ColourPop Mini Me Blush Stix Review & Swatches
Mini Me
ColourPop Mini Me Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a bright pop of peony pink with subtle, warm undertones and a natural sheen. Applied, it had a lightly dewy finish, which gave my skin a healthy glow without adding shimmer. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly from the tube, and it was sheerer and more buildable when applied with fingertips or a brush, just as described. The texture was lightly creamy with moderate slip, so the blush spread and diffused easily on bare skin but also worked just as well on top of foundation. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before starting to fade/move slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Iconic London Power Pink (P, $27.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- LYS Beauty Humble (P, $16.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Damage Control (Blush) (LE, ) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Milani Pink Play #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Counterpoint (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Skater Boyz (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Kosas 8th Muse (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lissome (Bottom) (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS 413 BLKR (Blush) (P, $30.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC No Shame (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (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, 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, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), 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 love this, have no dupes, and have been looking for a properly pink cheek product (I realized recently I don’t have a single *real* pink in my cheek color lineup!)… Better still that it’s an affordable ColourPop price!
Love, love, love! This is the shade I’ve been wearing for a week. My favorite way to apply it is with a duo-fiber brush on top of foundation. It’s quite pigmented, so I lightly “feather” it on, slowly building it up until I achieve a natural blush look. It stays on all day until I take it off at night. I bought this as part of the Peony set, but haven’t used the other shades yet.
So pretty and fresh looking! Perhaps too light a shade (or too cool-toned) for me, I’m assuming.
It looks more subtle on you than I would imagine “a bright pop of peony pink” would. So it might be perfect for me BC I’m a bit lighter than you are. Thanks!
Looks so beautiful! Did you find it applies well over powdered skin?
Please read “formula overview” for general takes on the formula – your question is answered there! 🙂
(emphasis added)
“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).”
I have applied it using light strokes with a brush on top of foundation and RCMA powder, and it worked very well. I did not have good results using my finger, though. The brush made the difference.
I got this as part of the Peony Blush set, and each of the three products has been absolutely amazing. I run around all day long and they stay put and don’t fade. Humidity and rain don’t seem to affect the wear either! Colourpop’s quality and price can’t be beat.