Those of us who do our makeup shopping online would be familiar with the lament of not having proper swatches of colours to work from. When I was invited to give the new Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer a go, I was offered a selection of colours online. I didn’t really have their names so I picked something that looked “berry-ish” a colour I knew I’d wear daily and often. As much as I love my red lipstick, I’ve not been wearing them as often as I should.
When it arrived, I had a bit of an “Oh crap!” moment when I saw that contrary to what the online picture showed me, the shade was not a berry red as I thought, but a colour that verges on being “nude” or “neutral”. If there’s one thing I shy away from more than chocolate, it’s nude lipstick. (Look, I can’t be the only person out there who doesn’t like chocolate right?! 😛 )
The shade is 02 Bare Pop and in tube, it looked like a neutral, slightly pink-browned shade, with tiny little sparkles. My heart sank. If there’s something else I can’t handle, it’s lipstick with sparkles.
But my job, as it were, is to try the formula, so I gritted my teeth, pursed my lips and slicked Bare Pop on. It’s kind of hard to explain how it happened, but much to my surprise, Bare Pop has found its way into my daily lipstick pouch!
This is Clinique’s latest lipstick offering, which is a lightweight formula that is supposed to glide on with bold colour, for a pigmented lip that feels comfortable all day.
I do find that the product slips on quite easily on lips in a manner almost like that of a lip balm. I also found Bare Pop to be a little sheer and not as bold and unsaturated as the brand claims. However, I am told that it’s due to the colour I picked. The brighter shades promise to have a bolder effect, which I do see from online swatches so my conclusion is that opacity may vary from colour to colour.
I have also read complaints that say that Bare Pop gives lips a frosty hue, which was something I was concerned with due to the visible sparkles in the bullet. However, I don’t personally notice this frosty hue. I’ve lived through frosty lipstick. Trust me my friends, this isn’t frosty.
Clinique Bare Pop swatch on arm and on lips
There is however, obvious shine, which you may or may not like. Clinique also says that these apply semi-matte to which I say no. These are not matte. There is definitely a shine to it. I also find Bare Pop sheer, but then when I’m promised “bold, unsaturated colour” I expect a creamy, opaque colour.
Just based on the colour in tube, I’d never have picked this one up. However, I was quite pleasantly surprised to note that when I wear it, it gives my lips a very natural colour and shine. It makes for a good “no-brainer” lipstick or a weekend lipstick or just a casual lip colour. I’d wear this with heavier eye makeup and a pop of colour on cheeks offered by the Clinique Cheek Pop blushes.
As you can see, Bare Pop is a very safe lip colour. I keep it in my makeup pouch because it’s a shade I can wear irrespective of what makeup I’m using on a particular day. I have a bad habit of not carrying the lipstick I wear in the morning and not reapplying my lipstick, so it’s quite useful to have a safe shade I can pull out when I need it.
The packaging deserves a mention because unlike many people who like it, I don’t. I thought I would, from online photos, but after having it for a while, I find I don’t. It’s dinky and square and I like that because it means it won’t roll around and go missing. But I don’t like the different coloured bases, which correspond to each lip colour.
I suppose I’m just a little old fashioned. The colourful bases, whilst making it easy to find the colour you want in a pinch, also makes it look a little bit like a toy and unfinished. I suppose I take makeup a little more seriously hence my preference for a more streamlined look. As it stands, I have a tendency to feel like I’m working with a paint chip, which reminds me of the heady days of house renovation and cracking my head over paint chips and how I was supposed to imagine a whole wall from a tiny little chip. But I digress 😛
Packaging grouses aside, I’m quite happy with the colour and formula. I’m however, not in a hurry to get more colours because of the packaging. Catch-22 situation eh? 😛
IN A NUTSHELL
The Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer lipstick is a new range of lipstick that promises long lasting bold lip colours that are lightweight and comfortable on lips. I do not find these drying, and I agree that they are lightweight. For me, they slick on a little like a lip balm, with quite a nice slip. Based on the shade I received, Bare Pop, I found the colour a little sheer but I’m assured that the brighter, bolder shades have a bolder swipe of colour. Bare Pop is, for me, a nice day to day neutral lip shade. It is neutral with just enough pink to prevent me from looking like the walking dead. However, I’m not a fan of the packaging which I find a little unfinished. But that’s me. I’m finicky that way.
PROS: Inexpensive, Lightweight and comfortable texture, Longlasting and not drying, Bare Pop is a very safe way to wear a neutral or nude lipstick due to the pink tones, Not as metallic as I thought it would be, Smooth to apply, Not scented
CONS: I’m not a fan of the packaging, Opacity of colour and shine may differ from shade to shade
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a lightweight lipstick with fairly bold pigmentation that isn’t drying
Have you tried these new Pop Lip Colour + Primer lipsticks? Do you like chocolate? 😛
Incidentally, speaking about pops, I recently found out that Clinique has expanded their line of Cheek Pop blushes, which are the ones you see in the picture above. I haven’t seen the new shades, but if you have, please let me know what you think. I love these! They’re so good, and so pretty, and not expensive! 😀
Paris B
Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer Lipsticks are available in 16 shades Price: RM83 Availability: Sephora in April 2015 Clinique counters from May 2015
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The colour does look a bit blah to be honest judging by the packaging, but on you it looks nothing like that! Not too fond of thr packaging either, it resembles nail polish :p
Am a HUGE fan of the Cheek Pop line-love the vivid colours, the formula and of course the intricate gerbera imprinted on it! I’ve used mine for a few months now and it shows no signs of fading yet!
p/s I DON’T like chocolate either!!!
Nail polish! Yes you are right LOL! 😀 I was quite disappointed to be honest, when I first saw the product, but was glad that it worked out eventually. Oh and someone who doesn’t like chocolate too! Awesome! 😀
I, too, have just started wearing a lip colour I would never have chosen in a million years but since I wanted to try something new, I picked up MAC’s lip liner in Anticipation. It’s a nice pink nude but because my lips are quite brown, it looks more barbie pink than nude. BUT I’ve been liking it because it kind of brings out my tan, which is rare.
Pink nude sounds lovely! I think any nude shade needs a touch of pink in it to liven our faces. I don’t understand the trend of wearing beige nude. I mean… why look like you have no lips? 😛 Isn’t it interesting how lipstick/colour can look different on us due to the colouring in our lips?
How does this compare with Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel? I remember that too is a nude-ish color.
That is, and if memory serves me right, it is less pink but it doesn’t have as much shine as this one does.
Is it me or does the packaging look kinda dull? Pantone like 🙂
Yes, very pantone inspired! I read the colour parts are like the paint chips you get for kitchen cupboards. Interesting right? But I think it’s impressive how they managed to get the colours so close to what’s in the tube.
Absolutely love clinique cheek pops blushers, the colour payoff plus everything else is just great! Plus, they don’t cost a bomb. Also, bare pop lip colour looks amazing on you! Woah, I’m also really drawn to berry colours, since I have always liked darker colours but the addition of shimmer to bare pop makes it come to life.
It does! Bare Pop surprised me and I’m glad I went out of my comfort zone albeit unintentionally. I love the Cheek Pops too but I haven’t seen the new colours. A friend tells me she wasn’t as impressed with the new ones and they felt less pigmented. I wonder if that’s so.
The colour didn’t look much in the tube, but it is gorgeous on your lips. What a pretty, safe shade for everyday. But I’m not keen on the packaging either. Years ago, I would have loved it. Now I prefer something more elegant.
Thanks Gio, I’m the same. I guess I no longer have this problem of having to identify the lipstick from the tube. These days, I already have an idea what they are just by looking at them and it doesn’t take me 2 seconds to pop open the cover to check.
I’m not sure how I feel about the packaging as well. Any lipstick shade looks nice on you 🙂
Haha thank you, just coincidence la 😀
It looks lovely on you! I like that kind of colour – easy but not boring. I may need to check this out. I just like functional packaging so I don’t think the packaging will bother me but who knows?
Thanks Kuri 🙂 There are loads of other brighter shades if you like that and the packaging is really compact. But now that someone else has mentioned it looks like a nail polish, I can’t get that out of my head! LOL
Just found your blog from researching this product. Great review and I love your writing style by the way. I was thinking maybe bare pop wasn’t for me because of the shimmer but I do like the tone of it so maybe I’ll give it a try!
Hi Christle, thank you for stopping by with a comment. I hope Bare Pop works for you! 🙂