Make Up For Ever C403, C404, C405 Artist Rouge Lipsticks

Make Up For Ever C403 Artist Rouge Lipstick

Make Up For Ever C403 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark orange-red with warm undertones and a satin finish. It was intensely pigmented and had full color coverage after one stroke. The texture was smooth, lightly creamy with enough give to apply without tugging but did not slide around at all–it was less emollient than other shades in the range. It felt like a cross between the Cream and Matte formulas, actually. On me, the color wore well for over six hours and left a stain behind, and the formula felt lightly moisturizing. MAC Sail La Vie (LE, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Bite Beauty Marmalade (LE, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Tell Laura (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar). Estee Lauder Volatile (P, $30.00) is darker (95% similar). Bite Beauty Persimmon (P, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Tarte Mai Tai (P, $22.00) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M300 (P, $22.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Psycho (P, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar). Colour Pop First Class (DC, $6.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Bang (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Sunset Orange (P, $35.00) is glossier (90% similar). Chanel Rouge Feu (57) (P, $36.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). MAC Lady Danger (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Marlene (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar). Bite Beauty Cayenne (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Strange Journey (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Flame (P, $35.00) is darker (85% similar). Bite Beauty Mimosa (LE, $24.00) is darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever C404 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a sligthly muted, medium-dark red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a natural sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that covered exceptionally well; I felt like the finish made my lips look a bit plumper and smoother overall. The consistency was lightweight, creamy enough to glide on easily but did not move around. This shade lasted for over six hours, did not feather or bleed around the edges, and was lightly hydrating over time. Bobbi Brown Russian Doll (P, $35.00) is cooler, glossier (95% similar). Shiseido Poppy (RD312) (P, $28.00) is warmer (95% similar). Make Up For Ever C405 (P, $22.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar). Shiseido Ruby Copper (RD501) (P, $28.00) is darker (95% similar). Smashbox Unzipped (P, $21.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Imperial Red (P, $35.00) is darker (90% similar). Colour Pop Jingle (LE, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Carina's Love (P, $32.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar). Urban Decay 69 (P, $17.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay F-Bomb (P, $17.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). Besame American Beauty 1945 (P, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Deadly Catch (LE, $26.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Mind Control (LE, $17.00) is glossier (90% similar). MAC Cardinal (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Spiderweb (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Spiderweb (LE, $18.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Urban Decay No-Tell Motel (P, $17.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). MAC Brave Red (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Clinique Cherry Pop (P, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sour Cherry (P, $26.00) is cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Make Up For Ever C405 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, pinky-red with cool undertones and a satin finish. It’s very similar to C404, but it is noticeably darker and will be more likely to pull cooler on most skin tones (I can see C404 looking closer to neutral at times). The texture was smooth, lightweight, and more satiny, so it didn’t have as much as lip as most of the Cream shades, but it wasn’t clingy or drying. It had nearly opaque pigmentation which covered evenly. This shade wore well for over six hours and was lightly hydrating. MAC Brave Red (P, $17.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Shiseido Ruby Copper (RD501) (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar). Smashbox Unzipped (P, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Imperial Red (P, $35.00) is darker (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Carina's Love (P, $32.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Make Up For Ever C404 (P, $22.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar). Shiseido Poppy (RD312) (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar). Chanel Rouge Charnel (56) (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sour Cherry (P, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Russian Doll (P, $35.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Spiderweb (LE, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay F-Bomb (P, $17.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). MAC Mind Control (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Spiderweb (P, $17.00) is warmer (85% similar). Colour Pop Jingle (LE, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay 69 (P, $17.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (85% similar). Besame American Beauty 1945 (P, $22.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). MAC Cardinal (LE, $17.00) is lighter (85% similar). NARS Deadly Catch (LE, $26.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). Urban Decay No-Tell Motel (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (80% 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.