ColourPop Invite Only Blush Stix Review & Swatches

Christine — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Invite Only

ColourPop Invite Only Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium-dark, coral-red with faint pearl and a subtle sheen. It was less dewy compared to most shades in the range; it almost looked satin to semi-matte when swatched but did seem to have a bit more glowiness to it when actually applied and blended out on my cheeks. The texture was lightweight, thin without being prone to clinginess, and it spread fairly well across my skin. It did not blend out quite as effortlessly as most shades in the range have, though. The pigmentation was mostly opaque when applied directly from the tube and more buildable from semi-sheer to mostly opaque when applied with fingertips or a brush. It stayed on nicely for nine hours before moving visibly on my skin.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Gleeful (P, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
ColourPop Drop of a Hat (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Spring Flush (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Estee Lauder Wild Sunset (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
NARS Realm of the Senses (Together) (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Polished (P, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Too Faced Cherry Bomb (Blush) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Love Lust (Discontinued) (DC, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
Ciate Matchmaker (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Painted Canyon (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).

View Swatches

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 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.