Urban Decay Purgatory, Rock Steady, Double Crossed Vice Liquid Lipsticks

Purgatory

Urban Decay Purgatory Vice Liquid Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and flecks of fuchsia and plum sparkle. It had medium coverage, which was buildable to opaque coverage in two to three layers. The consistency was thin, watery, and difficult to apply evenly, as the color appeared patchy and settled into lip lines. It took a long time to dry, and it felt lightly tacky for an hour after applying it. It lasted for five hours before color started to fade noticeably.

The Vice Liquid Lipstick formula is supposed to be “intensely pigmented” with “complete coverage in one coat” and “nondrying wear” that is “comfortable” and “waterproof.” The majority of the Metallized shades are not even close to one-coat coverage–maybe three or four or coats!–and did not layer evenly, plus they had a tendency to lose sparkle/glitter through wear. Whenever a shade wasn’t opaque in one coat, it often looked streaky or uneven. There were some shades that had fantastic, one-coat coverage, while others featured more medium, buildable coverage but several applied uneven, patchy, and didn’t level or improve after drying down even with a second layer.

The consistency of the formula was smooth, lightweight, and comfortable to apply, but the dry down was lengthy and some shades never fully felt dry (instead, lightly tacky). There was a learning curve to applying and wearing these, too, as they were unforgiving if you accidentally press your lips together before the formula has dried down–the formula is quite tacky as it dries down and pressed lips together results in color lifting away. The wear varied from shade to shade (and between finishes) from four to eight hours, and so far, most were true to the nondrying claim, at least. I didn’t notice any scent or taste with them. They were difficult to remove compared to most products; I had the best luck saturating a cotton pad with eye or lip makeup remover (Neutrogena, Lancome, Shiseido, etc.), yet curiously were not that long-wearing on me (relative to liquid lipsticks)–they seemed to develop a little tackiness with any meal or drink (even just water) and degraded from there. Overall, the formula was extremely disappointing after the successful Vice lipstick launch last year.

Top Dupes

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Tom Ford Beauty Seadragon (06) (LE, $53.00) is warmer (90% similar).
MAC On and On (P, $17.00) is glossier (90% similar).
NYX Power (P, $6.00) is lighter, more shimmery (85% similar).
Urban Decay Amulet (P, $18.00) is warmer, lighter, more shimmery (85% similar).
MAC O (P, $17.00) is warmer, brighter, lighter (85% similar).
MAC Plum Dandy (P, $17.00) is lighter, more shimmery (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Snowdon (P, $35.00) is warmer, lighter, more shimmery (80% similar).
Too Faced Wham (P, $22.00) is brighter, lighter (80% similar).

Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick Purgatory

Purgatory

Temptalia

D+

Permanent

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

67%

Total

Rock Steady

Urban Decay Rock Steady Vice Liquid Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark red with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had good pigmentation, though not full coverage, in one layer. The liquid lipstick was fluid without being too watery or thin, and the color spread evenly and dried down to a flat, matte finish after a couple of minutes. It wore well for six and a half hours and left a subtle stain behind. The formula felt neither drying nor hydrating to me.