Review -- Tarte be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette

 I am a sucker for pretty makeup packaging.

I can admit that.

I like having beautiful compacts and bottles and boxes to set out on my vanity. Looking at them makes me almost as happy as putting on the actual makeup inside.

Maybe that makes me a little superficial, but don't we all like looking at pretty things?

But even with my obsession with lovely packaging, I wouldn't ever buy a poor quality item just because it came in an attractive case.

I mean, I love, love, love The Balm's packaging like nobody's business, but I love their products just as much.  That's why I pick up pretty much every new palette and item that they come out with.

When I saw Tarte's new be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette, with its gorgeous purple sort of seashell inspired compact, it was love at first sight.

Tarte be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette

Even though I need another matte eyeshadow palette like a hole in my head.

But the thing is, I love Tarte's eyeshadow formula, so I justified picking up the palette with a gift card from Christmas or my birthday because not only would I get to look at that pretty purple packaging, but I'd wind up with a few more nice eyeshadows and a top notch blush too.

And I'm certainly not disappointed.

The be MATTEnificent Palette contains 8 limited-edition Amazonian colored clay eyeshadows in sand out from the crowd, a cream; peach for the stars, peachy tan; two plums up, a rich plum; pink outside the box, a pale, pale pink; rose to the occasion, a rosy tan; view from the taupe, a light taupe; dream in chocolate, a dark black brown; and don't stand black, a black. (The last two shades are actually marked as liners, but you can obviously use them for whatever you'd like.)

It also comes with a matte Amazonian colored clay blush in elevated, a pink with slight mauve undertones, and a doubled-ended shadow brush.

Tarte be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette

Tarte be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette

From l. to r.:sand out from the crowd, peach for the stars, two plums up

From l. to r.: pink outside the box, rose to the occasion, view from the taupe

From l. to r.: dream in chocolate & don't stand black

elevated blush

The palette includes a card with two look suggestions (which were designed in conjunction with YouTube beauty guru hollyannaeree, which is pretty cool) in case you get a little stuck for inspiration.

Tarte's eyeshadows are some of the easiest that I've ever worked with -- I always say that their shadows are perfect for anyone who's just getting started with makeup or who prefers a softer, more natural look. Or a makeup junkie like me who likes to have a few shadows in her collection that she can just throw on in hurry without thinking about them too much -- and their matte formula is no exception. It's smooth and creamy and blends like a dream.

There isn't a chalky or powdery shadow in the bunch.

The colors are all lovely and soft as well -- though if the palette has a fault, it's that it lacks any real mid-tone shades. There are plenty of lid and highlight shades, and a few deep, dark shadows that work well for liner or deepening up the outside of the crease. But there isn't a mid-tone crease shade in the bunch. I've had success layering rose to the occasion and view from the taupe to get them a little deeper, but it would be nice to have a shade that works with the crease without the added effort.

In that sense, I don't know how well the shadows in this palette stand alone -- part of me thinks that you'd really want to have a couple of mid-tone shades to pair with it for the most complete look, but maybe that's just a personal preference.

And on the other hand, the palette also comes with a lovely blush so you do have eye and cheek colors in a single palette, which makes it pretty travel friendly. The blush is a nice neutral pink that would work on most skin tones, and like all of Tarte's Amazonian clay blushes, it's seriously pigmented and long-lasting.

As I mentioned above, the packaging for this palette is beautiful.  The compact is hard plastic, so it's nice and sturdy and features a decent sized mirror on the inside. I'm in love with the purple kind of seashell pattern on the cover -- it is just so stunning. I've had the palette sitting out on my makeup table ever since I got it because I just like looking at it.

But while I really love the palette, I can't say that this is my favorite matte eyeshadow palette out there.  If that's what you're looking for, I would recommend Too Faced's Matte Eye Palette, The Balm's Meet Matt(e) or Meet Matt(e) Nude, or the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Palette.

If you prefer softer shadow looks and like the convenience of having eye and cheek colors in a single palette, though, then I would recommend the be MATTEnificient Palette without hesitation.

It retails for $36, but it doesn't appear to be on Sephora's or Ulta's website any longer. However, you can still get in on QVC for $32.74 (+$5.74 s/h). You might still be able to find it in your local Sephora or Ulta too.

Have you tried the Tarte be MATTEnificent Amazonian Colored Clay Matte Collector's Palette? Do you have a favorite matte shadow palette?