Pat McGrath Amber Allure Divine Blush + Glow Palette Review & Swatches

Amber Allure

Pat McGrath Amber Allure Divine Blush & Glow Trio Pat McGrath Amber Allure Divine Blush & Glow Trio ($52.00 for 0.37 oz.) includes two permanent blush shades and a new highlighter, though I found Lovestruck to be noticeably cooler-toned and more blue-based in the palette (and I triple-checked in person, since the individual blushes just released!). If you are warmer-toned, the difference may be more noticeable between the two, but worn lightly, the difference in undertone was less noticeable.

For reference, Pat McGrath blushes are available for $38.00 each and contain 0.34 oz. when sold individually, bringing the cost per ounce to $111.76; the highlighters retail for $48.00 each and contain 0.16 oz. or $300.00/oz. (Note: the shade included in this trio is not sold individually at the time of publication.) The brand doesn’t note whether the blushes weigh more than the highlighter in the trio, and I’d guess that while it may take up the same space visually, the highlighter weighs less despite volume looking otherwise.

With each product being equal in weight, then the palette contains $27.56 worth of blush and $37.00 worth of highlighter for a total “value” of $64.56. Taking a total guess, I’d estimate each at closer to half their normal weights, so the highlighter would be closer to 0.08 oz. ($24 worth in the palette) and the blushes a combined weight of 0.29 oz. or $32.41 worth of blush for a total “value” of $56.41. I think the palette seems priced right, and each one has plenty of product for many uses less than the cost of two shades individually.

Ingredients

Amber Allure

LELimited Edition. $52.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

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Lovestruck (Amber Allure)

Lovestruck (Amber Allure) is a brighter, medium-dark fuchsia pink with cooler, blue undertones and a semi-matte finish. It seemed quite matte to my eye but wasn’t totally flat when applied and buffed out on my skin. The color was cooler-toned and more blue-based than the full-sized, individual blush I have, though; enough that I wanted to list it as a separate shade in the database. The consistency was finely-milled, smooth, and blendable and yielded semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. It wore well for nine hours before fading visibly.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Huda Beauty Charming Cherry (04) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
MAC Rosy Does It (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Seed U Later (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Kevyn Aucoin Grapevine #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Manifest It (P, $4.50) is warmer (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Lovestruck (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
UOMA Beauty Amina (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Courageous (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Viseart Rose #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Clinique Berry Pop (03) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.34 oz. - $111.76 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be "featherlight, long-wearing" that "build effortlessly from sheer to subversive." The blushes are available in two finishes--demi-matte and satin pearl--and range from more muted to more vivid in color. The biggest "downfall" of the formula was that it was rather pigmented than buildable, so one could use a lighter hand to get more buildable coverage, but I found I had to use a light to moderate hand to ensure I didn't over-apply each shade.

The consistency was smooth, silky, and lightly creamy to the touch; it was a touch powdery in the pan but had more slip than most powder blushes on the market, but it was definitely a powder-based formula. The product applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation, as it diffused well along the edges without picking up base products.

The satin pearl finish was luminous but not overtly shimmery, so it did not emphasize my skin's natural texture. They wore around nine hours on me before fading visibly.

Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Blush swatches.

Lovestruck (Amber Allure)

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

A-

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

Paradise Venus

Paradise Venus is a muted, medium-dark reddish-copper with moderate, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The texture was soft, slightly powdery in the pan, but it was blendable and easy to pick up with different brushes. It had fairly pigmented coverage in a single pass, so I had to really use a lighter hand to get truly buildable coverage (as marketed), which was the big “downside” with this shade. It lasted nicely for nine hours before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

ColourPop Beyond (P, $7.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
MAC Taraji Glow (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Kaja Extra Pepper (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Ravish (P, $60.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Almond (P, $24.00) is darker (85% similar).
Chanel Evening Beige (340) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Burnt Pepper (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
ColourPop Bardot (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, warmer (80% similar).
NARS Hot Tin Roof (LE, $30.00) is warmer (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.34 oz. - $111.76 Per Ounce

The satin pearl finish was luminous but not overtly shimmery, so it did not emphasize my skin's natural texture. They wore around nine hours on me before fading visibly.

Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Alumina, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenylpropanol, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), 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.

Paradise Venus

PPermanent. $38.00.

A-

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

Venus Nectar

Venus Nectar is a rich, peachy gold with warmer, more orange undertones and a shiny, metallic finish. It had opaque color payoff in a single layer, where a little went a long way, so using a lighter hand or a less-dense brush would be ideal for someone looking to build up coverage. The texture was almost emollient to the touch as it was incredibly silky and smooth without being powdery or even dense/thick. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm (Super Glow) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Dior Peach Delight (007) (LE, $50.00) is lighter (95% similar).
NABLA Cosmetics Privilege (P, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Maybelline Molten Peach (P, $9.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Smashbox Crank It Up Pearl (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
MAC Nuanced (LE, $34.00) is cooler (90% similar).
MAC Hot Damn-oiselle D'Avignon (LE, $37.00) is cooler (90% similar).
LORAC Sunlight (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Honey (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Taffy (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$48.00/0.16 oz. - $300.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have an "ultra-reflective finish" and "silken feel" to give a "high intensity glow." The texture felt more emollient, almost wet to the touch, though it was distinctively a powder-based formula in practice.

It had mostly opaque, buildable color coverage with a very thin, lightweight texture that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease. The finish was "high intensity" but didn't emphasize my skin's natural texture. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.

Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Glow Highlighter swatches.