Makeup by Mario Light Medium SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector Review & Swatches
Light Medium
Makeup by Mario Light Medium SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector ($34.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a light, reddish-brown with warmer undertones and a satin sheen.
- Opaque color coverage (supposed to be sheer)
- Smooth, finely-milled consistency
- Blendable but harder to pick up an even color due to gradient design
- Long-wearing (eight hour wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Sun Bunny (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Bali Sands (P, $38.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Estee Lauder Saffron Sun (LE, $65.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Sephora Anguilla (P, $17.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sunny Honey (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Medium Light (P, $58.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS San Juan (P, $38.00) is darker (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Medium (02) (P, $14.99) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Tarte Solo (-, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Illicit (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.31 oz. - $109.68 Per Ounce
It's supposed to "perfect, illuminate, blur, and set" with a "radiant glow." Ultimately, it is supposed to be part bronzer, highlighter, and finishing powder. I'm not entirely sure why the range only has five shades when the coordinating balm has six shades. This formula is supposed to have "sheer coverage," but it was fairly pigmented and harder to get sheerer coverage given the need to swirl the brush in a circular motion to get an even layer of product.
The gradient design made it more challenging to get an even layer of color as some parts would be lighter/darker, depending on where one started. It might be more suitable to use the more bronzing side initially and then the lighter, more highlighting side as a secondary product. Otherwise, you'll want to do a good swirl and tap off excess, then apply, but sometimes it made it easy to over-apply product.
The powders had a smooth, finely-milled texture that wasn't too loosely-pressed into the pan but also not overly powdery. They applied evenly to bare skin and blended out well without emphasizing my skin's natural texture. The finish was more lightly luminous than radiant--definitely not an intense highlighter by any means. It performed and looked more like a bronzer with fine pearl to it. This formula wore eight hours on me on average.
Browse all of our Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector swatches.
Ingredients
SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TALC, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, LAUROYL LYSINE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, BIS-BEHENYL/ISOSTEARYL/PHYTOSTERYL DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, SORBITAN SESQUIISOSTEARATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, TOCOPHEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, HYDROGEN DIMETHICONE, MICA, [(+/-): TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)] TALC, MICA, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, LAUROYL LYSINE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SILICA, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, BIS-BEHENYL/ISOSTEARYL/PHYTOSTERYL DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, SORBITAN SESQUIISOSTEARATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, TOCOPHEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, KAOLIN, [(+/-): TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007)] CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, TALC, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, LAUROYL LYSINE, CALCIUM SULFATE HYDRATE, MICA, SILICA, TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIETHYLHEXANOATE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, BIS-BEHENYL/ISOSTEARYL/PHYTOSTERYL DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, SORBITAN SESQUIISOSTEARATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, TOCOPHEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, TIN OXIDE, KAOLIN, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, [(+/-): TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
I have yet to hear anyone sing the praises of this very ODD powder. Definitely not something that I would waste my $’s on!
Try the other one – the skin transformer. It’s a cream base, all one shade, and goes on smoothly with a soft brush. I love mine!
Was semi-curious about this product.. but that twinge has vapourized.
This just seems like a talc, fallout mess of a gimmick. I’m a powder person but I’ll pass.
I really like the gradient designs in a blush, but I am not sure how it would work with a bronzer. I do like the satin sheen finish though.
I was curious about this when I first saw it…but not anymore!
I have this product and I like it. I don’t use it as Mario explains — I wasn’t interested in the bronzers that was supposed to be used with this — I actually use this as a luminous bronzer and I like the look.
I chose the skin transformer over this one. I made a great choice!