If I were to describe the color, it would be a deep brown color with a reddish tint, similar to a Castel Brick 4, giving the lip swatch a deeper, more red-brown tone. Overall, this is the deepest color in the line, but the actual swatch is not as intensely deep as one might expect, which is nice. It can also be applied in a more muted, subdued way. These days, muted fall colors are trending, and brown lips have been coming out that can look a bit gray or dull, but this Scarlet Brown has a decent amount of saturation without any grayish or dull undertones. While this is a velvet lipstick, it doesn't apply as thick and opaque as some other velvet lipsticks. The application is more thin and translucent, rather than a bold, one-swipe coverage. Even after a few layers, the color builds up but maintains that thin, translucent look, without becoming overly deep or intense. For those like me who want to use it as a base or prefer a more sheer, translucent application, this would be a great lipstick. The texture feels a bit stiff when first applied, but after a swipe or two, it becomes smooth and comfortable. It blends well, and like any lipstick, it will wear off with eating and drinking, but compared to other velvet lipsticks, there is less transfer onto cups and straws. The scent is the same caramel popcorn aroma as the recently released Double Layer Over Velvet.

This is a personal preference, but I tend to prefer lipsticks where the lipstick and the lip liner are more closely integrated, like the Rom&nd Zero Matte Lipstick or the Peripera Ink Mood Matte Stick. As someone who loves matte lipsticks, I find that matte lipsticks can be quite prone to breaking, especially products like this Black Rouge Lipstick that have a similar shape. So I've often opted for tints over lipsticks, and when I do buy lipsticks, I prefer formulas like the Ink Mood Matte Stick where the application is more seamless. Additionally, because this applies in a thin, translucent way, it may feel too light in coverage for those who are used to more pigmented, one-swipe lipsticks. And lastly, if you're not a fan of the caramel popcorn scent like the Double Layer Over Velvet, that's something to be aware of with this product as well.