Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo Review, Photos, Swatches
Bronze
Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo ($48.00 for 0.33 oz.) us a dual-ended, jumbo-sized stick that features a pearly, cream-based highlighter and a translucent, glossy balm. The concept is designed for someone who wants a glossy, dewy glow where the color is a “veil of sinfully sublime luminosity.” This is not going to be an intensely pigmented, see-it-from-Mars kind of highlighter. I liked the overall effect of the two products layered on my skin, but the balm definitely did not do the most for all-day wear, so it might work as a pretty effect for a special occasion or on a mostly bare face where patchiness wouldn’t be noticeable after several hours of wear.
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.
Bronze
PPermanent. $48.00.
Bronze (Highlighter)
Bronze (Highlighter) is a soft copper with warm, golden pearl. It had semi-sheer coverage, which was somewhat buildable, but it was thin and emollient enough that practically speaking, it ends up looking more sheer to semi-sheer once blended out on the skin (and that’s what the brand marketed it as). The texture was firmer in the tube and had less slip and glossiness compared to the balm, but it still had a soft, dewy finish on my skin. It applied well over bare skin, but it was harder to apply over complexion products without disturbing my face. I had the best luck applying it over foundation by using a stippling brush to pat and tap the color into place, and then using a dampened sponge to blend and diffuse (which I had also used with my foundation). On its own, the color stayed on well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- MAC Golden Bronze (LE, $29.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Moira Golden Glow (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize (54) (P, $45.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- YSL Bronze Gold (P, $42.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Luxe (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Fantasy (LE, $45.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani No. 03 (P, $62.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Smashbox Blow a Fuse Pearl (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Cognac Candy (LE, $60.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Maybelline Nude Glow (200) (P, $9.99) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
Bronze (Highlighter)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
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
- Chanel Miroir d'Eau (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- 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).
- 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).
Clear (Balm)
LELimited Edition.
Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo
Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo
Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo
Pat McGrath Bronze Highlighter & Balm Layered
Pat McGrath Bronze Highlighter & Balm Layered
Pat McGrath Bronze Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo
Pat McGrath Bronze (Highlighter) Skin Fetish Highlighter
Pat McGrath Bronze (Highlighter) Skin Fetish Highlighter
Pat McGrath Bronze (Highlighter) Skin Fetish Highlighter
Pat McGrath Bronze (Highlighter) Skin Fetish Highlighter
Pat McGrath Bronze Highlighter & Balm Layered
Pat McGrath Bronze Highlighter & Balm Layered
Pat McGrath Clear (Balm) Skin Fetish Balm
Pat McGrath Clear (Balm) Skin Fetish Balm
Pat McGrath Clear (Balm) Skin Fetish Balm
Pat McGrath Clear (Balm) Skin Fetish Balm
Pat McGrath Clear (Balm) Skin Fetish Balm
While I like the bronze end, I don’t like the finicky the application method (bronze) or the limited wear time (balm). The layered effect looks lovely on you, Christine.
Yeah, it’s still a little more on the editorial side of things, I think, since the longevity is shorter. Pretty effect but not going to be worth it at this price point for everyone.
This looks good and rated nicely. It’s a pass for me. My skin is too oily for me to ever want to purposely make myself look dewy.
It is a fine line between dewy and oily sometimes! I can totally see this not working out well for someone oilier (and I’ll be curious how it wears on other skin types!).
Cream cheek products don’t work well on my skin, and the wear time sounds pretty bad…but oh, what pretty packaging!!!
I’ve been finding that liquid/cream products have been improving steadily over time, but there is still room to go!
Even though the Bronze half looks very appealing, I wouldn’t have any use for the balm half at all. The “balm” end reminds me of plain old Vaseline and would never work on my combination skin type!
Yep, Vaseline would definitely work similarly in terms of shine! The balm feels less slippery on the skin, but for a short-term effect, Vaseline is the cheaper option!
Very pretty but not at that price point. It is a good think I am on a no buy, LOL!!
Phew!
Your review of these are perfect. I purchased her similar limited edition releases a couple of years (?) ago. They are not long wear, they are beautiful and I love wearing them but I would not put out the money again to purchase them, and I am a Pat McGrath addict. There are too many other products on the market that can be used instead, one for example RMS Luminizing cream, but there are many others.
Thank you, Brenda! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the product!
I might be the only one waiting for this product !!
I really like the balm as it gives me a subtle look and doesn’t emphasize my combination skin pores.
I wish the balm came alone as a permanent product.
If I want a wham bam highlight, I use the balm first then any cream or powder highlight and it always looks amazing.
How is the wear for you, Dua?
Thank you for this review. As much as I want this in nude color, it’s all for that gorgeous packaging, it seems like the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Wand highlighter is a far longer lasting and brighter highlighter, but with inferior packaging?
The balm makes the finish much, much dewier/glossier – probably the most “wet” without adding shimmer that I’ve seen.