ETUDE Dear Darling Tint [03 Real red]

This is a product that I have been using consistently for over 10 tubes. First of all, since my lips are small, when I apply lipstick or matte blurring tints all over, it looks too matronly and strange. So I've tried various products, and the water-based tint product is the most natural-looking on me. I've purchased and used a variety of products from Etude, Wehme, and Benefit, but I've settled on this product. This product is the tint I used a lot in my school days, so the image is very much that of a student tint, and my sister teases me, saying it looks like an elementary school tint, and pleads with me to use something else, which is a bit embarrassing, but I stubbornly continue to use it. The main reason I chose this product is that the ingredients are better than other tints, and secondly, the price is very affordable and the cost-effectiveness is good. Since I use it daily, it gets used up quickly, and with eating, drinking, and contact, it seems that tints breed bacteria faster than other cosmetics, even if I wipe my lips and apply it. So after about 3 months of use, I start to see something on my lips, so I replace the tint with a new one. The price is affordable, so it's not burdensome to buy it often. Although it's called a gel tint, when you apply it and pat it in, it just seeps into the lips like water. So when you blot it with a tissue, there's almost nothing left. If you apply a lip balm on top, the staying power is good, and it doesn't transfer when drinking beverages or wiping. I apply it twice, pat it in, blot with a tissue once more, and then apply lip balm, and the red color doesn't transfer. I've also included a swatch photo. When applied to the back of my hand and wiped after 10 seconds, the staining is quite good - it stays even after eating and drinking various beverages. However, you do need to continuously reapply lip balm to maintain the lasting power, as the gel tint alone becomes too drying and wrinkly, and wears off completely when drinking water-based drinks. You really need to top it with a lip balm or lip gloss to make it last.One common downside of water-based tints is that they tend to not apply as well on the upper lip, as shown in the photo - it barely absorbs there, unless your lip condition is really good. So what I do is apply the tint 1-2 times, blot with a tissue, then apply a lip balm as a topper. There's also a type of tint that's a bit thicker and more pigmented, so I'll apply that over the water-based tint, and then gently pat it in with my finger. That way, as shown in the last photo, it applies evenly all over and looks really nice.

The inherent characteristics of water tint gel tint mean that it is unavoidable, but as shown in photos 4 and 5, it tends to apply well only to the lower lip, with little coverage on the upper lip. When used alone, it can be drying, so lip balm is essential!!

To achieve long-lasting and overall vibrant color, I apply a lip balm over a water tint, then add a pigmented, glossy, and shiny gloss on top. The shiny tints wipe off without staining, so I recommend applying the Etude House Jelly Tint and then layering it, which results in an even application and good longevity, just like the final photo. :)

The color is legendary, with great pigmentation and a moisturizing formula that I really like.

The staying power of this water tint is not great. When I eat, the lip color completely fades.