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Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick, Review

Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Contour Stick Review

from the king of contour

Foreword

Mario Dedivanovic needs no introduction. The minute he launched his makeup line, everything got sold out in seconds. Even though I was fashionably late to the party, I still wanted to know what was unique about Mario's contour sticks. Hence the star of today's review. Is the SoftSculpt the best out there?

Curious? Then please keep on scrolling

My Skin: dry, sensitive

About the Product

Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick Contour And Bronzer (32 USD; Made in Italy) - is described as a dual-ended, buildable coverage shaping stick that creates a natural definition for a soft, sculpted look.

Packaging: I do not usually experience this with high-end makeup, but this is the worst packaging I have dealt with. The design itself is very minimalistic with an inexpensive, drugstore feel to it. Not a total deal-breaker, but for the price and name, I expected better quality.

The big issue is that you can't twist the SoftSculpt Shaping Stick no matter what you do. This is a common issue among customers, so much so that there are now tutorials on how to disassemble and reassemble the stick to make it twist up and down. Here is the trick though: even after it moves a little, you again face the same problem.

Besides the horrendous malfunctions and user-unfriendliness, you get a soft, synthetic-bristle brush and 10.5 g/ 0.37 oz worth of product here. Size-wise, this packaging is nice for traveling or on the go.

Recyclable ♻️

Shade: Light-Medium

Formula: there is nearly nothing skincare-esque about this formulation. Makeup By Mario pride themselves on their vegan formulas, however, there is not a single ingredient here that is "skin-loving" per se. This is a missed opportunity for the brand since most best-selling makeup products at Sephora do something for the skin (besides just looking pretty).

😊 PROS

The formula is quite basic. The driving force here is a mix of emollients and silicones. Potentially pore-clogging, but overall, neither good nor bad.

☹️ CONS

I was shocked to see a high level of Polyethylene in this product. While it will not kill you, it is still a microplastic that is quite polluting. In skincare or makeup, it is used as an emulsifier or a diluent for the increase of thickness. Generally, I feel like this is such a cheap and strange ingredient to use by a brand as big as Makeup By Mario. Nonetheless, it is nearly in every second product that they sell, so you make up your mind about that.

Vegan🌱 Cruelty-free🐇

Texture: smooth, dry consistency. The SoftSculpt Shaping Stick is blendable and sets to a natural skin finish.

Scent: none.

Shades: currently available in seven flattering shades.

Application: even though the packaging is horrendous, the use of the SoftSculpt Shaping Stick itself is quite easy. You can apply it directly and blend it out with a brush or a sponge. I prefer a densely packed synthetic brush, something like Fenty Beauty Face Shaping Brush 215 is an excellent tool. For a soft contour or bronzing, I pick up the product with a brush and then blend it out in areas that I want to define. You can use the small brush that the stick comes with; personally, I prefer others.

The blendability of the SoftSculpt Shaping Stick is great, it looks even (never patchy or obvious) and can be sheered out or layered if needed. The shade I use looks wonderfully natural on my complexion.

Finish: natural, skin-like. Does not settle in pores or accentuate dryness/texture.

Wear: I have dry skin, so normally products last a good amount of time on my face. Having said that, the SoftSculpt Shaping Stick does not stay that long on my skin compared to other cream bronzers. On average (without primers, setting sprays, or powders) it lasts for up to 3-4 hours before it fades away. This was a bit of a surprise considering the branding of this formula as something long-lasting.

Verdict

As much as I admire Mario and his creative vision, I must admit that I am not over the Moon with the SoftSculpt Shaping Stick. While the cream itself is okay and has a beautiful tone to it, which looks amazingly effortless on the skin, the packaging malfunctions, the questionable ingredients, and the elevated price point are nothing to write home about. I would love to rave about how amazing it is, but compared to everything else reviewed on this website, it is just okay. While I do not completely dislike it, I also do not love it. I think for the same price you can buy a gorgeous luxe product with skin-loving ingredients that is safe for you and the environment. C- from me.