I’ve already done my fair share of raving about the new Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Colors ($24 USD / $27 CAD) ever since I had breakfast with the brand and celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke in Toronto a few weeks ago. My obsession started after seeing Gina eat, drink, talk and even wipe her mouth with a napkin- and yet her gorgeous red lips stayed perfect throughout the entire event.

She was wearing shade 8 Iconic Red, the beautiful, universal red that she helped create with the brand (specifically for Madonna, by the way).  These liquid lip colors completely change the way you’ll think of bold lip color. No longer will it smear, fade, feather or smudge… these incredible, long-wearing shades stay put from morning until night- it’s truly amazing.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Colors

(L-R) 04 Chestnut, 08 Iconic Red, 09 Burgundy & 15 Pink

Note the size

I’ve been playing with a few shades lately, but my heart really belongs to the bold, red shades. I found the lighter shades to look a little patchy, but the reds like #8 and #9 are just completely flawless!  Each lip color comes with a clear gloss to top it off if you wish (otherwise you’ll have a beautiful, matte lip).  Now even though this isn’t a revolutionary concept (with a long-wearing color on one end and a clear gloss on the other), this is by far the most impressive formulation.

The shades I have been trying include..

• 4 Chestnut: A deep, warm caramel
• 8 Iconic Red: A universal, fire-engine red
• 9 Burgundy: A deep, vampy red
• 15 Pink: A soft, mid-tone pink

While they are slightly drying, I really think they are actually fairly comfortable without any moisture coat… and with the beautiful gloss, they are outstanding and totally comfortable! Not sticky or goopy… and the color will last and last. They truly are a game-changer, and I can’t dream of wearing another red lipstick for a night out. I have absolutely no worries about how my lips look and that is a huge relief for red lipstick wearers!

I do hope that Make Up For Ever will extend the shade range to include some more bright, vibrant shades (I’m thinking fuchsia, hot pink and coral..) because the formula is fantastic.  Make sure your lips are exfoliated, bare and slightly hydrated before applying for best results!  You will have to reapply the clear gloss if you want that juicy shine throughout the day… but I promise it’s worth it for the flawless color you’ll have. Everytime you look in the mirror, you’ll be impressed!

While I think its nice to have a large shade range, I really don’t think I’d opt for this product for anything other than bold lip shades.  It’s just so intense, it doesn’t seem necessary for a pale pink or nude lip… but for a bold shade, absolutely. Thank you, Make Up For Ever, for making me feel even more confident in a red lip!

Doe-foot color applicators

Brush tip gloss applicators

Swatches (L-R) 04 Chestnut, 08 Iconic Red, 09 Burgundy, 15 Pink & Clear Gloss

Wearing Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 04 Chestnut

Wearing Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 08 Iconic Red

Wearing Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 09 Burgundy

Wearing Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge in 15 Pink

Summary

• Price: $24 USD / $27 CAD for 0.08oz / 2.5mL
• Availability: Sephora
• Selection: Available in 12 shades
• Overall: It’s no secret that I’m head over heels for this formula. I really would only wear it for bold lip shades like deep reds, becuase it is super intense, but I really won’t wear anything else now because no other red lip compares! It’s long-wearing, waterproof, smudge-proof, and it actually feels pretty comfortable. I couldn’t be happier and feel more confident, not having to worry about my red lips!
• Rating: A