‘Makeup By Mario’ on His New Makeup Line

I wanted to bring him on today because he has launched a new makeup brand called Makeup by Mario, and I wanted to know how his life has changed and what he is doing to really start this business and what he is thinking. So one of the things I really love about Mario is we could not be more different in our makeup styles, but we are very similar as people and makeup artists. And it just shows you that I could learn from him, he could learn from me, and one day he will do my makeup. So please

listen to my conversation with Makeup by Mario. Hey Mario, Hi Bobby, how are you. I'm good? Nice to see you. Likewise. So it's been a year a year, been a year exactly a year? Right? So much has happened in this past year. So crazy? How how quickly it seems like? It seems like I just met you and saw you so right? Yeah, so here we are in the middle of the pandemic. You are How many months since you launched your amazing brand, Makeup by Mario? How long has

it been out? Um? So we launched on my birthday on October one? Congratulations, thank you, and congratulations to you too for your new launch. Uh my baby launch, my baby launch. Yeah, you know what, it's it's much it's much more fun the second time around because things don't bother me the way they used to. And you'll get there. This is your first, this is your first. It's it's a level of stress and persponsibility that I I just

couldn't imagine. I knew it was going to be stressful and you know, lots of responsibility and a very different to adjust into this new role. But it's like a lot more than I actually thought it would be. It's quite difficult. Well, is it so much stress because you care so much about everything? Or are you wor are you worried about everything, all of the above, worried about everything, and just I'm I think I'm a you know, I

think i'm a I'm a very controlling person. I'm a control feak, and I want to know every single thing that's going on in every single department and aspect and so it's hard, you know. And also I'm a makeup artist and now I'm in this new role, so it's just adjusting has been. Um, it's been a challenge, but you know, also blessing. I'm not like, I don't want to complain about it because it's also really a blessing. Um. But you know, I'm getting used to it a little

by little. Every day gets a little better. Um. And I'm a quick learner, so I think that that's good. I'm learning, literally learning every day since October. I feel like I've I've aged like ten years and I feel like I could even see it on myself and it's um, yeah, it's quite interesting. But um, at the end of the day, I'm still grateful, thankful, and I feel just grateful for

for all of it. You know, well, well you should be, because first of all, it has been so well received and I'm really and I'm really proud of you because when we met a year ago, we didn't talk about it on on the podcast. And for anyone that's listening, you know, I want you to go listen to the podcast I did with Mario because it was his life story and how we got to where he is. And this podcast is about, you know, launching a brand and what you learn and what you're doing. But I'm really

proud of you. The response has been incredible and and what's so, how many products do you have right now? Like how many skews launched with Scouse total including the brushes, and then we just launched our holiday collection. Um, I don't even know the amount of excuse that was on holiday, So I want to say one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight nine, so ten ten, So we have about thirty one scuse right now. Well, I just got the lip palette, which now I have two because I ordered one and

you sent me one. And it's so awesome. It's really so cool because you've got all the bright colors, you've got all the neutral colors, you've got the dark colors, and then you've got what I really love is the black and the blue and the yellow and the red and if you're not a makeup artist, you wouldn't really know what to do with those things. But I personally like a touch of blue and all my lipsticks I've

always have. I don't know why, Like I'm on myself. So, how how many of your you know, customers are makeup artists makeup artists wanna bees? And how many are you know women? So this is a good question, And um, and I'm still learning this, you know, I'm literally learning this every day as I read comments and watch videos and watch the i G stories. Um, and and just going back to what you said about sort of makeup

artists know what to do with that lippellet. So what I'm finding is that not all, not all makeup parts do know because I posted the other day a just a little simple video of me mixing and showing them examples of what these primaries do. And what I thought was that when I went into the comments and I started reading everyone's comments, a great deal of those comments were from makeup artists that were saying, oh, thank you

for playing that, because I didn't know, you know. And so what I just had like this kind of moment where I was like, oh, my god. So during the development process of this product, I immediately thought that every artist would just know naturally, right, But you know, not every artist has um has primary colors that they mixed. They just sort of have their lip pallets that they

scooped the lipsticks and two and they don't. You know, not everyone uses the the primary So what I own was that that was really interesting to me that I thought during the development process that for sure any artists would know how to do and even some consumers. But that's not the case. So that is something I'm learning more of every day. And so now I'm sort of making it a point to do more education and really

breaking it down um and showing everyone. But to answer your question about, you know, how much of my um our makeup artist versus the consumer, I think it's a big mixture. You know. UM, I certainly do have a lot of artists followers because of the master class, which was the you know, the majority of the masterclas students are makeup artists, UM. And and then there's you know,

the regular non artists as well. I don't know exactly the numbers though, you know, or how to sort of dibude that right now, but I think it takes time to figure it all out. And what is your biggest surprise? Just from what you're hearing from your customers, what is the biggest Like I never would have thought that, Oh, good question. There's been There's been quite a quite a

bit of those moments. Um you know, like for example, with my I had this product, the Master medals Um, which is comes with like sort of the metal manipulator that you scrape um or or you don't have to scrape, and you can just kind of use the manipulator on a brush and it turns it the metal pigment into a liquid. So I thought, you know, and originally I thought, you know, this is gonna be more for the artist, and because I always want to create something special and

unique for the artists on set. And that product turned out to be one of the hits of the entire collection in the sense that so all of the press and media like that was the product that they all wrote about. And then that was a product that that kind of sparked this you know, inspiration creativity, and so a lot of people, not just artists by far, a lot of people that were not artists got really excited

about that product. And I started seeing comments and people writing me saying that, you know, I've been out of the makeup scene for a while and and this launch really inspired me to get back into makeup and start doing my makeup and it's so fun and so that that has been amazing, you know. Um. I initially, to be honest, I didn't even intend for that product to be in the retailer because I just thought that they

wouldn't want it. But it did wind up, you know, going into the reach other But um, yeah, the feedback was amazing, you know, especially during this time COVID, you know. Um, so yeah, that made me really excited, and um, you know, it just kind of shows that you should follow your gut and and and create what it is that that

you that feels right for you. During this pandemic, you're at home and you are literally working on your makeup launch, Like, what are some of the things that you have done that maybe if we weren't in lockdown, you know, you wouldn't have to do? Like, for example, I love that I was able to promote Jones Road from the you know, from my bedroom or my kitchen on the laptop instead of having to spend the day and going there and choosing an outfit and it was it was so easy

and I loved it. So what are some of the some of the upsides about being you know, stuck at home. Yeah, the upside I guess would be, Um, there was a lot of downsides for me, to be honest with you, Bobby, Um, I'm a I really wish that I could have been out there and and and going into story events and doing masterclasses live and meaning you know, press junk. It's like I've never done press junk is where it was solely done all day on zoom like that. It's challenging

for me. I'm not so much of a I think people maybe think I'm a very digital savvy, but I'm really not such a digital savvy person. I struggle a

little bit with the this end of the things. You know. Um, So you know, I think what you just mentioned, actually, yeah, maybe that it's a little bit easier sometimes that you don't have to get ready and go out there and travel and get on an airplane, although I do miss those things a lot, you know, But I think maybe at the end of the day, maybe that was a bit easier, like for me personally that I didn't have to go on there, jump on a plane, travel nons

top and and and possibly that I'm able to reach even more people by doing it doing things like this, you know, more on a on on the digital in the digital way. Oh my god, your master class could be one of the biggest you know, digital master classes out there. Is that something that you're working on. I am and I and I think about it every day, and I'm gonna start really planning it. Maybe I'm gonna possibly do it for the beginning of It's going to

require a little bit of planning. Um, I want to figure out, Bobby, how to do it where it's not edited, where it feels like it does in person. I think the beauty of the master classes, you know, it was it was the whole day, right, and so I would do makeup and answer questions the whole time and everything. It was like a stream of consciousness, right. I'm just pouring out my heart and explain to them what I'm doing,

and then we take a lunch break. And so I want to figure out how to do that digitally in the right way where you know, they're gonna feel like it's that same experience, right, because there's an energy um when you're doing a live event, that that that lacks when you're doing something digitally, and so I struggle with

that part of it. So I just about finding out and figuring out how I'm going to produce this and how I'm going to make it feel exactly like it would in a in an event when I'm doing a

live class in a theater. Um. But that is definitely on one of you know, one of the top things on my list is that I want to do a digital master class and I think honestly I'd be able to really reach a lot more people, um, you know, because it's going to require a different type of production right where where I think that the feest to join the class are gonna be much lower than they are in person um. And so I feel like it will probably great beause I'll be able to really reach a

lot more people. I just have to figure out the exact format that I want to do it in that feels authentic to me and it feels right. I mean, I don't know if there's a way to do like an Instagram live that's private and only certain people could get it, and maybe there's two tiers. There's the people that buy all the products that you have a smaller group that's like a V I P. And you have breakfast with them or teach and then you open it up to the big more of affordable. I mean, there's

so many ways. Here's the thing. Also, so my master classes has never Bobby, They've never been based on product, right. It was based on technique, the artistry, and not on the product. Obviously, I have to mention the products because people ask me what I'm using. UM. So that's another thing is that you know, I know that I am a brand owner now and I have to sell product, right. But for me, the master class is a little bit

different and that it's not product focused. I'm going to use my product obviously because I love them, but yeah, that that's a that's a challenge for me too, is that I want to keep the master class how it was very authentic, not based on the product. Um. And I have you know, I have my own product now, so naturally I'm going to use those products. Um. But I just have to figure all of that out. Um. It's a it's a big change for me, you know.

But you also created the products from all your experience doing your masterclasses. So it's authentic, and I think people would want to know what would Mario use when he's doing this, you know, I mean honestly, first of all, your technique is you know, when I watch you do make up, it's so different than my technique. And I don't even know how you are able to apply that make up and make it all blended and look it's

it's amazing. I mean, I don't understand it because I'm not that kind of an artist, but it's I'm in awe of it and I'd love to I don't even think even if you taught me, I'd be able to figure it out. No, you would, Bobby, even with the makeup that you do that I see all the time

on Instagram, I mean I I totally get it. And so I just think we're we're artists, like innately artists at heart, and like you know, your your looks that are so natural and so minimal, but they make sense a percent to me, and it totally and it totally matches and fits you. Um with me. I think it just um, I probably use more product, but like little bits of product and then started to build and blend

and build and blend. I think that that's because of the clients that I do, and the clients that booked me on a consistent basis tend to be more of the glam girls or the pop stars that like, you know that more glamorous, you know, slightly transformational type makeup. Um. And so that's sort of the makeup that I'm I guess I'm known for a lot because that's what I was booked for consistently for so many years in my career. Um. But I also love the you know, really quick and

fast and natural stuff too. Love the stuff that you do as well. Oh you know what, First of all, for anyone listening out there, we are allowed to be different and and appreciate each other. So talk to me a little bit about where where you think the brand is going, Like where, Like what haven't you done yet? Because you've got these amazing palettes, You've got this amazing lipstick glosses, Like, what haven't you done? Well? I mean

there's so much I haven't done. Um. You know, I'm I'm working on slowly, you know, building a core brand first. So that's everything complexion. Um. You know, Mascara considers powders um blushes. So I want to build the you know, the core brand, and little by little, um with each collection and then just go from there. But um, I mean I haven't done so many, but I am working simultaneously on so many different categories and collections just because

it takes so much time. The product development experience, UM has been It's amazing. You know, it's very different from from what I've done and what I'm used to. And even with that, I really learned so much every day. UM. And then you make mistakes too, obviously, right, because I'm not an expert in that. You know, I don't know the sort of the the words and the things that that pet people use and stuff I'm not familiar with. Yet I kind of speak in my own language and

then they interpret that and then they sort of take over. Um. But yeah, that that whole process is such a learning experience for me, really exciting and UM. But definitely I still have even more to learn, you know, in that process. And I'm sure you're pro at that because you've done it for so many years. And actually I know you're supposed to ask questions about what advice do you have

for me in that whole area. Well, my my first advice for you is to sit down for a second and breathe and realize and realized how how amazing you are doing and how lucky you are to be doing this, and how much fun it is, and just and just really be in the moment, Mario, because you only launch once.

Just wait, like, there's so many things you've got to figure out personally how to let things go and that be so like, okay, you know, so intense on anything, and just appreciate it and be a sponge and learn. But as far as product development people, it's it's to me. When you are someone that has a brand, it's everything because you need people that will understand the words that come out of your mouth and don't get upset when

you say I hate this, I don't like this. This is I you know I I personally never liked silicone. So my team knew if they were ever going to show me something, I was gonna say, yeah, I can't stand that. That is so funny that you say that. You know I have something against it too. I don't like that text or whatever. I could feel it instantly when I touch the product and it has that that silicony thing. I do not like that. Sertainly that's really funny.

It is funny, but I didn't even know that until one of my product development people said, every time I show you something with silicone, you hate it. So I'm like, you're right, and so honestly like you're it's you've got to make sure that the product development people are your posse.

Like they're the ones you know that you just need to they need to like be in your brain and understand or when when you're doing something with makeup and you have this idea, they're the ones that you call, like, don't even bother calling the business people, call the product development, get the product and then figure out then give it to the business people to figure out, you know, how

to make it. You know something we've been we've been working on on that a lot, Like you know, I'm right next door, so my my office is attached to the to the p D room and UM, so we're constantly in there and doing sessions and I have my little makeup station. They're set up in my chair in my mirror and whenever I want to show them something, um that I love or show them a technique of mine for certain category or test products that we're working on. So I think going in there more and more every

day and like literally just doing makeup. I find that the best thing, um and the best outcome is always when I'm able to just do makeup and speak and and speak about what I'm doing, what I like, what I don't like, and then they take all that information. Um. So, yeah,

that that. I've been doing that more and more every day, and that's been really helpful and also great for me because when you when you start, you know, when you become a brand owner, and you know, there's all these new responsibilities and I'm so used to going out there and doing makeup every day on my clients, and I get lost in that. You know, you you you focused, and you get lost for those two or three hours

whatever it is. And and I haven't really had the time to do that so much since I started the brand, and you know, aside from doing some shoots and things like that. But um, you know, I I miss just getting lost in makeup and doing makeup and not thinking about anything else, just focusing on that. And um so I'm starting to do that little by little every day more and more, and it's had such a great impact on just me in general. Um, I really need to

do makeup a lot, and to do it often. And I've always had I had my copywriter come and sit with me whenever I'm doing makeup because then I like later when they say, okay, tell me how to use it, tell me what this means to you. It's so hard to bring it up, but when I'm in the middle of it doing makeup, so she's always there and she yeah, you do it. You don't that too. When they asked like, Okay, well what is the technique, I'm like, well, I don't

know how to write it. Yeah, you just motion on. Yeah. But but then you've got to make sure the copywriter understands that. So it's got to be someone you actually, you know, love hanging with and they would understand and they can ask you the questions and you know, so instead of like trying later to do it, you do everything you can now and uh, you know. So that's so that's a you know, that's another thing. But I think it's so interesting and exciting what you're doing because

it's really different. I love your packaging. I think it's so fresh and so clean, and I'm obsessed with two things, especially the liquid. I don't even know how to describe it. I don't even know what the secret glow the how did you figure that out? So that happened? Because so I would always use the Elizabeth Argent data Are cream. That's what I would use to achieve that sort of non parkly, non textured glow um and and I love

you cream. But the only problem with it is that it does tend to, after a little bit, really break down the product that's underneath it um and interferes with the with the texture of the foundation of powder or whatever it is underneath it um. And then it also is quite a bit um. I guess liquidy, right, It's a little bit too liquidy. And so I wanted a product that I will give me that glow, but that you can tap on um and that it's not going

to slide all over the place. It has like a controlled grip to it, and without disrupting the textures underneath um. And it works. Obviously, it works beautifully on bear skin when you just have nothing at all, but also for those more glam people, glam girls that like to put more product on, it sits on top of that product and and that glow stays without disrupting the textures underneath, and so that's pretty much how how it came about.

And it's such a simple, small, little simple product. But yeah, that's one of my favorite products. Um for just a natural globe, but also that sort of glam glow but you know, really truly inspired by my my technique of the typic glow that I like to do, especially in the red carpets and things like that. And it works even if you don't have makeup on, Like you just put it on your cheek and it's just that nice little sheen, which is really cool. I also love, I

don't know if it's sparkle or shimmer, the little round pots. Okay, those are the Master Crystal reflectors. Yeah, that's so cool. Do you like the white one or the gold one or the Bronzi one. I like the white one and the gold one. Yeah, the white one is my favorite. It's called ports because that one really looks like water. Um. And again just a really simple, easy product that you could use with a finger and you just literally really

tapped twice on the highlid UM. And then for those that want more pigment and more deferred to be more dramatic, they use swipe it right, But I'd love I love anything that you could use with a finger really quickly. Um. You know, as an artist, it's just it's great when you're on set and you can do something without having

to rely on other products or other brushes to achieve it. Um. And so you know, I thought with that product, I really did think about the consumer a lot too, and people like my sisters and you know, who are intimidated by maybe eye shuttles with glittering them or shimmering them, and so that thought this product was just a really simple, easy sheer product. And then you know, I intended it

more for the eyes. But then again, I know you mentioned earlier how things sometimes turn out differently than you'd expected. So there's so many people that are using this as their face highlighter, which I didn't intend it for that, but people are loving it for that, and so that makes me happy. You know. I learned a lot from everyone too, and I get inspired by all of the artists that are using the product and the consumers. How are you taking care of yourself these days? I am

definitely trying to take her myself. I'm on a you know, I never used to be on a routine UM in my life before the brand UM only solely because of my travel schedule. It was all over the place, Bobby, like, literally all over the place. So I was never able to get onto a nice routine. And ever since, I want to say, for the past several months, my executive assistant has sort of really put me on every team. Now that I'm home and I've come to the office

and I have more of a schedule. So I do now my my workouts three or four times a week at the same time all the time, I schedule my you know, my lunch and my snacks and every like. Literally, So I've discovered during in this process that I am so much more better in every sense of the word when I have structure and routine. And so I've been doing that with myself with working out with diet UM, you know, taking care of my you know, my face and my skin and you know, massages and things like that.

So you know, anything, anything and everything, as long as it's like an over routine in the schedule for me, I get it done and it doesn't feel like work. It just feels like it's you know, meant to be or that it should be that way. So that's been a big UM. A big positive of all this, UM is that I've been able to have like a routine for the first time in my life and and and know where I'm going each day and not be like living out of a suitcase. You know. Yeah, well I

think that's super super important. So um. Anyways, I cannot wait to see what else you're gonna do with this line, what else you're going to do? And I hope that we get to do this podcast in a year to find out, you know what else, what else is new? But Mario, since this podcast is called Beyond the Beauty, I'm going to ask you the same question I ask everyone, which is what what does beauty mean to you? What does beauty mean to me? I probably have answered this

question differently, um a couple of years ago. Beauty means to me? I don't know, Bobby, it means sort of. It's like a feeling to me, even more so, you know, than anything, It's a feeling of like happiness, because when I see beauty and when I create beauty, when I feel beauty, I feel like inspiration, I feel inspired, and I feel happiness. UM, So I associate it with that, just this feeling of happiness and this feeling of being inspired, which to me that is for me has always been

one of the greatest feelings. I love to be inspired. And beauty inspires me, you know, not and not just on the face, not make up, just any any type of beauty, whether it's nature, into your design, architecture. UM. I get inspired by beauty. It makes me happy. I like to make things beautiful. And then I'm going to ask you a couple of speed wrong questions. So what's the last thing you read? Oh, it was something political, So I don't wanna Um, I don't wanna. Yeah, I

don't want to. I don't want to say it was. Well, then you don't have to say that. I'm just gonna say because I just thought of it. If anyone hasn't read the New Yorker article on you, I tell everyone to go find it. Congratulations. That was Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thank you. You know, Bobby, I didn't read like I when that came out. I was too afraid to read it because I just didn't know

what to expect. That interview was a year long. That the process of that interview, she followed the editor Rachel Sime the journalist UM essentially followed me around for a year, and so I had no idea what this story was going to be about. UM And I literally I froze the morning that it came out, and I wouldn't read it. I had to wait to get a physical copy in order to read it. I'm hitting the chills I even thinking about it. And and so finally when I found

the physical copy, that's when I sat down and read it. UM. And Yeah, it was pretty It was pretty amazing. That was definitely definitely a highlight. UM. I just felt so honored that, Like, you know, that's one of those things I would have just never thought, like me, of all people, UM, to be taken seriously in any in any way by that type of UM journalists public Yeah, by that type of journalis and then by that type of publication. It did a lot for my self confidence in my selfish team. UM.

And what's the last TV show you? You? Binged? Um? So Wretched on on Netflix with Sarah Paulson, who I love. She's one of my favorite actresses, and I am so excited. I tried to start last night watching The Crown with the New This New Hero with Princess Diana. Princess Diana is one of my all time favorites, and so I'm really excited to sit down and watch now all these episodes.

What about me too? Um, well, actually we want. We sat down to watch The Crown and my husband put it on and all of a sudden, I'm like, Stephen, it's an old one, and he wouldn't get off it was it was an old one. It was one of the early ones. But we watched it again, and then when he finally put it on, it was ten o'clock and I fell asleep. So I'm gonna I'm gonna watch it tonight. And what's the last thing you eight? Um?

Last thing I ate was a protein shake? Um after the gym today, A protein shake with blueberries and walnuts and some cheese seeds and some collagen powder. Um knows it, Oh, in some coconut milk. Um. That's so I had that shake. And then I'm gonna have lunch and after this actually, and what are you having for dinner tonight? Um? Dinner, I don't know yet. So um, lunch, I know what I'm having. Um dinner, I don't know yet. I guess

depends on my mood. Um, When I get home, I start thinking about what I want to have for dinner, and do you cook? I can cook, I just don't. I'm too lazy to be honest. I don't want to make a mess in the kitchen, so I just kind of order the food. And what time do you get home from the office? Um, different times depending on my schedule, but typically I want to say anywhere from five to

seven ish. Okay, that's not fair. All right, Well, Mario, I am really proud of you, and I am you know, honestly, I'm always here from the sidelines if you ever need me, you know, wishing you well anything you need, and you know, just keep keep being you and keep being a better you. So thank you so much. Tell everyone where they could find jamaicap um so make up at Marra dot com, um, Sophora and Sapphora counted off right. Now, be well and be kiss Thank you so much, Bobby, I really appreciate me.

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