Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.Almost a year ago (gasp... I know, the pandemic really put a damper on my blogging speed), I was contacted by the marketing team over at
Samer Khouzami to test out a few items from their makeup range. Based in Lebanon, Samer Khouzami is a self-made makeup artist and entrepreneur with a massive social media following who established his own makeup line back in 2017. Offering a range of complexion and color makeup, Samer Khouzami ships internationally from its online boutique and is available online and in stores through Sephora Middle East. To learn about a few bestsellers from the brand, click......
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Divine Matt Liquid Foundation in "SK 15" |
Samer Khouzami | Divine Matt Liquid Foundation (US$52 for 30 ml):Housed in a frosted glass pump bottle, the Divine Matt Liquid Foundation is described as a high-coverage, matte-finish liquid foundation. With a soft vanilla scent, the foundation has a creamy liquid consistency and thanks to the highly pigmented formulation, a little goes a long way. When it comes to foundations, I prefer a high-coverage foundation as they tend to have a smoother finish and a longer-lasting wear.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Divine Matt Liquid Foundation in "SK 15" |
With the Samer Khouzami Divine Matt Liquid Foundation, however, I found the finish a bit streaky. I applied it with my favorite foundation brush and found that even with careful blending, there are some minor but noticeable streaks that just can't be smoothed out. I suppose the problem can be avoided with the use of a beauty sponge but I personally prefer a brush and believe that a good foundation should apply evenly regardless of the tool used. Aside from the streakiness, the foundation finish is decent. The pigments do not sink too much into lines or pores and they do not cling or emphasize dry patches. The foundation sets to a satin matte finish and while non-drying, it's not very transfer-proof. Even after a good 10 minutes after the foundation has had a chance to set, the finish still smudges and transfers with light contact. The foundation obviously becomes more budge-proof after powdering but I don't feel that it has the same kind of longevity I've come to expect from the likes of Lancome Teint Idole (reviewed
here) or Dior Forever Matte (reviewed
here), especially on oily/combination skin. If anything, I feel that this may actually be a good full-coverage foundation for those with dry skin.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Divine Matt Liquid Foundation in "SK 15" |
I have here shade "
SK 15", a light beige with supposedly cool undertones. The shade is a good match for me but I think its undertone is more neutral than cool. Overall, I'm not in love with this foundation. The high pigmentation and the comfortable wear are both positives but the streaky, smudge-prone finish is a dealbreaker for me.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | The Concealer in "SK 1.5" |
Samer Khouzami | The Concealer (US$36 for 10 ml):Housed in a small glass jar, this is a rich cream concealer intended for all areas of the face. With a very pigmented formulation, the concealer is fairly thick, requiring quite a bit of blending to smooth out. The finish is very dewy so I think it's better used for the under-eye area and not so much over blemishes or discoloration around the nose and mouth. Additionally, the concealer must be set with a good powder as it does not "dry down" and will smudge and transfer with contact.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | The Concealer in "SK 1.5" |
I have here the shade "
SK 1.5", a light beige with a yellow undertone. The concealer is available only in six shades, which is unfortunately limited. Overall, this is a miss for me. I'm not a big cream concealer person to begin with and because I have oily/combination skin, the rather thick texture and dewy finish simply don't jive with me.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Instant Blur Compact Powder in "SK 120" |
Samer Khouzami | Instant Blur Compact Powder (C$45 for 8 g):Another item from the complexion range is this medium coverage powder foundation. Housed in a shiny gold compact with a hidden compartment for a sponge applicator, the Instant Blur Compact Powder has a smooth, finely-milled formulation that provides a smoothing, blurring effect. The powder provides some coverage but won't camouflage any major blemishes or discoloration.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Instant Blur Compact Powder in "SK 120" |
"
SK 120" is described as a light beige with warm undertones although I think it's more neutral than warm. Overall I definitely like this powder over the liquid foundation and concealer but I wouldn't say that it's particularly special as I've tried many similar powders in the past. It's a product that I will incorporate into my makeup routine but I wouldn't recommend anyone going out of their way to get one unless they frequent Middle Eastern Sephoras.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Instant Blur Compact Powder in "SK 120" |
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Matt Lip Drop |
Samer Khouzami | Matt Lip Drop (C$22 for 6 ml):Housed in short plastic tubes that remind me of nail polish bottles, the Matt Lip Drop is a matte liquid lipstick with a tapered doe-foot applicator. The formulation is creamy and easy to apply and the color sets to a matt, mostly transfer-proof finish that will remain intact with snacking and light meals. The formulation is comparable to most matte liquid lipsticks on the market; it is a bit drying but that is expected given the long-wearing formulation.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Matt Lip Drop in "SK 309 Red" & "SK 307 Rose Wood" |
I have here two of the nine shades available. "
SK 309 Red" is a classic bold red and "
SK 307 Rose Wood" is a deep plummy mauve. With both shades, the coverage is intense so do be mindful during application as thicker layers yield a darker color. It's tricky to not go overboard as I tend to apply more than one swipe to perfect the edges, resulting in a heavier coverage that looks too dark and feels too stiff.
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Matt Lip Drop in "SK 307 Rose Wood" |
 |
| Samer Khouzami | Matt Lip Drop in "SK 309 Red" |
Overall I have no doubt about the quality of the Samer Khouzami makeup range, both in terms of packaging and formulation. However, I don't think anything here feels very original or innovative. Even my picks out of the bunch, the Instant Blur Compact Powder and the Matt Lip Drop, have dozens of dupes on the market to compete with. It's hard not to be critical of relatively new beauty brands given the ever-so-saturated market. However, it almost feels that we've come to a point where every celebrity, influencer, and makeup artist is releasing their own line, not to introduce unique, creative products but to capitalize on their fame and popularity with rather generic products. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with that. When there's demand there will be supply. However, as a dedicated beauty lover who has spent years testing new products, I do appreciate novel, new ideas, or at least improvements on pre-existing products. The bottom line here is that the Samer Khouzami makeup range is perfectly serviceable but it's nothing that I would go out of my way to recommend.
Availability:
Same Khouzami is available online at samerkhouzami.com (ships internationally). It is also available online and in stores at Sephora Middle East.
