If you’ve browsed the beauty shelves at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters or Blue Mercury, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Mario Badescu product line. The collection offers streamlined, clinical looking products– but you may not know a lot about them as the company doesn’t advertise. Here’s a closer look at the Mario Badescu brands, some of its best-selling products, and whether it might be right for you.
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2019?
Who is Mario Badescu?
Mario Badescu was a Romanian-born skincare entrepreneur who had a background in chemistry and cosmetology. He opened his eponymous New York salon in 1967 and quickly gained a loyal following for his European style facials. He later created a botanical based skincare line to compliment his facials. Today the Mario Badescu spa still exists in the same location in New York, and the brand has expanded exponentially.
What Does Mario Badescu Sell?
The Mario Badescu collection is a comprehensive line of skincare products. The line has more than 200 items, including day creams, night creams, eye creams, facial sprays and serums. There are also products to target specific skin concerns, such as acne and uneven skin texture. Here’s a closer look at some of the best-selling Mario Badescu products. Mario Badescu products are also cruelty free, and some of the products are vegan.
Moisturizers
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer – Designed for those with oily or combination skin, this moisturizer is lightweight with an SPF 17 sunscreen.
Mario Badescu Collagen Moisturizer- Suitable for dry and combination skin, the Collagen Moisturizer contains collagen and cottonseed oil to hydrate and soften the skin.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream – This pale green night cream is powered by mineral rich bladderwrack extract to moisturize the skin
Masks
Mario Badescu Whitening Mask- This mask is designed to help fade dark spots and acne scars, and contains kojic acid, licorice root, mulberry and grapeseed.
Mario Badescu Drying Mask- Packed with minerals, the Drying Mask is designed to help dry up breakouts, eliminate excess shine and draw out impurities from the pores.
Serums
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum – Vitamin C is used as a skin brightener, and this serum contains ascorbic acid, as well as cucumber and ginger root extract.
Mario Badescu Rose Hips Nourishing Oil- This serum is formulated to nourish dry skin with rose hips extract and rose hip oil.
Cleansers
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel- This best-selling cleanser is lightweight, and formulated with papaya and grapefruit. It is designed to gently cleanse the skin and remove excess oil.
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser- Glycolic acid is an exfoliant, and this cleanser is designed to be used as a supplement in a skincare routine to leave skin with an improved texture and brightness.
Treatments
Mario Badescu Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater Facial Spray – This orange spray is a firm fan favorite, and is designed to refresh and hydrate the skin throughout the day. Many customers bring it on long haul flights.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion – This little bottle has garnered plenty of beauty editorial awards. It’s packed with salicylic acid, sulfur, and calamine to help dry out pimples overnight.
How Much Are Mario Badescu Products?
Mario Badescu products are sold in boutiques and department stores and are priced accordingly, but on the more moderate end of the spectrum. The Vitamin C Serum retails for $45 while the Whitening Mask is $24. The lightweight, Hyaluronic Eye Cream sells for $18. The Seaweed Night Cream is $22.
What Ingredients are in Mario Badescu Products?
Mario Badescu’s product line contains plenty of plant and botanical based ingredients, in keeping with the heritage of the company. For example the new Witch Hazel and Lavender Toner is powered by aloe, Lavender Essential Water, and Lavender Oil. The Mario Badescu Lip Balm is infused with Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, and antioxidant Vitamin E. The Botanical Exfoliating Scrub contains finely ground seeds from the Ecuadorian ivory palm as well as aloe vera, coconut, ginger, ginkgo, and green tea extracts to help hydrate and invigorate skin.
Where Are Mario Badescu Products Sold?
Mario Badescu is a midpriced brand that is available at department stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom, as well as beauty boutiques include Ulta, Sephora and Blue Mercury. The products are also on the brand’s own website and are available on QVC. The Mario Badescu Salon & Spa in New York offers a wide range of facials, body treatments such as Dead Sea salt scrubs and wraps, as well as massages.
Do Mario Badescu Products Work?
When trying to determine if a product works, keep in mind that every skincare product can react differently on different people. One person’s miracle product could do absolutely nothing for someone else, so a little trial and error is always involved when testing new products.
Mario Badescu products are firm favorites among beauty editors and industry insiders. The Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater was recently nominated for a Pro Award from The Makeup Show. The Drying Lotion has gotten positive write ups in everything from Vogue to Allure and Teen Vogue, and was named a winner at the 2017 Teen vogue Acne Awards. Kylie Jenner, Martha Stewart and Amy Sedaris are fans (Stewart has also collaborated with the brand on QVC), as well as male celebrities such as Stranger Thing’s Caleb Mclaughlin.
On Sephora, the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater gets a four star rating from 109 reviews, and over 10,000 “loves.” Reviews range from “On[e] of the best facial sprays. So GOOD. I have combo skin (oily T zone) and it makes my skin so so glowy and soft and what I like about it doesn’t break me out. Another thing I use on my hair when I get out of shower I spray it on the ends of my hair and it makes so soft and don’t frizz it dries, and even it’s dry if I have a frizzy hair I would put it on and my hair is soft.” Detractors criticized its orange color and scent – “irritant in a spray bottle, don’t fall for the hype. This has fragrance and coloring, why would you want to put that on your face”
The Hyaluronic Eye Cream gets four stars from 22 reviews and over 5,000 “loves.” Customers liked its price point and effectiveness – “With an affordable price, it did a really good job in moisturizing the eyes area. It also lasts long and works well under makeup to maintain a healthy looking eyes!” Customers who were not fans said the product didn’t absorb well—“ It’s def very creamy and moisturizing, but seems to just sit on top of my skin. I’m not sure if it ever absorbs or if I eventually just unknowingly smear it all over my face. I’ve used it for a few weeks now and will probably use up the container. Will update if I notice anything amazing.”
Beautypedia, launched by Paula’s Choice founder Paula Beth Begoun, gives Mario Badescu products a critical review. The review acknowledges the attractive price point, but says the brand’s weaknesses are “repetitive, lackluster moisturizer formulas; terrible products for acne; the daytime moisturizers cannot be relied on for sun protection; poorly formulated exfoliants and scrubs; mostly irritating masks; boring toners; several moisturizers contain irritating ingredients.”
What Are Some Alternatives to Mario Badescu?
Mario Badescu products may not appeal to everyone, or perhaps you’ve tried them and as with the case with some products, they may not work for you. But if you’re looking for a well rounded skincare line, there are a few other brands to consider.
Formulyst’s philosophy is long-term and effective skincare. The brand wants to help its customers achieve their best looking skin, rather than covering it up with makeup. The comprehensive line of products targets everything from wrinkles to dark spots and dry skin. Formulyst’s Pro-Collagen Serum contains a highly concentrated mix of peptides and proteins, derived from seaweed, wheat and soy, to help tackle these signs of aging. Apply a few drops of this hydrating serum to help skin look smoother and younger. Formulyst Gentle Foaming Cleanser gives the skin a deep clean without stripping it of essential oils. This ultra-gentle foaming cleanser whisks away dirt, sweat and makeup but won’t over dry the skin. Skin is left clean and feeling soft and supple thanks to nourishing rosehip seed oil as well as vitamins A, C and E.
Formulyst offers its own zit zapping solution- Formulyst Blemish Clearing Complex helps to dry out pimples overnight thanks to a whole cocktail of bacteria fighting, pimple drying ingredients including zinc oxide, salicylic acid, and camphor. It also helps to unclog pores.
If you like the simplicity of a skincare kit, consider Advanced Dermatology. This no nonsense brand offers a pared down approach to skincare. The packaging is simple and streamlined, and the products bring skincare back to the basics. The kit contains just six essential items including a daily cleanser; serum; anti-wrinkle firming treatment; night cream; day cream and an eye cream. In other words, everything you need to achieve your best possible looking skin.
Kathy 09.02.19
omg I have aging skin with pores beginning to get larger and splotches, this cleansing milk with carnation and rice oil makes my skin look smoother