Yuh. It’s no secret that I am a bit of an Arinator (this year ‘thank u, next’ held on to my top spot as the most listened to song three years in a row) but a makeup guru is not how I would describe Ari. While her makeup always looks flawless, it’s usually a classic glam topped off with a glossy nude lip and bold cat liner. I was surprised to find out she was coming out with a makeup line, but then again, that seems to be the latest celebrity trend. I’m not complaining though, while the cosmetic industry may seem oversaturated to some, competition leads to better formulation and competitive price points – no matter how you feel about Selena Gomez there is no denying that Rare Beauty consistently comes up with great products at a more budget-friendly price point then it’s Sephora counterparts.
I bought one of *almost* everything from r.e.m. beauty (minus the matte liquid shadow, matte lipstick. lip stain marker, kohl eyeliner pencil and plumping lipgloss.) Read my first impressions and final verdict below.
Interstellar Highlighter Topper
Shade: miss saturn – 08_champagne pink
How gorgeous is this highlighter? The gorgeous metallic swirls and large mirror make this product such a delight to use. It promises a smooth application and dewy finish with a creamy powder formulation. It also comes in iridescent lavender and icy mint, how fun?! I will say that this is a very… let’s call it lit from within glow. Maybe it’s the colour I picked out but I wouldn’t call this finish “interstellar.” She’s cute, but she’s sheer.
$22 usd
Midnight Shadows Eyeshadow Palette
Palette: principessa
This is the product I probably was the most skeptical about. While light pigmentation is great for beginner shadow users because it allows you to achieve your eye-deal look by building up colour, I want something that is very impactful. I did keep this in mind while trying out this palette, this is definitely a great beginner palette. The one I got is half mattes, half shimmers in warm tones. Is this a totally unique palette in my collection? Absolutely not. Did I buy this because I felt like the eyeshadow palette was THE product to review? Yes. I don’t think you’d be unhappy if you purchased this shadow palette but I don’t think you’ll be blown away either. The colour story is pretty basic and the shadows weren’t pressed as cleanly as I would have liked (what’s pictured is what it looked like immediately after opening it.)
$24 usd
Midnight Shadows Lustrous Liquid Eyeshadow
Shade: Hot Lava – 10_metallic copper
Listen, I want to love a liquid shadow. Truly I do, but these oily eyelids have something else in mind. The r.e.m. beauty liquid eyeshadows boast a powerfully pigmented and waterproof finish with their luxe liquid gel. I love a metallic finish. Straight out of the applicator, the shadow made such an impact and spread so evenly. It dries down in no time and doesn’t get patchy and is fairly crease-resistant. This is a product I would be eager to try out more shades in. Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice, this colour is gorgeous.
$16 usd
At The Borderline Eyeliner Marker
If there is one product I expect Ari to have high standards for, it’s liquid eyeliner. The site description states that it delivers a waterproof, smudge-proof black line that lasts up to 48 hours. I want this thing to be budge-proof and create the sharpest graphic liner. I found this to be ultra-pigmented and the felt tip made it easy to sharpen out my wing as well as get right up to my lash-line. Out of everything I tried this is the product that might be the most “boring” but honestly, it holds up. 10/10 would recommend.
$19 usd
Flourishing Volumizing Mascara
The r.e.m. beauty mascara comes in two formulations, lengthening and volumizing. I opted for the volumizing mascara because it has the type of brush I’ve been loving lately. A thick lush brush creates a more dramatic look than the comb-like counterpart. I imagine that the mascaras layer well together but I wanted to see how volumizing this mascara would be on my short poker straight lashes. Honestly, this mascara was garbage. It was clumpy, the brush held on to too much product and the transfer was almost instant. Skip this one.
$15 usd
R.E.M. Dream Lashes
Style: eternally meowing – glamorously long & wispy
I am a false lash bish and I could not resist these lush lashes. If you’re ever feeling like your makeup look needs a bit of an oompf, a false lash will do wonders. Leave it to Ari to create these gorgeous faux mink lash with a clear band. Even when they were in the box, I was smitten. The amount of flare and curl is perfect and with the style I picked out plus I adored how the outer corners have longer and thicker lashes to better emphasize a wide-eyed look. These are gorgeous. So lightweight, so fluffy, so soft. They applied so easily because the band truly is invisible and flexible. This one is a slam dunk.
Note: these lashes do not come with lash glue, I use the Duo Brush On Adhesive in Clear.
$16 usd
On Your Collar Plumping Lip Gloss
Shade: away message – 08_warm nude
I’ll be the first person to admit that if there’s one thing I definitely don’t need, it’s another nude gloss. Especially in a panny, I’m constantly wearing a mask and lip products are often skipped to avoid the additional step and possible mess but I just could not resist. Infused with a blend of good-for-you oils, the formula claims to be lightweight, non-sticky with a smooth, high-shine finish and slight plumping. I hate a squeezy tube applicator so I am already skpetical going into this. The colour is very sheer and the tingle is very minimal, but Ariana is lying when she says non-stick. This one is a pass for me.
$17 usd
Final Verdict
Overall, not a bad outing for a first launch. The best products IMO are the liquid shadows, false lashes and liquid liner. I don’t think the highlighters or eyeshadow palettes are anything to write home about but I don’t think they’re bad either. They’re just very lacklustre. The glosses and the mascaras I would skip altogether, you can find better quality at the drugstore for a fraction of the price. Shipping took ages, but I did buy these items on launch day so that’s to be expected. I did also get dinged with $30ish of duty when it crossed the border so this review ain’t cheap. Realistically I would buy r.e.m. again in the future if something caught my eye but the packaging was just whatever to me. It’s the type of silver coating that I can tell will get pretty scratched up and lose its shine over time.
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