TikTok Moms Swear This Tarte Trio Is the Secret to Looking Well-Rested, So I Put it to the Test

Tarte’s lip-plumping gloss is revered for its ability to revive dry, chapped lips—a 30-person clinical study found that everyone reported better hydration after using it, in addition to a fuller pout—and I can concur. I love the subtle color and glossy sheen of the Mixed Berry shade, and how easily it glides on, without veering waxy or tacky, like some balms and glosses.

There’s immediately a tingly sensation that’s almost minty, and while I didn’t notice much of a plumping effect in a Kylie Jenner-like sense, I was grateful for that. My fine lines filled in a bit more; really, I was in it to give my corpse-like lips some color and shine. Mission accomplished.

Ah, the crown jewel of the trio—and the most controversial. I saw the most TikToks and replies over this Eye Highlight, which is essentially a nude eyeliner people apply to their waterline to make their eyes seem more open. (Turns out, most of the negative commentary stems from confusion over how to use the tool, which has a smudge brush tip on one side, for blending, and the eye highlighter on the other. Due to its design, some thought the smudge brush contained the makeup and complained it wasn’t doing anything…because it wasn’t.)

It's basically a more subtle riff on the classic technique of lining your inner eye with white liner, and while I get the appeal, I found I almost rubbed it off while blending it in—otherwise it tended to be too jarring of a contrast to my very dark undereye circles (which remain pretty distinct, no matter how much concealer I use). I’ve been using it more as a highlight for the inner corners of my eyes than anything else.

While Fake Awake gets all the hype on TikTok, Tartelette Tubing Mascara was the MVP for me. It replaced the three other mascaras on my beauty counter as my new go-to for everything, simply because it’s a one-coat wonder: It immediately creates a fan of lashes. I had sworn off tubing mascaras because they often clump and flake into my eyes, and I’d rather look squinty-eyed and go makeup-free than deal with irritated, watery orbitals. This made me a believer.

While it didn’t seem to have the 24-hour staypower that was reported in the brand’s clinical testing, it did last most of the day. Even mid-heat dome sweatathon. And, as my lashes reverted to their pre-fairy-godmother-Cinderella status, I didn’t notice smudges—nor did I have to pick flecks of mascara out of my eyes.