Tom Ford Beauty Archives - Page 6 of 11

Tom Ford Beauty Summer Soleil Collection

March 17, 2017

Last month I was lucky to get an early sneak preview of the Tom Ford Summer Soleil Collection in Los Angeles at Violet Grey. I went with my friend Rae from The RaeViewer and we were able to check out everything and get our makeup done by their National Artist Executive Allan Aponte (he’s amazingly talented). Both Rae and I are huge Tom Ford fans – we still remember the first time we each splurged on a Tom Ford lipstick, so being able to play with the new collection together was just the best. You can see a few sneak peeks of her makeover on her YouTube channel (I’m kinda proud of these clips because it was my first time filming someone!).

In today’s review I have the following new items to share with you:

The Ultimate Bronzer in Gold Dust and Bronze Age ($110 each)
Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt ($78)
Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust ($78)
Clutch-Sized Lip Balms in six colors ($36 each)
Cream and Powder Eye Duos in Sun Worship and Young Adonis ($62 each)
Soleil Bronzing Brush ($95)

For quick reference to those who want to know what else is in the collection, other items includes the Ultimate Bronzer in Terra, Fire Lust Skin Illuminator (repackaged in the same size as the Shimmer Shots), a Bronzing Gel and the Soleil Contouring Compact in a new shade Soleil Afterglow, Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette. Some of the Soleil Blanc items have been launched in more body product formats as well.

Up first are the new Ultimate Bronzers which are the large size bronzers in a new formula. The Small Bronzing Powders have been repromoted and the colors/formula remains unchanged (swatched last year here). The larger ones come with an almost creamy texture that have a subtle luminosity and blend on the skin beautifully. I want to warn you first that they swatch on the arms and hand very orangey – but I promise on the face it looks amazing. On the skin it has a semi sheer finish but the pigment is enough to give the skin a warm slightly bronzed healthy look.

Here are the two new ones swatched compared to the original formula (which you can still find in the small size). Note that I swatched these with a heavy hand so you could see the color variation – on the face with a brush they apply a lot sheerer and look very natural.

Both Rae and me after our makeovers. We both are wearing the bronzers in Gold Dust with the Reflects Gilt Highlighter. You can see below the bronzer doesn’t look orangey on us but rather warms up the complexion. Also as a side note her skin is always glowing in the most beautiful way!

There’s a new retractable brush called the Soleil Bronzing Brush made with synthetic material. We were told at the event that Tom Ford brushes are all going to be made with synthetic materials going forward. I’ve bought quite a few of the original ones which I love so I will do some investigating to compare the new to original launches. Given how well made this new one is I have high hopes they will continue to be just as good in quality. The Soleil Bronzing Brush has a tapered tip and comes in a beautiful white and gold packaging. I love how soft it feels – it almost feels like a kitten it’s so soft!

I’m pretty much excited about everything in this collection, but if I were to pick my two favorites it would be the cheek duos. There’s a Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt which has two variations of beautiful gold shimmer. It has the most incredible formula like a metallic cream to powder that almost has a wet sheen. It looks incredible on the skin and just the tiniest amount dabbed with a brush gives the skin an amazing glow. I saw it on several members of the Tom Ford team, one who has fair complexion and it looked like a blush on her. On me it’s a highlighter that can be easily layered. Pigment is smooth and flawless. It’s just so so pretty. For the cheeks there’s a new Sheer Cheek Duo called Paradise Lust. This is a more coral version compared to the previously launched Bi-Coastal. Paradise Lust has an iridescent champagne gold and a satiny coral. Mixed this is perfect for summer.

All three duos swatched side by side:

For the eyes there are two new Cream and Powder Duos called Young Adonis (silvery taupe) and Sun Worship (gold). Two colors have been repromoted in Golden Peach and Naked Bronze (both long-time favorites). If you scroll up to the photo above of me and Rae, I’m wearing Young Adonis on the eyes and Rae has Sun Worship (it might be hard to tell with the lighting in the studio). So many of you wanted to know if the cream in Young Adonis was a dupe for Platinum. I thought that was the case the minute I saw it but Allan confirmed it was lighter in color (a swatch below will show the difference). Sun Worship is a yellowy gold which looked so so pretty on Rae. I find it wearable on me too but if you don’t like yellow golds, I’d say skip this one.

Swatch comparisons of the cream sides to Tom Ford Opale and Platinum (review here) and the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Norma Jean and Marie Antoinette (review here).

Last but not least are the Clutch-Sized Lip Balms. These are the same size as the Lips and Boys and are just the cutest! The balms are super comforting and come with a dome tip. All but two of the colors look really bright but since they are balms they give the lips that really pretty soft pop of color. I love sheer brights because they give the lips a nice glow but don’t look overdone. The texture is really smooth and they glide on the lips easily. Since they are balms they won’t last as long as a lipstick but they stay put in the sense that they won’t disappear within minutes. The day I went to the event in LA I took a flight right afterwards to meet my husband in Tuscon, AZ. He was driving the moving truck while I was at the event and we met up in Arizona. I had the balm applied around 11:30 am and it stayed put and did not budge for 6 hours. The only reason it came off was because I stopped at the airport for a snack because I forgot to eat that day with the travel and moving things on my mind.

Swatches applied straight from the tube:

L’Odissea is a sheer peach
Neotropic is a pretty orange coral
Cruising is a cool sheer pink
Fathom is a cherry pink
Pure Shores is a pinkish red
La Piscine is a sheer plum

Below the colors can be intensified if you apply with a lip brush:

Swatched on bare lips straight from the tube. On me Fathom and Pure Shores almost look identical. It’s hard to tell the difference even in the tube. I cannot pick a favorite – I love them all.

Bottom line lots to love to refresh your look. As a Tom Ford lover and long-time collector I was a bit worried there would be a lot of repeats or colors that looked the same. At first glance the theme and look is very similar to past launches, but if you give them a chance you’ll find there are actually quite a few new items that are different enough to justify adding to your collection. I love the cheek duos and the new bronzer formula is really good – but given that I have a LOT of bronzer I wouldn’t call them must-haves. A the same time I really like the formula and and they are very wearable. For the eyes I love Young Adonis – I’m a taupe-silvery eye shadow lover but Golden Peach and Naked Bronze are still my favorite out of all the eye duos. The lip balms are super fun – I think everyone needs at least one even though they are the splurge they really do a good job of adding hydration to the lips in a way that doesn’t feel thick or goopy.

My top picks: Reflects Gilt, Paradise Lust, Young Adonis and any one of the Clutch-Sized Lip Balms.

You should be able to find the collection at all Tom Ford Beauty counters now. Since I’ve moved I no longer have one close to me so I ordered the eye duos online at Sephora. You can also find Tom Ford Beauty at Violet Grey, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautylish, Net-A-Porter and Tom Ford.

Many thanks to the Tom Ford team for inviting me to the preview! Summer Soleil collection provided courtesy for review with the exception of the Cream Powder Duos which were purchased by me.

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Highlighters Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Spring 2017 – Shade and Illuminate Lips + Cheeks

February 10, 2017

For spring Tom Ford Beauty brings us two new colors of the Shade and Illuminate Cheeks ($80 for .49 oz) and six new lip duos called Shade and Illuminate Lips ($60 each for .12 oz). The cheek duos are very sheer, glowy and dewy looking while the lip duos have medium to full coverage pigment and a unique modern velvet matte cream finish. Paired together they make for a fresh kind of look for spring with options for those who want neutrals and also those who like more color.

The Shade and Illuminate Cheeks has never really been something that appealed to me mainly because of the dewy factor. I approach solid creams compacts with caution because they often get really messy inside the pans and also because I have normal combo skin. Most dewy pots and compacts are simply too dewy and glowy for my skin alone although I have used them as a nice base for powder blush. They help the color adhere better versus applying on dry powdered cheeks. My holy grail cream highlighters are the Edward Bess All Over Seduction compacts (available in 3 shades). I’ve been using them for many many years and they remain my favorite.

The two new Shade and Illuminate Cheeks are gorgeous in the pans. Sublimate has a soft berry with a soft pale pink glow. Scintillate has a pretty light peach with a light champagne glow. On the cheeks they give a barely there hint of glow and color. I do like them as a base for powder blushes but by themselves on the cheeks they almost disappear onto my medium-toned skin. If you want a little bit of glow to dab on top of powder or use underneath these are worth a look. If you need color I would recommend opting for the Tom Ford Powder Blush instead – it appears they’ve all been reformulated with a new more refined pearl finish and there are three new shades in Disclosure, Gratuitous and Inhibition (I ordered 2 and they are gorgeous!).

Swatches compared to the SS16 Shade and Illuminate (review here) and Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand (review here). The new Spring 2017 duos were swatched heavily so you can see the color, but once you blend them they pretty much sheer out to almost invisible.

Beauty look below wearing:

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque (review here)
Laura Mercier Candleglow Powder in #2 to set (review of 1, 2 and 3 here)
Tom Ford Warm Soleil Eye Cheek Palette eyeshadows, two lightest shades (review here)
Diorshow Brow Styler #2 on brows
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate, both shades
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Lips Impulse, both shades mixed
OPI Nail Polish in Be There in a Prosecco
Jcrew stripe top (old style)

The Shade and Illuminate Lip exceeded my expectations and every color is just amazing. These are duo compacts that have two shades and a little applicator brush. The applicators have a sponge tip and a brush tip – I tried both but really just prefer to use clean fingers to dab or a regular lip brush. Swatched on the arm and hand they almost melt to a high shine cream finish. On the lips they are more matte with a velvety cream texture. When I read these were contour duos I was really skeptical – it just seemed like a gimmicky way of being complicated and trying to make you feel like you need two colors instead of just one. After trying these I can really appreciate the versatility and design. You can wear each shade alone, but mixing them creates a better look in my opinion. I like to apply the darker shade first then dab the lighter one on top mixing the two for a creamy almost stained look.

Color descriptions as I see them, they’re all creams, no shimmer:

Automatic has a super pale nude pink and a tan beige (think Blush Nude and Sable Smoke)
Impulse has a perfect nude pink and rose pink
Possession has a bright baby pink and a bright medium pink
Saboteur has a violet cream and stained berry plum
Nikita has two variations of red
Tantalize has a soft peach coral and bright coral

I swatched all six individually and mixed so it was like swatching 18 lip products instead of 6. Due to time constraints I won’t be able to pull any comparisons for the next month. If you follow me on social you know I just had my wisdom teeth pulled (all 4). Swelling finally went down a little and I was able to get these up for those who shop online or who don’t test lip products at the counter (I’m with you there on avoiding germs). I have a few personal things going on right now so I’ll be restricted on time over the next month.

My long-time readers know I love neutral lips, but I can’t help but really like Possession and Tantalize! I find it hard to wear bright pinks because many times they’re too cool, too bubblegum or have way too much blue. Possession has enough warmth that I can wear it without it making my olive complexion look off. Tantalize mixed is such a pretty coral especially for warmer months. My absolute favorite is Impulse though – it may look a bit boring to some but if that’s the case then I love boring. The deeper rose shade is really special.

As a long-time Tom Ford Beauty fanatic I’m really happy with the lip duos. The Shade and Illuminate Cheeks are nice but not must-haves. If you like products like the RMS Living Luminizer or RMS Mix Master then you’ll most likely love these as well. For me they’re a bit too dewy and if you have oily skin I would definitely say pass. If you want something fresh and glowy for the cheeks I’d recommend you opt for the Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand, Cheek Color (any shade) or the Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal instead.

You can find the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Spring 2017 collection now online at Tom Ford, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Beautylish.

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

Spring 2017 Shade and Illuminate collection provided courtesy of Tom Ford Beauty for review.

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Lips and Boys – 25 New Shades for 2016

November 29, 2016

Tom Ford just launched 25 new shades and 25 repromoted colors of their clutch-sized Lips and Boys Lipsticks ($36 each for 0.07 oz/ 2.07 mL). As the ultimate lipstick junkie I was beyond thrilled when a press box arrived at my door containing all 25 new shades in a drop-dead gorgeous black lacquer box. I’m so excited to be able to share swatches of the new colors with you today. This year Tom Ford Beauty added a new soft velvety matte finish formula for the Lips and Boys and they do not disappoint. For those new to Tom Ford lip colors this is a great way to start with the line as the full-sized lip colors are $50+ each. This is the third year that that they’ve launched the lips and boys minis and I think it’s one of the most fun launches during the holiday season. I’m still waiting for them to launch one named Andrew for my husband, but for now there are lots of other shades to play with.

I’ve been a huge fan of Tom Ford lip colors since the initial launch. My first one was Pink Dusk as it was the only wearable neutral in the original lineup for me and to this day it remains one of the best neutral pinks. The lipsticks are expensive but I find the textures to be excellent and usually find at least several colors I fall in love with from each seasonal launch regardless of formula (sheer, ultra rich, shine, foiled, etc.) The $50+ price tag is still not something I am happy about but I still buy colors with each launch and have been happy with most of my purchases. Formulas are always good, but when I buy sight unseen sometimes colors just don’t work for me as I hoped. Below I’ve swatched and photographed the new Lips and Boys in the order they came presented in the press box. For skintone reference I’m wearing the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer in Bisque with Laura Mercier Candleglow Setting Powder #2 on top. As always colors are all swatched on bare lips. If you think you see a darker line around the outer edges of some shades – it’s just my natural lip color showing through. I have pigmented lips. Row 1 includes:

Douglas (shimmer) is a medium baby pink shimmer
Bradley (satin) is a peachy flesh nude with a sheen
Alexander (satin) is a pale nude pink, note that Tom Ford launched another shade called Alexander in 2014, this year’s is different
Ashton (satin) is a medium mauve plum rose
Thomas (matte) is a cool-toned matte pink rose

Row two includes:

Christopher (matte) is a matte mauve brown
Ben (matte) is a matte deep brown red
Evan (matte) is a matte peach nude, but on my pigmented lips it pulls mauvey, if you have regular colored lips this will probably be more true to what you see in the tube
Dominic (matte) is a cool toned blue red matte
Travis (shimmer) is a brown shimmer, this one has a slightly sheer finish and slightly patchy on me

Row 3 has:

Graham (shimmer) is a semi-sheer golden shimmer, it has a transparent finish so my natural lip color shows through
Aaron (shimmer) is a warm coppery brown shimmer
Snowdon (shimmer) is a peachy pink rose gold shimmer
Dylan (matte) is a bright matte warm orange red
Jack (satin) is a deep plum, note there was a previous color called Jack from 2014 which was more purple, this year’s is more mauve plum

Row 4 colors include:

Anderson (matte) is a matte neutral pink, it pulls cool-toned on my complexion
Jared (matte) is a hot fuchsia pink
Logan (shimmer) is a shimmering iridescent fuchsia
Cristiano (matte) is a bright orange matte
Mitchell (satin) is a muted neutral plum

Row 5 colors are plums:

Nicholas (matte)
Ryan (shimmer)
Inigo (shimmer)
Jon (shimmer)
Elliot (shimmer)

All side by side:

It’s really hard to narrow down my favorites because there are so many amazing colors. Out of the entire collection there are only two that I’m not crazy about. Alexander 2016 is too pale for me but I have a hard time pulling off nudes. If you are like me in coloring but want a good Tom Ford nude that won’t wash you out, check out Revolve Around Me Ultra Lip Color. Travis also came off a bit patchy but it can be smoothed out if layered on the lips a bit more. Other than those two, all the others performed really well in terms of pigment and texture. The shimmers this year have a smooth finish in the shimmer, no chunky sparkles or frost. If I could only pick six of the new colors, I would say my favorites include Elliot, Snowdon, Mitchell, Evan, Douglas and Bradley.

To recap, new shades include: Alexander, Bradley, Jack, Ashton, Mitchell, Graham, Douglas, Snowdon, Aaron, Travis, Ryan, Inigo, Jon, Logan, Elliot, Anderson, Thomas, Jared, Cristiano, Dylan, Dominic, Evan, Nicolas, Ben and Christopher.

Repromoted colors include: Julian, Collin, Cary, Ian, Addison, Flynn, James, Richard, Patrick, Michael, Justin, Giacomo, Rafael, Luciano, Leonardo, Jake, Austin, Eric, Hiro, Roberto, Alejandro, Tony, Joaquin, Drake and Alex. I have my picks from the past two years swatched from 2014 here and 2015 here.

The Tom Ford Lips and Boys are available now at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-A-Porter and all other Tom Ford Beauty counters.

Many thanks to the Tom Ford Beauty team for making my lipstick dreams come true. Lips and Boys provided courtesy for review.

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Eye Makeup Highlighters Holiday Gift Guide Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Winter Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes and Lip Foil Picks – Holiday 2016

November 12, 2016

Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2016 - The Beauty Look Book

The Tom Ford Beauty Winter Soleil collection has been on my radar for weeks now and I finally caved and splurged on the Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes in Warm and Cool ($155 each for 0.45 oz / 12.8 g) and four of the Lip Foils ($53 each for 0.1 oz / 3 g). I’m getting this post up quickly for those who are Sephora VIBs in case you want swatches to help you decide on purchasing decisions for the sale so I haven’t been able to do extensive testing. This is going to be more of a first impressions post but having used Tom Ford beauty products for years I can pretty much tell how they will perform right away. Everything is cased in the white and gold packaging with a glowy shimmery feel for holiday.

Up first are the Lip Foils which are ultra shimmery lipsticks. They have ultra fine mica to give them a reflective look and feel making them almost like foil. If you don’t like frost I’d recommend you try to see if you can swatch before buying sight unseen as these are pricey. I find adding a clear gloss or balm on top helps soften the foiled look (I do it with a lot of MAC Frost Lipsticks). I swatched these at the counter and wanted all six of the colors but limited myself to four.

Private Life is stunning warm gold foil, Spanish Flame is a peachy metallic, Venus Rising is a cool pink frost, Seadragon is the most stunning metallic plum I’ve ever seen. Pigment is excellent and smooth with easy to build color. Texture is smooth but since these are very metallic they look frosty on the lips. They have a comforting smooth feel on the lips and while they aren’t hydrating they don’t dry out the lips. My heart belongs to Venus Rising and Seadragon but as I know shimmer might not be your thing these won’t be everyone.

Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2016 Lip Foils - The Beauty Look Book

All four shown on my bare lips, for foundation I’m wearing the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque reviewed and swatched in this post here.

Two sets of comparisons, note that the Lips and Boys I have were from previous years so some of the shades you might not be available anymore.

Set 1:

Dior Diorific Matte Lipstick in Golden (review here)

Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Rory (from 2014, review here)
Tom Ford Lip Foil in Private Life

Tom Ford Lip Color in Guilty Pleasure (review here)

Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in Skinnydip (review here)

Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink

Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in First Time (review here)

Set 2:

Tom Ford Lip Color Shine in Quiver (on lips here)
Tom Ford Lip Foil Venus Rising

Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Ansel, Jake, Jude, Drake, Daniel (from 2015, on lips here)

MAC Frost Lipstick in Plum Dandy

MAC Frost Lipstick in “O”

Up next are the Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes which I completely love – 100%! It’s hard to pick a favorite as both are very good. The texture of the blush and highlighters are silky smooth and buttery soft. The blushes have a lovely natural looking glow on the complexion while I find the highlighters to be more shimmery. The pigment is soft but impressive. Eyeshadows have a mix of shimmer and glitters and are also incredibly soft and well pigmented. They apply on the lids effortlessly for a lovely glow. Both are on the glowy shimmery side.

Both are cased in white and gold rectangular compacts that have an almost clutch-like look to them. They are well made even though they are plastic and have a magnetic closure – for some reason I really like the way the compacts close.

The Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette in Cool has a cool pink blush, cool light pink highlighter, glitter light pink, glitter light lilac, shimmery violet grey, deep plum shimmer. If I were forced to pick just one I would pick this one which surprised me as I usually prefer warmer tones.

Tom Ford Beauty Winter Soleil 2016 Eye Cheek Palette Cool - The Beauty Look Book

The Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette in Warm is simply stunning. It only has 1 glitter eyeshadow color. Shades in this are a yellow gold, warm tan gold glitter, soft sandy champagne tan, satiny brown and a soft champagne highlighter.

Tom Ford Beauty Winter Soleil 2016 Eye Cheek Palette Warm - The Beauty Look Book

Palettes next to each other so you can see the undertone difference:

Tom Ford Beauty Winter Soleil 2016 Eye Cheek Palettes - The Beauty Look Book

As many of you might be wondering how the shadows in these holiday palettes might compare to existing Tom Ford Eye Color Quads I pulled three to compare including Orchid Haze, Seductive Rose and Nude Dip.

Tom Ford Orchid Haze, Soleil Eye/Cheek Cool, Seductive Rose, Soleil Warm, Nude Dip

All of these made a significant dent in my wallet but I’m thrilled with everything. If I had to narrow down my picks I would skip two of the lip foils in Private Life and Spanish Flame simply because I have similar shimmery colors in my current stash.

I think both palettes are must haves but I am a die hard Tom Ford Beauty fan and love all things glowy that come in pretty packages. These fulfill all of my makeup dreams in terms of palettes and while I do think they should be priced at lower price points, given the price tag of their quads I think it does make sense. I think my readers are split in how they feel about shimmer. I do think everything in this collection is more on the shimmery and glowy side, but I really love the palettes and the lip foils can be toned down easily with clear gloss.

There are a few more items in the Winter Soleil Collection including 2 more Lip Foils in Creme Conque (gorgeous light pink) and Aperture (stunning bronze), Soleil Blanc Dry Oil Spray, Face Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and a Soleil Brush Kit. All are very spendy and as I already have the Soleil Blanc perfume I decided to stick with it (although I haven’t tried the spray, I forgot to check at the counter).

The Winter Soleil collection is limited-edition. You can find all items at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Sephora, Selfridges and other Tom Ford Beauty locations. If you’re a Sephora VIB don’t forget you can save 20% off your orders with code 20VIB through 11/14.

These have been out for a few weeks now, did you check out anything yet?

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Base Makeup Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Face Collection: Waterproof Foundation/Concealer, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel

October 20, 2016

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Face Collection Foundation and Shimmer Shots

Tom Ford has added more items to their face product lineup and as usual everything is on point. Items have been introduced “to perfect, highlight and define the face’s natural features for a balanced and flawless finish.” There have been quite a few new foundation launches this season and the one from Tom Ford is one that I was most anxious to try out. The collection includes the following new launches:

Waterproof Foundation/Concealer ($82 for 1 fl oz/30 ml) comes in 12 shades
Shimmer Shots ($45 for .5 fl oz/15 ml) come 2 shades in Spin Spin Sugar and Lust for Life
Fiber Brow Gel ($48 for .2 oz) comes in 4 shades Blonde, Taupe, Chestnut and Espresso
Angled Brow Brush (not shown)

Up first are the Fiber Brow Gels. I received two to try out in Espresso and Chestnut. It has tiny fibers to help fill in the brows and as a low-maintenance brow girl I find it perfect. It fills in brows, grooms and tints them all in one product. Espresso is my best match although I usually go lighter. At the counter the reps said Espresso is my shade. I did try Chestnut since the Tom Ford Beauty team was kind enough to send one, it can work for me since my hair color has a natural reddish undertone. My brows however do not have any red so sometimes reddish powders or pencils colors can look off. Since this coats the hairs I find it gives it a natural tint and looks good.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel Chestnut Espresso

I haven’t tried too many other tinted brow gels, but by comparison the Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel is larger in packaging and brush size which makes it easier to use compared to the Glossier Boy Brow. I know many of you love the Boy Brow. I think it’s good especially for the price, but the size makes it hard for me to hold sometimes even though I have very small hands and fingers. The Tom Ford brush is slightly larger and has a more angled shape which makes application a lot easier. Compared to By Terry’s Brow Mascara I find the fibers in the Tom Ford to have more substance. I would say it has a chunkier texture/consistency which sounds odd and almost unappealing, but it fills in brows more while the By Terry grooms and tints but doesn’t fill in the brows like the Tom Ford one does.

I give the Fiber Brow Gel a thumbs up. I have bought and used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor which is an excellent product. I prefer skinny fine-tipped brow pencils so this one hasn’t been used as much as my Diorshow Brow Styler Pencil.

Next are the Shimmer Shots which I think are genius. Sometimes names are everything and whoever named the product and colors for this launch deserves a bonus because they are both just perfect. I’ve loved every highlighter I’ve tried from Tom Ford and the Shimmer Shots are gorgeous additions to their line. Spin Spin Sugar is a champagne color with a slight gold sheen and Lust for Life is coppery bronze. Both blend in beautifully for a natural glow where you apply. I’ve tried it under foundation, on top of powder/foundation to highlight, and on the eyes.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shots

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shots swatched

By comparison to a few other Tom Ford highlighters, the Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Moodlight (reviewed here) is more frosty in finish. Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust (reviewed here) is more peachy and also sheerer in finish with a more dewy finish.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Moodlight, Shimmer Shots and Fire Lust

More comparisons because so many of you have asked. I think the Tom Ford Shimmer Shots are must-haves, even though I have a lot of liquid highlighters. They have the perfect amount of shimmer and the finish is visible but natural.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shot comparisons

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight (review here)
Armani Fluid Sheer #2

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop (review here)
NARS Illuminator in 413 BLKR (review here)
Estee Edit Beam Team Bronze (review here)

Armani Fluid Sheer #3

Soleil Tan de Chanel in Sunkissed

Estee Edit Flash Illuminator in Sun Light and Night Light (review here)

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Candlelight (review here)

Last but not least is the Waterproof Foundation/Concealer. When I heard this was launching my first concern that it might be too thick. I’ve had good experiences with Tom Ford foundations in the past. I am usually either Bisque or Natural but at the counter I found the next shade up Sable to be a good match for me (although the girls at the counter disagreed and said it would be too olive for my skin). Note the numbers for the names have changed and I was told this happened across all formulas. The shades with the corresponding names are still the same, so if you usually wear Natural, you’re still Natural – just the number underneath has changed. I bought Sable at the counter because I found it more olive. Samples of Bisque and Natural arrived as those are my usual colors.

Formula wise this is one of the best full coverage cream foundations I’ve tried. As one who is olive/golden/yellow I appreciate that Tom Ford consistently launches colors that are not pink in undertone. Formula is highly concentrated and opaque but doesn’t look fake or flat like many full coverage foundations can. It has a slight matte finish but manages to look fresh and radiant at the same time. When I use this I find that I do not need concealer under the eyes. Lasting power is excellent and stays put all day. No irritation from this, no oxidizing, no budging. I do think that you need to prep the skin properly though – if you have dry skin with any dry patches or flakes any full coverage foundation can emphasize dry areas. I make sure I have a well moisturized base, but a tiny spot on my forehead, one on each cheek and one dab on my chin, then use a damp beauty blender to work the foundation into the skin.

There’s no detectable scent and it photographs well with a flash.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer Review

The colors I have now are Bisque 5.5 (which used to be 4), Natural 6.0 (which used to be 5) and Sable 6.5 (which used to be 6). Swatches below straight from the tube and then blended.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer Bisque Natural Sable

Both Bisque and Sable work for me. Natural is warmer and too dark for my skin right now. They do adjust slightly and warm up to the skin once on but they don’t oxidize too much. I asked my husband what he thought about Bisque and Sable. I had one on each side and he couldn’t tell the difference from the front. I turned my head to each side and he said that Bisque was a better match.

Below are swatch comparisons to the Traceless Foundation Stick in Bisque and Natural along with the Traceless Perfecting Foundation formulas I have. For those who aren’t familiar with Tom Ford Foundations wondering about the colors, Natural in the stick is lighter than Bisque stick (as mentioned in this post too).

By comparison, the Traceless Perfecting Foundation is lighter in texture but can feel heavier on the face. Some have commented it looks flat on the skin – I often mix in a bit of shimmer luminizer in it. Coverage is full but not as full as the Waterproof formula.

The Stick Foundation is full coverage and one I cannot wear all over the face because of how opaque and thick it is so I often use it to layer on top of other foundations if I need more coverage. The Waterproof formula offers more natural looking coverage.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Foundation Swatches

Swatch comparisons to the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints in Groenland and St. Moritz (I mix the shades) and also the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundations in NC25, NC30, NC35 and NC37 (my best matches are NC25 or NC37). I’m forever in between shades.

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Foundation Swatches vs NARS and MAC

Some thoughts on other foundation formulas by comparison that I have tried:

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil-Free Photo Foundation (reviewed here) is one I used to have but no longer own. Formula wise the Laura Mercier was more opaque and slightly thicker in finish. I find in her line I am often in between shades and the dry down of this one darkened a bit and had a tendency to look flat if I used too much.
Cle de Peau Radiant Cream Foundation was one I tested at the counter. I went to the store fully intending to purchase this but sometimes a bad store experience can ruin the fun. Rant aside, I tried both O30 (too pink) and O40 (too dark) on my face and as I could not find a good match I decided to pass. Formula-wise it’s excellent but at the $100+ price tag I need an exact match in order to buy.
Cle de Peau Silk Cream Foundation is one I used to use in O30 and was told it’s been discontinued. This was one of the best formulas I’ve ever tried but the texture was more moisturizing and is slightly heavier than the Tom Ford. The formula while not hydrating, gave me a more dewy finish.
La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation is also a new formula that I had high hopes for. I acquired a small sample at the counter and found my best shade to be Beige. This one is more fluid and lighter in coverage. It also has the Miracle Broth skincare element included. I absolutely love this formula but Beige pulls slightly pink on my skin so since I cannot find a yellow/golden enough match this will be a pass for me unless I get a lot lighter this winter and can find another color.
Armani Crema Nuda is one I don’t think I can really compare because the finish and concept is completely different in the sense that it’s sheerer and more like a BB/CC cream rather than a foundation/concealer like the Tom Ford one is.
If you try the Tom Ford and find it too thick or heavy I would suggest you maybe try the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD instead which offers sheerer coverage by comparison but still medium to full coverage.

Bottom line lots to love with these new launches. I highly recommend the foundation if you’re in the market for a good full-coverage but natural looking foundation. Many can look flat if you use all over the face but this one does not. If you own a lot of highlighters you may find the Shimmer Shots similar to what you already own. I think both are winners and the shimmer is very pretty but not overly frosty.

By now you can find the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel at all Tom Ford Beauty counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Tom Ford.

Press samples of The Face Collection Waterproof Foundation in Bisque + Natural, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel provided courtesy of Tom Ford.

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Bronzer + Blush Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty AW16 Color Collection

September 18, 2016

For fall Tom Ford Beauty has launched new items for lips and eyes along with a few repromoted shades. Many of you have been eagerly waiting for the review and I can say that the new launches do not disappoint. By now the items have arrived in store and counters – I ordered these sight unseen and only have one that I would say I regret buying. For the AW16 Color Collection, items include:

Lip Contour Duos in eight colors ($53 each)
Cream Color for Eyes in Pink Haze and Platinum, both repromotes ($45 each)
Lip Contour Duo AW16 Runway ($53)
Eye Color Duo AW16 Runway ($60)
Cheek Color in Love Lust, repromoted shade ($60)

The item I was most excited about was the Eye Color Duo called AW16 which was featured on the runway for this year’s fashion week. The online stock photos are not accurate though. Based on the online images I expected a soft peachy shimmer and neutral-cool brown taupe neutral shimmer. The duo is a lot more neutral in real life. Many of you have asked how it compares to Nude Dip (originally reviewed here). I’ll show comparisons below. As a die hard Tom Ford eyeshadow lover there was nothing that would have stopped me from purchasing it. There are subtle differences if you look closely. The duo has a brighter shimmer for the pale side and the deep side is deeper than Nude Dip’s darkest color. However they are remarkably similar. Texture is the same for the duo and quads which is my favorite formula from Tom Ford. They are very pigmented and easy to blend. The shimmer is just unmatched with any other brand.

AW16:

AW16 layered over Platinum (the right side looks faded because I hold my camera sideways and the flash always washes that side out):

Nude Dip vs AW16:

AW16 swatched on the left, Nude Dip on the right:

Next are the Cream Color for eyes, both repromoted shades Pink Haze and Platinum. I’ve received dozens of requests for swatches compared to the originals (yes I still have them, they are still good and haven’t turned in color or scent) and also compared to the Golden Peach Cream Powder Duo. The artist at my local counter said they were different, I think they are really close so there’s no need to re-buy if you already own these from past seasons. These are some of my favorite cream shadows. They are easy to blend, super creamy and work well with my skintype. I like layering them together for an effortless look.

Pink Haze is a medium warm pink shimmer. Platinum is the perfect fawn brown taupe.

Love Lust was repromoted with this launch but when I saw photos pop up online it looked drastically different from the one I own. Out of curiosity I had to buy it. I adore Tom Ford Blushes anyways so having an extra one was ok in my mind. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at their blushes because they really do last a long time, but the current one is lighter and less peach than the original one I have. I don’t know if there are differences in batches or if they changed the color. If you own it let me know what you think yours looks like.

Swatch comparisons:

Last but not least are the Lip Contour Duos. Each product has a lip shaping liner with tiny glitter flecks and a cream lip color on the other end. The liners match the lipstick and they are both full coverage. The liners are on the stiff side and I broke the tips of a few when I applied them on bare lips although I will say they were a bit on the dry side. I found application best for the liner if I prepped the lips with a bit of balm first and then applied in short strokes. For me the liner glitter isn’t as chunky as I expected and is very subtle so even the conservative makeup-wearer can still wear these. The liners have a matte finish and truly extend the lasting power of the lip color. For me when I used the liner the lip color lasted a lot longer.

The lipstick side is a full coverage cream. They have a soft finish and glide across the lips. Many of the shades have a 90’s vibe to me and as a neutral lip lover I found quite a few options I can wear for everyday. In addition there are some lovely pinks, mauves and a plum. I skipped the bright reds as the only two reds I really wear are Edward Bess Amor Lip Gloss or the Louboutin Rouge Loubilaque.

There’s the AW16 Lip Contour Duo shade and eight in the regular Lip Contour Duo lineup (I picked out the lightest ones):

Colors as they apply on me, liners match lipstick almost exactly with the exception that the liners have tiny gold flecks:

AW16 is a super pale beige cream, this is the only shade I regret buying, alone it’s just pure death, if I layer a pinky or peachy gloss on top I can make it work
Public Display is a beige cream nude
Fling it On is a peachy pink color
Dream Obscene is a mauvey lilac color
Show it Off is a mauve plum (my favorite!)
I’ll Teach You is a deep fuschia pink
Make Me is a drop dead gorgeous plum

Close ups, first the lipstick:

Lip liner side:

Quick look with AW16 + Platinum for eyes, Love Lust on the cheeks (current version which is almost like a highlighter on my skintone) and Public Display on the lips:

As a huge fan of Tom Ford Beauty I think there are some lovely items in the fall collection. The prices are among the highest in the beauty world but in my experience the quality, color payoff and textures are really good. The AW16 Duo has a lot of similar qualities to Nude Dip so if you’re debating which one to get, I’d say go for Nude Dip.

Out of the Lip Contour Duos, my favorites actually are the mauves and plums with Show It Off being the winner for me. In the neutral zone I think there are some good options but regular lip colors like Pink Dusk, Revolve Around Me and Spanish Pink are still my favorite neutrals from his line. Still the Lip Contour Duos are solid performers and the lipstick side is among the creamiest formula I’ve tried with full coverage in one swipe.

At this time I’m not sure which items are permanent or limited-edition. I think it’s safe to say the AW16 items are limited. There are also some new Private Blend Fragrances that have launched. I gave them a brief sniff at the counter and got a mini sample made of one, but of course I’ve forgotten where I put it and can’t remember which one it was. Once I find it I’ll report back.

You can find the Tom Ford Beauty Autumn Winter collection at Tom Ford counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford. Note that the BG Rewarding Beauty event is still going on through the 18th – as Tom Ford is pretty spendy the event is a nice time to have some savings off splurges. Details in this post.

Have you checked out the Tom Ford fall collection items yet?

What did you think? Any winners for you?

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Fragrance Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Black Orchid Eau de Parfum + Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom

August 18, 2016

For fall Tom Ford Beauty is launching a few mini collections, the first is the Orchid Collection which highlights two fragrances in Black Orchid and Orchid Soleil along with corresponding powders and lipsticks to match the mood of each scent. A lovely package of the Black Orchid Eau de Parfum ($120 for 50 ml) and Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom ($80) arrived a few months ago but I decided to wait closer to fall to review these. Scent is often very seasonal for me and some perfumes I can’t get in the mood for if it’s not the right time of year. Now that fall is approaching I am ready to review two items from the Orchid Collection. I have also purchased the Orchid Soleil perfume and a few other pieces which I hope to review in the next couple of weeks.

Both the Nightbloom Powder and Black Orchid Eau de Parfum come in matching packaging with the embossed striped black case and gold accent. The powder compact is the same size as the small bronzing powders and cream cheek colors from summer.

Black Orchid Eau de Parfum is not a new frangrance – it’s been a classic in the Tom Ford Beauty line for many years. For me this is a rich and spicy scent with a dark feel. To me it’s distinctly feminine, but pulls on the masculine side. Notes include bergamot, citrus accord, mandarin, gardenia, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lotus, orchid spicy floral accord, orchid, patchouli, sandalwood, incense, vanilla. If I were to sum it up in three words it would be “dark seductive floral.” Lasting power is very good – I find all Tom Ford scents to be long lasting, but this one is one of the strongest I’ve tried. While I am drawn to unisex scents that have notes like sandalwood and amber, Tom Ford Black Orchid is a bit darker than I would normally wear, even for date nights. It has a distinct and unique scent that feels very luxurious. I’m just not sure that it’s my cup of tea – but my nose has been known to change in taste. There are a few fragrances I did not like in my mid-20’s that I adore right now that I’m in my mid-30’s.

The Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom is a gold shimmery highlighter with a strong yellow sheen. It has a very soft fragrance added but it does not really smell like the Black Orchid perfume. The shimmer is visible with lovely silver and gold sparkles. It has a smooth medium to medium-full coverage for pigment and is easy to blend. Quality-wise it’s excellent, doesn’t emphasize pores, doesn’t look overly frosted and stays put all day long without fall out or fading. Color-wise, I’ve mentioned numerous times before that I tend to stay away from yellowy-gold highlighters because it often clashes with my skintone. Alone on the skin it is indeed very yellow, but once I add a bronzer or blush, the yellow tones balance out a bit.

Swatch comparisons below to a few other highlighters. Tom Ford Night Bloom as the strongest yellow undertones.

NARS Dual Intensity Blush in Jubilation
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, highlighter side only (review here and here)
Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Addiction (review here)
Anastasia Glow Kit in That Glow (review here)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Prosecco Pop (review here, palette discontinued but color available in the Champagne Splits)

Both the Black Orchid Eau de Parfum and Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom are luxurious splurges that I was thrilled to be able to try. I’m a huge fan of Tom Ford Beauty and some of his fragrances are among my favorites (right now I’m obsessed with Soleil Blanc). Black Orchid as I suspected based on previous sniffs and spritzes at the counter is one of those scents that I distinctly seductive and beautiful, just not one I can see myself wearing on a regular basis. For me, my best date night scent is still Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb.

The Nightbloom Powder is beyond gorgeous in every aspect from the packaging, texture, shimmer and color. However, since I tend to gravitate to peachy champagne colors for highlighters I can’t call this a must-have for me but I am very grateful a sample was sent for me to test out. I have high hopes for the pink one which I just ordered so stay tuned for a review on that one soon! Quality wise both items are a solid thumbs up.

Right now the Orchid Collection appears to have certain pieces that are available at select locations. The powders, lipsticks and solid perfumes can be found only at Tom Ford, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman (for pre-order) and Selfridges (each of the stores list the collection as exclusive). The regular spray perfumes can be found at all other Tom Ford counters and stores.

Have you tried anything from the Orchid Collection yet? What did you think?

Black Orchid and Black Bloom both provided for review consideration.

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