Ah, advertising: I’m taken in by it almost all the time! No wonder I enjoyed working in the industry so much.
I had been seeing ads for Pat McGrath Labs line of BlitzTrance lipsticks repeatedly. Closeups of full lips wearing rich lipstick with glittery, multidimensional shine. I looked up the price of the luxury lipstick, and at $40, it was definitely out of my price range. I planned that I would try it during the Sephora VIB sale when it would be slightly more affordable and it would help me get closer to my goal of keeping my VIB status for another year.
I had plenty of time to plan which shade I’d order. I looked at swatches of them all. I read Temptalia‘s reviews (she really liked them). I finally decided to order Flesh 3 during the sale. In the photos, Flesh 3 looked like a deep orange-red with golden glitter. On the Pat McGrath website, it’s described as “Bronzed Rose Neutral with Golden Pearl”. It looked like the perfect fall shade for this redhead.
Everything about this lipstick is luxe. The box is adorned with champagne golden holographic glitter. The heavy metal tubes are the same champagne gold holographic glitter with yellow gold accents including a pair of golden lips. So pretty!
When I opened Flesh 3, I must say I was surprised. The color of the bullet was surprisingly brown but with a bit of a coppery glow.
Here it is by the window. Not much difference!
On my lips, it reads primarily brown, OK a rosy brown, with a tiny bit of a copper glow in bright sunlight.
Definitely different from what I was expecting. I’m not a real fan of brown lipsticks, but the shade looks OK, and it will be a good fall/winter color.
The lipstick itself doesn’t disappoint. It provides just about full coverage in one swipe. It’s a moisture-enriched creme formula made with Brazil nut oil that feels lightweight and very comfortable on the lips. It is long wearing, and on me, I get 4-5 hours or more of color, and it leaves a stain on my lips. Even after eating, it is clear that I’m still wearing lipstick. I really like the formula that IMHO seems more like a semi-matte than a true cream.
The “ultra-reflective pearls” that are supposed to give the lips a “multi-faceted look” don’t show up all that well on my lips, so I am sort of disappointed. Yet, it’s a very nice lipstick. The luxe packaging alone is enough to give me some lipstick joy. But it’s still not what I expected.
Still believing in the promise of Pat McGrath BlitzTrance lipstick, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try another shade when the brand had a 20% off and free delivery sale for Labor Day. I thought maybe Flesh 3 was a mistake, and I should have ordered Blood Rush described as “Classic Red with Garnet Sheen”. So I did.
The shade Blood Rush is a gorgeous neutral red lipstick that suits me very nicely. However, like Flesh 3, the slight sheen is a bit more apparent on the bullet than on my lips. Nevertheless, I enjoy wearing it.
In sum, my opinion is that if you’re buying Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick for the promise of a shiny metallic sheen like I was, you’ll be disappointed like I was. However, the luxe packaging, rich pigment and comfortable formula prevent it from being a total loss for me. But I am really glad I didn’t pay full price for them. I read through the reviews on the website, and the vast majority of the reviewers were delighted with their purchases. Nevertheless, quite a few reviewers felt the way I did – that the advertising photos overpromised on glitter and sheen. Yet like me, those reviewers still rated the lipsticks rather high based on the lovely formula and packaging.
Here are swatches of the two shades I bought: Flesh 3 on top and Blood Rush underneath. In this photo taken by the window to catch the natural light, Flesh 3 does look more like the rose neutral with copper glitter like the description! So why doesn’t it look like this on my lips? Beats me!
Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipsticks are 4g/.14oz, 5.7″ x 1.0″ x 8.9″ and the regular price is $40. They also come in sets of 3 for $95. They’re sold at Sephora and the Pat McGrath Labs website. The line consists of 3 separate groupings:
- New shades: 8 shades with rose, berry and red shades
- 8 Original shades
- 2 StarGlaze shades that sounds like they’re toppers/glosses.
Ingredients for Blood Rush: Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410).
What do you think? Are you tempted at all by the Pat McGrath BlitzTrance lipsticks?
I can see why you’d be a bit disappointed because the ads make them seem super glittery. However, both colors look really good on you.
Thank you, Paula! I’m glad to hear especially that you think Flesh 3, the brownish one, looks good on me. I wasn’t sure about it. I will try to start wearing it more! The red is lovely, but I wish it had a little glitter or shine since i own so many reds ♥️
I actually really love both colors on you, but it would definitely bug me if I expected the advertised finish and got something altogether different. It seems as though they should have evaluated the finished product and determined the finish afterward! At least the formula is nice!
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Hi Allison,
Love your review. I have never tried any of the Pat McGrath products due to the prices. I think the brownish shade is gorgeous on you! The red is pretty on you but I don’t like the shades of red on me.
Thank you, Sandy! These were definite splurges for me because they sounded different. Also Pat McGrath Labs is making quite a splash so I thought it would be good to review some of her products. The lipsticks really are a terrific formula and the packaging is divine, but heck, they sure don’t look like the photos from the ads. I really have to incorporate Flesh 3 into my lipstick rotation and get used to it. Thanks for the encouragement! I know red isn’t your shade, but I seem to be on a red roll lately. I got another classic red recently in addition to the Frida Kahlo lipstick, and that’s why I was hoping the Pat McGrath BlitzTrance Blood Rush really had some serious bling so it would stand out from my other reds. Oh well, I’m wearing it anyway because it’s very comfortable (and I have to amortize the cost 😉
These are both beautiful so it’s a shame they aren’t perfect. I would have been shocked by the first one especially. I just have one Pat McGrath lipstick and the texture is fabulous but it’s not a long lasting lipstick.
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I think I’m still happy I bought them, though I’m really glad I didn’t pay full price 😉
Your swatches look gorgeous. I would be disappointed that the finish doesn’t translate to the lips too. I think I’ll skip this $40 lipstick.
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I was salivating over the Pat McGrath BlitzTrance lipsticks. I wish I had read an honest review beforehand, though maybe others think they’re shiny enough, lol. Definitely save your $$
Flesh 3 is pretty and I like the semi matte formula!
Thank you!
The packaging for these lipsticks are CRAZY cute!!! Love the little lips 🤗
The packaging is so gorgeous! BlitzTrance is the right name for the packaging
The packaging is so glitzy-gorgeous that one would have high expectations that the lipsticks would be as glamorous. In spite of that, the shades are beautiful and you wear them well. I’m happy to hear that the formula is agreeable to your lips, it gives me hope that I could wear these, as well as our lips seem to be very similar in their picky-ness about lippies! lol
I think you’d like the formula! Definitely a good one for us dry-lipped gals
Flesh 3 is gorgeous on you, even if it isn’t exactly the colour you had in mind.
Thank you, Jen! I will push myself out of my comfort zone and wear that brownish lipstick!
It looks pretty but I’m sorry it let you down.
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