Review -- Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation (& Airbuki Foundation Brush)

Since my skin has become drier as I've gotten older, finding a mineral or powder foundation that cooperates with it has definitely become a challenge.

They can cling to flaky patches, make my skin look super dull, or just plain look powdery and ashy on face.

In other words, not attractive at all.

That's why, for the most part, I the powder foundations for spring and summer when my skin is more oily and I'm prone to sweating because they're just a better fit then. I do occasionally wear them in colder months over a liquid or cream foundation when I really want full coverage.

Typically, I like loose powder foundations better than pressed versions because they're usually lighter in texture so they don't look so heavy on the skin. That's why I intrigued when I saw that Tarte was coming out with a loose powder foundation -- the Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation.

As a brand, Tarte just speaks to me and I'm rarely disappointed in their products, so I'm always willing to take a chance on their new stuff. Still, I had some reservations about the new foundation.

It's another product in their Amazonian clay line and while I think their Amazonian Clay Full Coverage (liquid) Foundation is a very nice product -- the fair shade is the best color match I've ever come across in a foundation for my skin -- I find it's a much better option for oily skin than dry. In general, clay is an ingredient typically used in products for oily skin because it can help soak up excess oil and keep skin shine-free.

But those doubts didn't stop me from ordering the foundation as soon as it was available before I read even a single review.

I'm crazy like that.

Right now, the Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation is exclusive to QVC and they're selling it with a brush designed specifically for use with the powder -- the Airbuki Foundation Brush.

Like some of Tarte's other products, the foundation comes in pot that features a bamboo lid with a cute vine design. Unlike other loose powder foundations that typically feature a sifter with a few small holes for shaking out the powder, it has a neat, little piece of mesh that gives when you press the brush against it so it deposits powder on the bristles without having to make mess inside the container.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation Packaging

The Airbuki Foundation Brush has a bamboo handle and features a flat top that works perfectly with the design of the foundation's mesh-like sifter.  The bristles are nice and dense, but there's some give to them so it doesn't deposit too much powder.

And oh my goodness, is it soft! It's one of those brushes that you'll find yourself rubbing against your skin even when you're not applying foundation because it just feel so nice and velvet-like.

Tarte Airbuki Foundation Brush

As for the foundation itself, I have to say, I really like the formula.

Even if I would quibble with its name.

I don't think it's a full coverage foundation -- if that's what you're looking for, you'll definitely be disappointed with this product.

I would call it a light to medium coverage foundation, though you can build it up fairly easily without it looking cakey or powdery.

And it has a lovely lightweight feel on the skin, which makes it a good match even for normal to slightly dry skin. (If your skin is extremely dry, I would say away from all powder foundations personally.)

It has a satin-y, almost glowy finish on the skin, which definitely makes it stand out from other powder foundations that tend to have a matte finish.  Don't let the glowy description scare you off if you have oily skin, though -- the effect is very subtle and really just makes it look natural and fresh on the skin more than anything else.

Of course, I ordered the foundation in Fair, which I found to be an ideal match for my super pale skin. The lighting in the swatch photo below is a bit off, but hopefully you'll get an idea of what the shade looks like.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Fair

Personally, I like to wear it over a tinted moisturizer or BB cream to boost the coverage slightly.  I think the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer is the ideal companion product for this foundation -- they work beautifully together.

For the best application, I recommend, pressing the brush against the mesh to load up the bristles with foundation and then tapping it against the stopper on the lid to really disperse the powder throughout the brush -- and of course, tapping off any excess before buffing it into your skin.

Right now, you can get the foundation and brush on the QVC website for the feature price of $39.84 and $4.97 s/h (plus tax).  At some point, the price will go up to $43.50.

All in all, I really like this foundation.  I think I'll be using it a lot now that the weather's warmer. I recommend it for pretty much any skin type except the extremely oily and extremely dry if you like a natural finish and light to medium coverage.

Have you tried the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation?  What's your favorite loose powder foundation?