Pat McGrath Subversive Mini Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches

Subversive

Pat McGrath Subversive Eye Ecstasy Mini Eyeshadow Palette is a rich, more jewel-toned combination of shades. Two of the shades (Crimson Fire and Synthetica) in the palette are available as single eyeshadows, while the other three are from the Decadence palette (the one I rave about incessantly). I’m pleased to report that the eyeshadows are fantastic: pigmented, creamy, blendable, long-wearing, and all-around a dream to work with; they were fairly consistent with the original releases–I’d argue that Synthetica was a bit smoother (but slightly less sparkly).

The packaging is functional; it’s by no means luxe or weighty like the Mothership Palettes, but it seems like it would hold up for travel to me. The cover will give a little if you pushed firmly on the center, but it has a good click to stay shut. If you’re someone who would rather more of the cost go toward the actual product than the packaging, this is that–it contains $118.42 worth of eyeshadow! I would have liked to have seen something more in line with Natasha Denona’s mini palettes re: packaging — it doesn’t feel like a departure from the brand, though, and it’s more space-efficient!

Pat McGrath Lapis Luxury EYEdols Eyeshadow

Lapis Luxury

Lapis Luxury is a rich, medium-dark blue-teal with cool undertones and a bright, metallic finish. The eyeshadow had a creamy consistency that was smooth to the touch, dense but not too thick or too stiff that it became difficult to pick up product with a dry brush. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which wore nicely for 10 hours before creasing slightly. It performed consistently with past releases.

Pat McGrath Blue Blood EYEdols Eyeshadow

Blue Blood

Blue Blood is a deep plum with muted, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It was richly pigmented with a smooth, lightly creamy consistency that was dense without being too thick or too firmly pressed in the pan. The color applied well to bare skin, blended out easily along the edge, and stayed on well for nine and a half hours on me before fading a touch. It performed consistently with past releases.

Gold Standard

Gold Standard is a bright, medium gold with strong, warm undertones and a metallic finish. The color payoff was opaque in one layer, while the texture felt smooth to the touch, creamy without being too dense or too thick in the pan, and blended out beautifully over bare skin. The color lasted well for 10 hours on me before fading a touch. It performed consistently with past releases.

Synthetica

Synthetica is a medium purple with a subtle, cooler undertone paired with multi-colored flecks of sparkle. It seemed almost like it had a blackened base and lots of lighter, brighter lavender and purple sparkle that gave it a lighter color (overall). I felt like it was a bit less sparkly compared to the previous version, though this seemed to have a more finely-milled, smoother consistency (which would make sense). It had full pigmentation in a single pass, and the color applied well to bare skin without fallout and blended out with ease. It wore well for nine and a half hours on me before fading visibly.

Pat McGrath Crimson Fire EYEdols Eyeshadow

Crimson Fire

Crimson Fire is a rich, deep copper with warm, reddish undertones and a pearly sheen. The eyeshadow had fantastic color coverage in a single layer, which applied well to bare skin with a smooth, even lay down of product that diffused well along the edges. The texture was smooth to the touch, dense but not stiff, and easy to pick up with a brush. It stayed on nicely for nine and a half hours before I noticed slight fading. It performed consistently with past releases.