If you spend a significant amount of time on social media, you’ve most likely run into color-changing makeup. PH-adjusting products are everywhere. The Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Gloss & Cheek Shift is taking over TikTok—so obviously, I was eager to try.
As a Tarte superfan, I’ve pretty much tried every Tarte product on the market (I can’t live without Tarte Shape Tape Concealer). When I first saw influencer Alix Earle applying the new lip gloss as a part of her morning routine, I raced to my computer and ordered one.
I’ve been following the TikTok-viral “Trippin’ With Tarte” luxury vacations for the past few months, watching as my favorite influencers effortlessly apply the product. “That is so pretty. It doesn’t even feel like anything…I’m obsessed with the way this came out,” Alix raved as she applied three small dots to her cheekbones in Key Largo, Florida. She was glowing. I had officially been influenced.
Many of the shades I wanted were sold out when I first checked, so I had to wait a week or so before the restock. I am proud to report that I finally have the product in my hands. So, is it worth the hype? Let us tell you!
Order the Maracuja Juicy Lip & Cheek Shift in more than a dozen colors!
The lip shift’s hero ingredient is maracuja oil: it’s rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin C to firm, brighten, and smooth. Other ingredients include grapeseed oil with anti-aging properties, goji to promote collagen production, and acai to restore moisture. The product is also packed with several fruits to hydrate the skin: pomegranate, watermelon, strawberry, blueberry, peach, cranberry, and lemon.
The brand describes the product as the “mood ring” of makeup. It interacts with your skin’s natural PH levels to create a customized shade. Your skin’s pH changes during the day, so the shade may be different according to when you apply it.
The Tarte Maracuja Juicy Shift comes in 13 different colors that sound more like snacks than shades: sherbet, sour candy, slushie, cotton candy, ice pop, rock candy, grape, jelly bean, clementine, lemon, kiwi, blueberry and blackberry. Although each hue looks different, they all shift to the same pink when applied to your lip or cheek. The shift is the third lip variation in Tarte’s Maracuja collection; previous formula releases include Vegan Juicy Lip Balm and Juicy Lip Plumping Gloss. Tarte also sells a Juicy Glow Foundation and Juicy Shift Blush as a part of their TikTok-viral line.
I purchased three different shades: lemon, clementine and kiwi. I applied lemon, and it turned my lips bright pink within seconds. The more I layered the product, the darker it got. The lip gloss was very moisturizing; the texture felt like olive oil. When I licked my lips, it did not feel sticky (nor did it taste like anything).
I swatched it on my hand to more clearly see it shift color. I have very pale skin, and the bubblegum pink hue popped against my complexion. It also stayed on my hand all day long. The lasting power of the product is palpable. If you try to wipe it with a tissue, the gloss comes off but the pigment remains like a lip stain.
When I applied it to my cheek, it was clear just how pigmented the product is. I lightly dabbed three dots onto my cheekbones, and it was more than enough (a small amount still gives off major pigment). The formula blended easily, although my fingers were slightly sticky afterwards from tapping it on.
Pros:
Cons:
I can see why the Internet is obsessing over the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Gloss & Cheek Shift. Not only does it deliver the perfect natural pink hue, but it’s a two-in-one product: I don’t have to waste space in my makeup cabinet for lipstick and blush.
I do wonder, however, what the point is of having multiple shades besides aesthetic appeal. They all shift to the same color, and they aren’t flavored despite their names. Owning several may look pretty in a makeup kit, but I would most likely just choose my favorite color.
For more content, check out the New York Post Shopping section.