27-03-2025
We tested Serena Williams' Wyn beauty brand. Here's what we thought
Last year, several celebrity beauty brands stepped onto the scene, including Wyn Beauty, the clean makeup brand from Serena Williams. The lineup of cruelty-free beauty products is available on the brand's website and online at Ulta, all at an accessible price point, with products ranging from $8 to $29. Housed in chartreuse packaging, an homage to Williams' time on the tennis court, the products include bestsellers, like Featuring You, a hydrating skin tint with a 36-shade range and MVP: Most Versatile Pigment, a 2-in-1 lip and cheek color.
Alongside my colleagues, Jillian Tracy and Richa Srivastava, we tested top products from the beauty brand to see if they're worth the price.
Wyn Beauty Featuring You Hydrating Skin-Enhancing Tint
This hydrating skin tint has a lightweight and buildable formula that enhances your complexion. The bestseller comes in 36 shades, ranging from fair with warm undertones to deep with cool undertones. The tint is formulated with SPF 30 for sun protection and the brand's Unstoppable HydraComplex, which promises up to 72 hours of hydration. We all agree that the skin tint offers a surprising amount of coverage, with Tracy noting her skin tone looked more even after just one coat. I found that the level of coverage was enough to mask any discoloration and redness in my skin, while still allowing my beauty marks to peek through. The tint has a very lightweight and buildable formula that can be worked in with your fingers or with a Beautyblender. Though I found one layer of the product was all I needed, you could definitely apply more layers if desired.
Its weightless feel is another highlight. Even with multiple layers of the product on my face, it still felt like I was wearing nothing. The tint leaves your skin with a fresh, dewy glow, that Tracy says doesn't look oily and 'nicely contrasts with the matteness of the concealer.'
We also love that the skin tint comes in over 30 shades for fair, medium and deep skin tones. I tested the tint in the shade 315 Curiosity, which worked perfectly for my skin tone, while Srivastava tested the skin tint in shade 210 Commit and Tracy in shade 90 Reach. Plus, the addition of SPF 30 to the formula is something else to appreciate. 'As someone whose skin care/makeup routine used to be just concealer and sunscreen before heading to play tennis, I really like that I can get coverage and sun protection in the same product without adding another step into my routine,' Srivastava says.
What we liked about it: The product leaves skin with a radiant finish for a your skin-but-better look. It does a good job at concealing discoloration and redness, while still feeling breathable. Besides the great coverage it provides, the large color range makes it easier to find a match for your skin tone.
What we didn't like about it: I found the skin tint to be a touch oily, but because I prefer a glowy look, I don't mind.
Wyn Beauty Nothing to See Soft Matte Hydrating Creamy Concealer
The Nothing to See Soft Matte Hydrating Creamy Concealer has a buildable, lightweight cream-to-powder formula. Like the skin tint and the lip and cheek color, the concealer is formulated with the brand's HydraComplex, a blend of skin care ingredients including hyaluronic acid. The Nothing to See Here matte concealer has a cream-to-powder formula. It offers buildable coverage that brightens, stamps out redness and has the same lightweight feel as the skin tint. Plus, it comes in 20 shades to ensure a good match. That said, we all agree that it may not be the best option for those with drier under-eyes as it brings out texture and fine lines. 'Even though I have combination-oily skin, my under eyes are on the drier side, so I found this concealer start to settle into the fine lines under my eyes as the day went on,' Srivastava says. Tracy also notes that while the concealer was great for spot coverage, it was harder to blend across larger areas because it sets quickly.
What we liked about it: The concealer works well to provide coverage where you need it. The wide color range also made it easier for us to find a color that worked well for our skin tone.
What we didn't like about it: The concealer drew attention to the skin texture and fine lines around our eyes. It also took some effort to get the product to blend nicely.
Wyn Beauty MVP: Most Versatile Pigment Multifunction Lip and Cheek Color
This multi-use lip and cheek color offers a natural flush of color to the cheeks and lips. Like the skin tint, the gel formula features the brand's Unstoppable HydraComplex. It comes in eight colors, including a coral and rose brown. The MVP Lip and Cheek Color was one of the products I was most excited to test and it did not disappoint. The product provides great color payoff, with just a couple of dabs of the lip and cheek color going a long way. Once fully blended out, the tint leaves your cheeks with a natural looking flush, which I especially liked layered over the skin tint. While the lip and cheek color is easy enough to blend in with your fingers, it's best to work quickly.
'As with other cheek stains, this tint doesn't spread as easily as a cream or powder blush, so you'll want to be intentional with where you're applying it on your face,' Tracy says. 'If you do apply the blush a little stronger than you'd like, a quick dab of the Wyn Skin Tint to the area will help mellow out the intensity.'
I tested the lip and cheek color in the shade Advance, a plum berry. Though the color left a nice berry stain on the lips, it wouldn't be my first choice for a lip product. I also applied a few dabs of the product to my eyelids but ultimately, I feel the lip and cheek color works best as a blush. Tracy tested the product in the same shade, and she says the berry color was 'softer than a lipstick but still enough to give a little bit of pizazz.' Though Srivastava felt that the shade she tested didn't mesh well with her skin tone, she says the long-lasting and hydrating formula makes it worthwhile trying in another color.
What we liked about it: The lip and cheek color adds a natural-looking flush of color to the lips and cheeks. Plus, a little bit of the product goes a long way, so you'll get plenty of use from it.
What we didn't like about it: Since the product is very pigmented, it's easy to end up with way too much color on your face, so it's important to be mindful of the amount of product you apply.
Wyn Beauty Word of Mouth Max Comfort Matte Lipstick
This buildable matte lipstick has a rich, cream formula that glides on easily and feels hydrating. The lipstick is available in 10 rich colors. The Word of Mouth Matte Lipstick has a creamy, hydrating formula. I tested the lipstick in the shade Greet, a rich brown, and found the color to be super flattering on my skin tone. Srivastava tried the lipstick in the rosey brown Explain, which she describes as the 'perfect brown, mauve shade for an everyday look.' Tracy tested the color Cheer, a warm rose, that she says she'd be 'more likely to pair with a sultry winter or fall look.'
While we all loved how hydrating the product was, it's worth mentioning that Tracy and I both noted it was not as transfer-proof as the Say Everything lipstick. I found that most of the product wiped off relatively easy with a towelette, where Say Everything was harder to budge.
What we liked about it: Matte lipsticks are notoriously known for being drying, but the formula for this one is hydrating and comfortable on the lips.
What we didn't like about it: The matte lipstick doesn't have as much staying power as the other lipstick we tested. I also found that it didn't take much for most of the product to wipe away.
Wyn Beauty Say Everything Max Intensity Featherweight Lipstick
The Wyn Beauty Say Everything Max Intensity Featherweight Lipstick is a semi-matte lipstick with a lot of staying power. The formula isn't drying and feels comfortable to wear. Available in 10 shades, it also offers great color payoff. We're impressed with the lasting power of the Say Everything Lipstick, which we saw very minimal transfer from. We also love that the formula doesn't feel dehydrating. 'Despite being a semi-matte lipstick, it doesn't feel drying on the lips and glides on nicely, allowing you to control where the color gets placed,' Tracy says. 'Once I let it dry down, I forgot I was wearing the Say Everything lipstick until I caught a glimpse of my reflection.'
While I wasn't sold on the color I tested, which the brand describes as a cayene, it provides great color payoff. It also comes in vibrant shades like Challenge and Shout, making it a solid choice for anyone who loves a bold lip.
What we liked about it: The formula felt comfortable and wasn't harsh on our lips. The colors we tested were very pigmented, so you don't need a lot of product to get a bold lip.
What we didn't like about it: The lipstick felt slightly tacky on my lips, even after letting it dry down.
Wyn Beauty No Words Needed Lip Serum
This sheer pink lip serum is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like jojoba oil, karite and wild mango butters. It has a glossy finish and an extremely lightweight formula that's not sticky. I found the lip serum to be relatively hydrating and comfortable on the lips. The serum has a vanilla fragrance that isn't too overwhelming or artificial smelling as some vanillas can be. I wasn't sure what to expect consistency wise, but the serum applies like a lip oil and has a high-gloss finish. I probably wouldn't reach for this product if my lips were super chapped, since I feel there are more hydrating formulas out there, but I still think this is a decent product to have on hand.
What I liked about it: The product has a pleasant vanilla scent. It also has a comfortable, cushiony feel on the lips.
What I didn't like about it: The lip serum promises up to 24 hours of hydration but the moisturizing factor was a bit underwhelming.
Wyn Beauty Taking Shape Brow Shading Pencil
This dual-ended brow pencil comes in three shades — Blonde, Taupe and Dark Brown. The brow pencil has a wax formula that includes conditioning ingredients like vitamin E and argan oil. It also has a triangular tip that makes it easy to draw and shade in brows. The brow pencil has a triangular tip pencil on one side and a spoolie on the other, so you can fill in your brows and brush the product in. We appreciated the brow pencil's angled tip, which Tracy says, 'more naturally mimics the shape of the brow.' Tracy tried the lightest shade, Blonde, and felt they 'looked fuller and darker with just a few swipes,' though she notes the color felt too dark and brown-toned for her. Srivastava tried the darkest shade, Dark Brown, and says it worked perfectly for her almost-black brows.
What we liked about it: We liked the angled tip of the brow pencil, which allows you to draw fine lines for a more natural brow look.
What we didn't like about it: The lightest shade of the brow pencil left more to be desired for Tracy, who has light-colored brows, and the shade range is a bit limited overall.
Wyn Beauty Big Vision Lengthening & Defining Tubing Mascara
This tubing mascara features a double-arched mascara brush, which helps distribute the product across your lashes. The formula is non-irritating and long-lasting. The Wyn Beauty Big Vision Lengthening & Defining Tubing Mascara gave me the appearance of falsies. While it may not have separated my individual lashes as much as I'd have liked, it did make my lashes appear longer and darker without drying them out. The product was also easy to take off with a makeup wipe.
What I liked about it: I didn't have to use a lot of product to achieve bolder lashes and the formula was non-irritating.
What I didn't like about it: A lot of product comes out on the brush so that's something to be mindful of.
Thanks to the lightweight and buildable formulas, Serena Williams' beauty line is definitely geared towards those who prefer a more radiant, natural finish. Between the blendable formulas and functional packaging, the products are easy to use. Plus, with all the items falling under $30, it's worth giving the products a try if you're looking to add to your makeup bag.
CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate lifestyle editor Rachel Dennis, associate lifestyle editor Jillian Tracy and associate business development manager Richa Srivastava tested makeup products from Serena Williams' beauty brand, Wyn Beauty.
