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Make Up For Ever Holiday 2016 Artistic Lip Ink & Brush Set Review, Photos, Swatches

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set ($40.00 for 0.15 fl. oz.) includes an Artistic Lip Ink and a lip brush to apply it with, which are housed in a decorative, metal tin. The brush had a good length for dipping in the container, but it was a bit long and had a thinner edge than seemed ideal as I applied it, but I was able to get sharp, relatively clean edges without a lot of effort with it.

Red Ink is a bright, medium red with cool, blue undertones and a semi-matte finish. The formula was watery and thin in the container, and it took about 15 minutes to dry down on lips, but even after a half hour, it had not dried down on my arm (which is why the swatch has more sheen). Initially, it looked rather streaky, but it seemed to even out as it dried. After it dried down, the product didn’t feel clingy or dry, but it was still thin and lightly tacky for another 15-20 minutes. It had semi-opaque color coverage, and I didn’t experience any feathering or bleeding over the seven hours it lasted. The formula felt drying to me after four hours of wear.

Urban Decay Crimson (P, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Ronnie Red (LE, $19.00) is glossier (95% similar). Tarte Swamp Family (LE, $20.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tarte Bae (P, $20.00) is glossier (95% similar). MAC Como La Flor (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Dominic (P, $36.00) is glossier (95% similar). MAC Chateau M (LE, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Carina's Love (P, $37.00) is darker (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red (P, $37.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Betty Boop Red (LE, $19.00) is glossier (95% similar). Sephora Always Red (PiP, $14.00) is lighter (95% similar). Burberry Ruby (434) (P, $35.00) is lighter (95% similar). Fenty Beauty Ma'damn (P, $18.00) is more muted (95% similar). MAC Werk Werk Werk (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Chanel Rouge Charnel (56) (P, $45.00) is darker (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Oh Miley (200) (P, $30.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). MAC RiRi Woo (LE, $19.00) is brighter (90% similar). Chanel Nightfall (LE, $45.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). MAC Candy Cane (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS Rouge Improbable (LE, $28.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set
Make Up For Ever Artistic Lip Ink Set

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
  • Estee Lauder Modern Mercury Highlighter
  • Clinique Pink Honey Pop Cheek Pop
On eyes:
  • bareMinerals Bubbles Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Bling Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Boardroom Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Come True Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Granted Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Daydream Eyeshadow
  • Sephora Good Mood Contour Eye Pencil

45 Comments

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Deborah Avatar

When I first saw the pictures above I thought there was no way the ‘ink’ could perform well but perform it did! Very pretty on you Christine!

Alecto Avatar

Artistically speaking, this is ridiculously intriguing. Of course, you couldn’t carry it with you, so it’d have to be reasonably eating- and drinking-proof. [sigh] I guess it’s really not that practical. It looks like something that would stain (which would be a good thing, in my book), but you don’t mention that.

Jolene Avatar

I bought this during the VIB Rouge sale and I too was very sceptical but wow it lasted all night long with very little wear . That being said I was drinking that night and I totally expected it to wear worse than it did . This is a fantastic product and I really hope they make more shades.

Celia Avatar

I got this when it first came out and so wish they’d release a permanent version. Since MUFE’s signature liquid red lip (IIRC it was shade 8 in the Aqua Rouge line) has been missing from the market for a long time I’ve been waiting for them to release a similar color. Also, it’s the perfect Mulan-esque pot of matte red lip paint and their brushes are always great. I was tempted to possibly back it up, but it’s too pricey with the brush included for me to justify doing so. Wish they sold the pots of color separately since it’s a great, classic matte red and I already have more than enough lip brushes (I think three total now from MUFE alone? So no more! That plus my Kevyn Aucoin, Dior, Besame, and other lip brushes I’m truly permanently set haha).

But if you like me dreamed of having a perfect Mulan lip application it’s really fun to use, the presentation is cute/unique, and both the included products are very effective. I was pleased with how well it cleaned off the brush since sometimes mattes can clog up lip brushes.

Celia Avatar

Definitely. It’s LE, so that makes it a less likely to be reviewed item. And it’s one unique product in a HUGE line, making it even more unlikely. So happy you covered it here 🙂 I was hoping you would knowing people would hesitate on this until a solid review came out. Now more people may get to enjoy it 🙂

Lea Avatar

I wonder how this compares to the Armani Lip Magnets. The formula looks just as thin and having worn the Armani last weekend it’s unnoticeable on the lips once you apply it.

kjh Avatar

This has all the classicism of calligraphy. It would be the perfect gift for a wedding calligrapher. Anybody hiring one? I almost want it, but the dry down time, more than anything else seems impractical. Thanks for the added info, Celia.

Fran Avatar

There is something very retro-cute-appealing about this set, but, since I rarely use matte liquid lipsticks, I don’t think I’d use it very much, especially since the best reds for me are either a bit more pink/berry, or a bit deeper in color.

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