You remember the hype. Back in 2016 and 2017, you couldn't scroll through YouTube or Instagram without seeing that distinct glass bottle with the custom purple-and-gold dropper cap. It was the era of "full coverage or nothing," but Tarte's Rainforest of the Sea concealer—formally known as the Aquacealer—promised something different. It promised to hide your dark circles without making your undereyes look like a cracked desert floor.
Then, things got quiet.
If you go looking for it today, you're going to have a hard time. The makeup world moves fast, and Tarte is the undisputed king of churning out new SKUs. While everyone was obsessed with Shape Tape, the Rainforest of the Sea concealer lived a quieter, more hydrated life until it was eventually phased out and rebranded into the Sea Power Flex line. But honestly? Many people still swear the original formula was the peak of water-based makeup technology.
What Actually Made This Formula Different?
Most concealers are basically a mix of waxes and heavy oils. That’s why they feel thick. Tarte decided to go the opposite direction by leaning into a 20% water-based formula. They marketed it as "Radiant Fluid," and for once, the marketing actually matched the reality of the product. It was thin. Shockingly thin. If you were used to the spackle-like consistency of other products, the first time you felt this on your skin, you probably thought it wouldn't cover a single thing.
But it did.
The secret sauce wasn't just the water; it was the "Rainforest of the Sea" complex. This was a proprietary blend of algae and marine flower extracts. According to Tarte’s internal studies and the ingredient list, these antioxidants were meant to fight off environmental stressors while hydrating the skin. When you apply a water-based product to the delicate skin under the eye, it doesn't settle into fine lines as aggressively as a cream does. It’s science, basically.
The concentration of pigments was surprisingly high for such a watery liquid. You could get medium coverage with a single swipe, and because it was so light, you could layer it without looking like you were wearing a mask. It was a savior for people with dry skin who felt alienated by the matte-everything trend of the mid-2010s.
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The Shape Tape Shadow
It’s impossible to talk about the Rainforest of the Sea concealer without talking about its big sister: Shape Tape.
When Shape Tape launched, it changed the entire industry. It was high-coverage, ultra-matte, and smelled like flowers. It became a juggernaut. Because Shape Tape was so successful, Tarte’s other lines—like the Sea collection—started to feel like the "indie" alternative.
The Aquacealer was for the "no-makeup makeup" crowd before that was even a trendy term. It was for the person who wanted their skin to look like skin. Unfortunately, the market at that time wanted "Instagram Face." We wanted to be baked and contoured to the heavens. A hydrating, serum-like concealer struggled to compete with a product that could literally hide a tattoo.
Why Finding It Now Is a Mess
If you’re scouring the internet for a bottle today, be careful. Tarte has undergone several "brand refreshes." The Rainforest of the Sea line was eventually simplified and folded into the "Sea" umbrella.
- The Discontinuation: The original Aquacealer is officially gone from major retailers like Sephora and Ulta.
- The Successor: Tarte launched the Sea Power Flex Concealer to fill the void.
- The Difference: Power Flex is thicker. It’s meant to be "hydro-gel" based, which is great, but it lacks that specific, watery-serum slip that the original Rainforest of the Sea version had.
Honestly, it's frustrating. Brands often "improve" a product until it’s something entirely different. If you loved the original for its weightlessness, the newer versions might feel a bit too heavy or "grippy" on the skin.
Real Ingredients vs. Marketing Buzz
Let's look at the actual deck. The original formula featured sea water, glycerin, and caffeine. Caffeine is the heavy hitter there. It’s a vasoconstrictor, which means it temporarily shrinks blood vessels. If your dark circles are caused by thin skin showing the blood underneath, caffeine actually helps.
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The "Rainforest of the Sea" part—the algae—is technically a humectant. It pulls moisture from the air into your skin. This is why the product never looked cakey. However, it’s worth noting that if you live in a very dry climate, humectants can sometimes backfire by pulling moisture out of your skin if there’s none in the air.
- Squalane: A moisturizing agent that mimics your skin's natural oils.
- Propanediol: Helps the product absorb better.
- Titanium Dioxide: Provides the actual pigment and some physical sun protection.
Common Misconceptions and Errors
People often confused this with a foundation because the bottle was so big compared to other concealers. Some people used it all over their face. While you could do that, the high concentration of marine extracts sometimes caused breakouts for people with extremely sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Another mistake? Using a soaking wet beauty sponge. Since the concealer was already 20% water, a wet sponge would dilute it to the point of invisibility. The best way to apply it was actually with clean fingertips or a very dense, dry brush to keep the pigment concentrated.
The Competition: What to Buy Instead
Since you can't easily grab the original anymore, where do you go?
The market has finally caught up to what Tarte was doing years ago. If you want that serum-like, "is there even anything on my face?" feeling, you should look at the Kosas Revealer Concealer. It has a similar focus on skincare ingredients (caffeine and hyaluronic acid) and a creamy but thin consistency.
Another solid alternative is the Rose Inc Number Enhanced Skin Tint Concealer. It uses a similar bio-tech approach to hydration. If you’re a die-hard Tarte fan, the Sea Power Flex is your closest current match, just be prepared for a bit more "hold" and a bit less "flow."
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How to Make Thin Concealers Work
If you manage to find a tube or are using a similar water-based product, you have to change your technique.
Don't let it sit.
You know how people tell you to let your concealer dry down for 30 seconds to get more coverage? Don't do that with water-based formulas like Rainforest of the Sea. Because they are thin, once the water evaporates, they can become difficult to blend or leave a "ring" where the product was first placed. Blend immediately.
Set it with a very fine, loose powder. Avoid heavy pressed powders. A heavy powder on top of a water-based concealer is a recipe for a muddy mess. You want a silica-based powder that just "mists" over the surface to lock it in.
Actionable Steps for Your Routine
If you’re missing that specific Tarte glow, or if you're looking for a concealer that won't age you by ten years the second you put it on, follow this path:
- Check the Ingredient List: Look for "Water/Aqua" as the first ingredient. If it's a silicone (like Cyclopentasiloxane), it won't have that same serum feel.
- Prep the Canvas: Use a lightweight eye cream, but let it sink in for 5 minutes. Water-based concealers will slide right off if the skin is too "greasy" from a heavy cream.
- Target the Inner Corner: Most people apply way too much. With a fluid concealer, place three tiny dots only where the darkness is deepest.
- The "Tap" Method: Use your ring finger. The warmth helps the marine extracts and oils melt into the skin texture rather than sitting on top of it.
- Identify Your Undertone: Tarte was notorious for having very yellow or very pink undertones in this line. If you're looking for a replacement, make sure you know if you are "Sand" (yellow), "Honey" (peach), or "Light" (pink).
The era of the original Rainforest of the Sea concealer might be over, but it paved the way for the current "skin-first" makeup movement. We moved away from the heavy, dry masks and toward products that actually let us breathe. It was a pioneer. Even if it’s been rebranded and tucked away, its DNA is in almost every hydrating concealer you see on the shelves today.