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?