Urban Decay Asphyxia, Plague, Backfire Vice Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Asphyxia
Urban Decay Asphyxia Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium, lavender purple with warm, pink undertones and cooler blue, silver, and icy violet pearl. It read more iridescent than a true duochrome to me with just a slight shift from bluish purple to warmer purple if I caught it at the right angle. It’s part of the “Cream” finish, and the downside was it just was not as opaque as it was supposed to be, though I felt this version (as it was released previously as a limited edition shade) had slightly more grip and tackiness with more body overall, which gave it slightly better payoff. It had semi-opaque coverage that was somewhat buildable with a smooth, lightly creamy texture that sat fairly well on the lips. It wore well for four and a half hours and was hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Lavender Extreme (LE, $57.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Cold Front (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Florabundi (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Isamaya (LE, $36.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Opal (LE, $26.00) is lighter, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Ciate Cosmic (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn Tears (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- NYX Castle (P, $4.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Dior Diorstellaire (595) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Dolce and Gabbana Ametista (LE, $33.00) is less pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.11 oz. - $163.64 Per Ounce
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. I didn't notice any scent or taste. 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.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyethylene, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Triisostearin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Hydrated Silica [Nano] / Hydrated Silica, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Oil / Olive Fruit Oil, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tribehenin, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables / Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter / Cocoa Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil / Avocado Oil, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, Lactic Acid, Tin Oxide, Colophonium / Rosin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Polylactic Acid, Citric Acid. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 17200 / Red 33 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77510 / Ferric Ferrocyanide].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Asphyxia
DCDiscontinued. $18.00.
Plague
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a dark purple with warm undertones and fine multi-colored pearl. It’s supposed to have a “Cream” finish, which would make it opaque, and it had more semi-opaque coverage. The texture was smooth, lightly creamy, and had a light tackiness that helped it wear longer (five and a half hours), but it did not apply as evenly as I would have liked to have seen from the formula. The lipstick was comfortable to wear as it was lightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Royal Hour (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Ciate Elektra (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Milani Raving Matte (08) (LE, $8.99) is darker, better quality, less glossy (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Mad Hatter (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Model Behavior (P, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Backstage (P, $15.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Own the Look (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Mad (P, $18.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar).
- Milk Makeup Willow (P, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Pure Heroine (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.11 oz. - $163.64 Per Ounce
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. I didn't notice any scent or taste. 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.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyethylene, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Triisostearin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Hydrated Silica [Nano] / Hydrated Silica, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Oil / Olive Fruit Oil, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tribehenin, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables / Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter / Cocoa Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil / Avocado Oil, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, Lactic Acid, Tin Oxide, Colophonium / Rosin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Polylactic Acid, Citric Acid. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 17200 / Red 33 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77510 / Ferric Ferrocyanide].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Plague
DCDiscontinued. $18.00.
Backfire
Urban Decay Backfire Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a muted, dark purple with warm undertones and iridescent shimmer. It looked a lot warmer applied than it did swatched, and I think that had a lot to do with it being semi-sheer, so the natural lip color came through quite a bit. The Metallized formula is supposed to be pigmented but I’ve found it to often be semi-sheer to medium in coverage rather than full coverage. The consistency was smooth, moderately emollient, and comfortable to apply and to wear, though I had a bit of color gather in my lip lines over time and it only lasted for three hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Mermaid Tears (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Strange & Unusual (DC, $17.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (95% similar).
- MAC Model Behavior (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cardi (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Foiled Rose (LE, $19.00) is brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Mad Hatter (LE, $18.00) is darker, brighter (80% similar).
- MAC Violetta (PiP, $19.00).
- Urban Decay Heartache (DC, $18.00).
- MAC Rave Chic (LE, $19.00).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.11 oz. - $163.64 Per Ounce
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. I didn't notice any scent or taste. 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.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyethylene, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Triisostearin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Hydrated Silica [Nano] / Hydrated Silica, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Oil / Olive Fruit Oil, Alumina, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tribehenin, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables / Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter / Cocoa Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil / Avocado Oil, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, Lactic Acid, Tin Oxide, Colophonium / Rosin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Polylactic Acid, Citric Acid. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 17200 / Red 33 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 77510 / Ferric Ferrocyanide].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Asphixia is really pretty. Really likin that one. I have Foiled Rose and boy does that make the teef a bit yellow on me. Lol. Purple lippie pros and cons I guess.
Ah, well, sometimes I just don’t worry about the yellowing 😉
Asphyxia seems like the perfect spring shade.
It would be!
I have Asphyxia and Plague and love them. I’m actually quite liking the looks of Backfire.
Happy to hear you’ve enjoyed both of those!
Got Plague last winter. Love the actual shade, but DO wish it were more opaque!
The perk of this trio is seeing that UD improved upon the formula for Asphyxia. Not that I think it would look so great on me, but I’m happy for those for whom it will.
Super disappointed in Backfire, because I really love the color of it! But such short weartime! ?
I know! Backfire could wear better 🙁
I have Plague and Asphyxia from the original release and they’re good (which is why I didn’t even look at them). I did swatch Backfire in store and my swatch was as terrible as yours. I’m really baffled by the quality inconsistency in the new releases (the ones I bought are all great).
Strange that Backfire isn’t better — not sure why really!
Interesting colors, I have nothing like these, I will have to try some one for “size”.
Let us know if you try ’em!
Very glossy lippies in the purple range.
They are!
I’m so excited they’re bringing Asphyxia back!
Me too! 🙂
What fun shades!
They were!
Some beautiful unique colors/finishes here, wish UD hadn’t skimped on the pigment 🙁
Loving Asphyxia and Plague, really wish that Backfire had more pigment to it and had done better overall. It seems like a color I would love to wear. I still might check it out though, see if layering it over another lipstick/lip primer might help.