NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils vs. Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils

Though they seem rather similar on the surface and even at first glance, I think the shade ranges differ enough where there is less overlap than expected.  For instance, I could not find dupes for Urban Decay’s Midnight Cowboy, Clinic, Narc, or Lit at all.  However, I think that Urban Decay’s Sin and Clash definitely have dupes, while Delinquent has something similar but there is a noticeable difference in quality that makes them different.

I think that Rehab and Barracuda may also lack dupes, but I do not have the appropriate NYX shades to tell you for sure.  Mercury and Wasteland may have dupes, but again, I can’t say for sure.

• Urban Decay Sin seems to be closest to NYX Yogurt, but the latter is darker and pinker.
• Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy is also closest to NYX Yogurt but I would not consider them dupes–Midnight Cowboy is more of a gilded champagne-beige without the pink of Yogurt.
• Urban Decay Clinic has no corresponding dupe in the NYX line. NYX lacks any teal shade.
• Urban Decay Narc has no corresponding dupe in the NYX line. NYX Rocky Mountain Green is a cooler, brighter green, which may be more comparable to Urban Decay Graffiti (which is available as an eyeliner).
• Urban Decay Clash is the one shade I found a strong dupe for, which was NYX Electric Blue, though the NYX version is not quite as bright and requires layering to achieve opaque color.
• Urban Decay Delinquent is similar to NYX Purple Velvet but the swatch will show you how different the pigmentation is between the two of them. Urban Decay’s is significantly more pigmented, and it is more of a jewel-tone purple with less red in its base.
• Urban Decay Lit is a softer, lighter version of NYX Pure Gold, which is much more of a coppery gold.
• Urban Decay Morphine is is a darker version of NYX Oyster, and it also has more of a purple tone, while Oyster pulls pinker.

I don’t have all of NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils, but based on Dusty’s swatches that he did for Temptalia back in April, here are my thoughts on some possible similarities:

• Wasteland and/or Rehab may be comparable to Iced Mocha, which looks like it runs lighter and perhaps not as dark.
• Mercury may be comparable to Pots and Pans, but it looks a little darker.
• Barracuda may be comparable to Slate, which looks like it has a bluer cast (less of a silver-gray).

What about the formulas?

Generally speaking (and based on the eight or so NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils I own), NYX has a creamier, more emollient base, which is likely why more people have experienced creasing when using them alone and/or as a base.  (You can always remedy this by using an eyeshadow base underneath the pencil itself.)  Keep in mind, also, that Urban Decay’s 24/7 Shadow Pencils are still very much untested by the makeup community at large–I can only report on my experience, but I have rather normal lids (neither dry or oily).

Some shades have excellent pigmentation and go on beautifully while other shades do look sheerer when swatched against Urban Decay’s.  NYX take longer to dry, so you have more time to work with them and blend them, but it may also mean they have more time to settle into creases and lines on the lid.  Urban Decay’s seem to take more elbow grease to remove (just using a makeup remover wipe) than NYX’s. Urban Decay also specifically calls attention to the fact that their pencils are free of parabens and mineral oil, both ingredients found in NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils.

See swatches!

Urban Decay Sin, NYX Yogurt, Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy

Urban Decay Clinic, NYX Rocky Mountain Green, Urban Decay Narc

Urban Decay Clash, NYX Electric Blue

Urban Decay Delinquent, NYX Purple Velvet

Urban Decay Lit, NYX Pure Gold

Urban Decay Morphine, NYX Oyster