This product is in a league of it's own! One of the best I've ever used. When I experiment with others, I just waste my time and money. 1. Received it dried out and cracked? Dont panic or stress. This product is water based. It comes with a sponge in the cap. Soak the sponge, shake off excess water, place it back in and cover. Leave covered for 24-48hrs and you will notice it come back to life, it's original state. 2. It says Matte, but it shows up with more shine for me as well, but I also use more than I should. Less is more! If it's not Matte, use less. 3. The hold is there! If your not happy use gel and have fun with flakes. This product doesn't flake and I can run my hands through my hair whenever I want to fix/adjust. This is by far one of the best products I've ever used. I highly recommend it to anyone who asks about my hair.