ColourPop Acting Up Lite Stix Review & Swatches
Acting Up
ColourPop Acting Up Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a light, coppery orange with warm undertones and a fine, golden pearl that gave it a luminous finish. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly from the tube, though it was very spreadable so it could be sheered out if preferred, while applying using a brush or fingertips yielded sheerer, more buildable coverage. The consistency was lightly creamy, emollient without being too wet or sticky, and spreadable without lifting up base products (but also worked well on bare skin). It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Rich #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Parasol (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Or Rose (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Moira Golden Glow (P, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Butterfly Beach (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- YSL Bronze Gold (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sephora High Noon (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Tahiti (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop A Flutter (PiP, $10.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Freak Like Me (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.28 oz. - $35.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "blend effortlessly" with a "natural, skin-like finish" that can be layered or applied on bare skin. The brand recommends applyling directly from the tube for heavier coverage and using a brush to pick up product for less coverage, though the coverage "easily builds colour to your heart's desire."
They dry down to a semi-set finish--lightly dewy, definitely "natural, skin-like" in appearance, but not overly tacky or really wet-looking. I haven't found that they migrate or move around much, so the formula is still longer-wearing at seven to nine hours with minimal movement. They have applied well and worn well over foundation thus far, too. They are not transfer-proof but are transfer-resistant; they won't smear around with an inadvertent touch but aren't fully locked down.
The pigmentation varied a bit from shade to shade, but most shades were semi-opaque to fully opaque when applied directly from the tube in one "swipe" motion, though I think mimicking this on cheeks isn't quite as easily done as compared to my arm. I preferred picking up product on my fingertip, patting on the apple of my cheek and diffusing upward and outward, then using a clean fingertip to diffuse and soften the edges as needed.
I appreciated that even the deeper hues didn't seem to "sink" into my pores and were as easy to apply and blend out as very light, more my-skin-but-better (literally, my skin!) hues. I would describe the formula was buildable from semi-sheer to medium with semi-opaque coverage possible, but there's enough slip in the formula that it starts to sheer out noticeably even when applied more heavily.
The consistency was lightly emollient, lightweight, and thin with good spreadability and movement; it didn't lift up base products but still worked well over bare skin. I didn't experience it lifting up or creating patchiness over time on top of foundation, even when I set the foundation initially, but I would recommend (same as I would for most cream-based cheek formulas!) to pair with a less-matte foundation for optimal results (the dewy finish plays well with a more skin-like base).
Oh, the caps have the names of the products, but the rest of the tube doesn't, so if you have more than one open, take care in getting the right lid back on!
Browse all of our ColourPop Lite Stix swatches.
Ingredients
Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Paraffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Ceresin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Alumina, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Microcrystalline Wax, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol. May Contain: Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
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.
I really appreciate a moister version of my beloved Butterfly Beach and Glo Getter during *this* hot, DRY part of our weather! And Butterfly Beach is one of my HG May-October highlighters. Lately, though, it feels like a cream formula would be kinder to my skin and have a more forgiving appearance.
I think this whole range is excellent value for the price, the colours are well balanced and the finishes are beautiful. Another good one here.
I was most excited for this one of all the highlighters, so fun to see it gets a good review. Waiting patiently for the review on Totes.