It seems that every brand under the sun is jumping on the “rich color and glossy finish” type of lipsticks, like Revlon Lip Butters, MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks and now, Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks ($19 USD / $22 CDN) shown above in N21, N48 and N14. Exclusive to Sephora and already in the USA, these gorgeous lippies will be available in April 2012 in Canada as well!

The Packaging

The lipsticks are packaged in gorgeous, sleek black tubes with Make Up For Ever printed on the tube, one word for each of the four sides. I didn’t receive the actual boxes for the lipsticks, but from what I can see from other photos online, it looks like the typical Make Up For Ever black packaging with white detailing. Simple and sophisticated.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks in N21, N48 and N14

The Lipsticks

These lipsticks remind me of a luxurious version of the Revlon Lip Butters, however there are a few reasons why I think they are worth the extra price (even if it’s just to add one or two to your collection, I think it’s worth the splurge). These lipsticks are actually moisturizing. I found the Revlon Lip Butters to feel moisturizing while you’re wearing them, but throughout the day they would start to make your lips more dry afterwards.  These lipsticks nourish deep down and almost feel like a treatment.  I also find that these ones have much better staying power- while the Lip Butters felt like they were floating on top of my lips, these ones feel locked in. They aren’t transfer proof, but I feel much more confident with them on my lips in terms of staying power.  The colors are so vibrant, even though Make Up For Ever describes them as “sheer yet radiant”, I think they provide much more coverage than sheer. I would describe them as medium to full coverage (just look at the swatches)! The shine is gorgeous and lasts quite a long time- overall very comfortable lipsticks.

One issue that I discovered is that some of the shades look much different on the lips than they do in the tube. For example, shade N21 looks like a peachy pink, almost a light coral in the tube, yet on the lips its a pale baby pink. The other two lipsticks were pretty true to color, but it’s something to think about when deciding what shade to go for- try to get to a store to try them out if you can (or look for swatches online).

I’m not too crazy about the scent (or lack thereof), but its a tough issue…. too much fragrance and I don’t like it, not enough and it just smells a bit …like makeup (haha). I love the soft hint of vanilla in MAC lipsticks, and I’d love to see a touch of fragrance in these as well, just to make the experience of wearing them a bit more enjoyable. With over 50 shades (18 exclusive to Sephora, the remaining 32 available through Make Up For Ever Pro), everyone is sure to find the perfect shade they are looking for.  The shades I have been wearing lately are:

• N21: A light neutral pink. My favorite out of the three- looks much different on the lips then in the tube, but gorgeous none-the-less. I love how this lipstick makes pale pink lips totally wearable!
• N48: A gorgeous raspberry red that you can really build the coverage on, but don’t skip the lip pencil with this shade (every uneven edge is visible 100 feet away! okay maybe not, but you get it).
• N14: A midtone nude rose with brown undertones. This warm lipstick is one I’d reach for when I want a soft evening color that enhances my lips without being overpowering. Bonus, it makes my lips look huge (usually mid tone nude shades will do that)!

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipsticks

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N21

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N21

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N21

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N21

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N21

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N48

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N48

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N48

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N48

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N48

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N14

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N14

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N14

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N14

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N14

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in (left to right) N21, N14 and N48

See More

• Look Book: Warm Neutrals

Summary

• Price: $19 USD / $22 CDN for 0.12oz / 3.5g
• Availability: Sephora
• Selection: 50 shades (18 exclusive to Sephora, remaining 32 can be purchased through Make Up For Ever Pro)
• Overall: Loving these lipsticks! They are a step above Revlon Lip Butters for me, being super hydrating with gorgeous full color and glossy shine. Super wearable for everyone. Look for swatches first though, some colors may appear different on lips than they do in the tube.
• Rating: A