The New Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks Are Ice Cream Sundae-Proof
July 13, 2021In need of a fresh lip color for summer? Urban Decay just reformulated its Vice lipsticks with 35 vegan, high-voltage shades inspired by the city of Los Angeles. Each lipstick comes housed in a sleek purple chrome tube made to resemble L.A. high-rises. They’re available in three finishes: cream, matte and shine. The cheeky shade names like Oatmilk, Depends On Traffic and What’s Your Sign instantly pulled at my Californian heartstrings (even though I’m from NorCal). Nourishing ingredients like aloe and avocado oil also drew me to the new lippies.
I tested two shades: DTLA, a rosy brown with a shine finish, and Drive In, a hot reddish-orange with a cream finish. I was surprised by how pigmented DTLA is upon first application, especially since Urban Decay says the shine formulas are supposed to be more sheer, but I've never been mad at more pigment. I can see myself wearing this color when I return to the office, or with smoked-out black eyeliner to channel a ‘90s vibe. Both lipsticks glide on with the ease of a balm and saturate my lips with pigment — no feathering or settling into lip lines to be found. Drive In made me feel sultry and DTLA is pretty and subtle for everyday wear.
You’d think with a formula that comfortable, the lipsticks would slide right off my lips, but no; they’re actually smudge-proof. Seriously, I wore Drive In to get a hot fudge sundae after work, and although a lot of pigment did come off on my spoon, when I did a mirror check at home, my lips looked magically untouched and the finish was more matte. Even more amazingly, when I ate fried chicken for dinner (ice cream comes before dinner, always), the lipstick stained my lips enough that it was difficult to tell I’d just eaten a three-piece tenders and fries.
Because of their wear time, comfort and pigment, I’ll definitely be swiping on these shades all summer and beyond.
Photo: Ariel Wodarcyk