Tarte’s New Creamy Concealer Survived a Pool Party

Summertime makeup is tough. Not in an I-have-nothing-to-inspire-me sense—I’d argue that now is the best time to garner inspiration. More so, it’s the physical act of applying makeup that’s hard. The discomfort of smearing something across your already sweaty face, knowing you’re about to enter a sauna when you open the door and then trek right through it.

So! A great summer makeup product has to have multiple things going for it. It should be lightweight, the lighter the better. Ideally, it’ll contain good for your skin ingredients. And it needs to look good—otherwise it’s all for naught. Do ya hear that, brands? Actually, I know at least some of them do, and Tarte is a particularly good listener.

After 18 months of development, Tarte is finally unveiling their latest perfect-for-summer pride and joy: Creaseless Creamy Concealer. Launching on June 26, the new product combines full coverage with a natural finish, all the while championing the brand’s skin-first philosophy. It’s also available in a whopping 34 shades with six undertones so you can find your perfect match. (As you’re probably well aware from self-analyzing your color season, the industry standard is three: warm, cool, and neutral.)

Ahead, get all the info on the new launch from Tarte CEO and Founder Maureen Kelly and makeup artist Michela Wariebi, who Tarte consulted for the launch. Plus, read the Byrdie team’s honest reviews.

The Inspiration

Like all of Tarte’s launches, the new concealer was mostly inspired by the brand’s devoted customers. Listening to what the “tartelettes” wanted, they also decided to give them what they needed: an expanded shade and undertone selection. While Tarte already had five undertones in their concealer range (beige, honey, neutral, sand, and golden), “warm” has officially joined the mix.

“More levels of color complexity allows more women to look their best,” explains Wariebi, who helped refine the tan to deep spectrum. “This range feels very intentional. It has not only the breadth of shades, but also the nuanced undertones that are appropriate for different parts of the full shade spectrum.”

When you find your perfect concealer shade, you not only look beautiful, but you feel confident and ready to take on the world,” adds Kelly.

The founder’s own skin woes were also put on the development mood board. Having grown up with acne, she struggled with self-confidence and finding a concealer that covered without causing more breakouts, so the new product is a point of pride. “Balancing 24-hour hydration, nearly 60% skincare ingredients, and no creases was tough, but we nailed it!” she says.

The Formula

According to Kelly, people don’t have enough time in a day to take care of themselves. That’s why the Creaseless Creamy Concealer is a one-stop shop… and took 18 months to fine-tune.

“We infused all their skincare into this formula with almost 60% of the tube being skincare ingredients,” she explains, adding that some of her favorite ingredients include the brand’s famous maracuja (“sleep in a swipe,” sustainably sourced from an all-female cooperative in the Amazon), cloudberry (it has “4x more vitamin C than an orange”), caffeine (an “espresso shot for your under eyes”), bakuchiol (“nature’s retinol”) and calming niacinamide. It also contains omegas 3 and 6 and vitamin E.

As mentioned, crafting the right formula to capture specific undertones was also of the utmost importance.

“Warmth can mean different things for different skin tones—a lot of times you may think of warmth as more yellow or red, but in some areas of the range that warmth presents actually a more purple tone, which has red and blue and that combo we don’t see enough of,” says Wariebi. “The range is also very versatile, with shades being great for concealer but also contour and even full face.”

How to Use It

Before you apply the lush formula—as concealer, highlighter, or contour—you’re going to want to find your perfect shade. Wariebi’s advice? Use your own body to find shade-matching clues.

“Look at the lightest areas of exposed skin (usually your chest, but the inner portion of your forearm works too) for concealer,” she says. “For contour, use the darkest areas of your body to help you pick a shade. For an exact match use your jawline, but if your shoulders are showing the top of them can help, too.”

Before applying, properly prep your skin by exfoliating and moisturizing. Then, use the precision applicator to apply product in layers for a seamless finish. “The concealer coverage is very buildable, so start thinner and add layer by layer,” adds the makeup artist.

The Reviews

Star Donaldson, social media director

“I’m concerned with covering my dark under-eyes, and creasing is my biggest struggle. This concealer stays in place after application, and once I set it with a little powder, I’d almost completely forgotten about how much of an issue this used to be for me. A little concealer goes a long way, and it has a creamy, but not too thick consistency while giving medium to full coverage. This is officially my everyday concealer and I’m confident it will stand up to the hot NYC summer days ahead!” 

Bella Cacciatore, news editor

“I put this concealer to the ultimate test. Not only was I wearing it to a pool party in the Hamptons, but I forgot my foundation so I used it all over my face. I was understandably worried, but it turns out I had zero reason to be. The shade 20B is a perfect match for my skin, and it blended in with minimal effort. The finish is really pretty, a nice radiant satin that isn’t too wet-looking, and I would say it’s a solidly medium coverage. Though I didn’t dunk my head under the pool, I was splashing and sweating for four hours and my makeup didn’t budge. I am throughly impressed, and maybe just found both my new go-to concealer and foundation in one.”

Eden Stuart, editor

“I’m not much one for under-eye concealer, so I used this one for blemish coverage; I’m currently experiencing some especially nasty hyperpigmentation on my chin. I was admittedly skeptical since the formula is pretty thin, and usually, thin = less coverage. But that was not the case here! It just took going in once with a little brush and blender sponge to get pretty full coverage. I was also pleasantly surprised by how well it held up: I’m typing this review at 3 pm on a 90-degree day, and my dark spots are generally still concealed. (I did powder after application, but no touch-ups.) This one might have to go in my makeup bag!”

You can shop the Tarte Creaseless Creamy Concealer for $30 on tartecosmetics.com starting June 26.