Over the years I have loved testing out a variety of products from up and coming, new and buzzy beauty brands such as Ilia Beauty and Jones Road Beauty. For the last two years I have been purchasing and testing out products from the newer line Makeup by Mario and today I am sharing my take on the products I’ve tried a part of the line and which ones I think are worth buying.

Created by master makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, the Makeup by Mario line is full of pro formulas and tools in universal shades and easy-to-use textures. After years of being a celebrity makeup artist, Mario launched his brand Makeup by Mario in 2020 and has seen a lot of success with it.

Makeup By Mario Review

I remember reading an article before the brand launched about how Mario got his start in makeup. The youngest of four, Mario was born?and raised in the Bronx by his parents who were Albanian immigrants from?Montenegro. After graduating high school, Mario got a job at Sephora as a fragrance consultant in the Flatiron District. He began doing makeup for people he met working at Sephora and eventually began connecting with celebrities and would go on to become a go-to makeup artist for Kim Kardashian following his success of The Masterclass series he launched. 

After 20 years as a makeup artist was when Mario finally debuted his namesake line. 

I really like how intentional Mario has seemed to be with the launch of his brand. He seems to really focus on launching products that allow for the at-home novice to try and master certain techniques he uses on his celebrity clientele.  He has launched nearly as many tools like makeup brushes as he has color cosmetics which showcases his focus on the importance of your toolkit when doing makeup.

Best Makeup by Mario Products

Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum

I love this subtle lip plumper. So much so it was one of my favorite beauty discoveries in 2022. The formula is great – hydrating, melting and glossy. I love the dewy finish on this and how lips look more full after application.  I own it in several shades in the High Shine finish but they also offer shades in a Shimmer finish that I haven’t tried.

Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer

This is one of the more unique complexion products I’ve ever tried and one that takes some figuring out how to use. I finally mastered using it after seeing Mario demo it on his social media saying he uses it over setting powder. This Skin Enhancer was designed to be a complexion balm of sorts – one that warms and nourishes with sheer coverage to even out the appearance of skin overall.

Use it sparingly and in intentional places otherwise it can read a little muddy on the skin if you apply too much I have found.

I use shade Light.

Makeup by Mario Master Crystal Reflector

This product was recommended to me by a Sephora sales associated who said it was good for applying lightly in the corner of your eyes to look more awake which is one of my favorite beauty tricks. It’s very light reflective but I do prefer to use this It Cosmetics cream eyeshadow in Pearl instead for the inner corner of my eyes. It’s easier to control the application, great for travel and wears well.

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

My biggest complaint about this product is I haven’t found it to be very long wearing. I wish the staying power on this blush was better. 

It is available in a variety of shades. I have the shade Barely Blushing.

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick

Ideal for all skin types including oily skin, this easy-to-use cream blush is said to be Mario’s favorite way to add a healthy flush of color to the cheeks. The emollient-infused formula feels comfortable all day and offers a fresh, dewy finish with no oily sensation.

I liked the formula when I tested it but not the Earthy Pink shade I bought so I want to try a different shade.

Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Powder Blush

This is my favorite of Makeup by Mario’s blush products. A perfectly soft yet impactful pop of color for your cheeks. It layers really well with great cream blushes in particular, too.

There are only five shades available in both shimmer and matte finishes so I hope the release more colors soon. I have shade Desert Rose.

Makeup by Mario Soft Glow Highlighter

The Makeup by Mario highlighter is a great weightless highlighter with good wattage. It’s ultra-silky and really melts onto the skin while blending out beautifully. I love its light-reflecting properties and it kind of reminds me of the Becca highlighters so many of us knew and loved back in the day.

Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil

I feel like Mario was part of the reason lip pencils came back in popularity as he does an amazing job making his makeup artist clientele have fuller pouts. 

The Makeup by Mario lip liner is long-wearing and matte and also provides full coverage. It is dual-ended to define and shape and be able to blur out the coverage. 

There are loads of shades available. 

Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Color

I don’t love the Soft Blush shade I bought of this but overall I think it is a fine lip color. It’s just not one I love and I much prefer a variety of other formulas from other brands.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation

A newer launch for the brand, Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin foundation is a great foundation with medium coverage and a luminous finish. You can build it up for more full coverage or sheer it out and I found it to wear well. It doesn’t feel too heavy on skin either. I particularly like it when I cocktail it with my forever favorite Erborian BB Cream. They work really harmoniously. 

The shade range is pretty good on this foundation so finding a shade match should be feasible.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin is free of parabens, non-comedogenic and the brand touts its MoistureGrip™ technology aimed at providing hydration to the skin. Unlike other foundations I’ve tried, it doesn’t flake at all and really blends out beautifully.

As far as applying the product, the brand says you can apply it with a brush for even coverage or with hands for more natural coverage. I like to use my Beauty Blender when I combo it with another product or I apply it with my favorite Artis brush.

This foundation is also an Allure Best of Beauty award winner. 

I wear shade 2N.

Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil

I wanted to love the Makeup by Mario eyeliner but instead I just keep going back to my beloved Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner. I found this too hard to control the amount of product laid down and did experience some transfer to my eyelids during the day which is a huge pet peeve for me.

Is Makeup By Mario Good?

Overall I was super pleasantly surprised by how much I liked several of the products. I think this brand really excels with complexion products and I hope they’ll launch a cool liquid highlighter and a loose setting powder next. I’d also love to see them launch a gel pot eyeliner. 

If I had to choose, I still do prefer the Westman Atelier line overall. It remains my number one most used makeup brand.

Where To Buy Makeup By Mario

You can buy Makeup by Mario at Sephora and on his website. The products range in price from $24 to $50 on average. 

Shop Makeup by Mario

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Next on my list to try from the brand is the Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick which is said to be his famous Makeup by Mario contour product, the Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector that I’ve seen all over TikTok and then his newer Makeup by Mario Concealer.

I’ve also heard good things about the Makeup by Mario eyeshadow palettes but I’m not a big shadow palette user personally so I haven’t invested in them. 

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