Read ALL about my review process including how I take swatches, photos, and more here.
Make Up For Ever recently launched a line of 20 bold, waterproof eyeliners and tapped singer Charli XCX as the product spokesperson. I was in attendance at a press launch for the new Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Liners, got all 20 liners, pow-wowed with a bunch of my blogger and editor friends, and was treated to a short Charli XCX performance. I had to say, it was a good day. /Ice Cube
I’ve been a long time fan of Make Up For Ever because of their super durable products, their waterproof Aqua line, their extensive shade selection, and overall it seems like a fun brand that was a must-have in my kit when I was a makeup artist. The Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Liners boast twenty shades of WATERPROOF, long-lasting liners. They even test their products on synchronized swimmers—yup, they put it on them and they’re in water for HOURS. H-O-U-R-S. But plenty of brands have waterproof liners—but typically nothing beyond staples like black, brown, and navy—not very many have waterproof liners that come in say, three different shades of purple.
I’m impressed by the color selection although I probably won’t find usage for all twenty colors—but then again having them might make me find new ways to incorporate them in my makeup looks (you know how it is, you see it you maybe might use it…lol). The first comparison that comes to mind with these are Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils which are also waterproof and come in a wide variety of colors. I like the formula more on the UD pencils (though it’s not that vastly different from the MUFE ones) but there is more color choice in the MUFE line. OK that might seem confusing seeing as how there’s 38 pencils in the UD line and only 20 in MUFE, but UD tends to have variations of a color AND finish—so there’s multiple black shades—one suuuuper black, one regular black, and one black with shimmer, etc., etc.
Official Description:
Available in 20 shades to match any style, from polished to punk, the AQUA XL Eye Pencil is an artistic collection of eye-popping, ultra-long-lasting eye pencils. Featuring eyeliners in five different finishes – Matte, Diamond, Satin, Iridescent, and Metallic – AQUA XL Eye Pencil was tested by professional makeup artists in extreme conditions: under water, on stage, and on camera. Showcasing a full range of electrifying eye candy looks, from iridescent pastel pink and yellow, to vibrant purple, green and blue, these highly pigmented, high-performance pencils glide on rich and smooth with a special formula to rock any look, day or night.
The AQUA XL Eye Pencil features an exclusive, extra-long (XL) lasting formula, providing:
XL Performance: A unique blend of ingredients – flexible resin for long-lasting results, vegetable wax for consistent color payoff, and a revolutionary dry oil that locks in the color and creates water resistance –guarantees waterproof, smudge-proof, transfer-proof and sweat-proof results
XL Color: Unique, translucent, crystal copolymer gels helps amplify color intensity and brightness
XL Comfort: Emollient oil and microspherical silica provides an easy, creamy and smooth application. Mango butter helps prevent skin dryness on application and throughout the day
Now I don’t know if I got a funky batch of the Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Liners or they got a bit soft when I was out photographing them but I did find that the tip of some of them a little soft and easily bendable and then a few just out right broke. The caps of the liners also seem to come off too easily—this probably wouldn’t be an issue for you if you don’t own as many of them and again, could be a fluke from me getting a wonky batch or if they were affected any from me having them out while photographing them (though it was still pretty cold out and I wasn’t outside *that* long). Then as a intersectional twist, I had one liner tip break off in the cap when I opened it :/
How some of them looked after me swatching them:
They last amazingly (even in the waterline though I do get better waterline staying power with UD) and the colors are GORGEOUS.
See more Make Up For Ever posts, reviews, and swatches here
A LONG time ago I went into a MUFE boutique and swatched almost EVERY product—you can see that here.
See more eyeliner posts here
Bottom line: Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Liners are overall pretty awesome minus the issues I had with mine mentioned above (I’m hoping it’s just a wonky early batch I got) and the color selection is really pretty. If you’re looking for a certain liner shade, chances are they might have it. You can also use these as shadow bases and even shadows so you get a bunch of bang for your buck as well. I do prefer the UD 24/7 liners personally but there are some color choices in the MUFE line you won’t find at UD.
Price and where to buy: $21.00 each, available April 22: Sephora.com, April 29: MAKEUPFOREVER.com and MAKE UP FOR EVER Boutiques, May 6: Sephora and Sephora inside JC Penny stores nationwide/
