Urban Decay Flashback & Unbroken Vice Liquid Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Flashback
Urban Decay Flashback Vice Liquid Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium purple with warm, pink undertones and a sparkling sheen. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and on the watery side, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when it did not apply evenly and some of the shimmer gathered more heavily in some areas than others. A second layer did not work well, due to the uneven initial layer, and there was a lot of flaking during wear if a second layer was applied. It had semi-sheer coverage that lasted for about five hours on me but was drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Royal Hour (LE, $19.00) is lighter, less pigmented, glossier (90% similar).
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Alt-Girl (DC, $17.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- MAC Own the Look (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics It's Showtime (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Plague (DC, $18.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Mad Hatter (LE, $18.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- MAC Wakanda Forever (LE, $24.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cardi (LE, $36.00) (80% similar).
- MAC Violetta (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (80% similar).
- MAC Model Behavior (P, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.17 oz. - $105.88 Per Ounce
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.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Bis-Hydroxylauryl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Nylon-12, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Silica [Nano] / Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tin Oxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 45380 / Red 22 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake].
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.
Flashback
PPermanent. $18.00.
Unbroken
Urban Decay Unbroken Vice Liquid Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a deep plum with warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. This shade was unbearably drying; this one physically hurt to wear after four hours. The consistency was smooth going on, but it dried down to such a dry, chalky, and clingy way that it made my lips look like they had no moisture left (which was about how they felt in the end). It lasted for five hours on me before it had worn away unevenly from the center of my mouth.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia #5 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is brighter (85% similar).
- Anastasia Poet (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Topped with Brandy (P, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Veronica (P, $20.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop Baracuda (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Dead Roses (P, $18.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Ciate Pin Up (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- Maybelline Mauve It (DC, $7.49) is lighter, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
- NARS Haze (LE, $26.00).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.17 oz. - $105.88 Per Ounce
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.
Browse all of our Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Bis-Hydroxylauryl Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Nylon-12, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Silica [Nano] / Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tin Oxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 45380 / Red 22 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake].
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.
Unbroken looks soooo drying. Flashback is actually a pretty color
How have they still not improved this formula?!?!
Oh, Urban Decay, why??? You have such wonderful bullet lipsticks. How could you make such pretty liquid lipstick colors, but go so wrong with the formula?
How do you revive your lips after a bout with some bad, drying formula?
I just wear whatever lip balm I have on hand at night – I don’t usually do anything special!
Oh heartbroken! Flashback is such a gorgeous color, but an F 🙁
Urban Decay, you got me here face-palming and seriously smdh. Flashback could have been a stunner if the formula had been smoother and applied evenly, not to mention non-drying.
Christine, you have my sympathies for having that miserably, painfully dry shade Unbroken on for even 10 minutes, much less 5 hours! I’ll be sticking with my tubes of CP Barracuda, Ciate Pin-up, or my favorite dupe, ABH Dead Roses!
It’s almost comical how bad these STILL are. While I do own a number of their lipsticks; the formula is drying to me so they are worn with glosses to help moisturize. I’d have thought they’d gotten their formulas together by now but when something doesn’t seem broken why on earth would they fix it *side eye
I really loved flashback as a color but so sad it got an F and preformed so poorly because it is such a beautiful color. Thankfully I have alt-girl and foiled rose so I am covered. It’s so sad when purples don’t perform well!! It’s my favorite color!!
I had high hopes for unbroken 🙁