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Aug 18, 2023

Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer Honest Review

By Ariana Yaptangco All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. As the

By Ariana Yaptangco

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As the senior beauty editor at Glamour, I'm constantly testing the latest and greatest beauty products. Every now and then, a new launch comes around that really knocks me off my feet. Such is the case with Makeup By Mario's SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer, which I can confidently say is my new all-time favorite concealer.

I was first introduced to the product during a Makeup By Mario launch breakfast by the man himself, Mario Dedivanovic. The makeup artist, who counts A-listers like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Salma Hayek as clients, talked all about the weightless formula designed to make tired eyes look instantly brighter and more lifted. He sang the praises of its de-puffing and tightening ingredients—like caffeine and fermented marine micro-organisms, which eliminate dark circles and smooth skin—and bragged about the skin-like finish. But nothing could prepare me for when I tried the product myself.

I first got shade matched by a brand makeup artist, who asked me if I preferred a bright undereye or something more natural. I've always gravitated towards neutral concealer shades that are a tad lighter than my foundation shade. IMO, nothing ruins a makeup look more than concealer that's too light and bright. To avoid this, I've kept my shades pretty tame.

But this is Mario Dedivanovic we're talking about, people! He is the king of contour. The snatched makeup look is his signature. Inspired by Dedivanovic's promise that the concealer would look skin-like, I decided to go much lighter than my usual shade. The makeup artist selected shade 320, a medium peach color that would help color correct and cancel out dark circles. She deposited the product onto the back of her hand and buffed a small amount onto the Makeup By Mario F5 concealer brush before applying it to my right undereye. She kept my left one bare.

Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer 320

Sephora

The difference was striking. My right undereye looked instantly lifted and my dark circles were erased. The product felt weightless, like I wasn't wearing any makeup, and felt like my natural skin.

After applying the product to both sides, I looked completely rejuvenated. My eyes were much brighter and the tired bags and dark circles were pretty much nonexistent. I didn't feel like the shade was too light at all—though it was definitely bright, it didn't feel cakey or costumey. Instead, I looked and felt snatched—like I had the best sleep of my life the night before.

This concealer also works beautifully on spots and blemishes. The formula is medium-coverage but can be built to a more opaque, full-coverage look depending on your needs. To cover up a few of my dark spots, the makeup artist used 380, a deeper golden shade, which was a perfect match and disappeared into my complexion. It's a testament to the shade range—Dedivanovic used his 20 years of experience as a makeup artist to curate 22 shades, ranging from light, light medium, medium, medium dark, and dark.

Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer 380

Sephora

Before I left, Dedivanovic pulled me over for a selfie. He took one look at my face and immediately said, “This looks amazing on you,” and gently patted his ring finger onto my under-eye area to give my concealer an extra blend. Though Makeup by Mario sells a concealer brush, using your fingers works just as well.

No filter, just SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer.

As for its staying power, this concealer does not budge. My undereyes look just as fresh after a long day of wear, with little to no creasing. If you're still looking to do a mid-day touch-up (sometimes my eyeliner and eyeshadow transfer to my under-eye area and I need to add more concealer) I would caution using just a small amount of product. Adding a lot on top of the existing product can create a cakey build-up, but you diffuse it by wetting a concealer brush with face mist and blending out.

The $29 price point is consistent with more prestige makeup brands. However, it manages to stay just under $30, making it a worthy investment that won't completely break the bank. I've certainly used concealers that cost more than Makeup By Mario's with not nearly the same results. Once you try it, there's no going back. Trust me.

Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her @arianayap.