Beauty Tarte 27S Vs 29N: Which Light-Medium Shade Suits You Best?
27S and 29N are the two most confused Tarte light-medium shades. One is warm sand, the other is neutral. Here is how to pick correctly.
| Factor | Tarte Shape Tape 29N Icons Duo | Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer, 27S |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Tarte Shape Tape Radiant, 27S Light-Medium Sand | Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, 29N Light-Medium Neutral |
| Undertone | Warm golden sand | Neutral |
| Depth | Light-medium | Light-medium |
| Formula | Radiant luminous | Original natural matte |
| Best skin type | Dry to normal | Normal to oily |
| Coverage | Medium buildable | Full coverage |
| Wear time | Up to 12 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
Our Verdict
Choose 27S if your skin has warm golden undertones, because the sand base blends seamlessly into warm complexions. Choose 29N if your undertones are neutral, because it neither warms nor cools the skin. The formulas, coverage, and price are identical. The wrong undertone is the top reason for returns. Check your veins in daylight, then commit with confidence. Warm skin should commit to 27S and neutral skin to 29N. The formulas match their needs too. Get the undertone right and everything else follows.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Light cool skin in the family
Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer, 20B Light
- 20B cool pink undertone shade
- Radiant finish for brightness
- Medium buildable coverage
Pros
- Great for cool undertones
- Brightening luminous effect
- Hydrating formula
Cons
- Too light for medium skin
- Too cool for warm undertones
Best for: Fair-light neutral skin plus blending brush
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer and Brush Duo, 12N Fair-Light Neutral
- 12N fair-light neutral shade
- Includes Tarte blending brush
- Original full-coverage formula
Pros
- Brush included adds real value
- Ideal for fair-light neutral tones
- Full coverage performance
Cons
- Too light for light-medium skin
- Only useful if you need the brush
Placement for Deep-Set and Hooded Eyes
The standard triangle concealer technique fails on deep-set and hooded eyes. On deep-set eyes, the triangle's lower point lands in shadow and emphasizes hollowness. Instead, concentrate Shape Tape on the darkest inner corner and blend outward minimally, keeping the product where the discoloration actually lives. Less coverage area looks more natural on deep-set eyes.
Hooded eyes face the opposite problem: concealer migrates into the lid fold. Keep the product below the fold line, set it promptly with powder, and avoid bringing concealer too close to the lash line where the hood presses. The 20B Light and 12N Fair-Light shades both suit this targeted placement since you use less product overall. Blend with a damp sponge using pressing motions rather than sweeping, which drags product into creases. Our dark circle coverage guide covers placement fundamentals you can adapt to your eye shape.
Concealer for Glasses Wearers
Glasses change how concealer reads. Frames cast shadows that mimic dark circles, so glasses wearers often over-apply concealer to fix shadows that are optical, not pigment. Check your under-eyes with glasses off in daylight to see the real discoloration, then apply Shape Tape only where pigment exists. This prevents the cakey buildup that glasses magnify.
Nose pads displace makeup where they sit, so keep concealer away from the inner-corner area where pads rest, or set that zone extra firmly with powder. Anti-reflective coatings create glare that washes out the under-eye in photos, which tempts heavier application: resist it, since the glare affects the photo, not real life. The brush duo in this comparison helps place product precisely around frames. Matte formulas photograph better behind lenses than dewy ones. Our Benefit Boi-ing guide compares a concealer known for staying put under daily wear.
Creasing on Mature Under-Eyes: Format Truths
Shape Tape's full coverage creases more on mature under-eyes than sheerer formulas, because thicker product has more to settle into fine lines. The fix is using less: most people apply three times too much. Dot the 20B or 12N shade on the inner corner only, blend outward with a damp sponge, and stop before you reach the outer corner where lines concentrate.
Eye cream timing decides the rest. Rich cream under Shape Tape guarantees creasing by midday, so let eye cream absorb for ten minutes or switch to a gel formula for daytime. Set with the smallest amount of translucent powder, pressed on with a puff rather than swept with a brush. Midday, rescue creases with the warm-finger press rather than adding more product. Thinner application plus proper prep beats any formula change. Our Charlotte Tilbury under-eye guide covers luxury options formulated with mature skin in mind.
One more undertone check: test Shape Tape on your jawline in natural daylight, not store lighting. The 27S warm and 29N neutral shades look similar indoors but read very differently in daylight, and the wrong undertone is the top reason for returns.
For blemishes, use a shade that matches your skin exactly, not one lighter. The one-shade-lighter rule applies to under-eyes only. Lighter concealer on a blemish highlights it instead of hiding it.
Shape Tape's high coverage means a little goes far. Start with half the amount you think you need, since adding more is easy and removing excess disturbs the base underneath.
Set Shape Tape with powder only where you need it. Powder everywhere dulls the radiant finish that makes this concealer flattering, so target the areas that actually crease.