Tarte Pink Sands H20 Lip Gloss & Color Splash Lipstick Reviews & Swatches
Pink Sands
Tarte Pink Sands H20 Lip Gloss ($19.00 for 0.135 oz.) is a medium-dark, pink-tinted base with lots of bright, gold shimmer. It had medium coverage that applied evenly, though it sank into my deeper lip lines slightly–not enough that it was noticeable from a normal viewing distance. Based on the description of it being a lovechild between “your favorite lipgloss and lip balm,” it suggests it was intended to be sheerer. It did have the “intense, ultra-lacquered shine” as promised. The texture was smooth, plush, and lightly tacky; it felt thicker but not actually heavy on my lips. It wore well for four hours and was hydrating while worn. There was a slight vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Vaycray (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Night Rose (507) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- NARS Orgasm X (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Jouer Sea Glass (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- Ciate Luna (P, $18.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Angelic (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Fu$$y (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced Grin and Bare It (P, $20.00).
- Pat McGrath Sunset Rose (P, $30.00).
- ColourPop Tied Up (P, $8.00).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil (LE, $56.00).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tin Oxide, Sodium Saccharin, Isostearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Water, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Algae Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Pink Sands
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Pink Sands
Tarte Pink Sands Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a pale coral with moderate, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation but was hard to build up due to the more emollient texture that slid around and tended to look streaky when more was applied. While comfortable to apply, the color had tendency to sink into my lip lines more and more as time went on. The formula felt lightweight and hydrating for the three hours it lasted for. I’m normally a fan of this formula but found this particular shade a bit of a miss, though often these lighter shades tend to under-perform so it wasn’t a huge surprise.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Jaclyn Cosmetics That Girl (DC, $18.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- Dior Tender Matte (340) (LE, $35.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Becca Bare (DC, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Muneca (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ingenue (LE, $9.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Peep Show (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Hummingbird (P, $65.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Fiesta (LE, $7.00) is brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Hourglass True Love Means (LE, $34.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Motha Luva (P, $20.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.12 oz. - $175.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be “long-wearing,” “full coverage,” and hydrating. The consistency has an incredibly smooth, creamy feel to it and has enough substance and thickness to it that it adheres well to the lips and usually doesn’t pull into lip lines. I felt like the formula felt slightly more emollient initially and “dried” a bit to more of a satin-to-cream finish after a few minutes (but not a true dry down, as it wasn’t transfer-resistant!).
The majority of shades were very pigmented, easy to apply, comfortable to wear with light to moderate hydration over time, and lasted between four and seven hours on me. A few of the lightest and darkest shades weren’t as pigmented or were less flattering on the lips compared to more of the medium shades. There did not seem to be any added fragrance to it (smelled slightly waxy), and I didn’t notice any taste.
Browse all of our Tarte Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Mica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrated Silica, Kaolin, Water, Isohexadecane, Silica, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Candelilla Cera/ Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Tribehenin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Algae Extract, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
The lip gloss version is truly beautiful looking, especially for summertime! However, I do have Fenty Vaycray and Fu$$y. Thinking about layering those 2. Might get something similar to this.
That is a beautiful lip gloss! I love the gold sparkles in it.
Thanks for this!
I was leaning hard toward these two and while trying to convince myself I don’t need another gloss (as it turns out, I have two of your dupes), the lipstick was really calling to me.
I did a side-by-side with MAC Japanese Maple (which I have) and it’s quite close and has that same emollient character.
I can now happily pass.
Lovely color, but the only Tarte H20 glosses I’ve tried have both been so thick and tacky to the point of not being wearable for me. It is pretty to look at though.
I was interested in the lipstick but I literally tossed two Sephora Rouge Shine lipsticks for the same reason, being too light/sheer and so emollient that it settled in my liplines. Boo.