Pat McGrath Galactic Sun Divine Blush + Glow Palette Review & Swatches
Galactic Sun
Pat McGrath Galactic Sun Divine Blush & Glow Trio ($52.00 for 0.37 oz.) includes two blushes and one highlighter; all three shades are available individually, if preferred. The colors were fairly consistent compared to the standalone versions, though Desert Orchid looked lighter and a little warmer when initially swatched, but once on, they seemed to end up the same.
For reference, Pat McGrath blushes are available for $38.00 each and contain 0.34 oz. when sold individually, bringing the cost per ounce to $111.76; the highlighters retail for $48.00 each and contain 0.16 oz. or $300.00/oz. The brand doesn’t note whether the blushes weigh more than the highlighter in the trio, and I’d guess that while it may take up the same space visually, the highlighter weighs less despite volume looking otherwise.
With each product being equal in weight, then the palette contains $27.56 worth of blush and $37.00 worth of highlighter for a total “value” of $64.56. Taking a total guess, I’d estimate each at closer to half their normal weights, so the highlighter would be closer to 0.08 oz. ($24 worth in the palette) and the blushes a combined weight of 0.29 oz. or $32.41 worth of blush for a total “value” of $56.41. I think the palette seems priced right, and each one has plenty of product for many uses less than the cost of two shades individually.
Ingredients
Galactic Sun
LELimited Edition. $52.00.
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Divine Rose
Divine Rose is a muted, medium-dark rosy pink with soft, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The texture was soft to the touch, finely-milled, and blendable with a smidgen of powderiness in the pan but it sat well on bare skin. It had medium to semi-opaque, buildable color payoff, which was closer to as marketed. This shade showed signs of fading after nine hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Quintessence (440) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Coast to Coast (P, $8.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Violet Argente (Blush) (LE, $60.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Birthday Suit (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Time Stops (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- LORAC Caribbean (LE, $23.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar).
- ColourPop Enchanted Mirror (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Vogue (LE, $8.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Cool Mauve (50) (P, $38.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Impassioned (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.34 oz. - $111.76 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "featherlight, long-wearing" that "build effortlessly from sheer to subversive." The blushes are available in two finishes--demi-matte and satin pearl--and range from more muted to more vivid in color. The biggest "downfall" of the formula was that it was rather pigmented than buildable, so one could use a lighter hand to get more buildable coverage, but I found I had to use a light to moderate hand to ensure I didn't over-apply each shade.
The consistency was smooth, silky, and lightly creamy to the touch; it was a touch powdery in the pan but had more slip than most powder blushes on the market, but it was definitely a powder-based formula. The product applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation, as it diffused well along the edges without picking up base products.
The satin pearl finish was luminous but not overtly shimmery, so it did not emphasize my skin's natural texture. They wore around nine hours on me before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethiconol Stearate, Magnesium Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Hexylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).
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.
Divine Rose
PPermanent. $38.00.
Desert Orchid
Desert Orchid is a medium-dark peach with warmer undertones and a satin sheen. It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage with a soft, silky-smooth texture that was blendable and easy to work with. The color seemed to be less intense initially–lighter and warmer–than the standalone I had, but one applied and blended out, they seemed indistinguishable. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Charnelle (459) (P, $46.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Stellar Beauty Eclipse (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Essence Satin Love (P, $2.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Construct (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #6 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Body Talk (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Elegance (370) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Cover FX Warm Honey (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Becca Amaretto (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Liberation (Right) (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.34 oz. - $111.76 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "featherlight, long-wearing" that "build effortlessly from sheer to subversive." The blushes are available in two finishes--demi-matte and satin pearl--and range from more muted to more vivid in color. The biggest "downfall" of the formula was that it was rather pigmented than buildable, so one could use a lighter hand to get more buildable coverage, but I found I had to use a light to moderate hand to ensure I didn't over-apply each shade.
The consistency was smooth, silky, and lightly creamy to the touch; it was a touch powdery in the pan but had more slip than most powder blushes on the market, but it was definitely a powder-based formula. The product applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation, as it diffused well along the edges without picking up base products.
The satin pearl finish was luminous but not overtly shimmery, so it did not emphasize my skin's natural texture. They wore around nine hours on me before fading visibly.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethiconol Stearate, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Myristate, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol. (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140).
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.
Desert Orchid
PPermanent. $38.00.
Golden Nectar
Golden Nectar is a light gold with strong, warm undertones and a shiny, metallic finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which easily built up to full coverage if desired. The texture felt silky to the touch to the point where it was almost cream-like with its glide (without being powdery or thick). It lasted well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Sweet Peach (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Beach Party (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Spotlight (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Happy Thoughts (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Milk Makeup Blitzed (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Glow Up (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Lancome Rose Twinkle #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Looxi Beauty La Belle (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Candied Peach (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$48.00/0.16 oz. - $300.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have an "ultra-reflective finish" and "silken feel" to give a "high intensity glow." The texture felt more emollient, almost wet to the touch, though it was distinctively a powder-based formula in practice.
It had mostly opaque, buildable color coverage with a very thin, lightweight texture that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease. The finish was "high intensity" but didn't emphasize my skin's natural texture. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Glow Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
This is going in my shopping cart for my daughter’s Advent calendar this year. Such a beautiful little blush/highlight palette and in shades she will use. She is also not a big fan of blushes that have too much shimmer, preferring satin or matte. These look perfect.
I am not a fan of shimmery blushes either and I think these would be ones that I could wear myself. Your daughter will love these Deborah – her Advent Calendar will be stunning.
Having watched [email protected]’s reviews for both cheek trios, I’m leaning towards this one for practicality sake. She showed how both blush shades could work on us not so light folks and could be built up if necessary. The more I think about it, this is the one that would get the most usage by me, I believe.
I definitely have my eye on this. Vaguely worried the highlighter might be a hair dark but tbh I pull off darker highlighters regularly.
*dark for me
This is beautiful – if it’s ever available in NZ, I will absolutely get it.
This is a really pretty trio – all the shades seem to complement each other very well. And definitely worth the money.
Did she stop selling Golden Nectar highlighter individually? I thought it was the highlighter in the other trio that wasn’t available individually not the one in this trio.
Golden Nectar is available individually!
Oh ok. I think I misread yesterday when I thought you stated the highlighter for this trio wasn’t available individually at the time that you wrote this. I knew the other one wasn’t but I was confused when I (thought) I read the statement on this one.
OOoooh man! Thank you for photos of the actual ingredients listing on the packaging! Sephora has the wrong ingredients list for the blushes and I was actually tempted to pick one of these up since the formulation on the website is listing as silicone-free (the highlighter isn’t, but they’re both way too dark for my skin anwyay). Lol. Nope. Same blush formula as before, silicones and all, and I’m glad to have dodged that bullet.
I have been using this palette daily! I love layering the two blushes, and going more orangey or more pink based on my eyeshadow. I don’t see myself using the highlighter as much though, because it can’t be applied subtly.