The Balm Stainiac in Beauty Queen

Stop....You're Making Me Blush:)

theBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen

I'll be honest, cheek tints/stains have always scared the heck out of me.  They look so unnatural in those plastic nail polish-lookin bottles.  Even the ones that come in solid form remind me of hardened jello lol.  I never understood how people can apply them without looking streaky OR as if they just finished a triathlon (tomato face!).

 I've got oily sensitive skin so I tend to stay away from cream/liquid blushes because I find them to be too sticky on my cheeks or they just fade away.  When you have acne you don't feel like touching your cheeks or aggravating the skin anymore than you already have to.

TheBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen

That being said, I am so glad that I finally (wo)maned up and tried TheBalm Stainiac because this stuff rocks.  It comes in a tube with a doe-foot applicator which makes application super easy and mess free.  No need to worry about it spilling in your purse.  In the tube it looks like jam, strawberry jam :) mmmm..yummy.  The consistency is a soft gel tint and it spreads very easily on the cheek if you use a light hand.  I love it because it doesn't irritate my skin, its not sticky and it gives the most beautiful and natural flushed look.  It does work well as a lip stain too but be careful because its kind of drying. 

Swatch: Stainiac in Beauty Queen

Its great to use alone or you can layer it with another powder blush on top if you want a stronger look.  I keep it in my purse for when I need a bit of color and I love how the packaging is so dainty and convenient.  

Price: $17
Size: 0.3 fl oz
Available at: Sephora, Beauty.com



*Disclaimor: I purchased this item myself:)

Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lip Luster in Delighted & Tart Lipsurgence Natural Lip Tint in Amused

Yummy Tarte Lipsurgence Swatches & Review

Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Luster in Delighted

Hey guys! So I wanted to share some pics of my new jumbo lip pencils from Tarte's much talked-about lipsurgence line ($24).  The first color is a "lip luster" called Delighted and

I would describe it as a darker peachy/pink shade with delicate shimmer. 

 

 

Now it does contain some glitter but it is so small that you don't even notice it because it blends in really well with the overall color.  I think the shimmer part is what helps the light reflect off the lips making them appear plumper which is totally cool with me:) 

Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Luster in Delighted

The pigmentation is actually pretty good and I wouldn't call it sheer coverage...maybe medium?  Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it blended onto my lips.  I wouldn't really call it a long-wearing lip product because it did transfer onto my tea cup and I had to reapply afterwards. It is however, very moisturizing.  Not sure if it actually lives up to the company's claim that it "increases lips moisture content by 6000%" but I was able to wear it even while suffering from dry lips without any irritation or burning.  The mint scent was lovely and not too strong, kinda like those red & white candies:) 

Tarte Lipsurgence in Delighted
Left: Applied once   Right: Layered

Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Stain in Amused

The second color is a bright pink "lip tint" called Amused.  I was drawn to this color because of its vibrancy.  Since summer is right about to start and I tend to be more active I wanted something I can throw in my bag and not need a mirror to reapply. The pencil form makes it pretty easy and user-friendly.

Lip Surgence Lip Stain in Amused

Amused is definetly more sheer then my other Tarte lipsurgence Delighted but the bright pinky color is extremely vibrant & buildable.  Quick Tip: I did notice that Amused got caught in some of my lip lines so make sure you exfoliate before applying.  Also, if your lipsticks tends to bleed I would be cautious of this color....I've got a hunch that it may not be suitable for mature lips.  

Tarte Lipsurgence in Amused
Left: Applied once Right: Layered

My only two concerns are the risk of melting and SPF factor.  All Tarte Lipsurgences contain moisturizing & beneficial ingredients like jojoba seed oil, peppermint oil, vitamin c and vitamin e but I'm not sure how strong it is at blocking UV rays.  The price is also kinda a turn off and I don't think I will be running back to buy more any time soon.  Its not one of those products where I feel like, "OH MY GAAAAWD! My life is incomplete, I need every color!" ;o)  It's a fun product if you have cash to spare.  I heard Revlon has come out with a similar product that is more wallet-friendly :o)


**Update 10/09/12**
Just want to let you guys know that the lipsurgence in Amused is very prone to melting.  For some reason the consistency is thinner and it gets stuck on the inside of the tube making it very difficult to reach.  I had to scoop the product out and put it in a empty lip jar so that it doesn't go to waste.  Its kind of frustrating when the only reason I bought this was so that I can use it while I'm on the go.  I went through two Amused lipsurgence pencils and both had this same problem:(

Price: $24
Availabe at: Tartecosmetics.com, Sephora.com, Blush.com