My First Instagram POst about Tarte Cosmetics

My post for #day22 of the #31dayphotochallenge is supposed to be about #culture. In high school I started wearing makeup and it was a way for me to bond with my friends. Over the past few years, I’ve re-discovered how much I enjoy working with it.

Since @badgalriri launched @fentybeauty, more makeup wearers have been given more options because of the variety of shades available. I’ve come to realize how terrible I would feel if my coloring, something I did not choose but was born with, meant that I had significantly fewer options for makeup.

Which brings me to another brand, @tartecosmetics. I’ve been a fan of Tarte for quite some time. They’ve created some beautiful #crueltyfree palettes. However, in the past few weeks, Tarte has done a number of things that are, at best, questionable:

1. Releases a “new” foundation. When feedback from consumers isn’t positive, they block users.
2. The feedback Tarte was receiving was that their “new” foundation wasn’t inclusive- meaning only light-skinned individuals could find matches for their shade. After receiving pressure from consumers and influencers (including Jackie Aina), they say more shades are coming.
3. Tarte finally releases a statement about the issue, but it’s only on their Instagram story, which expires in 24 hours.
4. Consumers begin making the connection between an old product of Tarte’s and the “new” product and ask them about it. Tarte acknowledges that the main difference between the two products is the packaging process. Tarte receives further criticism and removes the old product from its website.
5. Tarte’s statement about new inclusive shades already being in the works is questionable and seemingly contradicted by the fact that the “new” product is really a re-packaged old product and they would have had plenty of time to create more shades in the past year.
6. Tarte recently released their Clay Play Palette II. The issues: Palette II is in the same packaging as the first palette and has a large percentage of the same colors with the same name. As @urbandecaycosmetics has shown, the point of a new palette is to have new colors with new names, at the very least. ​

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