Review: Tarte's Tarteist Lip Paint

I took a break from fuelling my liquid lipstick addiction, but when Tarte came out with new lip paints, I couldn't resist. I've been obsessed with the mauve/burgundy colour family, so I naturally swayed towards those shades. Below is a quick review of their new Tarteist Lip Paints!

Swatches left to right: Frenemy, Tbt, Namaste

Frenemy

This gorgeous burgundy shade is the love child of Kat Von D's Vampira and Damned. Damned is going to have to step aside, as this will now be my go-to dark lippie. The high pigment formula easily glides and paints the entirety of my lips with one application. 

Verdict: YAY! The shade isn't too dark that I'm hesitant to wear it to work, but also bold enough to make a statement. Be careful though with the initial application, as it can clump towards the end of the lip brush.

Tbt

Mauve this, mauve that. Tbt happened when Kat Von D's Lolita and Sephora's Marvelous Mauve decided to have a one night stand. It's a little darker in person, but a great staple if you're riding the mauve train and aren't able to secure the Kylie Lip Kit. 

Verdict: YAY, but I wouldn't put it at the top of your purchase list if you already have a similar shade.

Namaste

Namaste indeed. The search for the perfect nude ends here. This has been on high rotation since purchase. It's the right mix of nude and pink to prevent you from looking sickly, washing you out or looking like you have nothing on your lips.

Verdict: 10x YAY! Already thinking of purchasing my next tube.

Overall

If you're an avid liquid lipstick wearer, you know exfoliating and moisturizing your lips before application is crucial, especially with the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. The same goes for Tarte, but post initial application my lips feel soft, as if I'm wearing a satin lipstick. The lip paint doesn't instantly dry on your lips, but rather lies comfortably on top. It eventually does dry matte, however, there is still a bit of transfer. The wear is about 5-6 hours, with only the inside of your lips losing pigment.

Compared to Kat Von D: KVD has a thinner formula, so I'll usually have to apply two coats for the desired look. With Tarte, I only need one. The prices are comparable, but KVD offers 2-3 hours more wear, and a wider variety of shades. 

Compared to Sephora: Pricewise, Sephora is cheaper and I'd say the formulas on both are quite similar. 

If you have extremely dry lips, but still want to try a liquid lipstick, I'd recommend Tarte or Sephora. KVD has the driest formula out of the bunch, but also lasts the longest.

Let me know which ones are your favourites in the comments!

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Review: Welcoming New Kat Von D Lippies

Kat Von D's new Fall shades in her Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks have been sold out for quite some time. Right when I got the 'in stock' notification on my phone, I quickly added the items to my cart and in doing so bumped into a pole as I was walking to work. T'was worth, and now y'all get a review! 

Swatches left to right: Beloved, Melancholia, Mother, Bow N Arrow

1) Mother (Currently sold out) - You'll be impressing everyone and their mothers with this gorgeous dusty mauve pink -- the spawn of Sephora's 13 Marvelous Mauve and Kat Von D's Bauhau5. Mother compliments all complexions and provides the perfect pop of colour, while still muted enough for everyday office wear. 

Yay or Nay? Yay, only if you don't already have Marvelous Mauve, Bauhau5, or a similar shade. Let's be real, $24+tax is a lot for a shade twin.

2) Bow N Arrow (Currently sold out) - Bow N Arrow is very picky with who she makes friends with. This shade is hard to pull off and I haven't decided if I can or not. If you have a paler complexion, pair it with some blush and a smokey eye and you'll be shooting men right in their tracks. Otherwise, you'll look half dead.

Yay or Nay? Yay if you're a true 90s baby, don't have brown lips naturally, and on the fairer side.

3) Beloved (Currently sold out) - Easily my favourite shade out of the bunch. The coral is soft enough that I'm not afraid to wear it out in public (unlike Sephora's 04 Coral Crush). This is a must-have in your purse, and is great all year round.

Yay or Nay? Absolutely yay! All you need is one layer and then get ready to pucker up.

4) Melancholia (Currently NOT sold out) - I love love love this shade! Not sure why it was named what it was, as it's the complete opposite of deep sadness and gloom. It's a classic pale, mod pink that makes you appear more tanned.

Yay or Nay? Yay, only if you don't suffer from chronic dry lips. Exfoliate prior to application, or your lip lines will be very prominent. Also, who doesn't want to look more tanned in the middle of winter?

I recommend adding your email to the waitlist online at Sephora so you're notified the moment the lippies are back in stock. Let me know in the comments which ones were your faves!

Now off to Turks & Caicos!!!

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Review: Battle of the Liquid Lipsticks [feat. Kat Von D & Sephora]

Ever since I've discovered the existence of matte liquid lipsticks/lip stains, it's rare you'll see me use an actual lipstick [with the exception of Fly Away, from bareMinerals' Marvelous Moxie line - highly recommend]. They are truly a game changer in the world of lipsticks, and I am completely obsessed. The ones featured in this post are my all-time favourites, but I'll also mention the ones that didn't quite make the cut.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain swatches from top to bottom: 01 Always Red, 14 Blackberry Sorbet, 06 Pink Souffle, 13 Marvelous Mauve, 07 Cherry Blossom, 12 African Violet 

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick swatches from top to bottom: Damned, Lolita, Lovesick, Susperia, Bauhau5, Backstage Bambi

KAT VON D'S EVERLASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK

DAMNED - Pop that cherry with this deep, dark vixen, and you'll conquer fall in style [as seen here]. This darker shade is not for the weak and is similar to Vampira, but the formula and consistency is 10x better.

LOLITA - One of the most sought after lip shades thanks to Miss Kylie Jenners, I've recently fallen back in love with this brown beauty. Rumor has it the more dusty rose Lolita is making a comeback soon. Whichever shade you opt for, this is a must for all you 90s babies. 

LOVESICK - This lovely mauve nude shade is part of Kat Von D's new fall collection. It's the matte sister of bareMineral's Fly away, and y'all know how much I love that shade. It doesn't make your teeth appear yellow either, which is always a win in my books.

SUSPERIA - If you're a loyal reader, you'll remember my dislike for ColourPop's Grind in my review of their Lippie Stix. Another one from the new fall collection, this bright lavender is Grind's arch nemesis, better in every category. 

BAUHAU5 - If you have to choose one shade, it's this one. There was a 2-3 month period where this was my go-to lippie for everything. It's the right amount of pigment, pop, and class that makes it my absolute favorite, and will guarantee compliments all around.

BACKSTAGE BAMBI - Bauhau5 had to learn to share the spotlight when I met Backstage Bambi. You know I'm looking to party when I bring out this vivid hot pink, because I'm actually a 75 year old grandma on the inside. It's a slightly less florescent version of Sephora's 08 Whipped Blush, and I'm already on my second tube.

SEPHORA'S CREAM LIP STAIN

07 CHERRY BLOSSOM - This is an absolutely gorgeous colour for all skin tones, especially for darker complexions. It's super pigmented, so all you need is one coat to last you the entire day.

06 PINK SOUFFLE - A soft muted pink, Pink Souffle not only sounds delicious, but is great for all complexions and perfect if you're going for a more natural look. Of course Vaseline or lip balm is the way to go if you're aiming for a neutral base, but a 'lil touch of pink never hurt anybody.

13 MARVELOUS MAUVE - Lolita's fabulous cousin, this shade has a more dusty pink undertone than brown. You really can't go wrong with a MLBB, nor can you have enough variations of it either.

12 AFRICAN VIOLET - Clearly my kryptonite are blue-toned pinks. Nicki Minaj is my inner spirit animal so I guess that explains why. Whenever I'm feeling vivacious, I like to amp up my lips with this fun, bold colour. 

14 BLACKBERRY SORBET - Another classic must for fall! If the name doesn't entice you enough, how about the fact you can actually eat a sorbet and not have to worry about your lips partitioning into two colours afterwards.

01 ALWAYS RED - I'm very picky with my reds. This is similar to Kat Von D's Studded Kiss Lipstick in Underage Red, my former HG. The difference is you don't need to apply, blot, and apply once more to ensure it lasts all day. Since this is a lip stain, there is little to no transfer.

Unfortunately for some reason, paired with my oily complexion, Underage Red and Outlaw from Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks would bleed onto my skin by mid-day, and by the end of the day I looked like Ronald McDonald. Always Red is a matte, bold, classic red that will stand the test of time.

Didn't quite make the cut:

- Sephora's 05 Infinite Rose - This is a great shade for some, depending on how dark your natural lip colour is. However, it just looked like I applied a layer of glitter over my bare lips.  

- Sephora's 04 Coral Crush - Awesome nail polish colour, not so much for my lips. I'm all for crazy lip shades, but this was too florescent and coral for my complexion. 

- Kat Von D's Berlin - I personally don't like shades that are in-between red and pink. This made me think of the post make out-with-red-lipstick-on look that I will always avoid.

- Kat Von D's L.U.V. - Love the deep purple, but when pitted against Susperia, Susperia is better for everyday wear due to the hint of pink in it.

SO WHO'S THE WINNER?

Depends what you value most:

Price: Sephora ($18 CDN vs. $24 CDN)

Application: Sephora (1 coat suffices as it's thicker, more pigmented vs. 2+ coats depending on the shade)

Variation in Shades: Kat Von D (25 vs. 14)

Longevity: Kat Von D

I love both brands' liquid lipsticks and would highly recommend trying both to see which one better suits your lips. I don't find either of them drying, even though they are extremely matte. I do put a base of Vaseline before any application, so that may help. You aren't going to go wrong with either brand, so HAPPY LIPPIE HUNTING!

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