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Tom Ford Beauty

Sephora

Top Makeup Favorites You Can Find At Sephora

November 2, 2018

Favorite Makeup Staples from Sephora | The Beauty Look Book

I’m have Part 2 of my beauty recommendations for the second weekend of the Sephora Holiday Bonus Beauty Insider Event! This weekend continues with savings for Rouge Tier Members. This roundup focuses on my top makeup favorites for bases, cheeks, eyes and lips. You can find Part 1 Skin, Body and Hair recommendations here. Dates, codes and details:

  • Rouge get 20% Off 11/2-11/5 with code: ROUGEBONUS
  • VIB get 20% off 11/9-11/12 with code: VIBBONUS
  • Insiders/ Non-BI members get 15% off 11/16-11/19 with code: BIBONUS

Terms, conditions and exclusions listed here. I tried to narrow my absolute top picks and favorites limiting myself to under 10 per category. There are so many good products available right now, especially with holiday beauty launches. Most of these are products I consider tried and true staples but there are a few newer items I’ve tried recently I think are really worth the splurge. Products that are press samples have a * next to them.

Favorite Makeup Staples from Sephora | The Beauty Look Book

Foundations + Base:

 

Concealer:

Powders + Setting:

  • Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Powder * is one of the new launches this year, I love this for it’s truly translucent finish (no white cast) and sheer natural matte finish.
  • Laura Mercier Translucent Loose * is my most-worn loose powder, I like it with either the puff or a regular powder brush.
  • Armani Neo-Nude Fusion Powder is the best all over setting pressed glow powder, doesn’t make me too shiny, just adds the perfect amount of even coverage and glow, if you’re oily you should probably opt for an all matte option though. Review here.
  • La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder is one I have gone through several of Light and Medium, it’s the best sheer natural pressed matte powder I’ve tried, although I will say I think MAC Next to Nothing Pressed is a very close dupe that’s cheaper (but they don’t carry MAC at Sephora).
  • Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in Medium is my holy grail blurring powder, it covers and smooths imperfections, I wish it came in more shades but am happy Medium has worked for me.
  • Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray is my go-to setting spray to set makeup and help make it last longer. It’s available in a number of size options including a mini if you want to try one before splurging on the full size.

 

Eye Makeup:

  • Charlotte Tilbury Stars in Your Eyes Eyeshadow Palette is the prettiest large eyeshadow palette I think I’ve tried of the season, it rivals NARS Singapore (which is sold out everywhere as it was limited-edition), versatile for a wide range of looks – reviewed here. Swatches of the palette in this post here.
  • Urban Decay Naked2, Naked3 or Naked Cherry are great options if you’re new to shadow and don’t know where to start. Naked2 has the neutral taupes and browns, Naked3 runs more pink but still neutral, Naked Cherry * is trendy but still wearable. I reviewed Naked Cherry in this post here. There is also this pretty awesome Naked Cherry Vault in a limited-edition set available now too.
  • Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon is probably my favorite warm neutral, it goes with anything and everything and brightens the face with any cheek color. Nude Dip comes in close second for neutrals.
  • Pat McGrath anything wins unless you’re not a glitter fan in which case I still think her MTHRSHP Subliminal Platinum Bronze Palette is amazing (review here). I’ll have a review of her Opulence collection posted tomorrow so stay tuned!
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks are my most worn shadow sticks, I don’t have oily lids so they last all day for me and don’t crease. Rosegold is my holy grail go-to shade I wear the most, followed by Copper.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows are also ones I like to wear a lot, I use them alone on lazy makeup days or layered with powder on top to make them last longer.
  • Natasha Denona makes amazing eyeshadows, the pigment, intensity and complexity of her palettes are really truly beautiful. It’s hard for me to pick one but I think her Camel or 5-Pan in Color Option #2 are great ones.

Brows and Lashes:

  • Anastasia Brow Wiz * in Medium Brown has been a go-to until I discovered Dior and Hourglass, since getting highlights I’ve felt the need to change my brow color to match a bit more, Taupe and Caramel have been working great for me.
  • Diorshow Brow Styler in Univeral Brown is still my holy grail, it still works even with highlights!
  • Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel * is among my favorite tinted brow gels (in either Soft Brunette or Warm Brunette), although the Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel is also very good.
  • Surratt Lash Curler is spendy and you can find good alternatives for less, but I think it’s worth the splurge.
  • Mascara – my current favorites aren’t carried at Sephora but I’ve linked a few I’ve enjoyed in the shop the post carousel below.

 

Cheeks:

 

Lips:

 

That wraps up my top makeup picks and recommendations for things you can find during the Sephora Beauty Insider Event! Hope this helps if you’re looking for ideas. It’s always nice to have these events each year to help save on new things or to stock up on favorites. I’ll have a haul post soon and will also have another giveaway when I post the haul.

Dates, codes and details, online and in store at Sephora:

  • Rouge get 20% Off 11/2-11/5 with code: ROUGEBONUS
  • VIB get 20% off 11/9-11/12 with code: VIBBONUS
  • Insiders/ Non-BI members get 15% off 11/16-11/19 with code: BIBONUS

Let me know if you hauled anything yet! Or any fun beauty items recently if you’re not shopping the Sephora Beauty Insider Event. Always love hearing about what you end up buying!

Press samples indicated with a * next to the product listings.

 

Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Boys + Girls Lip Color – 2018 Picks

October 17, 2018

Tom Ford Beauty Boys and Girls Lipstick 2018 review

I look forward to the Tom Ford Beauty Boys + Girls Lipsticks every year! Today I have review and swatches of my 2018 picks for the Tom Ford Boys and Tom Ford Girls and the formula is true to Tom Ford style with well made pigment, texture and finishes. They have that subtle vanilla scent to them and lasting power is similar to those of previously launched clutch-sized lipsticks. The sheers are sheer and glossy with medium lasting power while the creams stay put longer. There were a handful I ordered online sight unseen and I received some press sample colors. By the time I stopped by my local counter to see all the shades I noticed they didn’t receive all the testers and I didn’t have a chance to go back and investigate. Based on my online guesses I’ll say up front that I ended up with a lot of similar shades. As a neutral lip lover I’m thrilled, but even on my lips I could have skipped a few and opted for some of the more edgy colors.

Tom Ford Boys and Girls 2018 Picks

Tom Ford Beauty Boys and Girls Lipstick 2018 review swatches | The Beauty Look Book

The formula for all the colors I tried is excellent. Smooth application, no streaky finish or patchy look. Even with the pale colors I found the finish to be really good. In addition this year the Tom Ford Girls Lipsticks have a stronger base than last year’s versions (at least the ones I have do). I experienced some breakage at the bases with the 2017 version. Some of you had the same issue. With all the 2018 shades I found them all to be 100% ok.

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lipsticks 2018, Uma, Ava, Monica, Camila, Alistair, Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan, Ori, Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott

Colors I have reviewed have a mix of the Boys and Girls formulas. In general the Girls are sheerer with a glossy finish. These come in Ultra Rich (creamier but still glossy) and Lip Color Sheer (sheer and glossy). The Boys are more opaque and creamy with either a Matte or Cream finish. I prefer the Boys because they have better color payoff but really all the formulas are nice.

  • Uma (Girls, Ultra Rich) is a pale flesh nude cream, it’s a lot more wearable on me than Blushed Nude or Spiced Honey, but still very pale on my lips
  • Ava (Girls, Lip Color Sheer) is a semi sheer glossy shimmery champagne
  • Monica (Girls, Ultra Rich) is a sheer light brown cream, pulls a little warm on my lips, but in the tube is more neutral
  • Camilla (Girls, Lip Color Sheer) is a sheer shimmery peachy pink (please excuse the typo on the photos, I forgot to add an extra “L”)
  • Alistair (Boys, Lip Color) is a neutral cool-toned nude, on my olive skin it pulls slightly mauve
  • Gal (Girls, Ultra Rich) is a medium neutral pink cream
  • Tomoko (Girls, Lip Color Sheer) is a shimmery pink cream, has tiny flecks of gold, pulls a little deeper/brighter than Gal
  • River (Boys, Lip Color) is a medium peachy pink, pulls more peach cream
  • Bryan (Boys, Lip Color) is a pretty cool pink neutral, pulls the tiniest bit cooler
  • Ori (Boys, Lip Color) is a medium pink cream
  • Helena (Girls, Lip Color Sheer) is a sheer cool plum pink
  • Hudson (Boys, Lip Color) is a cream nude cool-toned pink
  • Chadwick (Boys, Lip Color) is the perfect brick brown red
  • Scott (Boys, Lip Color) is a sheer plum with subtle shimmer

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lipsticks 2018, Uma, Ava, Monica, Camila, Alistair, Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan, Ori, Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott

Tom Ford Beauty Boys and Girls Lipstick 2018 review

A closer look row by row with lip swatches on bare lips. Set 1 has Uma, Ava, Monica, Camilla and Alistair:

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lipsticks 2018, Uma, Ava, Monica, Camilla, Alistair

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lipsticks 2018, Uma, Ava, Monica, Camila, Alistair

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Swatches 2018, Uma, Ava, Monica, Camila, Alistair

Set 2 has Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan and Ori:

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lip Color Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan, Ori

I triple checked my swatches as they all look nearly identical. I do suspect if you have lighter lips or lighter skin tone you’ll see the difference between shades more on your complexion. I’m right at the medium olive point where these tones look the same. The color difference can be seen better from the product shot of colors in the tubes.

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lip Color Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan, Ori swatches

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lip Color Gal, Tomoko, River, Bryan, Ori swatches

I did pull a few other Lip Color classics such as Sable Smoke, Pink Dusk, Spanish Pink to compare on my own. I think that it was a really tough call to detect the differences between Pink Dusk, Spanish Pink and the entire middle row of colors I swatched. If you had your eye on any of the full size neutrals but didn’t want to splurge, the clutch-sized Boys and Girls are a nice way to splurge at a lower price point with similar colors. Comparisons that look nearly identical to me:

Tom Ford First Time, Spanish Pink, Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke swatches

Set 3 has Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott (I also added Daniel for comparison):

Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott

Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott

Tom Ford Boys and Girls 2018 Helena, Hudson, Chadwick and Scott

Tom Ford Beauty Boys and Girls Lipstick 2018 review swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lipstick Swatches

For the Boys and Girls 2018 launches I tried, my favorites are Camilla, River, Bryan, Ava and Scott. I really feel like I should have ventured to try more of the plums or reds. I received a couple very bold colors (a bright purple and electric red) but since they weren’t colors I felt I’d ever wear so I gifted those away. I do think based on online swatches that Jordan, Ingrid and Nico look particularly stunning. I might take another look if I’m at the counter soon to see if they have testers, but there is so much coming out for holiday I’m thinking about waiting for other things.

You can see swatches of the 2017 Tom Ford Beauty Girls picks from last year. I found myself reaching for Katherine and Lara the most, although to this day Bradley is still my go-to nude.

You can find the Tom Ford Beauty Boys and Girls Lipsticks at all counters now. I bought half of the featured shades from Nordstrom and the other half were sent as press samples. Also available at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Beautylish, Net-A-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

Have you tried the new Boys and Girls yet? What colors did you pick up?

 

Fragrance

Spring to Summer Fragrance Edit

June 8, 2018

Best Spring Fragrances from Creed, Tom Ford, Byredo and more | The Beauty Look Book

It feels like we skipped spring this year and went straight to summer here in Florida! Today I have a roundup of spring to summer fragrances that are light and fresh. I’ve been thrilled to find that so many of you are die hard fans of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc and Creed Love in White like me. This year both brands have launched new variations of the classics! I know fragrance is so personal so I’d love to hear about your go-to’s. If you’re looking for something new but don’t know where to start I hope this list will give you some ideas of where to start exploring!

Row 1:

  • Creed Love In White for Summer ($335 for 75 ml) is a new variation of their classic Love In White. The original is a crisp white floral with a powdery feel. The new version at first spritz smells almost identical but if you let it sit you’ll notice a softer vibe with a fruity touch. They both have that distinct white floral feel, but the new one is really beautiful! Right now Love in White for Summer is only available in the 75 ml form. I have purchased a few of their Leather Atomizers for travel or my purse. My husband also has a couple for his favorite which is Aventus for Men.
    • Top Notes: Bulgarian roses, Calabrian bergamot, sweet magnolia
    • Middle Notes: Florentine iris, rice, Virginian cedarwood
    • Base Notes: Ambergris, sandalwood, apple, jasmine
  • Louis Vuitton Apogee ($240 for 3.4 ml) is one of the soft earthy florals from Louis Vuitton. To me I notice the magnolia and jasmine notes the most. It’s a natural and earthy kind of floral. One thing I learned at the stores is once you buy the full size bottle you can get them refilled in store for a much lower price than repurchasing another full size bottle. These come in beautiful glass jars. If you cannot decide on one they have a lovely Miniatures Set which contains seven 10 ml bottles.
    • Notes: Lily-of-the-valley accord, Jasmine from Grasse, Magnolia from China, Gaiac wood, Sandalwood essence
  • Byredo La Tulipe ($165 for 50 ml) is another pretty clean floral. It has extremely strong lasting power – even though my nose gets used to it within a few hours, people who walk by notice it many hours later. To me it smells almost like fresh linen + white flowers combined. I also have this in the Hand Cream and Hair Perfume just for fun. In the event you want smaller options, it is available in the La Selection Florale Trio (12 ml vials). Alternatively on the Byredo Website you can order their Discovery Set (they limit 1 per person) and it comes with a voucher that you can use at Byredo Stores on Byredo.com.
    • Top Notes: rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia
    • Middle: tulip
    • Base: blonde woods, vetiver
  • Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt ($135 for 3.4 oz) is one of the best earthy sea salt scents I’ve tried that is so unique. It’s a great light everyday kind of scent one can wear year round, but it’s not a floral or citrus. It seems like most scents that are light need to be either floral or citrus or beachy. This one is none of the above yet it’s not spicy or heavy. I attribute the hint of bergamot to this fact. It’s one I can wear alone but I received the best tip from one of my favorite Jo Malone associates in San Diego to layer this with Wild Blue Bell. The Wood Sage and Sea Salt notes:
    • Top: bergamot, ambrette seeds, buchu leaves
    • Middle: sea salt, mineral accord, dry fruits
    • Base: driftwood accord, guaiac wood, white musk, sage

Row 2:

  • Diptyque Eau de Sens ($95 for 1.7 oz, also now available in a Solid Soap, Cleansing Hand and Body Gel and Hair Mist) is my all time favorite orange blossom. It’s not too citrus and it’s not too floral or powdery. It’s the perfect mix to be orange and floral. Lasting power is not as strong as Tom Ford or Creed on me but I don’t mind reapplying after a few hours as it fades nicely. I have the Hair Mist on my wishlist which I hope to pick up soon.
    • Top Notes: bitter orange, juniper berry.
    • Middle Notes: orange blossom
    • Base Notes: angelica, patchouli
  • Chanel L’Eau No 5 All Over Body Spray ($60 for 150 ml/5 fl oz) is a lighter variation of the L’Eau No. 5 reviewed here. I actually prefer the body spray version because it’s softer and not quite as crisp. It also comes in a Hand Cream option which smells completely different to me but is still lovely.
    • Notes: Lemon, Mandarin and Orange, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Cedar and Musk
    • Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Radiant Body Oil ($49 for 100 ml/3.3 fl oz) is such a beautiful dry oil. As you might guess from this roundup I’m obsessed with anything that has bergamot in it! This one is a fresh one that has a blend of orange, bergamot and mandarin. It’s very bright and refreshing. The oil absorbs nicely into the skin and gives the body a luminous glow. Scent is very strong for a body oil, I can wear this alone instead of the perfume version. You can find this in other body products in their entire Orange and Bergamot collection.
      • Top Notes: orange, bergamot and mandarin
      • Heart Notes: neroli, cardamom and galbanum
      • Base Notes: musk, ylang-ylang and cedarwood
  • Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc ($122 for 1.7 oz) is new this spring. It’s one of my favorites of the season and I did not think it could get better than the original. It’s really close to the original version but this one is lighter in feel and not quite as rich or deep. It’s more green and a tiny bit more citrus with a brighter feel. I do not think you need both if you are already well stocked on one. I used up my original so decided to buy this one and I’m 100% happy I did.
    • Notes: Vert de Bergamot, Orange Bitter, Petitgrain Bigarde, Ylang-Ylang, Pistachio Accord, Coco de Mer Accord

Row 3:

  • Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Oil ($74 for 8.4 fl oz/250 ml) is my favorite scented body oil. I wish it came with a spritzer but it’s so good I can overlook the packaging. It does come in a Dry Oil Spray Version which I personally did not like very much. For some reason the regular Body Oil works much better for my skin and smells better too.
  • Byredo Mojave Ghost ($165 for 1.7 fl oz) is one of the most unique scents I’ve tried. To me it smells a little fruity and floral with noticeable violet and magnolia notes. There’s a tiny hint of musk and sandalwood with amber to round it out and prevent it from being a full on floral. Lasting power on me is excellent.
    • Top Notes: ambrette, Jamaican nesberry
    • Middle Notes: violet, sandalwood, magnolia
    • Base Notes: chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
  • Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino ($230 for 1.7 oz/50 ml, also available in the All Over Body Spray which I’ve tried and loved) is a twist on their classic Neroli Portofino. They have several spinoffs of the classic and to me this one is the best because it mixes in floral making it softer, more feminine and well rounded. It smells like the spring to summer transition with crisp citrus and fresh floral notes.
    • Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Bigarade Leaf Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute Orpur, White Acacia Accord, Jasmine Grandiforum Concrete, Acacia Honey Accord
  • Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is another classic that I’ve used up in the full size. The one shown is from a limited-edition Travel Atomizer which has just launched at Nordstrom! So many of you have said this scent is THE ONE for you. I think it’s a classic sunshine vacation scent in a bottle!
    • Notes: Bergamot, Cardamom Oil Orpur, Pistachio Accord, Ylang Ylang Comores Islands, Benzoin Extract Orpur, Coco De Mer Accord

_________________________

My top 3: Creed Love in White for Summer, Byredo Mojave Ghost and Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc.

Creed Love in White for Summer, Byredo Mojave Ghost and Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

I know perfume is one of those beauty products that is best to shop for in person. I’ve ordered a few blind simply because I did not have a counter near me and it has been both hit or miss. After a couple misses I decided to never do it again. These days I’ve found more and more brands have started to sell sample vials or discovery sets on their websites. You may have to do a bit of searching to find them. Many larger retailers offer samples with beauty purchases, I almost always add one to my cart from Nordstrom. Lucky Scent also sells samples and sample packs of fragrances of their entire store. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend you stop by their store. You can read more in a feature I did here. In some cases you might not find any sample section online even on specific brand websites. I’ve also had luck a couple times e-mailing customer service to see if I could buy or order samples and in two instances they did!

That wraps up my spring to summer perfume favorites. I know it’s quite a lot and some of you stick to 1 or 2 scents but I also know women who rotate on a seasonal basis and like to switch things up like me. As always please share your personal favorites in the comments! I love reading about what you love and wear.

Press samples featured include items from Creed, Molton Brown and Louis Vuitton.

 

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 Picks

March 13, 2018

Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 Collection Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 has launched with some beautiful fresh colors for eyes, lips and cheeks. I did a mega-haul and purchased all the items I’m reviewing today. I have been thrilled with everything! I’ve received a lot of questions about the cheek products in this season’s launch and how they compare to previous launches. There are some similarities between pans and I’ve swatched them below and will add some thoughts below. What I picked out:

Cheek products: Sunstruck, Nude Glow and Exotica Flora

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick, Soleil Contouring Compact Nude Glow and Sheer Cheek Duo in Exotica Flora | The Beauty Look Book

There is a new double-ended product called Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick called Sunstruck with a shimmering gold and bold apricot cream. The colors are creamy and quite pigmented but blend beautifully on the skin. You can swipe them on the face and blend on top of foundation without it disrupting your base. Swatches on the arm and hand will show that it’s dewy just like the pan compact Shade and Illuminate, but once you blend it it’s not too dewy and actually has decent lasting power for a cream product.

There is a new shade of the Soleil Contouring Compact in Nude Glow. The shades in this palette are a soft powdery gold champagne, soft peach and pale pink glow. If you remember The Afternooner from a few years ago I’d say the top shade of Nude Glow is almost identical to the Afternooner, and the middle shade of Nude Glow is darker and deeper and the bottom shade is completely different as the Afternooner had a bronzer and Nude Glow has a pale pink shimmer. In the pans Nude Glow has an almost faded look because of the pale shades. I thought these might not show up on my skin but they do! When layered together they all have a very soft glow. Texture is smooth and powdery but they blend seamlessly on the skin. If you need a lot of pigment and color I’d recommend you opt for the NARS Easy Glowing Palette in Reve Sale instead. The Tom Ford Soleil Contouring Compact in Nude Glow will give a significantly softer look.

Then there is a new Sheer Cheek Duo in Exotica Flora. This has the same formula as the other sheer cheek duos which is a unique powder that almost has a creamy feeling. It’s like a hybrid cheek product that doesn’t get powdery or creamy and lasts a long time on the face. If you swatch this at the counter on your hand or arm be prepared to see sheer color. They don’t swatch well on the arms with a brush, so I swatched with fingers. Once applied on the face color does show up in a natural buildable way. This has a medium pink and orange. The colors are very similar to ones from Bicoastal and Paradise Lust. The differences are slight though. The orange in Exotica Flora has more yellow and orange while Paradise Lust is more coral. The pink shade in Exotica Flora is warmer than either Bicoastal or Lavender Lure. On the skin the effect is similar though.

Swatched with a heavy hand to show color. Once blended on the face the colors are a lot softer, but I wanted to show how much you could build. I love that the colors don’t disappear once you blend.

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick, Soleil Contouring Compact Nude Glow and Sheer Cheek Duo in Exotica Flora swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Comparison swatches to previously launched Tom Ford colors including the Sheer Cheek Duos in Paradise Lust, Bicoastal and Lavender Lure

Tom Ford Sunstruck, Paradise Lust, Exotica Flora, Bicoastal and Lavender Lure Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Two Beauty Looks

Two looks below with the Soleil Contouring Compact on the left and Exotica Flora on the right:

  • Foundation is Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque with Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter #4
  • Powder is Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder #2
  • Eyeshadows are Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Bette + Tom Ford Cream Powder Eye Duo in Paradiso
  • Brow color worn is Sisley Phyto-Sourcils Fiber Brow Gel in #2
  • Left lip + cheek is Soleil Contouring Compact in Nude Glow and Ultra Shine Lip Color in Delectable
  • Right lip + cheek is Sheer Cheek Duo Exotica Flora and Ultra Shine Lip Color in Lavish
  • Top by Flynn Skye

Tom Ford Soleil Summer Nude Glow and Exotica Flora

Soleil Summer Lips

Next are the lips. There are three formulas in this season’s collection. Lumiere Lip Baume, Ultra Shine Lip Color and Lip Color Sheers.

Tom Ford Lumiere, Ultra Shine Lip Color and Lip Color Sheer | The Beauty Look Book

There’s a new product called the Lumiere Lip Baume which is a lip color transformer with hyaluronic acid to plum the lips and change to your pH levels. They launched on color in Lumiere which looks orange in the tube but applies clear much like Dior’s Addict Lip Glow in Coral. On me it transforms lips into a very natural peachy glow.

There are also new Ultra Shine Lip Colors. Tom Ford had a number of colors in this same product name but it does appear the new ones have a new formula along with the new packaging. I don’t have any of the older ones anymore except Quiver, but from what I remember, the older formula had a lot of shimmer shades, had more gloss/shine and was sheerer. The new ones this season are all creams (no shimmer) and have more pigment. Two shade names were familiar in Bare and Nubile, both look different from what I remember the originals to be. Bare looked paler without shimmer, I didn’t buy it. Nubile appears to be a lot warmer and peachier. These new Ultra Shine Lip Colors feel hydrating and smooth on the lips with coverage that is quite impressive for a glossy formula.

Colors I picked:

  • Delectable is a pale creamy pink
  • Nubile is a warm nude
  • Luscious is a perfect mauve
  • Lavish is a light but bright peach
  • Decadent is a deep wine plum

I swatched all but one of the Ulta Shine Lip Colors shades at the counter, swatch missing is Ravenous which is a bright pink (wasn’t on the display at counter):

Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Color Swatches Soleil Summer 2018 | The Beauty Look Book

Last there is are two new shades of Lip Color Sheer, I opted for Nudiste a shimmering warm seashell nude. It reminded me of Pink Dune from years ago but this one Nudiste is warmer and more shimmery. I am hoping one day they will re-launch the exact same Pink Dune again. There’s also a stunning plum shade called Bambou. After swatching it at the counter I thought looked very cool-toned borderline brownish so I passed as those tend to make me look corpse-like. I may give it another go later.

My picks:

Tom Ford Lumiere, Ultra Shine Lip Color Delectable, Nubile, Luscious, Lavish, Decadent and Lip Color Sheer Nudiste | The Beauty Look Book

Swatches on the lips:

Tom Ford Lumiere, Ultra Shine Lip Color Delectable, Nubile, Luscious, Lavish, Decadent and Lip Color Sheer Nudiste | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 Collection Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

I’m 100% in love with everything. Even the cheek shades that have similar colors to previous launches. I always look forward to the soleil collection launches from Tom Ford and this year’s options are gorgeous. If you are looking for something unique and different though I’d say you can probably pass on the cheek products if you already own and still have previous launches from Tom Ford. The cheek compacts are on the extra spendy side so if you are one who takes forever to use up your blush and already have a lot of Paradise Lust or Bicoastal left, you can probably skip Exotica Flora. Same goes for the Nude Glow if you still own The Afternooner, although Nude Glow does have that pretty pale pink glow color.

For the lip colors, I’m really happy with all my picks. The one color I might have skipped if I could do over is Nubile because it pulls warm on me and it’s not the most unique shade. I should have skipped that one and opted for a red or brighter pink instead, but it’s a great everyday neutral. (I don’t test lip products at the counter on my lips unless it’s a brand new tester.)

I did pass on the eye products. There are two new shades of Cream and Powder Duo in Azure Sun (champagne silver glitter + teal cream) and Emerald Isles (gold glitter + emerald cream). I was really tempted by Azure Sun as both shades are really quite stunning, but I rarely wear teal shades on the eyes so decided to pass. There are also two Shade and Illuminate Kohls in Lavventura and Soleil Blanc, also both have shades I don’t see myself wearing very often. There is also the new Eau de Soleil Blanc perfume which is on my wishlist. I got a mini sample to test out and after wearing it a few days have decided I need it. It has more citrus and less powder than the original Soleil Blanc.

You can find the Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 collection out now. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Beautylish and Tom Ford Beauty.

Did you pick up anything from the collection yet? What did you think?

 

Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Lip Color New Shades: Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono and Devore

October 24, 2017

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore | The Beauty Look Book

There have been a lot of lip launches from Tom Ford Beauty this fall with the Boys and Girls and also 40 new shades of their Lip Color and Lip Color Matte. I ordered a few online sight unseen from Sephora and one turned out to be a lot lighter than the online stock photo. Since these are extremely pricey I waited until these arrived at Neiman Marcus and picked up some more shades. In total I bought six colors. There were a lot of neutrals, light nudes, light pinks and some deeper color options as well. I found the mattes to be very matte so I decided to stick with the regular lip color creams.

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore | The Beauty Look Book

For the most part I’ve found the Tom Ford Cream Lip Colors formula to be fuller coverage than the average lipstick. With the new shades I tested I found a few slightly different finishes. Some were sheerer than I’ve normally experienced. If you’ve missed previous reviews on Tom Ford Lip Colors, they are among my favorites for formulas. They have smooth even coverage. They’re super luxurious and don’t dry out my lips like some formulas do from other brands. Lasting power is pretty average. They will stay put as long as you don’t have contact with snacks or drinks, but they don’t stay put all day long. I find I have to reapply within a few hours. They feel comfortable on the lips without being heavy. The creams have a very natural looking sheen to the finish which I adore. My haul picks:

  • Bad Lieutenant is a medium light neutral beige pink cream, this one has full coverage
  • Sugar Glider is a gorgeous light mauve, I’m beyond obsessed with this one! Finish with this one is semi-sheer, it’s not as opaque as some of the creams
  • Autoerotique is a medium peachy tan cream, this has medium coverage
  • Spiced Honey is a pale nude pink, this has full coverage, the contrast with my natural lip color made it look a tiny bit streaky but it smooths out nicely
  • Open Kimono is a shimmering light gold beige, this is the first Tom Ford shimmer lipstick I’ve tried that has some texture in the tube, the shimmer has some grit but on the lips there’s no gritty feel, this one is sheer but buildable
  • Devore is a sheer neutral brown with pink tones

In sunlight with flash:

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore | The Beauty Look Book

In sunlight without flash:

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore | The Beauty Look Book

Below wearing Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff and La Mer The Powder (loose) to set. All lip swatches done on bare lips. It’s been a while since I’ve swatched Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke. I find both to be classics and still the best two colors in the lineup so I added them in lip swatches below.

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore, Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke | The Beauty Look Book

Additional swatch comparisons to Boys and Girls in Katherine (lip swatched here), NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara (lip swatch here) and Tom Ford Ultra Rich Lip Color in Revolve Around Me (lip swatch here):

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore swatches | The Beauty Look Book

For those curious about which colors are the 40 new shades, they are split into 9 color categories according to the Tom Ford look book I received in my e-mail:

  • Nude Creams: Naked Ambition, Spiced Honey, Erogenous, Bad Lieutenant, All Mine
  • Nude Mattes: Deceiver, Heavenly Creature
  • Beige Creams: Open Kimono, Satin Chic, Autoerotique, Devore, Magnetic Attraction
  • Beige Mattes: Universal Appeal, Wicked Ways
  • Pink Creams: Paper Doll, Pretty Persuasive
  • Mauve Creams: Sugar Glider, Night Mauve, Adora
  • Pop Creams: Playgirl, Foxfire, Stimulant, Electrique, Exotica
  • Coral Mattes: Age of Consent, The Perfect Kiss
  • Red Creams: Vermillion-Aire, Dressed to Kill, Jasmin Rouge, Original Sin
  • Red Mattes: Best Revenge, Night Porter
  • Burgandy Creams: Dangerous Beauty, Love Crime, Discretion
  • Noir Creams: Impassioned, Near Dark
  • Noir Mattes: In Deep, Fetishist

There was a lot to sort through at the counters and with all the new and existing colors mixed together I don’t know that I got a good look at all the new ones. I did have a list with me of what to check out so I think I covered most of the neutrals. The quality and lasting power are still on point for what I’ve experienced with Tom Ford lip colors. I would have probably passed on Spiced Honey (this is a bit pale on me) and Open Kimono (I prefer Guilty Pleasure), but luckily I can make both work with a good lip liner like MAC Boldly Bare, Whirl or Stripdown (swatched here).

Tom Ford Lipstick Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono, Devore | The Beauty Look Book

My favorite colors are still Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke for everyday neutrals, but I’m really happy with my picks. As one who finds light mauves difficult to wear with my olive complexion, I’m 100% in love with Sugar Glider. For light pinks I was really tempted by Paper Doll but I wanted to limit myself to 6 max for now as holiday is coming up and there is still a lot to cover.

You can find the new shades of Tom Ford Lip Color and Lip Color Matte out now. Available online at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora and all other Tom Ford Beauty counters.

Did you try any of the new shades yet? What did you think?

 

Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Lip Colors – The Girls

October 4, 2017

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford launched 50 shades of girls lip colors with the Boys and Girls Lipsticks ($36 each) this year with two formulas, Lip Color Sheer and Ultra-Rich Lip Color. I stopped by my local Nordstrom the week they launched and picked out a handful to purchase. I’ve been a huge fan of Tom Ford lipsticks from the very start and each year I look forward to seeing their new mini clutch-sized launches. They did Lips and Boys for two years and this year they added a Lips and Girls which I think is super fun. After covering my hand with swatches I ended up with twelve of the Lips and Girls Sheers and five of the Lips and Girls Ultra-Rich formula. A few thoughts on each formula and then swatches + descriptions below.

The Girls Lip Color Sheers are just as the name implies, “sheer.” They are ultra smooth, hydrating and have a gorgeous sheen. Most of the colors I saw had some degree of shimmer for the sheer finish, although I did notice a few non-shimmers. They are sheer though. Many of the colors I picked out ended up looking very similar once on my lips. I should have picked some of the deeper or brighter colors for more variety. All the colors I tried were smooth in coverage except Carine and Lena, both of which were a bit streaky on my lips. To me these have a similar vibe to that of the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines and YSL Volupte Shine Oil in Stick, just with a little less slip, not quite as balmy, and with a tiny bit more pigment. Lasting power isn’t going to be exceptional since they are sheer and glossy so reapplication is going to be necessary. I don’t mind since they feel so comfortable on the lips.

The Girls Ultra-Rich Lip Colors have more pigment with a soft glossy finish. I absolutely love this formula and wish the entire line of Lips and Girls had been like this. I have and love the full size Revolve Around Me and the Lips and Girls are just as good in terms of pigment, coverage and comfort. They hug the lips nicely and the colors are gorgeous. On my pigmented lips some of the shades I picked also look similar, the difference will be more noticeable if you have lighter colored lips. I’ll note the difference in undertone below.

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Colors are split into three sets below, two sets of the sheers and one set of the ultra-rich. Up first are:

  • Carine is a light shimmery beige nude
  • Edita is a neutral nude beige shimmer
  • Nina is a soft peachy shimmer
  • Beatrice is a light baby pink with iridescent blue shimmers
  • Julianne is a medium pink beige shimmer
  • Alicia is a light neutral-cool pink shimmer

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carine, Edita, Nina, Beatrice, Julianne and Alicia | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carine, Edita, Nina, Beatrice, Julianne and Alicia swatches | The Beauty Look Book

All lip swatches on bare lips, foundation shade worn on the skin is the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer in Natural. I feel like a broken record about this one but it’s really one of the best ones I’ve used in a long time and has still held up really well in the Florida heat/humidity. In case you still have not seen the review, it’s posted here with swatches of Bisque, Natural and Sable alongside MAC Studio Fix Fluid swatches for reference. For those who want to know my MAC shade, I fluctuate between NC25 and NC37 in the liquid because I tan easily. Right now I’m the equivalent of NC37. I don’t know what shade I am in the powder, many years ago I used to use C3 and C4 but I developed a severe allergic reaction to the powder and have been scared to re-try it since.

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carine, Edita, Nina, Beatrice, Julianne and Alicia | The Beauty Look Book

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Second set includes:

  • Carolyn is a shimmery neutral pink brown with silver shimmer
  • Ellie is a cool mauve shimmer
  • Lara is a light mauve brown shimmer
  • Fabiola is a creamy mauve brown pink
  • Lena is a pale aqua colored shimmer
  • Isamaya is a sheer violet

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carolyn, Ellie, Lara, Fabiola, Lena, Ismaya | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carolyn, Ellie, Lara, Fabiola, Lena, Ismaya | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Sheers Carolyn, Ellie, Lara, Fabiola, Lena, Ismaya lip swatches | The Beauty Look Book

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Third set is with the Ultra-Rich:

  • Katherine is a soft beige pink, it’s similar to my fav Bradley but Katherine has a bit more pink
  • Marisa is a pretty medium pink
  • Zoe is a peachy pink cream
  • Isla is a coral peach
  • Valentina is a plum mauve

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Ultra Rich Katherine, Marisa, Zoe, Isla, Valentina | The Beauty Look Book

Bradley added below to the arm swatch set below, review + swatch of that color in this post here.

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Ultra Rich Katherine, Marisa, Zoe, Isla, Valentina swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Lips and Girls Ultra Rich Katherine, Marisa, Zoe, Isla, Valentina swatches | The Beauty Look Book

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Tom Ford Lips and Girls | The Beauty Look Book

Overall thoughts is I love the formula, it’s truly top notch. The Lip Color Sheers are as the name implies “sheer” and while I knew that was what I should expect, I feel like I could have skipped more than 3/4 of the colors I bought because they look so similar once they are on the lips. Out of the 12 sheers I bought 4 of them broke at the base which is heartbreaking so I’m going to hopefully exchange those at Nordstrom. This has never happened to me before with any Tom Ford Lipstick (and I’ve tried all of the formulas) and based on the fact that most of mine are still ok, I think it could have just been duds. For those suspecting it might have been heat that melted or softened them at the base – I make sure everything is back at air-conditioned room temperature before swatching. I love the Ultra-Rich formula – it is one of the best formulas I’ve tried. I love the smooth glossy finish and the colors are really quite pretty.

Out of all the colors I bought, my top 5 picks: Nina, Ellie, Katherine, Zoe and Valentina. Although Katherine is a pretty good dupe for Bradley so they are most likely too similar to justify owning both (if you don’t want dupes).

There are some new shades of Lips and Boys but I decided to skip them this round which is a good thing because there are tons of new shades in the Lip Color and Lip Color Matte formula which I’m dying to see in person.

You can find the Tom Ford Boys and Girls at all counters now, the girls shades are available individually for $36 each, in a 50 piece set for $1,980 and also in a trio set at Neiman Marcus for $108. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also available at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautylish and Tom Ford Beauty. They are limited-edition.

Have you checked these out yet? What did you think?

Eye Makeup

Mascara Hits and Misses

August 4, 2017

Mascara Testing Hits and Misses

I have a new updated mascara roundup. I’ve been trying a few new formulas and have some hits and some misses. The humidity in Florida is pretty high and the sun feels a million times stronger here than it did in San Diego. Finding one that holds up to the humidity has been a process.

  • Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara is a formula I had purchased from a duo over last holiday. I had it sitting in the box waiting for my other tubes to get used up. I was pleasantly surprised because the reviews with this were mixed. It had zero clumping, defined lashes, volumized, coated evenly, held the curl and had no smudging. For me this is a hit.
  • Sisley-Paris So Intense Mascara is one I tried from the Nordstrom Color Twist Set (review here). Huge hit with this one even though the comb is so tiny it looks like it won’t grab lashes. It allows you to get right at the base without touching the skin. This usually isn’t a big deal for me if the mascara is good because a quick clean up with a Q-tip fixes it after application. However this one makes application easier. It volumizes, holds curl and doesn’t smudge.
  • L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof is the first drugstore mascara I’ve actually liked. I’ve tried dozens and end up throwing them all away after 2 uses because they either dry to a grey looking black, smudge or don’t hold the curl. This literally was WOW with the first try. It’s everything I want in a mascara – volume, definition and holds the curl. I absolutely love the waterproof version because there is zero smudging. Blackest Black is the color I tried and it’s a true rich black. It does take more work to remove at the end of the day but is completely worth it. Huge hit.
  • Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara has to be mentioned again even though it’s not new to me because it’s my favorite waterproof mascara. No smudging, holds the curl, volumizes – huge thumbs up. I’ve repurchased this one the most in the past year.
  • Chanel Le Volume Waterproof is another classic. The regular Le Volume is good, but I prefer the Waterproof version because it holds up better in the humidity. This is one of the few rubberized applicators I like – most other brands just don’t do it for me. A classic one for me.
  • Dior Pump N Volume Mascara was a big miss. The first application was decent for volume, holding the curl and having a true rich black color. Every application after that was a clumping disaster – even when I removed excess from the tube by cleaning it. When there’s buildup, every once in a while I’ll take the wand and run it in between a folded piece of paper. It’s just like you would do with a tissue or paper towel but using paper makes it so those cotton fibers from tissue won’t get caught in the bristles. The volume on this one is really good and there are quite a few rave reviews on this one, if it didn’t clump all the time it would be perfect.
  • Serge Lutens Comb Mascara is another miss for me. I had such high hopes for this one as it came highly recommended and the online reviews on the formula were stellar. It has a similar applicator to the Sisley-Paris one. For some reason this Serge Lutens one made my lashes look spidery. It took a while to dry and smudged with a few blinks. After it dried down it had decent staying power but didn’t hold the curl and didn’t have as rich of a black finish as other ones. It wasn’t the worst but there are much better formulas for me out there.

A few notes on other mascaras I’ve loved but didn’t feature in this roundup. Other long-time favs have included the By Terry Mascara Terrybly, Chantecaille Faux Cils, Stila Huge Lash and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara. Most of these still work for me in the humid hot weather, I’ve just been rotating through different options recently. If you’ve had your eye on the Chantecaille one I highly recommend you check out the Touch-Up Essentials Set while it’s still available for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because it’s a great deal. The only one that doesn’t work so well for me in humid weather is the By Terry option, but they do have a waterproof version which I want to investigate.

Best Makeup Remover Lancome | The Beauty Look Book

For makeup removal longer lasting formulas and waterproof ones are going to be more difficult to remove in the evenings. Most of these I have to use a multi-step process to take them off in the evenings. Regardless of whether I double cleanse with a cleansing oil or cleansing water, I always use a cotton pad and soak it with eyemakeup remover first. My favorite formula used to be the Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover but these days I’ve found it’s just ok. Some of the longer lasting formulas don’t come off anymore with this one and I don’t know if the formula of the makeup remover has changed or if I’m simply finding formulas with better lasting power. Some thing goes for the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. It used to be a long-time go to but my last bottle didn’t perform as well as I remember it did in past years. My current go-to is the Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover (available in this value set from Nordstrom here and here). For cotton I’ve tried a number of brands but my favorites are from Chanel and Sephora.

If I had to pick one mascara to use for the rest of the summer that would be a hard choice. I would be able to narrow it down to three: Sisley-Paris, L’Oreal and Tom Ford.

What are your favorite mascaras for the summertime?