ColourPop Pressed, Venus Slipper, U Grow Girl Colour Stix Reviews & Swatches
Pressed
ColourPop Pressed Metallic Colour Stix ($6.00 for 0.023 oz.) is a brighter, medium berry with cool undertones and a metallic sheen. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that applied fairly evenly, though it was a thinner, slightly clingier formula so it wasn’t as comfortable to apply and to layer up on the lid (but was more comfortable as an eyeliner). It lasted for seven hours before creasing on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dominique Cosmetics G*psy (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Pandemonium (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Celebutante (P, $20.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lover (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Sugar Plum Fairy (DC, $8.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #13 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Tarte Pink Diamonds (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Cat Fight (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Exo (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Too Faced Sprinkles (Holiday 2016) (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.023 oz. - $260.87 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "ultra pigmented" in "one swipe" while being "long wearing" and "water-resistant." There are two finishes: matte and metallic, and the initial release included two shades from each finish, so the overview is based on those four shades, which is not a ton of shades to go off of!
One of the four pencils was drier, stiffer, and was prone to the point snapping off during application. The other three were creamier with the metallic shades being more emollient than the remaining matte shade. The pigmentation varied from shade to shade; it ranged from medium to opaque with some being more buildable than others.
The performance was more consistent with three of the four shades applying comfortably with somewhat even initial layers. They were blendable for five to 10 seconds before they dried down to more budge-proof finish. They didn't feel heavy or clingy on my lids, and while they were creamy, they did not feel slippery as they were drying down so they did not settle into fine lines or creases during the dry down.
I was able to apply them directly from the pencil to my eye area, but I found a brush gave me a more even application and helped me blend out the product without losing some of the coverage compared to application with a fingertip. The shades lasted between six and eight hours before creasing on me.
Browse all of our ColourPop Metallic Colour Stix swatches.
Ingredients
Pressed
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
Venus Slipper
ColourPop Venus Slipper Metallic Colour Stix ($6.00 for 0.023 oz.) has a deeper, warm plum base with dirty bronze sparkle throughout. The sparkles were large enough to make it harder to apply the color evenly and smoothly as they tended to clump up on themselves as I tried to build up the coverage.
This was more workable as an eyeliner than an all-over lid product as it was too quick to dry down, so it was difficult to diffuse the edge and get an even application of color. It stayed on well for six and a half hours before creasing on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kaja Deep Plum (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Kaja Sparkling Frose (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Inglot J403 Ethereal (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Is This Love (PiP, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Mademoiselle (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Drunk Dial (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Ciate Phoenix (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar).
- MAC Teboulbou (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Smashbox Purple Shimmer (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- ColourPop Like a Butterfly (LE, $6.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.023 oz. - $260.87 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "ultra pigmented" in "one swipe" while being "long wearing" and "water-resistant." There are two finishes: matte and metallic, and the initial release included two shades from each finish, so the overview is based on those four shades, which is not a ton of shades to go off of!
One of the four pencils was drier, stiffer, and was prone to the point snapping off during application. The other three were creamier with the metallic shades being more emollient than the remaining matte shade. The pigmentation varied from shade to shade; it ranged from medium to opaque with some being more buildable than others.
The performance was more consistent with three of the four shades applying comfortably with somewhat even initial layers. They were blendable for five to 10 seconds before they dried down to more budge-proof finish. They didn't feel heavy or clingy on my lids, and while they were creamy, they did not feel slippery as they were drying down so they did not settle into fine lines or creases during the dry down.
I was able to apply them directly from the pencil to my eye area, but I found a brush gave me a more even application and helped me blend out the product without losing some of the coverage compared to application with a fingertip. The shades lasted between six and eight hours before creasing on me.
Browse all of our ColourPop Metallic Colour Stix swatches.
Ingredients
Venus Slipper
LELimited Edition. $6.00.
U Grow Girl
ColourPop U Grow Girl Matte Colour Stix ($6.00 for 0.019 oz.) is a rich burgundy with cooler undertones and a matte finish. I’ve found this occurs with cream-based burgundy hues but it darkens substantially as the color is built up, which often results in unevenness, like it did with this product.
The texture was lightly creamy, denser, and almost tacky, and the latter seemed to make it harder to get a really smooth, even level of coverage. It was incredibly difficult to blend out at all on the lid; it could work for a starker, more defined shape but not for something that you wanted to soften along the edges. The color wore for seven hours before creasing on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Nuh Uh (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC 300 Game (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Berry (P, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Blackberry (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Pinot Please (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Divina (LE, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Meanstreak (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Topanga Blvd (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics No Exit (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Eggplant (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.00/0.019 oz. - $315.79 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "ultra pigmented" in "one swipe" while being "long wearing" and "water-resistant." There are two finishes: matte and metallic, and the initial release included two shades from each finish, so the overview is based on those four shades, which is not a ton of shades to go off of!
One of the four pencils was drier, stiffer, and was prone to the point snapping off during application. The other three were creamier with the metallic shades being more emollient than the remaining matte shade. The pigmentation varied from shade to shade; it ranged from medium to opaque with some being more buildable than others.
The performance was more consistent with three of the four shades applying comfortably with somewhat even initial layers. They were blendable for five to 10 seconds before they dried down to more budge-proof finish. They didn't feel heavy or clingy on my lids, and while they were creamy, they did not feel slippery as they were drying down so they did not settle into fine lines or creases during the dry down.
I was able to apply them directly from the pencil to my eye area, but I found a brush gave me a more even application and helped me blend out the product without losing some of the coverage compared to application with a fingertip. The shades lasted between six and eight hours before creasing on me.
Browse all of our ColourPop Matte Colour Stix swatches.
Ingredients
Thinking about getting Venus Slipper to just pop on my lower lashline. The shade itself sounds like a pita to use any other way.
Yep, despite the application issues, I need Venus Slipper and Pressed.
Same. I initially was interested in this to use as a liner so the fact that it doesn’t work great when used all over doesn’t bother me in the least. Venus Slipper is just so different and I love the sparkles so I’m going to pick it up.
Hmmm – these aren’t crash hot, in terms of formula. Venus Slipper is a pretty shade and it’s a shame that it isn’t better quality.
I ordered Venus Slipper yesterday, based on the swatch earlier. I’m going to use it on the lower lashline, so I think I’ll be OK using it. I love the colour, quite unusual and very pretty, but with a bit of an edge.