Urban Decay Fever, Ritual, Circuit Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoats Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Fever
Urban Decay Fever Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat ($18.00 for 0.16 fl. oz.) is a light-medium, coral-orange with warm undertones (a mix of red and orange) paired with pink and silver sparkle. The consistency was thin, not watery but could have easier to spread across the lips (may have been unnecessary hindered by the terrible choice in applicator, though). Of the shades in the line-up, I actually felt like this one looked pretty good alone, as there was enough overall sheen to make it look even while still adding plenty of sparkle. I tried layering it over a Vice Lipstick, and it did not go on as well; it seemed to dry down and “crack” the underlying lipstick and create a tackiness that lifted color after I pressed my lips together (barely!). On its own, Fever wore well for four hours but was somewhat drying. Go figure that one that worked well on its own would have trouble layering, right?
The brand describes the formula as a “shade-shifting topcoat” that can be used over their “cream, metallized, and matte shades” of Vice Lipstick or any of the Vice Liquid Lipsticks, but–wait for it–“or wear these shades alone.” They’re supposed to be a “comfortable, gel-cream formula that dries down quickly and provides long-lasting wear that never feels sticky” while also creating a “water-resistant barrier that seals in the color underneath.” The brand also warns that your lips might “feel tingly just after applying.”
As a topcoat, I think they perform the best; it can be hit or miss depending on the underlying shade, and some topcoats are more versatile than others (sheerer ones tended to work well with anything, more opaque ones could be hard to apply). I did not feel like they truly locked the underlying lipstick in, as they transferred and still lasted about as long as the lipstick did on its own. I also felt that it was lightly tacky, and it varied, but a few shades would lift color in places. The tingling effect was least pronounced when layered. In general, layering over very light shades was often where they missed and any unevenness became much more visible.
On their own, they often struggled to go on evenly. The application over bare lips was similar to trying to apply some of the darker topcoats over very light or dissimilar colors, which just made any application shortcomings highly visible (compared to say, blue shimmer over a blue lipstick). They had a very strong, lingering tingle where my lips felt like they do after being numbed (like from the dentist)–almost too big, swollen, and a mixture of tingling, cooling, burning. This effect lasted between two to three minutes before subsiding. I wouldn’t say it’s water-resistant, as it seemed to transfer after drinking water, but if I did not drink anything, it was fairly transfer-proof. The wear has been between two and four hours and drying.
The packaging on these doesn’t make sense to me; they have a very thin, brush-type applicator that is terrible for spreading product across the lips, but the formula was often sheerer so getting crisp lines with the included applicator seemed like an exercise in futility. I think a squeeze-tube or more typical doe-foot applicator would have worked here, but I like the idea of a squeeze tube, which would “force” one to use a separate applicator would make more sense, as using it directly on top of another lipstick would result in lipstick transfer to the wand and back into the tube.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Tower 1 (LE, $18.00) is warmer, lower quality (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Alice (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
- MAC Satin Slip (LE, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Revlon HD Amber (555) (DC, $8.99) is warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Starstruck (P, $56.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC It's Just Like Honey (LE, $18.50) is warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Sari Dore (414) (P, $37.00) is more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Ray of Sunshine (P, $22.00) is more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
- Maybelline Glistening Coral (525) (P, $8.99) is less shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
- Maybelline Glistening Amber (055) (P, $8.99) is warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.16 oz. - $112.50 Per Ounce
The brand describes the formula as a βshade-shifting topcoatβ that can be used over their βcream, metallized, and matte shadesβ of Vice Lipstick or any of the Vice Liquid Lipsticks, butβwait for itββor wear these shades alone.β Theyβre supposed to be a βcomfortable, gel-cream formula that dries down quickly and provides long-lasting wear that never feels stickyβ while also creating a βwater-resistant barrier that seals in the color underneath.β The brand also warns that your lips might βfeel tingly just after applying.β
As a topcoat, I think they perform the best; it can be hit or miss depending on the underlying shade, and some topcoats are more versatile than others (sheerer ones tended to work well with anything, more opaque ones could be hard to apply). I did not feel like they truly locked the underlying lipstick in, as they transferred and still lasted about as long as the lipstick did on its own. I also felt that it was lightly tacky, and it varied, but a few shades would lift color in places. The tingling effect was least pronounced when layered. In general, layering over very light shades was often where they missed and any unevenness became much more visible.
On their own, they often struggled to go on evenly. The application over bare lips was similar to trying to apply some of the darker topcoats over very light or dissimilar colors, which just made any application shortcomings highly visible (compared to say, blue shimmer over a blue lipstick). They had a very strong, lingering tingle where my lips felt like they do after being numbed (like from the dentist)βalmost too big, swollen, and a mixture of tingling, cooling, burning. This effect lasted between two to three minutes before subsiding. I wouldnβt say itβs water-resistant, as it seemed to transfer after drinking water, but if I did not drink anything, it was fairly transfer-proof. The wear has been between two and four hours and drying.
The packaging on these doesnβt make sense to me; they have a very thin, brush-type applicator that is terrible for spreading product across the lips, but the formula was often sheerer so getting crisp lines with the included applicator seemed like an exercise in futility. I think a squeeze-tube or more typical doe-foot applicator would have worked here, but I like the idea of a squeeze tube, which would βforceβ one to use a separate applicator would make more sense, as using it directly on top of another lipstick would result in lipstick transfer to the wand and back into the tube.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat swatches.
Fever
PPermanent. $18.00.
Ritual
Urban Decay Ritual Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat ($18.00 for 0.16 fl. oz.) is a muted, blackened navy blue with silver and blue sparkle. It was terrible over bare lips, as it was clear just how patchy and uneven the application was. This shade would work best over deeper, vampier shades, where the base color would help camouflage the patchiness. The consistency was thin, watery, and cooling (and tingling) when applied to bare lips with less noticeable tingling when applied over another lip product. On its own, the product lasted for three hours on me but was slightly drying. When I tried layering it over a berry-hued shade, it created “cracks” when I smiled and made the finished result lightly tacky. The color absorbed a lot of the unevenness, but I think the texture was too thick to showcase the shimmer/sparkle effect.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Anything Once (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Frostbite (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Poe (P, $19.00) is more pigmented (85% similar).
- Smashbox Deep (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Ciate Iconic (P, $19.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Time (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty No Chill (LE, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Too Faced Trampula (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- NYX Go Rogue (P, $7.50) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
- Maybelline Gunmetal (P, $7.49) is more pigmented (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.16 oz. - $112.50 Per Ounce
The brand describes the formula as a βshade-shifting topcoatβ that can be used over their βcream, metallized, and matte shadesβ of Vice Lipstick or any of the Vice Liquid Lipsticks, butβwait for itββor wear these shades alone.β Theyβre supposed to be a βcomfortable, gel-cream formula that dries down quickly and provides long-lasting wear that never feels stickyβ while also creating a βwater-resistant barrier that seals in the color underneath.β The brand also warns that your lips might βfeel tingly just after applying.β
As a topcoat, I think they perform the best; it can be hit or miss depending on the underlying shade, and some topcoats are more versatile than others (sheerer ones tended to work well with anything, more opaque ones could be hard to apply). I did not feel like they truly locked the underlying lipstick in, as they transferred and still lasted about as long as the lipstick did on its own. I also felt that it was lightly tacky, and it varied, but a few shades would lift color in places. The tingling effect was least pronounced when layered. In general, layering over very light shades was often where they missed and any unevenness became much more visible.
On their own, they often struggled to go on evenly. The application over bare lips was similar to trying to apply some of the darker topcoats over very light or dissimilar colors, which just made any application shortcomings highly visible (compared to say, blue shimmer over a blue lipstick). They had a very strong, lingering tingle where my lips felt like they do after being numbed (like from the dentist)βalmost too big, swollen, and a mixture of tingling, cooling, burning. This effect lasted between two to three minutes before subsiding. I wouldnβt say itβs water-resistant, as it seemed to transfer after drinking water, but if I did not drink anything, it was fairly transfer-proof. The wear has been between two and four hours and drying.
The packaging on these doesnβt make sense to me; they have a very thin, brush-type applicator that is terrible for spreading product across the lips, but the formula was often sheerer so getting crisp lines with the included applicator seemed like an exercise in futility. I think a squeeze-tube or more typical doe-foot applicator would have worked here, but I like the idea of a squeeze tube, which would βforceβ one to use a separate applicator would make more sense, as using it directly on top of another lipstick would result in lipstick transfer to the wand and back into the tube.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat swatches.
Ritual
PPermanent. $18.00.
Circuit
Urban Decay Circuit Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat ($18.00 for 0.16 fl. oz.) is a blackened green with subtle, warmer undertones and flecks of cooler and warmer green glitter and shimmer. It had incredibly sheer coverage, which wasn’t quite as patchy as other deeper shades, but it still looked awful on its own as color pulled into lip lines, and it looked a little like I had pressed my lips into potting soil. From far away, enough light reflected that it looked almost cool. I had thought this one might work well with Urban Decay’s Studded lipstick to make it even more oil-slick like, but it was another failed pairing as it just made the overall finish patchy and uneven, though the color/effect was interesting (so perhaps with a lip liner underneath). On its own, it lasted for two and a half hours and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dolce and Gabbana Smeraldo (LE, $33.00) is darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Peacock Pearl (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, glossier (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Junkie (DC, $18.00) is lighter, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- Maybelline Serpentine (P, $7.49).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.16 oz. - $112.50 Per Ounce
The brand describes the formula as a βshade-shifting topcoatβ that can be used over their βcream, metallized, and matte shadesβ of Vice Lipstick or any of the Vice Liquid Lipsticks, butβwait for itββor wear these shades alone.β Theyβre supposed to be a βcomfortable, gel-cream formula that dries down quickly and provides long-lasting wear that never feels stickyβ while also creating a βwater-resistant barrier that seals in the color underneath.β The brand also warns that your lips might βfeel tingly just after applying.β
As a topcoat, I think they perform the best; it can be hit or miss depending on the underlying shade, and some topcoats are more versatile than others (sheerer ones tended to work well with anything, more opaque ones could be hard to apply). I did not feel like they truly locked the underlying lipstick in, as they transferred and still lasted about as long as the lipstick did on its own. I also felt that it was lightly tacky, and it varied, but a few shades would lift color in places. The tingling effect was least pronounced when layered. In general, layering over very light shades was often where they missed and any unevenness became much more visible.
On their own, they often struggled to go on evenly. The application over bare lips was similar to trying to apply some of the darker topcoats over very light or dissimilar colors, which just made any application shortcomings highly visible (compared to say, blue shimmer over a blue lipstick). They had a very strong, lingering tingle where my lips felt like they do after being numbed (like from the dentist)βalmost too big, swollen, and a mixture of tingling, cooling, burning. This effect lasted between two to three minutes before subsiding. I wouldnβt say itβs water-resistant, as it seemed to transfer after drinking water, but if I did not drink anything, it was fairly transfer-proof. The wear has been between two and four hours and drying.
The packaging on these doesnβt make sense to me; they have a very thin, brush-type applicator that is terrible for spreading product across the lips, but the formula was often sheerer so getting crisp lines with the included applicator seemed like an exercise in futility. I think a squeeze-tube or more typical doe-foot applicator would have worked here, but I like the idea of a squeeze tube, which would βforceβ one to use a separate applicator would make more sense, as using it directly on top of another lipstick would result in lipstick transfer to the wand and back into the tube.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Topcoat swatches.
They knocked it out of the park with those lipsticks. I don’t understand what they are doing now – trying to wreck that rep?
I wish I knew!
They want to be trendy. Lots of competing liquid lipsticks and shimmer topcoats. But Urban Decay is new to liquid lipsticks, so I don’t get why they focused on releasing 30 colors at once rather than the formula. I remember that their original lipstick formula wasn’t that great either and it took a while for them to develop Vice’s great quality. They were way too ambitious with a new product imo.
Maybe better to stick with regular lip gloss as a topper
Certainly more comfortable, LOL!
Fever could be a good one for me if I didn’t already own Maybelline Glistening Coral. Who knows? Perhaps I should make sure my tube of it didn’t turn!
You had me seriously LoL-ing over Circuit looking like you planted your lips in potting soil!!! ?
Sometimes I can get a good joke in! π
π
I know π
These are really terrible. I picked up two of the Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Crème lip glosses and have been enjoying them. I got Rose Pearl and Oyster Pearl and have been layering them over different lipsticks. So much better than these.
The Bite glosses are amazing!
A very easy pass. I rarely use top coats, or glosses over lipsticks as I just don’t like the feel of it. I also press and rub my lips toghether a lot and need reapplying more often than most and it’s easier just using one product.
These lip top coats doesn’t tempt me to try usin top coats, quite the opposite π