Pat McGrath Major Red & Strange LuxeTrance Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Major Red
Pat McGrath Major Red LuxeTrance Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with cool, blue undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque pigmentation that drenched the lips in a single layer–I don’t even think a full layer would be needed as it was so pigmented. The consistency was smooth, velvety, and dense enough to fill in lip lines yet managed to feel lighter weight and comfortable on the lips. The color was still going strong after 10 hours of wear–the only difference was the shine had worn away by that point–but that was after latte, water, and two meals. More incredibly, my lips felt hydrated after all that continuous wear. It just might be one of my new favorite reds.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC E for Effortless (P, $23.00) is warmer, glossier (95% similar).
- Stellar Beauty Super Sonic 04 (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Hourglass My Icon Is (P, $34.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- MAC Como La Flor (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Juicy (LE, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Red Velvet (P, $24.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- ColourPop On Display (P, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Boldface (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever C405 (DC, $22.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Hexagram (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.14 oz. - $285.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "intense color payoff" with "comfort" and "rich hydration" that has a "satiny sheen." Of the shades I've tried, they are richly pigmented, long-wearing, incredibly comfortable to wear from start to finish, hydrating, and generally flattering on the lips.
The texture was smooth, velvety, and creamy enough to glide across the lips with ease but never felt slippery or too clingy. Most shades performed exceptionally well, and while pricey, they at least lived up to a lot of the claims. There was no discernible scent or taste.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick swatches.
Major Red
DCDiscontinued. $40.00.
Strange
Pat McGrath Strange LuxeTrance Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep, reddish-brown with warm undertones and a cream finish. The pigmentation was opaque in a single stroke, which applied evenly and smoothly across the lips. It had a lightly emollient, creamy texture that wasn’t too slippery nor was it too firm in the tube, so it never dragged but didn’t feather or slide around when worn. It wore well for over eight hours on me and was moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Sandra (P, $34.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Legendary (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Nighthawk (DC, $18.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Unnatural Natural (DC, $40.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Ignited Lava (120) (P, $23.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Blackberry (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Witty (P, $15.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Revlon Raisin Rage (P, $8.49) is lighter (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Flesh 3 (P, $38.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Ascendant (872) (P, $55.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.14 oz. - $285.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "intense color payoff" with "comfort" and "rich hydration" that has a "satiny sheen." Of the shades I've tried, they are richly pigmented, long-wearing, incredibly comfortable to wear from start to finish, hydrating, and generally flattering on the lips.
The texture was smooth, velvety, and creamy enough to glide across the lips with ease but never felt slippery or too clingy. Most shades performed exceptionally well, and while pricey, they at least lived up to a lot of the claims. There was no discernible scent or taste.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick swatches.
Undeniably gorgeous!
They are!
10 hours of wear??! This is amazing. I will definitely consider picking this up if I can get over the price tag.
Reds can last a really long time, but 10 hours is crazy!
These look (and sound) incredible.
They have been!
Hurray! I did actually order Major Red early this morning. I feel so relieved that it did so well for you. I was chiding myself for buying yet another red. Thanks for making me feel better about my purchase!
Hope it works well for you!
Gorgeous! Want!
I love them both, especially Major Red, but I already have about seven reds, so these will have to remain on the “Maybe Someday” list.
Good call – maybe if you finish one of your reds 🙂
Exactly what I was thinking!
Would you say these are your favorite lipsticks out now? Better than Bite? Love your reviews Christine!
I don’t know – I haven’t tried enough to say, and while they’re lovely, I prefer a more luminous lipstick overall (more shine, more pearl), so I’m not sure if they’d ever really be my #1 but we’ll see. Bite’s lipsticks are also not my favorite – Guerlain Rouge Gs are.
I am LUSTING after Major Red, but have almost an entire tube of MAC Como La Flor to work through! Oh dear me! ? This is the most perfect red lipstick I think I have ever seen. ?
And I’m also digging Strange as well! These are some true stars in the lipstick world.
Well, it had better be Major Red, if I spring at all, as Narsdkredho syndrome strikes again. 5 dupes for Strange. Even this queen of rationalization cannot justify that! Kind of overcovered.
I have to get Major Red. It’s spectacular.
These are both so beautiful but I don’t know if I can spend that kind of money on a lipstick. I am already shocked that I can go into a Sephora and spend $500 and walk out with the small bag and some tissue!!
I hear ya, Deborah – I could only shell out for six to see if they lived up to their price tag!
I am still intimidated by red. I wonder if spending $38 would force me to wear it. It doesn’t seem as though I can use the excuse that I am not diligent enough to maintain it during the day.
I’d vote buying a more affordable one so that way you can wear it when you want to but not be forced to. Maybelline Very Cherry is a classic favorite 🙂
That’s much more sensible. I did invest in a YSL red but that hasn’t given me the incentive to make wearing it a habit.
If it didn’t work with YSL–which is not cheap either!–it definitely wouldn’t with this one!
Wow, wow, wow! These lipsticks are stunning, especially Strange.
I’m enjoying the Pat McGraft lipsticks that I own very much. I have a Elson which is a dupe for Major Red. I had my eye on Strange and now that it rated well and looks so pretty I’m picking it up soon!
Elson is surprisingly similar – just a texture/finish difference slightly!
So glad this review is looking promising for the formula. I have a shipment on the way. I’ve been so freaking good lately and then I saw all these really interesting ‘brown’ lipsticks with neutral and cool undertones and I totes lost it. I don’t even like brown lipstick, but I had this gut feeling if the temperature is right, they will work and look very on point this fall. Fingers, toes, eyes, crossed.
Which shades did you get? They’re pricey and permanent, so I only picked up six to try (I mean… at this price point, if they’re terrible, nobody will fault me for not buying them all, LOL).
I grabbed some of the matte trances I had been holding back on:
Elson, Full Panic, Omi
and Luxe trances:
Donatella, Valletta, Attitude, Lavish, Lust Angeles
They should be here early next week. Yeah, I kinda list it ☺️
Nice! I don’t think we have any overlap in the Luxe, so I hope you’ll let me know if they’re all amazing 😉
I’m on a no-buy for lipstick, but theses are permanent and I *will have* Strange someday, mark my words. Gorgeous!
And I even like the name! 🙂
Wow! I want these but I don’t need them unless someone wants to buy them
I had no intention of purchasing Pat’s hippies until this! All I can say is wow!!!! What uniform coverage and pigmentation. I hope other colors have the same payoff because I’m not a red lippie person.
Major Red is amazing!