ColourPop Aloha Blush Stix Review & Swatches

- June 10, 2019

Aloha

Colour Pop Aloha Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a muted, peachy-orange with warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had buildable pigmentation from semi-sheer to mostly opaque, depending on application method; using the product directly on the face will yield the most pigmentation, while using fingertips or a brush to apply will yield more gradual coverage. The texture was lightweight, emollient without being tacky or too slippery, which helped it spread well over bare skin as well as over foundation (without lifting it up). The color had a natural, dewy finish that didn’t fully dry down but did not feel tacky. This shade stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours on me.

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Linda (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
NARS Luster (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
By Terry Tropical Sunset #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Zoeva Burning Up (P, $11.80) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Milani Berry Rays #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Too Faced Ginger Peach (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Colour Pop Quarters (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Bite Beauty Praline (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Make Up For Ever #420 HD Blush (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Ocean City (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery, brighter (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, 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, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).