ColourPop Queen Cobra & Rattler Ultra Glossy Lips Reviews & Swatches
Queen Cobra
ColourPop Queen Cobra Ultra Glossy Lip ($6.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy gold with strong, warm undertones and a sparkling, multi-colored finish that was complemented by high-shine. The consistency was smooth, plush, and more like a creamy gel, as it cushioned my lips but didn’t feel heavy or tacky–it also ensured that I didn’t feel the sparkles when I pressed my lips together.
It had sheerer coverage from the base color, while the shimmer gave it more of a semi-sheer effect, which was mostly in line with how it was marketed (it wasn’t “subtle” shimmer, though). It wore well for three hours and was moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Pearl (P, $16.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Goldfinch (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tower 28 Magic (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop On Board (DC, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stella (LE, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Saint No Angel (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Champ Stamp Fantasy (LE, $21.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Blitz Gold (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- MAC Mocha Swirl (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Estella (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.11 oz. - $90.91 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "hi-shine" with a "non-sticky" texture that "feels amazing" and includes five finishes "from 3-D pearl to sheer tinted colour." They are designed to be a sheerer formula, so many shades are sheer with a smattering of shimmer or sparkle and then a few are more tinted with sheer to semi-sheer coverage but no shimmer. Each gloss has a short, brush-type applicator, which worked better than I expected and didn't leave streaky results behind (in general). They had a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
The "Tinted" finish ("glass-like shine with tint of sheer colour and no shimmer") was the least consistent--sometimes prone to unevenness and getting into lip lines, particularly with deeper/richer shades, whereas Pearlescent ("glass-like shine with subtle shimmer") and Prismatic ("glass-like shine with floating multi dimensional pearl and glitters") are sheer to translucent with the major difference being finer shimmer in the Pearlescent finish and larger, more glitter-like particles in the Prismatic finish. Both finishes tended to look plush and more smoothing on my lips. The Creme finish is a "medium-coverage gloss with a creamy finish that does not contain any pearls or glitter." The Metallic is described as a "full-coverage gloss with a mix of pearl and metallic finishes."
The wear time varied by shade but the sheerer ones tended to wear between two and three hours as the formula was, indeed, non-sticky and smooth, which made them lighter-weight and comfortable to wear but shorter wearing. A lot of the sheerer shades ran together, so I would recommend just picking up one or two rather than several as the differences are likely to be lost! Also, keep in mind that sheerer lip colors can look different from person to person due to much of the natural lip color coming through.
Browse all of our ColourPop Ultra Glossy Lip (Discontinued) swatches.
Look Using this Product
Queen Cobra
LELimited Edition. $10.00.
Rattler
ColourPop Rattler Ultra Glossy Lip ($6.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a deeper peach with warm, brownish undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which was slightly more coverage than the “medium” coverage it was described as having.
The texture was lightweight, smooth, and spreadable without being tacky or thick, which made it comfortable to apply. I usually find that this formula camouflages and softened my vertical lip lines, this particular shade did not. I experienced very slight settling into my deeper lip lines, and it was hard to keep it from looking streaky along the edges or if I pressed my lips together. It stayed on well for three hours and felt hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Dumpling (LE, $10.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Speakeasy (P, $10.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Jouer Maiden Lane (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop B (LE, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Tan Nude (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Faux Real (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Vanilla Latte (LE, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Myth (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Fashion Punch (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Zambeze (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$10.00/0.11 oz. - $90.91 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "hi-shine" with a "non-sticky" texture that "feels amazing" and includes five finishes "from 3-D pearl to sheer tinted colour." They are designed to be a sheerer formula, so many shades are sheer with a smattering of shimmer or sparkle and then a few are more tinted with sheer to semi-sheer coverage but no shimmer. Each gloss has a short, brush-type applicator, which worked better than I expected and didn't leave streaky results behind (in general). They had a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
The "Tinted" finish ("glass-like shine with tint of sheer colour and no shimmer") was the least consistent--sometimes prone to unevenness and getting into lip lines, particularly with deeper/richer shades, whereas Pearlescent ("glass-like shine with subtle shimmer") and Prismatic ("glass-like shine with floating multi dimensional pearl and glitters") are sheer to translucent with the major difference being finer shimmer in the Pearlescent finish and larger, more glitter-like particles in the Prismatic finish. Both finishes tended to look plush and more smoothing on my lips. The Creme finish is a "medium-coverage gloss with a creamy finish that does not contain any pearls or glitter." The Metallic is described as a "full-coverage gloss with a mix of pearl and metallic finishes."
The wear time varied by shade but the sheerer ones tended to wear between two and three hours as the formula was, indeed, non-sticky and smooth, which made them lighter-weight and comfortable to wear but shorter wearing. A lot of the sheerer shades ran together, so I would recommend just picking up one or two rather than several as the differences are likely to be lost! Also, keep in mind that sheerer lip colors can look different from person to person due to much of the natural lip color coming through.
Browse all of our ColourPop Ultra Glossy Lip (Discontinued) swatches.
Queen Cobra was a much better formula than Rattler and I wonder how the brand can create such a discrepancy between the two lip glosses. The Queen Cobra lipgloss looked quite comfortable to wear and would work as a lipstick topper too.
Surprisingly, I love both shades quite a lot. Probably will get Rattler, and store it in my fridge until the pandemic is over because wearing gloss is impractical at this time.