9 Women Tried the Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Foundation to See If It's Worth the Hype

Shade: 18W

“It has a very nice finish and blended well. I found that one pump of the foundation was enough to give me full coverage. Even though I have oily skin, the foundation didn’t feel like it was sliding off my face by the end of the day. Overall, I would totally wear this foundation again because it was breathable and matched my skin tone perfectly.” 

Shade: 27W

“It felt good on my skin throughout the day since the formula itself was very lightweight. Also, the foundation matched my skin tone nicely and was easy to blend. I didn’t have to apply much for a full coverage look and it lasted for a good seven hours without fading. There were even moments when I legit forgot that I was wearing makeup.”

Shade: 1C

“It was a good formula, but I don’t think it matched my skin type, which is dry and sensitive. However, I think it would be great for other skin types like oily or combination skin because my topical medications just didn't mesh well with the formula. I don’t think it’s a bad product per say, but it's just not the right one for me. I did like the luxurious look of the bottle though. The super clean and minimalist design makes it a great product to show off on your vanity.”

Shade: 120

“The foundation offers the perfect amount of coverage for someone who normally likes to wear tinted moisturizers like me. It can easily be a daily product because of how light it feels on my skin. It matched my skin tone perfectly and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to blend. I wore it all day, and after nine hours, it still looked fresh. This is absolutely going in my permanent rotation.”

Shade: 140

“This is a great foundation for lighter makeup looks. Paired with a bit of under eye concealer, mascara and blush, it’s perfect for daily wear. I wouldn’t recommend this for a night out (I would opt for heavier stuff), but it’s a solid option for going into the office or out to dinner.” 

Shade: 7C

“I like how this foundation looks with my other makeup products and I feel like it's a good formula for my combination skin. I've worn it to work out and it stays on well through sweat, too. I don't think this is a good foundation for those who want a totally full coverage look, since you'd have to use quite a bit of it to feel fully covered, but if your goal is a lightweight, barely-there feeling foundation, I highly recommend it.” 

Shade: 6W

“There was a lot of hype around this foundation so I had high expectations. When I first applied it, I thought I had the wrong shade. But as I started to blend it out, I realized it actually worked on me. I would definitely wear it again, especially for nights out. I'm super pumped to see how it works on my skin throughout the different seasons. Overall, I think it’s the rare foundation that actually looks good in person!”

Shade: 6W

“I'm absolutely wearing this foundation again, in fact, it's quickly becoming my go-to for when I want a dewier look. It gives me just enough coverage to even out any redness and serves as a solid base for the rest of my makeup when I go out. Plus, the shade match was spot on.”

Shade: 28W

“It feels extremely light and I only had to apply a small amount of foundation on each side of my cheek to get complete coverage. It matched my skin tone, didn’t look cakey and it gave me a natural glow. I think I just found my new go-to foundation.” 

• Value: 17/20
• Functionality: 19/20
• Quality: 18/20
• Aesthetics: 18/20
• Coverage: 18/20
• Total: 90/100

The Pros:

The brand’s mission with this launch is to “reveal your skin’s natural luminosity” and they definitely nailed it on that front. “The product felt light and airy on my skin. It felt like it could actually breathe. I also appreciated that it neutralized any redness around my nose and eyes, while still letting my freckles show, and it layered nicely without piling,” says Yohay.

Formulated with grapeseed oil and squalane to restore moisture in your skin, it also has perfecting powders that aim to smooth and enhance your natural texture. “What I like the most about the foundation is it looks like my skin—just with a soft glow!” says Laguerre. 

We also have to mention the buildability of the formula, which can take your look from light to medium coverage without ever looking too heavy. According to the brand, the formula has a special MoistureGrip technology that makes it easier to blend. “The formula feels super lightweight and it’s easy to wear without feeling like it’s caked on your skin,” says Dubyak, who used her fingers and a makeup sponge to apply the foundation. “I noticed that this application method was the most effective for a seamless blend. When I tried applying it with just a brush, it made the foundation look patchy on my skin and using the sponge by itself offered less coverage since it soaked up the product,” she adds. 

And we can’t forget to talk about the shade range. Many of our testers agreed that the liquid formula matched their skin to a T. The foundation comes in 30 shades that work with your complexion and undertones. The brand even offers a virtual try-on to help you get your exact match. “My shade ended up being a perfect match for my skin tone, which I usually have trouble with,” says Dubyak. 

The Cons: 

Some testers found the foundation to be a little too dewy. “The formula gave my skin a nice glow at first, but over time, my skin started to look oily and it rubbed off at the slightest touch,” says Campbell. “After wearing it for three hours, I had to pat down any oily areas with a tissue.” 

The dewy finish also presented some challenges with the application for a few of our testers. “I used a damp beauty sponge and it took a few rounds of patting my face with it just to make sure there were no streaks or marks. I had to go over a few problem areas with another layer to get full coverage,” says Lormier. Yohay ran into similar issues. “I really had to blend to get the no-makeup makeup look I was going for. After using my Artis brush, I went in with my fingers to really blend it out into the hairline and down the neck to make it look more natural,” adds Yohay. “It’s not a foundation to use in a hurry. You can’t just slap it on and go.” 

Others found the formula didn’t cover their dark spots and acne as much as they’d hoped. “I have some acne and textured spots that didn’t really get enough coverage. I’m not surprised by this though, since this foundation is more for that natural look. Even though it’s not a full coverage formula, it was still buildable and blendable enough to do the job for me with a little concealer,” says Baksh.