When it comes to Color Sensational lip colors, it seems that all the attention these days is going to The Vivids (for good reason--they're awesome).
But as you probably know, Maybelline released another line of Color Sensational lip colors this year called Color Whisper. Are these also worthy of your attention? I purchased one of the 20 shades in this range a while back, so let's find out!
Maybelline Color Whisper by Color Sensational in Berry Ready
(retail: around $7)
Keep reading for my full review...
Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel.
Get truly translucent gel color.
Sexy, soft, see through color.
No heavy waxes or oils.
From the Ulta website:Just a kiss of shine.
Ingredients: Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil / Jojoba Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Ozokerite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Alumina, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, BHT, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Linalool, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Benzyl Benzoate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Acrylates Copolymer, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Parfum / Fragrance. May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 45380 / Red 22 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 7, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 75470 / Carmine.
Looking at the packaging, these definitely remind me of the L'Oreal Balms (no surprise there--L'Oreal owns Maybeline). But the Color Whisper tubes are more narrow and a bit longer than the L'Oreal Balms.
Here's one swipe across the back of my hand:
One application of Berry Ready on my lips:
Texture and consistency: True to the description, this lip color feels like a lightweight version of the original Color Sensational lipsticks. This color glides across the lips smoothly and easily, and there is no gritty feeling when you smoosh your lips together.
Finish and pigmentation: Berry Ready is a true berry creme, with no shimmer or sparkle. The pigmentation of this shade REALLY surprised me. I was all set for this to be sheer like the L'Oreal Balms, but the pigmentation of this particular shade was very reminiscent of Revlon Lip Butters--very pigmented on the first swipe, with no need to go back and build for more color.
Moisturization: My lips love the combination of jojoba seed oil and shea butter in this formula. I find Berry Ready to be hydrating and it keeps my lips feeling nice and moist for the entire time that I'm wearing this product. In fact, I think this lipstick is a bit more hydrating on my lips than the original Color Sensational lipsticks.
Staying power: Again, this one totally surprised me. I naturally assumed that the lightweight texture and hydrating formula would mean I'd be lucky to get even an hour of wear from Berry Ready. But in reality, I can get up to three hours of wear from this lip color before I start to see major fading. For the most part, this lip color fades evenly, with maybe just a teeny tiny bit of "ring around the lips" when it's in its final stages. After this shade has completely faded, it does leave a soft, subtle stain behind.
Fragrance and flavor: Just like with the texture, the fragrance and flavor are like a lightweight version of the original Color Sensational lipsticks. I find the fragrance to very light--sort of a berry-ish vanilla, and the flavor is subtle as well (mostly vanilla).
FINAL VERDICT: Maybelline Color Whisper by Color Sensational in the shade Berry Ready truly surpassed my expectations. I was expecting this to be a sheer, barely-there shade that would fade quickly, but I found the opposite to be true. I get excellent, one-swipe pigmentation from this shade and great staying power in a lovely, light-yet-hydrating formula. Also, the flavor and fragrance are much more subtle than the original Color Sensational lipsticks. I of course don't know if all of the other 19 shades in this range are as wonderful as Berry Ready, but I'm so happy with this shade that I can't wait to try more of them.
Do you own any Color Whispers? If so, I would love to know which shade(s) you own and how they're working for you!
I have to confess that i purchased all 20 shades ... not at once but i purchased them all.
ReplyDeleteI envy you big time :-P hahaha I live in Thailand...we don't have those.
DeleteOh my goodness!! I bow down to you! Do you love them all??
DeleteI've just splurged on FOUR Color Whispers in one go after falling out of love with the Revlon butters. Pin-up Peach is the only one I've worn for any length of time- it lasted a couple hours even with gloss on top which is great for me since I compulsively press and bite my lips. I also have Coral Ambition, Pink Possibilities and Oh-La-Lilac. I really like Coral and Pink layered!
ReplyDeleteI have this in 'Lust for Blush' but i'm thinking that shade is way too light for me.. I might exchange it for this shade now that I see it swatched :)
ReplyDeleteYour lip picture isn't working for me for some reason. I can see the rest of the photos just fine.
ReplyDeleteMe either... I'm on my Samsung gs3 running Google chrome...
DeleteI'm so sorry, you guys! I don't know what's wrong...I checked on my desktop, my boyfriend's laptop AND on my Android and the pic of my lips is visible on all three!
DeleteBummer I can't see it either, but your swatch is pretty.
DeleteI'm using google chrome on my galaxy s3 and I see the photo
DeleteI have pin up peach and I love it! I definately want more :) (but I'll wait for a good sale...I hope) lol
ReplyDeleteI have Berry ready, and I love it! i have Lust for Blush too, but it's a tad too light for me - which is strange, because I have pigmented lips, and it's a light color, so you'd think it wouldn't show up at all, but it does. It would look fabulous on someone with less pigmented lips, though!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear Berry Ready works for you too!
DeleteI purchased Petal Rebel and it's true to the "whisper" part of the line name. I encountered the same formula as you, but had to do multiple swipes for the color to show. It really does depend on the shade. I can't wait to purchase more though!
ReplyDeleteI agree...sounds like it really varies from color to color. I must say that I really lucked out with this shade!
DeleteI kept picking these up for a while but I rarely wear them; I don't know why I kept buying them, to be honest. A couple of them just don't show up well on my lips at all; I had to buy the really dark ones just to get color. They feel nice on my lips, definitely, but I think overall I prefer the L'Oreal Caresse lipsticks. More color payoff and a creamier formula.
ReplyDeleteSounds like they're not a good fit for you. Bummer! :(
DeleteI have so many lipsticks that I can live without these :) I just put myself on a no-buy so I can actually see what I have and wear more of it!
DeleteI was just looking at swatches of the Color Whispers last night.
ReplyDeleteI picked up my first two: Pin Up Peach and Coral Ambition I really like them! Great colors, pigmented, but lightweight.
I thought Berry Ready would be too dark, but it looks great on you, G!
I agree, I think the orig CS lippies are stronger in taste/fragrance than these.
Thank you, L.!! And i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks the flavor/fragrance is lighter in these!
DeleteThe pearl one is just perfect for adding a little shimmer to the center of the lips to give the look of full lips...I don't care for a true gloss so I'm in love with this light slick formula
ReplyDeleteGreat tip!! Thanks!
DeleteI'm absolutely in LOVE with Pin-Up Peach! It's so gorgeous. It's a great pinky-peach with a teeny bit of golden shimmer in it that really makes my lips look full and glowy... absolutely in love. It's the only one I have so far, but I definitely want to pick up a few more.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be a popular shade here in comment-land! Gotta give that one a look! :)
DeleteI have the orange attitude. It looks scary in the tube but when you put it on it is the perfect coral
ReplyDeleteThanks! Might have to try that one. ;(
DeleteI have three - Mad for Magenta, Lust for Blush, and Pin Up Peach - and find that I love the color Pin Up Peach the most. I still find that I prefer the Revlon Lip Butters more, but in the end, to me, they are completely different and just suit different days. So I'm happy to own both. :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed! They definitely have a different feel on the lips!
DeleteI love the smell of these. The smell reminds me of Fruit Loops. (:
ReplyDeleteI have three: Made It Mauve, Pin Up Peach and Oh La Lilac. I used to have Lust For Blush, but it looked horrible on me so I had to return it. Made It Mauve is my favorite of the bunch because it's closest to the pigmentation of my natural lip color and just makes my lips look better. And then Pin Up Peach and Oh La Lilac are just fun colors that I like to wear on occasion. I want to buy more and Berry Ready might be the next one (:
I just picked up Made- It Mauve and Rose of Attraction today, right before reading this in fact! :) did a little test run on both and they surpassed my expectations too. I also like the Lip Butters and have quite a few, but these do have quite different feel on the lips as you say G; the Whisper ones are lighter in texture and more moisturizing than the L'Oreal version, to me at least, but I love the color I got (the Plum one) so it still has a place.
ReplyDeleteNow I am seriously wondering about Pin Up Peach now too; lots of love on that one! Can anyone tell me if it has less obvious glitter than Revlon Peach Parfait? That is the only thing keeping me from loving it :( I may get the Orange, for some reason I keep picking it up and then hesitating but if it pulls coral I'm there. (I'm finding that due to a recent haircolor change, much lighter, I can pull off these shades now unlike before, I'm still figuring this out!
Great review! I have avoided these thinking they would be sheer and not last. I will give these a chance, especially after reading all the other comments on great shades.
ReplyDeleteNow I am really excited to try these! Hope there is a good sale soon! Thanks G.
ReplyDeleteBerry Ready looks so pretty on you, G.! I've been debating picking up that shade but I tried Lust for Blush (love the texture but it's a touch pale for my tastes). I found a $2 coupon in a magazine and then bought Rose of Attraction, which I love. To me, that one is like YLBB but with a bit more warm pinky pretty oomph.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of shocking! I have completely overlooked these because I thought it was just another balm similar to those last year, which I did not like at all. The color payoff here is awesome! I'm intrigued... LOL!
ReplyDeleteI have been eyeing the lilac and pin up peach for a while now.I was afraid they might be too sheer.But after looking at your review, I will pick them up plus the pearl.
ReplyDeleteI have #100 A Plum Prospect, and it is very highly pigmented with lots of staying power as well. With the name "Whisper," I totally was not expecting that. :)
ReplyDeleteI've got 11 of these! I can't get enough!
ReplyDeleteI love them especially when I'm running out the door and just need a quick pop of color!
I'm so glad you like this! I picked up Pink Possibilities about a month, and I really love it! I love how these feel so light on the lips, but give good color!
ReplyDeletexo
aly
I have Cherry on Top and luuuuurrrrrvvvvv it! I'm not a fan of how thick the revlong lip butters feel so this is a God send for those days I just want a wash of color.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful color! (:
ReplyDeleteWow, I may have to try this! I was disappointed by the Loreal balms because they were so sheer and, like you, assumed this would be just the same. Glad to hear otherwise!
ReplyDeleteI just bought two in "Coral Ambition" and "Mocha Muse" and oh my goodness, I love these MUCH better than Revlon's lip butters. I feel like the staying power is amazing (with the lip butters I had to re-apply and re-apply through out the day..) and the colors are just gorgeous.
ReplyDelete