Long story short: ColourPop launched liquid blushes maybe about a month ago — and I bought some! I think I have a bit of a problem with ColourPop, but in all seriousness I wouldn’t call it a bad problem. I follow their social media and email newsletters pretty regularly (in fact, I’ve been getting emails for lip product sales and I have to stop myself from buying more and more, especially with my ongoing Lip Project Pan). This means when anything new launches (like their So Juicy collection I tried), I am among the first to know about it.
I call this a problem because I don’t think I need to be tempted to buy more stuff, but it’s a good problem because of the brand’s affordability. Meaning if I want to take a shot in the dark and try liquid blush for the first time, why not give it a try when each tube costs $10? Needless to say, since I’m writing this and you’re reading this, I bought some.
Picking Out My ColourPop Liquid Blush Colors
Never tried liquid blush before. At all. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I tried a cream blush-bronzer duo stick from the brand Dibs that came in a FabFitFun box. But I was interested in the colors and even more so the application — for some reason I was fascinated by the idea of blending in a liquid blush with a sponge or brush and then having this soft finish. It’s such a simple concept but for such a long time I only ever used your typical powder blush; so when the new ColourPop release dropped I knew I had to try it.
I had a hard time picking out which colors to initially try because 1) they all look so pretty, and 2) I think I have a hard time visualizing and anticipating which color(s) I’m going to like on my skin. I think I picked out colors I felt were going to be more muted and easier to use since I’m more-or-less “dipping my toe in the water.”
First is the shade Super Shy, described on the site as a “nudie pink.” This one, when swatched, I think comes out more light pink and closer to the shade Angel Face, but I felt it was a good neutral pink to try without being a straight warm, bright pink. The other shade I bought I picked because it was a little darker and slightly more adventurous — She’s Cute — described as a “warm rosy berry.” This swatch is more site-accurate and the description is very fitting; it is definitely more of a berry and a noticeably darker rosy pink than Super Shy. Part of me wants to be super adventurous and try their Royal Flush shade, a “deep red-violet,” but I don’t know how a product that dark would do on my skin.
First Impressions: Texture & Application
The first thing you need to know about these Weightless Liquid Blushes, as the tubes self-describe them, is that they are very pigmented. You only need a small amount of product. The first time I tried She’s Cute I accidentally used way too much (three to four heavy “dots” of the doe foot) and knew as I started to blend it out that I clearly made a huge mistake. I used a tinted moisturizer as my base and had to go in with another layer to get the blush color to even out and not look like a really bad sunburn. That was my bad!
For the application, I chose (throughout all of my tests) to blend it in with a blush brush. I don’t know if using a sponge would’ve had a different effect, but I wanted to see how this method of blending out worked with my skin. The product itself is very easy to apply; the doe foot lets you apply only as much liquid blush as you want and it’s easy to go in with more product if desired. The formula is very smooth and similar to a thicker lip product; I had no trouble easily blending it onto my cheeks and the way ColourPop describes it (as a weighless creamy texture) is very accurate.
Comparing the Different Shade Colors
For my Wear Test #1, I was honestly way too concerned with correcting the over-pigmentation from my heavy hand to really get a feel for how the color She’s Cute really looked on me. I remember thinking the color looked fine after I blended it out with more of my foundation but like I said, I don’t think I could get a good feel of it the first time around.
For Wear Test #2, I was more conservative with my application and tried the shade Super Shy. I used liquid foundation as a base and then two lighter “dots” of the doe foot, blending it out again with the blush brush to see how it compared to Test #1. Since this shade is a little lighter than She’s Cute, I added one more “dot,” blended it out, and went over both the foundation and liquid blush with pressed powder. PERFECT! I felt like this application, the amount of product I used, and especially waiting until after applying the blush to put on powder created this very natural pretty look. I absolutely loved it. Wear Test #3 was very similar as I recreated these steps and it once again looked amazing; I used two larger dollops on each cheek and again blended before putting on some powder. LOVED it.
I did try She’s Cute again to compare it to Super Shy and I followed the same steps: applying foundation (tinted moisturizer this time), two dollops on each cheek, blending out, covering with powder. But the color I felt looked an awful lot like sunburn with just too much pigment on my skin. When I blended it out and topped it with a bit more of my tinted moisturizer, I think it turned out pretty but the nice berry color doesn’t really come through. This shade I think I need to try out more to find an amount that looks nice on my skin but also showcases the beautiful berry shade.
My Beauty Review Verdict
The actual product itself I am in love with, 10/10. I love how blendable the ColourPop Liquid Blush is, how creamy it is on the skin, and how easy it is to start with a little bit of pigment and then add more if needed. It’s very easy to blend in with a foundation and I think putting on powder after sets it very nicely. Right now I prefer Super Shy because I think it compliments my skin tone better and is easier to work with. She’s Cute I think I need more practice with to find a means of application that doesn’t look like a sunburn; I already have enough redness in my skin (especially on my nose and cheeks) and I want to better control how the blush looks on my skin.
I absolutely love liquid blush and would love to try this product from other brands after this. The product type is a win for me, I just think only half of my shade picks were 10/10 (but that’s based on personal preference. This release from ColourPop is perfect for liquid blush beginners like me and perfect for fans of cute packaging; the tubes have a little bit of weight to them and mirror frosted glass, all with an adorable screw-top with a heart. I’m really looking forward to using this and having it in my makeup bag!
