ColourPop Hooked Blush Stix Review & Swatches
Hooked
ColourPop Hooked Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a muted, medium orange with warm undertones and a dusting of fine, gold pearl. The texture was lightweight, spreadable, and emollient without being too wet or feeling tacky, which made it easy to use, whether I applied it over bare skin or on top of foundation. The pigmentation was opaque when applied directly from the tube, and it was semi-sheer, buildable in coverage when applied with fingertips or a brush (as expected). This shade stayed on well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- bareMinerals Kiss of Copper (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Got Change (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Flesh Beauty Glaze (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Me First (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Patrick Ta She's So LA (Crème) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Sandy Cheeks (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sugared Peach (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Perfect Bronze (Right) (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Pleasure Model (LE, $31.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Passionate (23) (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (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, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Ceresin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492), Mica (CI 77019), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), 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.
As nice as it is, I’m going to have to pass. I do have MAC Pleasure Model, and that one is such a perfect terracotta orange, that I just feel set in that shade category.
I’m sitting on a nice sized CP cart atm. Just deciding whether or not to push pay…ibam in dire need of another black gel eyeliner for my wings, so Swerve is the one practical piece!
It looks really nice on you Christine, I can’t see the orangey undertones at all.