Review: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

Monday, January 21, 2013

I've wanted to try Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil for a while and a few months ago Sephora had a VIB Tarte perk that included a deluxe sample. For the last six weeks, I've incorporated into my skincare routine and finally feel like I've used it long enough to share with you my experience.

What is this Maracuja Oil exactly? As per the Tarte website, it is the cold pressed oil from the maracuja (passion fruit, if you will) fruit pulp. It ain't exactly cheap; 1.7 oz of Tarte's "miracle" oil will set you back $46. It comes packaged in a glass bottle with a pumping medicine style dropper, which I really like because you can control exactly how much product you're using. The clear oil is rather thin and absorbs quite quickly into the skin, faster than jojoba or olive oil.

The first three weeks I used the Maracuja Oil, I was still living in Minnesota. I would use three drops nightly, rubbing between my hands then massaging it into my skin at night, after my serum (JUJU Aquamoist Hyarulonic Acid Serum) and face cream (Vichy Nutrilogie 2). I definitely noticed a difference. I woke up with very smooth skin with my skin still firm with moisture. It seemed that the oil helped create a barrier between my face and the dry, cold air that leached moisture.

The biggest difference I noticed was after each one of my glycolic acid peels. Usually my skin is red, peely and irritated for about three days afterwards, before peeling and becoming radiant after each acid peel. When I applied the Maracuja Oil on the night of my peel though, I woke up the next morning to skin that was smooth and glowing, like I had skipped those three days of skin hell.

Now that I've moved to California's warmer climate, I find that I have less of a need for the oil. I only use about one drop at night, but I have started to use a drop mixed in with hand cream for my hands as well as body lotion for my frightfully dry ankles with great results. Tarte claims that it is "anti-aging and healing properties for firmer, brighter, and smoother looking skin, and will not cause breakouts", and I can say that for me it did create smoother and firmer skin (by way of helping my skin retain moisture) and it did not break me out, but I can't say I saw any other benefits.

Now... back to the price. I've estimated that over six weeks of daily use, I've used approximately .1 of an oz. A little really goes a long way, I'm not kidding when I say I only use a few drops at a time. I know other companies sell cold pressed passion fruit oil, and if I knew a reputable seller that carried it at a cheaper price, I would probably purchase the "generic" stuff. Since I don't, I think I'll end up buying it from Tarte. It lasts a long time and after trying my deluxe sample, I think that the 1.7 oz bottle now looks huge and could easily last me over two years. Heck, I don't know if Maracuja Oil spoils but it might actually go bad before I finish!

Have you tried the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil? Or is there another oil in your life that has done wondrous things for your skin?

Product featured was a part of a "Gift With Purchase" purchased by me. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.