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Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham & Pop-arazzi Kiss Pop Lip Color Sticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a new formula for fall. It’s described as “lightweight,” having a “burst of color–and hydration,” and is long-wearing. If you’re a fan of Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Lip Gels, I don’t think you’ll like these at all; the texture is drier, almost stiff and slightly chalky. The texture is noticeably thick and feels heavier on the lip, though it manages to look better than it feels. These are more like the old school, matte lip color. It’s imperative that you prep your lips prior to applying, as the thicker, drier formula will catch on any imperfections on the lip. I was surprised to see that these are huge–particularly for a lip pencil–at 0.15 oz., which is larger than most lipsticks, let alone jumbo lip pencil. They were also very pigmented, and these two shades wore for five to six hours (see below for specifics), but they tended to “crack” after two to three hours as the color settled into lip lines. I found the formula to be lightly drying–there was no burst of hydration whatsoever.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “coral rose.” It’s a brightened, coral-red with warm undertones and a satin matte finish. It had rich, opaque color coverage that lasted for six hours on me but didn’t fade as evenly as I would have liked to see, as it settled into lip lines after four hours. Chanel La Malicieuse (46) (P, $34.00) is redder. Bite Beauty Crush (P, $28.00) is more orange. Marc Jacobs Beauty Shout (138) (LE, $30.00) is softer. Guerlain Gracy (LE, $51.00) is pinker, darker. Make Up For Ever #37 (P, $19.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as an “electric rose.” It’s a bright, cool-toned, medium pink with blue undertones. It had full color coverage, and the color stayed on for five hours and started to “crack” and settle after three and a half hours of wear. Melt Cosmetics Stupid Love (P, $19.00) is brighter, bluer-based. This was the least chalky-feeling shade of the ones I tried. MAC Kelly Yum-Yum (LE, $16.00) is similar. Sephora Collection Cougar (P, $12.50) is lighter. MAC Happy-Go-Lucky (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Bite Beauty Moscato (P, $28.00) is brighter, cooler-toned. Bite Beauty Satsuma (LE, $24.00) is lighter, brighter. Marc Jacobs Beauty Gossip (140) (LE, $30.00) is sheerer. Chanel La Diva (44) (P, $34.00) is lighter. MAC Candy Yum Yum (P, $16.00) is brighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Wham (604) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick
Marc Jacobs Beauty Pop-arazzi (606) Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick

48 Comments

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Carolyn Avatar

Hi Christine, I purchased and reviewed these in Pow and Heartbreaker, and like you, didn’t find them hydrating! I noticed that on Sephora’s site these are described as giving a burst of hydration, but on Marc Jacobs’ site, it doesn’t mention giving a burst of hydration — only color. I hope that Sephora corrects this description as it’s certainly misleading!

I purchased these thinking they’d be gel-like and hydrating, but they are, like you said — quite matte and not moisturizing in the least! That being said though, I do like these under lip balm for a pigmented color that lasts a long time.

Michelle Avatar

Awwwww. 🙁 I’ve been anxiously awaiting your reviews for the new MJ products but these look like a miss. I love WHAM but it does remind me a lot of MAC’s Watch Me Simmer which thankfully I still have. As usual, they look stunning on you, you’d never say by looking at them on you that they are anything other than perfect. But you haven’t steered me wrong yet. 🙂

Jennifer Avatar

I was very scared when I read the part where you said that “… the texture is drier, almost stiff and slightly chalky. The texture is noticeably thick and feels heavier on the lip …”! But the pictures look amazing and the color is so vibrant and beautiful! They don’t even look matte at all to me, they actually almost look kinda luscious.

But at the price point, I’d rather stick with Maybelline Color Sensationnal Vivids which are my absolute holy grail!

Oh, by the way, I would love it if you did a Holy-Grail post of your favorite products ever! A category for high-end and one for drugstore. I have compete faith in your opinion and I would love to find out what are you favorites! I always print out your Editor’s Choice Award of the year to go shopping. 😛 Thank you for being amazing!

Wednesday Avatar

These are not at all what I expected. I am pleasantly surprised by the pigmentation, but imagining what they would do to these desert lips if the formula is drying on you, Christine. The word ‘cracking’ has me thinking these would not be my best bet with my 50 year old lips. Anyhow, with so many recent and interesting lipstick and lip pencil offerings on my radar screen, I am less inclined to go for one of these right now.

Linda Avatar

I have had Electric Rose in my Sephora basket for a week now waiting for them to come back in stock, (they are not in my Sephora stores yet), I totally fell head over heels for the packaging on them, but now I am not so sure because I have a problem with dry lips anyhow. I have one of the MJ gel lipsticks and I love it, these are so unique looking though, ugggg! I think I will now pass on them though and get another couple lip gels and glosses since those are so awesome. Thank you so much for reviewing these Christine, you always help me spend my money wisely!

Christine Avatar

My pleasure, Linda! Just know that these feel totally different from the Lovemarc Lip Gels going in, if you do decide to try this formula – at least it won’t be a shock then 🙂 Otherwise, wear some lip balm under (or over) to help combat the dryness if a color is really calling to you.

Sae Avatar

I am actually a fan of very dry matte lipsticks because I find them longer wearing. It’s rare that I ever wear anything like Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shines for instance. Would the texture of these compare to Mac’s infamous Ruby Woo at all? The pigmentation looks absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to get my hands on a few shades!

Rae Avatar

It’s so weird to read your reviews along with your letter grades sometimes, Christine — a B- paired with “I don’t think you’ll like these at all” and mentions of the product cracking on the lips? 😛

While I’m not loving the sound of this formula (as far as I’m concerned, all jumbo pencils should be done Clinique-style: slick hydration and lots of balminess!), I am pretty impressed by how much is in one of these. Would love to see Marc Jacobs push their matte properties a little more, though!

Lauren Avatar

Beautiful colors, but I would never wear them if the formula is as you described. IMO, a brand/product this pricey needs to have a top-notch formula, and stiff, chalky, drying lip products in this day and age is not forgivable at this particular price-point.

Ruby Avatar

So, if I really like the finish and feel of rubywoo, will I like these? I love powdery mattes that will stay put and I don’t mind a bit drying. I take drying over bleeding any day myself.:) Thanks for the review!

Linda Avatar

Hi Christine, I had to come back and tell you I found these at my Sephora yesterday and could not resist, I picked up the Pop Arazzi and Headliner which is a gorgeous but wearable berry color, what I found by wearing them is that while the color last an extremely long time, which on me is amazing since I have absolutely NO pigment in my lips, it wore really well and even, but the best thing I found, is that after about an hour when my lips start to feel dry, I can grab my Nivea lip balm and just apply that as needed the rest of the day and it doesn’t affect the color or the long wear of the color at all!! I am so happy about that since I work 10-12 hour shifts that involve talking on the phone all day and I don’t have to worry about touching up my lip color with these. I use my lip balm all day every day no matter what my lipstick is which usually makes the color come off pretty quickly, not with these! So thank you again for showing us these lipsticks, and the packaging is totally killer!!

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