Tom Ford Beauty revamped all of the lip glosses into a new formula called Gloss Luxe ($55 each for 5.5 ml/0.19 fl oz). These have new packaging and a completely different formula from the original lip glosses. The Gloss Luxe has a sheer finish, ultra glossy shine and a moisturizing feel. It’s not sticky but does have a slight tacky feeling to it since it is a gloss but it feels smooth and lush.
There are 20 available right now, I bought 6 and have a review + swatches today. I’ve been such a long-time fan of Tom Ford lip products but with these I have mixed feelings. They are high-shine and hydrating, they have a nice luxurious feel. However I found some of them settled into my lip lines and started to separate after a few minutes. With the lighter neutral colors I didn’t find them to be color-saturated as they described. The colors can be intensified if you layer more on the lips but with each progressive layer the formula starts to get a little too thick and goopy with the feeling like they will slide off.
They are scented with a soft vanilla cake like scent that I find really pleasant. Lasting power is average for a hydrating gloss. They won’t last all day but at the same time they don’t disappear quickly.
For the tubes you have a sponge tip applicator similar to the Lip Lacquer Luxe where the sponge is a little bigger than the opening. There is a little bit of tugging when you take it out of the tube but the gap isn’t as tight as it is with the Lip Lacquer Luxe.
Colors I picked:
Aura is a pale light nude pink, this one settled into my fine lip lines within a minute, not a good look!
Impulse is a sheer pale pearly pink, also settled into my lip lines within a few minutes but it isn’t as bad as Aura
Frantic is a sheer shimmery medium light pink with gold pearl
Ravish is a shimmery medium peach
Wicked is a sheer cool pink without shimmer
L’Amour is a bright sheer pink
I think the brighter and deeper colors are the best options. Overall pigment didn’t translate from my arm swatches to my lips. They’re sheer so it gives the lips a hint of color. Close ups and lip swatches below with three I have full face makeup looks for you. I do think if you have lighter lips versus my pigmented lips the colors will show up better on you.
Aura
Impulse
Frantic
Ravish
Also wearing Natasha Denona Foundation X+ in 42WY, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in Medium, Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel, Tom Ford Acqua Metal Shadow in Violet Argente and Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette in The Dolce Vita, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light
I really wanted to love them but I can’t help but feel there are better options out there. For me I felt the sheerness of the colors didn’t make them all worth the price tag. I do think there are some great colors to choose from and they have a hydrating luxurious feel. They’re not bad, but I prefer the Chanel Rouge Coco Glosses, Pat McGrath LUST Gloss, By Terry Lip Experts and the new Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shines are amazing (I’ll review my picks soon). My favorites of the ones I tried were Ravish and L’Amour which I think are worth the splurge. I wish the other ones had better color payoff because they’re just so pretty in the tube and swatched on my hand!
You can find the Tom Ford Gloss Luxe out at all counters now. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
This year I picked up one of the Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives in the Eye & Mini Lip Set ($88 on sale, $126 value) which has the White Suede Eye Color Quad and two miniature Lip Colors in Paper Doll and Autoerotique. There is also variation with the same quad but with two full size eye products + mini lip called the Eye and Lip Set ($155 on sale). I opted for the less expensive version with the neutral/lighter lips.
The Eye & Mini Lip Set comes in a silver box, there’s a separator/insert inside to keep everything in place:
Eye Color Quad White Suede
The Tom Ford White Suede Eye Color Quad from Nordstrom is slightly different from the one launched last year from Neiman Marcus, but both have a very similar vibe and effect. I don’t think you need both. I swatched them side by side here. The Nordstrom White Suede has a glittery pale pink, a sandy beige shimmer, a warm bronze satin shimmer and a blue-dove-grey silvery color. Layered together I get a soft smokey eye. I really like the look and effect. It’s neutral cool which is a nice alternative to the super warm eye trend that’s been going on for a while.
Lasting power is excellent and true to Tom Ford style. Colors pull with medium pigment on me, I’ve found in the Tom Ford line that other quads have stronger more intense pigment (like these three reviewed here). White Suede colors do layer nicely though.
Reposting my swatches of the White Suede Neimans (white compact) vs White Suede Nordstrom (brown compact):
Mini Lip Colors
For the lip colors you will get two minis in Paper Doll (baby pink) and Autoerotique (pink-nude peach). Both are creams with full creamy coverage and a soft shine finish. They’re ultra small and bound to be used up at 0.03 oz/1 g each. I found both to have a nice high quality texture: smooth, creamy, non-drying and long lasting.
Overall love. I’ve bought the Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary sets for the past three years and think they’re all phenomenal. If you already own White Suede from last year in the white compact I don’t think you need this one unless you’re a die-hard fan. I do think though if you’re lighter in skin tone compared to me I think you’ll see a more noticeable difference on your eyes. There are a few other Tom Ford sets available for the sale this year. I’ve linked them below in case you’re interested. Everything is limited-edition for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, while they last.
I’m really happy with my purchase and I highly recommend.
More swatches and review of my haul picks coming tomorrow!
Tom Ford launched two new Skin Illuminating Duos ($85 each for .42 oz/12 g) this year in Flicker and Incandescent. The original one Moodlight is probably one of the prettiest candlelight champagne glow highlighters I’ve ever tried and to this day remains a staple. Flicker is the deeper version and easier to find. Incandescent is a little harder to find right now (it sold out on a number of sites quickly) but you can still find it at Sephora and Bloomingdale’s. The two new colors have the same textured pattern, shimmery finish and powder formula to the original for a multi-dimensional glow.
From top clockwise: Moodlight, Flicker and Incandescent
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Moodlight
For my medium golden skin I find Moodlight is still the best as a skin illuminating duo. It’s the most flattering, isn’t too warm or cool, has the perfect amount of shimmer and glow. It’s smooth, lasts all day, doesn’t emphasize pores and looks good on a wide range of skin tones. I’ve hit pan on this before. I bought a fresh one to shoot for this post.
Swatch comparisons can be found in previous posts here and here.
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Flicker
Flicker has a yellow gold shimmer and deep dark bronze tone with olive undertones. For me this is better for the eyes. On my complexion the colors do not work well on the face, even with soft layering or mixing. The deeper color pulls a little green on my skin and is too deep to wear even as a soft contour. Because it contrasts so sharply with my skin I found the darker color didn’t really apply smoothly with regular highlighting strokes. It required a lot of extra blending to smooth out. On the eyes it applied just fine though.
Incandescent did not disappoint and was worth the extra effort to track down. It looks darker in the pan than I anticipated from online stock photos but swatches light and glowy. There’s a champagne shimmer that’s almost identical to the top shade in Moodlight on my skin (they don’t look the same in the pan though). Incandescent’s top shade pulls a little warmer and more golden. If you’re lighter than me in skin tone the difference will be more noticeable. The bottom shade is a frosty rose, similar to NARS Maldives.
Overall I still like Moodlight the best but I think Incandescent is really lovely too. Flicker isn’t a win for me but it’s mainly because the colors don’t work so well for my complexion, it’s a little too deep for me to wear even with blending. The gold is a little too yellow for my liking. For a contour gold/bronze palette I prefer the Natasha Denona Tan Bronze and Glow Palette or the Chanel Duo Bronze Et Lumiere Compact I reviewed earlier – both are easier for me to wear and more flattering for my medium skin tone.
I’m hoping Incandescent will restock everywhere, I bought mine at Nordstrom but it keeps selling out online, for now it’s available at Sephora and Bloomingdale’s.
Summer is almost here and today I’m rounding up my favorite perfumes perfect for the upcoming season. We are lucky to have warm weather most of the year but perfume is definitely seasonal with different months. I love this time of year when we’re transitioning from spring to full on summer. The heat is rising and there are so many scents that I love for warm weather. For me there are everyday summer perfumes and then there are summer perfumes that make you feel like you’re on vacation. I’m focusing more on the everyday ones for this round up but will list a few vacation vibe scents at the bottom of the post too. As always I’d love to hear about what you’re wearing right now!
I would say that my most-worn perfumes recently are the ones from Tom Ford. I think he’s best known for the deeper rich and spicy ones, but my personal favorites are the lighter options. Soleil Blanc and Eau de Soleil Blanc have been must-haves for me for years now. Both are white florals that perfect fresh summery vibe. I also really love White Suede layered with either of the Soleil Blanc perfumes for a softer vibe. All the Tom Ford perfumes are available in multiple sizes, I’ve listed the ones I have below. I love that more of these are now coming in individual travel size sprays so I can carry them in my purse!
Notes include bergamot, cardamom oil Orpur, pistachio accord, ylang-ylang Comores Islands, benzoin extract Orpur, coco de mer accord
Eau de Soleil Blanc ($125 for 50 ml, 10 ml travel size here) is a brighter more citrus version that has a little more warmth with more noticeable amber and it’s not quite as strong on the floral notes as the original, both smell really similar
Notes include Vert de bergamot, orange bitter Orpur, petitgrain bigrade Orpur, ylang-ylang, pistachio accord, coco de mer accord
White Suede* ($235 for 50 ml) is one of the few soft musk perfumes I can wear that don’t turn on my skin, I love the way this mixes with the white florals. It’s a soft clean and warm kind of scent. The clear bottle is exclusive to Neiman Marcus but you can find it in the traditional brown at all other counters.
Notes include saffron, thyme, mate, suede, olibanum, musk
Byredo has some of the longest lasting perfumes I’ve tried. Sometimes I notice my nose gets used the scent quickly and they seem to fade, but anytime I wear these, I get compliments and questions even hours after I’ve first applied. Andrew also notices them late in the day. I know purchasing a fragrance in person isn’t always possible (even if it’s the best way to buy them). In the event you don’t have a Byredo counter near you to smell, they have a La Selection Set with six minis which are a nice way to sample the scents. There are a number of trios available as well.
Blanche ($175 for 1.7 oz, shown is the .4 oz available in this trio) is a floral that has a mix of aldehyde and violet, it has floral notes with noticeable white rose and a hint of musk. It almost has a clean linen feel.
Notes include aldehyde, pink pepper, white rose, neroli, peony, violet, blonde woods, musk and sandalwood
Mojave Ghost ($175 for 1.7 oz) is the most unique fragrance I’ve ever smelled. It’s a soft fruity floral with violet and magnolia. There is a mix of musk, sandalwood and amber to give it a little warmth.
La Tulipe ($175 for 1.7 oz) is one of the scents I get the most compliments on! This is clean floral with noticeable freesia.
Notes include:<rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia, tulip, blonde woods and vetiver/li>
Rose Rinse Free Hand Wash ($35 for 1 fl oz) makes for a super fancy hand sanitizer, it has a beautiful soft rose scent with pink pepper and raspberry notes mixed in
Notes includepink pepper, raspberry, rose petals, magnolia, exotic patchouli, white musks
Jo Malone was one of the first perfume lines I started using when I got into perfume. I think they make so many beautiful florals! Unfortunately most of my favorites have been discontinued or were limited-editions. I was so sad when they pulled French Lime Blossom and RIP Vanilla Anise. They used to have a pretty one called Sweet Milk which was such a unique one. I feel like perfume should never be limited-edition or discontinued, it’s so sad to find one you really love and then not be able to buy it when it’s used up! The same thing goes for foundation – all my HOLY grail foundations are now no longer made. The one I love right now for summer is Basil and Neroli, it doesn’t smell like basil at all!
Basil and Neroli ($68 for 1 oz) is the perfect neroli scent, it’s a fresh and fun lively kind of perfume. Andrew likes this one on me.
Notes include basil grand vert, neroli and white musk
Chanel has so many classic perfumes but the Les Eaux de Chanel line stole my heart when they launched last year. These are Eau de Toilettes and are lightweight in feel. They give more of a splash of scent rather than a super long-lasting potent perfume. Living in humidity and heat makes the lightweight feel perfect for me. They launched three Eau de Toilettes last year first Paris-Biarritz, Paris-Venise and Paris-Deauville ($130 each for 4.2 fl oz). Shower gels and body lotions followed for each. I have not yet tried the body products, I’m worried I’ll fall in love and my wallet will hate me for it.
I’m thrilled to let you know that the three originals are now available in a 1.7 fl oz travel size individually for $80 each or as a trio in Le Voyage Set ($240 this one comes with a cute pouch). I ordered the mini of my favorite Paris-Biarritz the second it launched online. Right now the minis are available only at Chanel.com. The minis have a spritzer spray too! I feel like I had seen images of the minis for the European and Asian websites – I’m so happy they’re now available in the US.
Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz ($80 to $130) is my favorite of the three original ones. It’s perfect for the citrus scent lover. It has notes of Sicilian Mandarin and Lily of the Valley. It has a very soft almost garden like feel to it. It’s refreshing and bright!
This past week they just launched a fourth scent Paris-Riviera* which is lovely for those who love citrus scents. This one has vacation spa resort like vibes. It’s sweeter and a little more juicy the Paris-Biarritz.
Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera* ($130 for 4.2 oz) comes in one size right now. I asked if there were plans to add more body products or a travel size and they don’t have any information right now. It takes me away to a place where I feel like I’m away at a spa.
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That wraps up my favorites right now. I rotate frequently! Top three favorites right now are the new Chanel Paris-Riviera, Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc and Byredo La Tulipe. Runner ups for perfumes that smell like a summer vacation include Replica Beach Walk, Creed Virgin Island Water and Bobbi Brown Beach. But for now I’ve had the ones in this roundup in my spring to summer rotation.
What are you favorite summertime perfumes? Do you change things by season or do you have something you wear year round?
Press samples include Tom Ford White Suede, Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel in Paris-Biarritz (full size) and Paris-Riviera (full size). Others purchased by me.
Tom Ford Beauty launched new eye makeup with three new Eye Color Quads and a long-wear collection called Emotionproof. I have a look at the three new quads, two of the cream shadows and the new mascara.
Eye Color Quads ($88 each for .21 oz/6 g) in Body Heat*, Double Indemnity and Suspicion
Tom Ford launched three new Eye Color Quads in Body Heat*, Double Indemnity and Suspicion. I was surprised three new ones popped up since he launched seven late last year. In case you missed it you can see the seven here. For those not familiar to Tom Ford Beauty, there are several different formulas of his shadows. The three new ones have that metallic stiff texture similar to Nude Dip, Honeymoon, Virgin Orchid and Daydream. They’re still powders but have an almost foiled sheen to them.
The three new palettes are a lot more wearable for my medium-tan warm olive complexion. I’m really loving both Body Heat and Suspicion for something a little more fun than your standard everyday neutral.
Body Heat
Body Heat has a shimmering pale rose, shimmering soft reddish rose, medium shimmery coffee brown, shimmery deeper brown. The two browns are very close to my eye, the deepest one does work to intensify the look and is slightly cooler toned. I think this palette goes well with a soft rose or pink lip. Application is smooth, pigment blends and layers beautifully, lasting power is excellent.
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity is one of the best smokey eye palettes I’ve seen. Most traditional smokey palettes are too cool-toned with silvers and greys. This has a unique mix which makes it more wearable for my olive skin. It has a pale shimmering icy white, a shimmering silver with a hint of sage, shimmery smokey cool brown and a black with silver flecks.
Suspicion
Suspicion has the golden tones that I pretty much live for. It does pull a little yellow and the orangey-gold is pretty vivid. When you layer all the colors together it neutralizes the yellow a little for a more neutral warm gold sheen. This one is the most metallic of the three. If you can’t wear ultra metallic shades you might want to pass on this one and I’d recommend you opt for either Chanel Lueurs Ambrees (so pretty) or the Pat McGrath Sublime Bronze Ambition (for more variety in colors at a better price point)
Comparison swatches to other Tom Ford quads:
Tom Ford Nude Dip, Body Heat, Honeymoon
Titanium Smoke, Double Indemnity, Supernouveau
Golden Mink, Suspicion, Leopard Sun
Look 3: Suspicion, wearing Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna with Lip Lustre in Blondie on top
Three Beauty Looks
Emotionproof Mascara
There’s a new Emotionproof Mascara which seems to have replaced my holy grail Waterproof Extreme. To me they perform the same – it adds volume, holds the curl, does not smudge. The only difference is Emotionproof tends to clump on the brush very quickly after a couple uses. I’m used to some level of clumping with mascara on the brush as it picks up product. I wish the interior had some kind of design to wipe off product a little better. Still anything that won’t smudge and that holds the curl is a winner in my book. I can just clean off the wand every 4 uses or so.
Emotionproof Eye Colors
Last I bought two of the Emotionproof Eye Colors in Brut Rose and Casino. I’ll start with the pros: both shades I bought are really pretty and easy to wear. They set pretty quickly and once they do set they don’t budge. Cons: everyone seems to say these are like overpriced MAC Paint Pots and I pretty much agree. I think they’re nice if you want a long lasting budge-proof cream shadow. However since they dry so fast you have to blend and apply quickly – once they set, layering more cream on tends to make it look streaky and dry. I don’t think they’re horrible like some reviews have said, but I definitely don’t think they’re anything special or splurge-worthy unless you absolutely love the colors. I think Brut Rose is really pretty but it seems pretty dupeable.
Overall loving the new quads the most. Based on what I’ve seen from other Tom Ford quads you can find some similar options among different palettes. I really like the look of Body Heat the best. If you want more variety and color range within a single palette but still like shimmer finishes I think you’ll find more of a diverse options within a compact by trying out the Pat McGrath palettes. I think the new Emotionproof Mascara is good, but part of me thinks it’s just Waterproof Extreme with a slightly different tube (because of the clumping issue) and different name.
Tom Ford Beauty Soleil 2019 has launched and I’ve been so excited to play with the collection over the past few weeks. As usual the pieces are limited-edition and come in the beautiful white and gold packaging. Overall I think the collection is really beautiful for that perfect sunkissed look. I purchased several products the minute they launched online and also received a few items as press samples. There are a number of other items in the collection I don’t have featured, but I’m really happy with the items I do have:
The lip colors this season are true to the Tom Ford Soleil theme with fresh and sheer color options. I ordered items sight unseen and was lucky that I ended up really loving every piece I bought. I opted for two of the Lip Color Sheers in Mustique (perfect cool toned baby pink) and Carriacou (perfect peach cream). Both are medium in coverage and have a soft glossy finish. I find myself really loving Carriacou for a natural peachy cream lip. Lasting power is pretty good for sheer lip color, although I don’t really consider these “sheer” like the name implies. They are sheer if you compare them to the regular formula lip colors and mattes. I think these have medium coverage.
The Lip Blush is a clear gold flecked color transforming balm that so many of you have been interested in! As soon as I put a sneak peek on stories I was flooded with comments – all of which were mixed. Based on my testing I really like it. It gives my lips the perfect pink flush but it will look different on everyone. I think it’s really flattering on my lips. It’s lightweight, unscented, gives my lips a nice pink glow/stain. Stays put. The only thing not to love is the high price tag. At the $55 price you can find something similar for a lot less like the Dior Addict Lip Glows or Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tints.
Lip Gelees seem to be having a bad moment on the internet. On the hands/arm they do not swatch well and look practically clear. As one who does not put counter testers on my lips I can understand why these have been dismissed as fails because I would have passed too had I counter swatched them. I ordered two and received the other two as press samples. I do not think they are as bad as the online reviews. The concept is really nice for a fresh gelee lip look with a slight stain and balm in one. I think the colors are perfect for a sunkissed summer pop of brightness. But the $55 price tag is really hard to justify for something that is sheer, has small packaging, seems to have little product and is more than 1/2 clear. Colors swatched straight from the tube vs. with a lip brush so you can see the actual color. Lustrous is a sheer red, Sunlit is a orange color, Scorching is a light peach, Maldives is a baby pink.
Swatches straight out of the tube versus with a lip brush:
Lip swatches of the items below (forgot to do a detail shot of the lip blush, but scroll down to the bottom to see it on a full face makeup look). All done on bare lips.
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Soleil 2019 Eyes
There are three Acqua Metal Shadows and I opted for two in Venus Rising a metallic pink and Violet Argente a metallic neutral bronzed mauve pink (so hard to describe this one!). I’ve worn Violet Argente on stories a few times and everyone was asking about it. These are metallic fluid shadows that come with a sponge tip applicator. The applicator is really flexible and a little hard to control for me so I take a separate shadow brush, brush it off the tip of the applicator and then apply to eyes. You can apply directly to the lids and blend with a finger too which works. I need more control so I’ve found using a separate brush to apply is the best. The color is quite intense with one swipe but sheers out to a lovely smooth sheen. Layering increases the intensity and shine. Once they set they stay put all day. It didn’t budge in warm weather for me and I think I’ll be reaching for these all summer long. That being said if these are out of your price range you might want to wait and check out the Bobbi Brown High Shine Liquid Eyeshadow or Armani Eye Tint Liquids coming out soon.
Violet Argente on the eyes with a black liner. Also wearing Gold Dust Soleil Glow Bronzer and the Lip Blush.
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Soleil 2019 Cheeks
The bronzers Terra and Gold Dust have been reformulated this season in a Soleil Glow Bronzer. I have two in the miniature format. (Also available in the jumbo size.) The colors are really similar to the previous launches. This year the Soleil Glow Bronzer has a softer finish which is more powdery with an almost creamy touch. Because they’re so soft it’s almost made the pigment more intense. I recommend applying with a light hand. The 2019 Terra does seem to be slightly more cool-toned than previous Terras. I’ve used the Tom Ford bronzers for years and really do love them. If you’re looking for a new one though I’d recommend opting for one of the NARS summer palettes like Summer Lights (review coming soon). You’ll get more bang for your buck since it’s a full palette for eyes and cheeks. The Tom Ford bronzers are a really nice splurge. I’ve never regretted buying the previous season’s versions and the mini is nice for travel. Just though I’d suggest an alternative if you’re looking for something a little more unique/fun.
There’s also a new Sheer Cheek Duo in Lissome which I think is so so pretty. I’m calling this a must-have. It has a soft peach and soft pink with the prettiest satiny finish. It makes the skin glow without adding any frost or excess shimmer. Formula is the same as previous launches. It has a smooth almost cream to powder hybrid formula that isn’t really all that sheer. It’s super easy to blend, applies smoothly, doesn’t emphasize texture and stays fresh looking for hours.
Swatch comparisons to the original powder versions of the Tom Ford Bronzers and Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal side by side. I swatched everything with a heavy hand. On the face everything applies a lot more sheer especially with blending.
Overall a beautiful launch with easy to wear fresh natural color. Tom Ford Beauty can be quite the splurge and I’ve been really happy with most of everything I’ve tried from the line over many many years. Based on the numerous launches and repeats over the seasons, I don’t think I’d call the bronzers a must-have if you’ve bought previous year’s colors. For me the top stand outs are Lip Color Sheer in Carriacou, Acqua Metal Shadow in Violet Argent and the Sheer Cheek Duo in Lissome. The Lip Blush is a solid thumbs up for me as I really like the flush it gives my lips, but you can 100% find a cheaper alternative that’s just as good.
Tom Ford Beauty launched their new Lip Lacquer Luxe Vinyl and Matte in 20 shades ($57 each). These are full coverage high pigment lip products. I have 10 colors swatched, five I purchased on my own, five are press samples. I’ve been a long time fan of Tom Ford lip products – anytime someone asks me to recommend one item to splurge on I always pick the Tom Ford Lip Color. After testing both finishes of the new Lip Lacquer luxe, I find that I really like them, however have mixed feelings on these mainly because there are some packaging issues. The product itself is very good in my experience. Quick thoughts on both formulas:
The Lip Lacquer Luxe Vinyl is a thick glossy full coverage lip product. Because it’s thicker it does take some blending but this adheres well to the lips and once blended does not feel super heavy. I can feel the product like I would a regular gloss but it’s not uncomfortable.
The Lip Lacquer Luxe Matte is a soft lightweight matte. It has buildable coverage but some blending is required as well to smooth it out. I like that it’s super lightweight and has a soft velvety matte that doesn’t make the lips look shriveled or dry.
In terms of lasting power the Vinyls stay put better. For the Mattes they don’t slide off and do stay put, but not as long as their Lip Lacquers they launched last year. I actually prefer the packaging style of the Lip Lacquers however with the new Lip Lacquer Luxe you do get 6 ml of product while last year’s slim tube has only 2.7 ml.
There’s a slight scent to them but it’s not really a fragrance, it’s more of a lipstick scent. Once applied the scent fades. As soon as some of you saw I bought these on Instagram stories I received a number of messages asking about the applicator. Many of you were really upset that it broke when you opened it. I do find the sponge tip applicator seems a little too wide for the lacquer opening so there is a bit of tugging to pull it out. Luckily only one of mine broke and I didn’t twist or bend when I tried to open it. If yours broke I hope you will be able to get a replacement. I’ve since opened and used all the other shades multiple times and none of them have broken.
I’ve split the swatches by color grouping from neutrals to bolds. Group 1:
All swatched on bare lips, descriptions:
Insinuate (vinyl) is a medium peachy pink
Softcore (vinyl) is a high shine beige
Intimate (vinyl) is a medium light pink
Darling (matte) is a nude pink, looks beige in the tube but on me pulls more pink
Quiver (matte) is a nude mauve
Group 2 with deeper and bold colors:
Descriptions and swatches, all done on bare lips:
Pussycat (matte) is a mauve rose that deepens and darkens
Unzip (vinyl) is a bold warm bright glossy pink
Infuriate (vinyl) is one of my favorites, it’s the perfect deep red on me!
Jaguar (matte) is the one that broke, it’s a bold warm red matte
Habitual (matte) is a deep bright slightly blue-based red
All the colors side by side:
A few comparison swatches and thoughts:
NARS Velvet Lip Glides are lighter weight and sheerer than the Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Luxe Mattes, I included some swatches of the neutrals for comparison in Bound, Swing, Roseland and Xenon.
Tom Ford Lip Lacquers (in the skinny round tubes from last year) are longer lasting, more matte in the dry down and budge proof once dry. Universal Appeal is still the best liquid lipstick nude from Tom Ford, on my lips in this post here. Pussycat is darker than the luxe version.
Tom Ford Satin Matte in London Suede is a more browned neutral and has a soft diffused matte compared to the Lip Lacquer Luxe Mattes.
Aside from the packaging issues I think the formula makes for a solid luxury lipstick. I really love the formula and finish even though they do take a little bit of extra effort to blend because of how pigmented they are. My favorites are Softcore, Quiver and Infuriate. I’ve worn Softcore the most so far and love it for a nude but not washed out lip. I do think that opening a gloss shouldn’t be challenging and it definitely should not break at the tip. Based on the design of the applicator and opening I don’t know if mine will break eventually. I was lucky I had issues with only one of mine. I have splurged on many Tom Ford lipsticks and think that it has been money well spent since I really do love the formula. I do think that $57 is really steep even if it is Tom Ford and luxury. They seem to have a similar vibe to the Bobbi Brown Luxe Liquid Lip High Shine and Velvet Mattes which are $37 each by comparison. I never tried those even though they seem to be really popular. I still have the By Terry Lip Expert Shine and Mattes I’m working on swatching for you so you might want to wait on swatches before splurging on the Tom Ford ones unless you’re a Tom Ford addict and there’s a color you think you’re absolutely in love with.
