Urban Decay XX Vintage Nail Colors Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)
Bruise
Urban Decay Bruise XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a deep, purplish brown base with green-to-teal pearl that shifts. The shimmer was rather fine, and I did have some trouble smoothing out the pearl and polish so that it looked like an even, shimmery finish–looked a little more like threads of shimmer, unfortunately! The consistency was thicker and did not self-level as it dried down. It was fully opaque after two coats, and it lasted for seven days on me with minor tip wear.
Top Dupes
- MAC Ascension (LE, $16.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Bruise
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Roach
Urban Decay Roach XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a deep, reddish brown with warm undertones and shimmer that shifted from dirty, olive gold to warm brown. The consistency was smooth, not too thick or too thin, and it applied beautifully to the nails with rich, opaque color in two coats, though one was almost opaque. I typically get a week of wear out of the brand’s formula.
Top Dupes
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Isherwood (P, $10.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Burnished Rouge (LE, $35.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Cavaliere (526) (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Cult Nails Swanbourne (DC, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Le Metier de Beaute Urban Dweller (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Smog (LE, $15.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Barlust (LE, ) is more muted (85% similar).
- Essie Sable Collar (P, $8.00).
- Christian Louboutin Beaute Farida (P, $50.00).
Roach
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Plague
Urban Decay Plague XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a rich, blackened purple with cool, violet sparkle and fine pearl. It had opaque color coverage with two coats (almost opaque in one). The consistency was thin without being watery, so it didn’t pool along the edges of my nails nor did it sheer out or appear uneven on the nail. It dried down to a modewrate shine, but I think a top coat is necessary for true glossiness. I wore this one and only had minor tip wear after seven days.
Top Dupes
- Zoya Belinda (P, $9.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Zoya Suri (P, $9.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pagan (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- L'Oreal The Mystic's Fortune (LE, ) is cooler (85% similar).
- Zoya Neve (P, $9.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (80% similar).
Plague
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Radium
Urban Decay Radium XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium-dark blue with cool undertones and lighter blue pearl. It had more of a pearly finish–not quite metallic and not frosted or sparkly, as the particle size was rather fine. The texture was thicker, and it was hard to manage the amount of product on the nail; one coat was really sufficient with this one unless you were very, very careful and wiped away excess to get a thinner initial coat. Urban Decay’s nail polish lasts around a week with minor tip wear for me.
Top Dupes
- Chanel Bel-Argus (667) (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- China Glaze Blue Bells (LE, $7.50) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Zoya Song (P, $9.00) is darker (90% similar).
- China Glaze Blue Year's Eve (LE, $7.50) is darker (90% similar).
- Formula X Beacon (P, $12.50).
- NARS Barents Sea (LE, $20.00).
Radium
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
Frostbite
Urban Decay Frostbite XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a deep, blackened navy blue with fine bits of lighter blue pearl. It had intense color coverage with a smooth consistency that wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it covered the nail evenly and didn’t require any extra work to maneuver it across the nail. I typically get a week of wear with Urban Decay’s formula with minor tip wear.
Top Dupes
- Color Club First Looks (P, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Night Flight (LE, $20.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS 413 BLKR (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Mazel Tov Madness (LE, $3.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Indigo Night (LE, $35.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- China Glaze Little Drummer Boy (LE, $7.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Essie Bobbing for Baubles (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Frostbite
LELimited Edition. $15.00.
UV-B
Urban Decay UV-B XX Vintage Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium-dark cobalt blue with cool, purplish undertones and fine pearl. It had opaque pigmentation after two coats of polish, though the texture was more watery than ideal. It resulted in slightly streakier shimmer, as you could see where the brush wobbled and wiggled down my nail. It seemed to self-level a fair amount, but it wasn’t completely gone after drying down. This shade lasted for seven days with minor tip wear on me.
Top Dupes
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Technopagan (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Chaos (LE, $15.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Illamasqua Force (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- ILNP Tidal Wave (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- China Glaze Want My Bawdy (LE, $7.50) is darker (85% similar).
- Christian Louboutin Beaute True Blue (LE, $50.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Cult Nails Wack Slacks (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (80% similar).
- China Glaze Blue Year's Eve (LE, $7.50) is more pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Formula X Beacon (P, $12.50).
I am surprised that Illamasqua Phallic (a fave of mine) did not come up as a dupe for Frostbite, they seem very similar, at least at a glance. I also love the look of Roach, but luckily I think it’s pretty dupable as I’ve never been a fan of UD’s polish formula- or their skinny little brush.
I’m so sorry, Julia, but I don’t have that – I might have the actual polish but don’t have it swatched or photographed.
That’s so funny- I could have sworn I bought it based on a review from you! Anyways it’s a good one, ha!
These all look rrrrreally cool. Definitely makes you look.
That’s true!
I like the sound of what Roach and Plague were like. They look really pretty.
And thank you for the extra pictures of your nails at different angles!
My pleasure, Aj!
These vintage shades hold a special place in my heart… I remember UD in the 90’s and I’m so excited to see them bringing things back!
Awww 😀
I enjoyed other swatches I’ve seen of Bruise, I’m not much one for greens but it’s got it’s appeal.
It is interesting!
These take me right back to uni in 95-98, I wore nail polish every time I went out clubbing at the weekend! Good memories ?.
Aww! <3
I don’t wear nail polish much, but I love these colors! Frostbite reminds me of a Revlon polish I wore in the early 1970s (yes, they had crazy nail polish colors even back then!).
Frostbite seems to be the fave!
Throwback time, yes. Had most of these originally, when I taught myself some nail tradecraft and could do polish. Now, cannot. Psoriatic nails arrived shortly after these. If your nails aren’t so friable, ridgy, and creepy that they don’t grow normally, the polish takes away the nail breathing…I think. The nail and nail bed part ways most of the way down to the quick…and it feels as if it is being chewed. If I ever do polish, I make sure to remove it within a day, to keep the psoriatic crap at bay. Maybe I’ll do a day this w.e., for old time sake. Still, in the big scheme, that’s nothing….besides TMI.
At least you were able to enjoy the originals when they debuted! 🙂 What was your favorite UD shade from before?
Lovin’ Roach, Frostbite and Plague! I do have a thing for deep shades during the late Oct. – March season. I love Bruise, too. But it sounds “finicky”. Too bad UD didn’t opt to sell these instore. I’m a bit funny about ordering items stored in glass to be sent via carrier, though.
I think they’d sell better if they were at Sephora, etc.!
Radium is a great color. I love the finish.
It’s very bright!
As with almost all of the XX Vintage lipsticks and eyeshadows, I like these too although nothing looks super unique. I’ve been wanting a shade like Roach.
There are SO many options when it comes to polish now!
i didn’t know that urban decay are coming with new nail polishes! love the colors !
These came out a couple of months ago, actually! I was slow to get to the second half.
Nice pictures here! My fave color here is Roach. I also love the lipstick
I like how it almost glows!
What gorgeous shades and I do love Frostbite.
Frostbite is rich!
I only really like and would wear enough to justify, is Frostbite!!
But the others are pretty!!
Frostbite is a pretty one!
Frostbite! I like all of them, all aren’t for me, but I do waant almost all of them. now I need more words starting with “al”. 🙂
I really liked Bruise the second I saw it when you first put up the original post showing all of the quick look swatches, I thought it was pretty unique, but by the time I got around to making an order it was sold out 🙁 I settled for Roach because it felt like a nice fall/winter color. I actually didn’t have a similar color to it in my 60+ bottle collection as I tend to avoid browns. I already have dupes (or at least similar colors) for a lot of the other colors in the line. I mostly just wanted to try the formula, liked the packaging, and had a coupon to use from UD during my birth month which prompted my purchase. I’m pleased with it though, it has served me well so far! 🙂