You know what? Ruby Rose surprised me. I thought it was just cute, low-cost makeup. But I used it for a full month—school runs, sweaty errands, one wedding, and a string of Zoom calls. I kept notes. I made a few mistakes. I fixed them. Now I’ve got thoughts. Spoiler: I wasn’t the only one curious; Girindus also did a full-month wear test, and their Ruby Rose makeup review lines up with a lot of my own notes. If you’re still wondering whether the line is genuinely worth the hype, Edwin von Holy’s in-depth Ruby Rose makeup review offers another month-long perspective.
Quick skin info: I’m combo skin. Oily T-zone, dry cheeks. Warm olive tone. Summer shade shifts a bit darker on me.
What I Actually Used
- Feels Foundation (warm olive shade; my summer match)
- Feels Loose Banana Powder
- Soft Nude Eyeshadow Palette (mattes + a few shimmers)
- Trópico Mascara (length and curl)
- Soft Matte Lipstick in a brick red (very “ruby,” very bold)
- Glow Highlighter Palette (four pans, warm leaning)
I grabbed most of this at a little Latin beauty shop near me and a couple pieces online. Real Techniques sponge did the heavy lifting. For eyes, I used a Zoeva 227 and a small e.l.f. tapered brush.
First Impressions: Smooth, But Watch The Clock
The Feels Foundation goes on fast. It spreads easy with a damp sponge. Medium coverage right away. It blurs pores on my nose. No heavy mask look. It does have a light sweet scent. Not strong, but there. I noticed it dries a touch deeper after ten minutes. Not wild oxidation, but a half shade. So if you’re between shades, pick the lighter one.
The banana powder is soft and brightens. On my under eyes, it looks smooth if I dust lightly. If I “bake,” it gets dry and creasy. So I stopped baking. My fine lines said thank you.
Real Days, Real Wear
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Hot farmer’s market Saturday: I was out for four hours in sticky heat. The foundation held for about three hours before my T-zone got shiny. I pressed a tissue on my nose. That helped. By hour five, it looked lived-in, not ruined.
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Mask test at the dentist: Some transfer on the inside of the mask. Not awful, but it moved.
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Cousin’s evening wedding: I did primer + a thin layer of foundation + banana powder + setting spray (I used NYX Matte). Photos came out clean. No weird flash. My highlighter looked glowy, not blinding. By hour seven, my nose needed a tiny touch-up.
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Zoom marathon day: Soft Nude palette mattes blended easy. The taupe and warm brown shades played nice. The shimmers needed a finger or a damp brush to pop. Dry brush looked meh.
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Burger test (the true test): The Soft Matte Lipstick lasted through coffee and a salad. It gave up after a messy burger. I had to reapply. It wears down even, though. No ring around the lips.
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Gym stop: Trópico Mascara lifted my lashes and held curl. I saw a little smudge under the lower lash line around hour seven. Nothing scary. Came off easy with micellar water.
Speaking of putting your best face forward, if you’re trial-running this makeup for an impromptu night out or a swipe-right adventure, you’ll want to look into Instabang. The site lets like-minded adults connect, chat, and arrange meetups quickly—so your fresh Ruby Rose glam gets seen while it’s still flawless. Better yet, if you’re already in the Chicagoland area and want a classy spot to debut that look in person, consider a quick drive to Tryst Joliet, an intimate lounge whose mood lighting and craft cocktails provide the perfect backdrop for testing how long your Ruby Rose glow can last through real-life conversation.
Little Things I Noticed
- The foundation likes thin layers. If I stack it heavy, it can look flat around my mouth.
- The powder is great for T-zone. Under eyes? Go gentle.
- The highlighter palette has one shade that leans glittery. I mix it with the softer gold. Then it looks smooth.
- The lipstick feels comfy, a bit powdery. No plasticky taste. Love that.
- The palette leans warm. If you want cool mauves, you may need another palette.
What Worked Great
- Price that doesn’t make your eye twitch
- Shade match looked natural on warm skin
- Soft mattes that blend without fuss
- Mascara that lifts without crunchy lashes
- Lipstick that feels light and looks rich
Beauty Crew has also rounded up Ruby Rose's favourite makeup products if you need a quick hit-list for your next haul.
What Bugged Me
- Light scent in the foundation (not a deal breaker, but it’s there)
- Slight deepening after it sets, so shade pick is tricky
- Shimmers need help to shine (finger or damp brush)
- Powder can age the under eyes if you pack it on
My Quick Ruby Rose Routine
- Moisturizer + sunscreen (let it set)
- Thin layer of Feels Foundation with a damp sponge
- Tiny dot more only where I need it (red spots, chin)
- Dust banana powder on T-zone with a small brush
- Soft Nude mattes in crease; shimmer pressed with finger
- Trópico Mascara, one coat, curl first
- Brick red Soft Matte Lipstick tapped on, then full swipe
- A light swipe of gold highlighter on cheekbones and brow bone
Side note: if you’re torn on whether to style your hair or do your makeup first, the experiment in this hair-versus-makeup timing guide settles the debate.
Total time: 12 minutes. If I’m late? I skip shadow and just do mascara and lips.
Who I Think Will Like It
- Beginners who want makeup that blends fast
- Teens and college folks on a budget
- Combo or oily skin types who want soft matte
- Warm or olive tones who struggle to find a match
If you’re very dry, you can still use it. Just prep well. I mix a drop of hydrating serum into the foundation in winter. That fixes the tight look.
A Quick Side Note
For all-day, zero-budge events, I still reach for my “tank” foundation (Estée Lauder Double Wear) with a stronger setting spray. But for normal days, Ruby Rose feels nicer on the skin. Lighter. Friendlier. If you’re curious about the chemistry that keeps pigments stable and skin-friendly, this concise guide from Girindus is a fascinating rabbit hole.
Final Take
Is it perfect? Nope. But it’s good. And it looks good without much work. My keepers are the Trópico Mascara and the Soft Matte Lipstick. The Feels Foundation is my weekday face—school run, errands, desk life. The powder stays in my bag for a shiny nose. The palette is a warm neutral workhorse.
Score: 4 out of 5. Budget beauty that pulls its weight. Honestly, that’s all I wanted. And it did that.