Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lipstick & Liner Duo Review & Swatches
Crimson Couture
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo ($55.00 for 0.18 oz.) includes a new lipstick shade paired with an existing lip pencil. The lipstick was lovely–pigmented, creamy, and long-wearing–but the lip pencil was just so-so; the pencil was best for lining the edges but wasn’t as superb for all-over filling.
Ingredients
Crimson Couture
LELimited Edition. $55.00.
Elson 3
Elson 3 is a vivid medium-dark red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color payoff in a single layer paired with a smooth, creamy consistency that was lightweight, not too thick or too thin, and comfortable to apply. The lipstick wore nicely for seven hours, left a stain behind, and felt lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clinique Red Hot (P, $19.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- YSL Rouge Paradoxe (21) (LE, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- YSL Wolf's Red (122) (LE, $38.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Lancome Bad Blood Ruby (01) (P, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- YSL Brooklyn Baby (147) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Clinique Passion Pop (P, $19.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Spectaculaire (837) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Independante (176) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Sephora High Heels (41) (P, $13.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Lancome Rouge Badaboum (143) (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.14 oz. - $271.43 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be “richly pigmented” with “”supreme hydration” and “opulent matte opacity.” The consistency was smooth, velvety, and dense without being too firm for one-stroke, glide-on application (I found the original shades to be slightly firmer compared to more newly released shades). They had nearly opaque to opaque coverage in one layer and most were buildable.
They had a subtle sheen--more satin-to-cream in finish--that wore down to a natural matte finish within an hour or two of wear. The formula lasted between four and eight hours on me, and while most weren't drying, they aren't "supreme[ly" hydrating either. They are, however, comfortable to wear over a longer period of time and reapply well. There was no discernible scent or taste to the formula.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Isononyl Isononanoate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Mica, Polybutene, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyethylene, Paraffin, Bisdiglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax / Candelilla Cera / Cire De Candelilla, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcrystalline, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Cera Carnauba / Cire De Carnauba, Kaolin, Nylon-12, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Squalane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Synthetic Wax. (+/-): Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985).
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.
Elson 3
LELimited Edition. $38.00.
Blood Lust
Blood Lust is a bright, medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation in a single layer. The texture was smooth, more velvety than creamy, which I found was more comfortable for filling in my lips all over (less tugging/pulling), but it didn’t layer quite as evenly as I would have expected.
It worked well for ling along the edges of my lips, in case that is the only way one might use this. Once on, the product was more iron-like in its wear and lasted for over six hours and felt non-drying.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay 714 (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bossy (LE, $5.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Selenaville (LE, $17.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Such a Beauty (LE, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Bad Blood (P, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Follow Your Heart (LE, $17.50) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Spinster Ladies (LE, $5.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop Hot Cakes (LE, $5.00) is cooler (80% similar).
- Bite Beauty #078 (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- ColourPop Come, We Fly (LE, $5.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (80% similar).
Ingredients
Isododecane, Mica, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Polybutene, Nylon-12, Perfluorononyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Cera Carnauba / Cire De Carnauba, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. (+/ -): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Carmine (Ci 75470), Red 30 (Ci 73360).
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.
Blood Lust
PiPPermanent in Palette. $25.00.
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil
Love how this colour looks on you!
Super glam shade of vivid red! I have no dupe listed for this, either. But I do have YSL Scout’s Red, which is also a warm leaning very bright red, so I probably can live without this set. I think?
Woah! Beautiful!
How would you say Elson 3 compares to Elson 1 and 2? I have the others already, and I find those different enough that they don’t feel redundant, but I couldn’t tell about 3.
https://www.temptalia.com/swatches/?compare=461246,352341,305067
Elson 3 is really in the middle – less orange than Elson 2, which is also brighter, but Elson 3 is warmer and not as dark as Elson.
I have this duo and while I really like it, I felt a tad underwhelmed but only because I have SO many reds (ranging from PMG – including Vendetta, Sephora, Juvia’s Place, Milani, even Lisa Eldridge Ribbon which I LOVE).
I don’t think I would have been able to pass this up though due to the packaging AND because I can always use a good red. Just need to be more intentional in terms of the undertones and more specific shades to try to fill in the gaps – Examples: Brick red, a true orange red (still looking as Elson 2 is not quite what I was going for), etc.
A stunning lipstick shade, but I would prefer it without the lip pencil – which I would never use.