimmer
Tarte Cheek Stain Swatches
Tarte Cheek Stain Swatches Fearless, Blushing Bride, Blissful, Tipsy
I believe the new version of Blushing Bride is a must-have.
It imparts the most radiant, rosy flush with ethereal shimmer. Everyone needs this shade – this is the blush that I didn’t realize I was missing. Love!
Flush, True Love, Natural Beauty, Exposed
Flush, True Love
Flush – Plum berry gel (the new appears identical to the old)
True Love – Sheer watermelon pinky-red gel (the new appears identical to the old)
Natural Beauty, Exposed
Natural Beauty – Pigmented red semi-gel (previous shade seems more intensely red, more of a rouge-like texture) The new version is sheerer and leaves an oil ring on paper that prior version does not. FYI: New Natural Beauty is the only cheek stain to leave an oil ring)
Exposed – Shimmery nude rose cream (this was formerly Awakening; appears identical)
Flush, True Love, Natural Beauty, Exposed
Not shown but worth a look is Energy, a clear cheek stain that transforms into a sheer, hot pink gel thanks to color adjust technology. It’s part of this limited edition travel size duo.
Tarte Cheek Stain Pros & Cons
Pros:
• New colors to love and collect!
• Newer version sets and locks into place for a full day’s wear. No reapplication necessary.
Cons:
• Half as much product for the same price.
• I miss the old version of Tipsy. The newest version is a little too washed out and not peachy enough for my tastes.
So, there you have it – tarte’s new and improved cheek stains. I hope y’all give them a chance because they are fabulous!
Do you remember your first tarte Cheek stain?
What was your favorite older version tarte cheek stain? For those just being introduced to tarte cheek stains, what’s your new favorite?
photos: we heart this, swatches shown on NC25/30 skin tone
Great review! I tried Tipsy (Tarte cheek stain virgin here!) and really liked it, though I never tried the old version–it really lasts on my skin and gives such a bright but natural flush. Also, I totally obsessively sniff it, too–it smells like fresh-squeezed lemonade! And you’ve sold me on Blushing Bride–def going to have to pick that up.
You really do need Blushing Bride. It’s just plain magical. Thanks for making me not feel like a total weirdo for huffing these. The lemony goodness makes me smile :)
Like @amity , I was a Tarte cheek stain virgin, too! I love blush (not as much as you, @krista !) but usually go for a powder formula. I’ve heard about Tarte cheek stains for years, and was so happy to finally test one: True Love, the sheer watermelon pinky red gel. Honestly, it looks so dark in the tube, it scared me, but on my cheeks, it blends into a sheer flush that really does last all day. Smells great, too! I understand your love affair with these stains. Blushing Bride is on my must-have list now. Maybe Exposed, too. Great post!
Thanks to you, True Love made my wish list :)
Having @krista approve a blush is like getting the Good Housekeeping Seal–but better. Yeah! I just bought “Blushing Bride” and absolutely love it as well. Great review, O Knowledgeable Flushed One!
Thanks, @gigi ! I’m so happy you, too, now know the joy that Blushing Bride can bring to one’s life! It’s just too pretty for words!
@Krista, Brushing Bride has the most delectable scent; it’s a shade beyond beautiful but completely natural at the same time. What more could you possible ask for of a cosmetic except a total makeover?
Hmmmm, not sure how I feel about these, considering how much I loved the old version. I’ll definitely check them out, but Blushing Bride and Flush were my go-to’s, I’ll have to see if I like the new BB!
(I say that like it matters, but I haven’t bought tarte blush since about 2009, they could have changed it on me two years ago and I wouldn’t have noticed! :-) )
However, I do adore the new packaging, SO CUTE, and I think a quicker drying time is essential; I remember how tacky the old version would get in the hot Texas heat!
And you know, the giant size used to be a complaint for me; I never felt like I used up the product and it was a bit unwieldy. It would have been nice if they knocked a few dollars off size it IS a huge reduction in size, but I’m okay with it!
I also have the old version of Blushing Bride and really love it-still! It lasts forever and I love how it really makes you look youthful with a healthy glow when wearing it! I like the new packaging as well but not thrilled to hear that the size is smaller now for the same prize..
Will see if I find the stain lasts longer with the new formula.. than we’ll see if I’ll make the splurge!
I tried the original Bluhsing Bride and I didn’t care for it much. They also irritated my skin. I may swatch again though since they look so great here!
Yep True Love is on my list too and Tarte is one of my favorite brands!
These look adorable! I have tried Tarte cheek stains in the past, but was never overly tempted to buy one. But now you’ve got my attention! I want Blushing Bride. I must have it! So there goes a portion of the grocery budget to my good friends at Sephora. Again.
I actually loved the old Blushing Bride and Flush.So I worry a bit that the new versions won’t work as well for me. That being said I loved testing Blissful. Yes, I am mad that there is less product but it does appear to perform better than the old version. I loved the old version so that is saying a whole lot!I would say that the new version has a better color pay off and lasts longer. So maybe that is a very trade off for less product.
Just an FYI for all you ladies: Sephora has 15% off for VIB Rouges (not sure if VIB or BI’s get 15% or 10% off) this week. You can get the Tarte Cheek Stain Vault, which contains all of the cheek stains, for $127.50 (regularly $150)–That’s $15.93/cheek stain.
Also, if you are on Ebates, it’s 8% cash back right now. That takes it down to $14.66/cheek stain. If anyone needs an Ebate invite, message me :)
Does everyone feel properly enabled right about now?
I love these. And they look like push pops. I wanna eat ’em all up!
I wrote tarte and they claim the tipsy color has not changed with the new cream formula.
Maybe the old cheek stain I had was from an off batch, but it’s definitely darker and less pink than the newer version. I should have done a side-by-side swatch comparison in the post. In any case, the new one is still a lovely shade :)
I hope it hasn’t changed. I don’t have the original to compare to. I had a friend who wore the older version and it was so pretty on her. So I ordered it and when I saw your post I emailed them about it because I was going to cancel the order and they informed me that the color was the same. I wish you would do a side by side comparison of the two so we can see the difference. I’ll be sad if the color has changed because I like the original color. I haven’t received my order yet but like I said I don’t have the original to compare it to
What sucks is I threw my old set of cheek stains after I wrote this post–because I purchased all of the new ones. It was definitely more peach than the new shade is, but it’s still an incredibly flattering color. I still think you’ll love the shade–don’t regret your purchase just yet. If it makes you feel better, the older formula had a tendency to separate and tinted ooze would sometimes escape from the bottom–I haven’t had that problem with this new formulation *silver lining*.
Yeah, I received similarly bad intel on their Amazonian Clay blush in Flush. I had the older version, which was either a limited edition or discontinued, then they brought it back and the online pics looked MUCH lighter. They said the new version was identical to the old version, then someone posted on another site that the new version was NOT the same–it’s a muted plum (the old version was a bold orchid shade). I bought the new one based on that info and lo and behold, they’re two VERY different blushes. That being said, both versions are gorgeous, but they definitely should have used a different name on the newer one because it’s so different from the original.
I hope you’re not too disappointed with the new Tipsy. It’s still super flattering and worthy of a blush collection ;)
I hope I will like it. I definitely wanted more peach though like the old version but I’ll give it a chance.
I found a pic of the old version and your right it is darker & less pink than the new cream version. That stinks!!! I have a pic with a side by side comparison but I’m unable to post it on here. It is a very noticeable difference. I still have the email they sent me claiming the color is the exact same. I think I’ll send them the picture and show them the colors are completely different.
the old tipsy made my cheeks gleam. nothing else does the same and i’ve tried many brands. tell me if this new one shines as bright or turns dull after a few hours.