ColourPop has become one of the most popular makeup brands in recent years, largely due to its affordable prices. The California-based company has built a reputation for offering quality cosmetics at budget-friendly costs. But is ColourPop really as cheap as it seems? Let’s take a closer look at the brand’s pricing and quality.
ColourPop’s Pricing
There’s no denying that ColourPop’s prices are low, especially compared to similar brands at Sephora and Ulta. The majority of ColourPop’s products cost between $5-$10. This includes eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, highlighters, and more. The most expensive items rarely exceed $20. Here’s a breakdown of ColourPop’s pricing on some of their best-selling products:
| Product | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Eyeshadow | $4.50 – $7 |
| Lipstick | $6 – $8 |
| Blush | $8 |
| Highlighter | $8 |
| Foundation | $12 |
| Eyeshadow Palette | $12 – $18 |
| Concealer | $6 |
As you can see, most ColourPop products are under $10. The prices are especially impressive considering the quality and performance customers receive (more on that later). Even the brand’s more luxe offerings, like eyeshadow palettes and foundation, won’t break the bank.
ColourPop’s Affordability Tactics
So how does ColourPop manage to keep its prices so low? There are a few key tactics the brand uses:
- Direct-to-consumer model – By selling directly through their website and cutting out the retail middleman, ColourPop is able to avoid major markups.
- Made in the U.S. – The majority of ColourPop’s products are made in California, reducing costs associated with overseas manufacturing and shipping.
- Targeted product range – Rather than trying to provide every type of makeup imaginable, ColourPop focuses on their best-sellers like lips, eyes and cheeks.
- Digital marketing – ColourPop relies predominantly on social media marketing, avoiding expensive traditional advertising campaigns.
- Basic packaging – The products come in simple, no-frills packaging without the expense of luxe components.
By keeping things direct, domestic, targeted, digital and packaged minimally, ColourPop manages to keep their overhead low. These cost savings get passed on to the customer through affordable pricing.
How Does ColourPop Compare to Drugstore Brands?
ColourPop is often compared to drugstore makeup brands like Maybelline, L’Oreal and Covergirl in terms of affordability. But how do the prices really stack up? Let’s look at a few examples:
| Product | ColourPop Price | Typical Drugstore Price |
|---|---|---|
| Eyeshadow Palette | $12 | $10 – $15 |
| Lipstick | $6 | $5 – $10 |
| Mascara | $8 | $5 – $12 |
| Foundation | $12 | $6 – $15 |
As you can see, ColourPop’s pricing is very similar to drugstore brands. They end up being marginally cheaper than drugstore on some products, while drugstore edges them out on others. Overall they are neck and neck when it comes to affordability.
ColourPop Product Quality
Affordability is one thing, but makeup still needs to deliver on quality and performance to be worth the purchase. So how do ColourPop’s cheap products actually hold up? Here’s an overview:
Eyeshadow
ColourPop eyeshadows, including palettes and singles, contain intense pigment that applies smoothly. The formulas blend well without muddiness. Shimmer shades offer metallic brilliance without heavy glitter. Matte shades are soft without excessive powder kick up. For the price, the quality of their eyeshadows is exceptional.
Lip Products
Their massive range of lippies apply evenly with full, rich color. The Ultra Matte lips are transfer-proof with serious staying power. The Ultra Blotted Lips offer a soft, diffused look that wears comfortably. The Lux Lipsticks contain nourishing ingredients for a creamy, saturated finish. Overall, excellent formula quality.
Complexion
The foundation, concealer and powder provide medium to full coverage with a natural, demi-matte finish. They help smooth the look of skin without emphasizing dryness or texture. The shades are versatile for multiple skin tones. The face products don’t feel heavy or look cakey, even after hours of wear.
Cheeks
The highlighters and blushes contain finely milled powders that blend well without patchiness. They impart buildable color with a flawless finish. The shades work for fair to deep skin tones thanks to the wide color range. Overall, they enhance and sculpt the cheeks beautifully.
Across all the makeup categories, ColourPop consistently delivers in terms of color payoff, wearability, blendability and quality. The products stand up well against cosmetics double or triple the price.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, ColourPop offers an impressive array of makeup at affordable prices. While not quite as cheap as some drugstore brands, they provide exceptional quality you would expect from more expensive lines. By keeping their business model streamlined and costs low, they can offer luxe cosmetics for less. Overall, ColourPop achieves the perfect balance of affordable and high quality. So yes, you can get cheap makeup that performs just as well as the pricy stuff – if you shop ColourPop.