Urban Decay - Vice 2 plus comparisons!

This was a difficult post.  It takes a long time to find something you want to compare to, and then to swatch them and take photos?  I have a respect for makeup bloggers.

But anyway, I recently purchased the Vice 2 palette.  I thought it was gorgeous and I didn't want to miss out on it.  I wasn't sure if I needed it (well, of course I don't need it) but I figured if I didn't it could still be a nice lesson for me and maybe someone else could benefit.

All (and I mean all) swatches are on bare skin.

Dope, Radar, Prank, Smokeout

Toxic, Damaged, Madness, Lovesick

Habit, Voodoo, Strike, Shellshock

Ambush, Betrayal, Stash, Coax

(What?!  I forgot this row in the photos above.)

Rewind, Derailed, Poison, X-rated

The quality of these is great, typical Urban Decay quality.  The only one I had trouble with is Lovesick.  It just doesn't swatch well.  I will never wear it though, except maybe as an eyeliner.  I think it would play fine on the eye, as it picks up well on the finger but it just wouldn't do well in the arm swatch.

My favorite of these is Derailed, a taupe.  I love taupes and neutrals.  I put it on today, and it is so intensely pigmented that I accidentally went overboard.  While this is relatively small for a UD palette, I have to say I wouldn't recommend traveling with it.  I'd still be afraid it would break and I feel it's still on the bulky side.

Now, onto the good stuff.

Is it worth getting?

I did a bunch of swatch comparisons, although I stopped after a few palettes.  If you see something in this palette and want a comparison, let me know and I *might* have it running around somewhere.  I have a couple (2) more UD palettes I didn't bother pulling out, plus some Stila and WnW.  There are probably some look alikes amongst them.  After looking at what I compiled...I don't think this palette is a necessity.  I only had one dead on dupe (fancy that, another UD) but I had enough close enoughs.  You'll see what I mean.

First up:

Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye.

People, there are a number of colors in here that are close and this palette is currently on clearance.  I got mine for $10, a real bargain.  The quality is pretty good in this one so I say get it.

Sorry for the blur.  UD Damaged is to the right.

Here we have two swatches from the SK palette and one UD color.  The UD colors look like the son of the other two colors.  I bet you could approximate something close by mixing the two.

Look at them blues, y'all!  They're not as close as they appear but I don't know if you need both.

Prank, second to last

Next palette: The Balm Nude Tude.  I did check out Meet Matte Nude, but there was nothing in there that was close (due to the lack of mattes in this palette).

And finally, Urban Decay 15th Anniversary.

I like this palette, a lot.  Between the two of them, I would pick the 15 palette every time.  I think it has a better range, and is more wearable.  It's also just as fun.  

From left: UD Deeper (15) , UD Ambush (Vice), UD Deep End (15), UD Madness (Vice), UD Evidence (15), UD Prank (Vice)

 (some colors repeat from previous picture)

From left: UD Omen (15), UD Betrayal (Vice), UD Flow ? (15), UD Toxic (Vice)

UD Deeper (15), UD Ambush (Vice), UD Tainted (15), UD X-Rated (Vice)

Check out those purples.  They actually look more different in this picture than on my arm.  In the pan, they look pretty different, but they're essentially the same once swatched.  Don't get this palette for Betrayal if you have the 15th.  Every color I compared from these two, I liked the 15th more.  That's all I'm saying.  

Zoya - Carter

It may not feel like fall...but it looks like fall landed on mah nails!

Zoya Carter is easily a stand out textured.  It's a deep purple with a brighter purple shimmer.

It's really pretty.  This first applies pretty sheer, but looks fine at two coats, which is where I left it.

It's not as blue as it appears. My camera really doesn't play well with purples.  First couple of pics are pretty color accurate.

Then, I decided to top coat it.

Here is two coats of China Glaze's Fairy Dust plus a coat of Essie Good to Go.  It ended up nice and smooth with that combo, and hot damn!  It's a fantastic mix.  Pictures can't do this one justice.  It really takes it up a notch, if that's even possible.

Up next, a haul to show.

OPI - Alcatraz...Rocks

My very first OPI.  I'm eyeing another from this collection, but I'm going to hold off on getting that one for a little bit.  Esp after my online haul I did today....oops.

Anyway, I could not resist this one.  I'm in love with textures, I feel like for the most part, they're diverse and often very beautiful.  This one is a gorgeous deep shade of purple (think eggplant) with a lot of various color shimmers.  Purple, blue, copper, it's a real stunner.

This has the tendency to look blue in my camera, so I tried to get the most color accurate shots I could but the bottle shot above is probably the most accurate.

What do you think of these macros?!!!!

Two coats, only problem with it is it dries slow.  Since I've never tried OPI before, I can't say if this is unique to this color, or if it's our chemistry together.  I was mildly frustrated and I even tried my new drying drops I got from Essence.

I decided to top coat it at the last minute.  Gah, gorgeous.  It turned it blacker looking in darker settings but in brighter lighting, it still stays true to color.

In other news, I'm trying Duri Rejuvacote.  Just my second day on it so no comment, but I am really hoping it helps strengthen them.  Getting tired of these breaks all the time.

Sunday Toppings

Pretty much the moment I opened the package, I had ideas for Heart Breaker.  I had to whip out a deep blue and try it out.

This is China Glaze's Man Hunt.  It's from a collection last year, On Safari.  It's a great mid deep blue.  Almost a one coater, but it could not pass if I stopped there.  Great formula imo.

Heart Breaker turns this into a greenish hue, although in some settings the blue pulls more and it's hard to see any green.  The shimmers are gorgeous and add an amazing depth to an already beautiful color.  This version of Heart Breaker is becoming rarer so if I were you and in need of this, I'd try to find it while you still can.  All the ones at my new Walmart looked like this in the bottle, but I'm sure they're the new version since the Walmart is new.  Sorry about my wonky nail.  I'm having so much trouble growing it out and it chipped weirdly yesterday at the corner.

I'm thinking I might bust out another color before dinner, so I may have another up this week.  I really should have done more with the blog this week since this is the last chance I'll have for a couple of weeks, but such is life.  Here's to hoping.

Another

I've got another haul to post.

First up, another Zoya order.

Got all of the new fall Pixie Dusts except Tomoko during their BOGO.  I've already worn Dhara but it looks like I have no photos of it.  I'm itching to try Carter, but it's going to have to wait a week or so.  Chyna is still backordered for me.  I ordered on the 21st.  Ugh.

Drugstore:

Man, my photo is OFF.  That white is a green!  Song of Summer and Leather Loose.

TJ Maxx:

I got these for $2 a piece, and I could not pass that up.  Also got an Orly cuticle oil with a dropper but it's at work.  It smells great.

Drugstore and Blog sale:

Got the Sinful for a dollar this week, it's You Just Wait.  The rest were from a blog sale.  I love those, and look, Heartbreaker!

That's it.  Will return shortly.

Zoya - Miranda

When I decided to get the Zoya Luli Fama collection (Summer Pixie Dusts), I thought for sure that the first one I reached for would be either Destiny or Liberty.  Both I had wanted for awhile (esp. Liberty, my God, what a gorgeous color), but when I laid my eyes on Miranda, I knew I had to try her first.

This is a jelly finish, dusty rose textured polish.  The sparkles are AMAZING.  Like a brighter version of the base, and oh so shiny.  Whew, this one is a stunner.

Top coat

I needed three coats. Two would be doable, but would not look as great.  The texture itself isn't bad, it is very fine, almost smooth, but you do notice it.  I think I have glitters that are rougher than this, so you know...

Dry time...slow, sadly.  The polish is another thick one, and got nearly unusable at the end of the second coat.  A shaking helped, but it was getting to that point again at the end of the third coat, so thinner might be needed.  But I don't care.  I love her.

Zoya Pixie Dusts are $9 a piece.  Be smart, wait for sales and deals.  They happen, they happen all the time.

Zoya - Destiny

Zoya...do you have to do EVERYTHING right?

Folks, look at this.  Zoya Destiny is a gorgeous reddish orange (perhaps coral-y).  It's amazing and sparkly.

bottle shot

And now, macros...

Top coated

1 coat Gelous, 1 coat Essie Good to Go

And even more magic...

Re-mattified 

Any way you look at it, it's great.  This is three coats.  Formula was fine, nothing difficult.  I decided to do a third after looking at it totally dried at two and not being satisfied.  It is perfect with three.