ColourPop Boss Lite Stix Review & Swatches
Boss
ColourPop Boss Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich, coppery-brown with fine, golden pearl throughout that gave it a soft, metallic finish. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly from the tube, and sheerer, more buildable coverage when applied with fingertips or a brush (as marketed by the brand). The texture was smooth, lightly creamy, and had enough slip to spread easily over bare skin or over foundation (without lifting it up) but never felt greasy or oily on. The cream highlighter applied evenly, blended out well, and stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours on me before showing signs of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Where the Magic Happens (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Zamunda Sun (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Opal (DC, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Gold Addict (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Sunstone (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Pecan Swiller (LE, $42.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #17 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Blow Me Out (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Royal Gold (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced You Light Up My Life (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (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.
Great quality, but too much of a yellow-orange toned shade to look quite right on me. I do believe that this is a beautiful option for those with richer skintones than my own, though.
My kinda color highlight. I need too give these stick highlighters a try. ColourPop is always coming out with goodies!
What a glorious shade! It wouldn’t suit me and I love this colour as an eyeshadow, but I am sure it would look great on many others. What a stunning range this has turned out to be.
Wow … that’s a looker! Lovely shade and seamless applied. I’m pretty impressed!