ColourPop Flamenco Blush Stix Review & Swatches
Flamenco
ColourPop Flamenco Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich, fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, but it could be applied using fingertips or a brush for sheerer, more buildable coverage as well–I’d recommend building up as the shade may be intense, and it’s easier to build up than to sheer out (in general).
The cream blush had a lightweight, thin consistency that had some slip but didn’t feel too wet or tacky, so it was easy to work with on bare skin or patted on top of foundation. It applied evenly and blended out without much effort, and I tend to find shades in this color family can sometimes look like it’s sitting my pores, so I was impressed by how nice this appeared even over bare skin. It stayed on nicely for nine hours before showing visible fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Give Me Glow There Goes Rose (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Island Shine (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Text Me (LE, $12.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Clinique Berry Pop (03) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Kosas 8th Muse (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Grapevine #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Floral (P, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever B218 (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Crush on Cupid (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- Rare Beauty Nearly Rose (P, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.33 oz. - $24.24 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 applying 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 Blush Stix swatches.
Ingredients
Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Ceresin, Hydrated Silica, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol. May Contain: Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 10 Lake (CI 47005).
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.
This is the other blush that came in the Peony set I bought. I used it for the first time yesterday. I kept it very sheer using a duo-fiber brush and it was gorgeous…and stayed on all day.
So happy to hear it wore all day!!
I put it on around 7:15 a.m. and took it off at 9:30 p.m. It stayed on, even though it was applied very sheer over setting powder. Impressive!
That IS impressive!!
I normally don’t wear much in the way of bright pink on my cheeks, but there is something I just love about this particular shade. Perhaps because it has a very clear pink hue, more like stained glass, it looks less “heavy”.
The cream format works really well with these deeper/richer shades if one wants intensity but with some translucency!
In the tube it gave me ’80s flashbacks, but it looks so good on Christine!
Yep! I actually used to wear a blush that color in the 80’s, Laurel. This looks so much better!
That’s what I thought when I first got the set. I avoided wearing this shade for a week because it looked so bright. I have a very light hand with blush, preferring it to look as natural as possible, and I was able to get a beautiful sheer wash with this shade.
The color and finish are amazing! 100% not for me, but I love this. Somewhere, somebody has been aching for this product. Sometimes, I feel like “there’s nothing new under the sun” — but clearly there are still niches to be filled.
Quite a vibrant shade and it would be one of those where less is more.
I was watching a YouTube video by Sarah Hubler and she was considering purchasing some of these. Then she said she had seen another Youtuber, who got a PR package from Colourpop, say that they were full of glitter. The blushes I’ve seen here don’t look glittery, but neither did the highlighters, so now I’m confused. Anyone who has these, can you help me out? Thanks!
A few of the highlighters have micro-glitter/sparkle to them but the blushes are mostly shimmer-free (some have shimmer but not glitter).
Christine- do you typically set your cream blushes with powder when you aren’t testing?
Nope! If I’m wearing cream blush, it’s most likely for the finish (a bit dewy) so I don’t use powder on top.
I watched a video by Makeup Just for Fun before I bought a set. She shows you ways to apply them and does arm swatches of the shades. The lighting isn’t ideal, but you can definitely see which shades are more shiny as she moves her arm in front of the camera. It was a combination of this video and Temptalia swatches that led me to buy the set.
I’m loving this color! This would be a very “wearable” way to wear bright pink blush. I might actually go for this.