If I had to guess, I’d probably say that Mario Dedivanovic is feeling a bit of pressure right now. Not that he’s new to high-stress situations—the makeup artist (otherwise known as @MakeupbyMario) is known for painting the faces of some of the most famous people in the world: Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, and Gabrielle Union, just to name a few. But this time, he’s stepping out on his own and launching his very-first makeup line, something that opens you up to a whole new set of criticism. As arguably one of the most famous celebrity makeup artists ever, all of Instagram is waiting on the edge of their seat for one question to be answered: Is it good? And I’m here to answer it: Yes, it really is.

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While most people tip toe into the makeup world when starting their own line, starting with a few products, Mario dived right in. To jump start his new brand, Mario's launching a face mask-friendly eye collection, filled with 21 products (yes, 21). The first drop includes three eyeshadow palettes (mattes, metallics, and metals), shadow primers, eyeliner pencils, five makeup brushes, a liquid liner, a "crystal reflector," a clear translucent highlighter, a “metal manipulator,” and biodegradable makeup wipes. Are you tired after reading all of that? Well, would you expect anything less from Mario?

The line, which launches today on Sephora.com and makeupbymario.com, has three standout products, IMO. If you’re going to stock up one anything from this collection, it should be the black pencil eyeliner, the crystal reflector, and the metallic eyeshadow palette. Peep my reasons why, below.

Makeup By Mario Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette

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Master Metallics Eyeshadow Palette

Makeup by Mario sephora.com

$48.00

NGL, I was in love with this eyeshadow palette before I swiped any shades onto my lids. The 12 vibrant and metallic hues instantly grabbed my attention—I mean, talk about a visual feast for the eyes. Usually with palettes, there are certain shades that I’m drawn to and the rest lay untouched in their pans. But with this one, I wanted the whole spectrum.

Me, wearing Metallics 9 and the pencil eyeliner from the collection.

Ama Kwarteng

The first shade that I tested out was Metallics 9, which is a vivid hybrid of colors that I normally gravitate to: rose gold and bronze. You can apply it wet (for a more intense vibe) or dry (for a subtle wash of color). I opted to go waterless and used my fingers to tap the shade on to my eye. The shadow basically melted onto my lid without any fallout, something that usually comes with this type of finger painting.

And it packs a punch when it comes to pigment. With some palettes, I basically have to dig a hole into the pan in order to get enough color to deposit onto my lid. But I didn’t have to worry about that with this one—the powder shifted effortlessly from my finger to my lid, no intense rubbing or blending necessary.

I also decided to step outside of my regular eyeshadow shade boundaries and test out Metallics 4, a shimmery, Turquoise-leaning shade that gave me major "Under the Sea" vibes. Don’t worry though—the shadow won’t make you look like a cartoon character or like someone who belongs at a ‘80s-themed party. The luxe-looking hue basically lets everyone know that you know your way around a palette. And even if you actually don’t, the easy application process and bold pigment lets you fake it ‘till you make it.

Makeup By Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil in Super Black

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Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil

Makeup by Mario sephora.com

$22.00

I’m typically a liquid liner girl—the flick of the wrist you need to apply the stain onto your lash line has always come naturally to me. But this eyeliner pencil got me to switch teams. Let’s start with the fact that it glides on like butter. When I swatched it onto my wrist, I let out an audible squeal that prompted my roommate to ask what was bringing me that level of joy (you know, uh, given the current state of this world). I’ve never experienced love at first sight with a human, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this felt way better.

Me again! This time wearing Metallics 4 and the pencil eyeliner.

Ama Kwarteng

The formula coasts right alongside your lashes without tugging your skin. It was just as easy for me to create a cat eye with this pencil as it usually is with a liquid eyeliner. The fine-point tip gave me razor-sharp lines that stayed crisp and smooth for legit hours. I also didn’t have to go over my handiwork a billion times in order to get a thick, pigmented line. The pencil deposits a solid strip with a pitch-black finish in one stroke.

And if you want to go for the smokey-eye look, you can do that too. Yup—you’ve got options. You can either use the smudging brush at the opposite end of the liner to smoke it out, or you can go in with your fingers to diffuse the gel-like formula. Either way, this liner is for sure a must-have, no matter what look you want to rock.

Makeup By Mario Master Crystal Reflector Highlighter in Bronze

Master Crystal Reflector Highlighter

Makeup By Mario sephora.com

$24.00

I’m a self-proclaimed highlighter thot, and my obsession reaches a peak in the summer; I douse my legs in shimmery body oils, smooth my decollétage with glimmering highlighter sticks, and dust my face with a pearly powder. Something about it just feels trés chic—it says “rich bitch” even if you have to check your bank account before agreeing to happy hour.

Me, with a dusting of the crystal reflector over my lids and cheekbones.

Ama Kwarteng

My highlighter enthusiasm usually drops with the temperatures, but this reflecting pigment makes a strong argument for a year-round glow. You can wear it alone, dabbing it on with your finger for a sheer wash of sparkle, or with a brush to pack on the shimmer. You can also use it as a topper, tapping the mini-crystals over another shadow to level it up, or you can swirl it onto your cheekbones.

I practiced a little restraint and decided to go for a more conservative level of glow. Finely milled gems make up the formula, meaning that there aren’t any annoying chunks of glitter to deal with. I gently smoothed the highlighter over my lids, and I was pleasantly surprised. There was zero fallout (which is, unsurprisingly, common with glitters) and one swipe was all it took to coat my lids with the long-lasting, glimmering veil. The formula was mesmerizing—depending on how you turned your head, it would catch and reflect the light, dazzling both me and my roommate.

While the highlighter comes in two other shades, the bronze was my favorite. The color blended right in, without making my skin look dry or ashy.

The final verdict

If you're eyeing this collection, these three products deserve a spot in your makeup bag. I mean, when will you ever not need a dope eyeshadow palette, a universal highlighter, and a do-it-all pencil eyeliner? They also check all the boxes—they're versatile, giving you options to play around with your look, long-lasting, so you don't have to worry about them sliding off your face, and pigmented, leaving behind a bold and attention-grabbing finish. Trust: These new releases are worth adding to your cart.

Ama Kwarteng Ama Kwarteng is the Beauty Assistant at Cosmopolitan, covering all things hair, skin, makeup, for both print and digital.

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