The Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation Is Unlike Any Base Makeup We Have Ever Tried

For the record, we like our freckles and beauty marks. And we like them to show, even if we're wearing foundation. Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic’s Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation gets where we're coming from — one of the makeup artist’s goals for the formula is to let natural skin "shine through."

And TikTok has taken notice. There have so far been 22.9 million views on the hashtag "surrealskinfoundation." Since its launch in late December, Makeup By Mario's liquid foundation has been lauded by makeup artists (Jaleesa Jaikaran says it's "beautiful" on her skin), cosmetic chemists (Javon Ford says it has a "unique formula" that creates a "nice, natural glow"), and foundation enthusiasts (content creator Aditya Madiraju calls out its hydration and "good color match") on the platform. 

I — along with other Allure editors — wanted to see what the hype was about. Ahead, our results. As the product’s name suggests, they're pretty dreamy.  

In This Story

• Overview
• Ingredients and Formulation
• How I Tested It
• Before and After
• More Allure Editor Reviews
• Pricing and Value
• Where to Buy It

SurrealSkin was much anticipated, as Dedivanovic is known for creating flawless bases for celebrity clients like Kim Kardashian, Normani, and Salma Hayek. "For my first foundation, I wanted to create the perfect complexion base to work seamlessly with my signature techniques," he says. "I wanted the formula to be buildable so you can sheer it out or build it up for truly customizable coverage, while enhancing skin’s luminosity to look as natural as possible."

It was also important to Dedivanovic that SurrealSkin gripped onto skin, played well with other products (like skin care, powders, and cream complexion products), and lasted all day. SurrealSkin spans 30 flexible shades with warm, neutral, cool, and olive undertones. "After over 20 years of working with different skin tones and foundation formulas, my goal was to create a formula and shade range that eliminates shade-selection anxiety," he says, adding that he also wanted the pigments to be long-wearing. "It was critical that the formula be non-oxidizing so that it doesn’t change color throughout the day."

Many foundations achieve a satin-like finish because they are packed with silicones, but the Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation is different. While it does contain dimethicone, "it does not use cyclic silicones or silicone resin to achieve a silky finish," says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. Instead, the spreadability can be attributed to polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate. King says, "[This is] a non-oily ester that helps with glide, has good cushion, and leaves a glossy look." 

Board-certified dermatologist Sheila Farhang, MD, adds that she finds the formula's ingredients to be skin-friendly. "It uses glycerin, which is a great humectant that pulls in water like hyaluronic acid," she says, so your skin will stay hydrated with daily wear. "Grapeseed oil has tons of benefits such as being an antioxidant and helping brighten the skin."

The Makeup by Mario’s SurrealSkin Foundation’s key ingredient is polyglycerly-6 polyrincinoleate, a non-oily ester that contributes to the foundation’s slippery texture. It also contains grapeseed and sunflower oil, emollients that help improve the foundation’s feel as you wear it on the skin.

My first go with SurrealSkin was with Dedivanovic himself doing my makeup. (I know, I know, not the typical testing experience but this was just my first run.) I was excited to witness the detail-oriented artistry Kardashian experiences when she works with him. But before even picking up a makeup brush, he reached for the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream and massaged it onto my dry skin. "Skin prep is the key to creating a perfect base, so I always recommend applying a very emollient moisturizer before foundation," he says.

Then came the foundation. "I always start with one pump, and apply and blend into the skin where coverage is needed most," he says. "Then, if necessary, I build and blend further for more coverage, but one pump really goes a long way." For my skin, Dedivanovic used about a pump and a half of product, dispensing it onto a makeup mixing palette. He picked up the foundation with the dense end of his brand’s new Surreal Foundation F4 Brush, applied it to the center of my face, then blended and sheered the product outward with the fluffy end of the brush. He explained that he used this method so that when he applied bronzer on top, there wouldn’t be caking around the outer edges of my face. (And there wasn't!)

Dedivanovic says for an even more natural look, "you can mix the foundation with some moisturizer and pat into the skin with fingers for sheerer coverage," which is what I have been doing on most days. I’ll dispense a dime-sized amount of moisturizer on the back of my hand with one pump of foundation, pick it up with a foundation brush, and buff it onto my skin.

Without makeup, my skin is smooth, but looks slightly dull and red in some areas. Just a pump and a half of this stuff made my complexion look more even and radiant, without covering up the freckles I have on my cheek and lip that I love. Even better is how it wears throughout the day: The foundation sets onto skin, leaving it feeling moisturized minus any stickiness. This effect lasted through two dramatically different climates: an eight-hour work day in wintery New York City and four-ish hours exploring the humid streets of Singapore (where I’ve spent the last week). It has staying power and has become my go-to foundation for every occasion. 

The Allure team group chat exploded with rave reviews of this foundation. Ahead, a snapshot of the enthusiasm.

As someone who isn't a foundation girlie, I'm shocked to say I have been grabbing this bottle when I do want some coverage. The formula leaves nothing but a lightweight, even-toned complexion. After my usual skin-care routine, I blended two pumps worth of the shade 13W across my face with a dense makeup brush. I was pleasantly surprised by how buildable the coverage was, applying a few more dots around my chin to conceal any redness and skipping concealer altogether. I see myself grabbing this bottle for days I film for work as a flattering base to my simple, natural makeup routine. 

This foundation is 10s across the board for me. It blends like butter and has a smooth, slightly dewy finish. I have oily skin, so I tend to opt for matte foundations, but this never got greasy on me, even after hours of wear. 

My only gripe with this product is that the shade match is hard to navigate online. (The only thing you have to go off of are the model images, which, after testing a few different shades, I’ve been finding aren’t the best indicator of a match.) In this photo, I’m wearing shade 24N, which is too light against my skin tone. I applied it to the middle of my face (where my skin is naturally lighter), surrounding it with bronzer to blend it with my skin. I’ve found my best match to be 26N, and it’s safe to say this will definitely be one of my favorite foundations of 2023.

In person, this foundation is stunning. After applying two layers, concentrating on the center of my face where I have discoloration, I looked hydrated and dewy. I even skipped highlighter when I saw how the luminous finish glowed through my blush and bronzer. This radiance lasted throughout the day. That said, it didn’t photograph quite as well. I noticed my hormonal breakouts peeking through in selfies. Knowing this, I’d use it for everyday wear, rather than a special occasion where I plan to take lots of photos. 

The Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation costs $42 for 1 oz. of product, which falls in the middle of the price range for luxury complexion offerings. (Luxury options can get as high as $140.) Some Allure editors say the formula is similar to the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation, which has the same price tag as SurrealSkin.  One editor thinks this formula is like a regular foundation spiked with Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter (which also costs $42). 

The Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation is available on the brand’s website and Sephora — but we highly suggest heading to your local Sephora to do a few swatches. Because of the foundation’s flexible shades, we found that a model in the brand’s promotional materials who may appear to have a very different skin tone than you… might actually be wearing your best match. (Jaikaran illustrates this on her TikTok.) You’ll find your closest shade match and get a feel for the foundation’s texture and finish if you try it in person. 

Now, see some more of our favorite makeup:

• Allure Editors Rank All the New Foundations Launching Right Now
• Basma Beauty's TikTok-Viral Foundation Stick Was Born of a Touching True Story
• Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Is So Good, I Have to Write It a Love Letter

Now, learn how to apply concealer like a makeup artist: