My Makeup by Mario Foundation SurrealSkin First Impression

Why did the new Makeup by Mario foundation go viral?

The new SurrealSkin Makeup by Mario Foundation went viral on its release date. So what does it have going for it? This makeup foundation is supposed to be your skin but better with a natural luminous finish. Mario himself says his goal with this product is, instead of just being a layer of foundation, “awakening the true, infinite beauty that lies within.” I love a natural, skin like foundation that has a healthy glow, so I’m definitely intrigued with these claims. Let’s find out if this new foundation from Makeup by Mario is any good.

Promises vs. Performance: The shade range could be better.

SurrealSkin™ is the first ever Makeup by Mario foundation. It claims breathable, buildable coverage that illuminates skin, revealing its “natural luminosity.” The foundation has pearlescent pigments and perfecting powders that work with skin’s natural texture to smooth and enhance, aiding in a long wear. In addition, SurrealSkin™ features MoistureGrip™ Technology, which hydrates skin for 12 hours with ingredients like grapeseed oil and squalane. The 30 flexible shades promise to stay color true as well.

Right out of the box, you can see the pearlescent look Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin has to it. Initially, I was worried that it was going to be a very luminescent, dewy finish on my skin. But, I was pleasantly surprised that it ended up being a healthy natural skin. Before we get into the application and wear of this Makeup by Mario foundation, I want to talk about the shade range. I picked up the shades 4N and 2C, hoping one would be the perfect match. However, the colors don’t translate online to in person very well. 4N was too warm and 2C was too light. Honestly, I’m pretty bummed about needing to buy 2 shades of a $42 foundation to make it work, especially when so many other brands go the extra mile in creating extensive shade ranges.

How It Applies & Wears

Makeup by Mario launched a new foundation brush alongside of SurrealSkin, which is what I used the first time I played with this foundation. It is double-ended like the rest of his face brushes with a smaller and larger side. Like I said, I do have to mix 2 shades to get my perfect match, but I am happy they don’t oxidize much when applied. The brush, as expected, blended the foundation flawlessly – if you don’t let it sit and dry down! This foundation dries fast, so it’s best to work one area of the face at time for the easiest blending. Blending immediately also prevents it from clinging to any dry patches and texture. You’ll want to gradually build the coverage up instead of applying too much too fast.

I’m intrigued by how SurrealSkin feels on the skin too. The powders in it help it set pretty quickly without feeling tacky or wet, which I was surprised by with this type of foundation. On my skin, I get a solid 8 hours of wear before the foundation begins to start breaking apart and wearing off. At this point, with no touch-ups, my forehead became pretty oily and I could see any texture/bumps/lines emphasized. I think for the best wear, setting with a powder and setting spray will really help achieve better, longer wearing results.

Quick Rating Rundown Chart

This Product

(4)

:Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin™

Price: $42.00

1.0 oz

Value

(4.4)

Application

(4.3)

Coverage (med)

(4.1)

Texture (lum)

(4.4)

Longevity

(3.3)

Shade Range

(3.7)

Extra Benefits

(4.1)

Similar Product

(4.4)

:NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

Price: $49.00

1.0 oz

Value

(4)

Application

(4.8)

Coverage (med)

(4.7)

Finish (natural)

(4.6)

Longevity

(4.5)

Shade Range

(4)

Extra Benefits

(4.2)

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)

:Best Foundations Of All Time

Price: $20 – $96

various

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Coverage

(4.5+)

Finish

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Shade Range

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

How It Compares: Is this the best dewy foundation?

I can definitely see why this new Makeup by Mario Foundation went viral. It gives skin a beautiful heathy look while providing a light to medium coverage with a virtually undetectable feel. I wish the shade range was better because it’s just not practical to buy 2 shades of a $42 foundation when there’s other (better!) formulas on the market. Speaking of, I’ve got a few recommendations for you.

Let’s start with NARS Light Reflecting Foundation, another recent launch in the glowy/luminous/dewy foundation category. I personally like this foundation a lot more than SurrealSkin, and there’s a few reasons why. For starters, the shade range is much better! There’s more shades to choose from with better undertones, too. Secondly, it applies easier. Light Reflecting Foundation doesn’t dry down as fast making it easier to blend. It doesn’t exaggerate texture/dryness/bumps as much either. Plus, this foundation is suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

And, guys, I’ve found a drugstore dupe! Revlon Illuminance Skin-Caring Foundation is so similar to the new Makeup by Mario foundation, but is only $17.99. I think this one applies better and wears better than SurrealSkin. It features a luminous (think healthy skin) glow and is contains 5% squalane and hyaluronic to keep skin hydrated all day. On my normal to combination skin, I easily got 8 hours of wear without it breaking apart and without excess oiliness. That’s a win for me!

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