Urban Decay Plague, UV-B, Frostbite XX Vintage Vice Lipsticks

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick

Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “bright purple with pink undertone [with a Cream finish].” It’s a medium-dark reddish-purple with warm undertones and fine pink and light blue pearl. It had semi-opaque color coverage that went on evenly, but the slippery texture of the formula made it prone to emphasizing and settling into lip lines, unfortunately. It wasn’t as noticeable as the other two shades, though. I imagine this would be easier to find a coordinating lip liner for, which would alleviate the issue of settling. The color wore well for four and a half hours, left a subtle stain behind, and was hydrating. Urban Decay Mad Hatter (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Model Behavior (P, $17.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Pure Heroine (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (85% similar). Milani Raving Matte (08) (LE, $8.99) is darker, better quality, less glossy (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Scandal (226) (P, $30.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC Own the Look (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “vibrant blue with purple shift [with a Cream finish].” It’s a medium-dark, bluish-purple with strong, cool undertones and fine pearl. It had semi-opaque pigmentation paired with a creamy, moderately emollient texture, which did cause some color to pull into lip lines right away. It applied fairly evenly, though it wasn’t perfect in application. The color wore well for four hours, left a pinkish stain behind, and was hydrating. NYX Immortal (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “frosted deep blue with multicolored micro-glitter [with a Cream finish].” It’s a subdued, medium-dark navy blue with cooler undertones and a metallic shimmer-sheen finish. It’s a cool shade, to be sure, but it applied terribly–it was semi-opaque, streaky, and went on unevenly. I imagine part of that is due to the more emollient consistency. The color lasted for four and a half hours, left a stain behind, but it settled into lip lines over time. The formula was hydrating at least! Urban Decay Time (LE, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). Illamasqua Disciple (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Kat Von D Poe (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (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.