MAKEUP | MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Lipsticks

I miss you lipstick...while I have been saving quite a bit of money on lipsticks, I have been longingly looking at my precious babies over the last few months wondering when I will be able to wear them again. I did the whole full face makeup thing when I first went back to work, but it is tough trying to remove makeup from the inside of cloth masks! I have conical cloth masks so I don't want to throw them in the wash for fear of losing their shape which means hand-washing! Something I hate doing, but must be done! While I rarely wear lipstick now, I think I still remember a good formula when I see one and MAKE UP FOR EVER has always delighted in this area! Last fall, they launched their new Rouge Artist Lipsticks, an ultra-pigmented, satin finish with smoothing, blurring and hydrating effects all in one errrrr...interestingly shaped package!

Press samples 

The obvious thing to discuss is the rather unique shape of the lipstick case. It is much larger and longer than what we are used to seeing as it is meant to resemble the MAKE UP FOR EVER brushes. Ok, sure I can get onboard with that if it means an enhanced lip application experience, but I don't think I am completely sold on this. 

What I DO like about the packaging is that you can see the actual colour of the lipsticks at the bottom. If you take off the brush handle-like cap, you are left with regular looking lipstick packaging, but once you stick the cap on the back, you have a lipstick that is about the size of a makeup brush and intended to mimic the precision application that comes with using a lip brush. 

Honestly, I didn't find the extra length all that helpful in application. Applying the lipstick without the cap felt the same as with. What I DID find helpful in application was the shape of the actual lipstick bullet which was slender and let me get my pointy cupid's bow exactly how I wanted!

The formula is creamy, satiny and feels wonderful on the lips. Nothing but praise from me in this department and their previous iteration of Artist Rouge lipsticks were also incredible in formula and you will still catch me using them even though they have been discontinued.

#162 Brave Punch

When I was choosing shades to review, I chose this one as my "out there bright pink" when in reality it looks like the perfect shade of neutral pink for me! This was my favourite of the three shades and in a different world where I wear lipstick again, this would be a constant go-to!

#152 Sharp Nude

I thought "Sharp Nude" would be my favourite shade because it swatched like the perfect nude, but once I applied it on my lips, it looked almost too pale on me. Maybe for a dramatic eye look, this shade of nude might work, but would not be my go to.

#162 Exposed Guava

This was really Barbie pink on me and I wasn't expecting it to be! I honestly don't know if I will hang on to this shade because it's not quite the type of pink I look for.

Final verdict: The formula is fantastic and I would wear these lipsticks all the time if they didn't rub off on mask so easily. While they do last on the lips, physical friction is a whole other level for a lipstick to contend with so I'm not upset that Rouge Artist does not hold up. The texture and comfort of the formula wouldn't be the same so I understand. I find the "makeup brush" element a bit odd, but I've seen some people find it unique so to each their own! 

You can find the MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Lipsticks at Sephora and www.sephora.com