Pat McGrath is makeup royalty. In fact in 2020 she was named a dame by Queen Elizabeth II, the first makeup artist to be so honored, for her achievements in beauty and diversity. But McGrath reached legend status long before damehood, due to her work with fashion’s biggest design houses and celebrities, from Schiaparelli and Versace to Naomi Campbell and Doja Cat.
With all her experience and expertise, it’s only natural that McGrath would branch out into skin care. The brand introduced the Divine Skin: Rose 001 Essence last month, making it the first-ever skin-care launch for Pat McGrath Labs. It promises McGrath’s signature glow in a bottle, with the same luxurious and sensorial qualities you can expect from a Pat McGrath product.
The essence is a milky-oil hybrid with key rose botanic—a rose blend packed with phytonutrients—along with fortifying rose petal extract, soothing damascena rose water, sweet almond oil, squalene, and hydrating botanical ceramide. This packed formula promises plump and luminous skin, creating the perfect base for both skin care and makeup.
Formulated for all skin types, the essence is noncomedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts) and contains no silicone, parabens, sulfates, or gluten. What else? It’s cruelty-free and contains 97% natural ingredients.
So how does the Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 Essence stack up against three different skin types? We decided to put it to the test. Read on for our honest reviews.
Bella Cacciatore, associate beauty editor
I am generally not one for essences—I don’t really see the point, to be honest—but I will put on whatever Mother McGrath creates. My blind trust in her has never let me down, and this was no exception. The milky essence soaked right into my combo skin, leaving a light veil of moisture with no greasy residue. My skin instantly felt plumper and brighter, and it felt like my moisturizer soaked in better afterward. It also helped my makeup apply smoother, and kept my skin hydrated all day long. I was worried the oils would make me break out, but I’ve had no issues so far, and the light rose scent didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. And like every Pat product, it looks killer in my bathroom.
Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
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