Urban Decay XX Vintage Nail Colors Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)
Urban Decay Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a light, pinkish white with iridescent opal shimmer. It had semi-opaque pigmentation after two coats, but it seemed too pigmented to be used as a layering shade, as the white base was rather strong and looked very streaky when applied over a more opaque base polish. The texture wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it didn’t pool along the edges, but I had trouble with this shade bubbling as it was drying down. Dior Perle (187) (LE, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). ILNP In the Clouds (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). MAC Girl Trouble (P, $16.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium pinky-lavender with warm undertones and threads of fine, lavender shimmer. It had semi-opaque pigmentation after two layers of product, but it was a little uneven with some areas appearing almost opaque and others appearing a touch streaky. The texture was thinner, a little watery, and I couldn’t prevent brush strokes from appearing. Formula X Equinox (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Scorching Haute (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a dark gray with neutral-to-cool undertones and fine silver shimmer that looked like threads of shimmer running through the polish. The consistency was thin, a little too liquidy, so I had to take greater care to ensure I didn’t load the brush up with too much product or else I would get pooling along the edges. There were some visible brush strokes, even after it dried down. It was fully opaque in two coats. MAC Grey Friday (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Formula X Metamorphic (P, $12.50) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). NARS Wrong Turn (LE, $20.00) is lighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a grayish black with cool undertones and silver shimmer. It was fully opaque in two coats, though it was quite pigmented even in one layer. It wasn’t too thick or too thin, which made it an easy shade to apply. I had no issues with the color bubbling or pooling along the edges, and it dried down to a smooth, shiny finish. Color Club Show Time (P, ) is darker (95% similar). L'Oreal Drop Dead Gorgeous (P, ) is darker (95% similar). Cult Nails Ignite (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Cosmic (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). China Glaze Smoke & Ashes (LE, $7.50) is darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a medium, olive green with warm undertones and lighter, greenish-gold shimmer. It had a more metallic finish, but that also meant that there were much more visible brush strokes as the thicker consistency made it harder to apply the color in really smooth, fluid strokes. It had full color coverage after two layers of product. Cult Nails In a Trance (DC, $12.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley (P, $10.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). China Glaze This is Tree-mendous (LE, $7.50) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (80% similar). Formula X Borealis (P, $12.50) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Zoya Yara (P, $9.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). China Glaze Agro (LE, $7.50) is darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a blackened brown with subtle, warm, reddish undertones and fine burgundy and bronze shimmer. It was intensely pigmented with nearly opaque coverage in just one coat, though I did two just to be sure. The consistency was on the thinner side but did not seem to run when applied to the nail. I saw one or two visible brush strokes, but the majority disappeared as the polish dried and self-leveled. Cult Nails Swanbourne (DC, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Barlust (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Chanel Cavaliere (526) (LE, $28.00) is warmer (90% similar). Christian Louboutin Beaute Farida (P, $50.00) is warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Roach (LE, $15.00) is warmer (85% similar). NARS Other Side (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Rescue Beauty Lounge Ghost (LE, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Isherwood (P, $10.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
I typically get seven days of wear out of Urban Decay’s formula with minor tip wear but no chipping (with no base or top coat). This is normal wear for me with most formulas, though. I tested four of the twelve shades for wear, and the wear was consistent with my past experience with the brand’s formula (seven days).
Pallor
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Asphyxia
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Uzi
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Oil Slick
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Mildew
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Smog
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Pallor Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Asphyxia Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Uzi Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Oil Slick Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Mildew Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Urban Decay Smog Nail Color
Even if the formula isn’t consistent, these are pretty. I’m thinking of getting Pallor – I don’t have time to change up my nail color too much. I think it’s neutral enough to go with almost every color clothes and lipstick, and if I chip it, it won’t look too obvious.
It’s a cool shade! 🙂
So disappointing to see such poor-performing formula’s especially from a brand like Urban Decay! I’ve never tried these nail colours before but I’ll be sticking to the holiday set these days!
They were bit all over the place for application!
Pallor looks a bit kiddie-ish like a color I’d buy from Claire’s fro my 4 yr old niece. Asphyxia looks too familiar – like it’s nothing special, it doesn’t stand out it just a shimmery looking purple. Uzi is a glorious grey. It adds some personality to a dark grey nail and can be for any season really. Oil Slick looks a bit like Pallor to me; kiddie. when it comes to black, I like it to be blackest black – no shimmery sprinkles or glitter because Black is so BOLD and not a usual every day color and it pops on it’s own. Mildew and Smog are gorgeous. They both scream fall but can do Summer too. I feel both would look good on any skin type. For the price, I’d try Mildew since I love green nail polish and look for a dupe of Smog.
Aww!! I love me a black with sparkles, LOL! But I like them really glossy 😀
I think I may need Oil Slick! I love a nice twist on black. I used to wear something like Uzi alllllll the time in the 90s. It was before the really chrome looking silvers came out and gunmetal was about as silver as you could find. I still remember that first bottle of Maybelline chrome. Robot fingers!
Chrome nails! So cool 😀
Quite frankly, I find the name Uzi so inappropriate.
I totally understand!
These are all passable for me.
Money saved!
Smog and Pallor are my personal picks. Smog is the PERFECT fall/winter shade for me, and Pallor looks so ethereal and light for spring/summer. I also like Asphyxia, but it sounds to darn fussy.
Smog is a very warm, autumnal shade!
Uzi looks a lot like Gunmetal by Sally Hansen
Thank you for sharing, Rachel!
I have Plague, UV-B, and Pallor. Plague seems great. I’ve only gotten to do accent nails with it so far but those have gone well. I’ll update once I’ve worn it on its own for a while. UV-B is fantastic. Gorgeous color that matches the eye shade very well with the purple-blue shift. Lasted quite a long time as well. Pallor I do think looks pretty for a subtle, sort of “weird pale nude but not a pale nude iridescent” way but it is tough to build and truly looks AWFUL as a transformer shade as you noted. I was hoping I could layer it over UV-B but I just ruined a gorgeous nail look with some patchy milkiness. So yeah, no layering that ha.
Happy to hear you’re enjoying two of the three a lot, Celia! Seems like Pallor hasn’t quite won you over!
Pallor is definitely a nice, lovely color that I’m glad to have. But the bubbling was an issue for me too and since I needed more like…2.5 coats that was trickier to deal with. I wish UD provided more in-depth descriptions on each shade because I definitely hoped to use Pallor was a layering shade but it’s just not possible.
Mildew looks beautiful though! Wish that was a color that worked with my skin tone!
I really don’t like what is happening to Urban Decay. Someone at HQ needs to get the lifeboats ready.
I’m sorry to hear that!
Smog and Mildew are my favourite colours – and I love them as eye shadows too.
Very cool shades!
Mildew stands out for me!
It’s pretty!
I remember wearing Uzi a gazillion years ago. As much as I wanted to like the shade – which had a bit of a greenish tint to my eyes, but that’s probably the way my super yellow skin tone made it look -, it never worked for me. It took ages to dry, if it ever dried off. All around, it was always more than a hassle than it was worth. Can’t say I’m particularly tempted to see if the formula has improved as there’s so much variety when it comes to nail these days. I’m pretty sure I have a dupe in my nail polish collection, anyway.
Oh, this dried down way, way better than it sounds like the old one did! The formula is nice, but I don’t find that it is any better/worse than your typical brands.
Wow, these are giving me serious nostalgia! Reminds me of so many nail polishes I wore in the 90’s.
I guess you could say they nailed it…..
Smog is the only one of these that I would buy! Love it!
Yay!
I really, really like Smog. Mildew and Uzi is also on the radar. Pity the formula seems to be a bit all over the place, though, but these three seems to be doing OK.
Now if I could get my nails in shape so I can wear nail polish. Going to get the nail oil!
You can do it! I used to bite mine all the time and am almost cured, lol!