Mented Cosmetics Review: Inclusive, Pigmented Makeup for All Skin Tones
Hey beautiful! If you‘re a woman of color, you know the struggle of finding makeup that truly matches your skin tone. Too often, we‘re left looking ashy, washed out, or like an afterthought in the beauty industry. But one brand is on a mission to change that – Mented Cosmetics.
Founded by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson in 2017, Mented (short for "pigmented") creates makeup specifically designed to flatter darker skin tones. From foundations to bronzers to bold and nude lipsticks, Mented has become a go-to for celebs, influencers, and everyday women looking to enhance their natural beauty.
As a beauty lover myself, I had to put Mented to the test! Over the past few weeks, I‘ve been playing with some of their bestsellers and reading up on what other shoppers have to say. So does Mented live up to the hype? Let‘s dive into this ultimate Mented Cosmetics review.
About Mented Cosmetics
Before we get into the products, let‘s talk about the brand itself. Mented was born when KJ and Amanda, two Harvard Business School grads, bonded over their frustrations with the lack of diversity in the beauty aisles. They dreamed of creating a line of products that made all women feel seen, heard, and beautiful in their own skin.
"We believe every woman should be able to find herself in the world of beauty, no matter her skin tone," the founders say on their website. "We know you‘ll love being put first – because when it comes to beauty, no one deserves to be an afterthought."
Love that! In just a few years, Mented has expanded into Sephora, Macy‘s and Target, been praised by experts at Allure and Essence, and amassed over 230,000 Instagram followers – myself included. But most importantly, they‘ve made a real difference for real women by taking the guesswork out of finding your perfect shade.
Mented Cosmetics Products
Alright, now for the good stuff – the makeup! Mented sells products for your skin, lips, eyes, brows and even nails, all in a inclusive shade ranges for light to deep dark skin tones. Their lineup includes:
- Foundations and loose powders
- Bronzers and blushes
- Eyebrow pencils and pomades
- Eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners and mascaras
- Lipsticks, lip glosses and lip pencils
- Makeup brushes, bags, and tools
Let‘s take a closer look at some of their bestsellers, shall we?
Skin by Mented Duo
One of Mented‘s hero products is their Skin by Mented Duo, which includes their popular foundation stick and brush. Available in 16 shades to suit cool, warm, and neutral undertones, this creamy yet lightweight formula goes on like butter and builds from medium to full coverage.
The accompanying brush has dense, soft bristles that blend the product seamlessly into your skin, leaving you with an undetectable, your-skin-but-better finish. I wear the shade M30 and love how it covers my dark spots without looking or feeling cakey!
At $40 for the duo, it‘s a steal compared to high-end foundations on the market. Plus, Mented offers a sample pack so you can test out all 16 shades before committing to a full size.
Bronzers & Setting Powders
For the perfect sunkissed glow, Mented‘s Sunkissed Bronzer collection can‘t be beat. Made in Italy with skin-loving vitamin E, these silky pressed powders come in four buildable shades that can warm up and sculpt any complexion.
The shades range from Beach Bum (a light golden brown) to Out Of Office (a rich terracotta), with Vacay and Yacht Life falling somewhere in between. I use Vacay as an all-over bronze, followed by a pop of Out Of Office to contour.
As for setting powders, Mented‘s translucent Skin Silk Loose Setting Powder keeps foundation in place and blurs pores without ashiness. It comes in three colors based on skin tone and boasts brightening vitamin C. I like to apply it with a damp beauty sponge after foundation and concealer.
Lipsticks & Glosses
Ask any Mented fan about their favorite product, and there‘s a good chance they‘ll say the Semi-Matte lipsticks. Enriched with moisturizing shea butter and vitamin E, these pigmented lippies deliver a soft matte finish that doesn‘t make your lips shrivel up like a raisin.
The Semi-Mattes come in nine shades of nude, from pale pinkish brown to deep chocolate, meaning there‘s a nude for everyone. Mented even offers a Nude Lipstick Shade Match Quiz on their website to make finding your ideal shade a breeze. I‘m obsessed with the chocolatey Nude LaLa!
If you prefer a glossier pout, Mented also offers Lip Gloss, available in both sheer and opaque finishes. Like the lipsticks, they‘re infused with nourishing ingredients and available in flattering shades for melanin-rich skin.
Mented Makeup Tools & Kits
Every artist needs their tools, and Mented has makeup brushes, sponges, sharpeners and mirrors to help you apply your products like a pro. They also sell cute branded merch like makeup bags, tees, and headbands.
The Foundation Brush is a standout, with a small dense head that buffs cream and liquid formulas into the skin. There‘s also a great travel-sized Mini Brush Trio that covers all your concealing, highlighting and eyeshadow needs on the go.
For the ultimate Mented experience, they offer a few curated kits and sets. The Statement Box allows you to customize a monthly subscription box of Mented products from their site. Or for a one-time purchase, the Date Night Essentials kit bundles two lipglosses, a liner, an eyeshadow palette, and two makeup brushes at a discount. So fun!
What Customers Think
Alright, so we know Mented sounds great on paper – thoughtful shade ranges, clean ingredients, and woman-owned. But do the products stack up IRL? To find out, I scoured Mented Cosmetics reviews from real customers online.
Spoiler alert: most people adore Mented just as much as I do! The brand boasts impressive ratings on their website, with most products earning 5 stars from hundreds of reviews. People rave about the shade accuracy, comfortable wear, and overall quality of the formulas.
On Influenster, Mented has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating from nearly 300 reviews. Customers call out the creamy, pigmented lipsticks, budge-proof foundations, and helpful customer service. "Hands down thee best products for melanin faces," one reviewer raves. "The color match is impeccable and the products feel so light."
While researching for this Mented Cosmetics review, I also discovered the brand has a stellar reputation on Facebook and Amazon. The Semi-Matte lipsticks and Everyday Eyeshadow Palette are especially popular on Amazon, with shoppers praising their blendability and long-lasting wear.
So what about the complaints? A few Mented reviews mention issues with slower-than-expected shipping or trouble with the brand‘s referral program. However, the vast majority of feedback is positive, with customers saying the quality and shade range is well worth the wait.
Is Mented Cosmetics Worth It?
Personally, I‘m giving Mented Cosmetics a huge thumbs up! I love that this brand celebrates diversity, uses gentle ingredients, and most importantly, makes products that work for women of color. No more mixing 5 shades of foundation or looking gray in photos!
With their unique shade range and fuss-free formulas, I think Mented is 100% worth checking out if you have melanin-rich skin – or just want to support an amazing Black-owned, female-founded brand.
At an average price point of $15-$30 per product, Mented is also pretty affordable compared to high-end brands. You can save even more by snagging one of their bundles or using the refer-a-friend discount.
Of course, everyone‘s skin is different, so what works for me may not be a home run for you. But with Mented‘s 30-day return policy and helpful shade matching tools, I think they‘re absolutely worth a shot. You can find Mented online or at your local Target and select Macy‘s.
How to Order
Ready to treat yourself to some new Mented goodies? Here‘s the need-to-know deets on shopping with them:
Mented Cosmetics ships to all 50 US states, with free shipping on orders over $40. Orders typically ship in 1-3 business days and take 7-11 days to arrive with standard ground shipping. Some delays are possible due to COVID.
Want your Mented haul sooner? Upgrade to FedEx 2-Day shipping! This express option will get your order to you in 2 business days if placed before 11am.
If you‘re not totally happy with your purchase, no worries! You can return new and gently used products within 30 days for a full refund, minus return shipping costs. Email [email protected] with your order details to get started.
For other questions, you can also call or text the Mented team at (929) 352-2642, send inquiries to [email protected], or slide into their DMs on Instagram or Facebook. They‘re super friendly and usually reply within a few hours!
The Final Verdict
And that‘s a wrap on my Mented Cosmetics review! After trying the products and scouring reviews, I am thoroughly impressed by this brand‘s commitment to celebrating our skin in all its melanated glory.
No matter your skin tone or type, Mented has taken the guesswork out of finding your perfect match with their extensive shade ranges and helpful digital tools. From foundations to lippies to bronzers, their high-performing formulas and reasonable prices put luxury within reach for all.
But Mented is more than just great products. As a Black-owned brand dedicated to diversity and inclusion, they‘re truly changing the beauty game and reminding all of us that we are worthy of feeling seen and celebrated. We all deserve products that love us back!
So if you‘ve been searching for makeup that makes you feel like your best self, I highly recommend giving Mented a try. Use my exclusive discount code MENTEDXO for 15% off your first order! And be sure to tag me in your unboxing pics – I can‘t wait to see you glow.
Till next time, remember: beauty comes in every shade imaginable. Wear what makes you feel unstoppable!
