LIP PINAS Tinta Collection Review | A Local Lip Cream that is Worth the Hype

I have been going back and forth on the thought of again actively working on this little beauty space of mine in the web. Ever since I got back and somehow settled, I have always planned of slowly picking up the bits of me and put them back on where they were once placed. This blog is one of those many pieces.

Honestly, I was just an inch shy of giving up when a sign was sent - I received LIP PINAS Tinta Collection. If this isn't the beauty gods sending me a message, I no longer know what is! I mean, I have all the shades so why not blog about them, right?

LIP PINAS - a proud, Filipino brand

LIP PINAS, as its name proudly implies, is a Filipino brand. With the tagline, Gawa ng Filipina, Para sa Filipina, the brand mostly boast the shades that will surely compliment our skin tone. 

I have been following Lip Pinas in Instagram ever since they were featured in number of beauty magazines and raved by beauty enthusiasts as one of the indie, local brands that are worth checking out. But with the influx of rebranded lip creams and lip tints in the market, I had doubts on Tinta (velvet matte ink). Since I then do not notice see significant standouts, my focus was on the Linya (brow pomade) and Talkum (powder blush). But boy, I was wrong. In the sea of local multipurpose creams, Tinta is a special one that has something to say.

Just by the look of it, Tinta seems to look like any other velvet matte creams in the market. It is in the usual plastic lip gloss tube with the usual doe-foot applicator. This is not a deal-breaker for me, Unfortunately, though, two of those that I have are really flimsy to the point that the caps are now broken and there is product leakage.

On the other hand, I love how simple it looks. No busy designs - just a few words and the color that mimics the actual shade of the product.

There are 10 shades available, ranging from browns to reds. Dubbed as a multipurpose cream, I believe that these can be used on the cheeks too - browns for contour and pinks/reds for blush. 

Based on the tubes, I would usually go for the shades Hanan and Wagwayen. However, the swatches on the skin and on the lips are different stories. Tala and Sirenha are totally my vibe.

I already have tried a number of lip creams, from probably the cheapest ones in the market to those expensive brands my budget can afford. And honestly, the quality of those I have tried really depends on its price. For reference, I love the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink (affordable) and the OFRA Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick (a bit on the pricier side). 

Given that Tinta retails for only Php 199, I kept low expectations but only to be proven wrong. The formulation glides on smoothly and gives an opaque color in one swipe. Giving it a good swirl prior to application ensures that the product is completely bound together. I love how it dries matte but not flat. It still has a bit of shine even after hours of application.

The shades are all really beautiful, I must say. However, I cannot just really pull off Hanan. It is too light and cool for my liking. Otherwise, 9/10 actually work nice. 

For the sake of this post, I only swatched it on my lips. Tinta is a multipurpose cream so please feel free to use it on the cheeks too. Just be careful because it is sooooo pigmented. One dot, blend and you're good to go.

But the 2 things that make Tinta a standout for me would definitely be its staying power and the way it sits on the lips. Given its finish, I am surprise on how long it actually stays on. It does fade but there would still be a decent amount of color left even after I eat or drink.

It is also one of the few velvet matte inks that does not dry out my lips. I mean, my lips are naturally dry and almost all lip creams just make my lips look flaky in just an hour. But Tinta sits on my lips smooth for more than 6 hours. I can actually go on with my day with it without the urge to peel off my lips.

If there is one letdown, that would be its scent. It doesn't smell that bad. I don't know how to describe it but I just find it a bit off. Good thing, it doesn't linger so it is not a total worry.

The shade Tala is hands down my favorite that I have it here on my work desk, right in front of me, as I type this post. It is my current I-have-a-meeting-in-a-minute-I-need-look-good lip product. If I want to amp up my look (even at home) I would go with either Magwayen or Sirenha. These 2 shades are the reds that I can easily and readily pull off. 

I must try to use it more on the cheeks (and one the eyes?) to maximize it as a multipurpose cream.

Have you tried anything from Lip Pinas? What are your thoughts? :)