Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium black with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation in one layer, and the consistency was creamy enough to glide across the skin without skipping or dragging. The color wore well for four hours on my waterline, eight hours on my lower lash line. KVD Beauty Skully (P, $18.00) is darker (95% similar). LA Girl Blackout (P, $4.49) is darker (95% similar). MAC Engraved (PiP, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). Sephora Black Lace (DC, $10.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Flourish Me Deep (LE, $18.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). About Face Into the Void (P, $13.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Zero (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Tarina Tarantino Tommy Jet (DC, $15.00) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Black Moon (P, $24.00) is glossier (95% similar). Sephora Black Matte (P, $13.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Black Black (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Legend (P, $20.00) is less glossy (95% similar). MAC Cat's Meow (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Guerlain Noir Volcanique (01) (P, $37.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Squid (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Black Ice (P, $20.00) is cooler (95% similar). Haus Labs Punk (P, $18.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar). Ardency Inn Black (P, $19.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Point Black (P, $25.00) is darker (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever M14 Matte Charcoal Grey Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is medium-dark, bluish-gray with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had so-so color payoff in one stroke, which was buildable to mostly opaque coverage in two to three layers. The texture wasn’t too soft or too firm, so it applied without being uncomfortable. This shade wore well for two and a half hours on the waterline, and eight hours on the lower lash line. ColourPop Timber (DC, $7.00)(100% similar). Urban Decay Mood (P, $20.00)(100% similar). Urban Decay Lure (P, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Midnight Gray (P, $18.00) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Timber (DC, $7.00) is warmer (95% similar). Fenty Beauty Bachelor Pad (P, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar). Sephora Stone (DC, $10.00) is warmer (90% similar). NARS Zinc (LE, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Mineral Girl (LE, $7.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS London (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). Maybelline Intense Charcoal (P, $9.99) is warmer (90% similar). Sephora Charcoal Matte (P, $13.00) is warmer (85% similar). Sephora Stone (51) (P, $11.00) is warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Smoke (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Haus Labs Charcoal Matte (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). NARS Madison Ave. (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever D12 Diamond Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep black with gold sparkle. It had rich color coverage in one pass–it was one of the most pigmented in the range–with a creamy, denser consistency that glided across the skin with ease. The color wore well for four hours on the waterline, and it lasted better on the lower lash line with eight hours of wear. Maybelline Metallic Nights (P, $9.99) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Black Brilliance (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). MAC Blitz & Glitz (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Black Card (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Black Swan (P, $15.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $20.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Point Black (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop From Downtown (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). NARS Night Clubbing (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar). KVD Beauty Black Metal Love (PiP, $10.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Sephora Clubbing Stilettos (02) (P, $11.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Tarina Tarantino Rockstar Love (DC, $15.00) is cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Cosmic Speed (LE, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Stila Stargazer (P, $22.00) is lighter, more muted, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever M16 Matte White Aqua XL Eye Pencil ($21.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a stark white with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in one stroke, which was buildable to brighter, more opaque coverage, though it seemed to thicken and emphasize the texture of my lower lash line a little bit. The color lasted for two and a half hours on my waterline, while it did better on my lower lash line with eight-hour wear. MAC Fascinating (P, $21.00)(100% similar). ColourPop Exit (DC, $7.00)(100% similar). NARS Santa Monica Blvd. (P, $24.00) is brighter (95% similar). Fenty Beauty Wet Tshirt (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Haus Labs White Onyx Matte (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Bump (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Stila Alpine (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Exit (P, $7.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Incorruptible (P, $23.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Polar Ice (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). NARS Santa Monica Blvd (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar). Chanel Blanc Graphique (949) (P, $34.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). About Face High Altitude (P, $13.00) is warmer (80% similar). Moira White (P, $5.00) is warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay When Doves Cry (LE, $25.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). MAC Wakandan Tradition (LE, $25.00) is warmer (80% similar). Maybelline Polished White (P, $9.99) is warmer (80% 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 M10 Matte Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M14 Matte Charcoal Grey Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M14 Matte Charcoal Grey Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M14 Matte Charcoal Grey Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D12 Diamond Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D12 Diamond Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever D12 Diamond Black Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M16 Matte White Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M16 Matte White Aqua XL Eye Pencil

Make Up For Ever M16 Matte White Aqua XL Eye Pencil