Why Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils Went Viral With Makeup Artists
When Make Up For Ever launched the Artist Color Pencil, most people filed it as a lipliner. A very good lipliner — creamy, precise, beautifully pigmented — but a lipliner nonetheless. Then the makeup artist community got hold of it, and something shifted.
It started quietly. Artists began sharing full-face looks built almost entirely from a single pencil. Contoured cheekbones, smoked-out eyes, defined brows, filled lips — all from one sharpenable wooden stick. The blendability was the revelation. What looks like a precise, waxy pencil on the outside turns out to be one of the most workable formulas in a professional kit.
Here at Guru we watched our orders tell the story in real time. What started as strong lipliner sales became artists buying across the shade range — picking up the deep browns for contouring, the nudes for sculpting the nose bridge, the blacks and navies for graphic liner work that could be softened with a fingertip into a full smoky eye.
Why professionals love it
The formula is the foundation of everything. Ultra-creamy without being greasy, it glides without dragging and sets to a soft matte finish that layers without pilling. The wooden casing means you can sharpen it to a fine point for precise work — or use the edge for broader application. For working artists, that versatility is genuinely useful on a kit job where you want to travel light.
The shade range is equally considered. There are universally flattering nudes that work across skin tones — Wherever Walnut became a word-of-mouth bestseller precisely because it sits in that perfect warm-nude zone that suits so many complexions. When Wherever Walnut Light arrived, it answered the demand from artists who needed something slightly cooler and fairer without losing the blendable quality of the original.
Beyond the neutrals, the range includes deep plums, rich reds and graphic blacks that don't always make it into lipliner ranges — making this genuinely useful for editorial and SFX-adjacent work as well as everyday bridal and commercial jobs.
Enter the Cosmic range
If the matte range is the workhorse, the Cosmic range is where things get interesting. The same formula, the same blendability, but with a shift finish — micro-shimmer that catches the light without looking glittery. Cosmic Wherever Walnut adds warmth and dimension to the classic shade. Cosmic Golden Sparkle opens up highlighter possibilities. Cosmic Festival Lilac is the kind of editorial shade that earns its place in a kit for the one job a year it's exactly right for.
Used together — a matte base shade blended out, then a Cosmic layered over the top — the combination creates depth and movement that takes real effort to achieve with traditional formulas. Bridal artists in particular have told us this combination works beautifully for eyes that need to photograph well without appearing flat.
How to get the most from it
A freshly sharpened pencil gives you precision. A fingertip or small brush gives you blend. The two together mean you can build from nothing to a full eye, contoured cheek or defined lip in minutes. For a monochromatic look — one shade on eyes, cheeks and lips — choose a warm nude or soft brown from the matte range, apply lightly and build. The result is effortlessly editorial without looking overdone.
For bridal work specifically, Anywhere Caffeine, Wherever Walnut and Wherever Walnut Light are the shades we'd reach for first — versatile enough to flatter the widest range of skin tones, buildable enough to go from natural to defined, and long-wearing enough to hold through a full ceremony and reception.
Shop the range at Guru
We carry the full Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil range — both Matte and Cosmic — with exclusive pro discounts available for Guru Crew members. If you haven't explored the full shade range yet, it's worth a proper look. There are colours in here that will earn their place in your kit for years.
As one of the UK's long-standing professional makeup retailers, we've seen the Artist Colour Pencil evolve from a cult artist product into one of the most versatile staples in modern makeup kits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils be used on eyes, lips and face?
Yes — many professional artists use them multi-functionally for lips, cheeks, eyes and contour work. The precise tip allows for detailed liner application while the blendable formula means the same pencil can be softened into a wash of colour across the cheeks or lids.
What is the difference between the Matte and Cosmic ranges?
The Matte range gives a soft, velvety finish that works for everyday wear and professional kit use alike. Cosmic shades add light-reflective shimmer and dimension — the same blendable formula but with a shift finish that catches the light. Many artists use both together, applying a matte base and layering a Cosmic shade over the top for added depth.
Which Artist Color Pencil shade is most popular?
Wherever Walnut remains one of the most in-demand shades thanks to its versatile warm nude undertone that works across a wide range of skin tones. Wherever Walnut Light is equally popular for fairer complexions. Both are consistent bestsellers at Guru.
Are Artist Color Pencils suitable for bridal makeup?
Yes — they are a firm favourite among bridal makeup artists. The long-wearing formula holds well throughout a full ceremony and reception, and the buildable coverage means the same pencil can take a look from natural to defined depending on the brief.
Where can I buy Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils in the UK?
Guru Makeup Emporium stocks the full Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil range, including both Matte and Cosmic shades, with professional discounts available for Guru Crew members.