Beauty Care: Makeup by Mario Raspberry Soft Pop Blush Stick Review & Swatches

Raspberry

Makeup by Mario Raspberry Soft Pop Blush Stick Makeup by Mario Raspberry Soft Pop Blush Stick ($28.00 for 0.37 oz.) is a deep, reddened plum with subtle, cool undertones and a dewy finish. It appeared more pigmented when initially applied to bare skin, but it was quick to sheer out as the texture was more emollient and spreadable, so it resulted in semi-sheer to medium coverage in one layer. The pigmentation could be built up to more semi-opaque coverage with a second layer, as marketed. I also felt like it looked less plum and more pinkish when applied and sheered out on my skin tone, which isn’t a pro/con but a note.

The texture was smooth, balmy, and emollient without being too slippery, so while it never dried down and was not transfer-resistant, it wasn’t sticky and didn’t slide down my face quickly. The product applied evenly and blended out easily over bare skin and on top of foundation. It stayed on well for eight hours before showing signs of wear.

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

Top Dupes

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View Swatches

Formula Overview

$28.00/0.37 oz. - $75.68 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "sheer, buildable coverage" with a "healthy and radiant" finish. If a truly dewy finish is something you love, the formula might be right up your alley; if dewy is your arch nemesis, move along as this very much lived up to its "radiant" claim. There wasn't a real dry down, so it wasn't all that transfer-resistant, though it didn't slide off my face too readily either--most shades lasted between seven and eight hours on me.

The coverage seemed quite pigmented when swiped on or when I rubbed my finger against the product and did a single, unblended swatch, but in practice, it was actually more semi-sheer, buildable as the consistency was moderately emollient, like a gel-like cream, and spreadable, which made sheer out naturally. All the shades were very easy to apply as they went on well over bare skin as well as over foundation as the formula did not lift up base products.

There is a brush on the bottom of the side (so the tube is effectively double-ended), with small raised bumps that are designed to "centralize product pick-up" for a "more even, fluid application." It definitely works for the purpose intended, though it may feel a little large depending on the size of one's cheeks. I also found that it was difficult to put the brush back in the tube without some bristles splaying/catching as I did so.

The brush head is removable, which makes more sense for cleaning, but it is hard to hold in the hand, so it wasn't comfortable to use to really pickup product (more so to blend out product, leaving it attached to the bottom of the tube).

Browse all of our Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick swatches.

Ingredients

Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Mica, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410).

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as 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.