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Tarte Quench Lip Rescues Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Quench Lip Rescue ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to be a “moisturizing lip balm” with “sheer … soft, subtle color” paired with a “dewy finish” that will “smooth over the look of lip lines.” It is, more or less, a tinted lip balm. The range has four shades–all reviewed below–but they aren’t significantly different from shade to shade, and that’ll be even more obvious if you have more pigmented lips. They are moderately hydrating, less than my favorite lip balms but more than a number of lipsticks. They are gel-like and melt against the lips with a thin, lightweight consistency with a lot of slip. The deepest shade, Berry, stains more obviously, while the others tend to slide around and disappear between two and three hours. As it is in a twist-up, slim tube, it contains about as much as most lipsticks (0.10 oz.) but less than traditional lip balm (especially squeeze-tube and potted lip balm; Fresh’s twist-up Lip Balm contains 50% more but retails at $24). They are mint-scented but don’t have a flavor to me. They come packaged in heavy-duty cardboard with an interior plastic piece that holds the actual lipstick together, which still didn’t feel particularly secure to me overall.

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a pale white with a glossy finish. This shade, while still sheer, had more coverage than two of the other shades. It lightened my natural lip color with more of a washed-out appearance overall. The consistency was balm-like and glided on easily, though the lighter color seemed to emphasize lip lines, though the “color” seemed even. It wore for two hours and left no stain behind.
Chanel Melba (75) (LE, $37.00) is more pigmented, warmer (95% similar). Chanel Intime (93) (P, $37.00) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Myself (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). Chanel Olga (422) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Revlon Pink Lemonade (DC, $7.49) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Fleur d'Coral (LE, $19.00) is more pigmented (90% similar). Estee Lauder Mischievous Rose (P, $30.00) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar). Chanel Camelia Blanc (327) (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, peachy-beige with warm undertones and a glossy sheen. It darkened my lips slightly and gave them subtle warmth. The consistency was lightweight, comfortable, and had a fair amount of slip. It lasted for two hours on me, though it was hydrating. Laura Geller Mango Sorbet (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). Tarte Rose (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Chanel Desinvolte (97) (P, $37.00) is warmer (85% similar). MAC Jubilee (P, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium peachy-coral with warm undertones. This was the most pigmented of the four with more semi-sheer coverage with noticeable translucency but far more coverage than the others–this may be a good thing for some, if you prefer greater coverage. The texture was moderately slippery with a gel-like consistency that glided across the lips without tugging. It seemed a little denser than the other shades, and I noticed some color pooling in lip lines. This shade wore for three hours and was hydrating. Buxom Two-Timer (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter, more pigmented (90% similar). Laura Geller Mango Sorbet (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Retro Coral (DC, $37.00) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Dreaming Dahlia (LE, $19.00) is brighter, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Nude (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is muted, medium-dark plum with warm undertones. It darkened my natural lip colro several shades with sheer color that didn’t emphasize lip lines, but the formula didn’t smooth out the lips either. It was moderately hydrating and lasted for three hours with a very subtle stain left for another hour. Estee Lauder Irresistible (P, $32.00) is more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Amor Prohibido (LE, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). Estee Lauder Inspiring (P, $30.00) is brighter, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Sheer Beso (DC, $22.00) is cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Opal

PPermanent. $19.00.
B-
B-
7.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
8
Texture
6.5
Longevity
4.5
Application
81%
Total

Nude

PPermanent. $19.00.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
6.5
Longevity
5
Application
87%
Total

Rose

PPermanent. $19.00.
B
B
8.5
Product
9
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
86%
Total

Berry

PPermanent. $19.00.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
89%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Opal Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Nude Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Rose Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue
Tarte Berry Quench Lip Rescue

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest the Sea Aqua Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes
  • Tarte Sunlight Skin Twinkle Highlighter
  • Zoeva Palace Door Blush
On eyes:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

44 Comments

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Fran Avatar

I may just skip these! None of the colors are that great for me, even if they would show up… and, if it’s not all that moisturizing, either, I don’t think my lips will see much benefit.

I’m confused about what people mean when they say ‘pigmented lips’. My lips are a kind of a fairly dark, dusky purple — in other words, they have a lot of color — but I think the reason why they have a lot of color is because of a *lack* of skin pigment being present to give the peachy-beige color of ‘nude’ lips — it’s the color of my capillary blood, showing through the mucous membrane without any interference from melanin, that gives them their color. But I imagine what most people mean when they say ‘pigmented lips’ is ‘lips that have a lot of their own color’ regardless of the reason for the color being there or what color it is. Can you clarify this for me?

Christine Avatar

It’s mostly that the way the lips look has more color to it than say, light beige or light pink. I imagine most aren’t thinking about the cause or the why, only that there’s more visible coloration on their lips that ultimately makes lighter or sheerer shades show up very differently compared to other people (mine, for example, are lighter naturally).

Celia Avatar

It also has that nice brightening effect that certain lightening shades tend to sometimes, which is always very pretty. It’s amazing how much a subtle transformation shade like that can brighten, which of course is what makes such things perfect for little-makeup days.

Wednesday Avatar

Excellent comment from both you and Christine, Celia.. it helped me to understand why I would like something that looks so incredibly basic.

I picked this up yesterday..along with a number of those sparkly Sephora eyeliners. I never feel guilty about this type of product because I know I will use the heck out of them.

Katherine T. Avatar

Meh, it’s like tinted vaseline jelly. wish there was more of a tint, so don’t I look all washed out. But I LOVE the pretty floral and seashell design on the packaging, so fresh and spring/summer- looking, wish they did that with their other lippies (sigh)

Amy Z. Avatar

The butter lipstick does have the pattern, but the packaging is cardboard (unless they changed it). The packaging for these Lip Rescues look more luxurious.

Jm Avatar

I like my lip products to be light and not much more than a balm anyway, so I really love the look of these! The tube itself is so pretty, the hardest choice will be which one to buy!

SusanG Avatar

Huh. Berry Quench is a surprise. You’d think something named Berry would at least a smidge of colour?? A totally forgettable product. I’m sticking with Nivea Lip Balm!

Celia Avatar

Yeah, personally these freak me out a bit because of the packaging. Too many bad experiences with tinted balms in sub-par packaging getting all over my wallet or something.

Pami Avatar

While the packaging is cute (though I didn’t know it was cardboard!), I don’t get the idea of them all being so sheer, you can hardly tell them apart. A definite pass for me.

Nicole Avatar

The Rose one is quite pretty. I’ve definitely been into that kind of muted coral lately. I don’t know, I’m always on the fence about Tarte. I think the designs on their packaging are gorgeous (no exception for these-I love love LOVE the ocean theme they’ve been doing lately), but their products never really seem to “wow” me. Which is a bummer! I want to want these products.

Tiffany Kelly Avatar

Is it bad that I only want this for the packaging? I just love the thought of beach themed “lip balm” when I’m at the beach

Nicole Avatar

What is the purpose of These? :-/ You look gorgeous as usual, but they appear overpriced and not even as pigmented as the Revlon Lip Butters. With the exception of Opal, the other 3 look almost identical. And why the cardboard packaging? Is that just their thing?

alexia Avatar

I purchased the $9 combo of Nude and one of the new lipsticks, at Sephora and I like this, but it will get used up REALLY quickly. They practically melt onto the lips. The texture and shine is lovely, but not worth the cost.

Claire L Avatar

The packaging is so pretty, a shame the lip balms themselves aren’t quite up to scratch. I’m tempted to get one just for the cute packaging, haha!

Susan Dowman Nevltainly Avatar

I see so many women who say their natural lip color is brighter or deeper than these samples. My lips used to have bright color naturally. Now, at 67, they are very pale but still on the full side. Older women often need more color that these softer balms reveal. Love your lips and coloring at every age.

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