Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that's taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
Putting on makeup has always been therapeutic for me. I get to stand in front of the mirror and blast my favorite songs while deciding which vibe I want to channel for the day. Are we going with a full beat? Are we taking risks and putting on eye shadow? Or is the no-makeup makeup look saving the day after a late start? No matter which look I go for, concealer is always on the agenda. I hold it accountable for making me look awake and refreshed on any given day. (Goodbye, dark circles.) With so much responsibility on its shoulders, my concealer needs to live up to its promises. So when the internet can't shut up about a new concealer on the market, time magically becomes available in my schedule to watch reviews and learn about the product. This month's product of interest was Makeup by Mario's SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer ($29), which my co-workers and I gladly tested and reviewed for you below.
Do you ever try one product from a brand and immediately realize that you'll 100% be coming back for more? Well, this happens to me quite often. I tried the Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation ($42) back in February and was certain that I'd become a fan of all the brand's products. Just look at me now, eight months later, testing and loving the SurrealSkin concealer. Its biggest appeal is its self-setting formula, which eliminates the need for powder, but I'm more drawn to the fact that it's crease-proof. Creasing is my number-one enemy, so I'm quick to charge my credit card when I find concealers that actively combat it. The caffeine-infused ingredients in this concealer are the cherry on top, encouraging de-puffing, tightening, and smoothing. Doing all of the above while also lasting all day sounds like a tough feat, so six beauty editors and I test-drove this new concealer to see if it lives up to the challenge. Keep scrolling to see our before-and-after photos, application tips, and honest opinions.
"I was skeptical about a 'self-setting' concealer—whenever I don't set my concealers, they usually crease like crazy and make my eye makeup slide around. This really does feel self-setting, though, and once it dries, it doesn't budge. I love the radiant coverage it gives, and a little goes a long way. My tip is to work fast. Once it dries, it won't move, so you'll want to blend this down the second it hits your skin—work in sections!" — Katie Berohn, beauty editor
"Not only do I have hollow under-eyes, but I have dark circles, too, so I always gravitate toward concealers that are medium to full coverage. All in all, I just want to look alive! Before testing this concealer, I watched a bunch of reviews and heard that it dries pretty quickly. I took this into account during application and blended it out with a brush before going in with a beauty blender to blur any harsh lines. Although it does dry fast, blending wasn't difficult. For the first time ever, I didn't experience any creasing after not setting my under-eyes, which I consider a major win. I've been using this product pretty regularly ever since testing it." — Aniyah Morinia, editor
"I am not a full-coverage girlie, but I love a bright under-eye as much as the next person, and I especially love the idea of foregoing powder whenever possible. Mario instructed that this concealer should be used sparingly, so I applied one tiny dab of the concealer to my under-eye area and blended it out with a damp beauty blender. Even with such little product, my under-eyes were immediately brightened and evened out, and they didn't look cakey or crepey whatsoever. I think 'less is more' is the trick with this product." — Emma Hughes, social media editor
"It seems like no matter how much sleep I get, I still struggle with under-eye circles, so an illuminating concealer like this one sounds like a dream to me. I noticed it really brightened up my eyes and has a solid amount of coverage without looking cakey. I did find the formula a bit dry for my skin, so I think it would best suit someone with oily skin. It would also work layered over a hydrating concealer for an extra-brightening effect." — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor
"I've always gravitated toward natural-looking, light-coverage products, but this full-coverage concealer has proved itself a new staple in my makeup routine. I dabbed a small amount of product below and at the outer corners of my eyes to camouflage my hyperpigmentation and blended it out lightly with a damp beauty blender. Throughout the day, I did notice some slight caking, but overall, the concealer did an amazing job of brightening the under-eye area." — Maya Thomas, assistant beauty editor
"I usually shy away from full-coverage products, but this provided the perfect amount of coverage for me. I only used a tiny amount under my eyes and used my ring finger to blend it in. I was fully expecting it to crease by the end of the day, but to my surprise, it didn't. It really just brightened up my entire under-eye area without looking cakey." — Caitie Schlisserman, group executive director, branded content and beauty
"I was surprised by how quickly this concealer dried down. I applied it straight from the doe-foot applicator and instantly realized I'd have to work fast to blend it out before it set. (My advice is to work in small sections rather than applying it all over your face in one go like I did.) Once I got the hang of it, I loved the result. It covered my redness and hyperpigmentation without looking thick or cakey. It also didn't crease, which is impressive seeing as I wore it for six hours without touching it up once. The shade I chose was a little light for me, but I was able to make it work with a liquid blush and a little bronzer." — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
