Urban Decay De-Slick In A Tube Review, Photos, Swatches
Mattify Oily Skin with De-Slick… in a Tube
Urban Decay De-Slick In A Tube
($28.00 for 0.67 oz.) is a mattifying gel as a follow-up to De-Slick Mattifying Powder ($30.00 for 0.40 oz.). Both products are designed to help those with oilier skin combat oiliness by providing a matte finish.
What’s interesting is that when you compare the ingredients, there’s nothing (at least not to me–I’m no chemist) in common. One thing to note is for those who prefer their products paraben-free, De-Slick in a Tube is just that. While the Mattifying Powder is supposed to have a translucent finish, it does seem to show up a bit on those with deeper skin tones (think medium and deeper). This makes the new Tube formulation a better option, because it’s not a powder. In fact, it really feels and seems like a mattifying primer.
Ingredients in De-Slick Mattifying Powder: Talc, Calcium Carbonate, Tricaprylin, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylparaben, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May Contain: CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet).
Ingredients in De-Slick in a Tube: Aqua (Water), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Fragrance.
This feels like a gel-to-powder kind of product–it doesn’t have a traditional silicone-feel, and I didn’t notice the product pilling on my skin, either, which is something that may happen with silicone-based primers. After reading the ingredient list, it looks like De-Slick uses a clay-based ingredient (Magnesium Aluminum Silicate) to help absorb the oilies. It feels thick when you squeeze it out, but it applies smoothly, evenly, and feels incredibly lightweight. One problem I had with application, though, was the product dries down pretty quick, so I’d advise working in small areas, rather than the whole face at once.
Even though I like it best as a primer, you can use it over makeup for touch-ups throughout the day, if you need to. It’s kind of cool that you can do that without smearing your makeup all over the place. I do find it’s better on places without color product (e.g. cheeks), but it’s pretty workable as a touch-up product. Personally, I’d opt for a powder for touch-ups, just because this tube is pretty small and you shouldn’t need much touching up if you use this in the AM.
De-Slick in a Tube works well to provide a smoother, silkier surface for applying your makeup, and I definitely felt like I got better, longer wear out of my foundation as I went on past hour eight–though I am more normal-to-dry with just a little oiliness towards the very, very end of the day on my T-zone. De-Slick definitely made my T-zone less noticeably oily (though still somewhat) at the end of the day. I’d say that instead of being noticeably oily after eight hours, I didn’t notice any oiliness until after twelve hours.
It is pricier than I’d expect from Urban Decay–at least for the amount you get. For reference, Smashbox Photofinish Primer is $36/1 oz., Make Up For Ever HD Primer is $32/1.01 oz., and Korres is $28/1.01 oz. For $28, you’re only getting 0.67 oz. — not totally dismal, but it’s noticeably less than other high-end brands. I find I use just as much product with De-Slick in a Tube as I would with other primers, so I really would have liked to see this better priced or the quantity bumped up to a full ounce.
Oh, and psst, Smashbox Anti-Shine is $27/1.01 oz. and the ingredients are very much the same (but it does have parabens). I haven’t tried it myself, but now I’m curious about it, since you’ll get 0.33 oz. more for a $1 less.
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- Product: 28/30
- Value: 6/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you have particularly oily skin, De-Slick in a Tube makes a great mattifying gel-based primer that will help keep the oilies at bay for a few hours longer than without. Those with drier skin may want to avoid this primer, as the matte finish may accentuate dryness.
Availability: Urban Decay (Sephora in May)
Thanks so much for the review! I was thinking of getting it but wanted a more concrete review rather than just the description of it. =)
I have oily skin and I got the lab sample for this. I use it only in my t-zone, and you only need a TINY amount. It works great and even the lab sample will last me a good while. I don’t think I would use this as a whole face primer. I put down the de-slick gel and then use the smashbox photo finish on top of that all over my face.
I heart my smashbox antishine but mine is in the compact form. I use their light primer initially and then use the compact to touch up throughout (its the same texture only pressed down so u dont get that powdery feel). I would rec. either the tube one or the compact version of the smashbox anti-shine. There is a new one at sephora.com that I am interested in trying though!
I’ve used the MAC Prep + Prime Skin base for a while now, and just curious how you think this would stack up against that? My skin gets rather oily, but the MAC definitely helps. Just curious if a product specifically for combating oil would work better than a product I already have, that’s also $2 cheaper.
I think this would work a little more in terms of oil-control, but the second ingredient for both products is an absorbent product, so it might be a wash. Since my skin isn’t SUPER oily, it’s hard to tell.
This looks interesting. I am currently using the Medi-matte from Cosmedicine, which I like, but it is very pricey. I will probably check out the tube.
I will have to check this out when it Sephora has it in stock and ask for a sample.
I’m going to do the same!
I bought this online on a whim…..and I have to say I am very impressed. I work at a hotel which has a lot of overhead lighting…so I always get very oily by hour 5….and this kept my oil slick nose at bay!!! Kudos Urban Decay!!!
Great review. I love that it doesn’t have the silicon feeling. I may try a sample because this might be good for me in the summer!
I’m very oily and got the Sephora lab sample a few weeks, this stuff is worth a try! I never get more than 4 hours out of any oil controlling anything and this stuff blew me away. I compared the ingredients to other ‘failed’ oil controlling primers and it wasn’t like anything else but great to hear I could try Smashbox and get a bit more for my money. Thanks for letting us know about that!!!
Christine, do you happen to know how this works for those of us with sensitive skin?
Looking at the ingredient list, it seems like it should be okay. No silicones!
Thank you for the review! I will try it next time I’m near Sephora. I’ll try about anything at this point- no primer has ever been effective at oil control for me, and I’m sensitive to silicones to boot. If you yourself are oily, I’d love to see more primer reviews in the future.
is it okay to use the de-slick as a primer? i know overall it’s supposed to ‘de-shine’ you, but does it help your makeup last longer?
I think so!
I know this is an old post but I am considering this product and have a question 🙂 will it show up strange on camera like MUFE HD Powder and UD Powder?
It shouldn’t – and if you apply it properly, you shouldn’t see either MUFE HD or UD Powder!
hi i really have oily skin and im so torn about which to get. there’s also apparently a spray and powder version. could you please tell me which one helps more? thank you very much!
I’ve heard more favorable things about the powder, but I don’t have oily skin!