Pat McGrath Cyber Lotus Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo Review & Swatches
Cyber Lotus
Pat McGrath Cyber Lotus Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo ($48.00 for 0.33 oz.) includes a sparkly pink highlighter paired with a clear balm (the same that is found on all of the duos). I’m not a huge fan of the balm part of the product, but the highlighter formula is better-performing as it isn’t as emollient as the clear balm.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Dimethicone, Mica, Polyethylene, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (Candelilla Cera), Talc, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Nylon-12, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Carmine (Ci 75470).
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.
Cyber Lotus
LELimited Edition. $48.00.
Cyber Lotus (Highlighter)
Cyber Lotus (Highlighter) had a subtly, pink-tinged base with more noticeable pink and lavender sparkle throughout. It seemed shy of glitter-sized sparkle but it was definitely not pearl or smaller in particle size. I felt like the formulation for the highlighter wasn’t as emollient as the balm, which made it easier to apply on top of foundation as well as bare skin, and it had better longevity at eight-hours of solid wear. It had sheer to semi-sheer coverage but wasn’t that buildable.
Top Dupes
- Cover FX Blossom (LE, $34.00).
- Anastasia Sassy Grape (LE, ).
- Becca Amethyst Flashes Geode (LE, $34.00).
- Kosas 8th Muse (Highlighter) (PiP, ).
- NARS Free Soul (LE, $30.00).
- Wet 'n' Wild Rosy and Ready (P, $5.99).
- Natasha Denona Love Glow (Diamond Powder) (PiP, ).
- MAC Warm Aura (LE, $34.00).
- ColourPop Forget Me Not (LE, $8.00).
- ColourPop Glow Burst (LE, $10.00).
Cyber Lotus (Highlighter)
LELimited Edition.
Clear (Balm)
Clear (Balm) is transparent and has a very balm-like, emollient texture that yields a glossy finish when patted on to the skin. For application, it layered easily on my bare skin, but it didn’t lift my foundation when I tried it that way. I was surprised it didn’t melt away my foundation immediately, since it had a lot of slip and never dried down, and while it wasn’t long-wearing, it lasted for a good six hours before I noticed some patchiness directly where I had applied the balm–it was closer to eight hours before it started to look obvious at a glance (instead of just close-up). It was easiest to see the longevity when I tried over complexion products as well as layered over the balm, because on its own over bare skin, there was no patchiness to be found since there was nothing to turn patchy! When I wore it over bare skin (by itself), I felt like some of the glossiness migrated toward my nostrils but not much further below my cheek bone or above it.
Top Dupes
- NYX Liquid Prism (P, $6.99) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Intensity 0.5 (Highlight) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Chanel Miroir d'Eau (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- Glossier Quartz (P, $22.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Spotlight (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- NYX Moon Glow (P, $6.99) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Burberry Nude Radiance No. 01 (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Luminous (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (P, $41.00) is more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
I’m clearly not editorial enough for swiping a clear balm across my cheek.
Great for concerts and festivals, or an evening on the boardwalk! But not something that I would use often enough to justify the price point. Besides, I do have some highlighters that are very sparkly and beautiful for special events or for just kicking it!
Interesting combination… I may try it. I’ve been looking for a balm to pat on over under eye concealer. That area gets so dry during the day. And the highlighter looks pretty. Thanks!
All of these look jolly bland to me – you would have to be wearing a mattish blush underneath for these to show up at all.
I have the other 3 HL/balms and didn’t get this one. Only the lightest works on my skin tone. The balm works if you use a tiny amount and aren’t worried about lifting foundation. It’s a good lip moisturizer. The highlighter is great and I’ve been using it for a super long time and barely made a dent.
This looks like a terrific HL/blush color and I would trade the bronze one I have for this any day.
But like I said, I’m still making my way through others. Oh well. Pretty color.