ColourPop Alchemy Super Shock Cheeks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “creamy ivory with subtle gold duochrome effect.” It’s a light, creamy beige with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. I don’t really notice a duochrome effect in person. The texture was soft, lightly emollient, and smooth on the skin. It is most blendable with fingertips (I think the warmth of fingers helps), but I had no issues using a brush–it just took a little longer. It has mostly opaque coverage applied with fingertips and then more semi-sheer, buildable coverage when used with brushes (as described). The texture didn’t emphasize pores and lasted for eight hours. Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). Tarte Spellbound Glow (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). L'Oreal Rose (P, $12.99) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Lightscapade (P, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Laura Mercier Highlight 01 (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “soft, coppery gold.” It’s a muted, medium-dark rosy bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque coverage applied with a fingertip and then semi-sheer to semi-opaque, buildable covoerage applied with a stippling brush. The consistency was smooth, very emollient, and blended easily on the skin both with brushes and fingertips. The color wore well for nine hours on me. Estee Lauder Modern Mercury (LE, $65.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Anastasia Tourmaline (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Santos (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Pink Quartz (P, $46.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Superb (P, $42.00) is warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Nude Glow (LE, $46.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Tawny Glow (P, $48.00) is cooler (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Sand Castle (PiP, $36.00) is lighter (80% similar). Chanel Golden Sun (280) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Bikini Bronze (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Riviera (DC, $28.00) is cooler (85% similar). MAC Cloudy Copper (LE, $31.00) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “cool-toned rosy pink.” It’s a muted, medium-dark pink with cool undertones and a matte finish. The texture was firmer and more clay-like–dry and difficult to really get color out of except with a hard press of fingertips. I couldn’t use this well with a brush, as so little color transferred onto a brush. It seemed more like a cream blush that had been left open for too long and had dried out than a just-opened one, unfortunately. It was harder to blend on the skin as a result. Once on, the color lasted for nine hours. Jouer Seduce Me (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Afterglow (Blush) (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Macaroon (P, $24.00) is glossier (95% similar). Makeup Geek Rendezvous (P, $10.00) is cooler (95% similar). Chanel Rose Ruban (602) (P, $45.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Black Opal Tulip (P, $8.95) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop New Lowes (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Milani Pink Play #2 (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). LORAC Chroma (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Pretty Pink (P, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Nooner (Blush) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Buxom Ibiza (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Pat McGrath Lovestruck (P, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar). Stila Pink Rose Blush (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Bicoastal (Bottom) (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). NARS Famous (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Milani Tea Rose (08) (P, $8.99) is warmer (85% similar). Pat McGrath Budding Romance (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). IT Cosmetics Matte Sweet Apple (P, $24.00) is warmer (85% similar). NARS Penthouse (LE, $30.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
P.S. — The products in this post are the ones from the Alchemy six-piece set, which included eyeshadow-sized (0.07 oz.) versions of the blushes; the blushes are available in full-size (0.15 oz.) as well.
Pretty Bonnes
LELimited Edition. $10.00.
The Golden Child
LELimited Edition. $8.00.
Thames
LELimited Edition. $8.00.
See more photos & swatches!
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Pretty Bonnes Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop The Golden Child Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek
ColourPop Thames Super Shock Cheek
My Thames is also like it, so definitely not a one-off. Love the color and I’m willing to work with it, but I can only use it most successfully in concert with other blushes. Definitely hard to work with, especially for a CP blush. But again, enjoying the nice color enough to make an effort with it some days. The only other piece from this review I have is Golden Child and that is absolutely an A+ product for sure. Gorgeous, versatile color that works in many fun ways on a variety of skin tones. Great kit edition for those who regularly work with a wide variety of skin tones.
Ha. Addition* Need more coffee!
Well, at least we’re not alone! I have had that texture pop up a few times with the more matte shades, though not always!
Yeah, it definitely happens once in a while with the Mattes. Shame to because CP releases such nice colors it’s extra frustrating when the texture is too dry. Makes the product not last as long as well since an already very dry one is just going to reach unusable levels of dryness quicker.
The Golden Chils is lovely. Too bad Thames is so dry 🙁 Maybe you can try crumbling it into a loose powder. That has helped for me in the past with really stiff and poorly pigmented blushes.
I don’t know if even if it dried out, it’s the type of formula that would turn into powder!
There must have been some serious quality check issues with Thames, because mine was perfect. Soft, cushy, highly pigmented and very blendable. I used the MAC 187 brush and it gave me a perfect light rosy cheek. I hate when stuff like this happens; it makes it hard to trust a company’s products..
By the way, did you try out the cream Contouring Sticks from the Alchemy collection? I got them and I’m really on the fence. The highlight is wonderful and the shade of the contour is perfect, but you have to blend the contour ASAP otherwise you’re left with a streak where you applied it due to it being so pigmented and drying down so quickly. I’m not a fan of having to buff and blend the he** out of a product just to make it look decent. If you’ve tried them, have you noticed anything similar
Lucky you 😀 Happy to hear some of them are more like other CP blushes!
I haven’t! They are on my to-be-swatched list still! Bummer to hear about the blendability though 🙁
My Thames was good, too. I did buy the full-size version – I wonder if that makes a difference here.
How do the undertones in Golden Child compare to Butterfly Beach? Do you think Golden Child is more rosy when sheered out?
I think Golden Child is more muted and definitely rosier – there is a “dirty” vibe from it as it is blended out from it not being as warm-toned.
Definitely Golden Child is rosier.
All three are really pretty, though I’d have to wear Golden Child as an eyeshadow, I think. I love the color, though! I have dupes for Pretty Bonnes and Thames, so I’m going to resist them. Thames’ texture sound a bit like their Rain shade.
Yes, I agree – it is comparable to Rain in the stiffness!
Rain and Cruel Intentions BOTH came clay-like for me! But with usage, both have GREATLY improved, I don’t get it?
Rain is stiffer and not as pigmented for me as their other blushes. The lighter pigmentation actually works for my fair skin, but I cannot apply it with my fingers. I have to use a stippling brush and really work to blend it.
That is weird, but nice!, that the texture improved with use for you. I have no idea why, but I hope it happens to my Rain.
I hope yours softens up too, Rachel. Because when I got mine last summer? It was so stiff I almost threw it out! Idk what happened with mine, whether it was temperature related or storage related? Or what? I will say that neither it or Cruel Intentions are even now as easy to use as their others, but better than when I received them. I still have swirl my 2 fingers over them more than my others to “warm” them up.
I actually love Thames, but I’ve never used their other blushes in comparison. I think it builds really nicely!
Reader Andrew just mentioned that his Thames was soft and blendable, so there might be a batch issue going on! 🙁 So yours might be great!
The only one I could see myself nabbing is the Golden Child. Pretty Bonne’s is definitely too light for my complexion, BUT I do like it for lighter/fairer complexions than my own! As for that pink shade, uh, no. I do notice that every once in awhile, one of my CP products comes more clay-like, though. My pot of Cruel Intentions did, but it slowly became more like it should have been st the get go!
I feel like you’d like Golden Child, but you may have something similar!
I’m not sure whether I do or not? I have Butterfly Beach and MAC Shaft Of Gold. And one by Nyx that has a slight coppery tint in comparison to BB or SOG?
I bought 3 blushes from ColourPop (Rain, Homie, and Prenup), and they were all dry like you described and unusable within a month. It made me sad, they’re the only duds I’ve gotten from CP! (my highlighters and shadows are all still perfect).
Oh no! 🙁 IIRC, Rain was one I had trouble with as well. I don’t recall having an issue with the more shimmery formulas, but it has definitely happened with some of the more matte shades.
Golden Child and Thames are so pretty, but I think your purple eye look has stolen the show! Making me want the Kat Von D Plum kit and CP Descanso
Thanks, Katherine!
Do you think golden child could be used as a blush? Or is it too shimmery? Thanks!
I definitely think it can double as a highlighting blush (maybe more of a bronzing blush), and it’s not like, crazy metallic, but it is a shimmery finish.
I like them all color wise. Too bad the blush had such a shitty texture.
I wish Thames was creamier!
Golden Child ?. I like the 2 other shades too, at least I have a dupe for the pink one.
Glad you have a dupe for the pink one!
I’ve been so good about staying away from Colourpop recently! It’s hard to do that when the price is just SO GOOD and the quality is actually there! The Golden Child is an interesting colour – a bit too warm, but I think for the price I’m willing to play with it!
And they put out so much 🙁
Golden Child is such a beautiful colour – it wouldn’t look good on me – but it looks great on you Christine.
Thank you!
All of these are pretty, but I really like The Golden Child.
That’s my pick, too! 🙂