I tried 11 products from Ariana Grande's new makeup brand and ranked them from worst to best

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Amanda KrauseJan 15, 2022, 19:23 IST
I tried 11 products from Ariana Grande's new makeup brand and ranked them from worst to best

Ariana Grande's eye-shadow palette is one of the items I'd return to.Amanda Krause/Insider

  • I tried 11 products from Ariana Grande's r.e.m. beauty brand and ranked them from worst to best.
  • I enjoyed five of the items I tried, but wouldn't buy the other six again.
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Ariana Grande launched r.e.m. beauty in late 2021.

Ariana Grande launched r.e.m. beauty in late 2021.
Ariana Grande wears r.e.m. beauty products while appearing on "The Voice" in 2021.NBC/Getty Images

I purchased 11 products via the r.e.m. beauty website when they launched on November 12. Right after I confirmed my order, the website prompted me to leave a review of each product, which I thought was a bit strange, as I hadn't used any of them yet.

I became even more puzzled when I got my order confirmation email, which stated that three items I bought — an eyeliner, lip gloss, and lip stain — wouldn't be ready to ship until weeks later.

The email said, "please note, orders containing one or more of the following items are expected to ship December 3," but didn't explain why. I also didn't notice any warning that the items would ship late when adding them to my cart.

All but one of my items finally arrived on December 7, and I promptly put them all to the test.

My least favorite product is the $16 Practically Permanent lip-stain marker.

My least favorite product is the $16 Practically Permanent lip-stain marker.
The lip product stained my fingers, bled from my lips, and felt uncomfortable.Amanda Krause/Insider

I ordered the shade Full Out, which is described as a "raspberry red." On the r.e.m. beauty website, the brand suggests applying the product "to the center of your lips" before smudging it with your finger.

When I did so, the product dried almost immediately and created a patchy look that was tough to blend. The pen was dry and scratchy in my experience, which left my lips feeling irritated, and the actual stain itself wasn't comfortable either. And that's not to mention that it stained my finger for a day.

All in all, I think it takes way too much work to get a result that's meant to look effortless.

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I'm also not a fan of the $22 Interstellar highlighter topper.

I'm also not a fan of the $22 Interstellar highlighter topper.
The highlighter enhanced my pores and looked chalky on the skin, in my experience.Amanda Krause/Insider

Though r.e.m. beauty says the champagne-colored highlighter is "silky" and "creamy," I didn't find that to be the case.

Instead, the highlighter looked chalky on my skin and highlighted every bit of texture I have. I also don't like that the highlighter isn't buildable — one layer is barely visible, but two layers adds too much shine, in my opinion.

I'm not sure if the other highlighter shades have the same issues, but I'm not too eager to try another.

The $15 Flourishing Lengthening mascara unfortunately didn't work for me either.

The $15 Flourishing Lengthening mascara unfortunately didn't work for me either.
I found that the product looked OK from a distance, but clumpy up close.Amanda Krause/Insider

There are a few things I do like about this mascara, including its thin brush and deep-black color. It also did lengthen and darken my lashes as promised.

That said, I think the product is too clumpy to warrant its $15 price tag. I had to brush through my lashes countless times to remove the flakes it formed, and I didn't love the spidery look it left me with afterward.

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I enjoy using the At the Borderline kohl eyeliner pencil, but only on my waterline — not above my lashes.

I enjoy using the At the Borderline kohl eyeliner pencil, but only on my waterline — not above my lashes.
The product picked up my primer and eye shadow and looked patchy on my lids.Amanda Krause/Insider

When I was first deciding which r.e.m. beauty products to purchase, I knew I wanted this white pencil to re-create some of Grande's looks — like the black-and-white wings she sported on "The Voice" in November.

But once I actually received the product, I realized it was easier said than done. The pencil tugged on my skin as I tried to line my lids, removing my primer and eye shadow with it. The end result was a patchy, clumpy mess that could barely be saved with a line of black on top of it.

That said, it does work better in the waterline to brighten eyes.

The $17 Utmost Important plumping lip gloss works just fine, but I think it's too pricey.

The $17 Utmost Important plumping lip gloss works just fine, but I think it's too pricey.
The plumping effect looks subtle but feels intense on the lips, in my experience.Amanda Krause/Insider

Grande's brand recommends applying the clear gloss either on its own or on top of a deeper color. I tried both and found that the product definitely enhances lipsticks by adding a non-sticky sheen and a slight plump to your lips.

That said, I didn't see a huge difference after applying the gloss, despite its warming and tingling sensations being a bit more intense than your average lip plumper. For that reason, I probably wouldn't spend $17 on it again.

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The same goes for the $16 Midnight Shadows Lustrous liquid eye shadow.

The same goes for the $16 Midnight Shadows Lustrous liquid eye shadow.
The eye shadow didn't look bright on the eyes, in my experience.Amanda Krause/Insider

I purchased the sparkling purple shade Science Fair, which looks bold and vibrant in the tube. But when blended on my lids and skin tone, the product sheers into a muddy gray shade with a light sparkle effect.

I found that the only way to get any of the product to stay bright was to gently pat it onto my lids or to use it more as an eyeliner with a thick, unblended line. But even then, the shade isn't as vibrant as I'd hoped, so I'm not too impressed.

One product I love is the On Your Collar plumping lip gloss.

One product I love is the On Your Collar plumping lip gloss.
I personally love the color and hydration that this lip gloss provides.Amanda Krause/Insider

I ordered the shade Detention, which is described as a "cool nude." I love how easy it is to apply thanks to its tube packaging, and the buildable color it provides.

It's also pretty hydrating, in my opinion, and has a slight plumping effect that creates the illusion of fuller lips.

It's not a necessary purchase by any means, especially because there are lots of great glosses out there, but it's a luxury I've come to enjoy and carry in my purse.

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The $24 Midnight Shadows eye-shadow palette pleasantly surprised me.

The $24 Midnight Shadows eye-shadow palette pleasantly surprised me.
I could see lots of makeup fans returning to this palette day after day.Amanda Krause/Insider

Upon first glance, the Babydoll palette seemed a bit basic to me. It contains six neutral shadows in a mix of matte and shimmer finishes, and it looks like a lot of other eye shadows on the market.

But once I tried it, I was thoroughly impressed. The shadows blend seamlessly, and all six shades are highly pigmented. I'd definitely recommend it to people who are looking for a neutral palette, especially one that's beginner-friendly.

The $16 Midnight Shadows matte liquid eye shadow works like a dream.

The $16 Midnight Shadows matte liquid eye shadow works like a dream.
I applied the liquid eye shadow as a base for the rest of my eye makeup.Amanda Krause/Insider

I ordered the shade Sup?, which I expected to be peach-toned brown. In reality, it leans more toward orange, but I still enjoy the result.

The cream shadow blends beautifully with a fluffy brush and holds up strongly as a base for other eye makeup throughout the day.

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I'm a huge fan of the $19 At the Borderline eyeliner marker and have added it to my daily makeup routine.

I'm a huge fan of the $19 At the Borderline eyeliner marker and have added it to my daily makeup routine.
I wear this liquid eyeliner almost daily.Amanda Krause/Insider

In my experience, I've found the eyeliner pen to be long-lasting, matte in color, and perfect for detail work thanks to its small, felt tip.

It also hasn't smudged any of the times I've used it.

My other favorite product is the $19 On Your Collar matte lipstick.

My other favorite product is the $19 On Your Collar matte lipstick.
The shade is a pink-toned nude on my lips (left), and it comes in a unique tube (right).Amanda Krause/Insider

I purchased the nude-pink shade called Bubbly. It applies smoothly and opaquely, in my experience, and feels extremely comfortable on the lips. Its high-quality formula even reminds me of lipsticks from one of my favorite luxury brands, Pat McGrath Labs.

If you were to purchase only one product from Grande's makeup line, I'd definitely recommend this one or the brand's liquid liner.

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