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About Makeup by Mario
Makeup by Mario is a cosmetics brand that sells a full range of products for lips, eyes, face, and brows. That’s pretty much par for the course for any brand in the always overcrowded beauty marketplace, but the biggest selling point of this company is its founder, celebrity makeup maestro Mario Dedivanovic.
The founder’s name undoubtedly helped this brand attract a lot of media attention: this Makeup by Mario review found coverage of the line’s recent launch in such major outlets as People, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Byrdie, Refinery29, and more. As the brand shares its name with Dedivanovic’s famous consulting business, it’s no surprise that its Instagram has 9M followers.
Celebrity associations are always a big selling point for any beauty or fashion brand, and Makeup by Mario certainly has some big ones—but do these products live up to their maker’s sterling reputation? This Makeup by Mario review will take an in-depth look at the brand, its bestselling items, customer reviews, promotions, and more in order to give you the full story.
Overview of Makeup by Mario
Makeup by Mario was launched by Mario Dedivanovic in October 2020, after he had spent over a decade growing his global profile as one of the most sought-after makeup artists and consultants in the business.
Since 2006, Mario has been a major player in both Anastasia Beverly Hills and KKW Beauty, and has worked with celebs like Kim Kardashian, Kate Bosworth, and Gabrielle Union, among others. Headquartered in NYC, his self-funded Makeup by Mario beauty line is intended as an embodiment of his artistry, passion, professionalism, and pure craftsmanship.
Makeup by Mario products come in universal shades to suit every skin tone, and are made with high-quality ingredients that allow users to recreate Mario’s signature looks. All products are cruelty-free and paraben-free, come in innovative, compact packaging, and some are made with sustainable materials.
So there’s some background for you—now it’s time for this Makeup by Mario review to dig into the details. We’ll start off with a list of some of the top-line pros and cons of this brand before taking a closer look at its products.
Pros
- Expertise-backed, high-quality makeup
- Universal shade ranges (we love an inclusive brand!)
- All products are cruelty-free and paraben-free, and select items are vegan and/or gluten-free
- Innovative, iPhone-size packaging that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional
- Prices are pretty much what you would expect from a higher-end makeup brand whose founder has a cult following
- 15% off first order when you subscribe to mailing list
- Lots of perks for members
- Free shipping for all US orders
Cons
- “Pretty much what you’d expect from a higher-end makeup brand whose founder has a cult following” means “pricey”—these products are quite expensive
- Limited international shipping
Launching with 21 products for eyes and skin, the brand has rapidly expanded its product line in just under a year. In our Makeup by Mario review below, we’ll take a closer look at some of this luxury cosmetics brand’s top-selling products. Let’s get into it!
Makeup by Mario Review
Sure, the Kardashians trust this brand’s founder to doll them up for the lights, cameras, and red carpets, but are his products worthy of you? Below, our Makeup by Mario review will go over a quintet of the brand’s bestselling products for eyes and lips.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette Review
A natural-looking, skin-toned matte eyeshadow is an essential in any makeup kit, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to make. The Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette is an expertly crafted set of 12 easily blendable and buildable shades, designed to be long-lasting and non-flaking.
Progressing from perfectly pale to richly dark, this impressively inclusive Makeup by Mario eyeshadow palette consists of the following shades:
Light
- Soft white
- Warm sand
- Warm cream
- Warm tan
Medium
- Warm ochre
- Neutral brown
- Warm terracotta
- Warm medium brown
Dark
- Rich red brown
- Deep warm brown
- Deep cool brown
- Intense black
All formulas are gluten-free and soy-free, and are made without parabens or fragrances. The Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette is $48.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Pro Lip Palette Review
Pucker like the pros with the Master Mattes Pro Lip Palette. A quartet of primaries (blue, black, yellow, and white) provide the foundation for an explosion of color possibilities in this 16-shade collection of blendable, mix-and-match-ready hues.
The Makeup by Mario Pro palette starts slow with gentle beiges and pale pinks, then ramps up through deepening browns and mauves before finishing off with an eye-catching pink fuschia. You can wear each shade by itself, or experiment with different combinations to create your own unique look.
You can swipe this Makeup by Mario lip palette for $60.
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Brightening Pencil Review
Everybody wants to have that dewy, wide-awake look, which is why it’s crucial to have a good highlighter in your makeup arsenal. Suitable for all skin tones, the Master Mattes Brightening Pencil lets you put the sparkle back in your eyes by concealing redness (that telltale sign of tiredness) and lighting up strategic points above, below, and at the corners of your eyes.
Packaged with a handy sharpener and cleaning stick, this Makeup by Mario eye brightening pencil retails for $20.
Makeup by Mario Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette Review
This Makeup by Mario Master palette was apparently “inspired by colors found within our bodies,” but judging by these shades’ dazzling shimmer they must be from some future when humans and machines have merged (finally). You’ve got 12 glittery hues to work with here, running the gamut from gossamer “warm pearl” to the intense “gleaming teal.”
As per usual, all of these shades can be worn solo or in combination, so get blending and see what you can come up with. You can pick up the Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette for $48.
Makeup by Mario Pro Volume Lip Gloss Review
You know what I hate? I hate when you put on gloss for a night out, then can’t stop doing the lip-smack thing because it feels like you’ve got honey all over your kisser. The Pro Volume Lip Gloss is made from a non-sticky formula, which is a blessing on its own, but it also has a fantastic plumping effect and a gleaming finish to really make you stand out.
This Makeup by Mario mauve lip gloss has rose and gold sisters made with the same formula, so pick your poison and swipe it on either by itself or over lipstick for a luscious layer of luminosity. The Pro Volume Lip Gloss can be yours for $22.
Who Is Makeup by Mario For?
Makeup by Mario cosmetics are for dedicated makeup lovers who want to bring the luxury and glamor of high-end fashion into their own little worlds at a reasonably affordable price. But rather than just resting on the laurels of its big-name founder, the brand actively encourages its customers to paint their own masterpieces with its products, creating infinite unique looks.
The brand also nods to the ever-increasing pressure for ethical and clean manufacturing, as its products are all cruelty-free and paraben-free.
Comparison: Makeup by Mario vs. Fenty Beauty
Mario Dedivanovic is indeed one of the top names in the makeup world, but I think we can all agree that Rihanna has a little bit more of an edge in terms of celebrity. The pop superstar’s cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty, has the same mission as our spotlighted brand: to create makeup that is inclusive of all skin types and tones, and which allows users to express their individuality.
So just as with Makeup by Mario, Fenty Beauty positions itself as a fusion between the seductive glamor of celebrity and fashion, and an “express yourself” philosophy that purports to celebrate the uniqueness of each and every customer. Also, just like MbM, Fenty is 100% cruelty-free and paraben-free, though not completely vegan.
Now let’s get down to the real sticking point: the price. Lo and behold, these two brands once again match up pretty well. Fenty’s 12-shade Bomb Posse Mega Mix + Match Eyeshadow Palette is the exact same price as the two same-sized eyeshadow palettes profiled in our Makeup by Mario review above ($48).
When it comes to the lips, the story remains pretty much the same. All three shades of MbM’s Pro Volume Lip Gloss retail for $22, whereas Fenty’s selection of single-item glosses ranges from $19 to $22.
So, as there’s a great deal of similarities between these brands in terms of their philosophies, formulas, and prices, choosing between the two may ultimately come down to a customer’s personal celeb preference. RiRi reigns supreme forever, but true makeup connoisseurs may be more inclined to go with Makeup by Mario, given its founder’s expertise.
Want to learn more? Then checkout our full Fenty Beauty Cosmetics Review.
Makeup by Mario Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
It’s time for this Makeup by Mario review to let the people’s voices be heard. As this brand has been around for just a year now, customer reviews are a little scarce, but we’ve pulled together all we could in order to give you a genuine buyer’s-eye view of this brand.
On the brand website, the Master Mattes Pro Lip Palette scores a perfect 5/5 stars based on 18 reviews, with nary a dissenting voice to be heard. Not only were buyers obviously blown away by the product itself, but international customers in particular were impressed by how quickly their order arrived (so way to go, MbM customer service):
“I follow Mario on Instagram and saw a post and decided to buy a few things, lip palette, eye liner pencil & liquid and blush,” wrote one reviewer. “Free shipping to Ireland as I spent over a certain amount and no customs. I received the package in 3 days! If I order something in Ireland I’m waiting longer than that!
“I am obsessed with all of the products and the lip kit is insane. You can create any colour and it’s so much fun… I never write reviews, ever, but I had such a good experience I can’t not share it! […] I would say this is one of the best companies I have ever dealt with.”
The Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette is another winner with buyers, pulling in 4.8/5 stars from 85 reviews. One veteran makeup connoisseur was so enthralled by this product that she could barely pause to punctuate her review:
“Absolutely the most beautiful makeup I have ever ever used. There’s a beautiful soft feminine makeup I have ever used and let me tell you I have over 15,000 worth of makeup if not more however ever this surpasses all of it I keep saying only for special occasions I’ve worn it every single day since I got it once again chef’s kiss!!!! Love love it.”
Let’s look outside the brand’s home base and see what buyers are saying on third-party sites. At Sephora, the Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette gets a more measured reaction than the products above, pulling in an underwhelming 3.5/5 stars from 67 reviews. While some loved this product, other, less-than-impressed buyers were let down by various aspects.
Just so we don’t skew your perception, this Makeup by Mario review should stress that the Master Metallics was one of the brand’s lowest-reviewed items on Sephora: most of the other products came in at 4/5 stars or higher.
Lastly, we turned up a review of the Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette on the UK site Cult Beauty, where the product pulled in a rating of 4/5 stars from 19 reviews. While some buyers commented that they didn’t see the value they were getting for the cost, others defended the palette on the grounds of quality, as per the review below:
“Yes it’s hyped, but I do think for the price this is absolutely worth buying. It is smaller than I thought but doesn’t detract from the actual quality. The addition of the black shadow elevates it meaning you can go from day to night or natural to glam very easily… they look great and they wear and blend great too. I’d recommend.”
So from what this Makeup by Mario review can glean, the real sticking point for many buyers is the value-for-money ratio. Which leads us to the question…
Is Makeup by Mario Worth It?
Honestly, while I want to say that it is a concrete “yes” from this Makeup by Mario review, the customer feedback has left me a little torn. MbM’s values of inclusivity and self-expression are ones I strongly align with, and it’s great that someone of this stature in the beauty world is using his platform to preach the gospel of natural rather than unattainable (and unrealistic) beauty.
To end this Makeup by Mario review on a cautiously optimistic note, I’d say that if this brand intrigues you, start small with one or two products and see how they work. You’ll be out of pocket a bit if they don’t, but Mario’s rep makes this brand worth a try.
Makeup by Mario Promotions & Discounts
You can get 15% off your first order when you sign up for MbM’s mailing list, which will bring you news of upcoming promotions and offers. More enticingly, professional makeup artists can take advantage of the Makeup by Mario Pro program, which allows them to learn at the feet of the master and also take advantage of discounts of up to 30% on MbM products.
To apply, follow these four easy steps:
- Create a Professional Makeup artist account at makeupbymario.com
- Select your appropriate category (PMA or Apprentice) and submit your credentials as specified
- Review your application in full
- Hit “Submit” and wait 7-10 business days for the brand to get back to you
Where to Buy Makeup by Mario
You can buy MbM products directly from the brand website, makeupbymario.com. At present, the only other retailer that offers these products is Sephora, but the brand is hoping to expand its availability in the near future.
FAQ
Where is Makeup by Mario made?
While we know that the brand is headquartered in NYC, there does not seem to be any information on the brand website about where the cosmetics are actually manufactured. As the brand is self-funded by Dedivanovic, there is a reasonable chance that the products are made in the US rather than outsourced.
Is Makeup by Mario vegan and cruelty-free?
All of the brand’s products are cruelty-free and paraben-free, and certain items are vegan and gluten-free. Customers can consult the individual product pages to see which items fall under the latter categories.
What is Makeup by Mario’s Shipping Policy?
Domestic shipping using standard DHL Expedited services is free, with orders taking about 2-5 business days to arrive. Fees for international shipping (via DHL Express) varies according to order size and location, and is calculated at checkout. Delivery takes between 3-7 business days.
What is Makeup by Mario’s Return Policy?
All unused products can be returned for store credit (valid at makeupbymario.com only) within 30 days of purchase. Note that customers are responsible for return shipping fees.
How to Contact Makeup by Mario
Still got questions after reading our Makeup by Mario review? No problem—you can get in touch with the brand in the following ways.
- Order and product inquiries: [email protected]
- Makeup by Mario Pro inquiries: [email protected]
- Media and PR inquiries: [email protected]
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