ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix Review & Swatches

Sidewayz
ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium coral with warm undertones, but leans pinker, and warmer, coppery-gold pearl. It had more opaque coverage when applied directly from the tube and more medium, buildable coverage when applied with a brush or fingertips. It had a lightweight, smooth consistency that was lightly emollient but never felt tacky or too slippery on my skin. This shade applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease, and I had no trouble applying it over bare skin or over foundation. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Just a Pinch (P, $31.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Seek (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Beach Bum (P, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Love Lust (P, $60.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Jouer Marigold (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Telling Glow (P, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Live Boldly (LE, $29.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Voyage de Chanel (LE, $70.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Vu (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% 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, Isopropyl Myristate, Paraffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Ceresin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl Laurate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Microcrystalline Wax, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Mica (CI 77019), 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.
Sidewayz
PPermanent. $8.00.

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix

ColourPop Sidewayz Blush Stix
FYI: I just went to the CP site to check on my order, and the Blush Stix are on sale for $6.
(Do you mind if I vent? I placed an order for one Blush Stix and two eye palettes last Saturday. Then the blush and one of the palettes went on sale a couple days later. I checked today and my order still says “pending,” even though the money was charged to my account on Monday. If they had shipped it right after charging me, I’d let it go, but I can’t help feeling a bit annoyed and ripped off.)
I totally get this, even though I’m in completely the other camp – I resisted HARD when the blush stix dropped and when CA Love was released, I had a cart full of goodies and then junked it at the last minute…
Then a few days ago I got a code for 30% off (valid only a few hours) emailed to me and I got 5 stix, some more lippie balms and a glitter eyeshadow palette for crazy low prices. CA Love was sold out OF COURSE. And NOW it’s back in stock?!?!?!?
I expect it will take ages to ship because of sale volumes but eh, them’s the breaks I guess. But there’s nothing worse that paying retail for something (anything!) and then seeing it on sale a day alter, GRRRRRRR!
Oh, I love this one! Beautiful for summer. 🙂
Beautiful shade. One thing about ColourPop, their products are pretty reliable. Rarely a dud and that is impressive at their price point, rate of releases and volume of production. They deserve the success they have had.
Feels like SUMMER! If I didn’t already have a couple of fabulous orange family blushes, I’d hop on Sidewayz. Might crack out Nars Fetishised Blush today if I ever venture out to Sephora to try on a slew of PMG lip products, or at least that sounded like a plan last night!
It looks really nice on you Christine. Sometimes it is hard to tell what a shade looks like on a person because in the pan or in the blush stick the colour seems quite concentrated. Very pretty colour.
I was expecting Fenty’s Chili Mango or Ridiic to be somewhere in the dupes, but I haven’t tried looking at them for an impression (was relying on my memory). May have to grab them out of the database and do a swatch comparison later out of curiosity. I guess maybe Ridiic didn’t have any shimmer?
Chili Mango is super yellow/orange in comparison, while Ridiiic is much deeper, redder, and intense overall!
vs. Chili Mango: https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1=389286&sbs_2=310518
vs. Ridiiic: https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1=389286&sbs_2=310517
Wow! Yep, that’s why they’re not dupes. Overall Ridiic seems closer, but definitely not a dupe. I appreciate the help there — wasn’t expecting my laziness to pay off! 😉
Glad I could help! 🙂