When Uoma Beauty launched, we couldn't help but wonder if the inclusive brand with such elegant packaging would live up to the hype. But with so many makeup launches out there in just the past year, there's not enough time in the world to verify, or is there? That's where us beauty girls at Revelist come in and find out.
Upon the rave reviews the brand has received from influencers such as Alissa Ashley and Patrick Starrr in such a short period of time, we couldn't wait to get our hands on everything, so we did. We tried out the entire collection from the complexion products to eyeliners to lippies, and we're here to give you our completely unfiltered opinion.
First things first, I knew I had to try the Say What?! Foundation ($39, Ulta).
The most notable launch of the new brand, the Say What?! foundations, are made with blurring technology that promises to make your skin look like silk.
Available in 51 different shades, unlike other large ranges, the foundations do not all boast the same formula. The complexion products have six varying formulas and an even distribution of shades across varying skin tones. I tried the color T1W.
I applied one layer for medium coverage, and I must say I was impressed.
The brand suggests one layer for medium coverage and more generous layers for fuller coverage. After prepping and priming my skin, I used my semi-damp Beautyblender sponge ($20, Sephora) to evenly coat my skin with the silky formula.
It did what it promised. My skin looked instantly smoother, my few dark spots were covered, and my complexion was all-around much more even.
Then came the Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer ($25, Ulta).
I have to be honest: Lightweight concealers aren't usually my thing. I'm a sucker for a great full-coverage formula that's on the stiffer side, so I went into this test rather hesitant. However, I love doe-foot applicators, and this concealer's natural scent was equally as pleasant.
My color is T2.
I gave the creamier texture a little time to set.
It spreads easily, something I'm not used to, so I allowed the formula to set for about a minute and a half before blending out with my sponge. To all my girls that like their concealers thick like me, this part is a must. The concealer moves quite a bit if not given time to sit on the skin.
After applying my setting powder and finishing my look, I loved the results.
The foundation formula gets a 9/10 from me! It does oxidize a little bit, but that's nothing that can't be fixed with proper highlighting and contouring. And given that it feels amazing to know that these foundations were made with brown girls like me front of mind, this just might take me away from my go-to foundation.
The concealer gets an 8/10 due to movement, but is an absolute must for those who like lighter coverage.
I took one look at the Allure Black Magic Color Palette ($44, Ulta) and instantly knew I needed to call in Nicola, Revelist's resident eye makeup expert.
Allure Black Magic is one of Uoma's three eye palettes, and it instantly reminded Nicola of Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture palette or a combination of a few different Pat McGrath Labs Mothership palettes.
Its shades, from left to right and top to bottom, are named Lady of Gold, Divine, Mystical, Allure, Enchantress, Romantic, Love, Osun, Lush, and Opulence.
Upon swatching all five metallic shades with her fingers, Nicola could tell this formula is one that's very lightly pressed.
That being said, when applied with the right tools, Nicola noted these shades provided major color and shine payoff. Not to mention the unique hue of green-gold found in shades Lady of Gold (top), Allure (second from bottom), and Enchantress (bottom).
The matte shades, she noticed, are highly pigmented and also pressed very delicately.
If you've got experience using loose-pressed matte shades like the ones in Anastasia's best-selling eye palettes, then you'll know exactly how to manage these, according to Nicola.
She does warn that while the lightest shades blend seamlessly and easily, the darker shades (specially Lush and Opulence at the bottom of this photo) require extra care so as not to increase the likelihood of patchiness and fallout.
When deciding which shades to try on her actual eyes, Nicola couldn't help but gravitate toward the greens.
To achieve this look, she began by blending Lush (one of the palette's trickiest shades) just above her crease and outward from her outer corner — similar to the shape of a cat eye. She used Fenty Beauty concealer to create a cut-crease in the inner and middle sections of her eyes before topping it off with metallic shades Mystical and Allure.
The glitters, she maintains, are far more easy to control if you wet your brush or mix them with setting spray, saline solution, or any other liquid mixing medium.
To really top things off, Nicola finished the look with wings à la Uoma's Afro.Dis.Iac Cleopatra Ink Liquid Eyeliner ($18, Ulta)
This, the only shade it's available in, is called Blackety Black Y'all — a name we all actually cackled at with joy upon seeing the name on its gold and blue box.
Though Uoma's isn't the darkest eyeliner formula that Nicola's ever tried (and she's tried many), it does have one of the sharpest snd easiest-to-use pen tip applicators.
These sharp and itty bitty lines are the results of just a few quick flicks of Nicola's wrist. That cat eye shown above? Nicola did that in just a few seconds on the first try with no corrections — that's how easy this stuff is to use.
Nicola also couldn't resist snagging a few Badass Icon Matte Lipstick shades ($24 each, Ulta).
They also instantly reminded her of Pat McGrath's high-impact MatteTrance Lipsticks — they have an extremely similar, impossibly matte outer appearance. Much like Uoma's metallic lipstick shades, its matte ones look just like velvet on first impression.
Unsurprisingly, most of this lipstick's line is comprised of nude shades designed for deeper skin tones — nevertheless, it still carries a horde of reds, oranges, and pinks that can work on just about any skin tone.
From top to bottom, Nicola swatched shades Diana, Sade, Tina, and Whitney — each of them have the exact same consistency, which is highly pigmented and buttery smooth.
Did we mention that every single one of these shades is named after a groundbreaking black woman?
Nicola took the shade Sade to her lips and discovered that this formula is maybe the most comfortable matte she's ever worn.
It literally, she said, feels like air — like nothing — but as most makeup nerds will tell you, formulas built for comfort usually come with their downsides. This Uoma range of shades look matte on the skin but don't dry down like your typical matte formula.
Nicola doesn't mind that, though — she applied a lip liner underneath this shade and blotted it for long wear like she would any other lipstick. Still beats the competition.
From the moment I opened the Black Magic Metallic Shine Lipsticks ($26, Ulta), I couldn't wait to get it on my lips.
The bullets look like actual velvet, it's unreal. Even more mind-blowing, they feel like velvet, too. Imagine the most magical, plush pillow out there — that's what these lipsticks feel like.
This shade is called Lady of Gold.
To my surprise, the color wasn't overly pigmented.
The six shimmery satin shades with loads of metallic undertones definitely apply more sheer than they appear. However, they build seamlessly for a soft and ultra-pigmented finish with loads and loads of color.
From top to bottom, the colors are Lady Of Gold, On Fire, Mother, Poise, Allure, and Savage.
The lipstick feels like butter on top of the lips.
I knew I had to try out the bright-gold hue first, and I'm so happy I did. It applies so smooth to the lips, and it stays that way. And unlike most metallic lipsticks, these have no uncomfortable build-up over time.
Lastly, because I am weak for gloss, I was most excited to get my hands on Boss Gloss Liquid Marble ($22, Ulta).
While everyone is still loving matte lipsticks, I've been involved in a deep love affair with hi-shine glosses. After years of battering my lips with dry formulas, I had to kiss them goodbye last year and haven't turned back. So upon learning that Uoma had a comfortable gloss with a lingering stain, I had to try.
The pigments are unreal for a colored gloss formula.
The liquid marble comes in six shades: Ambition, Rose, Passion, Sass, Cray Cray, and Zero FK. Infused with lychee fruit extract, the formula protects the lips from UV radiation and stress all while looking absolutely fabulous.
It's safe to say that Uoma gets the Revelist stamp of approval.
I'm a fan, and frankly I'd say that Uoma is one of the best makeup launches of 2019. From the sleek packaging, thoughtful formula, and incredible pigments, this has been a breath of fresh air in light of the bad shade ranges and lack of inclusivity we've seen recently.
If I had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be the gloss, get it ASAP.
Shop the full Uoma collection at Ulta here.
