PAT MCGRATH LABS MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Eyeshadow Palette Review

Spoiler alert: Pat McGrath Labs MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Eyeshadow Palette is probably the best eyeshadow palette you could possibly own.

I might be a little late with this review, as the palette is almost sold out everywhere. However, it is so good that it is worth sharing, and since it is so good, you might want to get yourself one before it’s gone forever.

From the moment Pat Mcgrath Labs first launched their Mothership eyeshadow palettes, I wanted to try them. I was already a big fan of their lipsticks, and the quality of the eyeshadows did not disappoint: from foils to mattes, these are the most pigmented eyeshadows I’ve ever swatched in my life. My only concern was their price tag: $125 per 10-pan palette, which makes $12.5 per one shade. While the quality is indeed premium, I wasn’t sure if I can justify such an expensive palette when I already had a big collection of eyeshadows and what is more, tried to keep my makeup collection as minimal as possible. However, when Pat Macgrath launched 6-pan mini eyeshadow palettes for $55, I couldn’t resist and got myself one as a Christmas gift last year. And honestly, I couldn’t be any happier with this purchase.

MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette Shade Selection

While the packaging of MTHRSHP mini palettes is matching the paper cover package of Mothership palettes, you won’t find exactly the same shade match. However, there is definitely a correlation in shade selection in the matching packagings.

I picked MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette because of the overall warmth of coppers, charcoals, golds, and champagnes shades.

Shades, clockwise from top left

• Gilt Trip – champagne golden sheen
• Bronze Struck – warm bronze metallic
• Copperized – vivid copper glitz
• Illicit – charcoal brown sheen
• Throwing Shade – terra cotta velvet
• Gold Rush – glistening gold shine

The shade selection of MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette definitely resembles PAT MCGRATH LABS Mothership II Sublime Eyeshadow Palette, however, this mini MTHRSHP Palette is missing the accent shade, in particular, that gorgeous emerald green.

Nevertheless, I find MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette shade selection with all the shades of precious metals extremely wearable both for every day and night looks.

The palette works best with neutral to warm complexions. 

The Formula of Pat Mcgrath Labs Eyeshadows

Before I purchased MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette, I took my time at Sephora comparing the swatches of several iconic eyeshadow palettes with similar shade selection for several brands next to each other. While the creamy formula is on par with Charlotte Tilbury 4-pan eyeshadows, to my surprise, the formula of Pat Mcgrath eyeshadows is the most pigmented compared to any other powder eyeshadow that I swatched on that day.

To my delight, the formula of six iconic shades of MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition palette didn’t disappoint as well. Same as with Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette, each shade is saturated and packed with pigment, which means the lower price point doesn’t reflect on the formula at all.
All the finishes, including mattes, shimmers, and metallics yield full coverage with just one swipe. Even though these are powder eyeshadows, the formula is super creamy, very blendable and glides on easily with fingers or the brush. The brush picks up the pigment nicely with minimal fallouts. The pigment adheres to the skin really well, doesn’t crease and lasts all day.

As you can see from the swatches, the glitter in each shade is extremely fine, and the multi-dimensional reflect is indeed very beautiful.

Ingredients

Below, you can find the detailed list of ingredients that are used in the formula of each shade.

Gilt Trip: Talc, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491).

Copperized: Talc, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Methicone, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891). 

Throwing Shade: Talc, Boron Nitride, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742).

Illicit: Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ptfe, Zinc Stearate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891). 

Bronze Struck: Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Ptfe, Ethylene/acrylic Acid Copolymer, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163). 

Gold Rush: Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Ptfe, Ethylene/acrylic Acid Copolymer, Talc, Boron Nitride, Polyethylene, Poloxamer 338, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400).

Overall, the list of ingredients is okay. I cannot say that I’m a big fan of Ptfe as an ingredient in makeup, however, it’s a commonly used ingredient in eye shadow formulations. For more detail on this and other highlighted ingredients, please refer to my Quick Guide on Ingredients.

Packaging

Compared to Mothership II palette that comes in a beautiful black lacquer palette inside of a colorful paper packaging, MTHRSHP palettes feature the same print incorporated into the palette itself, which in my opinion, doesn’t make it less luxurious. I like the magnet closure of the palette, and the palette opens both ways, with a big mirror incorporated on a bigger flip side.

In addition to this, MTHRSHP is lighter in weight compared to its bigger sister, which makes a perfect travel companion. Also, it fits perfectly in my favorite Daily Edited makeup bag.

I especially like the packaging of MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Palette, as I find it especially chic and cool with a golden fly that coheres with the gold metallic eye look shown on the package.

How To Use

There are a lot of looks you can create with this palette, either by opting for just one shade or mixing and matching several shades together. As mentioned before, you can apply these eyeshadows with a brush or a finger.
If you aim for a more opaque look, applying the shade with your finger is the best way to achieve this effect. For more blendable, washed off look opt for a blending eyeshadow brush.

Pat McGrath herself offers three editorial eye looks*, described below step-by-step: 

Copperized: 

1. Apply a sheer wash of Gilt Trip across the lid from lash line to the brow bone. 
2. Press a dose of Bronze Struck into the lid with the fingertip, diffusing and refining the shape with a blending brush. 
3. Sweep Copperized through the crease, blending slightly to create a seamless sunset of fiery opulence. 
4. Illuminate the inner corner with Gilt Trip. To intensify, press pigment in with the fingertip. 

Throwing Shade:

1. Swipe Gilt Trip across the lid, softly blending the pigment upwards. Enhance color by pressing it on with the fingertip. 
2. Glide a luminous sweep of Copperized through the crease, wrapping the color around while blending into the lower lash line. 
3. Blend Throwing Shade within the crease. Concentrate and extend the pigment outwards to accentuate and elongate the eye shape. 
4. With a detail brush, smudge Illicit within the upper and lower lash line. Use a dampened brush for added precision. 

Bronze Struck:

1. Press a radiant layer Bronze Struck across the entire lid with the fingertip. Use a brush to softly blend the pigment within the crease. 
2. Glide Gilt Trip across the brow bone, then pat a burst of pigment into the inner corner with the fingertip for rapturous radiance. 
3. Draw Throwing Shade through the crease with a blending brush to create an alluring gradient effect. 
4. Intensify the lash line with a stroke of Illicit, using a dampened liner brush.

*www.patmcgrathlabs.com

Final Thoughts

MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition is so far my most loved eyeshadow palette, and it is definitely #sunkissedblush_approved. I drastically reduced my makeup collection this year and this is one of the products that indeed brings me joy. Among all other MTHRSHP palettes, I find MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition the most wearable, and with just one palette I can create different looks for day and night.

I love that all the shades in the palette match perfectly with each other which makes it easier to create different looks. Moreover, all of the shades in MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition works perfectly with my neutral skin tone, my natural hair color, and make my eye color pop. I like to layer several shades to add a nice smoky-ness to my look.

I can easily transform a day look to a perfect glam look with just a swipe of darker shades. With such intensity of the pigment the fallouts are minimal, and the texture is so silky and luxurious you want to wear them every day.

Compared to big palettes from Pat Mcgrath Labs, MTHRSHP palettes are more affordable and there is no compromise on the quality of the product.
I’m not sure if these were a limited edition palette, but if you wish to get one now, there are few stores that currently have them in stock: Selfridges, Sephora CA, Amazon and Bergdorf Goodman.