There are a few things I don’t talk about as a beauty editor. Like the fact that I don’t use retinol (sensitive skin, rather than an aversion to brilliant skincare), and that I long ago eschewed wearing foundation. I’ve swatched and tested, daubed and stippled, but actually wearing it just wasn’t for me. That is, until a new Makeup By Mario formula made me a convert on first try.
Created by celebrity make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic, the SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation is the follow-up to his original foundation, SurrealSkin. Where his previous one was dewy, this new foundation is demi-matte (somewhere between the flat ’90s aesthetic and the hyper-glow of the past few years), with a bouncy, firm texture that settles into the skin quickly.
For my skin type – dry and a little lacklustre – it worked perfectly, something I found deeply surprising from a formula designed primarily to control excess oil. Instead of making my already thirsty skin look even more parched, it blurred my slightly rough texture and hid any winter-induced redness. When I came to wash my face at the end of the day, I couldn’t believe how well it had lasted – the base was still even across my cheeks and chin (usually two of the biggest offending areas for patchiness by EOB).
“My first foundation is a luminous, moisturising formula,” Dedivanovic explains. “But, as a make-up artist, it’s always been my goal to create a range that can cater to different skin types and finishes.” This time around, Dedivanovic included micro-powder particles within the foundation, to create a blurring skin finish that sets itself.
Similar to the SurrealSkin Concealer, these “perfecting powders” are what keep the product in place, without the need for any extra setting powder on top. “I found that many existing foundations in the normal-to-oily category are overly mattifying and drying, which can accentuate texture and imperfections on the skin,” Dedivanovic says. “I wanted this one to hydrate skin while still controlling shine.”
How best to apply? According to Dedivanovic: “Fingers typically give you the lightest application.” This makes them your best tool for skin tints and tinted moisturisers. “Good complexion brushes [he cites his F1 and F4 brushes], meanwhile, help build coverage while delivering a seamless blend.” In his words, brushes “do the work for you and cut down application time”.
