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). MAC Fleur d'Coral (LE, $19.00) is more pigmented (90% 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). 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.

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 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 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