Pat McGrath Astral Blue Star & Noir Lip Fetish Lip Balms Reviews & Swatches
Astral Blue Star
Pat McGrath Astral Blue Star Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) has a translucent base with fine, barely-there iridescent pearl that flashed between silver and blue. It had just a dusting of pearl, so it had a subtle twinkle with a glossier finish, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “glittering” (as it is described).
It did not seem to have a tint–it just added shine and faint shimmer to my lips but no tint (and these are supposed to have some tint!). For someone who likes the idea of shimmer but doesn’t like a lot of it, it might work to that effect. The texture was lightweight, thin without being clingy, and comfortable to wear; it also seemed to smooth out some of my lip lines, which was nice to see. It stayed on well for two and a half hours and was moderately moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Icicle Pop (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Star Stunner (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Italian Ice (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Ghosted (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Aliengelic (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Starburst (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Dose of Colors The Most (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (85% similar).
- MAC Sugar Coat (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- ColourPop Atta Girl (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Pat McGrath Astral Moon Flower (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.12 oz. - $333.33 Per Ounce
The new Sheer Colour finish on the Lip Fetish Lip Balm formula is designed to have a "tease of color" with a "lightweight veil of hydration." The balm has a smooth consistency that glided across my lips without tugging but did not feel overly slippery or wet like some balm-like formulations can.
I felt like this made it easier to apply them evenly and had them wear decently--anywhere from two to four hours--and I found that a couple of them stained my lips lightly (most notably, Passion Flower looked significantly pinker on my lips, and it also stained my hand pink when I tried swatching it again to verify!).
I found the formula to be moderately moisturizing with coverage that ranged from sheer to medium with the deeper shades having more noticeable color and coverage. I didn't detect any scent or taste to these.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm swatches.
Ingredients
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Astral Blue Star
LELimited Edition. $40.00.
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Noir
Pat McGrath Noir Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm ($40.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a translucent black with a luminous sheen and very, very faint shimmer. The texture was lightweight, balm-like–emollient with some slip–but it was thinner, so it didn’t feel slippery on, which helped it wear longer, though it wasn’t the longest-wearing product.
It had very sheer coverage, and while it was described as being sheer and the formula is intended to be sheer, this seemed to be a little under even that–almost translucent. Ultimately, the effect is that will darken one’s natural lip color. It may appear different based on one’s natural lip color–for me, it gives a slightly warm, plummy vibe. It wore well for two and a half hours and was moderately hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Noir Moderne (128) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty La Piscine (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Oil Slick (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Smashbox Bankrolled (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.12 oz. - $333.33 Per Ounce
The new Sheer Colour finish on the Lip Fetish Lip Balm formula is designed to have a "tease of color" with a "lightweight veil of hydration." The balm has a smooth consistency that glided across my lips without tugging but did not feel overly slippery or wet like some balm-like formulations can.
I felt like this made it easier to apply them evenly and had them wear decently--anywhere from two to four hours--and I found that a couple of them stained my lips lightly (most notably, Passion Flower looked significantly pinker on my lips, and it also stained my hand pink when I tried swatching it again to verify!).
I found the formula to be moderately moisturizing with coverage that ranged from sheer to medium with the deeper shades having more noticeable color and coverage. I didn't detect any scent or taste to these.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm swatches.
Ingredients
Noir isn’t too awful, but I’m far happier with the effect I get using UD Oil Slick instead of something this sheer.
But, Astral Blue Star does NOTHING for me. Nowhere near enough shimmer or pigment of some sort for it to pop off on the lips.
$56 here in Canada which is just too darned much for a lip balm. I’ll stick with some more moderately priced options (which is just about EVERY OTHER LIP BALM out there!)
Meh. Does anyone else find products like this turn their lips raspberry pink? I’m guessing that would happen here; especially the ‘black’ shade.
They usually turn bright berry or fuchsia on me.
These both needed a tint of color to make them interesting. I’d have been really disappointed to get the beautiful-in-the-bullet Astral Blue Star and not have a silver-blue sheen to my lips along with the sparkle.
I completely agree with you Rachel.
Nope – not for me. Give me a good bronzey red/brown anyday.
I get all PMG lip products sight unseen review unread because they are fantastic, for the most part. I liked the matte black barrel. And it looks cool. But it lasts 5 minutes on me. I prefer the other tinted balms which often leave a longer-lasting stain.
I might try it over my more drying MatteTrances when I don’t feel like throwing on a gloss and risking moving product around.
Astral Blue Star is on it’s way to me. I have loved every PMG lip product that I have purchased. I know I will be able to make this one work as a topper if I don’t like it on it’s own.
Sooooo…40 dollars for nothing. Mmmmmm, no ma’am.
Ehhh… I don’t know about these. I am shocked they they are rated as high as they are. I feel like if this was a drugstore brand it would’ve gotten an F.
Price isn’t a factor – marketing claims are – so if a brand, whether $4 or $400, made the same claims and had the same performance… the rating would have been the same! They have a nice texture (go on without tugging, comfortable to wear, spread well), are hydrating, and smooth out a lot of my lip lines, so I don’t know why they would be Fs.
For someone like me, over 50 with thinner lips, the shimmery version of this lipstick is perfect. Too much shimmer is a disaster on my lips and face. This is the perfect option on me.