Pat McGrath Lunar Nude Sublime Skin Highlighter Review & Swatches

Pat McGrath Lunar Nude Sublime Skin Highlighter ($60.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a medium, golden peach with warmer undertones and fine micro-sparkle that flashed blue and violet at times (though not a true duochrome). The powder highlighter had a smooth, lightly metallic sheen that delivered more shine than overt shimmer/sparkle on skin, so it didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture.

The formula is a gel-powder hybrid, so it has a denser, almost firmer feel to it, but it was lightweight, blendable, and “melted” as it was buffed onto my skin. If you’re unfamiliar with this type of formula, you’ll want to use a denser brush or a heavier hand if you tend to be lighter-handed. The brand described it as having an “opalescent sheen” that could be “layer[ed] for custom intensity.”

The pigmentation was more opaque, but it was easy to blend out for a sheerer effect, and the level of luminosity was definitely buildable as it was more luminous in one layer and more metallic with a second layer. It wore well for nine hours before fading visibly on my skin.