Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss ($19.00 for 0.23 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddish plum with warm undertones and lighter pink and white shimmer. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that went on evenly and smoothly. The texture is moderately tacky with noticeable thickness, though it isn’t goopy, and the gloss lasted for five hours and was hydrating over time. Maybelline Lust for Mauve (535) (P, $8.99) is cooler-toned. Chanel Audace (20) (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker. NARS Corsica (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss ($19.00 for 0.23 fl. oz.) is a black-based gloss with fine green, blue, and teal micro-shimmer. Swatched on the skin, it appears like a bluish-teal packed with shimmer. Swatched on the lips, the semi-sheer color payoff means the black base comes thorugh quite a bit, which leaves it looking more like an uneven, purplish-black with multi-colored shimmer. I think it looks more interesting in person than in swatches, but it is a lot less complex applied than it appears in the tube or even just swatched on the skin. I think a more opaque, deeper base would go a long way, as this shade would be better layered than a lone, due to its uneven application. On me, the gloss stayed put for four and a half hours and was lightly hydrating. Giorgio Armani #701 (P, $29.00) has a sheerer base with lighter, bluer shimmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss ($19.00 for 0.23 fl. oz.) is a neutral, black cream. It is, unfortunately, semi-sheer to semi-opaque with a noticeably thick texture that goes on and feels somewhat goopy. It doesn’t apply evenly, and it looks patchy while settling into every lip line. On me, it wore well for four and a half hours and was lightly hydrating. This is yet another gloss that would is only workable layered over something with better coverage, and it continues to miss the mark of “vivid color.” MAC Jet Boy (LE, $20.00) is sheerer. MAC Dark Outsider (LE, $20.00) is sheerer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 405P Pearly Plum Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 502P Beetle Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss

Make Up For Ever 503 Black Artist Plexi-Gloss