Brandy

Anastasia Brandy Matte Lipstick ($18.00 for 0.12 oz.) is deep, reddish burgundy with subtle, warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The consistency was firm in the tube, which made it pull at the lips as I applied it, but the color itself still went on extremely evenly and yielded opaque coverage in a single layer. The lipstick wore well for over six hours, left a stain behind, and was neither drying nor hydrating.

The formula is supposed to have "full-pigment" with a "smooth, ultra-matte finish." Since the description was a little light, I also watched the brand's video, where the formula is also supposed to be comfortable to apply and not settle in lip lines. The best aspects of the formula are how lightweight it felt on--almost like nothing on, so despite being more matte and denser, not heavy or clingy--and that most shades have been non-drying (so far).

There has been some transfer, and the finish is mostly matte but not "ultra-matte" (certainly not as flat or matte as their liquid lipsticks, as an example). Some shades have emphasized my lip lines from a texture standpoint or due to color settling into them, but it depended on the shade. The wear has ranged from four and a half hours to eight hours, and some of the richer shades can survive a moderate meal and definitely drinking coffee. I found the texture to be the drawback; the lipstick is incredibly firm and dense with little to creaminess, which resulted in an application that tugged and pulled on the lips. It was also the type of texture that caught on flakes, so regular exfoliation is key. There were a few shades that were creamier and thicker on the lips, which were more comfortable to apply, but the majority were quite firm. (They also did not get softer with use.)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview, which is a detailed review of the range as a whole.

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