Beauty Tarte Fake Awake Compared: Which One Wins for You: That Work
tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight, Nude earns our top spot with eyes look rested in seconds. tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight, Full Size is the closest rival, offering smooth twist-up application. tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight prices vary and tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight prices vary. Choose tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight for tired eyes needing an instant brightening trick. Choose tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight for fans of the original wanting the newest version.
| Factor | tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight, Nude | tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight, Full Siz |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Brightening pencil | Brightening pencil |
| Shade | Nude | Nude |
| Use area | Waterline, inner corner | Waterline, lash line |
| Wear | Waterproof | Waterproof, all-day |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Best for | Classic brightening | Newest formula |
| Extras | None | Built-in smudger |
Our Verdict
Our verdict: tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight is the best choice for most people, thanks to eyes look rested in seconds and doubles as a brow bone highlight. tarte Fake Awake Eye Highlight still earns a spot as a worthy alternative with smooth twist-up application. Either way, you get a proven performer from our list.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Anyone wanting big, bold lashes quickly.
tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Black
- Volumizes, lengthens, curls, conditions
- 24-hour flake-free, smudge-proof wear
- 360 magniLASH wand
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Pros
- Four benefits in one tube
- Dramatic volume fast
- No flakes by end of day
Cons
- Thick formula can clump if rushed
- Premium price
- Wand is large for small eyes
Best for: Travelers and first-time triers.
tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara, Travel Size
- Travel-size 4-in-1 mascara
- Same volumizing formula
- Smudge-proof, flake-free wear
- TSA-friendly mini tube
Pros
- Try the formula for less
- Perfect for travel bags
- Fresh tube more often
Cons
- Runs out in weeks
- Cost per ml is higher
- Tiny wand needs practice
Best for: Mascara wearers who also want lash care.
tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Platinum Mascara, Black
- Peptide lash serum plus mascara
- 16-hour longwear, sweatproof
- Biotin, green tea, avocado oils
- Ophthalmologist tested
Pros
- Nourishes while it volumizes
- Serious staying power
- Lashes feel conditioned
Cons
- Higher price than classic version
- Serum benefits need daily use
- Can smudge on very oily lids
Want the Full Picture?
The Waterproof Decision Matrix: Swimming, Workouts, Tears, Humidity
No competitor builds a single decision matrix, so here it is. Swimming: true waterproof only; water-resistant and tubing both fail with submersion, tubing catastrophically as the tubes slide off. Workouts: waterproof or tubing both work; sweat without submersion does not defeat tubes. Tears: waterproof wins; emotional tears are prolonged water exposure that softens tubes. Humidity: waterproof or tubing both survive normal humidity; extreme tropical humidity favors waterproof.
The tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara in Black is a traditional formula available in waterproof and washable versions, so the matrix decides which to buy. Daily office wear in a temperate climate: washable is fine and removes gently. Any scenario involving water on the face: waterproof. The Travel Size exists for testing the waterproof version before committing; waterproof and washable versions of the "same" mascara often differ in brush behavior, so test the actual version you will wear. Our waterproof versus washable comparison shows the wear differences side by side.
Lash Primer Interactions: What Pairs With What
One page warns that primers can break the tubing effect, but nobody tests which primers pair safely with which formulas. The rule: silicone-heavy primers create a slippery base that prevents tubing polymers from gripping the lash, so the tubes form poorly and flake. Conditioning primers with a drier finish pair fine. With traditional formulas like Lights, Camera, Lashes, primer generally helps: it adds base volume and gives the mascara more to grip.
Test the pairing before an important day. Apply primer to one eye's lashes and mascara alone to the other; if the primed eye flakes or looks thinner by midday, that primer and that mascara are incompatible. White primers need full coverage by the mascara or they show through at the base; tinted primers are more forgiving. The Platinum version of Lights, Camera, Lashes has a different brush and formula balance, so a primer pairing that works with the original may behave differently with Platinum.
Removal Methods Ranked by Lash Loss
Rubbing off waterproof mascara with oil versus sliding off tubing with warm water is never compared for lash fallout. Gentlest: tubing removal, warm water and gentle pressure, almost zero lash loss. Medium: oil-based remover with the press-and-hold method on traditional formulas, saturate a pad, hold thirty seconds, wipe once. Harshest: rubbing waterproof mascara with makeup wipes, which combines friction with incomplete dissolution and pulls out the most lashes per removal.
The press-and-hold technique is the single biggest upgrade most buyers can make. It dissolves the film before any wiping happens, so the wipe is just collection, not scrubbing. Never sleep in mascara; overnight, the dried film makes lashes brittle and they snap on the pillow. If you wear waterproof daily, alternate with a washable or tubing formula on low-key days to give lashes recovery time. For the complete gentle-removal routine, our makeup removal guide ranks methods by skin and lash impact.