Clinique Ruby Pop Cheek Pop Pearl Review & Swatches
Ruby Pop (05)
Clinique Ruby Pop (05) Cheek Pop Pearl ($26.50 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark pink-coral with soft, warm undertones and a luminous finish. The texture was smooth, moderately dense, and slightly firmer to the touch, as I expected a gel-powder based formula to be, but it was more yielding to a brush than the original Cheek Pop formula was, so some may find it easier to use overall.
It had medium to semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation, which was a little more than marketed, that picked up easily with a brush, transferred well, and blended out beautifully with little effort. This shade “melted” beautifully on my skin for a seamless look with a faint glow. It stayed on nicely for nine hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Ciate Matchmaker (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Dusty Rose (P, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Devotion (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Nude Venus (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smith and Cult Universal Peach (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clinique Peach Pop (02) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Sweet Sweet Fantasy (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Pink Sand (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Patrick Ta She's Passionate (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Shell Out (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.50/0.12 oz. - $220.83 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "buildable watercolor payoff" with a "silky-smooth" texture that lasts for "10 hours." The formula has the feel of a gel-powder hybrid, so it is firmer, denser in the pan but has no powderiness and is extremely blendable. It melted slightly after being applied and buffed on the skin, though the original formula seemed more luminous and seamless (by a touch).
The updated Cheek Pop formula seemed more yielding, so I could use a lighter hand or a less-dense brush than I would have used with the original range, but you may still find a denser brush most appropriate if you tend to use very feathery brushes.
The updated formula also seemed truer to the buildable claim than the original formula as most shades were more medium in coverage in one layer, but they built up nicely if desired. They wore between eight and nine hours on me before fading slightly.
Browse all of our Clinique Cheek Pop Pearl swatches.
Ingredients
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica, Squalane, Dicalcium Phosphate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zinc Stearate, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Red 34 Lake (Ci 15880), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Orange 5 (Ci 45370)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
To me, “Ruby” suggests either a cool or neutral red shade, rather than coral and warm….but even so, this looks like a beauty and more pink than coral, which is good for me. I will have to check it out in-store though because, in all honesty, the last thing I need is another blush (not that that ever stops me if I fall in love with one!)
A perennial issue. If I b**** about it, people tend to say picky, picky, picky. At least with some Asian brands, there is always that possibility. But with straight-up American Clinique, I call it misrepresentation.
Yep… ruby makes me think deep, rich, cool red. Not this. Should’ve been called coral. Boo!
Wow! I love this one! I haven’t checked for dupes in my vanity yet, but hopefully I don’t have one, LOL 🤣
The Ruby shade is a beautiful dark coral shade and it has a lovely finish to it too.
Clinique! Please send me ALL the new Pop blushes!
So far all of the blushes reviewed have been gorgeous. I love even the more warm toned ones, I generally like cooler tones a bit better, but these are such beauties, all of them.
OK, I’ll stop now. 🙂
Pretty!!
Very smooth looking!