MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl vs NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in Cannes
lip-liner
Original
MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl
$22
Cult-favorite dusty mauve-brown lip liner that defines and shapes lips with a creamy, long-wearing formula.
Dupe
NYX Suede Matte Lip Liner in Cannes
$5
Save $17 (Save 77%)
"The gold standard dupe for MAC Whirl. The shade is so close that even side-by-side it's hard to distinguish. At $5, this is a no-brainer replacement."
My verdict
NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Cannes is the most-recommended lip liner dupe on the internet for good reason — it's genuinely almost identical to MAC Whirl on the lips. The shade match is one of the closest I've tested in any category: both are warm-toned brownish mauves that work as a neutral on a wide range of skin tones. The formula difference is real but minor: MAC is creamier and slightly more forgiving on dry lips, while NYX is firmer and slightly more matte. For the shade alone — which is why most people buy Whirl — NYX Cannes is a near-perfect match at $5 versus $23.