Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, light-medium cotton candy pink with cool, blue undertones and a natural sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage that went on evenly and smoothly. The texture was lightweight, lightly creamy without being slippery, and forgiving on lips as it did not emphasize the natural texture of my lips. This shade lasted well for five hours and was lightly hydrating. Laura Mercier Rose Claire (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). Clinique Wow Pop (P, $19.50) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Dakota (LE, $36.00) is lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Cotton Candy (DC, $26.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Preston (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar). MAC Pink Nouveau (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Too Faced Double Bubble (DC, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Dressed to Thrill (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). NYX Summer Breeze (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty Lotus Root (DC, $24.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Ballerina Blackout (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Maybelline Pink Pop (DC, $7.99) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Will You Be With Me? (P, $0.99) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever Candy Pink (200) (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Bite Beauty Nearly Neon Pink (LE, $26.00) is darker (85% similar). MAC Goodbye Kiss (LE, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). Make Up For Ever C209 (DC, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Pitter Ponder (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Mason (LE, $36.00)(85% similar). Clinique Fab Pop (P, $19.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, medium magenta-pink with cooler undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. The texture had more slip to it, and the color slid around on the lips, which caused the color to look uneven, occasionally streaky, and some of the color pulled into lip lines. While it was comfortable to wear, as it was hydrating, it was a more high-maintenance shade that would benefit from a lip primer or lip liner. It had mostly opaque color payoff, which lasted for four and a half hours on me. Bite Beauty #007 (LE, $36.00) is less glossy (95% similar). NARS Angela (P, $34.00) is warmer (95% similar). YSL Explicit Pink (405) (P, $36.00) is more muted, warmer, glossier (90% similar). YSL Rose Tropical (49) (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Tropic Tantrum (LE, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). KVD Beauty Crush (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar). Shiseido Peruvian Pink (RS418) (DC, $28.00) is less glossy (90% similar). MAC Fashion Tide (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Beauty Junkie (LE, $40.00) is darker (90% similar). Dior Ultra Loud (679) (P, $37.00) is brighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Doo Wop (LE, $19.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar). Laura Mercier Rose Claire (P, $32.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Playgirl (P, $57.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Maybelline Fuchsia Flash (DC, $7.99) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Clinique Wow Pop (P, $19.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Sephora Pineapple Express (21) (P, $8.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). ColourPop BYOB (LE, $7.00) is more muted (85% similar). Urban Decay PDA (DC, $18.00) is more muted, warmer (85% similar). Bite Beauty Sagittarius (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). MAC Dear Diary (LE, $18.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark fuchsia pink with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. This was less glossy compared to the other two shades in this review, which may have been the result of a slightly thinner, less emollient consistency overall. It applied without tugging on the lips, and it was still comfortable on the lips, as it did not cling or dry them out. This shade had good pigmentation, though it wasn’t fully opaque. On me, this shade wore well for over six hours and left a deep fuchsia stain behind. KVD Beauty Crush (LE, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Ambrosial (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (95% similar). Bite Beauty #094 (P, $18.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Maybelline Hot Plum (DC, $7.99) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Smoked Rose (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Pat McGrath Beauty Junkie (LE, $40.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Dior Ultra Daring (755) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty #092 (P, $18.00) is lighter, brighter, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Stefania (P, $34.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Sephora Celebrate (12) (P, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Heart On (P, $7.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Zelda (LE, $36.00) is more muted (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pretty Boy (DC, $18.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). KVD Beauty Backstage Bambi (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). NYX Shocking Pink (P, $6.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Sweetener (LE, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Anarchy (DC, $18.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (90% similar). Shiseido Primrose Sun (RS419) (DC, $28.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). NYX Sweet Pink (P, $6.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Both Cheeks (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to be long-wearing, “extremely pigmented,” and hydrating. It is available in two finishes–Cream and Matte, indicated by the C or M in the beginning of each shade’s name. The Cream formula is richly pigmented, lightly creamy without being too emollient or slippery, and go on smoothly and feel good while worn (wear ranges from four to eight hours, depending on the shade). The Matte formula is thinner and clings somewhat to lips, though it goes on nicely and doesn’t tug, and it doesn’t always look flattering on as it can emphasize imperfections on my lips but really depends on the shade, as some look great on. I found the Cream formula to be moderately hydrating, while the Matte formula was slightly to moderately drying. All shades had a slight, rosy scent to them, though I didn’t notice any taste.

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C205 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C206 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C207 Artist Rouge Lipstick