044. MOB Beauty, Recent TV
Sharing a full review of everything MOB Beauty and briefly covering what TV I’ve been watching.
Hi! I’m Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.
I’m so glad the day has finally come. I’ve been using MOB Beauty* (gifted) for over a month and have been excited, thrilled, impressed, loving, and so on. You and I have waited long enough, so let’s dive in.
The name MOB Beauty came from Victor Casale, one of the four founders. Vic is CEO, co-founder, chief chemist, OG, and veteran of the makeup world (MAC Cosmetics, CoverFX). In the heydays of MAC, there were groups of people who would crowd the makeup counters. Vic coined them endearingly as “the mob,” and it’s stuck with him since. The word gets a bad rap and usually leans negative in connotation. But Vic chooses to use it in the positive sense: a crowd that comes together for a purpose. Whether that’s to advocate, to create, to change, or to lead. It’s all about perspective, and I admire that he chooses the positive route. The brand’s standards rundown goes like this: clean, no silicones or talc, all ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced, both Leaping Bunny and PETA Certified Vegan and Cruelty-Free. In other words, excellent.
Regarding ingredients: they do use synthetic pigments. The brand is also vegan, so they don’t use Carmine.
The brand’s tagline is “Makeup for a better world,” and I, for one, love it. It becomes clear why when we talk about sustainability.
From the brand’s conception, sustainability was an integral part of its DNA. The efforts are currently best seen through their packaging sourcing. First, all of their packaging is made out of PET resin and at least 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. PET resin is the easiest to recycle. PCR content allows them to reuse material already in the waste stream, giving it a second life. Their goal is to use 100% PCR for all of their packaging. You can head here to see the current breakdown percentages of PCR; many categories already hit 100%! One thing to note about PCR PET Resin is that it’s not the strongest of materials when it comes to scratches or scuffing. I’m pretty gentle with my products, but even I’ve accrued a few scratches in my palette. Look at it as the new patina, and don’t let it deter you. The palette cover has a beautiful weight to it with a smooth magnetic closure.
Their palettes are also incredibly affordable. The one I have is their largest, Palette 6+, and it retails $12.
Second, all of their packaging is refillable! You know I love a good refill system, and this one makes my heart sing. All the pan refills are already made of 100% PCR. All the components are also “mono-material,” meaning they’re made of a single type of material, making it easily and more consistently recycled. Like how glass can only be recycled with the same color glass, packaging can only be recycled with the same materials. Mixed materials that end up in a recycling facility are often sorted to end up in landfills instead due to recycling complexities.
Third, hold on to your MOB empties! The brand will be announcing a solution in the Spring! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will be a recycling program. You know I love those too.
All of their shipment packaging (shipping boxes, packing paper) and outer clamshell packaging are recyclable. If you remove the labels (recyclable) on the clamshells, you can compost them instead!
I was very fortunate to try out the entire line, and here’s the consensus: I love it. If you have been around for a while, you know I love powders. The brand currently offers highlighters, blushes, bronzers, and eyeshadows, all in powder form, cream lipsticks, and lip balms.
In recent memory, MOB Beauty’s launch is the most extensive in shades that I can remember. There are several shades for all categories. It is clear inclusivity is another big part of the brand from a glance at their marketing. And a behind-the-scenes glimpse cemented it for me when I was on a Zoom call with two founders and a small group of ambassadors. This small group alone widely ranged in age, nationality, and makeup preferences, which was exciting!
I also want to thank whoever picked out my items. Many are favorite go-to’s, but some that I didn’t expect to love, I fell head over heels for. Let’s start with the face products.
M36 Bronzer ($30 w. compact, $25 refill, 4g | .14oz)
Fun fact: If you’re wondering about the naming system, the number corresponds to the round where they perfected the shade, formulation, and consistency throughout batches.
The first time I used this, I was shocked. It didn’t feel like a bronzer to me. Instead, it felt more like a blush. It’s described as a “rose taupe,” and on my skin, it definitely pulls rosy. While it’s not the usual bronzing shade I go for, I haven’t been able to put it down for a single day. This is the ultimate bronzer/blush/contour, especially for pale skin tones. Bronzers are always very obvious on me, and many can be too brown, orange, red, etc. So it makes complete sense now that I’ve tried this why it is called a bronzer even with its rosy, cooler quality. It’s simply beautiful and makes me feel so sophisticated whenever I wear it. Which is every day.
M19 Blush ($30 w. compact, $25 refill, 4g | .14oz)
M19, oh, how I adore you. When looking at all their blush options, I would have generally gone for their “dusty mauve” or “peach,” but “honey rose” is the best of both worlds and more. The description is perfect because it indeed has a beautiful honey richness with a delicate rosiness that makes you look flushed from within. It adds a lovely color to the cheeks, and on days where I crave a heavier blush look, this is always the one I reach for. This blush is pigmented. In fact, I’ll say this now, all of their products are intensely pigmented, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not user-friendly. You can achieve a wide range of depth from sheer to pop, depending on how many layers you choose to build. I find one light dusting to be a natural flush and two or three for the heavier blush look. I use the Wayne Goss 11 brush, my favorite for powder blush, bronzer, and contour. It blends like a dream.
M49 Highlighter ($30 w. compact, $25 refill, 4g | .14oz)
Another sleeper hit. This one surprised me the most because I’m not a highlighter person. You know I love my matte looks, and my love for all things shimmer usually doesn’t go beyond the eyes. However, I’ve fallen in love with this one. Again, looking through the shades, I probably would’ve gone for their “shimmering white gold,” but this “shimmering pink champagne” makes me swoon. I barely touch the powder with my Wayne Goss 02 brush and swept across the cheekbones; it truly catches the light in the most ethereal way. I love the pink shift because I am never without blush, and it almost acts like a blush topper.
Two things I noticed: one, this is a much softer formula than the blush and bronzer. When I opened it, it was slightly raised around the corners and had begun to crack slightly. This may have been because it was somewhat overfilled, but the great thing about powders is that they can be re-pressed. I simply sandwiched it between a paper towel and used the square end of a lipstick cap to press it in. Now it’s neat as a button and doesn’t fly everywhere. *The photos are before I re-pressed it. Two, you can go overboard. The more I layered on, the more it catches to my cheek texture. I don’t wear highlighters often for this reason. But one sheer layer is heaven, no catching, just soft celestial light. Oh, and did I mention this is gorgeous (full stop) on the eyes?!
Eyeshadow ($22 w. compact, $18 refill, 1.8g | .06oz) Left is a light layer, blended. Right is a heavy swatch. All eyeshadows are beautifully pigmented, buttery, and smooth. No patchiness, possibly except for one mentioned below.
M43 “shimmering champagne”
This is the only shimmer I have, and it’s simply stunning on the eyes. Just look at the swatch!
Photos are best viewed on a desktop, but you can pinch-zoom on your phone!
Beautiful as a light wash, inner corner highlight, or pressed in with a finger for opaque shimmer. As with the highlighter, the shimmer is so fine, with no visible chunks of glitter. The powder is also softer than the matte shades, so there might be some kick-up if you use a synthetic brush. I use the Wayne Goss 06 brush, and I’ve found natural hair brushes pick up the powder better, with little to no kick-up. When I use my Real Techniques eye brush, it tends to float and fly more. I can also use this as a highlighter and imagine it’s closer to their white gold highlighter. However, as a highlighter, it does also catch on texture if it’s a heavy layer.
M6 “matte cool peach”
This appeared to be the most unsuspecting eyeshadow, but it wows me every time I use it. It’s the perfect eyeshadow color for me. It almost plays like a light bronzer on the eyes and is excellent for those no-makeup makeup looks. Like the bronzer, it gives a natural sophistication when all I have is this and a bit of liner on my eyes. I’ve also never heard a shade described as a “cool peach,” yet that’s precisely what this is! It’s become such a staple in my makeup routines.
M4 “matte espresso”
This is my favorite everyday upper lashline eyeshadow. It’s a beautiful cooler espresso, and run along my lashline gives me the appearance of fuller, fluffier lashes. The brown makes it not as stark as black and is great for every day. Mixed with the Cake Liner (coming up below), it also doubles as a brow powder. I also have a feeling that a wash of this all over the lid, topped with M43, would be beautiful; I’ve just yet to do it.
M64 “matte burgundy”
What an unctuous shade. I love this as a colorful liner. On days where I crave a bit more, I do a thicker, cat-like liner and blend in M4 espresso over the last third of my lashline/wing. I also imagine this would be beautiful as a dramatic, one-color smokey eye. I just love it so much as a liner that I haven’t tried it that way yet.
M39 “matte cobalt blue”
I was over the moon to see this included in my package because this was the one shade I desperately wanted to try. Ever since seeing it on their Instagram, my heart ached for it! I love shades like this, especially worn as a colorful liner. As suspected, it’s gorgeous this way. When swatching, I did notice a bit of patchiness when first applied, but it blended out fine. The same happens when used on the eyes. If you’re going in with a loaded brush, you might find some patchiness first, but it just takes a bit of blending and patience to achieve smooth color. It could also be my user-error since I’m not a makeup artist and still to this day are honing my non-existent blending skills. Fear not; if I can do it, so can you!
As with all of their matte shades, I love the range that can be achieved. When used as an extremely light layer blended out, it almost gives a 60s look on the eyes, turning into a sweet dusty blue. Note, as far as I’ve tried, you can’t achieve this with a brush. It has to be with your finger. Pat the tiniest amount onto the pad of your finger; you might want to tap any excess off on the back of your hand first, too. Then pat onto the lid (it’s okay if it’s uneven at first), and gently sweep your finger across until it is blended. Layer on some M43 for a bit of glimmer, and I dare you not the smile. Take it a step further and add the Cake Liner, and go forth and strut your stuff, you beautiful being, you.
M41 Cake Liner ($22 w. compact, $18 refill, 1.8g | .06oz)
If I had to pick one item I am most impressed with, it has to be the Cake Liner. The Cake Liner is an OG makeup item. Not a fan of liquid liner and wish your powder had more pigment? This is for you. It’s a powder that is meant to be used wet. Wet your brush with a hydrosol, face mist, or just plain water (a light layer, not soaking), and mix it into the pan. The result is a deep, inky black for the most flattering liner. I’ve tried multiple liquid liners and haven’t found one that doesn’t smudge on me. I’ve also just used black powder eyeshadows wet, and while they can achieve the stark black, they smudge too. Guess what? This one stays put and looks fantastic. I know, how can this be true? I ask myself the same thing every time I use it. I’m smiling as I type this because I still can’t believe it.
I’ll use a misted angle liner brush and draw a fine wing with this. I treat it a bit like mascara, where I try not to blink or move my lids too much, giving it some time to dry and set. Once it’s set, it doesn’t move. As for smudging, the only time I noticed was a barely-there smudge on the outer edge of my lower right eye. I smile and laugh a lot, which is why liners and mascara never stay put on me, and I end up with smudging and darkness no matter what. So out of all the times I used this for it to only barely smudge once is a perfect track record in my book. I am so deeply impressed by this.
I also use it dry mixed with M4 to fill in my brows. Below are swatches of it applied wet (top portion) and dry (bottom two).
M58 Cream Lipstick ($27 w. compact, $22 refill, 3g | .10oz)
Okay, I’m equally impressed with this too. I can’t help it. This is, hands down, my favorite lipstick. Yes, I’m not afraid to say it. Ladies and gentlemen, I have found the one.
I have very dry lips. They’re much better now that I consistently wear lip balm and do lip scrubs. However, nothing dries out my lips more than lipstick. It’s just tough for me to find a formula that performs in terms of pigment and wear and won’t dry out my lips throughout the day. This Cream Lipstick is nothing short of amazing.
The shade I have is described as a “tawny rose,” and it is the exact my-lips-but-better shade. It makes my lips look healthy and fuller. One swipe gives full opacity, and it stands up its name. This is the creamiest lipstick I’ve ever worn, even more than the Kosas lipsticks, which were my favorite before this. Those though incredibly creamy as well, dry out my lips, unfortunately. I can wear this MOB Beauty one for a full workday (8–10 hours), and my lips don’t dry out. Yes, when I eat, it does wear away, but what lipstick doesn’t? During wear, the pigment remains creamy and is just the most comfortable thing ever. I’m not a maximalist, but if I were, I’d purchase one in every color. 5 stars, 10 out of 10. I love this.
The lipstick has a very light vanilla scent. There’s no noticeable scent to any of the powders.
For almost the entire month of testing, this palette and lipstick were all I wore. If I were a true makeup minimalist, I would be happy with this palette and this lipstick alone. All I’d add would be a foundation/concealer and brow butter. If I cut it down and just had the Palette 4+, I’d be happy with the Bronzer, Highlighter, M4 espresso, M41 Cake Liner, M39 cobalt blue, M6 cool peach. They offer prestige pricing if you want to build your custom palette, making it cheaper than buying all of them separately. The imaginary one I just described would cost $95 built as a palette and $123 if all items are purchased separately.
Given how little I have to use each time because these offer so much pigment, my palette will last me a good long while. I’m delighted that this palette and this brand are in my life. I’m so looking forward to what they’ll introduce down the line!
So because I rambled on and on for my love of MOB Beauty, I have to keep this what television series I’ve been watching portion short.
Recently Watched
The Wilds (Prime Video): The definition of bingeable. If you’re female, you’ll relate. Hilarious, ridiculous, annoying, highly entertaining.
30 Coins (HBO Max): Wow! An incredible horror series from Spain. Though the CG is terrible, the creature designs and story is great. Unfortunately, the ending was awful but still worth a watch!
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix): For those who are into the paranormal side of this tale, you’ll be disappointed.
The Investigation (HBO Max): We’ve seen three episodes of this, and I no longer have any interest in it. I’m all for slow pacing, but it took a steep dive after the premiere. HBO series are notorious for having filler, nothing-is-happening episodes, but goodness, this is too much. However, the cinematography is beautiful.
Currently Watching
The Head (HBO Max): More what I was hoping ‘The Investigation’ would offer. This is excellent. We’re only two episodes in, and I’m trying my best not to binge it.
The Bridge (HBO Max): A competition series where individuals are put into British “wilderness”* and must work together to build a bridge to reach a treasure chest filled with £100,000. Twist: the group must vote who (single person) gets the treasure. *Hilarious because they’re not thrown into the wilderness. Let’s call it what it is: glamping.
Thanks so much for reading! I know my MOB Beauty gushing made this newsletter a lengthy one, but I hope it was informative. I can not be more impressed by this brand. Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, I think you’ll enjoy it. I definitely want to pick up some more items from them, so let me know if there are any specific shades you’d like me to try! You can leave a comment or reply directly to this email.
As always, I hope you have a great start to your week! See you next Sunday!
The eyeshadows sound stunning and *gasp* I'm imagining how wonderful the Cobalt Blue Eyeshadow looks on you (+ it's also a great color choice *.* that cobalt blue reminds me of being in an art class!). Great to hear about the lipstick for dry lips! Btw, have you ever been a MAC user? I'm curious to see how MOB Beauty product will unfold in terms of texture and colors to actual MAC make-up line.
I just re-subscribed to HBO Max this beginning of February! I just finished The Outsiders, can't wait to watch your movie and series recommendations!