Colourpop: A Review of a Revolutionary Brand

Colourpop. It's a name that has been buzzing lately in the beauty community. But what is all the hype? Is it really as great as everyone is saying? Answer - yes (at least, in our opinions). There are SO many things we love about this company, and yes, we had our reservations at first. Their price points are so insane that they make you say "Is this real? Can it even be good for this price?!" So never fear, we are here to share our honest and real experiences with you pals, so you can rest easy about making the decision to give these guys a go, if you have yet to! They have anything a makeup lover could need - from brow gels and pencils, eyeshadows and pigments, eyeliners and blushes to lipsticks, ultra matte liquid lipsticks, and their newest wonder, ultra satin liquid lipsticks, with corresponding lip liners; what's a girl not to love?!

We do think it is important for you all to know that this is not a sponsored post - all of these things we have paid for with our own money and personally endorse!

First off, the shipment presentation is adorable. The individual product boxes are chic and simple, but fun - kind of a "60's pop vibe"! And with whatever you ordered, you get a personalized note, with some witty, funny saying, just to show you they care. We LOVE this little touch. It really makes it feel like you are valued as a customer, and who doesn't love that?! 

We have had the chance to play with some of their fun products, from the Ultra Matte Liquid Lips to their Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencils, and their shadows. The Lippie Stix are great, definitely your traditional lipstick. They do transfer, as almost all traditional lipsticks do, but the color saturation is great, and they reapply magically. They have a huge selection of colors (*cough cough* Grunge is Mal's go-to color for any occasion right now), and for the price, you get a good amount of product! The eyeshadows are so beautiful and pigmented. For those of you accustomed to loose/pressed pigments or traditional pan shadows, prepare to be amazed. The formula is really quite surprising, in a fantastic way; it is basically a hybrid between a cream and powder shadow. It is almost a mousse, and it bounces when you put your finger into the pan! One thing we noted though, as lovers of a good shadow brush - these shadows seem to be applied best with a finger or a sponge; brushes don't really to do the formula much justice.

But if you guys know us, you know how much we love a good lipstick, so that is what we will spend the most time talking about. One thing we love most about these guys is - when you go to add one of their flawless colors to your basket, it suggests a *corresponding* lip liner to go with your lip color purchase. I added the * to highlight that these aren't always "matching", per say, which is actually really cool. Colourpop will pair two complementary colors that work really well together as a liner and a lip color, even if they aren't exact. This is a huge selling point for us, because we are TRUE advocates for a liner. You don't get the feathering off of your lips throughout the day, and it really does help with application, especially in the liquid lipstick department. Plus, with a color that isn't exactly matching, it creates a good dimension for your lip color!

Ok people. Ultra. Matte. Liquid. Lips. Where shall we start? The buttery silk formula that glides on smoother than cake frosting or the lasting, non-transferable perfection that is their wearability. While many brands have genuinely perfected the art of a good liquid matte lipstick and we adore quite a few of them, Colourpop is one that we've reached for time and time again. The formula in combination with its lasting wear, non-transferability, pigment, and price point is #flawless. 

A big plus for saps and lovers of meal-time alike, is the non-transferability of their ultra matte liquid lips. If you are looking for a formula that will stay on after a little smooch or with a glass of wine (or pizza, for that matter--fatty tested, Mala approved) then look no further; matte liquid lips are right where you want to be. Now, if you go full force on a cheeseburger (or let's be real, a taco), you may find it has diminished a little around the inside of your lips but nothing a good touch up can't handle. On that note, Colourpop's ultra matte lips are designed well, so that they layer quite nicely. We will point out that like with any liquid matte lip, it's a good idea to exfoliate before wearing. You can do this either by creating your own sugar scrub with a little coconut oil, honey, and brown sugar (thank you, Pinterest) or using e.l.f.’s lip exfoliator. Not only does this stuff taste surprisingly delicious, which yes, we know that that isn't the point, but it works fantastically and at a great price point too! We have also found that using a primer is always very helpful with the liquid matte lips, as it helps to hydrate but also line the lips and better retain the color. For primers, we both love Bite's Line & Define Lip Primer. It even comes with a built in sharpener on the end, so that you can keep it nice and angled for that perfect lip line. We would also like to mention that because this product has a long-lasting wear, be prepared to have to do a little work to get it off. There's no need for intense scrubbing, a little make up wipe or sudsy rag, will do you just fine.

One of the biggest factors that continually impresses us is the pigment and quality of the formula, paired with the fact that these guys are ONLY $6.00! Only! From our experience, using colors like Tulle, Midi, Donut, LAX, Beeper, Chilly Chili, just to name a few (can you tell we love these?!), for the most part, they all go on with an opaque and even finish. They are full and rich with color and generally, there is no need to layer very much because the color is consistent and even, although, again as with many other liquid lipsticks, they can be drying after long wear. With that being said, we have found an exception, which also might be an anomaly but to be tried-and-true, we have both purchased two different shades of red, First Class and Succulent and both have found these to be a bit lackluster. Both colors seemed to go on almost translucent, uneven, and it seemed that the color almost gravitated towards the lines and cracks in the lips, rather than a smooth and full layer on top (even when the lips were exfoliated and primed). As we both have only tried two of the red shades out the collection, we can’t say if it’s a concern with the red formula or just happenstance but we felt it important enough to mention. One other thing to note is, after a little bit on your counter, or in a makeup drawer, the color appears to separate some. No worries, although it did startle us the first time it happened to us - all you have to do is give the bottle a quick shake and boom, you're all set to apply and slay the day!

In truth, the only concerns we do have with the liquid matte lips are more centered around the packaging and far less with the formula. And that’s just something we can live with, especially considering the amazing price point! Firstly, you should be careful not to tilt these tubes, as the liquid is very aqueous and can by quite runny. It will come right out of the tube and onto you and whatever else comes in its path and given that it is very pigmented, this can be troublesome, if you’re not careful (lesson learned: Lo’s white trench coat which had to be taken to a professional cleaner, whoops!). Also, concerning the aesthetics of the tube, the silver writing on the tube tends to wear very easily, especially if you keep your liquid matte lips in your purse and they rub against other items. Likely this minor aesthetic set back won't burden many but for consistency’s sake!

We are super excited to try their new ultra satin liquid lipsticks - packages en route, people! And we are anxious to continue to play with more of Colourpop's majestic products, and likely fall in love with many many more. All-in-all, Colourpop has created a magical formula, so here’s thanks to the elusive wizardry and alchemy going on over there in California, these guys are the raddest! We love that they do not test on animals, and most of their products are even vegan (and gluten free, but try to refrain from eating them, guys). Also, Made In America is a pretty rad deal, and not as frequent these days.

But arguably the biggest selling point of all of their products - the price. These guys have mastered providing quality products for not a luxury brand price! For a mere $5.00, you can get a Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencil, Brow Pencil, Shadow, or a Gel Eyeliner Pencil. Or, for a mere $6.00, you can get a Brow Gel, Cream Gel Liner, Ultra Matte Lipstick, or Ultra Satin Lipstick. Crazy, right?! Bonus, you get five dollars off by subscribing to their newsletter, which is essentially a product! Can you even deny the goodness?! 

Let us know what you think about Colourpop - what have you tried? What do you love? What do you wish would change?

Talk soon, pals!

xoxo, Lo and Mal