It is just a pencil. Seriously. At the end of the day, we are talking about a stick of cedar wood filled with wax and pigment that you drag across your face. But if you’ve spent any time on TikTok or scrolled through a professional makeup artist's kit in the last three years, you know that Makeup Forever Anywhere Caffeine isn't just "a pencil." It’s basically the undisputed heavyweight champion of the lip world.
The color 606. That’s the magic number.
I remember the first time I tried it. I expected a basic brown. What I got was this weirdly perfect, desaturated taupe-beige that somehow mimics the natural shadow of a human lip better than anything else on the market. It’s not too warm. It’s definitely not too cool. It’s just... there. It’s the "your lips but better" shade that actually lives up to the marketing hype.
The Science of Why Anywhere Caffeine Actually Works
Most lip liners fail because they are too "lipsticky." They have too much red or too much pink, which makes it obvious where your skin ends and the product begins. Anywhere Caffeine lip liner works because it leans into the "greige" territory.
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When you look at the Artist Color Pencil line by Makeup Forever, you’re looking at a multi-use formula. These aren't just for lips; they’re designed for eyes and brows too. Because the formula has to be safe for the eyes, it’s a bit stiffer than a traditional, creamy lipstick-style liner. This is actually a massive advantage.
Why? Because it doesn't migrate.
If you use a super creamy liner, it’s going to bleed into those tiny fine lines around your mouth within twenty minutes. This one stays put. It grips the skin. The pigment load is high, but the finish is matte and flat. This flatness is key for overlining. When you want to fake a larger lip, you need to create a "shadow." Shadows aren't shiny. Shadows are matte. By using a muted, caffeine-inspired brown, you’re essentially contouring your mouth rather than just coloring it in.
Texture and Longevity: The Real Talk
Let's be honest about the application. It’s not the smoothest. If you’re used to those gel liners that slide on like butter, this might feel a bit scratchy at first. You kind of have to warm it up on the back of your hand.
But that’s the trade-off.
The drier texture means it lasts through a double espresso and a salad. It’s a wood-clenched pencil, which many pros prefer over twist-ups because you can get a needle-sharp point with a good sharpener. Precision matters when you’re trying to define a cupid's bow.
Comparing the Icons: Anywhere Caffeine vs. Wherever Walnut
This is the eternal debate in the makeup community. If you’re standing in Sephora staring at the display, you’re probably torn between 606 (Anywhere Caffeine) and 600 (Wherever Walnut).
Here is the breakdown.
Wherever Walnut is slightly more rose-toned. It’s a bit warmer, a bit more "alive." If you have very fair skin with cool undertones, Wherever Walnut might look more natural as a daily lip color.
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Anywhere Caffeine, however, is the pro choice for a reason. It has a slightly more "dead" undertone—and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a true neutral. It works on light skin as a contour, and on medium skin as the perfect nude. On deeper skin tones, it functions as a fantastic highlighting liner to blend out a darker outer edge.
I’ve seen people try to find dupes. They go for the NYX Slim Lip Liner in "Peekaboo Neutral" or "Mauve." They try the Charlotte Tilbury "Pillow Talk." But they always come back to 606. There’s a specific grit and a specific lack of saturation in Anywhere Caffeine that mass-market brands rarely get right. Most brands are afraid of making a color look "muddy," but in the world of lip contouring, "muddy" is exactly what you need to create the illusion of depth.
How the Pros Use It (It’s Not Just for Lining)
If you’re just drawing a circle around your mouth, you’re missing the point.
- The Ghost Liner Technique: Take the pencil and lightly shade the very corners of your mouth. Don't touch the center yet. Use your finger to smudge it inward. This creates a pouty, 3D effect before you even touch a lipstick.
- The Nose Contour: Yeah, people do this. Because it’s an Artist Color Pencil, it’s safe for the face. Some artists use 606 to draw a tiny line under the tip of the nose to give it a lift. The shade is so neutral it actually looks like a shadow.
- The "90s Supermodel" Lip: Pair Anywhere Caffeine with a clear gloss. That’s it. No lipstick. The contrast between the matte, defined edge and the high-shine center is what gave 90s icons that specific look.
Is It Worth the $22?
Honestly, price is subjective. You can get a liner for $5 at the drugstore. But will that $5 liner have the exact pigment ratio of Anywhere Caffeine? Probably not.
One thing to keep in mind: because it’s a wood pencil, you lose product every time you sharpen it. If you’re using it every single day, you’ll go through a pencil every two to three months. It’s an investment in your "face base."
The biggest downside? It’s constantly sold out. Ever since it became the "it" girl of social media, keeping 606 in stock has been a nightmare for retailers. If you see it, you basically have to buy two.
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
People think "caffeine" means it's going to be a dark coffee bean brown. It’s not. It’s a light-to-medium latte shade. If you have very deep skin, this is not going to be your "dark" liner; it’s going to be your blending shade.
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Another mistake is not moisturizing first. Because this is a drier formula, it will cling to dry patches. If your lips are crusty, Anywhere Caffeine will tell everyone about it. Prep with a lip mask, wipe it off so the surface isn't slippery, and then go in with the pencil.
The Verdict on the Hype
We live in an era of "dupe culture" where everyone wants the cheaper version of everything. But some products are just the blueprint. Makeup Forever has been the backbone of the professional industry for decades, and the Artist Color Pencils are their crowning achievement.
The shade Anywhere Caffeine specifically tapped into a shift in beauty standards—away from the bright, over-saturated "Instagram" looks and toward a more muted, "model off duty" aesthetic. It’s the color of a shadow. It’s the color of effortless.
If you want a lip liner that makes your mouth look bigger without looking like you’re wearing a mask, this is it. It’s a staple for a reason. It’s not a trend; it’s a tool.
Actionable Steps for Your Kit
- Check your undertone: If you are extremely warm-toned (olive or golden), Anywhere Caffeine might look a bit grey on you. Test it on your wrist and wait five minutes to see how it oxidizes.
- Invest in a professional sharpener: Don't ruin a $22 pencil with a dull $1 sharpener. A sharp blade prevents the wood from splintering and the lead from snapping.
- Layer, don't draw: Apply in light, feathery strokes rather than one heavy line. This allows the natural lip color to peek through, making the overlining look much more believable.
- Pair with a cool-toned gloss: To finish the look, find a lip oil or gloss that isn't too pink. Something with a sheer, milky beige tint will complement the 606 pigment perfectly.