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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

FINALLY, right? I feel like I've been raving on this blog for a year about these new lip colors from Revlon, but I wanted to be completely sure of my love affair before I started gushing to you. So now that I'm absolutely certain that these are my New Favorite Drugstore Lip Colors, let's start the lovefest (those who don't like rave reviews need not proceed!):

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains
(retail: $8.99 each at Rite Aid, 0.095 oz)
A few weeks ago, I purchased the above Balm Stains at Rite Aid. If you're reading this review before June 2nd, please note that Revlon lip and eye products are on sale for 40% off this week at Rite Aid (through June 2nd). If you've been wanting to try one, hopefully you can find the counter display (these are permanent and will eventually make their way to the core wall display).


As many of you know, these lip colors have been compared to Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Tints. They both come in jumbo pencil form and they both have twist-up sticks (no sharpening!). Since I actually own a Tarte LipSurgence, I'll do a compare/contrast at the end of this review, but for now let's concentrate on the Revlon product:


As someone who has been a lover of lipstains for many, many years (I'm embarrassed by the amount of them that I own), I've seen a lot of "hybrids" in recent years. Gloss-stains, balm-stains, you name it, but the thing is, whenever I try a product that claims to be a stain "and something else", it never seems to live up to its claims. Hybrid products always seem to be much more of one thing, and far less of the other. UNTIL NOW.


The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains have the gel-like quality of a balm AND the vibrancy and staying power of a stain. Where the Tarte product sort of fails for me (it doesn't really stain my lips like a true lipstain), the Revlon Balm Stains succeed. I don't know how they did it, but Revlon managed to make the only true balm-stain hybrid I've ever encountered, with equal parts balm and stain. 


These pencils don't have the same "glide" and smoothness of application as the Tarte product. In fact, they tug at the lips during application, but it's a minor tug. Some may find that a drawback, but I don't mind one bit because the drier feeling during application (note: they're not dry once on the lips) indicates that this is not a product that's going to fade quickly. We all know that the slicker the product, the more fleeting it will be, which is why I don't mind a minor tug here and there in exchange for excellent staying power.

PLEASE NOTE: 
Some of the following photos have been color-corrected to more accurately represent the color I see when these shades are on my lips.


Rendezvous is a cheery orange with no pink or coral undertones. It is not shockingly bright on the lips, and it is much more wearable than I thought it would be. This shade has the least staying power of the four I'm showing you today. After application, it vanishes completely from my lips in about four hours.


Smitten is a deep magenta (a bit darker than what you see above). I don't usually go for magenta lip colors, but I really love this one because, again, it's not shocking. It's totally wearable and I love how it looks once it becomes more of a true stain (once the sheen is gone). After the sheen disappears, it fades to a nice even stain that maintains its color integrity. I can get almost 10 hours of wear from Smitten (even after three meals, I can still see a soft stain on my lips).

 

Sweetheart is a true hot pink that doesn't veer too warm or too cool. This one probably has the best staying power of the bunch (I put it on the other day at around 7AM and I could still see a faint stain at 7PM) and just like with the others, it maintains its color integrity while in the stain phase.


Romantic was very difficult for me to capture in a photo. I would consider this a cross between a brick red and a tomato red, and it's slightly less orange than what you see above. If you like warm brick reds, this is a must-have. It's probably my favorite of the bunch just because I personally love red lipstains. Again, it's just so wearable--it's not one of those in-your-face reds that so many of us have a hard time pulling off. I can get about seven hours of wear from Romantic before it fades completely.

TEXTURE, CONSISTENCY AND FINISH: Once on the lips, this product feels like a thin lip balm. It's smooth but not greasy, and I find it moisturizing without being heavy. This product doesn't "sit" on the lips, but rather conforms to the lips. I would consider the finish of these colors to be sheer creme, with the exception of Rendezvous, which has a bit of a subtle satin finish.

FRAGRANCE AND FLAVOR:  As with the Tarte product, Revlon Balm Stains are flavored with peppermint oil. The peppermint fragrance and flavor are not strong or obnoxious--they're quite subtle and I only get a very slight tingle when this product is on my lips.

STAYING POWER: As mentioned above, each shade has its own level of staying power but, on the whole, I'm always able to get at least four solid hours of wear from these, which includes the time that the sheen has worn away and only the stain remains. In many cases my average wear-time has been 7-8 hours and sometimes even 10-12 hours when I'm wearing one of the pink shades. I find the stain that this product leaves behind to be very even (no ring-around-the-lips) and I love the look of the stain even several hours after application. I love it so much that sometimes I actually look forward to the "stain phase" more than the "just applied" phase.

And now for a brief comparison to Tarte LipSurgence:


The Tarte product retails for $24 (Revlon Balm Stains retail for $8.99 at Rite Aid). As you can see, the Revlon stick is a tiny bit more narrow and a tiny bit longer than the Tarte stick. However, you actually get a little bit more product in the Tarte pencil (Tarte LipSurgence is 0.10 oz and Revlon Balm Stain is 0.095 oz).



I thought that one of the Revlon shades that I purchased might be a dupe for Tarte Enchanted, but as you can see below, Enchanted is actually more of a cross between Revlon Smitten and Revlon Romantic:


The biggest difference for me when it comes to these two products is the staying power. Both feel light and moisturizing on the lips but Revlon lasts much, much longer on my lips, which I'm sure is in part due to the fact that the Tarte product is more glossy and not as dry on initial application as the Revlon product. Tarte LipSurgence is a very nice product, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping it might have slightly better color payoff (it's sheer) and longer staying power. For me, Revlon really delivers on both color payoff and staying power. Also, I should reiterate that the Tarte product glides effortlessly on the lips (again, it's glossier and slicker than the Revlon product) and the peppermint flavor of Tarte LipSurgence is a tad sweeter as well.

FINAL VERDICT: I really didn't think that Revlon could top their Lip Butters. But ever since the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains entered my life, my Lip Butters have done nothing but sit on my vanity and collect dust. I honestly haven't reached for another lip color since I purchased my Balm Stains, and I don't see that changing any time soon. If you're a traditional lipstain lover and you long for a bit more hydration and more of a balm-like feel, these are for YOU. On the other side of the coin, if you're not a traditional lipstain lover and have always felt that true lipstains were too drying, YOU may also fall in love with these. Allow me to sum up my feelings with an age-old cliché: Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stains are truly the best of both worlds. The only people I can't see these working for are those who love high shine and/or lots of shimmer or sparkle. If you can live without those things, I think (or hope!) you'll fall as hard for these as I have. I've been using traditional lipstains for about 15 years now and I really do think these are the best "twist" on a traditional lipstain that I've ever encountered.

PS: I almost forgot! I mentioned earlier that these are twist-up sticks (no sharpening required). But I also want to mention that unlike a few other retractable lip pencils I've owned over the years, these easily swivel up AND back down. The Tarte sticks swivel up and down as well, but I just wanted to make sure I mentioned it in case anyone was curious.

Do you already own a Revlon Balm Stain? If so, how do YOU like them? If not, do you think these might be a good match for your needs?
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131 comments

  1. I love these so much - I bought two, then went back for two more! And there's a fifth I want, but haven't been able to find. Thus far, Romantic is definitely my favorite.

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  2. I own six and LOVE them. Honey is my favorite by far.

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  3. I picked up one of these in Precious. I do not care for the mint fragrance, but otherwise I agree with you that it's very nice and comfortable to wear. Maybe they'll come out with a fragrance-free version.

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  4. I own 1...Honey and I LOVE it. I am just looking for swatches of the others so I can plan my next attack! lol.

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  5. Hey G, I was just about to post on the you tell me page when I saw review. I just picked these up at my local Walgreens(South FL). It was BOGO 1/2 off!! Its a special end-cap display w/ new cream foundations as well. Sorry I didn't get to take a pic, but it was a quick trip. The BOGO was printed within actual display w/ special dates... It wasn't in system either cashier had to manually enter.... Hoping to go back for more, will take pics then :)

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  6. I love these buggers! I keep them everywhere! They feel amazing, I actually like that they tug a bit on the lips because like you said, I know they will last longer on me if they do. PlUS I hate watery stuff on my lips. Which is why I cant stand lip gloss !

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  7. I am loving the 3 I picked up! I'll be reviewing them soon. I love the application of these, so comfortable.

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  8. I have four already, and the comparison that immediately leapt to mind was the Lipsurgences. The Revlon Kissables even have a very faint mint scent to them. And they cost less!! Big huge bonus. I first bought Honey and Cherish, then went back for Smitten and Romantic. I do hope that they expand their line-up, and I'd like to see a cooler red. The matte Lipsurgences have good staying power, and the Lipsurgences from the limited-edition holiday Lip Service kit have better color payoff and staying power...but these are easier to get, they're year-round, and they cost less (even when they're not on 40% sale.)

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    1. Thanks for the tip that the Tarte LEs have better staying power! :)

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  9. I have four already, and the comparison that immediately leapt to mind was the Lipsurgences. The Revlon Kissables even have a very faint mint scent to them. And they cost less!! Big huge bonus. I first bought Honey and Cherish, then went back for Smitten and Romantic. I do hope that they expand their line-up, and I'd like to see a cooler red. The matte Lipsurgences have good staying power, and the Lipsurgences from the limited-edition holiday Lip Service kit have better color payoff and staying power...but these are easier to get, they're year-round, and they cost less (even when they're not on 40% sale.)

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  10. I had a Target coupon last week and I bought Rendezvous on a whim (what better way to try out the tangerine craze than on the cheap, right?) Now I'm seriously contemplating going back for more colours!

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  11. I love them!! I have Rendevous and Sweetheart. I actually was going to go pick up Lovesick today. I just love long wearing makeup in the summer. These came out just in time!! :)

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    1. I agree that it was the perfect time for them to release these. :)

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  12. I must have one. Finally, a jelly balm stain WITH NO GLITTER OR SHIMMER!

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  13. I've only been able to grab one, and OMG I'm in LOVEE!! I love lipstains, but I've always hated how drying they are..these are AMAZING! Moisturizing with a stain? yes please. The display my store had was picked over, but I need to find more!

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  14. I've got three: Honey, Smitten and Romantic. Simplest review? I want MORE! It's almost not an exaggeration to say I want them all. I'm a pale girl with cool coloring, but my experience with these so far is that they're SUPER wearable even when you're a little afraid that it isn't going to look good on you. They feel great, they last a long time, and the colors are fantastic. GREAT buy. Happy to hear they will be part of the permanent collection...I'd been considering hoarding!

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    1. So glad to hear you find them wearable too!!

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  15. I've been contemplating about buying these but after your review, I'll probably pick up a couple at Rite Aid. Thanks for the review! (:

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    1. You're so welcome! I hope you love them too. :)

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  16. I'm so excited to try these! G, do you know if they have that weird waxy feel of the Clinique chubby sticks?

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    1. I don't own any of the Clinique, but I can tell you there's no waxy feel to these. Hope that helps!

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  17. I am over the moon with these myself. Picked up rendevous and lovesick but I need more now!!!

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  18. So far I have two and really like them and I also have $14 in +UP Rewards that will work well with 40% off! this week!

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  19. I am going to pick up some of these for my mom. She has "mature lips" that feather out with lipstick. Do these stay put or do you think they will to? Thank G!

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    1. No feathering for me at all! Hope your mom loves them!!

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  20. I wish they had a bright light pink stain. I don't like the darker colors. Personally I'm a light bright color girl. I might get the red one, just because everyone needs a red lipstick or stain. I might even try Rendezvous just because I don't have an orange lipstick yet.

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    1. Honey fades into a bright light stain. I don't actually care for the stain part but if that is what you are looking for, then that would be the one to go for.

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  21. I agree that they have succeeded in making a true balm stain. Nothing else like it out there and the staying power is ridiculous. My only complaint it that the color tends to change on your lips - much like those weird lip glosses that go on clear and then turn purple-pink. Precious goes on beautifully nude but then turns orangey. All the pinks start to go purpley. Romantic is the best one (and I am not a real fan of reds). It is just the right shade and intensity of tomato red, I love it. I also like the lilac, until it goes too purple. And the sweetheart is beautiful, until it too goes too purple. I bought them all though and I am going to keep trying to work with the colors.

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    1. Yes! As much as I wanted to love these (and I LIVE for lip stains as I have absolutely no pigment to my lips!), I was actually kind of disappointed in these. I have tried Precious, Honey and the lilac one. Maybe the lighter colors change more, but they do change color on your lips - what you see is NOT what you get. I was mostly disappointed because I thought they would be sheer, like the Clinique Chubbies, but with a stain. They are actually quite pigmented, like a regular lipstick, and then leave a stain, which can be like the lip color, or nothing like it! Honey and Precious go totally orange on me - the only one I like is the lilac.

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    2. I'm so sorry to hear these change colors for you both. Boo!! I absolutely hate it when that happens. I don't know if it's the colors I bought or just how they work with my particular chemistry, but none of these changed on me. I guess I lucked out!

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  22. I picked up Rendezvous yesterday, of course it is the one you say has the least staining.. lol. I have yet to wear it, will do so today and decide if I need more. I am a hard-core longwear lip person, so transfer will be an issue for me (one thing you did not comment on in your review). I have to say all the colors I have seen are gorgeous, and very wearable, that is an area Revlon has excelled in lately.

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    1. Sorry I neglected to mention that! For me, the transfer is whisper light after initial application, and then once they go into stain mode, no transfer at all!

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  23. I still haven't seen these in the store yet, hopefully I will soon. These remind me of Clinique Chubby Sticks too, although they aren't a stain.

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    1. Try Target! They're already in the permanent wall display at my store. :)

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  24. Does anyone know if they have these at Walmart yet?

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    1. I saw them at our local WM yesterday. Good luck!

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  25. I have never used a stain lipcolor before, but have seen many different products reviews. I would definitely try to get this since I will be doing makeup for my mom soon for an event. I do have a question though, how does it look after eating? Does it fade completely?

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    1. Like I mention in my review, the pink shades last me a long time...even through THREE meals! Hope that helps!

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  26. I love these! I have Cherish, Lovesick, Charm & Precious. Every stain I've tried has disappointed me (none of them have lasted) but these wear really well. I'm probably going to pick up Sweetheart this weekend.

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  27. I have 5!! Seriously think I need revlon rehab. Love their products lately. I have the tarte holiday set and seriously loved them so when I saw a cheaper product from the ds I had to try it out. I find them pleasant application-wise, scent and even wear-time. Although I do find the Tarte stain for longer, although in both brands the wear varies across the different shades.

    Stopped by my RA for 40% off and the display is gone!!!!!! Plenty of the new foundation and nail products but these are gone! Can't blame people ;-)

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    1. The display may never have been out. Still no sign of these at CVS or Walgreen's in my area. Some RAs still didn't put them out - you should ask a stock person anywhere you don't see a display.

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    2. It was out at this store. That's where I originally purchased mine so that's why I said they were sold out (sorry I didn't make that clear in my original comment). I also checked the wall display for a lonely one that may want to go home with me.... But no luck... Lol

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    3. LOL! That's a great idea to check the regular Revlon racks for things that are new or LE because often people (customers and staff) just stick stuff in there. I know we all want to get these 40%, so you can get a raincheck at RA for when they re-stock. I'm just annoyed that so many drugstores don't even have them yet!

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    4. Hey ladies! Try Target! They're already in the permanent wall display at my location! :)

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  28. Thanks for the review. Our Walgreens was already sold out of a couple when I got there. Snagged a honey at CVS. So far so good! Can't wait to test out the stain side of it tomorrow during work. Curious if I can get away with minimal touch ups.

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    1. You're so welcome! Honey is next on my list. :)

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  29. Thanks for the review! I was waiting on this to buy them or not. I'm going to get some. :-D

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    1. You're welcome! I hope you love them too. :)

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  30. Aww, I was all ready to go and pick up the smitten color until I saw you mentioned they are made with the peppermint oil. I'm allergic! :(

    Glad that you posted that though - saved me money and dissappointment.

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  31. I have four of these and I love them! Honey and Precious are my two faves. Even though they don't actually stain my lips, I still think they're great for applying on the go.

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    1. Do you have either of the pink shades I reviewed? Those stain like crazy on me. Lol!

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  32. I love these...I bought 9 of them! Honey is my favorite. It is the perfect everyday color. They are also fun to mix together.

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    1. Oooh, what a great tip! I can't wait to mix some of these! Thanks so much for that!!

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  33. Oohhh these sound so good! The swatches look lovely too.

    Sweetheart looked lighter on the swatch, but it's a hot pink. o:

    I have the Tarte LipSurgences too, but they seem more sheer and shimmery.

    I really like how Revlon Balm Stains are not shimmery!

    Thanks for the review.

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  34. LOOOVE MINE! but the one i got in Sweetheart was definitely not working for me. Its been the most drying and fades about 3 hours after application with a very obvious ring. maybe i got a bad one? anywhoo its not really my color so i might just return it anyways.
    but i agree that Honey is surprsingly pigmented and pretty!
    Will you be doing another round of reviews with more colors? i'd love to see more swatches!

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    1. Wow, i'm so sorry to hear you had just about the exact opposite experience as I did with Sweetheart! :(

      When I buy additional shades I will definitely swatch them here. Thanks so much for asking. :)

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  35. I like Tarte and Revlon. I wish there were a matte shade for Revlon. I am also a lipstain kind of girl. :]

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  36. I have all 12 of these so I'm obviously loving them. Adore, Smitten, Lovesick and Romantic are my favorites. I haven't worn anything else since getting these, I'm a bit obsessed.

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  37. LOVE these! I bought one (Romantic) and loved it so much that I ended up collecting 10 of the 12 shades over the last few weeks. I will probably pick up the other two while Revlon is on sale at Rite Aid. Normal lip stains are too drying for me - I always get the "ring around the lips" that you mention - but these are wonderful.

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    1. Glad to heat your don't get ring around the lips either. Yay!

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  38. do any of the video values work with this?

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  39. I was going to update my previous comment but it appears to have gotten lost... anyway I bought rendezvous first (the tangerine one). I did not have high expectations, I am a confirmed long wear lip product girl and pretty much devoted to my Maybelline 24hr lipcolor. After wearing it all afternoon I hit Rite Aid on the way home and bought five more.

    It feels like chapstick, looks like a pigmented gloss, and wears like a stain... but better. No flaking, or weird fading, it wears evenly over the whole lip. Smells very slightly of mint, but no taste or stinging. A very slight amount of transfer, if you put it on and kiss your hand you get a "ghost" of the color. It is slightly transparent, so your lip color blends with the color of the product... the end result is a combo of the two so keep that in mind when choosing colors. This mixing is more pronounced as it wears, so it does change color slightly.... it all depends on the color of your lips. You can reapply and it looks just as good, but it builds.. so you have more pigment than the first application due to the stain left behind, another thing to keep in mind. I would say if it is not opaque enough for you, blot it off and add more layers. I wore it for four hours, which included lunch at McDonalds (fries and nuggets), I noticed no transfer on my napkin or straw, and I still had color when I got home.

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    1. As I said in response to D.A., the color you get on your lips is highly variable. I can see there is a lot of love for these here but I remain somewhat disappointed. The colors are way too pigmented - I don't get any transparency at all until only the stain is left. Much too pigmented for something called a "balm stain." I am commenting on these posts just to give a "heads up" to anyone who hasn't yet purchased that they are not necessarily HG material, so keep those receipts! And, for xxMxx and others, these may look and operate like the Clinique Chubby Sticks but they are nothing like them in terms of product - you can't throw these on without a mirror!

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    2. You're right. They do feel a lot like chapstick, look like a pigmented gloss and wear like a stain. I'm in love with these things. They conveniently came out around my birthday so I've been picking these up with birthday bucks. I'm not even using my other lipsticks and balms at the moment. I think the pink shades -- sweetheart and smitten, especially -- really make a lasting stain. The reds -- romantic and adore -- are my favorites since they last. (I hate a red that just slops off 5 minutes after applying.) I love that just a tiny bit gives a hint of tint but you really can build the color with these things, and it looks like a full application of lipstick.

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    3. Thanks for the review. I hadn't exactly thought about the blending of the product color with one's own lip color.

      I haven't bought any yet, but I definitely want to give them a try. :)

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    4. Unknown: thanks so much for your helpful insights! Your earlier comment did show up...maybe I just approved it after you last checked. Sorry about that!

      Nina: i'm sorry to hear these aren't working for you! I think, for me, the ”balm” part is most evident in the texture, but I agree that it's not as transparent as a timed balm--the transparency becomes more apparent in the stain phase. They're definitely HG for me, but I would never expect them to be that for everyone so I appreciate very much that you're sharing an opposing point of view.

      Heidi: I love that they're buildable too. Greet point!

      L: I agree. After reading all of these comments, I can totally see how one's own natural pigment can alter the original color. I guess I got lucky in the fact that none of the shades I bought change when they wear to a stain, but I can see that that's really dependent upon your natural lip color.

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  40. I only able to pick up Cherish at Target. (The display was cleaned out!) I also want to pick up Rendezvous and Honey in the near future. Absolutely love it! I also love your blog. Thanks for letting us know all the great deals and reviews!

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  41. I bought three today: Rendezvous, Crush, and Darling. I'll probably go back for more!

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  42. This sure are look alikes of Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balms. I love it when drugstore copies high end. Wooooohooooooo

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    1. I don't think the chubby sticks claim to be a stain, so I think a better comparison is the Tarte product. Hope that helps!

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    2. They do look remarkably similar to the Chubby Sticks in terms of packaging. The only difference is Clinique's have silver caps.

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  43. i love how you went into detail about the drier the application the longer the staying power, i never would've thought about tradeoffs in products like you did. thanks for the review! love your reviews as always, hopefully i will start thinking with more insight like you when it comes to rating products :)

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    1. Thank you so much!! I'm so I'm glad to hear that my review helped give you a better idea of this product. I really appreciate the comment! :)

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  44. I have bought two of them - Precious 050 and I believe the other one is Cherish, if I am not mistaken. I do like these new lip balms BUT the color Precious is very light and frosty and I don't think it shows too much on my lips, but the soft balm does feel very good and I love the minty smell!
    I bought both of them at Rite Aid when they were having the 40% off on Revlon and now that I have seen these swatches from these 4 ones that you have shown here in your blog, I think I will have to purchase Sweetheart and Romantic, their color looks beautiful!!

    THANKS!!

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    1. You're so welcome, and thanks for the info on those lighter shades. It's been my experience that lighter lip stains in general never seem to have pigmentation or staying power equal to darker shades, so maybe that's why I naturally gravitated to the darker shades.

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  45. Bought Romantic yesterday and am wearing it right now -- one of my favorite products to date (and I'm a major red lipstick person)!

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  46. You guys are KILLING me! I had asked on a board how they compared to the Tarte Lipsurgences and your review totally answered that for me! I didn't plan on a trip to Walgreen's today, but now I HAVE to go!

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  47. note to self, don't go crazy in riteaid buying the Revlon Just Bitten Stains... make sure they are the KISSABLE ones. WHOOPS. haha. they were 8.99 as well, but nooooot close to the tarte ones. Oh well, lesson learned, money wasted. I went back and found the right one, but instead of buying almost every color I just bought one. Sometimes my makeup/sale addiction gets the best of me :(

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    1. Oops! Yeah, I reviewed those stains when they first came out and they didn't work for me either. :(

      BUT, since you bought them at rite aid, you can return or exchange them!! Even if you've used them! So no money wasted. :)

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  48. I would definitely try these lipstains.. I love Revlon! I'm very happy with my Lip Butter : )
    I really like you blog, it has a great concept! We don't need to spend a lot of money to be pretty : )

    Regards x

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    1. thanks so much! I really appreciate that :-)

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  49. I bought 'Sweetheart' about a week ago...I've been wearing it on and off. I'm still not sure I like it. I love the color, and I love the way it looks ON, but...I'm just not in love with the minty-ness or the way it feels on my lips. I don't know how to describe it, but it almost feels greasy to me, and usually I'm not this weirdly picky. I'm glad I bought it somewhere that lets me return it, because I don't think I'm keeping mine :/

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  50. I have six of them and I love them too. Honey is my favorite out of the ones I have.

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  51. I need to try these. I love the staying power of stains but hate the dryness of most I've tried.

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  52. Right after reading this, I went out and bought two, Romantic (which I'm wearing right now) and Smitten. I find the peppermint oil very refreshing, and the consistency really smooth and weightless. I have yet to really road-test these colors at work, but so far I'm loving Balm Stains a lot more than the Lip Butters!

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    1. I really hope they work for you after the road test! :)

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  53. I wore Sweetheart today... and wow, if you want a bright pink that's the one to get. The odd thing is I usually cannot wear super brights, with my pale skin they wash me out and I look dead... but somehow this works. I was scared when I first put it on and almost started blotting, then gave it a minute and it was fine. Thank goodness I put a nude eye on first though, lol. Lasted all afternoon, through lunch (Chinese with noodles and fried egg rolls), and shopping, and some chores at the barn (about five hours total) and still plenty of color when I got home. It was a smidge dry by then so I put some chapstick over it and it went on great, did not seem to hurt the stain at all, and I was back to the original texture.

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    1. So glad to hear it lasted through your lunch (yum, btw) and i'm so glad you agree about it being such a wearable pink! :)

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  54. It's crazy how orange Rendezvous is on you--on me that color turns bright pink. I have it on right now and you would NEVER look at my lips and guess orange. It's a bright coral at orangeist on me! All coral-oranges make this transform on me, though. It must be something about my underlying lip color.
    I have to say, I didn't love the Balm at first, but I was sold once I saw how well it works as a stain. It's a wee bit drying on me, but I always wear something over my stains anyway, so it doesn't really matter. I will definitely go back for the reds and for honey.

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear it wasn't orange for you. Boo!! Like other commenters have said, it must have to do with your natural lip pigment and how it works with that. I guess I got lucky! :(

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    2. N,o don't be sorry, it's a great coral thus transformed! It's pretty much "perfect" coral on my lips--I like it better than my Clinique Runway Coral, which turns (surprise, surprise) too pink on me! LOL!

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  55. So far I have Crush, Adore, Smitten, Rendezvous, Charm, & Honey....I LOVE them! I do agree with those that say the color if affected strongly by your own natural lip pigment. Mine are a berry color so certain ones are affected..... rendezvous ended up looking like a tomato red, and peaches and cream charm looks completely pink (but still pretty). Smitten was the one for me that looked like my lips but better, but I hear honey does that for many people with less pigmented lips. On mine it is like a milky pastel pink. I'm hoping to get one of the bright pinks soon <3

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    1. Thanks so much for the insights, and I agree. I must have lucked our in that none of these shades turned on me at all, but now that I think about it, traditional stains work with your natural lip pigment too, so it shouldn't be a surprise that these might as well. I hope you like the pinks if you try them! :)

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  56. I got Honey, and OMG the color when it's applied is beautiful, the perfect neutral pink! I love it so much I wish it would stay that way, but it fades to a brighter warmer pink that I don't care for. I would like to know if anyone has tried the one in the light peach packaging, can't remember the name, it's the nude one? I just want to know what that looks like as a stain!

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  57. Wore Precious today... it started out just shimmery, but in a few minutes it transformed into a very nice, slightly pink nude. Same comfortable wear as the others, but did not stain... well, it probably did but it's just so light you couldn't tell. So a nice color, but not as long wearing as the others.

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  58. I am dying to try this! Smitten looks gorgeous and honey also sounds good. I have been a huge fan of tints but this looks like an upgraded vergion of tint cuz it is not drying. I wonder if it really stains lips to a point where it is tramsfer free once it "dries".

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  59. Great review! I love the Tarte LipSurgence stains but also found that they were more of a gloss than a stain (although it depends on the color, in my experience). I'm really excited by the fact that these new Revlon ones are cheaper, leave a better tint to your lips, and also smell like peppermint! I need to run to Rite Aid right now....

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  60. Oh goodness, I love the lip butters so if these top that, then my wallet may be in trouble!!

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  61. I don't guess there is a close dupe to the Tarte Enchanted? I know G mentioned it's probably close to a cross between Smitten & Romantic, but was just curious if anyone who had tried any of the other colors found one that might be close/similar to Enchanted?

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  62. I just picked up Sweetheart and Rendezvous when they were 40% off at Riteaid, but haven't worn them yet. The colors are so cheerful, glad to hear they work well!

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  63. I wish they had more colors. Like mattes and shimmers!

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  64. Whenever I can, I'm going to have to invest in Romantic--it sounds perfect for me! lol I rarely have time to put on any makeup now other than red lipstick and prefer that it be something that won't come off on my baby or husband. Thanks so much for your review, and the whole blog--I really enjoy reading your posts. :)

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  65. Don't normally comment, just follow the blog. This is my favorite beauty blog. just wanted to let you and others know, there is a target coupon on coupons.com for these stains. it's $2 off and it expires on the 11th. http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=15493&zid=yn07&nid=10&bid=05290005032ec8ec0d421618&cid=17316049

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  66. I went to my local Rite Aid (who is usually great about coupons and such), but these were not ringing up as 40% off...and the girl at the register, who usually knows what's up, said that it was probably because they were new. And I didn't get one because it was still full price at $8.99...

    Did anyone else have this problem

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  67. Nope, I got all mine at Rite Aid, all for 40% off... I actually made three trips last week, lol. If you went the day you posted this (Sunday 6/3) though, they would no longer have been on sale...
    Sorry that happened to you. If you have problems in the future, ask for a manager to clarify. Sometimes the sales clerks are not informed, or sorry to say sometimes they just do not care to bother to figure it out.

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  68. Today is June 5 2012 and not one of my neighborhood drugstores have those lipstains on display or on sale :( U would think I live in jungle somewhere but not its a very nice borough of NYC.Have no clue whassup with the delay not only of revlon products but on most newbies from major drugstore brands that everybody already bought&talked about on blogs&youtube.Booo!!

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  69. Wow, there are a lot of comments on this post!

    I just wanted to mention... these layer really well. I put on Rendezvous today, and it was a bit bright with the eye look I was wearing.. so I tossed some Honey on top and voila... toned down beautifully. Kept that great staining power from the orange stain too. Can't wait to experiment with other colors.

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  70. I have 8 of these so far and will definitely be going back to get the rest of them...... I LOVE them! I hope they come out with more colors and other finishes :)

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  71. As the author of the review said - haven't used another lip product, except clear lip sunscreen, since buying four of these balm stains. I could never bring myself to pay $24 for the Tarte (really, 1/4 of $100 just for lipstick?) but now I just wait for the good sales and will stock up on these! Remember to slick a sunscreen product over the balm stain before you go outside. It will make the color fade a little faster, but you need the SPF on your lips. Another tip - blot lips with your finger and then color your cheeks! Matching cheek stain!

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  72. hmmm, next time there is a sale I'll have to check these out. Thanks for this review.

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  73. Wow, I loved Revlon's lip butters so much I ended up buying 5 when they were on sale. And I normally *never* buy anything by Revlon. But after seeing them swatched online, I was sold. They were much more pigmented than I would have expected from a lip butter type product, and the texture & shades of them are gorgeous. Hearing that these are better than their lip butters has got me salivating already! My trip to the US this week is gonna wind up with me hauling home bags full of new products :-)

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  74. I jumped on the bandwagon recently. They are the best, my favorite color is Romantic and Smitten and will collect more.

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  75. Do these balm stains tend to settle ine the crease of the lips? I have an issue with balms and lipsticks and general on that point... Those creases are not caused by age, but more because my lips tend to peel easily, even when using lip balm everyday and exfolating them once a week or less...

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  76. I actually didn't like them at all! I was expecting them to be amazing, but they weren't. I have charm, and I layer and layer and layer it on my lips but it hardly shows up at all and I feel like it drys my lips.... with Tarte on the other hand, I have some of their lip tints and I feel like they last better.

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  77. Thanks for such a thorough review. I think I might pick up Honey today. I so wish there was a dupe in this line for Enchanted. It's such a gorgeous color!

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  78. Out of curiosity, have you ever tried the Hard Candy version of these and how would you compare them. I _LOVE_ the idea of stains and the Hard Candy ones are the first that really work the way I want them to unlike the marker things.

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  79. "Out of curiosity, have you ever tried the Hard Candy version of these and how would you compare them. I _LOVE_ the idea of stains and the Hard Candy ones are the first that really work the way I want them to unlike the marker things. "

    I've tried both. I returned the HC one, I found it very slippery in texture, it transferred quite badly (which is a deal breaker for me), wore off very quickly (except for the stain of course). The stain was also very different than the color of the balm (I chose a brown and it stained pink). In comparison the Revlon ones are... drier is not quite the right word, but they are nowhere near as slippery, a bit heavier on the lips, and while they do transfer it's not terrible. The stain is pretty good (provided you do not eat a meal) and most of the colors stain very true to the color of the product (there was one that pulled very pink if I recall correctly). I did find them slightly drying once wore down and repeated application didn't really help that, I needed to carry a lip balm with me. Very good colors, very true to the tubes. My favorite are the new Jordana balm stains, they are more moisturizing, transfer very little, and very comfortable as they wear. A reapplication also gives moisture right back to my lips. Some of the colors are off from the tubes (soft pink is way brighter, cranberry is more pink, and terra crave is more red/orange). The stains last through a meal for me. I just wish they had more wearable colors, most are very bright, but some people will love that. Just fyi on both the Revlon and the Jordana.. they layer very well. Apply the first color, wait a minute for the stain to set, blot, and apply the second. You can get the exact tube color for soft pink this way by layering the nude shade on top.

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  80. i have romantic on right now, i love these. i only own one, sadly. but i really want to get a pink, or something i dont know. if you really were looking for a bright red lip stain; if you layer romantic on enough and let it dry a little then do it more, it'll look like the tube. it's really nice, i love it.

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  81. The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains have the gel-like quality of a balm AND the vibrancy and staying power of a stain. Where the Tarte product sort of fails for me (it doesn't really stain my lips like a true lipstain), the Revlon Balm Stains succeed.

    Lip Balm That Isnt Drying

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