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Although Kacey Musgraves and Cardi B had incredibly different approaches to the Met Gala's "Camp" theme, their makeup had something top secret in common. In fact, it was a major product that was just revealed today: the brand-new Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation. That's right — iconic makeup artist and self-made billionaire beauty entrepreneur Pat McGrath is officially launching her very own foundation, as well as a primer and setting powder.
The trio of complexion products, which launches on July 26, stays true to McGrath's style and brand, providing a bonafide system that allows users to create that trademark glowing skin the makeup artist brings, season after season, to the runway. Back when Pat McGrath Labs first launched in 2015 with the now-famous Gold 001, she gave us a way to create gilded makeup looks with multiple products.
As Mcgrath told a group of beauty editors (myself included) that the foundation, primer, and setting powder are a return to this "lab" concept, and she's dubbed it Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection The System. In other words, it's "a foundation system that will enable you to do exactly what we do," McGrath explains. "Prime, prep, and perfect."
Although Pat McGrath Labs dropped Skin Fetish, a cream highlighter, in 2016, McGrath notes that it's only one part of the process of achieving the radiant complexion she always uses as a canvas for her innovate, colorful eye makeup. Sure, it could be used on its own to give skin a luminous sheen. However, three other steps come into play to really obtain runway-ready skin. Before today, they were a secret. With the new system, everyone is now able to be privy to "the real truth of what we do," McGrath says, referring to her assistant makeup artists in the room. The trio is truly the "keys to everything we've ever done," she adds.
Keep scrolling to read about every part of the Pat McGrath complexion equation that has been years in the making.
Inside a matte black bottle, you'll find a silky, silicone-free primer that you can easily dispense with its pump. The lightweight formula helps fill in pores and blur away any unevenness, so you can have the smoothest base possible for the foundation. The primer is also spiked with hydrating ingredients, like sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid, to help skin lock in moisture all day long. If you have oily skin, it will stave off sebum, too. McGrath even mentioned that you can use the primer on its own for some subtle filtering on a no-makeup day.
The star of the three-step system is obviously the Sublime Perfection Foundation in its vintage fragrance bottle-inspired packaging. The first question you probably have about it is, "how many shades does it come in?" The simple answer is 36. Although this is not as extensive as the selections other beauty brands offer, like Fenty or Make Up For Ever, McGrath has a reason for this number. "As a makeup artist, I know the real amount of shades that we need," she revealed. "These are the amounts of colors that I would have in my kit if I were going to cover the world."
The 36 hues are separated into five categories: Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Deep, and Deep. Each feature either seven or eight shades to choose from in neutral, warm, and cool undertones. The coverage falls at a solid medium level, but you can easily sheer it out with the primer or build it up with the setting powder.
The fluid-like, oil-free formula features several proprietary ingredients that are as fancy as the brushed glass bottle's beveled edges. The first is what Pat McGrath Labs calls the "Vita-Serum Complex," which helps skin generate its natural production of hyaluronic acid to keep it plump, nourished, and bright. The other is "diamond core powder technology." From what I understand, the pigments in the foundation have a diamond shape that allows light to reflect off them like, well, a diamond. They also give skin a more even, blurred finish.
A $55 foundation brush will be launching, too, but don't be afraid to blend in the foundation with your hands. You can catch McGrath backstage slathering foundation on models' skin like a moisturizer with her whole hand and pressing it in with her fingertips for more coverage. If hands are good enough for her, then they're good enough for you, too.
And for the final step? "She's a legend," McGrath jokes. "One swoosh takes you to that retouched moment." The Sublime Perfection Setting Powder comes in five shades that coordinate with the foundation subsections. Just like the foundation, the micro-fine powder is buildable: One layer creates a fine film, two layers amp up the coverage, and three will make sure you're photo-ready for whatever big event you may have.
No matter how much of the setting powder you need, you can sweep it on with a huge, fluffy brush that rings up at $58. Personally, I prefer a smaller brush, though.
Mark your calendars, folks: You'll be able to shop the full Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection The System on July 26 on patmcgrath.com and sephora.com.
The Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection The System is a 2020 Allure Best of Beauty winner. Check out the full list of Allure's 2020 Best of Beauty winners.
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