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Home Blog Makeup You're here
by Suzana Rose
Mar 4, 2021
Shape Tape is one of the most highly-rated concealers of all time, by makeup pros and makeup enthusiasts alike. All the top creators have been raved about this product, and it's still well-loved years after it initially launched. Can it really be that good? Do you need this concealer in your life? Let's take a closer look.
I'll give you all my pros and cons in this review.
At A Glance
- Brand: Tarte
- Animal Testing Policy: Cruelty-Free, PETA-Certified
- Parent Company: Kose, not cruelty-free
- Product: Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer
- Vegan: Yes
- Price: $24
- Weight: 0.33 oz
- Shade range: 30 shades
- Where To Buy: Ulta -- tarte.com
Where to buy it?
You can either purchase this concealer from Tarte's official website or from Ulta.
What Is It?
So, Tarte's official name for this concealer is the "Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer", which gives us a good hint as to how Tarte intended this product to be used.
Double Duty means you can use this product as both a concealer and a contour/highlight. It's available in 14 shades, and the lightest shade is very light and perfect for highlighting pale to light skin.
The claims are that this product is long-wearing and hydrating, and provides "natural, radiant" coverage. I do find it very long-wearing and quite hydrating for being a very full-coverage concealer, but the finish is definitely on the matte side.
How To Use It
Below is an example of Tarte Shape Tape in action using multiple shades. One the left, the concealer is applied without blending. On the right, not only is it blended but it's also photoshopped (#petpeeve).
Multi-purpose products sound like a great concept. The problem here is that you need to buy multiple shades to use this product for all its purposes: 1 shade to concealer, 1 shade to highlight, and 1 shade to contour. I mean, the image above is using 4 different shades. Is this really necessary?! Of course not.
So is this really a miracle product, or is Tarte looking to sell us 3-4 concealers at once instead of just 1? Here's my 2 cents.
Function 1: Concealer
Shape Tape is a perfect concealer. It's very full coverage yet the formula is lightweight. You can cover blemishes easily and blend out the concealer seamlessly and with no dryness or flaking on the skin. They really nailed this formula and it truly is hydrating for providing such an opaque coverage.
I'm someone who needs a crap ton of coverage from my concealer, and Shape Tape gives me just that. Plus, without the downsides of a full coverage concealer.
If you're not a fan of the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer because it's too drying or creases on you, look into Shape Tape instead.
Function 2: Highlighter
For highlighting, it also does a great job. To make sure we're on the same page, "highlighter" in this case means using a shade that's a bit lighter than you skin tone. It's going to act as a matte highlighter (absolutely no glow) on the high points of your face (under the eyes, chin, nose, middle of forehead).
The shade I use to highlight is Fair, and it's pretty damn light. I'm about an NC10 (pale with warm undertones) and that shades shows up light on my skin. I do love using this product to highlight, and I would certainly recommend it for that purpose.
Function 3: Contour
This is where things get "meh". If you use a concealer as contour, it means that the same shade is used by someone a few shades darker than you to conceal. If concealers were available in various tones, it would be great. But generally, deeper shades are unfortunately very limited. Instead of offering both warm and cool tones, brands often limit themselves to warm tones.
This is disappointing because 1) not everyone with a deeper skintone is warm-toned, and 2) it means that you can't use these products to contour. This is exactly what I think is the problem with using Shape Tape as a contour shade.
Those with warm undertones might find a shade that would make for a suitable bronzer, but I'm not sure about a contour. On my skin, there isn't a single shade I can use to contour. Depending on your skintone, you might have better luck.
I also need to point out that this isn't an easy contour to blend out, even if you find a suitable shade. I wouldn't recommend buying this product to use as a contour.
The Pros
- Perfect formula: lightweight, blendable, pigmented, hydrating. It's the best I've found in a concealer.
- The coverage is very full and opaque, with a soft-matte finish.
- It's long-lasting and you don't even need to powder it. It just stays put all day.
- You get more product than other similar concealers (0.33 oz compared to 0.22 oz)
- Great for concealing anything and for highlighting your whole face.
- A little bit of product goes a long way.
- It's vegan.
The Cons
- The wand is too huge and makes for a messy application. You need a very tiny amount of this as it is full coverage, and the wand dispenses way too much.
- The scent is lemony and quite strong. It really smells like fragrance and it lingers for a little while.
- Chances are you can't use this concealer for contour. And even if you find your contour shade, contour requires more blending than highlight. I've tried to use this as contour and it was harder to blend.
Final Verdict: 4.75/5
As a concealer and highlighter, and I think Shape Tape deserves the praise it's been getting. As a contour product, absolutely not.
If you're looking for a full coverage concealer that will cover the gnarliest undereye circles or blemishes, this is it. It's also lightweight, long-lasting (no need to powder) and hydrating.
If you want an amazing highlighter, go for a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. I love using this concealer in the shade Fair as a highlighter.
It's available here at Ulta where it's back in stock. You can also get it from tarte.com here.
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+ Show Comments (13)- Hide Comments (13)
Liz says:
Jan 11, 2022 at 3:18 pm
If tarte shape tape has a lemon scent (according to reviews) i’m afraid i will react to it. it is totally dermatology tested?
Reply
Sarah Madany says:
Jul 01, 2021 at 4:57 am
Lovely! Great blog, I love Tarte shape because it leaves skin looking hydrated, never dry or flat, and the creamy, cushiony formula won’t cake or settle. Sounds good now It’s available in Canada too. Highly Recommended!
Reply
Bonnie Phelps says:
Mar 04, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Great site, Thank You for doing this.
Is Tarte Shape Tape Concealer made in China?
I’ve also read that Tarte was sold to a Japanese Co, and a lot of their products are now made in China – is that true?
Stay Safe, have a beautiful day.
Bonnie 🙂Reply
Suzana Rose says:
Mar 25, 2021 at 2:55 pm
It’s made in Korea 🙂
Reply
Jennifer says:
Mar 13, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Has anyone broken out from it when it’s used anywhere else but under your eye. Specifically for me, it’s gives me texture and breakouts on and around my chin.
Reply
Ruby says:
Dec 15, 2017 at 1:07 pm
They really need a few shades more brown shades especially between san tan and deep.
Reply
Suzi | Cruelty-Free Kitty says:
Feb 25, 2017 at 2:40 pm
I went back to being more lax about that position for a few different reasons.
Reply
Kaela Wyles says:
Feb 08, 2017 at 7:52 pm
What shade do you use for under eye concealer? It’s tough because it isn’t at sephora, so there is no way to test out the shade. I wear the shade 3.25 in the Urban Decay naked skin foundation. Not really sure how to test it or know I am buying the right shade.
Reply
Suzi | Cruelty-Free Kitty says:
Feb 09, 2017 at 12:07 pm
“Light” works for me as an undereye/blemish concealer and “Fair” to highlight. I’m fair with yellow undertones.
Reply
Christine says:
Feb 08, 2017 at 7:38 am
I agree with you here – fantastic for concealing! Haven’t tried it for contouring, but it does seem like it would be way to thick and hard to blend. Nothing covers dark circles and blemishes as well though! 🙂
Reply
Suzi | Cruelty-Free Kitty says:
Feb 09, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Agreed. 🙂 And it is hard to blend out as a contour for me.
Reply
Suzi | Cruelty-Free Kitty says:
Feb 09, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Yay, thank you!
Reply
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