Pat McGrath Desert Glow Divine Bronzer Review & Swatches
Desert Glow
Pat McGrath Desert Glow Divine Bronzer ($39.00 for 0.33 oz.) is a medium, red-tinged brown with warmer, more orange leaning undertones paired with flecks of gold micro-sparkle over a mostly matte finish. It didn’t end up looking very shimmery/pearly in practice.
- Semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation
- Velvety, smooth, slightly thin but picked up well onto a brush
- Applied evenly and blended out nicely
- Long-wearing (8.5 hours)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Coloured Raine Charming Chai (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Deep Tan (P, $31.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Dark (P, $28.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Medium Level 7 (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Beachin' (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Phytosurgence Golden Horizon (9) (P, $25.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Milani Sun Tan (03) (P, $9.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Vieve Tan (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Tan (3) (P, $55.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- MAC Rich Golden (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.33 oz. - $118.18 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "buildable" with "demi-matte and pearl finishes" that "blurs" and "perfects" when applied. Only one shade had any real pearl/shimmer (Desert Glow), while the others were more of a soft or more "natural" matte that didn't look flat on the skin.
The pigmentation was medium to semi-opaque and buildable, while the texture was lightweight, slightly thin, but velvety and smooth, which made it easy to apply more or less to achieve the desired coverage level in practice. The powders blended out readily on bare skin as well as on top of foundations, and they did sit smoothly/evenly without emphasizing skin texture.
The formula lasted eight and a half to nine hours on me with more mid-tone and deeper shades lasting longer than the lightest ones.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Bronzer swatches.
Ingredients
And… This one is just right for me! I love that it has a very natural looking finish and red-brown undertones to it. Might just be the one that replaces what teensy bit of a strip of my UD Jawbone bronzer is still left!
Nice color! Do you think it would work on dry skin though? It looks very dry.