Karen

Today my Bay Area buddy Glosslizard shares her thoughts on Benefit Posietint lip and cheek stain.

Hello, all you MBB beauties! Glosslizard here, for the ever-fabulous and currently vacationing Karen!

I recently had the chance to play with Benefit Cosmetic’s Posietint lip and cheek stain ($28), thanks to a generous sample from one of the lovely MA’s at my local Benefit boutique!

Posietint is not new (it was released last year) but is the younger, flirtier sister of Benefit’s cult fave lip and cheek stain, Benetint (also $28).

It’s a lighter color than Benetint (Posietint is described as “petal pink” vs. Benetint’s “Rose”) and seems aimed at fairer complexions.

The bubble-gum pink fluid has a thicker texture than Benetint, almost gel-like, and spreads easily over cheeks and lips.

Bare lips

One coat

I found that one coat gave my lips a super-faint pink flush that was very flattering, and the kind of thing I might wear to work out when I don’t want to look like I bothered to wear makeup (hah)!

Two coats

Two coats (applying a thin coat, allowing it to dry, and then applying the next) provided a more vibrant shade of pink, and three coats left my lips with a definite rosy flush comparable to a light coat of Benetint. It felt no more drying than bare lips, but I prefer it with a touch of gloss!

Swatch for texture

I tried Posietint on my cheeks as well, and it gave a lovely, sheer hint of color. It would look gorgeous yet understated on pale-skinned ladies, and would probably work well on fair to medium complexions layered under or over a bronzer!

The lasting power of Posietint is not amazing but seems pretty good for a light-colored stain. One coat on my lips didn’t last through eating or drinking anything, two coats left a light but visible flush after I indulged in tea and snacks, and three coats lasted all afternoon and into the evening under a coat of gloss.

A couple warnings…

First, Posietint comes in a container with an opaque coloring, and the bottle color is not the color of the product! To me, the bottle is a little peachy or coral, while the stain itself is definitely a blue-based pink. If you’re looking for a warmer color I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Second, as with all stains, you’ll get the best results with a smooth, even starting surface, so exfoliate lips (and cheeks too, if necessary) first! A damp washcloth rubbed gently on the lips after showering works well, or, for an indulgence, I love Tarte’s FRXtion lip exfoliator ($11)!

How ’bout your favorite lip/cheek stains? Have any worth sharing?

This post was written by Glosslizard, a Bay Area beauty enthusiast since the age of 14. When she isn’t taking care of her two sons, husband, three cats or her snake, you’ll find her gardening, practicing aikido, or drooling over the latest and greatest MAC and Chanel releases.