When I found out that Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda the Good (or Ga-linda!) in the film adaptation of Wicked, opposite Tony- and Grammy-award winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, it only made sense that her budding beauty brand, r.e.m., would be a part of the phenomenon. ("Popular" — which Grande famously sampled on her debut album Yours Truly — is all about a makeover, after all.)
After much anticipation, the r.e.m. beauty Wicked collection is live. You can shop the items directly at r.e.m. or Ulta, (but at Ulta, items are available with a free gift with purchase). The full range of products includes the Galinda and Elphaba makeup sets, Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette, Galinda Glow Drops, So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil, Tulip Field Lip Stain and Beautification Under-Eye Masks. To help you shop, we got our hands on early samples and tested out the collection before the line even came out. See our honest review below.
Galinda and Elphaba Makeup Kits
The Galinda and Elphaba makeup kits are the stars of the show. Each set includes a liquid eyeshadow, gel pencil liner, blush and lipstick for a complete makeup look inspired by each character. If you plan to channel either witch for Halloween this year, consider your makeup found! But know that these kits are not just for costumes. Lauren Gruber, associate editor, says they were "surprisingly wearable and easy to use."
Gruber tested the Elphaba kit. "To be totally honest, I was intimidated when I first looked at the kit — glittery green eyeshadow and black lipstick aren't usually my shades of choice," she says. Gruber was surprised when she swatched the black lipstick and realized it's actually sheer with pH technology (similar to the lip oil, below) that adjusts to your skin tone. "I was left with a pretty plum tint to my lips that felt super hydrating," she adds. "I applied the green liquid eyeshadow with my fingers for a more diffused look."
r.e.m. beauty Wicked Elphaba Makeup Set
r.e.m. beauty Wicked Galinda Makeup Set
Samantha Jones, commerce editor, was our office Galinda, and the blue gel liner really popped on her eyes. "I love a statement liner, and this icy blue color really delivered," she shares. "Considering how light of a shade it is, I was really impressed by the bold, creamy pigment that made it so easy to swipe on." She notes that it didn't stay put on her lower water line.
Gruber and Jones had mixed reviews on the blush, which Gruber found had a "stunning, dewy finish," but Jones says she found it very pigmented and hard to blend out. She was careful not to apply too much product and used a brush and makeup sponge to get her desired look.
Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette
I was immediately drawn to the Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette. It's packaging looks like the Wicked musical book — which I have sitting on my shelf at home — complete with a stunning storybook fold and a bookmark ribbon. It has 12 eyeshadow shades, ranging from neutral mattes to reflective duochromes with names like 'Goodness Knows,' 'Darlingest' and 'The Shiz.' As someone who loves to play with bold makeup, I'm excited to let my imagination run with the wide range of colors this fall.
For my first application, I followed one of the included eye guides for a Galinda-inspired eye look. After a neutral base, it recommended applying the pink duochrome shades with your finger, by tapping it directly onto your lid, and blending out the shade 'Swankifyed' along the lash line. The chrome shades with the tapping technique made for an opaque, reflective lid with thrillifying shimmer and color payoff.
Tulip Field Lip Stain and So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil
Staffer testers Angel Madison, Madison McGee and Sophie Park tried the various r.e.m. x Wicked lip products. Park tried the Tulip Field Lip Stain in shade Ozmopolitan and "was impressed by how smoothly it went on and how natural it looked." She says that, as a K-Beauty lip stain lover, "it’s one of the better lip stains I've tried in the U.S. market." Madison also tried the lip stain in the shade Made in Oz, and while she "had to do multiple coats to really get it to pop," she notes that it lasted for hours without reapplying, and "really liked that it doesn’t leave marks on glasses, coffee cups."
r.e.m. beauty Wicked Tulip Field Lip Stain
r.e.m. beauty Wicked So Popular PH Adaptive Lip Oil
McGee tried the So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil — her first pH lip product — and her biggest tip was to wait and see how it adjusts to your skin tone before applying more. She initially applied multiple layers because she wasn't noticing much change, but after a few minutes, the gloss gradually turned from clear to a deep pink hue. "The shade was really pretty and flattering!" she shares.
As for our products to skip, Galinda's Glow Drops — a shimmer serum meant to be used as a complexion base — comes in a large volume with a steep price point to match, and while it gave my skin a nice highlight, I doubt I will use all of the product, and it doesn't have remarkably different skincare benefits of other hyaluronic acid serums. Similarly, the Beautification Eye Masks were so cute to wear (hello, Galinda-ified iridescent bubble coating) but more expensive than other top-rated under-eye patches at about $5.20 per pair.
We were unanimously impressed by the entire collection's packaging. Beyond the undeniably Wicked design, it had thoughtful, functional details, like a flat edge on the lip stain to keep the tube from rolling. We also agreed that Wicked fanatics would love anything from the collection as a gift (just make sure to shop soon, as it will likely sell out before the film's release).
Shop Grande's r.e.m. Beauty Wicked collection as we anxiously await he Wicked Part 1 theatrical release on November 22.
Heath Owens (he/they) is the Deputy Editor for Hearst Magazines' central commerce editorial team, where he leads content strategy and production. He specializes in product testing and sales and deals coverage, with the ultimate goal of helping readers shop smarter. When he’s not at his desk or running around New York City to preview the latest product launches, he’s probably catching up on the Real Housewives of Everywhere™ and tending to his plant children, or, as of late, training for a marathon.
