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Saturday, February 13, 2010

Drugstore Dupe Discovery: WnW Envy is a dupe for Urban Decay Mildew!

If you saw my review of the new Wet n Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow singles and trios from earlier this week (click here), you know that I am loving Envy, which is a beautiful shimmery mid-range green.

Well, I knew there was a reason I gravitated toward it so quickly! It TOTALLY reminds me of Urban Decay Mildew, which I was obsessed with when I bought it several years ago. In fact, I loved it so much that I have kept it to this day, even though it's now too old to use (as you can see in these pics, I have the old-style packing which means it's way past its expiration date).

But anyway, check this out!

Left: Wet n Wild Color Icon Envy, Right: Urban Decay Mildew

without flash

In these swatches, UD Mildew is on the LEFT and WnW Envy is on the RIGHT:

Left: UD Mildew, Right: WnW Envy

Left: UD Mildew, Right: WnW Envy

As you can see, UD Mildew has just a touch more olive in it than WnW Envy, which is more of a kelly green. But other than that, they are pretty darn close (in texture and shimmer as well).

So if you can't afford the $17 price tag of Urban Decay eyeshadows, I think Wet n Wild Envy is a darn fantastic dupe at just $1.99. Heck, it's a great shadow at any price, but for $1.99 it's a downright steal.

Thoughts?

(I put this disclaimer in my original review but just to safe I'm adding it again because I did not purchase WnW Envy): A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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20 comments

  1. wow, those are really close. we just got the color icon pallettes and singles in at my local walgreens. i ended up buying the vanity pallette. the colors are so pretty!

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  2. Nikki: Thanks! Oh, great choice on getting the Vanity palette. Are you going to be reviewing it? :)

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  3. It's a powder. How exactly is it supposed to expire, other than because cosmetic companies want to sell more stuff?

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  4. "Expiration dates" for powder products don't matter, powders last near forever if you keep them dry. You can still use it, it won't harbor bacteria.

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  5. Anon: When I say "expire" I mean that it's past the point of where I personally feel comfortable using it. *ANY* product can grow old enough over time to no longer retain its resistance to harboring bacteria. Pink eye and other infections are just not worth it to me, so if I feel it's too old to use, that's my choice. I'm certainly not preaching that you should all throw out your makeup when it hits a certain point, and I DO agree that some companies use this whole "expiration date" thing just to get us to buy more makeup. No doubt AT ALL about that. But for me, I'm just not willing to tempt fate with a product that just doesn't feel comfortable for me to use anymore. Hope that answers your question!

    Vanilla: Thanks, honey! :)

    Ariana: Please see my response above to the anon commenter. I hope that clears things up a bit! Also, I have been guilty of using eyeshadows that are--ready for this--over 20 years old, but then I had a friend who got pink eye from using one of her shadows that was 6 years old, and that sort of made me re-think the whole thing. So definitely do whatever feels right to you--I would never try to steer you in either direction. I'm just sharing what feels right to ME. :)

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  6. Wow, I can't wait for the new WnW stuff to get here in Canada!

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  7. @recessionista: i may do a couple of swatches, lol.

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  8. I thought I was the only person who used eyeshadows that were a couple of decades out of date (yes... I have eyeshadow that's almost as old as I am... la di da di da.... )! So incredibly glad to know I'm not the only one!

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  9. Thanks for the dupe info. WnW is so affordable, we can totally afford to chuck it upon expiration date. My DS doesn't wear eyemakeup period b/c she got a wicked eye infection somex last yr. Poor thing. I hear ya!

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  10. Oooh, I'm going to have to get that one! It's such a pretty green. <3 Thanks for the great dupe information!

    I don't worry too much about using older eyeshadows, but old mascaras and eyeliners scare me. But I figure that you should only use something as long as you're comfortable. After that you'll be worried everytime you put it on and you can't enjoy it then.

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  11. I think my mineral piggies will serve me well for at least 30 years to come, Zinc oxide is not bacteria-friendly.

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  12. That's a gorgeous color, but I have a couple of really gorgeous greens already. Waaaahh!!

    How is the WnW performance-wise against the MAC?

    And, can I just say...sure, some marketing genius came up with names like "Urban Decay" and then it just follows that "mildew" would be a name in a line like that;

    But the first thing that struck me was not, "COOL EYESHADOW" it was, "Mildew? Why would I want mildew on my eyes?" Open the page and it's *green*?

    I know, the product itself is all that matters. I'm just sayin...

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  13. Hmm, now I wonder how Envy would stack up to MAC Humid eyeshadow.

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  14. OMG it looks soo identical. So amazing lol. I used to love this UD shade as well.

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  15. I've never tried and WNW eyeshadows, so I'm ready for a sale to hit walgreens or cvs before I pick some up..but thanks for this ..i'm def excited to try

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  16. Arezu: I hope, hope, hope it will be soon for you guys!! :)

    Niki: Do it, please!! :)

    NinaraPoll: LOL!! No, you are so not alone! But now, after my friend got pink eye from her 6-yr-old shadow, I'm afraid I have stopped using the old ones. :( But I still admire them from afar, and I will never throw them away. Too many good memories. lol. :)

    Dominique: Yay! lol. :)

    1xellus1: I could not agree with you more! With WnW, you can definitely toss and get a new one if in doubt. One of the many reasons I have always loved my WnW! :)

    Hana: I totally agree. If you're going to worry about it the whole time you're using it, it's SO not worth it! lol. :)

    Siilike: Oh, good to know! Thanks for that! :)

    Denise: You know, it's funny because I guess I've just been using/buying/lusting after Urban Decay products for so long now that the names don't even phase me anymore! lol. But I do remember seeing "Asphyxia" for the first time and thinking, "Oh now that THAT is just an awful name for a lipstick!". :) And btw, these WnW eyeshadow singles TOTALLY hold a candle to MAC in my book, in terms of texture, blendability and staying power. :)

    Amanda: I wish I knew! For some reason, that is one MAC shadow I have never purchased, even though I think it's *stunning*. :( If you get Envy, let us know? Thanks!

    Becky: Yay!! So glad you agree! You neeed this. lol. xo

    Tiff: Never tried WnW eyeshadows?? Honey, you NEED some WnW eyeshadows in your life! Hopefully you'll see a great sale soon, and even if you don't, $1.99 for a single is pretty darn amazing even without a sale, right? Get one! Get one! lol. :)

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  17. I am in love with Urban Decay, I was looking for a cheaper version! Thanks! ;o)

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  18. I think that old eye shadow can still be usable as long as you cared for them well. If you travel with them a lot, share them etc, then yeah probably not a great idea to keep them and use them for too long. Also sometimes depending on the formula they can break down and get chalky and stuff. It is thought that you can spray alcohol on a wipe and wipe away the top layer. They sell powder cleansing wipes for this purpose as well for MUA. For me the eye shadow is never a problem but the eye liner and the mascara definitely, even though you can sharpen an eye liner and usually save it, if it is a good formula. Mascara gets disgusting, and it flakes, and I once heard a horror story in a magazine that a woman's entire top lashes fell out from using old bad mascara. So yeah...don't use that.

    Other than that, loved the review! I LOVE mildew by UD, but this is a great dupe. Thanks!!

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