Pat McGrath Sunset Romance Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches
Sunset Romance
Pat McGrath Sunset Romance 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new, limited edition warmer, neutral-leaning color story that included two semi-matte shades paired with three very shimmery shades. The formula was creamier across the board with the mattes having a smoother, more velvety texture (less like a traditional matte), and the shimmers being very cream-like and a touch thicker, though I had great wear, pigmentation, and experienced good application with all the shades.
Ingredients
Sunset Romance
LELimited Edition. $36.00.
Glowing Desire
Glowing Desire is a light copper with moderate, warm orange undertones and a soft, metallic sheen .
- Semi-opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, emollient consistency, almost cream-like
- Picked up well dry or dampened brush; applied evenly without fallout
- Long-wearing (10 hours before fading visibly)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Star Struck (P, $8.00).
- MAC Café Tinto (LE, $17.00).
- ColourPop OG (LE, $7.00).
- NARS Icon (DC, $25.00).
- Charlotte Tilbury Smokey Eyes are Forever Love Eyes Enhance (LE, ).
- Too Faced Cutie Patootie (LE, $16.00).
- Huda Beauty Crave (PiP, ).
- NABLA Cosmetics Fabric (PiP, ).
- Chanel Tender #3 (PiP, ).
- Stilazzi Bondi (LE, ).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.04 oz. - $625.00 Per Ounce
Pat McGrath's eyeshadows are, generally, supposed to be "super-saturated" with "creamy, soft textures" and "extreme blendability and adherence without creasing." A lot of how well they perform (and to some degree, how they are supposed to be applied and marketed) depends on the type of shades, but by and large, the eyeshadows perform very much as they are described.
The brand released single eyeshadows in March 2019, and the shades have been consistent in quality, look, and feel. They are not removable, unfortunately, so one would have to depot like any other single eyeshadow--I tried using tweezers and lifting on several shades to no avail. The lids are held closed by a weak magnet, so I'm not sure they're as secure as most single eyeshadow compacts in my stash--I wish it really locked in, but there's definitely a magnet that pulls the lid down if it's within 2mm of the base.
The mattes are velvety, blendable, and dense without being thick or too heavy, and they have semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation where a little can go a long way with some of the deeper and richer hues. The satin and pearl finishes are smooth, lightly creamy, and firmer but not dense or thick with good pigmentation, blendability, and easy application. The more metallic finishes tend to be softer, creamy, and smooth with a bit more denseness and no powderiness. The sparkly/glittery shades are often designed to be applied wet for richer coverage or intensity, which has largely been my experience. Most of the shades last between eight and nine hours.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath EYEdols Eyeshadow swatches.
Glowing Desire
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Suede Sienna
Suede Sienna is a brighter, medium-dark reddish-copper with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, velvety texture; finely-milled without being powdery
- Applied evenly and blended out with little effort
- Long-wearing (10 hours before fading visibly)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics 1 Upper (LE, ).
- Urban Decay Foxfire (LE, $19.00).
- Dose of Colors Rose Berry (PiP, ).
- Sephora Rust (PiP, ).
- Lethal Cosmetics Fahrenheit (P, $6.00).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cherry Smoke #1 (LE, ).
- Anastasia Edges (LE, $12.00).
- ColourPop Drizzled (LE, $4.50).
- Sugarpill Young Blood (PiP, ).
- ColourPop Chingona (PiP, $4.50).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.04 oz. - $625.00 Per Ounce
Pat McGrath's eyeshadows are, generally, supposed to be "super-saturated" with "creamy, soft textures" and "extreme blendability and adherence without creasing." A lot of how well they perform (and to some degree, how they are supposed to be applied and marketed) depends on the type of shades, but by and large, the eyeshadows perform very much as they are described.
The brand released single eyeshadows in March 2019, and the shades have been consistent in quality, look, and feel. They are not removable, unfortunately, so one would have to depot like any other single eyeshadow--I tried using tweezers and lifting on several shades to no avail. The lids are held closed by a weak magnet, so I'm not sure they're as secure as most single eyeshadow compacts in my stash--I wish it really locked in, but there's definitely a magnet that pulls the lid down if it's within 2mm of the base.
The mattes are velvety, blendable, and dense without being thick or too heavy, and they have semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation where a little can go a long way with some of the deeper and richer hues. The satin and pearl finishes are smooth, lightly creamy, and firmer but not dense or thick with good pigmentation, blendability, and easy application. The more metallic finishes tend to be softer, creamy, and smooth with a bit more denseness and no powderiness. The sparkly/glittery shades are often designed to be applied wet for richer coverage or intensity, which has largely been my experience. Most of the shades last between eight and nine hours.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath EYEdols Eyeshadow swatches.
Suede Sienna
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Mink Mirage
Mink Mirage is a light-medium, rosy brown with moderate, warm undertones and a smooth, metallic finish.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, emollient consistency, almost cream-like
- Picked up well dry or dampened brush; applied evenly without fallout
- Long-wearing (10 hours before fading visibly)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Rose Prisme #4 (PiP, ).
- Natasha Denona Lavender Gray (40M) (PiP, $29.00).
- Hourglass Smoke (P, $29.00).
- NABLA Cosmetics Cedar Wood (PiP, ).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Eyeshadow #3 (LE, ).
- Anastasia Dazzling (LE, $12.00).
- ColourPop DTR (PiP, $4.50).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil et Lune #2 (LE, ).
- Tarte Glam Girl (LE, ).
- Fenty Beauty Guava Mint (LE, ).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.04 oz. - $625.00 Per Ounce
Pat McGrath's eyeshadows are, generally, supposed to be "super-saturated" with "creamy, soft textures" and "extreme blendability and adherence without creasing." A lot of how well they perform (and to some degree, how they are supposed to be applied and marketed) depends on the type of shades, but by and large, the eyeshadows perform very much as they are described.
The brand released single eyeshadows in March 2019, and the shades have been consistent in quality, look, and feel. They are not removable, unfortunately, so one would have to depot like any other single eyeshadow--I tried using tweezers and lifting on several shades to no avail. The lids are held closed by a weak magnet, so I'm not sure they're as secure as most single eyeshadow compacts in my stash--I wish it really locked in, but there's definitely a magnet that pulls the lid down if it's within 2mm of the base.
The mattes are velvety, blendable, and dense without being thick or too heavy, and they have semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation where a little can go a long way with some of the deeper and richer hues. The satin and pearl finishes are smooth, lightly creamy, and firmer but not dense or thick with good pigmentation, blendability, and easy application. The more metallic finishes tend to be softer, creamy, and smooth with a bit more denseness and no powderiness. The sparkly/glittery shades are often designed to be applied wet for richer coverage or intensity, which has largely been my experience. Most of the shades last between eight and nine hours.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath EYEdols Eyeshadow swatches.
Mink Mirage
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Sun-kissed Rose
Sun-kissed Rose is a dusty, medium coral with subtle, more pink-leaning undertones paired with a semi-matte finish.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, velvety texture; finely-milled without being powdery
- Applied evenly and blended out with little effort
- Long-wearing (10 hours before fading visibly)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Lilac #5 (LE, ).
- ColourPop Hot Springs (LE, $4.50).
- Estee Lauder Boho Rose #3 (PiP, ).
- Smashbox Rose (P, $22.00).
- Sydney Grace Flutterby (LE, $5.25).
- Viseart Tulle (PiP, ).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.04 oz. - $625.00 Per Ounce
Pat McGrath's eyeshadows are, generally, supposed to be "super-saturated" with "creamy, soft textures" and "extreme blendability and adherence without creasing." A lot of how well they perform (and to some degree, how they are supposed to be applied and marketed) depends on the type of shades, but by and large, the eyeshadows perform very much as they are described.
The brand released single eyeshadows in March 2019, and the shades have been consistent in quality, look, and feel. They are not removable, unfortunately, so one would have to depot like any other single eyeshadow--I tried using tweezers and lifting on several shades to no avail. The lids are held closed by a weak magnet, so I'm not sure they're as secure as most single eyeshadow compacts in my stash--I wish it really locked in, but there's definitely a magnet that pulls the lid down if it's within 2mm of the base.
The mattes are velvety, blendable, and dense without being thick or too heavy, and they have semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation where a little can go a long way with some of the deeper and richer hues. The satin and pearl finishes are smooth, lightly creamy, and firmer but not dense or thick with good pigmentation, blendability, and easy application. The more metallic finishes tend to be softer, creamy, and smooth with a bit more denseness and no powderiness. The sparkly/glittery shades are often designed to be applied wet for richer coverage or intensity, which has largely been my experience. Most of the shades last between eight and nine hours.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath EYEdols Eyeshadow swatches.
Sun-kissed Rose
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Petallic Passion
Petallic Passion is a medium, reddish-copper with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish.
- Opaque pigmentation
- Smooth, emollient consistency, almost cream-like
- Picked up well dry or dampened brush; applied evenly without fallout
- Long-wearing (10 hours before fading visibly)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Rest Stop (LE, $19.00).
- Huda Beauty Nude Light #7 (PiP, ).
- Tarte Pop Rock (P, $14.00).
- Sydney Grace Blushing Peach (P, $6.25).
- ColourPop Low 70s (LE, $6.00).
- Linda Hallberg Cosmetics Dim (PiP, ).
- ColourPop Free Time (P, $6.00).
- Urban Decay Dazed (PiP, $19.00).
- ColourPop Rare Earth (PiP, $4.50).
- Dior Pink Glow #2 (PiP, ).
Formula Overview
$25.00/0.04 oz. - $625.00 Per Ounce
Pat McGrath's eyeshadows are, generally, supposed to be "super-saturated" with "creamy, soft textures" and "extreme blendability and adherence without creasing." A lot of how well they perform (and to some degree, how they are supposed to be applied and marketed) depends on the type of shades, but by and large, the eyeshadows perform very much as they are described.
The brand released single eyeshadows in March 2019, and the shades have been consistent in quality, look, and feel. They are not removable, unfortunately, so one would have to depot like any other single eyeshadow--I tried using tweezers and lifting on several shades to no avail. The lids are held closed by a weak magnet, so I'm not sure they're as secure as most single eyeshadow compacts in my stash--I wish it really locked in, but there's definitely a magnet that pulls the lid down if it's within 2mm of the base.
The mattes are velvety, blendable, and dense without being thick or too heavy, and they have semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation where a little can go a long way with some of the deeper and richer hues. The satin and pearl finishes are smooth, lightly creamy, and firmer but not dense or thick with good pigmentation, blendability, and easy application. The more metallic finishes tend to be softer, creamy, and smooth with a bit more denseness and no powderiness. The sparkly/glittery shades are often designed to be applied wet for richer coverage or intensity, which has largely been my experience. Most of the shades last between eight and nine hours.
Browse all of our Pat McGrath EYEdols Eyeshadow swatches.
Another stunning palette in the range – I really like Mink Mirage – that dusty pinky brown shade is gorgeous. It must be a pleasure to review these Christine, after all the duds there have been this year.
Because I have many similar looking shades as is, I probably won’t get this. That said, I definitely DO love the gorgeous quality and intensely metallic finishes due to how smooth and buttery they appear to be!
Very pretty though in no way unique. Quite dupable colors. I am happy that at least one brand seems to have launched a decent holiday package even if it is not something that is particularly festive. Overall, this holiday release has been very lackluster, at least to me.