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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Tarte Grav3yardgirl Swamp Queen Collection Review

I purchased Tarte's Grav3yardgirl Swamp Queen Collection back in June. Yes, this is another collection I sat on for months! It really intimidated me once I received it! LOL It was VERY popular! It sold out on Tarte, Ulta & Sephora. It's currently sold out (Limited Edition) and of course selling for exuberant prices on eBay. I only watch a handful of beauty YouTubers, so I didn't know about Bunny aka Grav3yardgirl. But after checking out her channel, she's SUPER popular! I couldn't believe I was buying a Swamp Queen palette! I live in New Orleans (there are swamps), but if you know me ... then you'll know I am the last person you will ever find outdoors (for a long period of time)! I am not an outdoorsy girl. I'm a city chick! Plus, these colors were not the norm for me...definitely out of my comfort level. But there was still an attraction to this collection for some unknown reason...


Tarte Limited Edition Swamp Queen Eye & Cheek Palette with Brush $45


When I received my Swamp Queen palette, I excitedly took ALL of these beautiful pictures & gifs (June) and then I started to swatch the shades. My smile turned into a BIG frown and I was beyond disappointed. HaHaHa They didn't swatch well (see "no primer" pictures below). There are times, when I don't use primer on the back of my hand to swatch eye shadows, and that was the case with these. But I've never seen eye shadows swatch so badly without a primer! I was so frustrated I put the collection away and didn't revisit it for another month. So in July, I primed my hand and the shades came out beautifully (see "primer" pictures below)! BUT, there was a LOT of fall out! So, I put the palette away again. LOL I never did any eye looks with these because I will have to get some Too Faced eye shadow glitter glue primer. HaHaHa All of the shades in the palette are BEAUTIFUL! You get 9 eye shadows, a bronzer/contour (but I like Sweet Tea more as a blush), a blush (Does This Really Work?) and a highlight shade (Gator Wings). But this palette reminds me of games: beginner, intermediate and difficult level. This is intermediate to difficult! You have to do so many extra things to achieve results! You need a special primer (for some of the shades to stick). You have to apply the eye shadows before your other makeup or else the fall out will mess up your other makeup. Also, everything in this palette is REALLY PIGMENTED! If you use Sweet Tea (blush/contour) or Does This Really Work? (blush) as a blush, use a LIGHT HAND! It's easy to look like a clown! I had to take a kabuki brush and really work in the blush to even/spread it out and make it softer. When applied, these two shades go on and STAY right where you put them. So you really have to blend them out! Gator wings is a gorgeous golden highlight! I simply applied it with my finger to the bridge & tip of my nose. This palette really tested my makeup skills (novice LOL). But you know what? I love it. It's just going to require a little extra.


Tarte Limited Edition Grav3yardgirl Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint $20


When I first swatched Texas Toast & Swamp Family on the back of my hands, I was like "these colors are NOT going to look good on me' HaHaHa In my mind, I was like ... Oh my gawd, what have I done! LOL I put these away WITH the palette and didn't revisit them until yesterday! Well, I tried them on (see below) and I was pleasantly surprised. Texas Toast is a purplish-greyish tone. I think it's the hint of purple that saved me! If this was all grey, I would look DEAD...ZOMBIE DEAD! I really like it and it goes well with Does This Really Work? blush (I'm wearing it as well in the picture below). Swamp Family is a bright red! I wear reds well, but I thought it would be TOO BRIGHT for my taste! It wasn't bad. I applied Sweet Tea (as a blush) and both really complimented one another. I was impressed. Another thing I was worried about was dryness! I wasn't too keen on Tarte's Matte Lip Paints, but these felt really good to the lips. Creamy in fact. They didn't fall into fine lines. I could rub my lips together. No flaking or cracking. So it all worked out.


left: wearing texas toast (lip paint) & does this thing really work (blush)
right: wearing: swamp family (lip paint) & sweet tea (blush)

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  Tarte Grav3yardgirl Swamp Queen Collection is Sweet

My Final Thoughts: Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort level and try new things! What I didn't think would work, did! What I thought was going to be a fail, wasn't! Sometimes you have to look past what your eye sees and just give things a try. Besides fall out, this collection was really good! Bunny did an exceptional job with packaging and the colors were very unique. I have NOTHING like this in my collection! I'm glad I purchased it. For MORE INSIGHT into this palette, read my blog buddy's (Pretty Panda Makeup) review regarding the names of all the shades in this palette and her thoughts. Did you purchase this collection? Did you love or hate your palette? How is it working out for you?
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23 comments

  1. I so love the packaging of the palette, Kim! Reading your review, I thought it's be so horrid at first but glad to see it worked out for you in the end. TBH, I'm kinda lazy so I don't know if I'd be willing to do and remember all the prep work first:P
    Anyhoo, those lip paints look so fab on you as well! No zombies for sure:D

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  2. WOW - this is such a great post Kim, so detailed! The palette sounds like lots of work but the lip products look amazing on you xx

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  3. Thx for your detailed review, Kim. I heard a lot of good and not so good about her palette. Esp about the fallout, tho. Anyhow, the shades look amazing on you, hun.
    xox
    Lenya
    FashionDreams&Lifestyle

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  4. I love the packaging and all the colors. The palette looks so pretty inside.

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  5. Wow - the difference between the shadows with and without primer is just crazy! I still have't tried Tarte products but I admit that I'm not nearly as willing to keep trying new ways to make a product work for me if it is giving me a hard time. I am going to have to remember this post next time I'm working with a beauty product that doesn't do what I want it to :)
    xox,
    Cee

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  6. If you have to go through so many steps just to achieve a swatch, I would rather save my money.
    TBH, I don't like bunny, nor her channel, so I wouldn't have purchased anything or any brand collab she does.
    This palette is getting some really bad reviews too, so I cannot say I am too surprised.
    Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

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  7. I was not too sold on the presentation or name.. swamp (then again it may be related to something hip in the US that I have no clue about !)
    Oh and your swatches made me think that i need a primer. like now.

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  8. Awesome, awesome review! I'm liking the lip products!
    xoxo, Simona and Indre
    ttps://sistertalessite.com/

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  9. I don't know why but this collection did call to me. The colors are pretty but I'm not a HUGE Tarte fan. I think their shadows are more of a miss than a hit for the most part. Those lip paints look gorgeous on you! I am glad that you gave these products another shot and that they ended up working for you!

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  10. These look super great! Thanks for a great review, girl!
    -Kate // www.classyandkate.com

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  11. I'm glad you didn't completely give up on the palette, Kim and those matte lip paints turned out great too. I skipped this palette mainly because I feel the palette is too much work and I'm not willing to go the extra mile for it but wish I picked up Swamp Family though, it's so pretty!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  12. Wow! There is quite a difference between the primer and no primer swatches. I like the purple tones in this palette. Both of the lip paints look great on you! Texas Toast doesn't look like a shade that would be easy to pull off, but you wear it well! I'm glad everything ended up working out for you in the end with this collection.

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  13. I enjoy watching Bunny's videos and I've seen mixed things about the palette. Glad you gave it another chance! It definitely looks there are some hits and missed but overall I wouldn't complain about owning it... although i reallyyy want the Jaclyn and Becca palette on another note! The red lipstick though is sooooo pretty!

    http://asequinloveaffair.com

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  14. I've watched some of Bunny's videos, non pertaining to makeup, so when I saw this post I initially was very surprised! The name of the collection and shades are so perfect for her collection, they really embody her and her whole esthetic and vibe. You can REALLY see a difference in the pigmentation when the primer is added. I honestly had to really look at the shades because they don't even look the same before and after! That said, with the primer, they are so beautiful! I also love the lip colors, both of which I think look so good on you! I love the taupe one for fall! Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you're having a great start to your week so far!


    XO,

    Jalisa
    www.thestylecontour.com

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  15. I really like those lip colours on you Kim! I'm not sure I could pull off that Texas toast shade but it's lovely on you, you wear it well :)

    Shame that the palette is a little difficult to use, but it's great you can get better results with a primer :)


    Away From The Blue Blog

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  16. This is a gorgeous palette, and I'm glad you went out of your comfort zone Kim! I'm glad it worked out, and sometimes products are worth the little extra work. The swatches look beautiful! That's too bad about the fall out, have you tried using them with a wet brushes? I love both lip colors on you, and you're right that the swamp family and sweet tea compliment each other!

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  17. This palette would be perfect to travel with. Everything in one. I like the colours in this palette. Texas toast looks lovely on you Kim. That swatch of the lippie is so pretty. I love lip shades like that. ;-)

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  18. I thought this might turn out to be a not sweet review but then I kept reading and saw how you turned things around with the palette. Considering how gorgeous the colors are, it seems like the extra work with the special primer and extra blending was worth it. I'm pretty sure your makeup skills are beyond novice now Kim :D I tend not to buy many palette because I'm really rubbish about using them.

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  19. Ugh I would be too annoyed to do all that, lol. i do like that it seems like it is really pigmented!

    xoxo,
    little luxury list formerly Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  20. Oh Kim this was an adventure tale!! The colors on the palette look so fabulous, but I would never purchase it knowing it's so difficult to use! The lipsticks both look great on you! Baci, Valeria - Coco et La vie en rose NEW OUTFIT POST

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  21. Love the color of Texas Toast!

    ❤ http://kayxcake.blogspot.co.nz

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