ColourPop Too Hot Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium-dark fuchsia pink with strong, cool blue undertones and a dewy finish. It had semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation applied with more medium coverage with a fingertip and slightly sheerer range with a stippling brush.
The cream blush had a moderately emollient, more balm-like texture with gel-like glide, which helped it work well over bare skin and layered over the foundation without lifting it. The color went on evenly and blended out reasonably well, though I found this particular shade more emollient and not as effortless as most shades in the range. It lasted well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING:
Formula Overview
for details on general performance and characteristics (like the scent).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.33 oz. – $24.24 Per Ounce
The formula should “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 the product for less coverage. However, the range “easily builds color to your heart’s desire.” They dry down to a semi-set finish–lightly dewy, “natural, skin-like” in appearance, but not overly tacky or 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 the foundation thus far, too. They are not transfer-proof but are transfer-resistant; they won’t smear around with an accidental touch but aren’t fully locked down.
I would describe the formula as buildable from semi-sheer to medium with semi-opaque coverage possible. 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 quickly done as compared to my arm. I preferred picking up the product on my fingertip, patting it 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. Still, there’s enough slip in the procedure 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 base products but worked well over bare skin. I didn’t experience it raising or creating patchiness over time on top of the foundation, even when I initially set it. Still, I would recommend (same as I would for most cream-based cheek formulas!) pairing with a less-matte foundation for optimal results (the dewy finish plays well with a more skin-like base).
The caps have the names of the products, but the rest of the tube doesn’t, so if you have more than one open, get the fitting lid back on!
Browse all of our ColourPop 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, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Carmine (CI 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 (CI 45410), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 10 Lake (CI 47005).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists areas available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you’re purchasing or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
