Pat McGrath Labs has launched one of the best tinted lip balms I’ve ever tried with her Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balms ($38 each for 3.5 g/0.12 oz, made in USA). She previously released a clear version (reviewed here which I bought and love) and her sparkly Astrals (I bought the Nude one, but the others looked a bit too sparkly for me). This month she launched 9 new non-shimmers in tinted colors which I think are absolute perfection. I really liked the formula of her clear version even though the price point was pretty high. Having color added feels like I can justify the price point a little more for a lip balm, but seriously ALL her lip products are phenomenal.
There are 9 perfect colors ranging from nude, pink, beige, to bright pink, plum and red. I think the color selection is very good, there’s not a single bad color in the launch. I also really appreciate that she offers sets on her website that give us a price break versus buying individually. You can find the Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balm Everything Kit for $275 with 9 colors or three variations of Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balm Trios for $95 each.
For tinted balms my favorites have been the Dior Addict Lip Glows followed by any of the YSL Volupte line (Tint-in-Balms and Volupte Shine Oil in Stick). The Pat McGrath Balms aren’t as soft in density which makes them have a less slippery feel on the lips. As much as I love super emollient balms that have an almost buttery feel, the Florida heat can make those feel like they are sliding off the lips sometimes. The Pat McGrath ones have a balmy feel but without the sliding feeling. You can feel and notice lips are moisturized but it’s not heavy. There’s no detectable scent or taste to me.
Color swatches very sheer on the arms/hands. Once on the lips the color shows up in a sheer to medium coverage. Even with the light ones I see my entire lip covered with pigment. They’re sheer compared to her lipsticks but have enough color that you can see them on your lips. Application is smooth and perfect with every single color. Color descriptions:
- 521 Blow Up is a warm beige
- 522 Love Supreme is a cool rose cream
- 523 Succexy medium coral peach
- 524 Passion Flower is a light pink peach (turns pink on my lips)
- 525 Full Fantasy bright pink
- 526 Wild Cherry is a deep cherry red
- 527 Dark Devotion is a mulberry wine
- 528 Ultra Vixen is a deep wine plum
- 529 Flesh 3 perfect red brown rose
Also shown in direct sunlight below:
Swatches, first straight from the tube:
Swatches applied with a lip brush:
Lip swatches, done on bare lips, for reference my skintone is MAC Studio Fix NC35. Note Passion Flower turns pink on my lips, I triple checked and triple lip-swatched to make sure I didn’t have any remnants on my lips from other colors mixing in. Also quick note, I take my photos with a flash – depending on your screen the lip swatches may look a tiny bit more glossy below. I’d describe these as having a soft sheen finish.
Individual close ups, I’m having a bad skin week so please excuse the patchy skin, I packed on tons of extra powder and foundation to cover up some scars and skin breakage. All lip swatches are taken indoors but with a flash:
Bottom line perfect. EVERY single one is perfect. Lasting power is better than your average balm, it still won’t last as long as her LuxeTrance or MatteTrance lipsticks, but for a balm I get several hours of wear without fading. Formula is hydrating and really does moisturize the lips nicely. I love the natural sheen these have and also the fact that once you apply they don’t feel like they’ll slide off. I still have some more lip product reviews from other brands that I’m working on including some of the new Tom Ford Boys and Girls, Sisley Le Phyto-Rouge and more, but being the gloss girl that I am, I love these balms. They’re easy to wear, effortless, apply flawlessly and the colors are perfect. I think it’s a little odd Passion Flower turns straight pink on my lips when it looks peach in the tube but I love it regardless.
You can find the Pat McGrath Labs Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balms online at Pat McGrath for $38 each. Also available in her Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balm Everything Kit for $275 with 9 colors or three variations of Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balm Trios for $95 each.
Many thanks to the Pat McGrath team for sending these for review.
Passion Flower did the same thing on me! I was a little bummed, it’s such a pretty peach in the tube, but I also still love it.
Oh good to know!
I would want it to turn pink and probably would have passed had I not read that it turned pink on both of you.
Glad I can ask you a question! I bought 2 of these. Love the colors, but a bit disappointed with the texture! I expected them to be more moisturizing…mine are a bit more matte. They don’t have the sheen I see on you. I have to use the clear prior to applying.
Any ideas? Thanks!
I take my photos with a flash so it probably adds a bit more shine in the lip swatches. I’d say the finish is a subtle sheen, but definitely not matte!
I have her original lip balm and initially I thought it wasn’t very moisturising either. But after using it for a few days, you could say I broke it in or something, and now it is the lip balm I always reach for first. And now I have 9 more to buy😂💸
I have the original as well, and love it! I love the new colors…I have the second and third shown here…I’ll experiment a bit!
i’ve been waiting for your lip swatches!! definitely going to pick up one of these… now to decide which one 🙂
There are a lot of good ones!
LOVE the close up photos. How do you “pack on” foundation and powder without it looking cakey? These balms look amazing. I was hoping they would be at Sephora so I could use my gift card. Do you know if they will ever be at Sephora?
I apply it in layers, making sure I use a good primer, then a medium to full coverage foundation, layer on concealer or a foundation stick on spots/areas that need more coverage with a damp sponge. Top it with a dusting of powder foundation with a brush. HTH!
I just checked Sephora and it looks like some of the shades are there, but not all of them.
Well your foundation looks flawless! So excited to see some of the balms at Sephora.
Do you know if some shades will be exclusive to PMG’s own site? They are up on Sephora but not all.
Hi Gail, I’m not sure if they’ll all show up at Sephora, sorry!
Do you know if some shades will be exclusive to PMG’s own site? They are up on Sephora but not all.
VERY excited about these!
Love the packaging! So sleek 💕
Arianna | Southernbf.blogspot.com
I love her lipsticks, can’t wait to purchase some of these lip balms!
Great post!
http://www.artistakay.com
Stunning! There’s not a bad or odd one in the whole bunch. I love tinted balms because, as we age, our lips tend to become thinner and drier so a well pigmented balm is ideal when it comes to making them look softer and fuller. This new collection by PMcG sounds like the perfect addition to my Dior’s and YSL’s. I can hardly wait to check them out in person. Your gorgeous pictures have put these right at the top of my “must try” list. Great review, Sabrina.
If anything I’d get one of these lip balms because of how gorgeous the packaging is!! It’s so cute and sophisticated at the same time!
Wishing you all the best,
Randomlydi
I’m curious to know how these compare to the Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil formula. They stopped promoting those, and those seem like they would be comparable to these new balms from Pat McGrath.
I have Flesh 3 and Love Supreme and was in Sephora today swatching these because I wanted to get another one. I was either going to get Blow Up or Passion Flower. Every time I swatched or tried Passion Flower it turned pink, even though it looks peachy in the tube. I even wiped it carefully with a tissue soaked in alcohol. So instead of buying it I thought, “I need to go check Sabrina’s swatches to make sure I’m not imagining things here” Decided to hold off until I checked back here. I think I’ll just order Blow Up on-line, even though that one turned more peachy than beige on me. Thanks for doing such careful arm and lip swatches. I’m very glad you also include a description of each color.