Last fall, I got to try mini versions of these Tarte Quench Lip Rescue and loved them, so I picked up several full sizes when Tarte ran a promotion. There are 8 "colors" available and I have 5: Clear, Berry, Cherry, Coral, and a LE Pink Sands.
All pictures taken in natural light without flash.
These come in the prettiest round and slim paper tubes and this was what caught my attention initially. The tubes are even prettier in person, and I was so tempted to collect them all--each color comes in a different but equally pretty design. That was, until I opened them up.
Let's just say disappointment hit pretty hard. Inside these lovely paper tubes are the crappiest plastic twist-up part. They're painted gold and appears decent in photos, but in real life it's obvious they're crappy and cheap: lightweight, loose, and flimsy. The minis were actually better made than these full sizes. Hell, I can get something at Daiso that feels sturdier than these. Each tube contains only 2.8g of product and Tarte charges $19 per tube!
Good thing the crappy twist-up part is hidden inside the pretty paper outer shell. And good thing the balm itself has a great formula and more than makes up for any other crappy part of the packaging. Yes, this Lip Rescue is a glorified lip balm, and I love it in no small part because of the beautiful paper tube. In conclusion: buy only when on sale and don't pay full price because they're not worth it.
- Clear: self explanatory.
- Berry: already reviewed so I won't repeat.
- Cherry: I think this is the same as the mini Red, so again I won't repeat.
- Coral: a pretty peach-coral. Applies true to color. This color and Cherry above are the only two that shows up better on my lips, although they're both still pretty sheer.
- Pink Sands: a fleshy pink-nude with fine gold micro-shimmers that don't show. It looks pretty in the tube but it applies pretty much clear. See swatches.
From left to right: Clear, Berry, Cherry, Coral, and a LE Pink Sands.
See my previous Tarte Quench Lip Rescue post.
Why did they get rid of the second (purple) turtle design? :( You're right, though, they're pretty, but mine got so soft (not in my pocket, on my desk!) that a part of it broke off.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Cherry is the same color as Red, at least not on me. Cherry seems to be cooler.
Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why they got rid of the purple turtle design! Was it a limited edition? Then again, some LE's in the US sticks around for years so the term doesn't really have much meaning here haha
Yeah, that's another problem with these. They get all melty. Actually, many of the nicer lippies here have that problem. I don't know why.
Oh I totally didn't realize Cherry and Red are different color--they appear the same on me LOL! Thanks for pointing that out!
Cheers,
D.
Beats the LEs in Japan that are gone before you figure out you like them, if you ask me! :'D
ReplyDeleteI thought Cherry was cooler than Red, but don't quote me on it!