Make Up For Ever I36 Iridescent Khaki Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is medium-dark olive green with warmer undertones and a satiny sheen. There is very slight sparkle, but it doesn’t seem chunky or noticeable. It had mostly opaque coverage in a single stroke, which was buildable to fully opaque coverage in two passes. The texture was lightly creamy, glided on without tugging on the lower lash line, and lasted for eight hours on me before there was noticeable migration. It lasted for four hours on the waterline, though it has sparkle, I’m not sure if I would use this on the waterline (I didn’t see any notes on Sephora on whether any shades weren’t for the waterline). MAC Forever Green (P, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Sephora Snakeskin Dress (17) (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). L'Oreal Green Ivy (270) (P, $8.99) is darker (95% similar). Sephora Olive Glitter (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Green Lights (Metallic) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Olive You (108) (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Serial Monogamist (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Stash (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC Mossy Green (LE, $16.00) is lighter (85% similar). Maybelline Emerald Lights (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay High Vibes (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar). Fenty Beauty Bank Tank (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Melt Cosmetics Wallflower (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). Urban Decay Mildew (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). bareMinerals 10AM (LE, $15.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever M60 Matte Dark Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is dark, chocolaty brown with subtly warmer, reddish undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in one pass, which was buildable to mostly opaque coverage with two layers. The texture was a smidgen drier but still had enough slip not to tug on the lower lash line. It applied well to the waterline as well, though wear only came in at three and a half hours. The color lasted better on the lower lash line at eight hours. Natasha Denona Brown (P, $24.00) is cooler (95% similar). Make Up For Ever G*psy (LE, $19.00) is darker (95% similar). Christian Louboutin Beaute Zoulou (P, $40.00) is darker (95% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Decibel (P, $15.50) is cooler (95% similar). Laura Mercier Espresso (P, $24.00) is brighter (95% similar). ColourPop Cutest Ever (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Call Me (P, $7.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever #25L (P, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Via de Martelli (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Haus Labs Deep Cocoa Matte (P, $22.00) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Sunnyvale (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Sick Tat Bro (P, $23.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty (Brown)ie (P, $25.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora Tiramisu (PiP, $10.00) is warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Whiskey (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Sephora Brown Matte (P, $13.00) is cooler (90% similar). Sephora Tiramisu (13) (P, $11.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Bourbon (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, glossier (90% similar). About Face Equestrian (P, $13.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Stomper (P, $7.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever ME42 Metallic Bronze Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is medium-dark, golden bronze with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque coverage that was buildable to mostly opaque coverage, though the texture was a little waxier and sometimes caused the first layer to sheer out. The color lasted for eight hours on my lower lash line before it looked faded/worn. NARS Iskandar (P, $25.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). MAC Handforged (P, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Campo de' Fiori (P, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Sephora Girls Night Out (PiP, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC El Dorado (LE, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). Giorgio Armani Antique (04) (LE, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Top Brass (104) (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Sephora Sun Tan (08) (DC, $10.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Scorch (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Copper Charge (Metallic) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC $$$ (P, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Amber (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). MAC Powerline (P, $20.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Chanel Or Antique (48) (P, $34.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Going for Gold (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever S50 Satiny Taupe Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark taupe-brown with warmer undertones and a cooler, gray overtone. The texture was lightly creamy and applied without skipping or tugging on the skin. It deposited mostly opaque coverage in a single stroke, which was buildable to opaque coverage two layers–and notably, two layers made the grayer tone much more apparent. This shade lasted for four hours on the waterline, eight hours on the lower lash line. Lancome Pluie (P, $23.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Shoreline (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Zoeva Mute (P, $7.50) is lighter, cooler, glossier (85% similar). Smashbox Moody (P, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). NARS Haight-Ashbury (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Urban Decay Mushroom (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay Stray Dog (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever D62 Diamond Brown Blue Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is dark, chocolaty brown with gold micro-sparkle over a mostly matte finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff in one stroke, which didn’t build up beyond semi-opaque–it was always translucent, and that is not something I’ve experienced too often with darker eyeliners like this one. The texture didn’t drag or pull on the lash line, but it just wouldn’t deposit color that well. I didn’t test this on the waterline due to the larger-sized sparkle. It lasted for eight hours on my lower lash line. MAC Lord It Up (P, $15.00) is darker (95% similar). Zoeva Glance (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar). Urban Decay West (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Brown(out) (54) (P, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Burberry Midnight Brown (P, $27.00) is warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Bourbon (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Deliciously Rich (DC, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Mulholland Drive (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Sincerely Yours (LE, $7.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Deliciously Rich (P, $16.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop Rum (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Orpheus (LE, $16.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Muse (LE, $22.00) is darker (90% similar). LA Girl Brown Sugar (P, $4.49) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Buxom Come Over (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Sweet Tooth (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is supposed to be a “long-wearing,” “waterproof” pencil eyeliner (requires sharpening) with “one swipe color” that will not tug or skip. There is a fair amount of variance between shades with respect to color payoff, texture, wear, and application. They do not, personally, wear well at all on the waterline for me–three to four hours at most and darker shades can get really messy whenever I attempted wearing them on the waterline (they are supposed to “work great in the waterline”). They wear better on the lower lash line, which is about eight hours on average with faint thinning/migration to the outer corner. A lot of the color is intact, and the colors didn’t fade. I found them harder to remove and had to use more makeup remover (on a cotton swab) than average to get them off. I found the texture to be waxier than the prior Aqua Eyes formula for most shades. They were waterproof with respect to actual water, like I could take a shower and not have a smeary mess at the end. I would use some shades again, but it wouldn’t be the first formula I reached for–for me, they’re just not nearly long-wearing or pigmented enough to merit the extra effort for removal.

I’m not sure if it was just my bad luck, but almost every shade’s tip broke off when swatching, which is unusual (usually if I break one, I can fix the pressure to avoid doing so 10 more times!), though I didn’t have any issues with the tips breaking off when applying to my lash line.

Make Up For Ever I36 Iridescent Khaki Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever I36 Iridescent Khaki Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever I36 Iridescent Khaki Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M60 Matte Dark Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M60 Matte Dark Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M60 Matte Dark Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever ME42 Metallic Bronze Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever ME42 Metallic Bronze Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever ME42 Metallic Bronze Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever S50 Satiny Taupe Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever S50 Satiny Taupe Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever S50 Satiny Taupe Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D62 Diamond Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D62 Diamond Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D62 Diamond Brown Aqua XL Eye Pencil