ColourPop So-Called Blush Stix Review & Swatches
So-Called
ColourPop So-Called Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark berry with strong, cool blue undertones and a luminous finish. It had semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation, as marketed, that applied well to bare skin and layered well over foundation as it wasn’t prone to lifting up my base.
The texture was smooth, creamy, and emollient with good glide, which helped it apply well with fingertips as well as brushes. There was a slight dry down, but it was still visibly dewy on my skin. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Charming Cherry (04) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Night Bloom (Left) (LE, $38.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- Glossier Haze (P, $18.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Rosy Does It (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Bloom (P, $22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Pansy (P, $15.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Confident (783) (LE, $48.00) is more shimmery, darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Morphology (P, $15.50) is more shimmery, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Mountain Walk (P, $34.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Salt New York Blackberry (P, $16.00) is lighter (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.
Another really pretty Blush Stix! I love those for a natural looking cheek that is so much harder to get from most traditional powders other than baked gelée type.
Pretty color for fall and it would go with all of the pink, rose and burgundy eye shadows they’re showcasing this fall. I have a ColourPop stick blush in a peachy/pink color that I really like wearing. I may pick this one up during my next ColourPop haul. The first time that Heard about ColourPop was on Temptalia years ago and now they’re a staple in my makeup collection.
At least this blush stick is good quality…..