ColourPop Pretty Thing Blush Stix Review & Swatches

Pretty Thing

Colour Pop Pretty Thing Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and a natural sheen. It seemed to have very, very subtle pearl in it, but it could just be the way the light catches the dewy finish, too. It had richer pigmentation when applied directly from the tube and more medium, buildable coverage when applied with fingertips or a brush, as marketed. The consistency felt smooth, more like gel-cream hybrid as it spread easily across my skin (even over foundation), blended easily, but retained some dewiness. It wore nicely for eight and a half hours on me before fading slightly.

Top Dupes

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MAC Here You Go (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
NARS Candid (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Colour Pop Cheerio (P, $8.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
IT Cosmetics Magical in Mauve (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Kevyn Aucoin Grapevine #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Anastasia Exotic (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Chanel Fantastic (66) (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
Flower Beauty Bitten (P, $9.99) is darker, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Restores Dazzle (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
MAC Hot Nights (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).

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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 applyling 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 Colour Pop Blush Stix swatches.

Ingredients

Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Ceresin, Hydrated Silica, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol. May Contain: Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 10 Lake (CI 47005).

Pretty Thing

Permanent

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

98%

Total