Makeup by Mario Pale Petal Soft Pop Blush StickMakeup by Mario Pale Petal Soft Pop Blush Stick ($28.00 for 0.37 oz.) is a medium pink with warmer undertones and fine, golden pearl throughout a dewy finish. It had sheer to semi-sheer color coverage when applied to bare skin and blended out, as it was inclined to sheer out quite readily as the more emollient texture spread well on bare skin (or over foundation).
When applied directly from the tube and left unblended, it seemed more pigmented, but this level of pigmentation was only achievable through building up layers–it was designed to be a sheerer, more buildable formula, so it was in line with expectations. The consistency was smooth, balmy, and moderately emollient, which gave it a very dewy finish that never fully dried down but was not tacky on my skin. It lasted nicely for eight hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING:
Formula Overview
for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Blush (Original) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
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- Clinique Rosy Pop (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin’ (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Rose (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Counterpoint (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
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- ColourPop Flower Tender (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (80% similar).
- Hourglass Surreal Effect (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
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, Mica, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850).
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.
