Urban Decay Nail Colour in Vice

Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

Recently I have been going through my friend's nail polish stash to see if there is anything that tickles my fancy. And I happen to spot the Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice. As far as I know Urban Decay doesn't carry nail polishes as part of their permanent line at the moment. But lo and behold I hear that they will be bringing them back and adding to the assortment. As such I figured why not put this guy to a test and share my experiences. 

Let's start with the obvious - packaging. In my opinion it's edgy, unique and I personally really like it. In regards to the colour itself, it's a metallic purply-wine colour. I usually don't gravitate towards metallic shades simply because my nails are very textured and this type of formula tends to emphasise it. Nevertheless, I think if you like metallic, complex shades you would love this one.   

Brush Applicator of the Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

One of the most important decisive factors for me whether I buy a nail polish or not is the brush. Doesn't matter how phenomenal the colour is if the brush is not to my liking, I wont use it and hence makes no sense spending money on it. The Urban Decay nail polish in Vice has an elongated slim brush and that is exactly the kind of applicator I just can't work with (and you will see exactly that in my messy application in the image below). I prefer more of a shorter flatter brush which pretty much covers my nail in one or two swipes. Think about the likes of Wet n Wild MegaLast polishes, YSL, Essie (non-prof one) and Essence. I could perhaps make it work if it was a nude shade but with bold colours such as Vice which are pretty unforgiving you simply can't get away with a sloppy application.  

Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

In terms of longevity it's OK. It's not the most long-wearing nail polish in my collection. That being said the longevity of a nail polish depends on what top and base coat you use, if any and what you do during the day (e.g type on the computer 24/7, wash dishes, open packages etc). As such I don't think it's a fair evaluation of how good or bad a nail polish is. As with all Urban Decay products these are cruelty-free. In terms of price I would expect it to retail for around 15.00 EUR. 

My final thoughts are, if you like metallic finishes, don't mind the skinny brush and looking for cruelty-free nail colours this could be a good alternative. Otherwise I feel like there are better options out there. I do hope Urban Decay will re-introduce these nail polishes and maybe for some miraculous reason changes the brush to a more user-friendly one and comes up with more creamier shades. In that case I would be one happy customer but we shall wait and see!

I hope you found this somewhat useful and if you know of any brands that make cruelty-free nail polishes please do let me know!

Until next time,
Muffy

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993 is a Beaut!

First things first, Happy New Year people of the internet! 2015 has been one of the hardest years for me, so I am very happy to see it go and extremely excited to welcome 2016. Let's see what this year brings. But staying on the topic of this post, let's talk a little bit about lips. Recently I picked up the Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993, which has been sold out for months! And I have to say this lipstick was worth the wait! To find out why just keep on reading.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

If you have been following my blog for a while, I have previously raved about the Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks. Since then, I have added a few more shades to my collection, so the obsession is real. That being said, I think that Urban Decay Matte Revolution lipstick formula is even better, at least in my humble opinion. It's highly pigmented, glides on the lips extremely easy and lasts for a really long time. It's not a traditional matte formula that dries your lips out. It keeps them feeling velvety. Now in terms of colour selection, there is room for improvement. The range is quite limited and contains mostly bold shades. I wish they would expand it and bring out more nudes and mauves that can be worn daily. The colour that caught my eye is 1993.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

This shade is extremely unique. It's not your usual brown. Call me crazy but I see slight rosy undertones and depending on your skin tone it can pull either warm or cool toned. If you like darker nudes and browns or if you want to rock a deeper lip but are afraid of reds and berries, this would be your best friend. I would also recommend not to skip on a blush if you are opting for this shade, especially if you are of fairer complexion, otherwise it can make you look slightly ghostly. As with all Urban Decay products these lipsticks are cruelty-free. You can pick these up on Feelunique (1993 is currently out of stock) and get 10% off. 

I have been wearing this lipstick non-stop since I got it. I would love to get my hands on the Backtalk shade which is exclusive to Urban Decay's website (sadly for those of us living outside USA it's impossible). Urban Decay please please make this shade permanent, so all of us beauty junkies can enjoy it!

Let me know if you have tried Matte Revolution lipstick and what are your thoughts!

Until next time,
Muffy

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Palette

Let's address the elephant in the room, I have been slacking out on content lately. Truth be told I haven't really been buying makeup. However, this was about to change when I heard that Urban Decay was collaborating with Gwen Stefani to create an eyeshadow palette! Yes, I was one of those people that were counting down the days until it would be available at the nearest Urban Decay counter. I snatched the palette as soon as it hit the counters in Finland. As such I had some time to play around with it. If you want to find out my thoughts and if it's worth picking up or not, then keep on reading!

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Let's start from the beginning - the packaging. I am pretty sure most of you are familiar with how it looks like, so I won't be spending too much time on it here. The palette comes in a sleek cupboard packaging with a gold and white graphic print. In my opinion the outer packaging is very pleasing to the eye. I heard a lot of people complaining how they expected the actual palette to have the same pattern as the box it comes in. I personally really like the black "polkadot" design, it's sort of mod. The actual palette is pretty sturdy and magnetised.

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Magic's In the Makeup 

It comes with 15 shadows and unlike other Urban Decay palettes (e.g Vice, Naked palettes etc) it doesn't include a brush. I don't really mind it since I have a whole arsenal of eye brushes, but wanted to point that out in case anyone is interested. I thought they did a pretty neat job incorporating a small text on the mirror at the bottom right corner which says Magic's In The Makeup. Together with the palette you also get 4 lipstick samples which I assume will be coming out later as part of the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani collaboration. 

Now let's talk about the actual eyeshadows. There are 12 shadows that are exclusive to this palette and 3 shadows that are permanent to the Urban Decay line (Skimp, Stark and Blackout). I actually own Skimp and Stark as they come in the Naked Basics 2 palette, and funnily enough they are the two shades that I almost hit pan on. Below you can see the swatches of all the shades, but please excuse the horrible lighting (it doesn't do them justice). In Finland the sun refuses to come out during this time of the year, so I have to work with what I have.  

L-R: Blonde, Bathwater, Skimp, Steady, Punk

L-R: Baby, Anaheim, Stark, Zone, Serious

L-R: Pop, Harajuku, Danger, 1987, Blackout

When it comes to the selection of the shades, it's a pretty neutral palette. You get three pop's of colour but nothing too in your face. I know a lot of people have been saying that it's boring, it's not exciting but for me this is damn exciting! If you look at Gwen's makeup she doesn't wear dramatic, smokey eyes. She prefers to wear a statement lip. And I think this palette resembles her style and choices in makeup very well. At the end of the day she created a palette that she would use daily. This palette has a good mix of shimmers, mattes and even one glittery shade (Pop). I would say that some shimmery shades do look very similar (e.g Steady and Baby). In terms of quality they do not disappoint. These eyeshadows are creamy and blend effortlessly. Some shimmery shades do kick off a lot of powder but that happens with quite many of Urban Decay shadows.  

Are these shades unique? Something that hasn't been seen before? Something that can't be duped? No, it's not. However, if you have been thinking of getting Urban Decay Naked palettes but couldn't decide which one to get, I say get this one instead. It's not too warm or cool toned. It's a good middle ground. In terms of price, it's slightly pricier than the Naked palettes, however the packaging is much sturdier and you get 15 shades instead of 12. So, I think it's pretty good value for money.

Should you pick this up? Yes, if you are a lover of neutral shades, if you are a fan of Urban Decay or if you are starting out with makeup. And not to forget this palette would make a great gift for yourself or perhaps a makeup lover in your family.  

Hope this review was useful. Let me know what's your trusty all time favourite neutral palette!

Until next time,
Muffy

Urban Decay Round-Up

Let's talk a little bit Urban Decay today. I heard that Urban Decay will be finally launching in Finland. Yes! And I thought what better timing to share the products I own from the brand. I have a bit of everything, maybe it will inspire you to try something out as well!

Let's start with the Naked Basics 2 palette. It's a very handy palette IF you like cool tones. This palette will take you from day to night. It will be your best friend for travelling and rocking the dusty rose, greyish - 90's eye looks that are so in right now. In terms of pigmentation these shadows are overall good. They do however kick off a considerable amount of powder, so keep that in mind. They blend effortlessly on the eyes without feeling chalky or streaky. I also appreciate the fact that this palette doesn't have a matte black. Every palette nowadays has a matte black colour. I don't know about you, but I rarely use black on my eyes. Therefore, I was thrilled to get a smoky brown-grey instead. It's still not the colour I use everyday, but I like having that option if I want to go for a more dramatic look.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2

L-R: Skimp, Stark, Frisk, Cover, Primal and Undone

This palette comes with 6 shades : Skimp - pale nude satin, Stark - matte cream, Frisk - warm grey matte, Cover - brown-mauve matte, Primal - muted brown matte and Undone - smokey brown-grey matte. I think the colour that is particularly unique is Cover, the rest can be duped (e.g Stark = Wet n Wild Brulee, Frisk = Makeup Geek Uninterrupted). But of course you get the benefit of having all these beautiful shades in one palette. In terms of packaging it's sturdy, compact and sleek. Would I say it's a must have? Yes, if you like cool and taupe shades or if you like Naked 2. Otherwise, it's not extremely versatile in terms of colour range especially if you like warm tones.

L-R: Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks in Naked and Rush

L-R: Naked and Rush

Next up are Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks. I have two here: Naked and Rush. These lipsticks are some of my favourites. They are creamy, wear comfortably on the lips and come in a variety of shades. Naked, as the name suggests, is a peachy nude colour, while Rush is a dusty mauve. My personal favourite has to be Rush. It is such a wearable colour that falls right under "Your lips but better". The staying power is relatively good, considering the texture. I like to pair Rush with Rimmel's Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob (review here) and it's just the perfect combination which lasts for hours. I am always worried that creamy lipsticks will feather, therefore I prefer to use a lipliner but you don't have to. What's more these lipsticks are vegan, excluding the Lovelight and Venom shades. They come in a lovely gunmetal sturdy packaging. Would I say these are a must? Yes. I think you should try at least one and see how you get along. They are just a few euros more than Mac, but feel way more luxurious - if you know what I mean.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rush

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked

Last but certainly not least is the Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Video. This is a relatively new product that Urban Decay has released. I got this as a present from my best friend and I have to say this blush is my go-to. Let's start with the colour. It's a universally flattering muted rosy-nude that leans slightly towards warm tones. It's the sort of blush you can pair with any makeup look. In my mind it falls in the same category as Mac Cubic, Tarte Exposed and Armani Sheer Blush #5 (discontinued). The texture is extremely soft, not chalky or powdery at all. It applies on your cheeks like a dream. Even though it looks matte in the pan it has a satin finish in my opinion. It claims to last 8 hours and I have to agree with that. And the best part, it's talc free. All Urban Decay products are cruelty free. I like the packing of these blushes as it doesn't feel cheap. It's colour coded at the back, which is quite useful if you have several shades in your collection. It's magnetised and sturdy.

Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Video

Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Video

Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Video

Would I say these blushes are a must? Hell, Yes! If you can pick only one item from Urban Decay I say go for blushes. They have an extensive colour selection ranging from nudes, to purples to reds. If unsure which colour to pick I highly recommend trying Video.

Even though I haven't featured the Urban Decay Primer Potion here, I tried it as well. Currently, I am using Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. Urban Decay Primer Potion is a good all-rounder and my best friend swears by it. If you want to try it, I say pick the original formula.

To wrap up, all the products I have tried from Urban Decay I have liked. If I could recommend something that would please everyone I would say revolution lipsticks and blushes. These are hands down my top pics from the bunch. Don't get me wrong I enjoy the Naked 2 Basics palette, but it's not universally flattering. Plus if you are bothered by powdery eyeshadows, I say this one is definitely not for you. I hope this post was helpful and gave you some ideas next time you are at the Urban Decay counter. Possibly I will be picking up naked skin concealer and brow beater next.

What are your favourite Urban Decay products? Let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Can it Be a Dupe for Mac Rebel?

Mac Rebel has a cult following. It is one of the most popular and sold lipsticks that Mac carries. It is up there with Rubby Woo, Viva Glam V and Girl About Town. It is a gorgeous colour no doubt, but is it unique? Is it dupable? I think so.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom 

Mac Rebel is a pinkish - purple berry colour. I think about ripe raspberries when I look at it. On their website Mac describes it as mid-tonal cream plum. I would disagree, since in my opinion plum shades have a bit more purple in them and less pinky/red. It does look very deep in the bullet with purple hues, so I can see why they described it as such. Upon application however, the colour is less intimidating. Mac Rebel is a Satin formula, which for me falls somewhere in between their Matte and Cremesheen finishes. It is not as creamy as the cremsheen lipsticks but is not as opaque as the matte ones. You can sheer out the colour or wear it as a full on statement lip. I think it works really well for a fall season but if you want you can wear it all year round. Whatever rocks your boat!

A rival that comes very close to Mac Rebel is Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Venom. They are very similar in texture, the only difference you can pick out is that Venom has more slip to it and a slight shimmer running through it. Mac Rebel has no shimmer. In terms of colour, they are identical. I have tried wearing one on the top lip and another one on the bottom lip and you could not tell the difference. I do think that Mac Rebel has a better staying power as it is less creamy, in a good way. With Venom I suggest using a lipliner for a more precise and even application. Both will stain your lips, but that is expected from darker colours.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom

Urban Decay Venom Closer Look at the Texture

An aspect that can tip the scales in the favour of Urban Decay Venom for some people is that it is cruelty free. In terms of price they are more or less the same. Mac Rebel retails for 20,50€ while Urban Decay Venom is sold at 21,86€. You can purchase Urban Decay products from Feelunique plus they offer worldwide shipping. 

I think both lipsticks perform great, but do you need both? I don't think so (unless you are a fuchsia, berry tones lover). When deciding which one to get I would say it all boils down to whether you mind a shimmer in your lipstick and how much you value the product not being tested on animals.

Let me know if you have more budget alternatives for berry lipsticks!

Until next time,
Muffy