MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil ($20.00 for 0.05 oz.) is described as a “dirty mauvey brown.” It’s a muted, medium-dark reddish-plum with warm undertones and a soft, matte finish. It had mostly opaque color payoff with a smooth, even application. It was neither drying nor hydrating and lasted for four hours on me. Sephora + Pantone Universe Pure Marsala (LE, $18.00) is warmer (95% similar). Tarte Beach Bum (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury MI Kiss (was Bond Girl) (P, $37.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Dr. Facilier (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Mosh Pit (LE, $7.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Negligee (LE, $57.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Richard (P, $36.00) is cooler (90% similar). Burberry Redwood (304) (P, $35.00) is darker (85% similar). ColourPop Frick 'n' Frack (P, $7.00) is more muted (85% similar). Dior Terrific Matte (745) (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Viva La Vergara (P, $37.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Drip (DC, $5.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Tarte TBT (P, $20.00) is lighter (85% similar). Anastasia Kathryn (P, $20.00) is cooler, less glossy (85% similar). Sephora Labyrinth City (09) (P, $8.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). NARS Dolce Vita (P, $27.00) is lighter, less pigmented (85% similar). Anastasia Rosewood (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Sephora Rose Redux (84) (P, $14.00) is darker (85% similar). Tarte Front Row (P, $20.00) is more muted (90% similar). Tarte Delish (P, $20.00) is cooler, less glossy (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil ($20.00 for 0.05 oz.) is described as a “rosey fuchsia.” It’s a bright, medium red with cool, blue undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, but the natural lip color is definitely going to influence the shade. This shade was on the drying side after three hours of wear, while it lasted for closer to five in total. MAC Pomegranate (LE, $25.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Luxembourg (PiP, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). NARS Dragon Girl (P, $27.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Psycho (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Amplify (P, $22.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). MAC Petite Red (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Glam (DC, $19.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). NARS Bonifacio (LE, $27.00) is more muted (90% similar). ColourPop Mucho (P, $7.00) is more muted (90% similar). Surratt Beauty Shocking (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Cherry Bomb (LE, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). Clinique Cherry Pop (P, $19.50) is darker, brighter (90% similar). MAC Damn Glamorous (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Lasting Passion (P, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Victoriana (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). Chanel La Precieuse (317) (LE, $45.00) is darker, brighter, warmer (85% similar). Anastasia Tulip (P, $20.00) is less glossy (90% similar). MAC Ruby (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar). MAC Candy Cane (LE, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). Sephora All Washed Up (26) (P, $8.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil ($20.00 for 0.05 oz.) is described as a “midtone peachy pink.” It’s a light-medium, pinky-peach with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. There is very fine pearl that gives the finish a subtle sheen at some angles. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a glide-on texture that didn’t tug, but it seemed to emphasize every imperfection on the lips. The color lasted for three hours and settled into lip lines over time. It was lightly drying.

FORMULA SUMMARY | MAC Velvetease Lip Pencil ($20.00 for 0.05 oz.) is supposed to have “the vivid colour impact of a lipstick” with a “smooth” and “matte finish.” The pencil has a really soft, smooth texture that is thin and glides on without tugging or skipping, but it is noticeably thin on the lips, which I find can be unforgiving if you have any dryness or flakiness on your lips. The wear is between three and five hours with lighter shades disappearing more quickly and deeper shades lasting a little longer and/or staining. They are slightly drying to just not drying (but none are hydrating). Overall, they are comfortable to wear, but a few shades tend to look patchy as they wear down on me. They are twist-up, jumbo-sized lip pencils, so they don’t require sharpening (no waste!). Keep in mind, twist-up jumbo pencils like this one often contain less product than a traditional lipstick (which usually contain 0.10 to 0.15 oz.).

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MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Aim to Please Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Anything Goes Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil

MAC Frolic Velvetease Lip Pencil