Tarte Brownie, Choker, Crop Top Tarteist Lip Paints

Tarte Brownie Tarteist Lip Paint

Tarte Brownie Tarteist Lip Paint ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a natural sheen. It had opaque color coverage with a thin, spreadable consistency that wasn’t too watery or too mousse-like. The texture sat well on the lips initially, but over time, it does seem to emphasize lip lines. This shade lasted for five hours on me and was lightly drying. Keep in mind, this is not a typical liquid lipstick that dries down to an ultra-matte, transfer-proof finish–it does transfer, but it is pigmented enough that it doesn’t seem to lose intensity after drinking or light meals (no fried chicken!). Colour Pop Hollywood Blvd. (P, $5.00) is less glossy (90% similar). Colour Pop Tansy (P, $6.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC Photo (P, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Tarte Choker (P, $20.00) is darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Choker Tarteist Lip Paint ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm undertones and a natural sheen. It was intensely pigmented with a lightweight texture that applied evenly and smoothly with little effort. The color wore well for five hours, settled into lip lines just slightly, and was somewhat drying. Urban Decay 1993 (P, $17.00) is cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (DC, $22.00) is cooler (85% similar). Tarte Brownie (P, $20.00) is lighter (80% similar). MAC Photo (P, $17.00) is darker (80% similar). Colour Pop Tansy (P, $6.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Colour Pop Hollywood Blvd. (P, $5.00) is darker, less glossy (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Crop Top Tarteist Lip Paint ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plummy-brown with warmer undertones and a lightly glossy finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, but there was a grittiness to the consistency, almost as if it wasn’t fully mixed, that was unusual. The texture was more slippery than a lot of the other Lip Paints I’ve tried as well. It lasted for four hours and settled noticeably into lip lines, while the formula was drying overall. Colour Pop Chilly Chili (LE, $6.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Verve (P, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar). Colour Pop Kae (LE, $6.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). Bite Beauty Molasses (P, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Colour Pop Limbo (P, $6.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). Too Faced Naughty by Nature (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). Maybelline Coffee Addiction (P, $7.49) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Colour Pop Grunge (LE, $5.00) is lighter (80% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (DC, $22.00) is lighter (80% similar). MAC Among the Fireflies (LE, $17.00) is lighter (80% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (P, $17.00) is lighter (80% similar). MAC Double Shot (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Colour Pop Frick 'n' Frack (P, $6.00) is lighter (80% similar). MAC Taupe (P, $17.00) is lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a pigmented, matte liquid lipstick that’s long-wearing. First thing to note is that these never fully dry down, so they are not transfer-proof, but they are less drying than the typical liquid lipstick that dries down completely. They are quite pigmented and despite transferring onto cups, while you eat, and so forth, a lot of the color is left behind. You can also touch-up without having to completely remove the formula. The texture is inconsistent; some shades are thin and have a soft shine even after ten minutes of wear, while others are almost mousse-like in the tube, and these ones tend to be more matte from the get-go. There is a very subtle mint scent, but I don’t notice it at all once it is on. I do notice that it is easier to get these on the teeth than other lip products. The formula is lightly to moderately drying over time with average to long-wear, depending on the shade. Some shades settled into lip lines over time. The majority are satin to semi-matte with a little sheen, which you can either blot once for a matte finish or wait about an hour or two for it to naturally mattify (like any satin finish really).