ColourPop Bumble Ultra Matte Lipstick: Why Every Review Describes a Different Shade
Search for reviews of ColourPop’s Bumble and you’ll hit a strange problem: the shade doesn’t sound like the same lipstick from one page to the next. One blogger calls it a peachy nude with brick-red undertones. Another says it’s a dusty warm terracotta. A third calls it a medium plum, and ColourPop itself now calls it a “warm rose.” They can’t all be describing the same bottle, and in a sense they aren’t. This guide explains why the descriptions disagree, what the current Bumble is, what it costs, how long it lasts, and who it suits.
The Short Answer about ColourPop Bumble Ultra Matte Lipstick
- Current official description: ColourPop lists Bumble as a “warm rose” in its Ultra Matte Lip line, a liquid lipstick with a doe-foot applicator.
- Price: $9.00 at Ulta and as the regular price on ColourPop.com, which was showing 30% off ($6.30) in a snapshot I found.
- Size: current listings say 0.13 oz. Reviews from 2023 list 0.11 oz.
- Wear time: a well-known tester reported about 5.5 hours of wear that faded evenly and felt mostly non-drying. The older formula was tested at about eight hours with some drying.
- Biggest caution: swatches and reviews from before 2023 describe an older version of the shade and formula, so they may not match what you’ll receive.
Why Reviews Describe Different Shades
ColourPop launched its Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks around 2015 at about $6 each, and Bumble was one of the early shades. Reviews of that original formula described it in very different ways:
| Era | Price and size | How reviewers described Bumble |
|---|---|---|
| Original launch (2015) | $6.00, 0.11 oz | A dusty warm terracotta, a muted medium rosy pink with warm undertones; another reviewer said a medium-dark brown |
| Mid-2010s to 2019 | $6.50, 0.11 oz | A peachy nude with brick-red undertones, “universally flattering” |
| After the 2023 revamp | $9.00, 0.11 oz in reviews | A medium-dark plum with moderate warm undertones |
| Now | $9.00, 0.13 oz at retailers | “Warm rose,” with product imagery showing a muted rose-mauve |
In July 2023, ColourPop revamped its entire Ultra Lip collection with a new formula that includes Kakadu plum, sweet cherry oil, yuzu, and Japanese sumac. It included eight fan-favorite shades alongside 32 new ones. The old Ultra Matte liquid lipstick was discontinued in favor of the new Ultra Matte Lip.
Two things likely explain the shade confusion:
- A formula change. Even when a shade keeps its name, a new formula can look a little different on the lips. I can’t confirm whether ColourPop adjusted Bumble’s pigment, only that reviewers describe the old and new versions differently.
- Color naming is subjective. One person’s “terracotta” or “brick nude” is another’s “rose” or “plum,” and skin tone, lip color, and lighting change what you see. The same shade can look rosy-nude on one person and brown-plum on another.
The practical takeaway: look for swatches dated after mid-2023, and when in doubt, trust the current “warm rose” description from ColourPop over older blog posts.
What the Current Bumble Looks Like
ColourPop’s own imagery shows a muted, warm rosy pink with a mauve cast, with full, even coverage and a flat matte finish. A 2023 review from Temptalia classified it as a medium-dark plum with moderate warm undertones, noting it took a few minutes longer to dry down than other shades.
Because descriptions vary, a few tips help you decide:
- Judge by lip swatches, not hand swatches. Your lip color changes the result.
- Think rose-mauve, not a true nude or a true red. It’s a muted shade in the rosy neutral family.
- Check lighting. Daylight shows undertones that store lighting hides.
For help choosing within the nude and mauve family, our guide to finding your perfect nude lipstick shade covers undertone matching, and our roundup of berry lipsticks for fair skin is useful if you’re deciding whether a plummy shade suits you.
Formula and Claims: What the Brand Says vs. What Testers Report
| Claim or feature | What ColourPop says | What reviewers report |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Full coverage, one-swipe payoff | Opaque in one layer |
| Texture | Lightweight liquid, comfy and flexible | Fluid and spreadable |
| Wear | Long-lasting, won’t crack, fade, or feather | About 5.5 hours of wear that faded evenly in one 2023 test; about eight hours for the old formula |
| Comfort | Non-drying matte | Mostly non-drying in the 2023 test; the older formula was described as slightly drying with a few flakes |
| Key ingredients | Kakadu plum, sweet cherry oil, yuzu, Japanese sumac | The brand’s skincare language is marketing, not a promise of skin benefits |
| Ethics | Product pages tag the shades vegan and cruelty-free | Check the specific shade page |
On the ingredient claims: ColourPop says Kakadu plum is “known to promote collagen,” sweet cherry oil is antioxidant-rich, yuzu smooths the look of lip lines, and Japanese sumac helps reduce feathering. Those are brand statements about the ingredients, not tested results for the finished lipstick. Think of them as pleasant extras, not reasons to expect a skincare effect.
What It Costs and Where to Buy It
Here’s how the price and size have changed, with the cost per ounce:
| Version | Price | Size | Price per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 launch | $6.00 | 0.11 oz | about $54.55 |
| Later legacy | $6.50 | 0.11 oz | about $59.09 |
| 2023 version, per reviews | $9.00 | 0.11 oz | about $81.82 |
| Current retailer listing | $9.00 | 0.13 oz | about $69.23 |
Today’s per-ounce price is about 27% higher than the 2015 launch price, though the current size is a bit larger than the 2023 reviews listed.
Where I found it:
- ColourPop.com: the Bumble page showed $6.30 against a $9.00 list price, but it was listed out of stock in the snapshot I found. ColourPop runs frequent promotions, so check for current offers.
- Ulta: $9.00, listed in stock, with free shipping at $35. Ulta carries six Ultra Matte Lip shades, including Bumble. Promotions vary by shade, and I saw one shade at 5% off.
- Amazon: a listing for the new 0.13 oz Bumble from the brand, plus an older legacy listing that was unavailable.
- Resale sites: some eBay listings sell new-in-box Bumble from older stock at about $9 to $10. Older stock may be the discontinued formula, and lipstick shouldn’t be bought opened or used.
How to Wear a Liquid Matte Without the Flaking
Liquid matte lipsticks set quickly and don’t forgive mistakes. Reviewers of the original formula noted that errors need to be wiped off and redone, and the new one reportedly dries down quickly too. These habits help:
- Prep your lips. If they’re dry or flaky, gently exfoliate and apply a thin balm, then blot off the excess so the lipstick doesn’t slide.
- Start at the center. Apply with the doe-foot applicator from the middle of the lip outward, and outline with the tip.
- Use thin layers. One layer is often enough, since the formula is described as opaque in one swipe.
- Work fast and don’t press your lips together. The color sets within seconds to minutes, and some shades take longer than others.
- Skip heavy balm on top if you want to keep the matte finish.
- Reapply after oily meals, because liquid mattes can wear unevenly with greasy food.
- Remove it fully at night. Long-wear formulas usually need an oil-based remover. Our roundup of cleansing balms worth trying covers products that dissolve long-wear makeup without scrubbing.
Who Bumble Suits
May be a good fit if:
- You want a soft, muted rose-mauve shade for everyday wear
- You like a flat matte finish with strong color in one swipe
- You prefer a drugstore-level price and a vegan, cruelty-free brand
Probably not the right fit if:
- You want a true nude or a bright color, since Bumble is a muted rosy mauve
- You dislike matte lipsticks or have very dry or sensitive lips
- You need a lipstick that lasts through meals without touch-ups, since testers report about five to six hours of wear, not all day
If you’re curious how a luxury lipstick compares on price and format, our guide to Guerlain’s lipsticks covers a refillable prestige option that costs several times more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is ColourPop Bumble?
ColourPop describes the current Bumble as a warm rose, and its imagery shows a muted rosy mauve. Reviewers have described it as a plum, a peachy nude, and a terracotta, depending on the version and the person.
How much is ColourPop Bumble Ultra Matte Lip?
$9.00 at Ulta and as the list price on ColourPop.com, where it showed 30% off ($6.30) in the snapshot I found.
How big is it?
Current retailer listings say 0.13 oz. Some earlier reviews list 0.11 oz.
How long does it last?
A 2023 tester reported about 5.5 hours of wear that faded evenly, with the formula feeling mostly non-drying. The older formula was tested at about eight hours with some drying.
Is ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip vegan and cruelty-free?
ColourPop’s product pages for the Ultra Matte Lip shades are tagged vegan and cruelty-free. Check the specific shade page.
Has the formula changed?
Yes. ColourPop revamped its Ultra Lip collection in 2023 with a new formula, so reviews and swatches from before then may not match what’s sold today.
Will it feel drying?
A 2023 tester found it mostly non-drying, and an older review found it slightly drying. As with any matte, preparing your lips and using a thin layer helps.
How do I remove it?
Use an oil-based makeup remover or cleansing balm, and work gently, since long-wear formulas don’t wipe off easily.
