Urban Decay Smog, Roach, Bruise XX Vintage Vice Lipsticks

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick

Urban Decay Smog Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “deep coppery bronze [with a Cream finish].” It’s a medium, golden bronze with warm undertones and gold, green, and bronze pearl that give it more of a metallic finish. The consistency was creamy, lightly emollient but not too slippery, and glided on with ease. It had nearly opaque coverage that applied smoothly and evenly. This shade wore well for five hours and was moisturizing while worn. Colour Pop DM (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (85% similar). MAC Bronze Shimmer (P, $17.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (80% similar). Colour Pop PYT (P, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Triptych (P, $18.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). Dolce and Gabbana Topazio (LE, $33.00) is lighter, brighter, less pigmented (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Roach Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “deep burgundy-brown [with a Cream finish].” It’s a muted, dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and fine bronze shimmer with subtle, multi-colored pearl. It had nearly opaque color payoff that applied fairly evenly, though it slid around somewhat on the lips, so I could see “lines” if I pressed my lips together. The texture was lightweight and comfortable to wear, but it had more slip than other shades in the Cream finish. It wore well for four and a half hours and was hydrating. Colour Pop DM (P, $6.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar). Colour Pop Maneater (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Colour Pop Zebra (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Conspiracy (P, $17.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). MAC Bronze Shimmer (P, $17.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Bruise Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “sheer deep burgundy red with green shift [with a Sheer finish].” It’s a brighter, medium-dark reddish plum with a lightly glossy finish. There’s a very, very fine bit of bluish-teal pearl, but it’s barely-there–I can’t really detect a shift, even when just swatched on my arm and twisting it in every different direction. The texture was smooth, moderately emollient that glided on easily and had a wettish feel going on. This shade was lightly hydrating and lasted for five and a half hours, and it left behind a stain. Buxom Menace (P, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Diva Antics (LE, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Jam (P, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar). MAC Party Line (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Labradorable (LE, $23.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sugared Maple (LE, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Burberry Bright Plum (15) (P, $30.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Hang Up (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Laura Mercier Merlot (P, $26.00) is lighter, more muted (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Didier (LE, $35.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Wes (P, $35.00) is darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is available in six finishes, which are primarily distinguished by level of sheen, shimmer content, and coverage. Mega Mattes are the thinnest and have the most “cling” as they are drier and more matte (but most are semi-matte and not a totally flat matte) and can be drying, though they are longer-wearing. Comfort Mattes are creamier, a little denser, with richer color payoff on average (they are the most pigmented out of the finishes), and have a satin finish that is fairly comfortable to wear, usually lightly hydrating, and longer-wearing. Creams are usually softer and creamier, though not too soft (they don’t mush or break from the base easily), with some being tackier and stiffer in the tube until they warm up against the lips; they have good color payoff, are hydrating, and are comfortable to wear but have more typical wear (four to six hours–six hours for deeper/richer shades like a red). Sheers and Sheer Shimmers have a more balm-like consistency that feels a little thinner but is wetter/more emollient than Mega Mattes, so ultimately, they feel quite different applied; they have sheerer coverage, though more semi-sheer to semi-opaque than very sheer, and have the shortest wear time at two to fours with light hydration. Metallized is the most shimmery of the finishes, though some of the other finishes have shades that are actually as shimmery (to me), but the Metallized formula has a thinner, more emollient base that isn’t as dense or as cream-like as the Creams; they feel more like the Sheers but a bit heavier and more pigmented (but seem to run semi-opaque to opaque, not always fully opaque) with average wear (four to five hours), light hydration. The Revolution formula–generally–felt a little more hydrating and pigmented on the lips, but these seem to wear a little longer; some of the shades that were in Revolution and are now in Vice (particularly the Creams, Sheers, and Sheer Shimmers) feel virtually the same on to me. The Comfort Mattes are the only ones that felt largely different–more satiny than matte, less dense compared to Matte Revolution.