Tarte's 4 Day Stay Lash Stain ($18 for full size) seems like something straight from the pages of a science fiction novel. Formulated with cross-polymers, mineral pigments, and provitamin B5, this mascara promises to stay soft and flexible for hours or days on end and tint your lashes. Its endurance rivals that of the best waterproof mascaras on the market, but remarkably enough, it does not contain harmful chemicals such as sulfates, petro-chemicals, and phthalates, or any synthetic fragrances or dyes. With such an impressive pedigree and pretty packaging to boot, I was eager to test the trial version in my Sephora sampler kit.
Lash stains differ from conventional mascaras by virtue of their legendary longevity and the way they're supposed to lightly tint the lashes, and I found that Tarte's lash stain did just that. The small, curved brush gave me the utmost control in coating every single lash--even the baby ones--and the formula wasn't overly thick. Even after multiple coats my lashes remained clump-free. I was disappointed by how my lashes didn't thicken dramatically, but they did have some nice length and definition.
This lash stain is waterproof, smudgeproof, sweatproof--virtually everything-proof, which is a blessing and a curse. It would be great for special occasions like weddings or proms where you do your makeup in the morning or afternoon and expect it to last well into the night. However, for everyday wear I found it to be a little too budge-proof. Unless you have some strong waterproof eye makeup remover handy, don't expect all of the product to come off. I never tried wearing one application for four days straight just to see if it lived up to its name, but I have tried sleeping with it on. When I woke up the next day, it looked okay except for some slight flaking and smudging under my eyes (easily removed with a Q-Tip dipped in eye makeup remover).
Overall, I'm somewhat pleased with the product but not entirely satisfied. After several days of using it, I got sick of how it never came off completely and moved on to a mascara with less staying power. I'm saving this one for wedding season.
Have you tried Tarte lash stain? What do you think of it?
Thanks for another fab review, darling!
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Thanks for the review-- I'm always on the look out for a great mascara, and you've brought up some interesting things to consider about this one.... I may have bought it otherwise, since I hear such amazing things about Tarte!
ReplyDeletegreat post!
ReplyDeleteI have not tried it but I like the curve end which will make life so much easier. : )
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really interesting product - I like the idea of a "lash stain" but never thought of being frustrated that it never came off!
ReplyDeleteFascinating!
that sounds like a great product!
ReplyDeleteLOL, I feel the same way about these "everything-proof" mascaras. They are hard to come off. Have you tried olive oil as make up remover?
ReplyDeleteGreat review though!
Ugh I hate hard to remove mascara! Too bad mascara goes bad so quickly otherwise you could totally save that one for special occasions.
ReplyDeleteAnother helpful review! I, too, am somewhat hesitant to use this if it's everything-proof. I don't like to sleep with mascara on, even if it's safe. I can perhaps use this on special occasions when a tint would be quite fab-looking.
ReplyDeleteI wanna be TOTALLY satisfied with an 18 dolla mascara/stain!
ReplyDeleteI tried it once - but I don't know what possessed me to get it. My lashes are already dark and what I need is length/volume, not necessarily color. I must have misread the packaging - I wore it once and then gave it up for my regular old mascara! But it would definitely be handy if I had blonde lashes and wanted something easy for camping, vacations, etc.
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