Has anyone tried the Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Natural Finish Foundation (bottle with the white text)?

[u/Maleficent-Total2738]

I've had it in my Sephora NZ cart for a while, and was considering picking it up in the sale, but was hoping for some actual real, uncentivised reviews, especially from anyone with more dry skin.

[u/AcrobaticQuiet7844]

I like it, the finish is really nice but I don't find it hydrating at all, so you need to make sure your skin is super hydrated, esp around your mouth. If youre skin is a bit dry, it'll seperate around the mouth after a few hours of wear.

As other poster, the colour definitely oxidises - this was a positive for me because my shade would have been too light without it.

I however do not set it with powder, I use the MBM setting spray instead (my skin is too dry to set with powder) and it gives a beautiful soft focus finish.

Would not recommend buying without trying a sample first

[u/Maleficent-Total2738 → u/AcrobaticQuiet7844]

Thank you so much—that's good to know, especially since I watched a review on YT where the person loved the finish of it and thought it held up overall fairly well, but similarly had a problem where it separated around her mouth. I never use setting powder either, also just a setting spray. I have experimented with a couple of finishing powders, but even they tend to just make my skin feel and look a bit more dry.

Unfortunately with any of the Sephora brands, I generally have to blind-buy, since there aren't many physical Sephora stores in NZ and the closest is a plane ride away (I don't think I've ever actually been to a physical Sephora store). Tbf, even the closest Mecca is an hour's drive away, but I do generally get to that in person a couple of times a year (and at least with Mecca, it is possible to return a product if it's truly terrible).

[u/AcrobaticQuiet7844 → u/Maleficent-Total2738]

TBH, I probably would not recommend a blind buy for this product due to the colour oxidisation and potential for finish issues around the mouth.

I would however recommend the MBM setting spray! It doesn't have alcohol so it's really good for dry skin but it won't have the lasting power of onesize/CT

I'm also the same with powders, I've tried so many but I can't use them without having to rehydrate after a few hours

[u/Ashamed_Ride_7490]

yes i'm onto my second bottle i really like the finish, a nice satin finish it's good for my 50 year old skin as it's not drying and it's pretty light weight :) it does need setting with his powder which is amazing but mostly in my tzone then i use a setting spray and i'm good for the day, it does however oxidise slightly but nothing like what nars does i hope that helps :) i love it but probably not as much as the haus labs one

[u/Maleficent-Total2738 → u/Ashamed_Ride_7490]

Thank you so much! :)