As much as I love the endless stream of innovation in the beauty world, nothing gets me excited like a good old mascara. There’s just something about a nice fluttery lash that makes me feel polished. And when that mascara promises to be a super classic mascara—no bells or whistles, like something that would be in the makeup bag of a ’90s supermodel—I get even more excited.
Such was the case when I heard Makeup By Mario was dropping its very first mascara. Founded by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, who I would consider the closest thing we have to a modern day Kevyn Aucoin, the brand is always my favorite for straightforward but effective products with a makeup artist flair.
On March 27, Makeup By Mario introduces the Master Mascara, a “timeless formula” for defined volume, complete with a full, fluffy brush and luxurious tube. Ahead, all the details from Dedivanovic himself, plus my honest review.
The Inspiration
Much like the full suite of Makeup by Mario products, Dedivanovic wanted to create something that would be as “at home” in an artist’s kit as it would be in consumers’ makeup bags. “After 25 years as an artist, this is the universal mascara I’ve always wanted in my kit,” he tells Byrdie. “I’m so excited to share it after years of development. It was inspired by my years of artistry and the needs of both professionals and everyday consumers. I really wanted to provide that perfect buildability and clean volume that consumers are seeking and that I love in my artistry.”
Makeup By Mario
The Mascara
Master Mascara is easy to apply, and provides a naturally fuller, longer, and lifted look all day. “Performance is always non-negotiable for me,” explains Dedivanovic. “With Master Mascara,
I wanted to provide lasting volume, length, and lift. It’s my mission to offer professional-level products everyone can trust and feel secure wearing.”
It was a must that the mascara was long-wearing, and had a buildable formula that didn’t clump or smudge. “It has volume that looks beautiful on everyone. I also wanted to make sure the ingredients were nourishing,” the makeup artist adds. “The lightweight vegan wax formula is infused with provitamin B5 and castor oil, known to keep lashes healthy and soft.”
Makeup By Mario
Dedivanovic adds that special attention was paid to the mascara’s custom brush, which was inspired by his signature technique of wiping the mascara brush before application for a clean look. “The conical shape and size of the brush allows for effortless root-to-tip application and gets into the hard-to-apply corners of the eye.”
The lightweight formula promises sweat-, humidity-, and smudge-proof wear that doesn’t budge or flake all day long.
My Review
I usually prefer a spiky, plastic mascara brush since I have little lashes, but there’s something about this classic brush that really drew me in. I’m so glad I gave it a chance, since I’ve been loving this mascara since it arrived a few weeks ago. It’s kind of the platonic ideal of a mascara—it doesn’t try to re-invent the wheel, but it does exactly what it promises, and beautifully so.
Bella Cacciatore
Despite the fluffiness of the brush, it grabs each and every lash, and fans them out in the prettiest way. One or two coats will give you a natural look, but I like to build it up to four or five for some extra drama. It doesn’t clump, and no matter how many coats I apply, my lashes don’t feel heavy or stiff, and they stay curled and doll-like all day long. I have noticed a little bit of smudging on my lower lashes (I blame my allergies and watery eyes) but it’s easily remedied with a little extra setting powder. All in all, I love the results of this mascara, and it will be a staple in my makeup bag for sure.
Mario’s Application Tips
“Before Master Mascara, I would avoid a messy application by wiping the brush of whichever product I was using at that time. With Master Mascara I don’t need to do this to get a clean, volumized application, shares Dedivanovic. ”
Makeup By Mario
“The bristles hold and evenly deposit the perfect amount of formula per swipe for clean definition and the most natural-looking lashes. My tip for best results is to apply most of the product at the roots to create as much definition as possible and then comb out the mascara toward the tips of the lashes. Then I use the tip of the brush to help separate the lashes.”