OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss – swatches and review

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A stained glass glow for the lips

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss 
 

My neighbors have a stained glass window in their living room. At a certain time of the evening, light passes through and creates the most otherworldly glow of colors. The effect is magical but much too fleeting – unlike the heavenly “stained glass” glow of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ Lip Tar Stained Gloss. Inspired by actual stained glass windows and lighting gels, this new glossy, slightly translucent Lip Tar has me swooning and longing for more.

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss

How could OCC improve upon their beloved Lip Tar (which wht called “the most genius lip product ever”)? By adding a see-thru, glossy look to the famous “hyper-opacity” of the most unique lip product ever created. I’m going to cut to the chase here: I really am obsessed with this new Lip Tar!

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss packaging

Lip Tar Stained Gloss ($18) comes in the tried-and-true see-thru tube, and includes a small companion brush, both housed in a nifty ziplock pack – perfect for keeping your makeup bag mess-free.

Need another reason to love OCC? All of their products are truly vegan. OCC never uses animal-derived ingredients (including Lanolin, Beeswax, or Carmine) in any of their products. And, of course, OCC products are never tested on animals.

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss Shades:

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss

Voyeur – sheer yellow, this really seems to work best to add gloss and tone to other shades (yellow added to red will give you a more orange or coral tone, see below)
Androgyne – safety cone orange
Jealous – fluorescent pinky red
Meta – fluorescent orange red (Jealous and Meta are almost identical)
New Wave – hot pink
Rhythm Box – berry-toned reddish pink

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss swatchesVoyeur, Androgyne, Jealous, Meta, New Wave, Rhythm Box

I tested three of the Lip Tar Stained glosses, including Voyeur, and I must say I was a little freaked out by the bright yellow hue in the tube. But it really did morph into something else on my lips – a yellow/peach new wave hybrid. I probably won’t be wearing it on its own, but blended over other colors (coral and orange, especially), Voyeur will be in my regular rotation.

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss swatchesVoyeur, Androgyne, Jealous, Meta, New Wave, Rhythm Box

I also tried Rhythm Box, a translucent purpled burgundy. Dark purple in the tube, I was expecting a dark goth hue. Instead, it’s not purple and not burgundy either; Rhythm Box is the hottest berry pink on my lips, a beautiful, super bright surprise. And the color lasts all day.

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss swatchesA closer look at the OCC Lip Tar Stained Glosses

Finally, I put Meta to the test. This Lip Tar is extremely bright, the kind of summer red that looks good on anyone. The semi-see-thru, glossy finish makes this a rare bright red that works for daytime. I adore it, and the color does not fade even after the sheen is gone (at least six hours).

OCC lip tar vs. stained gloss comparisonright shows Harlot Lip Tar alone, left is it with Voyeur Stained Gloss on top

OCC recommends priming lips first with their moisturizing clear Lip Tar. I didn’t have any on hand, but no worries. Even when I apply the little dollop of Lip Tar (which is all you need, believe me) over my bare lips, the brush spreads it easily, giving me precise, smooth coverage. Make sure to check the comments to see what the wht testers thought of the Stained Gloss formula and hear more about New Wave, Androgyne, and Jealous.

OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss

Pros:
Slick, glossy finish lasts for hours
Color stain lasts even after the gloss effect is gone; unlike most stains, this Lip Tar is not drying at all
Can be worn alone or over other lip products; try layering over original Lip Tar for cool custom colors
Included brush and zip case are perfect for touch ups on-the-go

Cons:
You won’t be happy with just one tube (so start saving now, girls)

In conclusion: Irresistible. Addictive. I’m officially obsessed!

we heartsters – are you already a Lip Tar superfan, or will Lip Tar Stained Gloss be your introduction to your future obsession?

photos: we heart this, swatches shown on NC 25/30 skintone

Melissa loves road trips, bargain shopping, drive-in movies, lip gloss and rock ‘n’ roll. She lives in Baltimore with her precious pup Zeus.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Author

  • turboterp

    Melissa loves road trips, bargain shopping, drive-in movies, lip gloss and rock 'n' roll. She lives in Baltimore with her precious pup Bellarina. skin tone: NC20 skin type: dry to normal favorite beauty product: skincare

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18 Comments

  1. New Wave and Rhythm Box both look like my kind of colors. I’ve only tried one lip tar, from OCC in Red, and I was amazed by it. Totally want to see Voyeur on someone… can’t wrap my head around that one!

  2. I’ve never tried Lip Tars, I checked them out at Sephora, swatched a red one on the back of my hand, and needed makeup remover to get it off, so I guess these will wear super well? lol
    Rhythm Box seems like it would be a good match for me…I’m going to have to check these out in person. Without swatching on my hands this time.

  3. Holy swatches! OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss is sporting some serious wow factor! I’ve never seen such a pack of punches on one arm of swatches! I need to see these in person. What are they made of? Not sure how they would look on me but am willing to see! Great review!

  4. The arm swatches on these look like a beautiful Rothko painting–lovely pics and review. I was soooo excited to test out New Wave and can firmly attest to its awesomeness. The color is like this gorgeous hybrid of red cherries and pink cotton candy AND the tiniest bit just sleeks right over the lips. And it really does last forever! I’m usually scared of super-bright lip colors, too, but somehow this one just works–I think the sheer, stained-glass effect makes it soft and wearable.

    1. That’s what I love about these colors, @amity — the glossy finish and slight sheerness makes even the brightest Lip Tar work for daytime.

  5. I really like original Lip Tars and the only downfall I find is that they can be drying. This is not the case with these Stainglass lip tars. They don’t dry down to a matte so it keeps a nice, hydrating gloss. I got to try Androgyne http://instagram.com/p/a_1CJnK45s/ which changes from a bright orange to a more lovely peach tone when applied by itself.

    What I really liked was the fact that this gloss is not sticky and does last for quite awhile. It can be sheer, or buildable to a more colorful hue, just make sure to use a clear lip liner around the edge of your lips to keep the color from bleeding. The only improvement I would like is if the lipbrush had a cap!

    1. A cap on the brush– that’s the best idea, @lucylemonade ! I’ve been wiping mine off before I put it back in the bag, but still, it’s a little messy.

  6. What fun summer lip tars! @stef – your picture reminds me of a rainbow. I am most attracted to the bottom of that rainbow. The red hued shades say ” try me”. I am glad to hear this formula is not trying.

  7. I bought one of the pinkish shades and am so excited to try it! I was thrilled when OCC came out with a more glossy but still long lasting formula.

  8. Lions and tigers and bears–oh, my! What a beautiful array of hues. I agree with @lipglossandspandex that the glossy formula just enhances the product. “New Wave” has my name written all over it!

  9. holy moly these are so vibrant! how perfect for summer? What I like most about these is the mixing aspect. I’ve worn Lip Tars before and they are as awesome as they look in pictures. Who knew such a small little bottle could pack on that much pigment?

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