Mario Dedivanovic (aka @MakeupByMario) has been the go-to makeup artist of Salma Hayek, Kate Bosworth and of course, Kim Kardashian for YEARS, so it was only a matter of time before he created his own namesake brand.
Enter: Makeup By Mario – a collection that sets out to inspire playful experimentation via decadent textures and vibrant hues for all skin tones. Since first launching stateside, the brand has steadily built a track record for creating a slew of buzzy beauty buys guaranteed to go viral online thanks to the large community of Mario superfans who eagerly lie in wait for the next drop.
The newest buy to capture the attention of the masses? Makeup By Mario’s Surrealskin™ Awakening Concealer, $50.
Why is the SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer going viral?
Hot off the heels of his much-awaited foundation, the SurrealSkin™ Foundation, $72, comes Mario’s newest addition to his Surrealskin base category. The eagerly anticipated concealer – he has been teasing it on TikTok for months while working on his A-list clientele – is much like the foundation as far as pro-performance products go.
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It is hard-working, buildable and works in harmony with your skin’s natural texture as well as other products you’ll likely use in your routine. The most noteworthy function though (and the reason why this concealer has received a massive 23.4M views on TikTok)? It’s self-setting claims. Yes, you read that right.
Thanks to Lift & Lock™ technology, the caffeine-infused formula promises to depuff, tighten, smooth, and self-set – meaning we could potentially be waving goodbye to our beloved setting powders.
@makeupbymario The struggle of trying to keep this a secret for so long 😂 My new SurrealSkin™ Awakening Concealer is finally available TODAY on the @sephora app. Launching tomorrow 8/17 in store, online and at makeupbymario.com I’m so excited for you all to experience this formula 🤍 #SurrealSkinConcealer #MakeupByMario ♬ original sound – makeupbymario
Could the days of heavy-handedly setting our make-up with loose powders, AKA baking, really be over? Some TikTokers think so. For many of us, it has become a non-negotiable in our make-up routines, thanks to the technique’s long-lasting, airbrush, snatched effect.
But a flurry of TikTokers have taken to the app to put the concealer to the test and the results are enough to convince even the most skeptical of us.
@maj.beauty Replying to @Erin I’m confused 🥴 I do think dry undereyes will hate this. Overall, not a bad concealer, but not my favorite #makeupbymarioconcealer #surrealskinawakeningconcealer #surrealskinconcealer #makeupbymario #newconcealer #concealerweartest #concealertryon #makeupreviewgonewrong #reviewgonewrong #makeupfirstimpression ♬ original sound – MAJ 🖤
TikToker @maj.beauty begins her review of the viral concealer with an air of suspicion. ‘When a concealer claims to be crease-proof, I don’t like that because our under eyes crease without make-up and they will crease with make-up, concealer is not going to work magic. My under eyes do crease, and you can tell [this concealer] is already starting to crease.’ Despite the urge, Maj sets just one under eye with powder and leaves the other free of powder to see how the concealer’s formula holds on its own.
By the end of the video, Maj is a convert. Having conducted a six-hour wear test, she says, ‘I don’t know if you guys can tell, this is the side I did not set – it looks a lot better than the side I set. So, I do think the claims of it being a self-setting concealer are correct. It definitely wears really well.’
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Who is Mario Dedivanovic?
Not sure who Mario is? Let us give you some background. Mario Dedivanovic was born in New York and got his start in makeup while working as a fragrance consultant at Sephora. He worked as a make-up artist for many years before meeting Kim Kardashian in 2008, at which point he quickly became an Instagram sensation. He created Kim’s signature ‘soft glam’ look flawless skin, contoured cheekbones, 90’s lips and soft, smoky eyes.
Mario also founded ‘The Master Class’, a makeup artistry live event, which is conducted by Mario and available to attend through the exclusive purchase of tickets from The Master Class site.
Main image: TikTok @suhgal, @logannicolemua, and @vandanakan
The best Makeup By Mario makeup picks
Love Makeup By Mario? Here are some of our favourites from the collection…
Mario’s self-professed secret to a flawless, clean and long-wearing eye look, the Master Eye Prep & Set helps prime and lock looks in place with three different formulas to choose from.
Laced with a cocktail of glossy oils for easy application, this multidimensional lip lacquer glides on effortlessly to grant a creamy, pearlised sheen.
Extremely pigmented and long-lasting, Makeup By Mario’s Master Pigment Pro Pencil gives you the power to create a professional-level look with ease — whether you fancy clean, slick lines or a smudged and smoky finish.
The backbone of any MUA’s make-up collection, the Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette holds Mario’s go-to mattes, each uniquely shaded and tailored to flatter all skin tones, from light to deep.
Synonymous with intense high coverage and molten metal payoff, these next-level pans can be used dry or wet to transform them into pearlised liquid foils.
This article originally appeared on Grazia International