Makeup by Mario Review: Do These Luxe Cosmetics Live Up to the Hype?

Introducing Makeup by Mario

Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic skyrocketed to fame as Kim Kardashian‘s personal makeup maestro, shaping her signature contoured glam looks. After over a decade as one of the most in-demand celebrity makeup artists, Dedivanovic launched his namesake cosmetics line Makeup by Mario in October 2020.

Backed by over $20 million in funding, Makeup by Mario made an impressive debut with a 21-piece collection of "multitasking essentials" for eyes, lips, face and body. Formulated to be universally flattering across skin tones, the brand has rapidly expanded its portfolio over the past year.

As of 2022, Makeup by Mario now offers over 100 products spanning eyeshadow palettes, lip formulas, complexion enhancers and makeup tools. With luxury quality and sleek, compact packaging, the brand promises pro-worthy pigment payoff inspired by Dedivanovic‘s artistry.

But do these luxe cosmetics truly deliver? In this in-depth Makeup by Mario review, we‘ll analyze the brand‘s hero offerings to see if they live up to the hype around the celebrity founder‘s golden touch.

The Ethos Behind Makeup by Mario

"Makeup gives us the power to transform ourselves into the fantasy of our wildest imaginations," declares Makeup by Mario on its website. Beyond leveraging Dedivanovic‘s expertise crafted from working with A-list clientele, the brand also aims to be:

Inclusive: With a vast range of complexion products and universal shades, Makeup by Mario strives to flatter every skin tone.

Empowering: The brand preaches self-love and encourages individual self-expression through makeup artistry.

Clean: All products are paraben-free and cruelty-free. Many items are also vegan and gluten-free.

This ethos carries through to the brand‘s social media, which spotlights diverse models and customer-submitted makeup looks instead of passive product shots.

By fusing Dedivanovic‘s universally-flattering techniques with clean formulas and messages of inclusivity, Makeup by Mario aims to make pro-caliber cosmetics accessible to all.

Overview of Bestselling Makeup by Mario Products

As a "prestige" brand with price points comparable to Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury, Makeup by Mario is certainly splurge-worthy. But are the products worth shelling out for?

Here‘s a detailed look at some of Makeup by Mario‘s bestselling items across complexion, eyes and lips to help you determine if they warrant the investment:

Master Eye Prep & Set

Part of Makeup by Mario‘s lineup of dual-ended products, the Master Eye Prep & Set features a skin-smoothing eye primer on one end and a colorless setting powder on the other.

The creamy, lightweight primer helps neutralize discoloration while letting eyeshadows pop. It also includes skin-benefiting ingredients like antioxidant-rich seaberry fruit extract and moisturizing squalane. For keeping eye makeup locked in place, the translucent setting powder side mattifies without looking flat or cakey.

With $22 for 0.14 oz of product, the Prep & Set offers decent value considering many prestige eye primers retail for $20-25 on their own. If you struggle with eyeshadow longevity, it‘s worth trying for serious staying power.

Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette

This 12-pan palette features muted, wearable mattes ranging from buttery ivories to deep, smoky blacks. With velvety textures that blend beautifully, it‘s easy to create soft, everyday eye looks or amp up the drama for evening. The $48 price tag is typical for an all-matte palette of this size and quality.

While the Master Mattes palette leans warm, Makeup by Mario also offers a Master Mattes 2 palette with 12 cooler-toned mattes. For maximum versatility between both day and night looks, the Master Mattes + Metallics Combination palette combines six mattes and six shimmers.

Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette

Bringing intense shimmer and reflect to your lids, the Master Metallics palette delivers brilliant foiled finishes. Ranging from champagne to bronze to gleaming teal, the metallic and duo-chrome shades offer show-stopping shine. At $48 for 0.28 oz (with a typical palette averaging 0.2 oz), it‘s reasonably priced for the concentrated color payoff.

Between the Master Matte, Master Metallics and combination versions, Makeup by Mario offers stellar eyeshadow formulations to suit every finish preference. For flawless application, use the dual-ended eyeshadow brush included with each palette.

Soft Pop Blush Stick

Imparting a lit-from-within glow, Makeup by Mario‘s Soft Pop Blush Sticks come in eight universally-flattering hues. The creamy, blendable formula melts into skin for a natural flushed effect that‘s buildable from soft to striking. And at 0.21 oz for $28 each, the chubby sticks offer better value than most comparable cream cheek products.

To play up the monochromatic look that Dedivanovic favors, try applying the Soft Pop blush onto eyes and lips too. The formula is emollient enough to work across the face.

Master Mattes Lip Palette

Featuring 16 richly-pigmented mattes, this pro lip palette lets you create endless lip looks from nude to vibrant. With four "primary" shades (black, white, yellow and blue) to mix and customize colors, it‘s ideal for makeup artists and beauty lovers seeking unlimited options. Despite the $60 price tag, it breaks down to $3-4 per highly pigmented matte shade.

For amping up shine, Makeup by Mario also offers the Master Metallics Lip Palette with 12 high-impact metallics and four primaries. Either pro palette allows you to invent custom lip colors to suit any look.

Performance & Quality: Does Makeup by Mario Deliver?

When prestige prices are involved, performance and quality have to align. Based on widespread reviewer impressions and my own testing of Makeup by Mario products, the brand generally over-delivers across metrics like:

– Pigmentation: Makeup by Mario eyeshadows, lip colors and complexion products impress with rich, vivid color payoff in a single swipe

– Blendability: Eyeshadows seamlessly layer and meld together without muddiness

– Longevity: Proper prep and setting ensures eye and lip colors withstand hours of wear without fading or transferring

– Texture: Buttery powders, lush creams and emollient sticks glide over skin without catching or emphasizing dryness

The innovative formulas leverage quality ingredients better than drugstore brands. And while the products may not seem remarkably different upon initial application, the performance holds up better throughout wear.

For instance, the Master Mattes eyeshadows maintain the same velvety texture and opacity at the end of a 12-hour day as they do in the morning. Drugstore mattes often fade, crease or go patchy over time.

So from my testing, yes – Makeup by Mario cosmetics deliver pro-level quality aligned with the luxury pricing.

How Makeup by Mario Compares to Popular Prestige Brands

As a celebrity-backed cosmetics line with luxe aspirations, how does Makeup by Mario stack up to competitors like Fenty Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury and Pat McGrath Labs? Let‘s compare across some key metrics:

Price: Across complexion, eye and lip products, Makeup by Mario‘s pricing closely aligns with Fenty Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury. The brand edges out slightly pricier than Pat McGrath‘s core lineup, but doesn‘t reach the $125 Pat McGrath mothership mega-palettes.

Shades: While no brand can claim true universality, Makeup by Mario offers more extensive shade ranges than Tilbury and PMG. The line isn‘t quite as expansive as Fenty‘s 50-shade foundation range, but still impressive.

Formulas: All four brands formulate with luxe ingredients for high performance. Mario‘s textures tend to be more emollient and skin-smoothing than Fenty‘s drier powders. Compared to the other three brands though, makeup by Mario has the smallest product range currently.

Packaging: Sleek, compact and visually appealing, Makeup by Mario‘s black-and-rose-gold color scheme looks just as lovely on the vanity as the products look on the skin. Fenty dials up the glamor with transparent vinyl bags and bottles, while Pat McGrath excels at ornately decadent special packaging.

Overall Value: Factoring in quality, performance, shade inclusivity and cost per ounce, Makeup by Mario delivers comparable value to Fenty and Charlotte Tilbury while still carrying luxury cache. Pat McGrath‘s $125 mothership palettes skew lower in value, but the brand offsets some of that pricing with frequent sales.

So among the top four celebrity beauty brands on the market, Makeup by Mario holds its own with well-formulated pro-inspired cosmetics. While the performance justifies the cost, prices still limit the products‘ accessibility compared to mass brands.

What Do Makeup by Mario Reviews Say?

Dedivanovic‘s reputation precedes his cosmetics range, accruing strong early buzz for the brand. But what do real customer reviews reveal about using the products in practice compared to the idealized marketing?

On Makeup by Mario‘s website, nearly all items average between 4.5-5 stars from buyers. However, critical reviews note less impressive aspects like:

• Eyeshadow palettes smaller than expected for the prices

• Soft Pop blushes emphasizing dry skin or pores unflatteringly

• Metal highway eye brush shedding during first few uses

• Angled brow brush applicator too large for detail work

• Eyeshadow primer tugging on delicate eye skin

Beyond minor gripes about a few misses among mostly hits, common feedback among both 4 and 5-star reviewers highlights exceptional quality especially among eye and lip offerings.

On Sephora, Makeup by Mario also averages above 4 stars across all products. But here, buyers seem less inclined to rate items a perfect 5 given the luxury price tags. Critical reviews reiterate similar complaints to the brand‘s site around smallish palettes, shedding brushes and finicky primers.

Interestingly, YouTube reviews skew overwhelmingly positive even from influencers not affiliated with the brand. Most ooh and ahh over the sublime textures that facilitate airbrushed application. They reinforce that proper prep – like eye priming and lip exfoliation – makes the products perform even better.

So outside of a few duds, Makeup by Mario earns largely excellent feedback for delivering luxurious, pro-grade formulas that enhance beauty skills. But the price still gives more budget-minded buyers pause, while pro artists recognize the value.

Is Makeup by Mario Worth It & Who Should Buy?

Based on this in-depth review across bestselling items, is Makeup by Mario worth the splurge?

Overall, yes – discerning beauty lovers will appreciate pro-standard formulas, luxe sensorial experience and inclusive range of flattering shades. Products like the Master Mattes eyeshadow palette and Soft Pop blush justify the pricing with their exquisite quality and wearable warmth.

However, more casual makeup fans may not perceive the nuanced performance as markedly different from cheaper drugstore options. And buyers on a budget are likelier to feel disappointed dropping almost $50 on an eyeshadow quad. Value lies in the eye of the beholder.

Ultimately, Makeup by Mario makes the most sense for:

• Kim K fans craving her signature contoured glow
• Makeup artists wanting pro-preferred formulas to use on clients
• Meticulous makeup enthusiasts who recognize and demand quality
• Collectors of celebrity brand collaborations and launches
• Holiday shoppers wanting to gift luxe beauty items

While not the most affordable, Makeup by Mario delivers prestige-standard formulas for those who believe superb makeup is worth investing in.

Tips for Shopping Makeup by Mario on a Budget

For makeup lovers intrigued but daunted by Makeup by Mario‘s prices, here are smart ways to shop the line affordably:

1. Buy directly from the brand during sales. Makeup by Mario hosts a handful of 20-25% off sales yearly around holidays and new collection launches. Sign up for emails to be notified of deals.

2. Take advantage of Sephora discounts. During biannual sales like the Spring Bonus Event and Holiday Savings, get 20% off Makeup by Mario products. Or redeem reward points for big discounts.

3. Start small with sets and minis. Gift sets with mini bestsellers are often marked down compared to full sizes. Or try a customizable eye or lip Lab Customs kit to sample shades before committing.

4. Split bigger palettes with friends. The Master Mattes, Metallics and blush palettes feature removable pans ideal for depotting and sharing with pals. Just personalize the shades you get.

5. Only buy what flatters you. Not every product will work for every skintone. Be selective by only purchasing items with hues you‘ll get frequent use from.

While still an investment buy, smart Makeup by Mario shoppers can build their collections gradually when key products they‘ll use are discounted. Curating just your perfect shades ultimately saves money and wastage.

Does Makeup by Mario Live Up to the Hype?

For those enamored by Mario Dedivanovic‘s work elevating Kim K to beauty icon status, Makeup by Mario encapsulates much of the subtle-yet-striking aesthetic he perfected. With impressive formulas living up to the founder’s renown, the products justify – but rarely exceed – their admittedly privilege-y pricing.

While the brand delivers fashion-forward makeup with professional appeal, the prohibitive costs do undermine the messaging around empowering self-expression for all. Budget buyers may rightfully argue that comparably excellent cosmetics are available for much lower investment from other lines.

Yet devoted beauty aficionados recognize and value the attention to texture, detail and technical performance that prestige brands provide over mass options. And by those metrics that discernible connoisseurs care about, yes – Makeup by Mario thrives and summons the transformative fantasy embodied by its revered namesake.