So, yeah, as it turns out Tarte's Shape Tape IS as good as the hype suggests.

I've been looking for a good concealer for a while and hadn't yet found my true love.  I needed something that was not greasy, doesn't cake or crease, has true full coverage, and very long-wearing since base makeup tends to flee my combo/oily skin pretty quickly.  I've tried several in the past year and they were all varying levels of dud.  Tarte's Shape Tape** has been the HYPE BOMB for several months and nearly always out of stock.

I went to Ulta last week and had planned to pick up another Tarte concealer that has gotten very good reviews (the Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer) and they had an end cap of Shape Tape with nearly all of the shades out of stock except miraculously the shade that appeared to be my own match, Light Sand.  So, thanks to Ulta's very generous return policy, I could try it out with no real risk.   I'm quite glad I did.

First off, this concealer tube is HUGE.  The amount you get for the price is excellent.  To compare, here are the other concealers I've tried in the past year or so:

Maybelline Fit Me  0.23 oz for $6.99
NYX Hi Definition  0.11 oz for $4.99
NYX Concealer in a Jar  0.21 oz for $4.99
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer 0.22 oz for $29.00
Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer 0.10 oz for $20.00 (SERIOUSLY Benefit? Eff you.)
Tarte Shape Tape 0.34 oz for $24.00 Thanks Tarte!!!

The applicator is huge, too, which some people have not enjoyed--you definitely do need to use a light touch to avoid splooshing concealer all over the place.  That would be my only complaint, but really not a complaint because it's just such a great product.

Before Shape Tape, Maybelline Fit Me was the best I've tried, but not as good coverage as I'd like and not as crease-resistant as I'd like either. NYX HD was basically no coverage.  NYX Concealer In A Jar broke me out in painful spots.  NARS RCC was too thick and creased badly on me.  Benefit Boi-ing is super greasy, not a great shade and not great coverage either.

Enter Shape Tape.  When I swatched it in store, I actually said "Wow" out loud.  It seems like almost pure pigment, but blended out it's a very natural skin-like finish.  The coverage is to die for.

When I picked it up a few days later to use on my face, I was so delighted with the effect.  Tiny, tiny dots under my eyes blended out with my BB for totally full yet weightless coverage.  Then I got ideas.  I haven't used concealer really for anything other than my undereyes or an occasional blemish. I have VERY ruddy cheeks in the totally wrong spot (why couldn't I have flush on the apples of my cheeks and therefore not need blush... huh?!) and I decided to see if the Shape Tape could cover up that redness without wasting too much product.

If I'm doing a full-glam face, I will use Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in 1N1 Ivory Nude (which is ALSO as good as everyone says), but even with its excellent full coverage I generally have to use 2 coats on my cheeks to cover up that Nordic ruddiness.  For everyday wear, I use Dermablend Intense Powder Camo in Ivory, and again, I have to use a lot to cover up that red, even though it really is the best coverage powder foundation I've tried.

 I dotted just a little bit of Shape Tape over the red areas of my cheeks and blended in with a Beauty Blender.  It covered EVERYTHING in one pass. I used my Dermablend powder lightly on the rest of my face and my skin looked as even and flawless as I get with a hardcore coat of Doublewear.  It seems like they put some sort of magic in there.

I am so psyched to be able to get a totally full coverage face without a complete layer of foundation.  I'll still use my Doublewear for special occasions as I have, but this stuff is, as they say, a game-changer.

It's been 3 days since I tried it and no spots on my cheeks! So it passes the breakout test.  The one thing I can't speak to yet is its resistance to tears and sweat--I have always-watering eyes and I did not see it wearing off under my eyes but I think I had a low-tears day that day.  Yesterday, it did last all day under my undereyes with no creasing or obvious wear.

So, this was a minimal foundation look for an internship day (all products pictured in top photo). Product list:
Tarte Shape Tape in Light Sand (on undereyes and cheeks)
Dermablend Intense Powder Camo in Ivory
applied lightly with
Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush
NARS blush in Orgasm
Urban Decay Afterglow highlight in Sin
Urban Decay Primer Potion
L'Oreal Infallible Eyshadow in Amber Rush (cult classic)
Rimmel Exaggerate eyeliner (black)
Kiss Me Heroine Make Waterproof Long & Curl Mascara
Anastasia Dip Brow in Ash Brown
Sephora Collection Lipliner (clear)
Lipstick Queen Saint lipstick in Nude

In summation, I'm skeptical of products that everyone seems to rave about since the monetization structure of beauty Youtubers and bloggers doesn't necessarily incentivize totally honest reviews.  But Tarte's Shape Tape is legit.  I'll definitely repurchase it when I run out, and I'll be recommending it to all my friends.  WTG, Tarte!

**I purchased this product at full price from Ulta and was not paid or given any product or promotional consideration for this review.