Tarte • LipSurgence natural lip tint in Lust • Lips

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kbholden on 12/7/2012 4:56:00 PM more reviews by kbholden

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This is definitely not a stain, but I don't think it's being marketed as that anymore (it's a "lip tint" now, which is a lot more accurate), so I'm not rating it based on it's staining abilities (which is zero).

I absolutely love this "lip tint." I wear either this shade, Lust, or the newer shade, Swank, every single day. Lust is a very sheer, cherry red that works really well with my fair skin, and it is my all-time favorite color. I don't know what I'll do if they stop making it. Swank has a tiny bit more warmth and is slightly more pink than red (sort of a yellow based pinkish-red) and a good bit more pigment than Lust, but they are both pretty much perfect, whether or not I'm wearing any other makeup. I'm always impressed when a lip color actually enhances my skin tone without any makeup on, usually lip colors bring out my splotchiness/redness.

I have no idea why some people claim the LipSurgence tints are drying; I find them to be the most moisturizing lip colors that I've ever owned. In fact, I've thrown out every other lip color that I had and now exclusively use LipSurgence because of this. The matte colors are a little drier, but I wouldn't call them "drying" at all...

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*TOP REVIEWER* psmitty on 1/26/2011 3:43:00 PM more reviews by psmitty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I would have given this two lippies for the great sheer red shade and fun crayon stick, but am so disgusted with the advertising, it gets a 1! On the display, it claimed 6000% improvement in moisture- rediculous to begin with, but more so considering how drying it is. It feels greasy at first, however that wears away to dryness and pigment gathering in the lines. Even when it doesn't feel bad, it looks feathered and dry shortly after application. And it doesn't stain at all- in fact lasting power is poor. The brazenly false claims (in big letters on the display) are enough to stop me from buying Tarte in the future. I bought $8 Joe Fresh tinted lip balm at the grocery store and it far outperforms in shades, moisture and wear. Try Guerlain tinted lip balm instead, wears well.

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smlrck26 on 1/12/2011 8:00:00 PM more reviews by smlrck26

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is more like a really lightweight gloss because it will come off on my coffee mug. It doesn't stain my lips at all, just coats them. The initial reason why I purchased this was because I thought it was a stain...it is not a stain!


Another important note: This is a pink based red - NOT a true red like the tube. I wish I would of swatched this in Ulta or Sephora before shelling out $24 on it. :(

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*TOP REVIEWER* lipcrazy on 11/9/2010 6:57:00 PM more reviews by lipcrazy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I wear a lip stain everyday, as a result I have tried many brands from drug store to department store. When I heard that Tarte was launching a line of lip stains that would increase the moisture in your lips by 6000% I was excited. I love lip stains but get tired of having dry lips. I though this product would solve all of my problems. So I ran out and bought it very shortly after it was launched. This product is not a lip stain based on my definition of stain (urban decay, benetint, vincent longo...etc) I think tarte has changed the name to a "lip tint" recently because if memory serves me it was most definitely marketed as a stain.


Lust is a fire engine red that is very sheer and semi-glossy. The color is sheer enough that I think it would be flattering on many skin tones (I'm a C40 for reference). Building the color up so it has pigment requires a couple of coats and is messy because of the glossy nature of the product. It tends to smear and smudge as you eat, drink and progress through your day. The Lipsurgence pencils don't last as long as a typical stain either, within about 3 hours it was completely gone from my lips. The upside is that it left my lips clean with no weird outline or uneven patch on my lips.
It was more moisturizing then the average stain at first, but as I wore the product it actually started drying my lips out.


I was really confused as to what this product was supposed to be and I wondered if I was somehow using it incorrectly which is why I took so long to review it. Right now, I'm using it up by adding a very sheer coat over my regular stains. I like to think it adds a little bit of dimension to my lips. It could just be in my head though.


I gave one lippie for the packaging and another lippie because it came off evenly. Neither of which is enough for me to repurchase. There are better stains out there for the price and if I wanted something glossy on my lips there are far superior lip glosses available. In terms of the "lip tint" advertising, I would rather just blot off some of my favorite lipstick or apply a sheer wash of stain and coat with carmex to get a similar effect. It would be more moisturizing and the total cost would be far below the $24 I paid for this stuff.

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