r.e.m beauty review: does Ariana Grande’s makeup line live up to the hype?
The beauty landscape is awash with celebrity-launched brands and in some cases it’s good, very good (cough Fenty Beauty cough) and in others, not so much.
The latest, r.e.m beauty, comes from Ariana Grande who already boasts a hugely popular fragrance range. The superstar has expanded into makeup, giving her legion of fans the chance to replicate her signature look – dramatic cat-eye and long lashes, paired of course, with a long ponytail.
The collection has a God Is A Woman video-style out-of-this-world theme that has almost become synonymous with the singer.
“r.e.m. beauty inspires you to make every dream a reality, in both beauty and beyond. blending otherworldly ideas with real-world innovation, we exist to empower you to explore what creativity means to you,” says the company.
In this first drop entitled Chapter One – Ultraviolet, the products are housed in sleek silver packaging and the pigments are cosmic in nature with iridescent purple highlighters and futuristic white eye pencils taking a starring role.
So does Ariana Grande r.e.m beauty line live up to the hype? We find out below.
Read More
Best products for dry skin that moisturise and protect your face
Best collagen supplements UK to strengthen and boost your skin
The best beauty advent calendars for Christmas 2021, from Cult Beauty, M&S and more
Best beauty gift sets for Christmas 2021 from Fenty, Huda Beauty and more
flourishing volumizing mascara
This mascara is unique right from the get-go. The brush head is shaped like a satellite where they are divided into three segments with a gap. We weren’t sure whether this would work, but surprisingly it does. It gives more control with each swipe and you could really layer up without going over the top. While this is the volumizing and not the lengthening mascara (there are two), we were impressed with the way that the formula builds without clumping and clear lengthening effects.
The product is made entirely from naturally derived bamboo powder, Tahitian micro algae and fruit extracts. This gives a moisturising effect as the same time as imparting the black pigments, which prevents flaking from occurring throughout the day. The formula is clean and so free from any parabens, d5, microplastics, silicones or mineral oils.
Buy now, r.e.m beauty
at the borderline kohl eyeliner pencil
We sampled the ‘so mod bright white’ hue that admittedly would not have been our first choice. However, opting for a white liner is a makeup artist’s best kept secret for a bright-eye effect, counteracting any redness to make the periorbital area appear more awake and bigger – and this pencil did exactly that.
Against the bold black of the mascara, the high pigmented white really did make lashes pop. Whether you are applying above the lash line or below, the creamy formula was very easy to apply and glided on with an immediate payoff.
The precise pointed pencil ensures that even the novice liner wearers among us could achieve that coveted straight line. Foolproof.
Buy now, r.e.m beauty
interstellar highlighter topper
This is perhaps the product where the cosmic, futuristic feels best shine through. We tried the Miss Neptune shade, an iridescent lavender that adds a cool tint to the complexion. The colour and finish took us back to our 90s childhood with its glittery and blue tones - this is designed for a tweenage audience in mind.
The pigment though, was great and it really glides onto skin, giving a luminous, glowy look with very little product needed.
Buy now, r.e.m beauty
r.e.m dream lashes
Staying true to Grande’s signature style, these lashes are big and bold. The artist is known for her dramatic eyes and these should be your first port of call in replicating them.
There are two styles; ‘eternally meowing glamorously long & wispy’ and ‘grow n show full & feathery with a flare’. We tried the latter and the name gives a very accurate reflection of their look.
Despite the extreme length, they are relatively lightweight. That being said, everyday use is not so practical so we’ll be saving these for our next big event. The office Christmas party, maybe?
Buy now, r.e.m beauty
