Product Review -- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops

When it comes to makeup products, all they have to do is promise me radiant skin and I am sold.

So it's probably not a surprise that I was hooked by the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops.

These multipurpose drops are meant to add a pretty radiance to the skin -- to both your face and anywhere else on your body that you might like, such as your shoulders or collarbones.

They come in a heavy 1 ounce bottle with pretty purple and gold packaging. It features a medicine dropper dispenser, which is perfect for allowing you to get just the right amount of the product.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops

Tarte describes the product as having brightening, micro-glistening pearls that add radiance to the skin. It definitely contains plenty of good-for-your-skin ingredients like jojoba oil, maracuja oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, squalene, and Tarte's Rainforest of the Sea complex, which supposedly features marine extracts that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I can't attest to how good the drops are for the skin -- I haven't used it  long enough for that -- but I can say that they feel lovely on the skin. Tarte says that they're non-greasy, and despite all the oils, I can vouch for that. The formula blends into the skin easily without leaving an oily residue behind.

Tarte suggests four ways for using the drops: as a primer before foundation, mixed into your foundation, as a dry oil for the face and body, or over matte lipstick.

I have used them primarily in the first two ways -- I've spread a few drops all over my face before my foundation and I've mixed it into my foundation or added it to my brush before I blended in my makeup.

While I think it would work well as a dry oil for the body, I don't like it that way on the face -- or as a liquid highlighter.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops unblended

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops blended

That's because it can look a little glittery (though the glitter is definitely micro and not chunky). When you apply foundation over it or mix it with foundation, it tones down that look for a more subtle glow. Applied all by itself on the face, I feel like it looks a little too obvious.

I also suspect that it would disturb whatever foundation or other makeup you already have on, so I don't think that's the best use for it.

I've really enjoyed using it with foundations that I like but are a little too matte for my taste. In particular, I've loved it with the Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation, which offers fantastic coverage and a great shade match for me but has a finish that's a little too flat.

I've also used it with the Tarte Clay Stick Foundation  -- Tarte suggests adding a couple of drops to the top of the stick before you apply it to yourself, and it works very well that way.  The foundation's finish isn't overly matte, but I still like the added glow that the drops provide.

Over all, I really enjoy the Radiance Drops. They do cost $32, but you get a lot of product and only need a small amount each time so the bottle will last a long while.

Of course, there are other products on the market that provide a similar effect at a cheaper price point, but I do love all the good ingredients that Tarte has included so I think it may be worth the extra money.

You can find the drops on Tarte's website and at Sephora.

Have you tried the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops? Are you a fan?