Make Up For Ever S400 Artist Face Color (Sculpting) Review, Photos, Swatches
S400
Make Up For Ever S400 Artist Face Color ($23.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a muted, medium rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had the type of matte finish that seemed to take on the finish of the skin itself, so it appeared more like a “natural matte” to my eye than a flat matte finish. There was mostly opaque color payoff but was forgiving that it could be applied with a lighter hand or diffused a lot for sheerer coverage. The consistency was dense but smooth, blendable and worked best with a moderately dense blush or contour brush. It’s a sculpting shade but could surely be used as a blush if desired. The color lasted well for almost nine hours on me.
Overview of the Formula
The formula is supposed to have “intense color payoff” with a “long-lasting finish.” The range is split into three types–Highlighters, Sculpting Powders, and Blushes–that is easy to determine by the first letter of the shade name (H for Highlighter, S for Sculpting, and B for Blush). There are three finishes–matte, shimmer, and pearl but was less obvious. In fact, the majority of the “matte” shades were more like semi-matte or natural matte where there were no distinctive shimmer particles but they seemed to take on the natural finish of the skin, which gave the “mattes” a particularly seamless finish on the skin but might be dewier on oilier skin types than desired. None of the 34 shades available were frosted or metallic except three of the highlighters (H100, H106, H312).
The pigmentation ranged from medium to opaque, depending largely on the shade, though they were always buildable if they were not opaque in a single layer. Some of the deeper, more matte shades were less forgiving and took more effort to diffuse and blend, even when I used a lighter hand or a more feathery brush. The texture was smooth, velvety, and moderately dense without any powderiness or dustiness in the pan. The formula has lasted between eight and ten hours on me.
You can view swatches of all of the blushes, all of the highlighters, and all of the sculpting powders in the Swatch Gallery.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- LORAC Ray (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Essence Satin Love (P, $2.99) (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Close Call (PiP, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty La Rosée du Soir (P, $32.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- By Terry Savannah Love #5 (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition (P, $60.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Elegance (370) (P, $45.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Nectarine (PiP, ) is brighter (85% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #6 (LE, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Cheeky (79) (DC, $38.00) is warmer, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.17 oz. - $135.29 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "intense color payoff" with a "long-lasting finish." The range is split into three types--Highlighters, Sculpting Powders, and Blushes--that is easy to determine by the first letter of the shade name (H for Highlighter, S for Sculpting, and B for Blush). There are three finishes--matte, shimmer, and pearl but was less obvious. In fact, the majority of the "matte" shades were more like semi-matte or natural matte where there were no distinctive shimmer particles but they seemed to take on the natural finish of the skin, which gave the "mattes" a particularly seamless finish on the skin but might be dewier on oilier skin types than desired. None of the 34 shades available were frosted or metallic except three of the highlighters (H100, H106, H312).
The pigmentation ranged from medium to opaque, depending largely on the shade, though they were always buildable if they were not opaque in a single layer. Some of the deeper, more matte shades were less forgiving and took more effort to diffuse and blend, even when I used a lighter hand or a more feathery brush. The texture was smooth, velvety, and moderately dense without any powderiness or dustiness in the pan. The formula has lasted between eight and ten hours on me.
Browse all of our Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color - Sculpting swatches.
Ingredients
Christine, is there a chance that, with the Sculpting powders, you could do a pic showing them used to contour, rather than as blushes? For someone like moi, who struggles with contouring, it would be helpful (even if it doesn’t show up really intensely) to see the Sculpting shades used to sculpt (geez, “sculpt” is a hard word to type – my fingers want to go in a different pattern, putting the P before the L). Also, what is the blush shade you used on the right hand side of the photo?
Hi Mariella,
I did not as some shades do not show up well against my skin tone for sculpting, so it was easier to show the color and tone on the cheek (as a blush) rather than a contour, so for consistency I wanted it to be the same across all shades! This was especially true as some shades read more as a typical blush than a typical contour.
I don’t keep track of what was on the other side when I save the photos, just what is featured, unfortunately, so I’m not sure!
This looks so nice. I didn’t see Hourglass Mood Exposure. Would you consider it to be a dupe?
On my monitor, the MUFE looks to be more matte and darkened a bit with a little brown. I really like this one a lot. It might be #2 in my palette. (The colors are always off on my lap top. Ugh!)
Mood Exposure is lighter, more shimmery, and rosier (not quite as warm-toned)!
Ooohhhh I ❤️ Going on the wishlist. I will probably do a 3 pan once I nail down choices
Yayy!
I’d have to swatch but that is beautiful!
I hope you can try it!
Like this one. It looks cooler or redder than my existing dupes. Satin Love comes out sandy coral, and La Rosee barely shows in summer. Love that refined thing Surratt has going on, but you would like to see it! This prob would dupe neither on me. How I wish they’d bring these instore, even if a limited selection, like the AS.
It would be nice to see, lol 😉
Oooh this is pretty! Don’t think I have a dupe, will put on my wishlist
Awesome!
Having already loved this one when you did the sneak peek of swatches, and now seeing S400 rate an “A”, it’s a definite and big “yes” for my 3-pack palette of these! ?
Woohoo 😀
Will you be reviewing the contouring shades (medium shadow and deep shadow)? Your reviews are amazingly thorough and I get nervous ordering things you haven’t reviewed.
Hi Matt,
Not sure what shades those are (these have numbers), but I purchased them all and am working through them! 🙂
For the life of me, this collection of products has me completely baffled. What? Why? What difference does it offer?
I know I’ve been busy at work lately and distracted, but I am not drawn to, nor do I understand the niche, any one of these products. Hasn’t this been done a bazillion times.
Make Up For Ever seems like it wanted to added an official blush/sculpting/highlighting range since their current blushes are within the Artist Shadows, so it seems to make sense for them as a brand to add this to their offerings!