You’ve seen it on every "Get Ready With Me" video. The Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in 606 Wherever Walnut is basically the holy grail of lip liners. It’s that perfect, weirdly-hard-to-replicate shade that isn’t quite pink, isn’t quite brown, and somehow makes everyone’s lips look twice as big but totally natural. Honestly, it’s a vibe.
But here is the thing. Paying $24—or more, depending on where you shop—for a wooden pencil that you have to sharpen away every week? That hurts.
People are obsessed with this specific liner because it’s a "warm rose nude," but on most skin tones, it leans just cool enough to act as a contour. It mimics the natural shadow of your lips. Finding a wherever walnut lip liner dupe isn't just about finding a cheap brown pencil. You need that specific balance of mauve and tan that doesn’t turn orange or look like you just ate a chocolate bar.
The Best Affordable Swaps I’ve Found
If you’re standing in the drugstore aisle staring at a wall of beige caps, don't panic. I've spent way too much time swatching these on my own arms to see what actually holds up.
NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Nude Beige is usually the first one people point to. It’s cheap. Like, "less than a fancy coffee" cheap. It’s a very close match in terms of tone, though the formula is a bit stiffer than the Make Up For Ever version. You might need to warm it up on the back of your hand first.
Then there's the e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner in Mauve Aside. This one is a sleeper hit. It costs about $2 and is surprisingly creamy. Side-by-side, it’s nearly identical to Wherever Walnut, maybe just a hair more pink, but once it’s on the lips with a gloss over it? You literally cannot tell the difference.
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Why the Texture Matters
The original Artist Color Pencil is famous because it’s multi-use. You can put it on your eyes, your brows, or your lips. Because of that, it has a very specific "dry-but-creamy" texture.
Drugstore liners are often either way too waxy or way too mushy.
If you want that same wood-pencil feel, look at Catrice Plumping Lip Liner in 040 Starring Role. It’s a waterproof formula, which actually gives it a bit more staying power than the original MUFE pencil. It’s got that same dusty, muted walnut tone that makes the original so famous.
Let’s Talk About Higher-End Alternatives
Sometimes a "dupe" isn't just about being cheap. Sometimes you just want a better formula or something you can find at a different store.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude is often compared to Wherever Walnut. Is it a perfect match? Not exactly. Iconic Nude is a bit more beige-heavy. However, if Wherever Walnut looks a little too "muddy" on your skin tone, Iconic Nude is the polished, slightly more sophisticated cousin. It’s also $25, so you aren't saving money, but you might prefer the way it glides.
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Another heavy hitter is Tower 28 Beauty OneLiner in Work of Art.
This is a great option for anyone who likes the multi-use aspect of the MUFE pencils. It’s a neutral pink-brown that works on the eyes and lips. It’s around $15, which sits right in that sweet spot between drugstore and luxury. It’s definitely creamier than a traditional wood pencil, so it blends out like a dream if you like that blurred, "I just woke up with perfect lips" look.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Shade
The biggest mistake people make when looking for a wherever walnut lip liner dupe is going too dark.
Walnut sounds like a deep brown, right? Wrong.
In the world of Make Up For Ever, Wherever Walnut is actually quite light. If you have deeper skin, it might actually show up as a nude highlight rather than a contour. In that case, you’d actually be better off looking at NYX Nude Truffle or Make Up For Ever’s Anywhere Caffeine, which has a bit more warmth.
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If you are very fair, Wherever Walnut can sometimes pull slightly orange or "peachy" depending on your undertone. If that happens to you, try NYX Mauve instead. It pulls the purple-grey tones out which can look more natural on cool-toned skin.
The "Big Lift" Surprise
Recently, everyone on TikTok has been loses their minds over the Maybelline Lifter Liner in 07 Big Lift.
It’s a twist-up, so you don't get that sharp wooden point, but the color is a dead ringer. It’s got that specific "warm rose" description that MUFE uses. It’s also much more long-wearing. The MUFE pencils are great, but they aren't exactly smudge-proof. The Maybelline version sets down and stays there.
Tips for Making a Dupe Look Expensive
- Prep is everything. Use a lip balm 10 minutes before, then wipe it off. Drugstore liners can be drying.
- Layering. Part of the magic of Wherever Walnut is how it blends. Don't just draw a harsh line. Use your finger to smudge the edges inward.
- The Gloss Factor. Pair any of these liners with a clear or milky gloss (like the Fenty Gloss Bomb in Glass Slipper). This is the "signature look" that made the shade viral in the first place.
Finding a wherever walnut lip liner dupe is really a trial-and-error process because your natural lip pigmentation changes how the color looks. What looks like a perfect taupe on one person might look like a bright mauve on another.
If you're on a budget, start with the e.l.f. Mauve Aside or the Maybelline Big Lift. They are the most consistent matches currently on the market. If you prefer the tactile feel of a wooden pencil you can sharpen to a needle point, the NYX Slim Lip Pencil is your best bet for under five dollars.
Check the "Lasting Power" before you commit to a full day out. Some of the creamier dupes tend to migrate if you don't set them with a bit of powder or a matte lipstick. If you’re a fan of the original’s versatility, the Tower 28 option is the most honest substitute for a multi-use kit.
Stop by a drugstore and swatch a few of these against the back of your hand to see which undertone hits that walnut sweet spot for your specific skin. Once you find the one, you can save your $24 for a high-end foundation or a nice dinner instead.