I tried a new company recently, and I want to tell you about my experience. I have written about my interest in 3 Custom Color Specialists (here) and was lucky enough to get a sample of their new lippie called Whisper. It actually comes in lipstick and lipgloss formula, but I chose to test the lipstick. Here's how it went...
But first, some background on the color:
Trae Bodge, makeup artist and co-founder of 3 Custom Color Specialists (that's her on the right!), loved Spring '09's runway looks for their soft, smoldering goodness and glowing bronziness. Inspired, she created Whisper, a creamy shimmering nude shade for lips that helps you achieve that look from the runways.
Use Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream to sculpt the face and bring out the best of your bone structure, giving a sexy highlight. Here are more tips for that glowy, healthy look from Trae:
Use Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream to sculpt the face and bring out the best of your bone structure, giving a sexy highlight. Here are more tips for that glowy, healthy look from Trae:
- Bronze your skin wtih On Fire Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream, concentrating on the areas where the sun kisses you: forehead, chin, cheeks, nose, and the crease of the eye (create a "V").
- Highlight these areas with Radiance Mood Lighting Shimmer Cream to give radiance: brow bone, upper cheek bones, eye lids and inner corner of the eyes.
- Line eyes with Dark Brown Eye Liner and soften by buffing. Two coats of Black Mascara will finish the eyes, but you can perfect them futher with a dose of Light Clarifier Pencil on the inner rims of lids!
- Use Whisper on lips - either the lipstick, the lipgloss, or BOTH!
This shade is creamy and shimmery. It's nude... but not! Infused with gold and bronze flecks, it's a lot more multi-dimensional than most nudes, but not glittery or sparkly at all. It's probably most of our "perfect nude lippies", I'm betting!
The base is a golden; tan but not so yellow that I can't wear it (I'm very cool-toned). It also doens't make my teeth look yellow- a hazard one must confront with many nude lipsticks. I like that it's sheer enough to let my pink lips show through. 3 Custom says that's the key to getting it to work on all skin tones!
As for the lipstick- it's billed as "the perfect balance of lipstick and gloss"; moisturizing and softly buildable. I agree with all of those things.
It feels and smells a bit like what I think of as "a traditional lipstick" but it's not heavy or full-coverage. After I slick it on, my lips say "aahhhh..." because it's so silky! The coverage is certainly sheer, but I can build it up quite a bit. I also bet it layers nicely over other shades, though I haven't played around with it much in that regard.
The gloss, which I didn't try, is non-sticky, by the way. I know some folks can't stand that tackiness inherent in some glosses!
The only reason I didn't give this an A+ is because, while it's incredibly flattering, it's not the 100% best color FOR ME. It's a solid A, though, and may be YOUR A+! I went back and gave it an A+ after I swatched it again in good light with the lip pencil. This is a Holy Grail tan-nude for me.
Whisper Sheer Lipstick is $21.50 and so is the Whisper Lip Gloss.
Below, I used a balm on my pathetic chapped lips, then
applied MAC's Sublime Culture Cremestick Lip Liner before
slicking on 2 coats of Whisper:
The base is a golden; tan but not so yellow that I can't wear it (I'm very cool-toned). It also doens't make my teeth look yellow- a hazard one must confront with many nude lipsticks. I like that it's sheer enough to let my pink lips show through. 3 Custom says that's the key to getting it to work on all skin tones!
As for the lipstick- it's billed as "the perfect balance of lipstick and gloss"; moisturizing and softly buildable. I agree with all of those things.
It feels and smells a bit like what I think of as "a traditional lipstick" but it's not heavy or full-coverage. After I slick it on, my lips say "aahhhh..." because it's so silky! The coverage is certainly sheer, but I can build it up quite a bit. I also bet it layers nicely over other shades, though I haven't played around with it much in that regard.
The gloss, which I didn't try, is non-sticky, by the way. I know some folks can't stand that tackiness inherent in some glosses!
The only reason I didn't give this an A+ is because, while it's incredibly flattering, it's not the 100% best color FOR ME. It's a solid A, though, and may be YOUR A+! I went back and gave it an A+ after I swatched it again in good light with the lip pencil. This is a Holy Grail tan-nude for me.
Whisper Sheer Lipstick is $21.50 and so is the Whisper Lip Gloss.
The following swatches are on naked lips (lightly pigmented, NC15 skin).
I did not use a pencil, balm, or any other product to swatch.
In fact, I had no makeup on except Whisper! Yikes!
I did not use a pencil, balm, or any other product to swatch.
In fact, I had no makeup on except Whisper! Yikes!
Below, I used a balm on my pathetic chapped lips, then
applied MAC's Sublime Culture Cremestick Lip Liner before
slicking on 2 coats of Whisper:
Possible Dupes: I don't have an exact dupe, because of the lovely subtle bronze and gold in this. It's similar in tone to MAC's High Tea on me.
Would work well with: MAC Lipglass in Oh Baby! for a twist, clear gloss of course, and I'd like to try MAC's Soft & Slow (LE), C-Thru, and Prrr. The following MAC Lustreglasses would also work: Lustrewhite shines up anything, and Instant Gold would probably rock on darker complexions! Other liners: MAC Creamola may work for the warmer-toned gals, and you could probably get away with MAC Honey B, too.
Would work well with: MAC Lipglass in Oh Baby! for a twist, clear gloss of course, and I'd like to try MAC's Soft & Slow (LE), C-Thru, and Prrr. The following MAC Lustreglasses would also work: Lustrewhite shines up anything, and Instant Gold would probably rock on darker complexions! Other liners: MAC Creamola may work for the warmer-toned gals, and you could probably get away with MAC Honey B, too.