Beauty Care: Pat McGrath Paradise Venus Divine Blush Review & Swatches

Paradise Venus

Pat McGrath Paradise Venus Divine Blush Pat McGrath Paradise Venus Divine Blush ($38.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddish-copper with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had more of a “natural matte” finish when applied and blended out, so it did not appear dry or flat but didn’t have an overt sheen or visible shimmer on the skin.

The texture was soft, slightly powdery in the pan, but it was smooth, velvety, and substantial enough to sit beautifully on bare skin and blend out with little effort. It had semi-opaque color payoff in a single layer, which could be built up or sheered out, but you’ll want to use a lighter hand or less-dense brush to get sheer coverage if desired (it was marketed as going from sheer to more pigmented, but it was really fairly pigmented to start with!). The color showed signs of fading after nine hours of wear on me.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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MAC Taraji Glow (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Kaja Extra Pepper (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Ravish (P, $60.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Beyond (P, $7.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
Chanel Evening Beige (340) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Bite Beauty Almond (P, $24.00) is darker (85% similar).
MAC Burnt Pepper (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
ColourPop Bardot (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, warmer (80% similar).
NARS Hot Tin Roof (LE, $30.00) is warmer (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.34 oz. - $111.76 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be "featherlight, long-wearing" that "build effortlessly from sheer to subversive." The blushes are available in two finishes--demi-matte and satin pearl--and range from more muted to more vivid in color. The biggest "downfall" of the formula was that it was rather pigmented than buildable, so one could use a lighter hand to get more buildable coverage, but I found I had to use a light to moderate hand to ensure I didn't over-apply each shade.

The consistency was smooth, silky, and lightly creamy to the touch; it was a touch powdery in the pan but had more slip than most powder blushes on the market, but it was definitely a powder-based formula. The product applied well to bare skin as well as over foundation, as it diffused well along the edges without picking up base products.

The satin pearl finish was luminous but not overtly shimmery, so it did not emphasize my skin's natural texture. They wore around nine hours on me before fading visibly.

Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Alumina, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenylpropanol, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850).

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.