First legendary make-up artist Pat McGrath made the most unreal, microfine, super-metallic gold pigment we've ever seen, teased it on Instagram, launched 1000 units, and watched it sell out almost instantly.
Then, she made glitter the hugest unlikely trend we've seen maybe ever, teased it on Bella Hadid at the Versace show, launched it in Sephora and watched it sell out almost instantly. Again.
Now, finally, NET-A-PORTER has opened a beauty wormhole to the USA, and us Brits can purchase all the Pat McGrath Labs make-up we want.
To a point. That being when it sells out (which might be quite quickly).
It's the first time the brand will be available to customers outside the US, and in total, there will be 10 products from four of the Lab's most sought-after and limited kits; the Skin Fetish 003 Kit, Metalmorphosis 005 Kit, Dark Star 006 Kit and Lust 004 Everything Kit.
Which means gold 001 pigment and glitter lips are back on the table.
I was lucky enough to have the full Pat McGrath glitter experience when I met up with her in Paris last year, but even I am not lucky enough to actually own it. So I'll see you in the e-queue.
Here's how my glitter lips went down (you can see why I want to repeat it)...
The surprising truth about glitter lips hit me when I went to a Pat McGrath party in Paris.
True story. It's a perk of the job, I was there for fashion week, she was there for fashion week, celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin was there also so they organised a joint beauty brunch and invited a lucky few round to their place.
You've seen the glitter lips right? They've been around for a little while, but then Pat McGrath Labs brought out a MUCH coveted Lust 004 kit (matte lipsticks, corresponding glitters and a gloss) and suddenly a true trend was born.
Reason being she designs make-up for a lot of the shows so she gets to set the trends, and her glitter lip product is seriously superior.
Why? I was about to find out.
'Boo boo (she says things like this, it's part of why she's so endearing as a person, let alone a make-up artist), you came! Let me put something on your face ok?'
'OK' (I'm not enough of an idiot to miss a Pat McGrath make-up moment).
There followed a solid hour of solid make-up application, overseen by 'Mother' as her team calls her, and when I was done she looked at me in the light. 'Not major enough, needs more glitter. Take off the gloss, that works as a wow finish for a photoshoot but I want her to have these lips for 12 hours.'
I want these lips for twelve years! I didn't know it before but I knew it once I looked in the mirror.
I left with a head full of highly esteemed compliments, 'Oh my god baby you look major. MAJOR', and a mouth full of the most diamond-like, sparkling expensive looking red lips.
Here's what I discovered next:
It makes men fancy me
The first one passed me in the street; I was frowning at my Google maps. He gasped and reversed 'Huh! La Bouche!' (I'm in Paris, remember). I would have thought this would be man-repellant, but I thought wrong.
Male shop assistants fell over themselves to help me, 'Your lips are so sparkly. I really like your lips.' Waiters were nice to me, men – often with women – turned and gave me secret smiles. Glitter lips are powerful, ladies.
It traverses the language barrier
I felt a tap on the shoulder. An-out-of-breath woman had chased me down the street with her daughter. She gestured to my mouth, did a thumbs up and her daughter offered me her phone to type in the name and stockist details (I assumed). 'Sephora in America' I typed. I don't know how to say, 'Good luck with that', in French.
It lasts forever
God knows how, there is no adhesive element, just a lovely soft matte base and the super-fine glitter patted over the top. It feels very comfortable and by some sorcery it doesn't move. Not for seven or so hours, some snacking and a full-on French meal with a little red wine.
It's like glitter nail polish; stays forever.
I want it and I don't have it
Are you reading this Pat? Mother? Boo boo? Help a Beauty Director out…
