Maybelline Color Whispers by Color Sensational - Thoughts & Swatches

I'm sure you've heard about all the hype surrounding these babies, but admittedly, I hadn't heard too much of them until almost a month ago (so I live in a bubble...). Thankfully, I follow some US bloggers, so I wasn't too outdated with the newest of the newest, for once. If you haven't already guessed what i'm talking about, it is of course the Maybelline Color Whispers by Color Sensational. Once I heard about all the hype, I had to purchase these (yes, had to). Needless to say, I had not seen many reviews prior to my purchase, so I purchased these almost blindly, so to speak. Now that I have them, and have been road testing them, I'm going to share my thoughts, show some swatches, and reveal whether they're worth re-purchasing.

It must be noted that it hasn't been released in Australia yet, so for those in Australia, and NZ reading this: Don't be disheartened! Since I was impatient, I took to eBay to make my purchase. If you're interested in which eBay seller I purchased them from, I will share that near the end of the post.

Anyhow, I have seen many questions posted on the MNY Australia FB page asking of its release (I even sent them an email through their website to enquire), and they pretty much have said they do not have a release set for Australia any time soon (why are we always the last to get anything here) but as soon as they know, we'll be the first to hear it via their FB & Twitter. So I guess we have to stay tuned for the official release date. But in the meantime, if you are going to purchase them through eBay, or other means, then... keep on reading :D

First off, the Maybelline Color Whisper Lipsticks by Color Sensational have been compared a lot to the Revlon Lip Butters (which are a personal favourite of mine), and Loreal's Color Caresse lip sticks (which I haven't tried). With all these brands coming out with hybrid lipsticks, it was only a matter of time before Maybelline came out with their own version :) (Random side note: Revlon and Maybelline are both owned by Loreal...)

So what's the dealio with these new lipsticks? Maybelline are marketing them as "Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel. No heavy waxes or oils. Soft, sexy gel-color". Who can resist that?! Since I was and still am a fan of the Revlon Lip Butters, I didn't hesitate to give these a try, so naturally I bought five of them.



What you will notice first off is their sleek packaging. Compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, their packaging is slimmer, the clear casing is eye-catching, and the lipstick tubes are chic. From what I understand, the coloured casing is meant to represent the colour of the lipstick in the tube, as it doesn't have the swatch of the colour shown on the sticker like most lipsticks do. Speaking of colours, just like the Revlon Lip Butters, they're available in 20 shades - a really pretty palette of nudes, corals, peaches, pinks, and berry/plums. They also don't contain any glitters or shimmers in any of their shades, unlike some of the Revlon Lip Butters. Personally, I don't care too much for glitter or shimmer on my lips as they simply aren't flattering on me.

Colours I snatched up (shown in order of swatches below) were from L - R: A Plum Prospect (#100), Berry Ready (#85), One Size Fits Pearl (#55), Pin Up Peach (#30), & Lust for Blush (#25).



The swatches above are the colours shown with one application. You can build them up to an intensity you're comfortable with, depending on your preference. In any case, I think I covered all the basic colour shades on this one, as I wanted to try a bit of a variety from their palette selection.

In terms of how they apply on the lips? Beautifully, is my answer! Each one feels utterly smooth & lightweight, as if I am not actually wearing anything on my lips. In terms of staying power... very similar to the Revlon Lip Butters - not that long. Maybe a good 2 - 3 hrs, tops, especially depending on the shade (will elaborate a bit later).

Below, you will see how the colour appears on my lips. Keep in mind that my lips have some pigmentation in them already, and will look different on each individual, especially compared to the arm swatches above. Also, the appearance in colour is after 2-3 applications.

A Plum Prospect (#100)

Personally, I think this adds a beautiful pop of colour that is wearable for day wear with any kind of look. It has a hint of purple undertones, but doesn't take away from the beautiful pinks that shine through.

Berry Ready (#85)

This colour adds such a beautiful shade of berry red that instantly glams up your whole face. If you're shy about wearing a bold red lip, this might be the one to try as it is sheer enough without losing pigmentation, but not overly bold that it scares even you. I love the slight blue undertones in this one, as it makes it wearable enough for any ocassion. My favourite look to pair this with is with a simple winged liner, and mascara - no eye shadow. Definitely one of my favourites, and a colour I will be sporting during the Autumn season.

One Size Fits Pearl (#55)

This simply is a clear lipstick, with a hint of sheen. I actually really like this as it compliments a bold eye, and again, very easy to wear on any occasion. It's a beautiful iridescent colour that shows slight pale pink undertones, and I think it would suit a variety of different skin tones.

Pin Up Peach (#30)

This is such a pretty colour, that reminds me a lot of Peach Parfait from the Revlon Lip Butter range, except... less pigmented. I love how this looks on my lips, as it has this beautiful coral undertone, and is a perfect everyday colour.

Lust for Blush (#25)

This colour is such a gorgeous colour, with definitive cool undertones that adds a pop of colour and shine to your lips. It's actually a colour I find surpisingly suits my skin tone, but I don't know... what do you guys think? It's beautiful and pearly, and I really like it.

Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised with the colour pay off on all the shades, despite its sheerness. Personally, I am loving the fact they're sheer, so I can build up the colour. The lighter shades, really, are like a glamorized lip gloss. Adds a nice clean sheen like a lip balm, but obviously with more pigmentation. They last about 2 hours before you need to re-apply to gain back the colour, and they honestly feel light as a feather on my lips. With the darker shades (A Plum Prospect & Berry Ready), I noticed that they leave a subtle stain after the initial colour wears off. It's not a big deal, if you're into that kind of thing, and luckily for me, I am.

As for how they feel on my lips - they're sheer, less shiny; yet pigmented and highly moisturising. I like that they're buildable, and as sheer as they may be, they still have decent colour pay off with one application, but if you want it to look vibrant, then you can add a bit more until you're satisfied with the colour intensity. That in itself gives you bang for your buck - it's like you have a multifaceted lip product that you can manipulate to give you the shade you want. Brilliant!

Colour shown above is A Plum Prospect - size of how much product you get from 11 oz/3g.

As for the cost and where you can get your hands on these? Since they're not available in Australia as yet, the next best thing would be online. I purchased mine through eBay from seller Surfinjunkie. They currently have 20% off the original price, so currently it retails for $7.58 AU. Shipping for an item is typically $6.19 AU but to get the most out of your purchase, you're best to buy in bulk to combine shipping costs, therefore it works out to be cheaper for you, and you save money. To give you an example, my order came to $37.89 AU and shipping cost me $4.80 AU - you can't beat that! Shipping time was reasonable - took roughly 2 and a half weeks to arrive from the US. But overall, it is at your discretion if you choose to buy these from eBay, and I suggest you do your own research for other options that may be more suitable for you. Or if you're unlike me, you can simply wait until they hit our shores! :P

For the final verdict - would I re-purchase these? You've probably already guessed, and you're right - absolutely! As much as it pains me to say; compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, my expectations have surpassed those of the lip butters (but only slightly). If I haven't already mentioned, the Revlon Lip Butters were my favourite lip product of 2012. With these, I find the Color Whispers to be much more lightweight, less oily and waxy, more moisturising and sheer to allow for colour build up. I am also quite fond of their colour range, and am eager to get the rest of the shades. Yep, that's right, because that's how much I love these!

I hope you found this helpful, and if you're considering getting these, let me know which colours you're interested in! And if you own these, what do you think of them?

Til next time, cheerio xo