Review: Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in Joy

As you can probably already tell from the photos I've posted, I'm an eyeshadow girl. I love playing with bold, bright looks on my eyelids, which means I only add a touch of color to my lips to keep a nice balance.

My interest in stains has surged after my latest love affair with Benefit's Benetint. I've tried lip stains before, but they only dried my lips out; Tarte boasts that their LipSurgence increases moisture content by 6000%, so I decided to try one out to see if the claim was true.

These fat pencils come in three varieties: Natural Lip Tint, Natural Matte Lip Tint, and Natural Lip Luster. I picked the Natural Lip Tint.

Top: Natural. Middle: Natural Matte. Bottom: Natural Luster.

When I got it on, I barely noticed the color and thought I might have to go for a matte instead. After a while, though, the peppermint oil kicked in, my lips plumped up, and the color appeared. It was a bit different than the color shown; it's almost as if it adjusts to you, similar to Smashbox's O-Gloss. To make sure you like the color, I'd definitely try it on in the store if you have the chance.

I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did this not dry out my lips, it delivered on its promise of mucho moisturization! However, the stains I've tried last for hours without budging; this only has about 2 hours of wear. It's sold as a stain, but it does NOT wear like a stain. When I next get time to pick out a nice everyday neutral at Sephora, this will officially replace the lip balm I keep with me.

Pros:
Very natural and sheer; great for those who don't want too much color.

Plumps the lips without unpleasant stinging.

Cons:
Application could be easier; I'd prefer a slimmer design or a pencil with built-in sharpener, as the tip tends to get dull.

Sold as a stain, yet doesn't wear as a stain.

Verdict: A fabulous product... if you want a lip tint. If you're looking for a stain, don't buy it.

Chime in: Have you used this product before? What's your favorite lip stain?