Beauty Care: ColourPop Cottage Life Blush Stix Review & Swatches

Cottage Life

ColourPop Cottage Life Blush Stix ($8.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy brown with strong, warm orange undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage–up to semi-opaque with two heavy layers or three sheerer layers–that applied evenly to bare skin as well as patted over foundation as it did not lift up my base or create patchiness.

The texture was emollient without being overly slippery, and it was somewhat transfer-resistant, but it did not fully dry down. It didn’t feel tacky nor was it prone to sliding around during wear. This shade stayed on nicely for eight hours before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

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Formula Overview

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Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Kiss Kiss (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Flower Beauty Cinnamon (P, $9.99) is warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Roosevelt (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Viseart Bronze #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
Kosas Tropic Equinox (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Kosas Tropic Equinox (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Makeup Geek Infatuation (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Merit Terracotta (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
ColourPop Instant Crush (P, $7.00) is 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 applying 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 ColourPop Blush Stix swatches.