Beauty Care: Pat McGrath Nirvana in Bloom Cheek Trio Review & Swatches

Nirvana in Bloom

Pat McGrath Nirvana in Bloom Divine Blush, Bronze, and Glow Trio ($52.00 for 0.36 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that leaned a bit more medium (compared to the other two released) in depth. The quality was decent across the board, though I found the bronzer and blush to be on the powdery side and not my favorite texture applied to bare skin (relative to other offerings).

Top Dupes
Ingredients

Top Dupes

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Becca Aloha Bronze (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Haus Labs Medium Level 5 (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
Cover FX Suntan Bronze (Left) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $70.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $110.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Isle Bet (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
L'Oreal Medium (02) (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop All the Feels (PiP, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Totally Taupeless (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
NARS Unleashed (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).

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Ingredients

Nirvana in Bloom

LELimited Edition. $52.00.

B+

8.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

89%

Total

Bronze Nirvana

Bronze Nirvana is a medium, coppery-orange with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish.

Medium, buildable pigmentation (as marketed)
Smooth, finely-milled, somewhat powdery and thinner than the permanent version
Applied evenly to bare skin, blended out well
Long-wearing (8 hours before fading)

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Becca Aloha Bronze (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
Haus Labs Medium Level 5 (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
L'Oreal Medium (02) (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Cover FX Suntan Bronze (Left) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $70.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Gold Dust (P, $110.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Isle Bet (P, $8.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop All the Feels (PiP, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Totally Taupeless (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
NARS Unleashed (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$39.00/0.33 oz. - $118.18 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be "buildable" with "demi-matte and pearl finishes" that "blurs" and "perfects" when applied. Only one shade had any real pearl/shimmer (Desert Glow), while the others were more of a soft or more "natural" matte that didn't look flat on the skin.

The pigmentation was medium to semi-opaque and buildable, while the texture was lightweight, slightly thin, but velvety and smooth, which made it easy to apply more or less to achieve the desired coverage level in practice. The powders blended out readily on bare skin as well as on top of foundations, and they did sit smoothly/evenly without emphasizing skin texture.

The formula lasted eight and a half to nine hours on me with more mid-tone and deeper shades lasting longer than the lightest ones.

Browse all of our Pat McGrath Divine Bronzer swatches.

Ingredients

Bronze Nirvana

PPermanent. $39.00.

A-

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

90%

Total

Sunset Bloom

Sunset Bloom is a light-medium, slightly pink-leaning coral with moderate, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish.

Medium, buildable pigmentation (as marketed)
Smooth, finely-milled, somewhat powdery
Applied evenly to bare skin, blended out well
Long-wearing (8 hours before fading)

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

Top Dupes
Formula Overview

Top Dupes

View All Dupes

These are the dupes the editor has pulled but not yet rated and officially entered.

Too Faced Peach Cobbler (LE, ).
MAC Cheer Up (LE, $30.00).
Charlotte Tilbury Summer (LE, ).
Make Up For Ever B302 (P, $23.00).
LORAC Dance 'Til Dawn Blush #2 (LE, ).
ColourPop Soul Mate (LE, $12.00).
Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Blush (LE, $60.00).
Hourglass Diffused Heat (P, $40.00).
Chanel Rose Petillant (330) (P, $45.00).
Milani Berry Rays #3 (PiP, ).

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.

Sunset Bloom

LELimited Edition. $38.00.

A-

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

90%

Total

Lotus Nectar

Lotus Nectar is a vivid, medium pink with moderate, warm undertones paired with lighter, peachy gold shimmer throughout that gave it a shiny, metallic sheen on skin.