Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy

Sephora photo

It's early 2009 and I'm just beginning to see the light. I know something's irritating my skin but working over 60 hours a week at a toxic job I have no energy or time to do research. I'm just looking for band-aids. I am still oblivious to the fact it's not just about how I look. I'm similarly without a that clue ingredients in my body care products may have something to do with the cancer that was discovered and removed the previous year.

I'm in Sephora looking for the next great thing. Something that's going to bring out what ever natural beauty I have left without turning my face into blotchy, itchy, red, swollen scales. The ever helpful and beautifully made up saleslady approaches me and asks if she can help. Hell yes.  "Can you help me find a blush that won't irritate my skin?"

"Oh yes," she says as she smoothly guides me to a pretty display. "These Tarte products are all-natural and specially formulated to give cheeks just a hint of color. The pigments are from fruit and pure minerals. I think 'Tipsy' would look great on you."

kaboodle photo

I tried it. I liked it. And it's all natural, right?

Right... and the product delivered as promised. I was satisfied until I learned the truth about toxic ingredients last January.

Today I looked up Tipsy's ingredients on Skin Deep. I had to do it twice. The product is already in Skin Deep's database but the ingredients as listed are not an exact match to the ingredients listed on the Tarte website.I used the website ingredient list for my search.
Ingredients:

Propylene Glycol, Aqua, Nonyl Nonoxynol-150, Glycerin, Sodium Stearate, Laureth-23, Parfum/Fragrance, PVP, Propylparaben. (+/-): Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499),Carmine (CI 75470) , Blue 1 (CI 42090), Red 33 (CI 17200), Red 40 (CI 16035), Yellow 5 (CI 19140).

 Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy Score:

	Data: Limited
Health Concern	MODERATE
Product Type
Made by	tarte by tarte, inc.
Data last updated	July 2011
how to read the score

Health Concerns:

About the ratings
Overall Hazard
Cancer
Developmental & reproductive toxicity
Allergies & immunotoxicity
Use restrictions
Other HIGH concerns: Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns
Other MODERATE concerns: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps, Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards

Final Analysis:

I retired my Tarte to the wastebasket a few months ago. Now there's solid evidence I did the right thing...even if a little too late. When I find a good replacement you'll be the first to know.