Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lipstick & Liner Duo Review & Swatches

Christine — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000

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.

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

93%

Total

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

View Swatches View All Dupes

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).
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 Invincible (73) (P, $45.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).

View Swatches

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.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

98%

Total

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
Ingredients

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Selenaville (LE, $17.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay 714 (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
ColourPop Bossy (LE, $5.00) is cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Such a Beauty (LE, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Follow Your Heart (LE, $17.50) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Urban Decay Bad Blood (P, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar).
ColourPop Come, We Fly (LE, $5.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (80% 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).

View Swatches

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).

Blood Lust

PiPPermanent in Palette. $25.00.

A-

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

90%

Total

Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo

Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick

Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil

Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lip Duo

Pat McGrath Elson 3 MatteTrance Lipstick

Pat McGrath Blood Lust Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil

Temptalia

Pat McGrath Crimson Couture Lipstick & Liner Duo Review & Swatches

Crimson Couture

Ingredients

Crimson Couture

LELimited Edition. $55.00.

Quick Shop: Sephora, Ulta, Pat McGrath, Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)

Elson 3

Top Dupes

Formula Overview

Ingredients

Elson 3

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

Quick Shop: Sephora, Ulta, Pat McGrath, Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)

Blood Lust

Top Dupes

Ingredients

Blood Lust

PiPPermanent in Palette. $25.00.

Quick Shop: Sephora, Ulta, Pat McGrath, Sephora (CA)Sephora (CA)