Evaluation: We Tried Ariana Grande’s First R.E.M. Magnificence Drop Earlier than Its Launch — See Images

It is actually surreal having an intimate group Zoom assembly with an A-list movie star like Ariana Grande. It is much more surreal when that movie star busts out right into a Jennifer Coolidge impression mid-makeup swatch. However that is precisely what occurred on November 2, as Grande revealed to a small group of magnificence editors every little thing within the first drop, a.ok.a. Chapter One, of her new cosmetics model, r.e.m. magnificence. The much-anticipated line, which the singer’s been teasing for months and retaining secret for about two years, is nearly right here.

As you have most likely already gathered from a few of its preview pictures, r.e.m. magnificence is like considered one of Ariana Grande’s sultry, spacey pop albums wrapped up right into a line of funky, science-fiction-esque merchandise for the eyes, lips, and face. And sure, she is aware of she’s not by any means the primary movie star to launch a make-up model. “I do not ever wish to simply leap into one thing that’s widespread, or no matter. It has to really feel tremendous intentional and fueled by ardour,” Grande says in the course of the assembly. She insists that r.e.m. “feels so trustworthy and so true to me and my life.”

Chapter One consists of 12 merchandise, all of which Grande cheerily showcased to a few dozen skeptical magnificence critics. On my display screen, creamy eye shadows, shimmering highlighters, juicy glosses, and extra glided throughout her arms with pigment and ease. (If I hadn’t been attempting so laborious to stifle my laughter at Grande’s spot-on impersonation of Coolidge, I’d’ve been visibly impressed.) Fortunately, simply moments after my informal Tuesday afternoon assembly with one of many world’s largest entertainers, a bundle filled with the identical r.e.m. magnificence merchandise landed on my doorstep for me to attempt first-hand upfront of the model’s grand debut on November 12. 

In actual fact, the model despatched its first drop (effectively, most of it) to 3 Attract editors with wildly totally different tastes in make-up, software strategies, pores and skin tones, and pores and skin sorts. Under, we break down every little thing we tried from the road, which additionally contains lipsticks, false eyelashes, eyeliners, and many extra.

Eyes

Eye make-up, the first focus of r.e.m. magnificence’s first chapter, is available in six codecs: a pocket-size six-shade eye shadow palette, liquid eye shadow, two several types of eyeliner, mascara, and falsies. The largest staple of all of them, the Midnight Shadows Eye Shadow Palette ($24), is available in three shade schemes: Babydoll (the nice and cozy, impartial choice proven under), Midnight Snack (darkish and funky mattes and shimmers), and Principessa (lighter, heat mattes and shimmers). 

Every of those shadows is very pigmented and frivolously pressed — a fast dip of a brush into the components will grant you adequate powder to cowl your complete eyelid. You’ll be able to hold their shade payoff delicate and translucent by mixing outward or construct them as much as full opacity by packing them on with a finger or damp smudging brush.