Urban Decay Roach, Hardfall, Deserted, Hey-o 24/7 Shadow Sticks Reviews & Swatches
Roach
Urban Decay Roach 24/7 Shadow Stick ($26.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a darker, chocolate brown with subtle, warm reddish undertones and a soft sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, which built up somewhat, but I had to be careful about building up as the formula didn’t layer as well as it should have.
The texture was dense without being stiff or painful to use, but it was thin and only lightly creamy. It had a very quick dry down, which made it hard to apply and blend out evenly, regardless of whether I used fingertips or brushes. I’d recommend picking up product onto one’s finger or a brush from the pencil, then applying. I found this gave me a better level of evenness than using the pencil directly.
There was creasing present after six and a half hours of wear, fading after seven hours of wear, and it had a tendency to emphasize any natural lid texture/dryness.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Plain Jane (LE, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Budding Passion (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Outlandish (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Tweed Fauve #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Dior Riviera #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Dynamic (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Tahitian Pearl (285) (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Jardins Eclatants #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Shockadelica (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Howdy (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.04 oz. - $650.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "creamy, supercharged color" in "one swipe" with "glides on smooth" and "allow[s] time to blend" before "dry[ing] down waterproof for up to 24 hours." The pigmentation varied from shade to shade with more matte shades tending to have more semi-opaque or fuller coverage while shimmer shades were often sheerer, more medium coverage, and prone to color pushing around instead of building up.
They have an almost instant dry down; I wouldn't say one had "15-30 seconds" to work with it... more like five to 10 seconds. It felt lightly tacky and inflexible after that, so any additional blending was more apt to lift and pull up product, which created patchiness, than actually blend it out.
I'd recommend using a separate brush or fingertips to apply the product, so you'll want to pick up product off of the actual pencil rather than using it directly. The reason for this is that it dried down so quickly and often applied unevenly, and when I tried to blend out with my fingertip after direct application, I ended up with patchiness. I found the texture to be too uneven and dry to work well as a base; the tackiness helped products adhere, but a regular, smoother primer (including the brand's own Primer Potion) did a better job of yielding better end results for troublesome eyeshadows... and lasted longer.
Some shades looked drier and were more prone to emphasizing lid texture, and it seemed slightly more common with lighter, more matte shades (or at least, it was more noticeable). The wear ranged from six to eight hours before creasing and fading noticeably, so they were decently long-wearing--in general--though obviously not anywhere close to 24-hour wear. I took a nap with four of the shades on, and they were worse for the wear, so no, they are not particularly long-wearing.
In general, they are a weaker formula based on their claims, and there seem like a lot of other pencil formulas to choose from that outperform this one, so it's hard to imagine who these are designed for. For sheerer, one-and-done looks, they might work, but the inability to really soften and blend them out still makes me think that other formulas would be far more worthy of time and money spent.
There was a built-in sharpener.
Browse all of our Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Mica, Synthetic Wax, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, CI 77491 / Iron Oxides, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera / Rice Bran Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caffeine.
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.
Roach
PPermanent. $26.00.
Hardfall
Urban Decay Hardfall 24/7 Shadow Stick ($26.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a darker copper with moderate, warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had semi-sheer color coverage in a single pass, which built up unevenly to semi-opaque coverage. It was uneven in color coverage but also in physical thickness as the product built onto itself and pushed product around. I had better luck putting product on my fingertip or a separate brush first, then swiping it on as this helped the physical evenness issue.
The texture felt thin, lightly emollient and wasn’t painful to work with directly, but it was very quick to dry down to a lightly tacky, mostly inflexible and somewhat clingy finish. If one tried to blend at this point, the end result was lifted up color and big bald patches where color used to be. It faded noticeably after six hours of wear and showed creasing after seven and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Reflexion #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Reputation (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Stop Ruffling My Feathers #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Sienna #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Roswell (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Copper Toned (PiP, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Helio Goodbye (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty O MG (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Devinah Cosmetics Flake (PiP, $5.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Gingersnap (PiP, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.04 oz. - $650.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "creamy, supercharged color" in "one swipe" with "glides on smooth" and "allow[s] time to blend" before "dry[ing] down waterproof for up to 24 hours." The pigmentation varied from shade to shade with more matte shades tending to have more semi-opaque or fuller coverage while shimmer shades were often sheerer, more medium coverage, and prone to color pushing around instead of building up.
They have an almost instant dry down; I wouldn't say one had "15-30 seconds" to work with it... more like five to 10 seconds. It felt lightly tacky and inflexible after that, so any additional blending was more apt to lift and pull up product, which created patchiness, than actually blend it out.
I'd recommend using a separate brush or fingertips to apply the product, so you'll want to pick up product off of the actual pencil rather than using it directly. The reason for this is that it dried down so quickly and often applied unevenly, and when I tried to blend out with my fingertip after direct application, I ended up with patchiness. I found the texture to be too uneven and dry to work well as a base; the tackiness helped products adhere, but a regular, smoother primer (including the brand's own Primer Potion) did a better job of yielding better end results for troublesome eyeshadows... and lasted longer.
Some shades looked drier and were more prone to emphasizing lid texture, and it seemed slightly more common with lighter, more matte shades (or at least, it was more noticeable). The wear ranged from six to eight hours before creasing and fading noticeably, so they were decently long-wearing--in general--though obviously not anywhere close to 24-hour wear. I took a nap with four of the shades on, and they were worse for the wear, so no, they are not particularly long-wearing.
In general, they are a weaker formula based on their claims, and there seem like a lot of other pencil formulas to choose from that outperform this one, so it's hard to imagine who these are designed for. For sheerer, one-and-done looks, they might work, but the inability to really soften and blend them out still makes me think that other formulas would be far more worthy of time and money spent.
There was a built-in sharpener.
Browse all of our Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Synthetic Wax, CI 77400 / Copper Powder, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Mica, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera / Rice Bran Wax, CI 77491 / Iron Oxides, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caffeine, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Polyurethane-11, CI 77000 / Aluminum Powder.
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.
Hardfall
PPermanent. $26.00.
Deserted
Urban Decay Deserted 24/7 Shadow Stick ($26.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, pinky-coral with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had medium pigmentation in one layer, which was buildable to semi-opaque coverage. The product built up more evenly than most shades in the range, which was nice to see at least one shade not be utterly abysmal.
The texture was lightly emollient, thin, but very quick to dry down to a lightly tacky, more inflexible feeling, so there was not much time to work with it. I felt like I had time to try to blend it out once with rapid movement but if it wasn’t right then, I’d have to redo it as trying to blend it out further resulted in the product lifting up. It faded noticeably after seven hours of wear and creased at the seven and a half hour mark.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Current Event (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Soft Core (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Boo Bird (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop U Promise (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Look at Me (PiP, $4.50) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop So Meta (Mariale) (LE, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Sweet Capacity (LE, $4.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Woke (PiP, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Hangover (LE, $4.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Adore Me (Unbreakable Bond) (PiP, $5.25) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.04 oz. - $650.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "creamy, supercharged color" in "one swipe" with "glides on smooth" and "allow[s] time to blend" before "dry[ing] down waterproof for up to 24 hours." The pigmentation varied from shade to shade with more matte shades tending to have more semi-opaque or fuller coverage while shimmer shades were often sheerer, more medium coverage, and prone to color pushing around instead of building up.
They have an almost instant dry down; I wouldn't say one had "15-30 seconds" to work with it... more like five to 10 seconds. It felt lightly tacky and inflexible after that, so any additional blending was more apt to lift and pull up product, which created patchiness, than actually blend it out.
I'd recommend using a separate brush or fingertips to apply the product, so you'll want to pick up product off of the actual pencil rather than using it directly. The reason for this is that it dried down so quickly and often applied unevenly, and when I tried to blend out with my fingertip after direct application, I ended up with patchiness. I found the texture to be too uneven and dry to work well as a base; the tackiness helped products adhere, but a regular, smoother primer (including the brand's own Primer Potion) did a better job of yielding better end results for troublesome eyeshadows... and lasted longer.
Some shades looked drier and were more prone to emphasizing lid texture, and it seemed slightly more common with lighter, more matte shades (or at least, it was more noticeable). The wear ranged from six to eight hours before creasing and fading noticeably, so they were decently long-wearing--in general--though obviously not anywhere close to 24-hour wear. I took a nap with four of the shades on, and they were worse for the wear, so no, they are not particularly long-wearing.
In general, they are a weaker formula based on their claims, and there seem like a lot of other pencil formulas to choose from that outperform this one, so it's hard to imagine who these are designed for. For sheerer, one-and-done looks, they might work, but the inability to really soften and blend them out still makes me think that other formulas would be far more worthy of time and money spent.
There was a built-in sharpener.
Browse all of our Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Synthetic Wax, CI 77491 / Iron Oxides, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera / Rice Bran Wax, Mica, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alumina, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caffeine, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 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.
Deserted
PPermanent. $26.00.
Hey-o
Urban Decay Hey-o 24/7 Shadow Stick ($26.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a brighter, slightly cool-toned white with a matte finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff in a single stroke, which built up to medium coverage, but the layer of product was uneven and physically thicker/thinner in places, which made it hard to use as a base.
The texture was lightly emollient when initially applied, but it was very quick to dry down–felt like it was setting as soon as I tried to blend it out with a fingertip! so almost immediately!–which made it unforgiving and harder to fix all the unevenness from the get-go. I found this shade was particularly prone to emphasizing lid texture. It had creasing after seven hours of wear and fading after six and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Headliner (LE, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sugarpill Tako (P, $13.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Coloured Raine Coconut Water (LE, $6.99) is cooler (95% similar).
- elf Wispy Cloud (P, $5.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Sandworm (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Chroma #1 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty White Elephant (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC White (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Glaminatrix Marshmallow (P, $7.30) is darker (95% similar).
- Lethal Cosmetics Frequency (P, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.04 oz. - $650.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "creamy, supercharged color" in "one swipe" with "glides on smooth" and "allow[s] time to blend" before "dry[ing] down waterproof for up to 24 hours." The pigmentation varied from shade to shade with more matte shades tending to have more semi-opaque or fuller coverage while shimmer shades were often sheerer, more medium coverage, and prone to color pushing around instead of building up.
They have an almost instant dry down; I wouldn't say one had "15-30 seconds" to work with it... more like five to 10 seconds. It felt lightly tacky and inflexible after that, so any additional blending was more apt to lift and pull up product, which created patchiness, than actually blend it out.
I'd recommend using a separate brush or fingertips to apply the product, so you'll want to pick up product off of the actual pencil rather than using it directly. The reason for this is that it dried down so quickly and often applied unevenly, and when I tried to blend out with my fingertip after direct application, I ended up with patchiness. I found the texture to be too uneven and dry to work well as a base; the tackiness helped products adhere, but a regular, smoother primer (including the brand's own Primer Potion) did a better job of yielding better end results for troublesome eyeshadows... and lasted longer.
Some shades looked drier and were more prone to emphasizing lid texture, and it seemed slightly more common with lighter, more matte shades (or at least, it was more noticeable). The wear ranged from six to eight hours before creasing and fading noticeably, so they were decently long-wearing--in general--though obviously not anywhere close to 24-hour wear. I took a nap with four of the shades on, and they were worse for the wear, so no, they are not particularly long-wearing.
In general, they are a weaker formula based on their claims, and there seem like a lot of other pencil formulas to choose from that outperform this one, so it's hard to imagine who these are designed for. For sheerer, one-and-done looks, they might work, but the inability to really soften and blend them out still makes me think that other formulas would be far more worthy of time and money spent.
There was a built-in sharpener.
Browse all of our Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Wax, Mica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera / Rice Bran Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caffeine.
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.
Oh no, this is so disappointing! I had some shadow sticks from Urban Decay about a decade ago that I loved, I was hoping these would be their spiritual successor… But it doesn’t look like they’re up to the standard the old iteration had set!
How the mighty have fallen. What a shame
This is disappointing! I owned the previous iteration of the shadow sticks that needed to be sharpened and those were so lovely. It’s a shame that they didn’t just bring back that formula.
What’s even sadder than how bad these performed is how I’m not even surprised. What happened, UD? I used to adore their stuff.
OMG – what has UD devolved to? This is too, too bad for words….
Not surprised. Mine sucked as well. That’s what I get for not waiting.
OH NOOOO!!! 🙁 Which one did you get again?
Echoed. Due for an F soon. I admit to Schadenfreude. (Taking delight in other’s misfortune.). Like Kat, not even surprised. If the lid is overmoisturized and primed with a half-dry down, I can get a one and done out of it. Knew better than to try to use it in a look or blend.
Oy vey, these aren’t even as good as Nyx’s JEP’s to at least be able to use as a shadow base! Just crappy quality.
This feels like the death knell for Urban Decay.
This is sad . No one wants to see what has happened to this once fantastic brand . What are they thinking ?
This brand feels like it’s falling apart. And I know Roach is in reference to weed but when you pair it with poop brain…I just think of the insects. I think UD may have peaked and it’s time to put them to bed.
brown – not brain! 😀
Oh! How disappointing, I’m glad we have you to vet these for us.
I’m not all that surprised, and that in itself makes me sad. I used to love this brand so much! It’s like they’ve just stopped trying.
What in the H is going on with Urban Decay? They were such a consistently strong brand for years. Decades even. UD was one of my favourite brands growing up (I turn 37 this year) and they’ve seemed to be on a downward trajectory for a long time now.
The last product I enjoyed was probably the Born to Run palette, and if I’m being honest with myself? Even that was just fair when I compare it to less expensive palettes I have. Really sad. I hope they’re able to overhaul and turn things around.
OMG I know exactly what you mean. I too will be 37 this year. I have fond memories of my mother taking me 2 hours way to Provincetown, MA of all places to buy original UD items from this tiny little display in a gift shop-like place there. My first three polishes were Salmonella, DTs and Graffiti. Oh, and a Shattered lipstick that I wore ALL through my 10th grade year. Hell, I got the original Naked palette on launch and that was an industry-changer. It makes me so sad to see UD self destruct.
I’m sorry, I had to laugh at the nail polish named “salmonella”. That would never pass today but it fits the original UD theme. I only got into UD in 2016 but it’s really sad to see results like this when old products like their eye pencils and vice lipstick to be such stand-outs.
I should be surprised but I’m not. Now I’m surprised when the product reviews well, so sad. If they weren’t a well established brand riding on past achievements they would follow BECCA cosmetic and close shop.
I don’t like shadow sticks anyway, but this is appalling.
I was afraid these would be dreadful and it seems my fears were well-founded. I remember the last 24/7 pencils and they were a bit tricky to use as they did dry down really fast AND the pencils themselves because unusable in a really short time, which was disappointing. But these new ones seem 10 times worse! Sephora’s own brand of chubby pencil shadows are fabulous (for the most part) and I’ve had them for more than 5 years and they’re still as fresh and usable as the day I bought them (and at a fraction of the price of these dreadful pencils). What the heck is wrong with UD lately?
Yes! i remember those. I had a mini set and they were great. I recall the shade Juju in particular. UD was the first high end brand I used, but they are just such a disappointing mess now.
😬 Yikes.
I have Digitized, and I like it.
These are a joke.
Good lord, UD is in freefall.. Roach and Hardfall would have been part of my stash, but not like this.
Why the hell are these almost $30 for a stick of crap?!
looks like a failed formula… how did this even pass QC, sheesh
Oh, dear. UD, are you OK? Do you need to talk?
Oh, dear – looks like UD is pressing the self-destruct button very firmly indeed 🙁
“Hardfall” was an apt shade name for such a poorly performing product. Maybe UD knows they’re going downhill
Yikes. What direction is Urban Decay going in? These plus the extremely meh design of the new eyeshadows are so sad.