Tarte • inside out vitamin lipstick in Zen • Lipstick

skribblez on 5/18/2009 5:58:00 PM more reviews by skribblez

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Just got this in the mail today. I bought it for a special offer on beauty.com (buy 2 Tarte products get free Indelible Wink eyeliner).. so I had to buy another Tarte product. I didn't think I would like it since I tend to go for lighter nude shades and this seemed dark. Of all the colors, I chose "Zen" because it was the "most nude" color even thought I assumed it would be way too dark. However, I just tried it and it looks great. Better yet, it feels great (meaning no "dry" feeling that other lipsticks tend to have.) To me, it's dark nude tone with plums and browns. It actually goes good with my medium-tan skin. This is the first "darker" color I have ever liked! Plus, the tube is very cute. It's rectangular with a quilter pattern and like other Tarte products, it's purple. It stands out from all my other lipsticks and will be easy to find when I'm in a hurry. Overall, the color is very subtle and can be played up or down depending on the rest of your makeup. I don't know if I'd buy it again because I don't wear darker colors often and this will probably be enough to last a very long time.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* proximitythe53rd on 7/3/2008 1:14:00 PM more reviews by proximitythe53rd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Tarte's Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick in Zen has quickly become one of my favorite lip color products.
I should start by saying that I am quite pale in complexion, and that most lip colors show up much more brightly on me than they do on most people. Usually this ends up looking bad and weird, and for a long time I absolutely never wore any lip products except for balm and clear gloss.



Zen is a sheer, matte plum color. It does not stand out brightly on my lips, and as at least one previous reviewer has noted, it's very forgiving - it doesn't require perfect application to look great. One thin layer of Zen moisturizes and gives my lips a nice color that's sheer, and not mask-like. A heavier application produces a more "lipstick" look, as the color is buildable. The color on my lips is much nicer than the color in the tube which is a brownish/redish/purple. This lipstick has no flavor that I can taste.
The formula is moisturizing, and doesn't dry out quickly, which is good for someone like me who easily gets chapped lips and can't stand the feel of drying lip products. On the lips, it feels more or less like a lip balm, rather than a lipstick.
I believe that the white central part is a sort of conditioning balm, which melds with the color when you apply it.



The first time I tried Zen (at Sephora) I wasn't even aware of its "vitamin" concept - I just thought it was a nice formula and a good color. I didn't buy it when I first tried it, but I did look it up later on Sephora's website, which is when I learned about the "inside out" concept. I'd say it's pretty much a gimmick - using this lipstick over others is unlikely to effect your health in any way. I liked Zen enough that I eventually bought it online.



The only negative thing I have to say about this lipstick is a packaging issue. The purple toned, textured tube is fine, it's sort of cute, sort of plasticy. What I don't like is that in my tube, the lipstick is not perfectly centered in the tube. When you turn the tube to advance the lipstick, the lipstick tilts slightly to the side, and touches against the side of the tube. It's not a major issue, but it does mean I have to be sort of careful not to scrape lipstick off the side. Chances are, this wouldn't even bother me if I wasn't a neat freak about all my skincare and cosmetic products. I'm one of those people who even cleans off the top of the toothpaste before putting the cap back on.



EDITED TO ADD: I still love this lipstick, but I thought I should mention, Tarte seems to have changed the name of this lipstick to "Vitamin Core Lipstick" ... I assume to avoid confusion with the newer "Vitamin Infused Lipstick" (which shares the same packaging and seems to be a similar product, except that it's solid throughout whereas this lipstick has a white "vitamin" core).

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Maderine on 3/9/2008 1:04:00 PM more reviews by Maderine

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Hype aside, I really love this lipstick. I doubt I'm doing my body any good when I accidentally lick some off my lips, as the advertising would have me believe, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to die from anything other than fabulousness when I wear it! This is a very interesting product--a moisturizing matte, sheer, buildable lipstick, the likes of which I've never seen before. Zen is a beautiful plummy color that manages to look quietly dramatic against my fair, freckled skin. I have to apply maybe three times daily--not much--and the color lasts well, especially considering how light it feels. I actually forget it's there. Another thing I like about it is that I can apply without a mirror. It's a pretty forgiving lipstick and looks good even if I don't get right out to the border of my lips. I can't think of anything bad to say about this lipstick, really. It's great and I'll buy again. EDIT 6/3/08: up to 5 lippies; the more I wear this, the more I like it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* pulidobl on 1/12/2008 3:15:00 PM more reviews by pulidobl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I like this lipstick because it is not drying. So many of them are on me, so I wear a lot of lip glosses. The texture is a lot like a balm, but there is a lot of pigment in here and it has a pleasant pomegranate taste, too. The hype with the Borba ingredients in here are questionable and my lippie came with a single serving of the Borba drink mix (which I like). It is nice to find a lipstick that is not drying. I think this is the best color in the 3 colors that are out - a very wearable brownish plum. I like wearing the gloss Liquid Sunshine over it...

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Tatouz on 8/31/2007 9:55:00 AM more reviews by Tatouz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

i bought this on a whim yesterday. i really love it. the color looks a bit dark and weird in the tube but on the lips it is a lovely berry color. the color lasted most of the day and it didn't dry my lips at all. i can't wait to try out the other colors.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cam1987 on 8/22/2007 6:01:00 PM more reviews by cam1987

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

i actually love this lipstick. i've always worn lipgloss since i started wearing makeup and most lipsticks have to much coverage for me. this lipstick however is perfect for me. the color is very buildable and it has a satin finish. it doesnt dry my lips out like some other lipsticks i have tried. it wears really well and makes my lips feel sooo soft. it feels like a really good lip balm when you put it on and after awhile you cant feel it on at all, even though the color has not faded at all. there was a tarte rep at sephora when i got this and she told me there would be more colors coming out in the fall along with more colors in the inside out lipgloss, which i also love. the glosses look good over this lipstick if you want a little shimmer, but i usually wear it without because its so pretty alone.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

toofaced on 7/27/2007 5:01:00 PM more reviews by toofaced

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This review is for Tartes new inside out vitamin lipstick in Zen. This lipstick comes in a textured square tube, and looks like a really "garish" dark purple color with a white center, exactly like Smashbox's tinted treatment lipstick, or the new Revlon lipsticks. When applied it is a lovely, sheer, berry color. It is not glossy, I would call it a semi-matte. It has pretty fair staying power. It also has a very, very light fruity smell to it. As of now they only come in 3 colors. This also came with a sample of BORBA Skin Balance Aqua-less Crystalline drink mix ( this lipstick boasts it is "powered by BORBA nutraceuticals" ). I would repurchase, but am hoping for a bigger color selection.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No