Pixi has long been one of the most respected brands in the business, their Glow Tonic cementing their place as a beauty expert with credentials that can ensure their products are in hot demand. But did you know Pixi has a funkier, edgier and more colourful little sister that’s set to make a comeback this year? Pop Beauty was launched way back in 2002 and over the years it’s fallen by the wayside a little as we turned to more affordable alternatives to give us the hit of colour and creativity we desired. Under the Pixi brand remit, it’s historically provided a more youthful and fun approach to makeup versus Pixi’s lighthearted but hardworking products; however, Pop has found itself pushed to one side for the last time as it's sure to take centre stage once again and prove that bright and retro concoctions aren’t just for teens. I can remember the flouro nail polishes that were popular ten years ago as a signal of my clubbing youth, but there’s much more to this brand than may first meet the eye. With a range of beautiful blush, bronzer and highlighting quads to keep complexions looking fresh and natural, as well as six shades of long-wearing liquid lipsticks, please welcome Pop back into the field as a brand you’ll be hearing more about from now on.
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Liquid lipsticks are undoubtedly all the rage at the moment, set on-trend by the launch of Kylie Jenner’s self-named tubes that have seen mild hysteria erupt as soon as they go on sale. If you’re after a similar texture and an equally wild portfolio of colours to choose from, may I introduce Pop’s Permanent Pout (£12.00)? Formulated to provide a matte finish and a long-lasting ‘budge proof’ result, these velvet finish lip glosses paint colour onto lips that stays put for as long as you need. I tested the orange shade over a lunch date and can report back there was minimal transference onto my cup and next to nothing on my food. Although some shade qualities are better than others (the pink tends to go a bit patchy if you over apply, so make sure you start with a very thin layer and build up) overall they provide a great way to inject colour without the worry that it’s going to wear off. They do unfortunately leave lips feeling dry and a little like you’re pouting Kardashian style, but if that’s your thing then a touch of lip balm dabbed over the surface will help to provide comfort. Certainly not for everybody, the texture takes some getting used to - but don’t let that hold you back from trying out something new. Some of the shades are understated and incredibly wearable (think Kylie nudes,) but others are much bolder and require more than a little confidence to pull off... But I've never let a flouro pink lip get the better of me!
On the other end of the scale, the Pop Pow Wow Powders (£22.00) provide a quartet of natural tones to help create a base that’s glowing. Available in a blush, bronze or highlight palette (with four complementary shades in each,) these will get you through the year with ease thanks to the pretty universal ability to add a touch of warmth or health to skin. The lightweight, silky smooth and blendable texture is easy to buff into my complexion (I love dusting the bronzing shades over my cheeks with the fluffiest brush I can find for a natural sunkissed look,) but also offers a great place to start if you’re a bronzing or highlighting novice. None of the shades are extreme or unwearable, which is refreshing amongst an industry that seems to put only one wearable shade in any new collection - rendering the rest useless until Halloween. I do like the fact that together, this trio of face powders provides all you need to get you through the summer and into the colder seasons with ease; you just would’nt need anything else. The only downside to me is the cardboard packaging (I get that brands are trying to be more eco-conscious, but it just means products get trashed in a fraction of the time,) and the price point - which is a bit steep for a brand that’s supposed to be a playful little sister to Pixi’s more premium price bracket.
There are a huge number of products available on the Pop Beauty website (and in the London Pixi boutique) to peruse, but these two new additions definitely put the brand back on the map and provide a teaser of what’s (hopefully) to come in the next few months. I’m always for brands that make makeup fun and encourage it to be a joyful experience; whether that be packaging, colour, texture, scent or story, it’s important to ensure that moment of creativity puts a smile on your face both during and after. Pop Beauty have huge potential and I hope they continue to push boundaries and bring affordable colour to market in a way that so many of the US brands seem to achieve with ease. In the UK we don’t seem to have the same passion for colour as our American counterparts, and there’s a huge gap for those with a love of Kat Von D, Lime Crime, Jeffree Star and Colour Pop to get a hit without having to jump on a flight or fork out extortionate import fees. I hope Pop will be able to fill that gap and bring about a rainbow of colour that we’re so obviously lacking.
Have you tried Pop Beauty before? Do these products get your heart pumping?
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The Pop Beauty products are available online via www.popbeauty.co.uk and in store at the Pixi Carnaby Street boutique.
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On the other end of the scale, the Pop Pow Wow Powders (£22.00) provide a quartet of natural tones to help create a base that’s glowing. Available in a blush, bronze or highlight palette (with four complementary shades in each,) these will get you through the year with ease thanks to the pretty universal ability to add a touch of warmth or health to skin. The lightweight, silky smooth and blendable texture is easy to buff into my complexion (I love dusting the bronzing shades over my cheeks with the fluffiest brush I can find for a natural sunkissed look,) but also offers a great place to start if you’re a bronzing or highlighting novice. None of the shades are extreme or unwearable, which is refreshing amongst an industry that seems to put only one wearable shade in any new collection - rendering the rest useless until Halloween. I do like the fact that together, this trio of face powders provides all you need to get you through the summer and into the colder seasons with ease; you just would’nt need anything else. The only downside to me is the cardboard packaging (I get that brands are trying to be more eco-conscious, but it just means products get trashed in a fraction of the time,) and the price point - which is a bit steep for a brand that’s supposed to be a playful little sister to Pixi’s more premium price bracket.
There are a huge number of products available on the Pop Beauty website (and in the London Pixi boutique) to peruse, but these two new additions definitely put the brand back on the map and provide a teaser of what’s (hopefully) to come in the next few months. I’m always for brands that make makeup fun and encourage it to be a joyful experience; whether that be packaging, colour, texture, scent or story, it’s important to ensure that moment of creativity puts a smile on your face both during and after. Pop Beauty have huge potential and I hope they continue to push boundaries and bring affordable colour to market in a way that so many of the US brands seem to achieve with ease. In the UK we don’t seem to have the same passion for colour as our American counterparts, and there’s a huge gap for those with a love of Kat Von D, Lime Crime, Jeffree Star and Colour Pop to get a hit without having to jump on a flight or fork out extortionate import fees. I hope Pop will be able to fill that gap and bring about a rainbow of colour that we’re so obviously lacking.
Have you tried Pop Beauty before? Do these products get your heart pumping?
The Pop Beauty products are available online via www.popbeauty.co.uk and in store at the Pixi Carnaby Street boutique.
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