Over the last few weeks, I have reached for the Pat McGrath foundation more and more frequently. Even though I have 89365948 foundations already, this has become The One—whether it’s for a casual, barely thrown-together face when I have just five minutes to spare or a buffed, polished, full-on makeup look for a night out.
Which is slightly worrying since a bottle costs a cool $68. This may not make it the most expensive foundation I own—that’s Clé de Peau The Foundation at $270—but it’s steep enough to have a refill sting the wallet.
There’s also a primer and powder, but let’s talk about the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish foundation first since it’s obviously the star of the show.
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation
Back to why I have been reaching for this foundation so often—it’s practically goof-proof and just so easy to use.
Which is not surprising since it has been almost 25 years in the making, in the hands of Mother (that’s Pat McGrath for the uninitiated).
Pat has worked on more runways, Met galas and other high profile events than I can count, while also developing makeup for brands like Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.
And her signature is gorgeous, radiant, natural-looking skin. So, yes, she definitely knows what goes into making the perfect foundation.
And the Skin Fetish Foundation manages up to filter down all the magic in stunning, brushed glass bottles that have been inspired by her collection of vintage colognes. Now, there’s a bottle sitting in front of me, which just feels surreal after envying all those celebs who got to partake of her golden touch for so many years!
I went in with the Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation Brush the first time around but have since been making like McGrath herself, who’s famous for using her fingers to blend everything seamlessly.
And yes, I would definitely recommend skipping any brushes or beauty blenders for this one—fingers work best!
This is partly due to the foundation’s silky, serum-like consistency. While this makes it a bit runny, it’s really easy to blend into a natural, satiny finish.
There is “diamond core powder technology” at work, which means the foundation pigments have a diamond shape, allowing light to reflect off them like… well… a diamond. This is what gives skin that radiant glow, along with a slight blurring effect for an even-toned finish.
The Pat McGrath foundation has a light to medium coverage that’s easy to build up in layers. I start with one pump for my whole face and then add a bit more on areas that need extra help, like acne scars on the chin and redness around the nose.
With one layer, you can see some of the discoloration, but with the second layer, it’s pretty much covered up. I don’t need a concealer with this foundation, but those with a lot of blemishes may want to look for something more high-coverage.
Other things I love about the Skin Fetish Foundation are that it feels lightweight, doesn’t stick to dry patches (I have combination skin), and doesn’t settle into pores. Neither does it slide off my oily T-zone, even under high humidity levels.
There is some rub-off for sure—especially one my phone screen, which is constantly pressed to my face—but overall wear-time has been a fabulous 10+ hours on a particularly crazy day.
What I wouldn’t comment upon are the skincare benefits—there’s a “Vita-Serum Complex,” which is supposed to help keep skin plump, nourished, and wrinkle-free. Honestly, I am not a fan of skincare in makeup, as we won’t wear it consistently enough for the ingredients to have much effect.
Speaking of skin though, the Pat McGrath foundation is oil- and paraben-free, making it perfect for those who are acne-prone (like me!). And unlike most luxury foundations, it’s devoid of fragrance!
Bottomline: I absolutely LOVE Pat McGrath’s Skin Fetish Foundation for the way it makes my skin look. It’s glow-y, radiant, and sans blemishes while still looking natural.
Which is really what we all want from our foundation: the most upgraded version of our own skin and not a heavy mask!
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Primer
The Pat McGrath primer, though, is a hard pass for me. It’s not bad. It contains a ton of hydrating hyaluronic acid, which plumps up the skin and fills in pores to create a smooth base.
It’s just that, unlike the foundation, I don’t find anything special in it—nothing that’s not available in plenty of other primers on the market, many at a far lower price point.
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Powder
The powder is also nothing special. Yes, it’s finely milled and does a good job of setting the foundation. However, I still prefer Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, one of the best in the market and is far more lightweight. It costs $39, compared to $55 for the Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Powder. So, again, this is a solid pass on this part of the trio for me.
Have any of you tried the Pat McGrath foundation? What do you think? Is it worth the spend?
keratin bakımı says
nice
Ariel G. says
Although I’m not in the market for a new foundation, I’m definitely going to try it based on this post! Thanks a bunch!