This summer Pat McGrath Labs brings us nine new shades of BlitzTrance Lipstick ($38 each for 3.9 g/0.13 oz, made in USA). These new summer colors have a different finish and formula compared to her original holiday BlitzTrance Lipsticks last year. The original ones had an intense sparkle finish with bold colors. This month’s release has the same name “BlitzTrance” but the finish is more of a smooth refined satiny shimmer creme. These new summer BlitzTrance colors are everyday kinds of colors and every single one is phenomenal. You can find them now at PatMcGrath.com.
The summer BlitzTrance has medium to full coverage. They have a soft creme feel and the shimmer has an almost velvety dry down look to them. There’s a shimmer and sheen to them but they’re not really glossy in finish like I expected. They adhere well to the lips, there’s no detectable scent, application is smooth without any tugging. With a few of the shades I could feel a tiny bit of texture from the shimmer applying to the lips, but once on the lips they feel 100% smooth. Lasting power is excellent – there is no sliding around and I did not need a lip liner to help the color stay in place.
There are nine colors in this launch. The range has 5 very similar neutral nude-pinks, 1 nineties brown-rose, 1 plum, 1 red and 1 coral rose. At first glance the neutrals look remarkably similar. Even on the arm they look close. After lip-swatching them though I can see the differences are in undertone which I can really appreciate because finding the perfect neutral nude pink can vary so much depending on skin and lip tone. For example a few of my red hair friends look amazing in MAC Twig and Spirit lipsticks. Both look like great neutrals on my hand but on my complexion make me look like I’m 100% dead. Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk is one of my favorite neutral rose lipsticks but a number of you find it too cool/dusty looking on your lips and complexion. Finding a perfect “neutral” truly depends on so many things!
Close ups, descriptions and swatches:
Skin Flixx, Naked Kiss, Lady Stardust
Skinsane, Full Fantasy, Love Train
Flesh3, Blood Rush and Emmanuelle
Descriptions as I see them, quick note that the shimmer is more visible in the lip swatches:
- Skin Flixx is a neutral warm rose pink neutral with a satiny shimmer
- Naked Kiss is the lightest one but not pale, this is a light peach pink with gold pearl
- Lady Stardust is a medium neutral-cool rose pink nude pearl, pulls more blue toned compared to the others
- Skinsane is a neutral medium pink-beige with a slight hint of pink (looks almost identical to Naked Kiss on me, Skinsane is just a little deeper)
- Full Fantasy is a warmer neutral nude peach pink shimmer
- Love Train is a perfect plum shimmer
- Flesh3 is a brown rose shimmer, almost like a brick shimmer
- Blood Rush is a bold classic red with shimmer
- Emmanuelle is a pretty coral rose with a metallic sheen
All swatched on bare lips, for skin tone reference I’m wearing Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff (equivalent of Tom Ford Soleil Glow Natural and MAC Studio Fix in NC35):
Details shots below, starting with Skin Flixx:
_________
Naked Kiss
_________
Lady Stardust
_________
Skinsane
_________
Full Fantasy
_________
Love Train
_________
Flesh 3
_________
Blood Rush
_________
Emmanuelle
_________
We are in the midst of packing for another move so I only pulled a couple to compare. Overall the BlitzTrance neutrals run lighter and almost brighter compared to her LuxeTrance and MatteTrance neutrals. I have one in LuxeTrance Realness swatched below. I also have Tom Ford Lip Color in Autoerotique and Spanish Pink side by side. I included both of the neutral-ish ones from the original BlitzTrance launch as well:
_________
Two full-face looks with Emmanuelle (left) and Blood Rush (right), also wearing:
- Foundation is Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Buff
- Powder is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
- Brows are Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
- Eyeshadow is Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Lueurs Ambrees
- Eyeliner is Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Brun Agape
- Top from Free People
- Cheeks/lips:
- Left is Pat McGrath BlitzTrance in Emmanuelle and Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm Palette
- Right is Pat McGrath BlitzTrance in Blood Rush with CoverFX Monochromatic Blush Duo in Warm Honey
Overall the formula is excellent across the board. Colors wear well and apply perfectly. I can get full coverage with one swipe and even after doing 9 lip swatches in a row my lips have not peeled or dried out. They’re not hydrating but at the same time they don’t dry out my lips which is a huge plus. If there is one thing I think is a little confusing, it’s the name. I think the new summer formula is different enough from the holiday launch to justify a different product name, but BlitzTrance still suits it. The new summer formula is a lot more wearable compared to the holiday colors. Summer ones have a beautiful reflective quality that shines as the light hits your lips from different angles. Even though the neutrals look remarkably close I can appreciate that they launched variations with different undertones to suit different skin and lip colors.
I think they’re all really perfect but my favorites are Skinsane, Love Train and Emmanuelle.
You can find the new Summer BlitzTrance Lipsticks out now online at Pat McGrath Labs. As usual you can shop these in bundles and lip kits on her website which give a nice price break.
Have you tried these yet? Are any on your radar?
BlitzTrance provided courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs for review.
