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Urban Decay Liquid Liner Review, Photos, Swatches


Roach, Gash, Lucky, Shattered, Acid Rain

Urban Decay Liquid Liner ($18.00) is available in a slew of shades in a cute inkwell-like pot. There are fourteen shades to choose from, from purple to black to red.

  • Roach is a reddish-toned dark brown with a metallic finish.
  • Gash is a deep red with just a touch of brown.
  • Lucky is a coppery medium-dark brown.
  • Shattered is a medium-dark grassy green with some antique gold thrown in.
  • Acid Rain is a bright pop of chartreuse green.

Urban Decay’s Liquid Liners are incredibly long-wearing, smudge-proof, budge-proof, and nearly waterproof. Once dry (takes a few seconds, but it doesn’t take long), the liner doesn’t budge at all. You can move it around before it dries, but once it sets, good luck with that! All of the ones I have give off a bit of a metallic sheen even when dry, which is something I personally like. The formula is really great for those who need their liner to stay in place without a lot of fuss. I love that these don’t fade even a little bit after twelve hours of wear. I also love the shade variety — you can’t always find red or bright green liquid liners!

The packaging is so-so; the inkwell design is cute, but it’s not space-saving. It also doesn’t make these as portable as they could be if they were in the more traditional liquid liner tube packaging (I heard that it used to be, actually!). The brush included could probably be a little finer, a little tighter, but it gets the job done with some practice. If you’re not planning to take these on-the-go, a separate eyeliner brush is a better bet. I like either 208 or 209 by MAC myself for these. I will say that the included brush does feel quite comfortable in my hand, even if the brush itself could be improved upon.

  • Product: 9/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 7/10
  • Packaging: 7/10

Recommendation: If you’re looking for richly pigmented liquid liners, Urban Decay has you covered!

Availability: Sephora

See swatches


Roach, Gash, Lucky, Shattered, Acid Rain

47 Comments

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Doreen Avatar

Wow, Roach and Acid Rain look super gorgeous! Definitely taking a closer look at these next time. Thanks for the review, Christine! Hopefully the brush isn’t too unwieldy.

Tatiana Avatar

Last month, Sephora was having a store special on the UD liquid liner, only the Smog one though, for $8, what a great deal! I was surprised how long wearing they were, how fast they dried, and the pigmentation. It’s also a pretty color, kind of a bronzy olive. I don’t like the packaging either, it’s cute and all but I don’t like storing them horizontally in my train case. Still I lucked out on that deal!

Lyndsay Avatar

I love Urban Decay Liquid Liners. I only own four at this time, but I want all of them! I love how they kind of….shine…when in the light. Its like colored metal!

Katie W Avatar

These are my absolute favorite liquid liners. I love the brush it comes with, I think it’s really easy to use! Even easier than felt tips, for me at least. I’m not sure about the design though – is there going to be product wasted? I figure that it will expire and I’ll want a new one before I start to have trouble getting product out. 🙂

Luisafer Avatar

The reason I like this kind of liner is that makes you look good in a sec… sometimes I´m in a rush, so I just apply a metalic eye liner like this ones, some mascara, lip gloss and I think I look good to go!!!

Cassie Avatar

Can anyone compare the formula and/or brush to MAC’s Liquidlast liners? I LOVE the UD formula and brush, but don’t like to go all the way to Sephora. Plus I would love a liner that I could use for Back 2 MAC since I replace them so often.
Thank you in advance and thank you Christine for the swatches 🙂

robyn Avatar

i find these liners flake not so bad with eyeshadow but without terrible my friend found the same odd as everyone else seems to love them but because of the amzing colours and my love for bright eyeliner i still buy them

Hannah Avatar

Hey great swatches, and are these getting discontinued because they aren’t on the sephora website or store and are on sale on there website online. Do you know anything?

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