The Hunt For The Perfect Lipstick -- Anna Sui Lipstick #404

The witching hour of midnight approaches, but I'm having lipstick fun. Today I'm wearing Anna Sui Lipstick, #404 (no name given).

The short review: Really rich color, lasts well, but comes off on objects and the pigment stains things other than the lips.

Longer review follows the jump-cut...


Candidate: Anna Sui Lipstick, #404, (Anna Sui Beauty, Inc.)

Purchased: CosmeticAmerica.com

Cost: $21.50 per tube

Brand Info: Anna Sui Beauty
Founded in 1998 by Anna Sui, queen of BoHo Chic fashion, Anna Sui Cosmetics quickly became a staple of high-end department stores (Nordstrom, Saks) and large-volume cosmetic chains (Sephora). The colors are over-the-top, much like Anna's fashion.

The Tube: Black plastic, glossy finish, tubular shape with flairs at the top and bottom of the tube. The top is sculpted into an overhead view of a fully-blossomed rose. Stylized fleur de lis designs ring the bottom of the lid and the top of the lower tube knob. Color code # , gold print on black background, are on a sticker attached to the bottom.

The Product: American Beauty Rose Red. The product itself is a traditional bullet shape with a slanted oval-shaped flat edge delivery point.

The Application: Very smooth application. The oval tip causes some issues trying to sculpt the points of the Cupid's bow, but this is relatively easily overcome by tipping the lipstick and lifting it in places to allow what little edges there are better access to the pointy areas (Cupid's bow, corners of the mouth). The color is almost exactly what in cosmetic terms is called a "true red", a color very hard to come by. Nice cream finish with a very subtle shine.

The Taste: Rosewater, which I happen to really like (I brew rose tea regularly). No other perfume tastes or scents present.

The Blot: The first blot removes most of the shine, making the final product appear more matte. Nice, bold red rose lip print. A second blot produces much more color than I'd expected. Coverage is still good, though.

The Wear: Comes off all over the place--the rim of a cup, eating utensils, your fingers if you're eating finger food. The pigment is phenomenal--it holds on even while the product itself wears off and is waterproof--but that's also a problem when it sticks to your fingers when eating finger food because you end up with red stains that are very difficult to remove. (I finally grabbed a jar of Pond's cold cream, which took the stains right off.)

The Verdict: The color is awesome, the feel is great, but it comes off all over the place, which is not cool. That plus a pretty high price--$21.50/tube--takes it out of the running for The Perfect Lipstick.