Urban Decay Plague, UV-B, Frostbite XX Vintage Vice Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “bright purple with pink undertone [with a Cream finish].” It’s a medium-dark reddish-purple with warm undertones and fine pink and light blue pearl. It had semi-opaque color coverage that went on evenly, but the slippery texture of the formula made it prone to emphasizing and settling into lip lines, unfortunately. It wasn’t as noticeable as the other two shades, though. I imagine this would be easier to find a coordinating lip liner for, which would alleviate the issue of settling. The color wore well for four and a half hours, left a subtle stain behind, and was hydrating. 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). Marc Jacobs Beauty Scandal (226) (P, $30.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Too Faced Pixie Stick (LE, $22.00) is cooler (85% 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). Urban Decay Flashback (P, $18.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). Pretty Vulgar Made with Mischief (P, $24.00) is darker (85% similar). UOMA Beauty Allure (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (80% similar). Too Faced Mermaid Tears (LE, $22.00) is lighter, less pigmented (80% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Control (LE, $56.00) is less shimmery, cooler, glossier (80% similar). MAC Atomized (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (80% similar). Bite Beauty Grape Glaze (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Cardi (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “vibrant blue with purple shift [with a Cream finish].” It’s a medium-dark, bluish-purple with strong, cool undertones and fine pearl. It had semi-opaque pigmentation paired with a creamy, moderately emollient texture, which did cause some color to pull into lip lines right away. It applied fairly evenly, though it wasn’t perfect in application. The color wore well for four hours, left a pinkish stain behind, and was hydrating. Urban Decay Monarchy (P, $18.00) is darker, less pigmented (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Cardi (LE, $36.00)(80% similar). NYX Ego (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (80% similar). Urban Decay Reverb (P, $18.00) is darker, less pigmented, warmer (80% similar). NYX Immortal (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Trance (LE, $56.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is described as a “frosted deep blue with multicolored micro-glitter [with a Cream finish].” It’s a subdued, medium-dark navy blue with cooler undertones and a metallic shimmer-sheen finish. It’s a cool shade, to be sure, but it applied terribly–it was semi-opaque, streaky, and went on unevenly. I imagine part of that is due to the more emollient consistency. The color lasted for four and a half hours, left a stain behind, but it settled into lip lines over time. The formula was hydrating at least! MAC Anything Once (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Fenty Beauty No Chill (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Ritual (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Too Faced Trampula (LE, $22.00) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Time (LE, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). Sephora Ice Breaker (46) (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Time (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar). KVD Beauty Poe (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Smashbox Deep (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC Moon Landing (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (85% similar). Too Faced Blue You Away (P, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar). Smashbox Skinny Jeans (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Ciate Iconic (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (85% similar). Illamasqua Disciple (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar). Guerlain #333 (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). KVD Beauty Poe (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Formula Overview
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. 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. The Revolution formula–generally–felt a little more hydrating and pigmented on the lips, but these seem to wear a little longer; some of the shades that were in Revolution and are now in Vice (particularly the Creams, Sheers, and Sheer Shimmers) feel virtually the same on to me. The Comfort Mattes are the only ones that felt largely different–more satiny than matte, less dense compared to Matte Revolution.
Plague
DCDiscontinued. $18.00.
UV-B
LELimited Edition. $18.00.
Frostbite
LELimited Edition. $18.00.
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Plague Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay UV-B Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
Urban Decay Frostbite Vice Lipstick
These are just so underwhelming. I think they should have done away with the glitter ones because they are never consistent and quite drying AND lipstick and glitter never really works…lip gloss and glitter does so had they made these glittery ones in a vice lip gloss they’d have a winner…sort of cause I got bang bang in lipgloss and it was gritty too. The potential for these colors is so high but their execution on formula is just too bad.
They’ve been able to make some nicer metallic/shimmery lipsticks in the Vice range, but these are far from their best attempts!
I’m surprised the glittery ones have been labeled cream finish and not metallic. I wonder if the are actual formula differences or something?
I was, too. Frankly, I’m surprised most of them were Sheer Shimmers!
I agree… can we stop with the lipstick and glitter already??? I mean, there is a huge difference between glitter and frost/metallic finishes to me, and glitter is almost always gritty in lipstick. Also, if you wipe your lips, there is glitter EVERYWHERE…
I’m still so sad about UV-B and Frostbite! If they were in a more pigmented base colour these could have worked.
I was surprised more of these weren’t labeled as sheer!
Wow, after all the stellar lippies from UD, BITE, MUFE, NARS, it seems weird to see lippies rated below A. But these are harder colors to get right, sooo…I like Plague, but I already have Mad Hatter, will add add a lip liner to see if I can dupe it. Frostbite looks terrible up close. I wasn’t going to get UV-B, but it’s SO unique looking. I have some purple shadows with blue violet undertones, and it’s hard to find a matching blue-toned purple lippie (most purple lippies are warm and pink toned), and I think UV-B would look nice layered purple or blue lippie. UV-B is so cool and frosty-looking, I shiver everytime I look at it (burrrrr!)
So true, Katherine! The Vintage lipsticks are definitely more unique but mostly need help in application 🙁
Katherine, I accidentally found a close dupe to Frostbite this morning. I was playing around with my MAC lippies. If you apply Kling-It-On and then top it with Twekqoise, it gets pretty close. I was actually experimenting bc Kling alone makes me look like the walking dead. Anyway, if you’re close to MAC or Nordstrom or Saks, you might want to try testing the blend out. Either way, I think it makes a really great looking lip look.
Oh no! Kling- It- On looks stunningly edgy on me. I’ve been wearing it with plummy purple/pink shadows, really makes my brown eyes pop. I’m even thinking about getting a backup, since it’s so unique. I also have Twerkoise, and I mixed it on top, and wow it’s pretty too! I like it a lot, but for some reason, I’m not getting Frostbite at all, I get a glossier version of Kling-It- On. Hmm, I notice that your swatch of Twerkoise has more turquoise pigment than mine, so that might make a difference? Regardless, I’m SO glad you found a way to make Kling-It- On work, and find a dupe for Frostbite at same time!
I think it may be the inconsistency with the products for sure. I think I posted my Kling swatches – they were pretty bland. If yours is more pigmented that probably makes the difference. And yes, my Twek is very pigmented. I can actually wear it alone and it is darn close to opaque on my already pigmented lips.
That’s what I suspect, too! I was so shocked to see your swatch of Twerkoise. My Twerkoise has like 1/2 the pigment of yours and is a sheer sheen on my not-so-pigmented lips! My Kling It On has about the same amount of pigment as yours, but difference seems mine has a LOT more pinky purple shimmers! And definitely 3-4x more pigment and shimmers than the horrible press samples that Christine (and other bloggers ) got. BTW, I swatched 3 different Kling It Ons at 3 different stores. 2 of them swatched similar to mine, but the 3rd one looked like a dud, the shimmer was very uneven and dull, and I even scraped away the top layer to re-swatch it. Both products aren’t totally opaque, so our natural lip colors might also influence the final effect, but it’s kind of disappointing about the QC issues. Great if you got a good batch, not-so-great if you didn’t. IDK, maybe you can try exchanging for another Kling It On, but if not, at least it looks good with Twerkoise on top.
Don’t know if I want to chance another dud! I did get On and On from my daughter for my birthday and it’s a bit similar to Kling. I feel like the On and On I got is more pigmented than some of the others that are out there. It’s not as purple-based as Kling but it’s in the ballpark. Probably safer waiting for a lippie that’s more consistent. I’ll probably post my swatch of On and On tomorrow.
Hey, Michele? Do you have a blog ? I’d love to follow it. I’m looking for new ones and it’s a bonus when it’s someone who also has hooded eyes & does eye looks. Thanks!
I had a blog – Binx Cat’s Beauty Blog – but suspended it. I may go back to it at some point and if I do, I’ll link it through Christine’s site (since she’s nice enough to allow that). I post swatches and pics on my Instagram and Twitter still though @Binxcat4ever. Thanks for asking.
🙁
I know 🙁
I’m really on the fence about the Vintage Lipsticks. I had thought I would most likely pick up most, if not all of them. With respect to these three, I’m thinking a good base and liner might help with the issues. I have a few disappointments by way of glitter-infused products lately, I may just pick one to start with and see what I can do with it first before investing in multiples.
That’d be a good call, Michele! They are similar in texture (and problems), so if you’re able to fix one, then woo!
Definitely getting UV-B despite its issues. It’s just too unique and beautiful to pass up!
Haha! I totally understand 🙂
Yes, yes, and yes!
Just not my look.
Gotcha! 🙂
It is such a pity that these lipsticks arent performing better. That said, I do love the colours of them all, and I think I must have Plague and maybe UV-B. Frostbite is sadly not good enough to spend money on, at least not for me. I do sit here, trying to think of ways to make it work, though as it is quite an unusual colour. So if anyone have any ideas, please share!
They are very cool shades to be sure – more unique than not!
Ooh! I really like Plague! ?
That’s a good one flanked by two major fails, though. Frostbite could’ve been amazing for a deep blue lipstick, but it looks like one of those old greasepaint costume lipsticks of many years ago.?
I don’t know why they didn’t make these less emollient… or else call them Sheer Shimmers.
[sigh] I know they both got dismal grades — Frostbite especially — but there’s nothing like them out there, and they are VERY attractive to me. I actually like that the two blue ones come out sheer, as I think it looks better if they’re modified by the underlying lip color, I just wish they applied more evenly and didn’t settle into lip lines so much. I’m wondering how they’d perform over my ColourPop lippie primer.
Nah, I know what you mean, Alecto — that was the thought running through my head when reviewing a lot of the Vintage lipsticks: they are so much more unique, why are they so terrible…
But yes, if they were sheer but even, they’d be more usable. I think a lip primer or invisible liner would help with the settling, though.
Maybe for a costume party, but other than that I think I’ll pass.
Gotcha!
Awful colors and pigmentation. I don’t even comment much anymore but seeing this and the 20 years later repromotes is irritating me when I read your blog.
Even the Dior couture new lipstick colors with the purples, blues look so much better. And Dior is not even know for Goth or Club colors. Urban Decay really should leave these colors behind. The 15 year promo colors and collections were awesome. And I really dislike lipstick palettes. I like carrying the lipstick in a tube. All my gripes. Now… Color Pops is the new rage,
I think if they were going to bring them back… then they should have done them right – and at the very least, categorized them better (they have Sheer and Sheer Shimmer finishes!). It wouldn’t solve the issue of unevenness, but it would at least make more aware that they aren’t going to be nearly as pigmented as they might seem.
It doesn’t matter, I have to get UV-B! Like others have said, it might perform better over a base of some sort. I just love the color (blue base purples always get me)!
Hope you enjoy it, Alicia! 🙂
The performance leaves a lot to desire, but I do like Plague’s color. In person, do you find that the shimmer makes how it settles into lip lines any less apparent? I can definitely see it close up, but it seems a bit better in the full face pic.
I think the settling is least noticeable in Plague – between the greater opacity, shimmer, and glossier finish.
It’s such a drag that these perform so poorly! I started wearing makeup in the 70’s, so these are not my cherished vintage colors, but can I say that I sympathize with those who are so disappointed?
What would be your type of vintage shades?
The 70’s for me was all about the lip gloss. I liked the Bonne Bell Dr. Pepper lip balm, and Clinique Black Honey when I was feeling adventurous. I was really a quiet kid, so that didn’t happen very often.
I still pick up the Dr. Pepper balm when I can find it in the jumbo size, though. ?
I was hoping for so much more out of this Vintage Urban Decay collection!!Asphyxia was in a lip gloss form in the 90’s and early 2000’s it was awesome they could have done these in glosses which are very on trend and really knocked these out of the park.Instead we get a mediocre vintage lipstick selection when they just released 100 lipsticks most of which are way better a lot of these!
There’s an idea!
These shades would have worked much better as glosses.
I wish they have been better. 🙁
Same here, Erin!
I might have to get Plague!
Yay!
My usual refrain, I wish they were more opaque. They’re very pretty, though. I have dupes, though the Nyx one is not super-similar to UV-B, so that’s the one I would get out of these three.
If only! I wish they at least had mentioned that they are sheer!
Frostbite was the first Urban Decay I owned when I was 14! I recall it being a lighter blue…ah whatever, I’m buying it no matter what.
Awww!! That is such a cool first UD product!
They look awesome on you! But when I tried on these lipsticks they did not have the same effect on me. The UV-B was BRIGHT, light blue – and on you it looked very nice, had hints of purple? So weird! Anyways, I still think they looked great on you.
Could be your natural lip color or perhaps your skin tone? Are you lighter/darker?
I just bought Frostbite, I fell in love after testing it. Was planning to buy Oil Slick, but talk about streaky! I was very surprised at the poor grade you gave Frostbite, but like everything, YMMV!
Glad you like Frostbite!