Pat McGrath Dark Devotion, Ultra Vixen, Flesh 3 Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm Reviews & Swatches
Dark Devotion
Pat McGrath Dark Devotion Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark berry with cool undertones and a natural sheen. It had a lightweight, thinner consistency that was smooth and lightly emollient but not slippery on my lips. It had sheer coverage, which didn’t apply as evenly as I would have liked it to have, as it made areas of my lips look deeper than others. This shade lasted well for four hours, had a bit of a stain left behind, and was moisturizing to wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Suqqu Yoikajitsu (09) (P, $26.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Nocturnal (P, $49.00) is less shimmery, glossier (90% similar).
- Hourglass Liberator (P, $32.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Givenchy Purple Fiction (07) (P, $34.00) is darker, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Firebird (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Valentina (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Givenchy Prune Trendy (327) (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Xavier (DC, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Tarte Popsicle (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- NARS Larkspur (DC, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% 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
Dark Devotion
PPermanent. $40.00.
Ultra Vixen
Pat McGrath Ultra Vixen Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had medium pigmentation in one layer, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without tugging. The texture was smooth, lightweight, and creamy enough to glide on but thin to prevent it from feeling slippery on. It wore well for four and a half hours and was hydrating to wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Adora (P, $57.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Chanel Recit (212) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- YSL Rouge Vermillon (4) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Sheer Shame (DC, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Guerlain Mauve Gloves (068) (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Bitter Grape (DC, $39.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Sabotage (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Guerlain #65 (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- ColourPop The Artist (LE, $5.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (80% similar).
- Hourglass Nocturnal (P, $49.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (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
Ultra Vixen
PPermanent. $40.00.
Flesh 3
Pat McGrath Flesh 3 Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Lip Balm ($38.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium plum with strong, warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had medium pigmentation in a single layer that was buildable to semi-opaque coverage–this was one of the more pigmented shades in the range, which may be a happy “downside” for some. The lip balm felt smooth and glided easily across my lips but didn’t feel overly slippery or “wet” when applied, so it stayed in place well for four hours. The formula was moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Spice It Up! (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Hot Tahiti (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Tutti Frutti (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass At Night (P, $49.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Guerlain #03 (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Gospel (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Party Line (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Manic (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Inspiring (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Message (214) (P, $37.00) is lighter, cooler (85% 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.
Wow Dark Devotion looks beautiful! I may have to get it.
These are really pretty. I wouldn’t mind having one of these but I can’t get past this price for a lip balm and I’m a huge PMG fan.
At some point, one just has to give it up because there is only so much lipstick one can wear in a lifetime. I’m going to have to admire these beauties from afar because I can’t allow myself to buy anymore lipstick. It’s a sad fact, but unless I start switching shades several times a day, I’ll never use up anything!
(P.S. The white packaging is drop dead gorgeous!)
Flesh 3 is EVERYTHING I was hoping it would be. Yes, I am buying it! I only worry about it being closer in tone to my UD Manic lipstick, which I love dearly. It is a listed 85% dupe. Yet, I’m thinking that the shimmer of Manic makes Flesh 3 just different enough.
A bit disappointed in Dark Devotion. It was one of 3 that I was most keen on getting, but the uneven application may or may not be a deal-breaker, because of my pigmented, though unevenly, lips.
These are lovely but they’re $52 each in Canada which I feel is way too much to pay for a lipstick so I’ll stick with the more affordable dupes!
Flesh 3 is gorgeous! I’m liking these darker tints.
This is an interesting product. How does it compare to Nars Velvet Lip Gloss?
Stunning shades, complemented by your equally beautiful eye look.
hi christine! i’m so glad you reviewed all 9 of the balms. i was keen to get maybe 3 and had read many reviews but couldn’t decide. your lip swatches also look quite different (less wet??) from other reviewers, possibly due to lighting and angle. do you have 3 top favourite colours? i have the same colouring as you so may just ride on your faves to order some.
Hey Zeezee!
I prefer more coverage so shades like Flesh 3 and Ultra Vixen are more up my alley but I think, in some ways, if you’re looking for a hybrid tint/balm shades like Love Supreme and Passion Flower are a better balance! For my coloring, probably Flesh 3, Succexy, and Love Supreme. I don’t know if that helped or made it more difficult!
hi christine, thanks for replying so quickly and your recommendations. will get the trio that has love supreme, flesh 3 and dark devotion. cant wait! all the colours look very good on you (and therefore possibly on me too lol) so any of them is a safe bet. have a good weekend ahead!
My pleasure! Hope you enjoy your trio!
I’m sincerely hoping Christine’s swatches are more accurate — I desperately need these to be “less wet,” as I really want Flesh 3 but would hate it if it were truly glossy in appearance and feel.
hi christine! could you kindly clarify please if the balms are glossy when first applied? they don’t look so on your swatches but they do appear very glossy in other reviewers’ pictures similar to the new loreal’s colour riche shine series. we just want to be very sure as these are not cheap! thank you!
They are slightly wet-looking and have some shine – so I’m not sure what determines glossiness for you because I am definitely seeing some glossiness in my swatches! – but they are not a gloss, so they are definitely not as shiny or as thick as a lip gloss on the lips. These are thinner and less slippery compared to the Colour Riche formula, which I have swatched and reviewed previously so you can always compare the two to see any differences!
thank you very much! ?
Pink balms are not for this guy. Thirty-eight dollar balms are also not for this guy. I already feel weird getting Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask during the 20% off sales….
I own Flesh 3 and it doesn’t look anything like your photo or description. It’s a brownish red. Is your color accurate? Anyway, I love mine!
It’s as accurate as I can make it based on what I see and what I have on my computer screen. It’s taken in the same lighting with the same equipment as I have taken my other photos over the last year or so. I consider it a warm plum, but I can see “brown red” as a description – for my color system, I find it is too red to be listed as a brown but too muted and not red enough to be a red, and it fits better with reddened plums (almost literally the color of a red plum!).
They missed the marketing target on this: People are getting hung up on the idea of an expensive lip balm, and PMcG did that to herself. I think I’d be happy to get Flesh 3 as a sheer lipstick, but even knowing where the mental resistance comes from I’m stuck on the idea of spending that much for a balm. I feel fairly sure that if they had billed these as sheer lipsticks (similar to UD sheers, but more hydrating), I wouldn’t have though twice about it.
Just a note for anyone with dry lips wanting a lip balm-like emollient texture…this might not be for you. I purchased Flesh 3. I have deep lip lines and dry lips no matter how much (or little) I take care of them.
I personally felt that this was not moisturizing or balmy at all. For comparison, UD Sheer/Clinique Almost Lipstick is much more buttery to me. This felt like a very thin texture and I did not see any glossiness like in Christine’s pictures. Perhaps my lips sucked out the moisture quickly! I wanted this product to be an all-in-one instead of having to lightly apply a cream lipstick over lip balm. So sad, I will play around with this because I do like the color but I will probably be returning.