ColourPop Boss Lite Stix Review & Swatches

- June 18, 2019

Boss

Colour Pop Boss Lite Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a rich, coppery-brown with fine, golden pearl throughout that gave it a soft, metallic finish. It had opaque pigmentation when applied directly from the tube, and sheerer, more buildable coverage when applied with fingertips or a brush (as marketed by the brand). The texture was smooth, lightly creamy, and had enough slip to spread easily over bare skin or over foundation (without lifting it up) but never felt greasy or oily on. The cream highlighter applied evenly, blended out well, and stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours on me before showing signs of wear.

Top Dupes

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Huda Beauty Barbados (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Sydney Grace Royal Gold (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Flesh Beauty Rise (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Colour Pop Blow Me Out (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar).
Natasha Denona Bronze (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Becca Opal (DC, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Too Faced You Light Up My Life (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Becca Sunstone (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Makeup Revolution Gold Addict (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #17 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% 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 Lite Stix swatches.

Ingredients

Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Paraffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Ceresin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Alumina, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrated Silica, Microcrystalline Wax, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol. May Contain: Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).