Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is famous for two things: contouring Kim Kardashian and recreating glossy '90s supermodel skin. But does the new Makeup By Mario Master Mascara make it a hat-trick?
A quick glance around any beauty aisle will reveal a dizzying array of mascaras. Some promise the type of length you can see in your peripheral vision; others a hefty volume boost and lift for poker-straight lashes.
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Perhaps befitting a product that has the word ‘Master’ in its name, Makeup By Mario's first-ever mascara pledges to do it all: impart immediate and buildable volume, length and lift. Oh and did we mention a smudge-proof formula that's tough enough to handle summer's sweltering temperatures and the occasional sweaty spin class?
To that end, a polymer often found in hair care takes centre stage to create long-lasting lift. A vegan wax made from a blend of olives, rice and sunflower seeds dials up the volume sans crunchiness, while provitamin B5 and castor oil condition lashes.
There's also a 1st-to-market conical brush. In video tutorials, Mario is known for wiping mascara off a brush for a more precise, non-messy application. So a key consideration for his own mascara was a brush with custom-shaped bristles that evenly lay down the exact amount of inky black formula from root to tip.
Available from 7th May, the GLAMOUR team managed to get our hands on the Makeup By Mario Master Mascara early to report back. Here's what our editors had to say when they tried it out…
The Product
Shani, Commerce Writer
I’ve always been a bit lash obsessed – from the clumpy lash phase (we’ve all been there) to heated curlers and now lash serums on rotation. So when Makeup by Mario’s Master Mascara landed on my desk, I had high hopes. After all, it’s made by the Kardashian’s go-to makeup artist - so it already had a reputation attached.
Packaging-wise, it’s giving minimal… maybe too minimal. The kind of tube that disappears into the depths of your makeup bag. But the brush? Genuinely impressive. I usually steer clear of chunkier wands – they’re a fast track to clumps and product overload. But this one? Just the right size. It fluffed, fanned and separated my lashes in one single swipe.
And it holds up. We’re talking the hottest day in the UK so far, sweaty tube rides, back-to-back meetings – and still no flaking, smudging or panda eyes. Bonus points for the formula, too. It’s infused with ProVitamin B5 and castor oil, so your lashes get a bit of TLC while you wear it. Long-wear and lash care? Consider me converted.
Rating: 8/10
Dominic, Acting Beauty Editor
While I love a statement eye look, I usually go for a more natural-looking mascara, but I think Master Mascara by Makeup by Mario might have changed that. I love how pigmented the formula is and there’s an immediate difference in volume and definition after just a single coat – making it perfect for day-to-day wear.
If you’re feeling extra glam or off on a night out, two (or even three) coats would work a treat and it doesn’t clump at all or leave your lashes with a crunchy feeling. Long-lasting and easy to remove – traits that are usually hard to find together in a mascara – this lash legend will definitely be added into my regular rotation.
Rating: 9/10
Georgia, Senior Commerce Writer
So far, there's not been a single Makeup by Mario product that I've not adored. However, this mascara has me torn. On the one hand, I was really impressed with the length and subtle curl it gave – as someone with pin-straight lashes, this is hard to achieve – but on the other, I was disappointed with the consistency.
I had to go over each eye a few more times than I would usually, as I found it drier than expected; akin to a mascara you've been using for a while that probably needs replacing soon. It's not that I wouldn't reach for it again, I definitely would, but I'm skeptical as to how long it would last in comparison to my other tried and true favourites.
Rating: 7.5/10
Ali, Website Director
I liked the instant pay-off the Makeup by Mario mascara – she gave volume, she gave length, and she gave jet-black drama. You wouldn't need many coats to create a full-blown lash look, should that be your aim. But I'm deducting some points because I found the formula too dry and, as predicted, it did flake slightly as the day went on. It won't be replacing my go-to mascara, but am I mad about it being in my makeup bag for when I need a quick mascara top-up? Not at all.
Rating: 7/10
Sophie, Senior Commerce Writer
I'm fairly low maintenance when it comes to mascara. As long as it lengthens my lashes and doesn't drop under my eyes, I'm sold. I looooved the firm, straight wand and the jet-black colour of the Master Mascara. But the fact it was a little tricky to remove? Unfortunately, not so much. It doesn't mean I won't reach for it again when I want a slightly more dramatic eye look — just maybe not on a daily basis.
Rating: 7.5/10
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
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