This Lip Liner Withstood an 8-Hour Wear Test, and Now It's My Go-To

There have been so many new, trending lip launches this year — and despite the temptation to try them all, I've managed to consolidate my collection to only the lip treatments, glosses, and balms I use on repeat. One product my collection was lacking, though, was a trusty lip liner to pair them with.

Finding a lip liner to complement my everyday gloss became my beauty fixation, especially after Hailey Bieber and Suni Lee shared their go-to lip combos on social media. Both the Rhode founder and Olympian gave the popular Make Up Forever Artist Color Pencil (in the shade Anywhere Caffeine) their stamp of approval. So when a new waterproof and transfer-proof version of Bieber and Lee's favorite liner came onto the scene, I knew I had to try it. The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme ($26) is said to be perfect for all-day wear — which sounded great for someone like me who dislikes having to constantly reapply and touch up their lips.

But can the Artist Color Pencil Extreme truly stand up to a hours-long wear test? Keep reading for my honest thoughts on Make Up For Ever's new lip liner ahead.

About the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme

What I Like About the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme

What I immediately liked about this waterproof liner was how effortlessly it glided on my lips. Other liners (especially waterproof ones) that I've tried haven't been as smooth, so I've had to warm them up on the back of my hand. But that wasn't an issue with the Artist Color Pencil Extreme — it was ready to use as soon as I took the cap off, thanks to its creamy formula.

The Artist Color Pencil Extreme really shines when it comes to wear-time though. I put the lip liner on a few hours before meeting a friend for lunch and didn't bring the Artist Color Pencil Extreme in my bag for any touch-ups (a true test of the pencil's all-day wear promise). I'm happy to report that the color didn't fade after eating a salad, drinking a can of soda, or applying some chapstick afterwards. Eight hours later, the shade Wherever Walnut was still visible on my lips — and had I not washed my face before an evening workout class, I have the suspicion that the liner might have made it through hot yoga unscathed.

Finally, I like that the pencil comes in a variety of different shades. I personally tested out four nude shades — Wherever Walnut, Anywhere Caffeine, Endless Cacao, and Limitless Brown — that I thought could be great for everyday wear. While I only see myself using Anywhere Caffeine and Wherever Walnut daily, I can definitely see myself using the darker shades for bolder lip looks or more defined, contrasting lines.

Overall, I'd say the long-lasting Artist Color Pencil Extreme has earned its place in my lip-product lineup. It not only withstood an eight-hour wear test, but required minimal touch-ups throughout the day — even under glosses and lipsticks.

How to Use the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme

The brand recommends tracing your Cupid's bow first to ensure that the high points of the lip are balanced. Then, define the center of your bottom lip to be parallel with the Cupid's bow. Finally, outline the corners of your lips and trace your natural lip lines to connect everything.

What to Consider Before Trying the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme

This waterproof lip liner stands up to just about everything (it didn't even transfer onto my Olipop can while drinking!), but I would warn against using this with an oil-based lip product. I paired a lip oil with this liner once and found that it was the only time my liner feathered a bit or transferred to a napkin.

Who the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme Is For

This product is great for anyone who is looking for a long-lasting lip liner. If you're a fan of the brand's popular Artist Color Pencil, but want to reapply and touch up your lips considerably less, it might be worth giving this pencil a try.

Where Is the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme Available?

The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Extreme is available for purchase at Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom, and the brand's site.

Rating

★★★★★

Alida Araica is a newsletter manager at PS, where she oversees and executes editorial and client email strategy and production and occasionally writes product reviews. She has been working in marketing in the digital media space since 2018, working on newsletter, content, and social media programs.