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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Collection – Soleil Contouring Compact in The Afternooner, Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal + Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust

April 5, 2016

Today’s post is the last feature on the Tom Ford Soleil color collection for this summer. There are three products for the face including the Soleil Contouring Compact in The Afternooner ($108), Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal ($78) and Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust ($65). Two of the items are new which include the Contouring Cheek Trio and Sheer Blush Duo and one is a repromote which is the Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust. All three will provide a summery look with glow from within kind of feel. Each product has some shimmer in it without being too frosty or overly shimmery.

Soleil Contouring Compact in The Afternooner ($108) has three colors of highlighter, blush and bronzer in one large mirrored compact. The texture of the items is similar to that of the Moodlight Skin Illuminating Duo. It has a powder finish but an almost creamy feel to it. The surface is embossed with a cross-hatch pattern. Application for this is smooth and easy to build. It does not emphasize pores which is a plus. Pigment is medium but easy to sheer out or layer for more color. The colors include a warm golden ivory shimmer, a peachy coral pink satin and a warm bronze matte. Overall this pulled very warm on my skin. It’s not too warm that it turns orange but it is warmer than I expected. Lasting power is very good – I found it stayed put on the cheeks from early morning into late afternoon without fading or darkening.
Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal ($78) is my favorite item in the entire Soleil Collection. This has a similar finish and texture to The Afternooner, but Bicoastal has a bit more shimmer and sheen compared to the trio, but it’s not as frosty as the NARS Dual Intensity Blushes. The colors pull neutral to cool on my skin but brighten the complexion with a soft rosy pink glow. Right now this one is a bit hard to find as it has not yet arrived at most counters yet (at least at the time of this post), but I highly recommend you put this on your list.
Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust ($65) is a repromote. If you missed out on it in previous seasons I recommend you give it a try. It is on the pricey side but one bottle will last you a long time as a little goes a long way. This is a sheer peachy illuminator that I like to use mixed in with foundation or as a subtle highlight on top of powders. It does sheer out a lot so it won’t give the skin a lot of color but it has the prettiest sheen that I find flattering on the skin. On warmer days and in the summer I find my skin gets a bit on the oily side and this is one of the few liquid illuminators I can wear that won’t get too shiny by mid-day.

Close ups of each and lots of comparisons, Soleil Contouring Compact in The Afternooner:

Comparison Set 1 shows how finely milled the shimmer in The Afternooner Trio is. By swatch comparing it to other highlighters, blushes and bronzers hopefully you can see it has a satiny sheen that isn’t overly frosty or overly matte.
Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Highlighter (reviewed here)
MAC Ellie Goulding Blush Bronzer Duo I’ll Hold My Breath (reviewed here)
MAC Powder Blush in Fleur Powder
Tom Ford Blush in Flush
Tom Ford Bronzer in Gold Dust (swatched here)

Comparison Set 2:
Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight (reviewed here)
Tom Ford Contouring Cheek Duo in Stroked (reviewed here, discontinued)
Urban Decay Naked Flushed Trio in Streak (reviewed here)

Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal

Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Las Salinas (reviewed here)
Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Liquid in Starlight (reviewed here)
NARS Dual Intensity Blushes in Adoration and Fervor
Tom Ford Blush in Wicked

Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust has a lot of dupes from other lines and brands that will give you a similar effect. The best thing I find about the Tom Ford is the texture – it’s smooth and non-greasy and has the best feel overall but in terms of color there are a lot of less expensive alternatives.

Swatches straight from the tube and then blended (same colors in each set):

Armani Fluid Sheer #5 (reviewed here)
Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Skin Liquid Candlelight and Starlight  (reviewed here)
NARS Illuminator in Orgasm
MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel and Barbados Girl

One last look:

Overall all three perform really well in terms of pigment and how smooth they look on the skin. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative of The Afternooner you may want to look into the Urban Decay Naked Flushed face trios. In my previous review I’ve mentioned the colors are really good but they emphasize my pores and look chalky on my skin – however I am in the minority with my opinion. The trios work well for most people. I do believe that while the texture and finish of The Afternooner is superior to other face/cheek compacts, the colors can be easily duped so you may want to shop your stash before buying. Having all three in a single compact does make it more convenient and I like that it’s large in size so you don’t have to worry about mixing colors with a brush if you want to layer separately.

The Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal isn’t really sheer like the name implies but the texture is soft and easy to blend which makes it easy to sheer out. I really love the look and finish of this one – the colors are similar to the NARS Dual Intensity Blush in Adoration but the shimmer in the Tom Ford duo is softer and less harsh. Texture of Bicoastal is softer which makes it easier to blend.

Fire Lust is a must in my makeup collection but it is on the sheer side so your mileage may vary on this depending on what kind of pigment or color you are looking for.

In summary I give these a thumbs up – they are easy to use and applying them is pretty much goof-proof. The colors are versatile and will go with a wide variety of looks and can take your beauty look from day to night for that summery natural healthy glow. My opinion is that Bicoastal is the most unique and the highlight of the collection. Had I been able to play with The Afternooner in person before purchasing I would have skipped because I already own a lot of colors similar to the items in the palette. However that being said – if you love Tom Ford beauty products I will say the colors don’t really replicate items individual items in the current Tom Ford line.

You can find the Tom Ford Soleil Collection at all Tom Ford Beauty counters now. Online at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford.

Have you checked out any of these yet? What did you think?
Fire Lust and Bicoastal provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review. The Afternooner purchased by me.
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Bronzer + Blush Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Collection – Terra and Bronze Age Bronzing Powders and Pieno Sole Cream Cheek Color

April 4, 2016

For the bronzers in this year’s Tom Ford Soleil Collection, there are a couple repromotes and a few new shades for cheeks. This summer they’ve relaunched the Small Bronzing Powder ($68 each) version along with the Large Bronzing Powder ($98 each) in three shades: Gold Dust, Terra and Bronze Age. This year’s version has the letters TF embossed in the bronzer which adds a nice luxurious touch to the overall look. For the Cream Cheek Color ($68 each) they’ve brought back Pink Sand (reviewed here) and introduced a new color called Pieno Sole.

In case you’re new to the Tom Ford Bronzers in general, I’ve swatched all three shades of the powder bronzer in Gold Dust, Terra and Bronze Age alongside the new Pieno Sole for reference. I did not rephotograph the Gold Dust Bronzer or the small versus large compacts but you can see a quick shot of the small and large Gold Dust in this post here.

Descriptions and thoughts on all the shades:

  • Gold Dust Bronzing Powder is a classic medium bronze with a hint of golden shimmer, it gives the skin a luminous glow without being too shimmery or frosty, for a comparison reference, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers are a lot more luminous compared to Tom Ford Gold Dust. Gold Dust is warm but not orangey on the skin.
  • Terra is a semi-sheer cool-toned matte bronzer. When I tried this one last year the artists actually recommended I skip this because they said it would too sheer on my medium skintone. I bought it anyways in the large size (not shown) and found this to be more like a soft contouring powder. If you’re looking for a cooler-toned bronzer this one is a good one to check out. Do note that it’s not as pigmented as other bronzers so your mileage may vary if you are tan to deep in skintone. On me it does show up but it gives a very natural look.
  • Bronze Age is a new shade this season, it’s deeper and more golden than the other bronzers. This one is matte and has medium pigment. It applies smoothly and is easy to build. On my skin this looks very golden but not orangey. If you are super fair this will probably look more dramatic and warm on your skin. I think this one will be better suited for medium to deeper skintones unless you don’t mind a dramatic bronze.
  • Pieno Sole is a Cream Cheek Color but I’ve grouped it with the bronzers since it’s a golden shimmer color. I had very high hopes for this as a cream blush since I’m beyond in love with Pink Sand. I’m at the exact skintone where this one almost matches by skin color and looks like my skin but with shimmer. Since it matches my skin, as a cream cheek color it’s almost invisible. For me it works better as a highlighter which I think is very pretty but more subtle than I expected. Not necessarily a bad thing as it goes on the skin smoothly and doesn’t emphasize pores. 
First a quick look at Terra, Bronze Age and Pieno Sole in direct sunlight (lip color is Le Mepris):

Swatches of Powder Bronzers in Gold Dust, Terra and Bronze Age alongside the new Pieno Sole Cream Cheek Color:

Powder Bronzers in Gold Dust, Terra and Bronze Age applied on the face – they all look very similar when applied with a light hand, I hope you can tell that Bronze Age is the darkest/deepest color and Terra is the sheerest/most natural. Gold Dust is somewhere in between. I tried to photograph a cheek swatch of Pieno Sole but it just looked invisible so I didn’t publish it.

On the lips Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Carriacou:

Some comparison swatch sets:

Set 1:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light

Set 2:
Edward Bess Bronzer in Daydream

Set 3:
MAC Powder Blush in Trace Gold
MAC Cream Color Base in Desert Roadtrip (d/c)
MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Magnetic Appeal (d/c, review here)
Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Afterglow (review here)

I own more bronzer than I know what to do with (probably multiple lifetimes worth) but out of all the powder bronzers I’ve tried I can say that the Gold Dust is one I reach for frequently. It’s a no-fuss kind of bronzer that adds warmth and glow to the face without looking too orangey or overdone. Terra is one of the sheerest bronzers I’ve tried and probably one of the few I’ve tested that have a cool undertone without looking too cool. Both are on the steep side for price but they go on smoothly and flawlessly every time and do not emphasize pores (huge plus for me) or look chalky. Another plus is the colors do not darken or oxidize on the skin even on oily skin days so I don’t have to worry about looking like an Oompa Loompa with these (even though I do like a good bronze tan look). I personally like the look of Bronze Age – I don’t own anything as golden in color. Bottom line is I think these are well worth the high price tag (I’ve purchased them in previous seasons and have no regrets). If these aren’t in your budget you might want to check out the MAC Powder Bronzers as a less expensive alternative – they are also very good in quality and come in a wide range of options/finishes. I would say the main difference is I find the MAC less pigmented and more sheer in finish but they are easy to layer.

I have mixed feelings about Pieno Sole – my first impressions left me wanting more color or more pigment, but the more I play with it, the more I like it. On me it’s still more like a highlighter than a cream blush but the golden color is really pretty. The finish is similar to that of Armani Fluid Sheers on my skin but Tom Ford Pieno Sole does have more pigment/coverage by comparison. I like using this as a base for bronzer to enhance the color or as a subtle cream highlight on the cheeks. If you’re on the hunt for something similar in color but in powder form, I recommend checking out MAC Trace Gold Powder Blush which is a pretty golden color. 

You can find the bronzers and cream cheek colors from the Tom Ford Soleil Collection at Tom Ford counters and stores now. Online at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford.

Have you checked these out yet? Or do you already own some shades from previous seasons? What’s your current favorite bronzer?
Terra and Bronze Age were provided as press samples for review consideration. Pieno Sole purchased by me.

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Collection – Moisturecore Lip Colors

April 2, 2016

There are six shades of Moisturecore Lip Color ($55 each) from the Tom Ford Soleil Collection this summer. These come in luminous glowing fresh colors perfect for spring to summer – but really you can wear these year round. These are described as:

Two exclusive formulas in one innovative lip product. In the center, a liquid core infused with passion fruit oil provides luxurious moisture in a pink pop of color throughout every Moisturecore Lip Color shade. A luminous lip color encases the core, infused with an exotic blend of melon fruit extract, murumuru butter and plant derived esters that conditions lips. Sprinkled with subtle gold pearl to complement bronzed, summer skin. Shades, ranging from sandy nude to rosy mauve, provide a soft veil of lightweight, long-lasting color.

The center of each lip color is identical which is a sheer melon pink color that blends seamlessly with the outer colors of each tube. The packaging is the same size as the Lip Color Shines – they come in a slim twist up tube but with this season’s white and gold packaging. Since the formula has the word “moisture” in the name I expected an ultra hydrating lip color – they do have a moist slightly glossy finish with a cushiony lush feeling but I didn’t find them as moisturizing as a traditional lip treatment. I actually feel the Ultra-Rich Lip Colors are more hydrating on my lips.

Pigment is medium but buildable. They covered the lip entirely with the exception of Scandola and Otranto which I found a bit sheerer. You’ll see in the lip swatches below that the colors do show up but there is a slight transparent quality in the shimmer which makes my natural lip color show through a bit. There is a slight vanilla scent but it’s very subtle and disappears after a few  minutes.

Top row, left to right: Scandola, Carriacou, Mustique
Bottom row, left to right: Pipa, Cala di Volpe, Otranto
At first swipe some of these colors felt on the dry side. The colors do all get better after the initial top layer of the lipstick is worn down and after the first swipe I had no issues with any of them. They all had very good smooth application without any streaks or patches. Lasting power is medium with these. As with any lipstick that has a shine finish they usually don’t last as long as a matte or long-wear lipstick but the Moisturecore Lip Colors still last a relatively long time. They don’t disappear immediately like some other sheers do, by comparison I find they last longer than Rouge Dior Baumes but not quite as long as the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylos. By comparison to other Tom Ford formulas, the Moisturecore Lip Colors last longer than the Lip Color Shines but not quite as long as the regular Lip Colors.

The colors are all on point for neutral lip lovers who want something that isn’t a beige nude. The only color I feel slightly off about is Cala di Volpe – it’s such a pretty copper in the tube but on my lips it turns almost orangey. Color descriptions, close ups and swatches:
Scandola is a sheer golden nude shimmer
Carriacou is a soft peachy pink
Mustique is a cool baby pink that is surprisingly wearable
Pipa is a gorgeous medium bright pink melon
Cala di Volpe is a shimmering copper
Otranto is a shimmering plum

Scandola:

Carriacou:

Mustique:

Pipa:

Quick look with Golden Peach Eye Duo (reviewed here), Bi-Coastal Sheer Cheek Duo (both colors swirled and blended together, review soon) and Pipa Lip Color:

Cala di Volpe:

Otranto:

All the colors swatched side by side:

I give all of the colors a thumbs up – they are really pretty wearable colors. If I had to skip any, I would say Scandola and Carriacou are similar on my lips but do note I have pigmented lips so Scandola will most likely show up more close to the arm swatch on you. Cala di Volpe is not something I would wear a lot right now – in the lip swatch it may be hard to tell but it pulls orangey against my complexion right now. It will probably be better for me when I have more of a tan. The others are all winners.

Formula-wise I don’t know that I would say the moisture core has enough noticeable benefits to justify the higher price tag (they are priced slightly higher than the other Tom Ford lipsticks). Still for me the price is not a deal breaker as I think the quality is there and formula is very good. Colors are all up my alley and ones I can see myself wearing everyday for either day or night. If you’re wondering whether I prefer the Moisturecore or the Ultra-Rich formulas (both new for summer), I will say I like the Ultra-Rich formula better but the Moisturecore range has colors that are more of what I am comfortable wearing.

You can find the Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Colors for $55 each at Tom Ford counters and stores now. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s and Tom Ford.

Have you checked out the summer collection yet? What did you think?
Press samples include four shades Carriacou, Mustique, Cala di Volpe and Pipa. The other two options Scandola and Otranto purchased by me.
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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Collection – Ultra-Rich Lip Color

April 1, 2016

 

One of the new lip color formulas this summer in the Tom Ford Soleil Collection is called the Ultra-Rich Lip Color ($52 each). These are packaged in the white and gold tubes with a similar lipstick shape to the Lip Color Sheers but the Ultra-Rich Lip Color formula this summer is more creamy with fuller coverage and more of a moisturizing feel.

 

These are described as, “A vivid and high-shine lip color that moisturizes lips instantly. Over time, lips appear smoother, softer and suppler. This luminous and vivid lip color collection lasts up to 6 hours.”

 

After playing with 4 of the 6 shades over the past week I have found they do indeed offer instant moisture to the lips. On my lips they feel like a hybrid between the regular Lip Color and Lip Color Sheers with a smooth and creamy feel. Coverage is very impressive – it’s basically flawless with medium to full coverage that is easy to build without looking or feeling heavy. Lasting power is very good – I didn’t test for up to 6 hours per the description but the colors lasted for 4 hours without fading or budging.

 

The four shades I have shown in the below photo from left to right:

 

 

  • Le Mepris (my press sample says Le Mepris but online it’s labeled Les Mepris) is a bright reddish coral color. I’m normally drawn to neutrals but this one stands out as a knock out summery coral red. It has the perfect mix of red in it so brightens the complexion without looking garish.
  • Revolve Around Me is one of the most perfect flawless nudes I’ve ever tried. As many of you know I love nudes but because I have pigmented lips so many look like concealer on my lips or look patchy. Revolve Around Me has amazing full coverage on my lips and covers the surface with a smooth veil of color. It’s clearly a beige nude on me but has enough color that it does not wash out my lips like Nude Vanille, Blush Nude or the SS16 Lip Shine.
  • Temptation Waits is a medium brown cafe shade. My press sample was labeled Sex Oyster. I confirmed with the Tom Ford team that they changed the name to Temptation Waits so if you see that around on other blogs or websites know they are the same shade, the actual name is Temptation Waits. This one has a semi-sheer to medium finish but you can swipe and build for full coverage. It has a tiny bit of rose in it so it’s not a pure brown.
  • Solar Affair is a peachy coral. I thought this one would be my favorite since I’m drawn to coral shades. The color has a bit too much warmth and orange so when combined with my olive skin it makes my skin look more yellow, almost sallow. It’s a lovely color – when I compared Solar Affair next to Le Mepris, the red one won me over.
Swatches:

 

 

More close ups and lip swatches, for reference I’m wearing the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque 4 in these swatches. Up first is Les Mepris:

 

 

Revolve Around Me:

 

 

 

Temptation Waits:

 

 

 

Solar Affair:

 

 

Two sets of swatch comparisons below, Set 1 includes the neutrals:

 

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Honeycomb (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color Sable Smoke (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Skinnydip (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sweet Mystery (aka Lips and Boys Peter, lip swatch here)
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Chai + Molasses (lip swatch here)
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme J’Adore (lip swatch here)

 

 

Set 2 for the corals:

 

Tom Ford Lip Color Naked Coral (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Sweet Spot (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Paradiso (lip swatch here)
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Gingersnap, Persimmon + Gazpacho (lip swatch here)

 

 

 

The formula is a winner in my book. I didn’t think they could make a better lip color formula, but these new Ultra-Rich Lip Colors far surpass the regular Lip Color formula because it has a softer slightly more creamy feel which makes them glide easily on the lips. The Ultra-Rich Lip Colors do have a bit of shine to them which makes them look a bit less opaque than the regular Lip Colors. I think the formula is definitely worth checking out this summer.

 

You can find the Ultra-Rich Lip Colors at all Tom Ford Counters now for $52 each. My top 2 favorite shades include Le Mepris and Revolve Around Me. I haven’t checked out the other shades yet (there are 6 total), but right now I have plenty to play with.

 

Available in stores and online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and Tom Ford.

 

Ultra-Rich Lip Colors provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review consideration.

 

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Color Collection for Summer 2016 – Sneak Peek + Swatches

March 31, 2016

Tom Ford just launched their summer beauty items in the Soleil Color Collection and it’s absolutely breathtaking. Everything is cased in the white and gold packaging for this season with new formulas for lips and beautiful items for the skin and cheeks. I have a quick sneak peek and wanted to list all the items that are available for reference. I received some press samples and purchased additional items to review which made a serious dent in my bank account but I don’t mind one bit because everything is gorgeous. Personal first impressions are all very good. Some items that were limited-edition in previous seasons have been repromoted this season such as the Cream and Powder Eye Duos, Pink Sand Cream Blush and Firelust Skin Illuminator. Also on a great note is that Tom Ford Beauty has now launched online at Sephora (yay!). The items in this year’s Soleil Color Collection:
Also not part of the color collection, but the Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum and Shimmering Body Oil (previously reviewed here with other spring launches) have launched at all retailers (it was an early exclusive to Neiman Marcus for a while). Several of you have asked if this year’s oil is the same as last year’s – it unfortunately is not and I find this year’s version a bit sticky/tacky. I personally would recommend you skip the oil.

 
Quick swatches of what I have including some of the repromotes. Note I don’t have the entire summer collection swatched but here is what I have:

Fire Lust Skin Illuminator (press sample)
Pink Sand Cream Blush
Pieno Sole Cream Blush
Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo (press sample)

Gold Dust Bronzer
Terra Bronzer
Bronze Age (press sample)
Soleil Contouring Compact

Moisturecore Lip Color in Scandola
Moisturecore Lip Color in Carriacou (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Mustique (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in  Pipa (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Cala Di Volpe (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Otranto
Ultra-Rich Lip in Les Mepris (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Temptation Waits (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Revolve Around Me (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Solar Affair (press sample)

Cream & Powder Duos in Golden Peach and Naked Bronze (original review here):

Most of the summer collection has launched in stores and online. The only item that is a bit hard to find right now is the Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo which is on backorder at many places. I bought some of my items (non-press samples) from Nordstrom. The collection is also available online at Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Stay tuned for individual reviews! I hope to have the Ultra-Rich Lip Color review up later this afternoon!

Some items featured include press samples and others purchased by me. Press samples indicated above next to the swatches.

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Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes – Spring 2016

February 9, 2016

 

This spring Tom Ford has launched eight shades of Cream Color for Eyes ($45 each for 0.17 fl oz/ 5 ml, made in Italy). Two of the eight shades have been launched before as individual cream colors in Platinum and Spice. One of the shades Caviar has a very close resemblance to Black Oyster Cream Powder Duo from a year ago (swatched here). The new ones launched this spring are smaller in size compared to previous launches, but the quality is still extremely good, easy to blend with pretty good lasting power for a cream shadow. All the colors have some degree of shimmer. According to Tom Ford PR, all the shades in this launch are limited-edition.

 

 

I have seven of the new ones swatched and reviewed. I didn’t repurchase Spice as I already own the full size and it was also part of the Naked Bronze Cream Powder Eye Duo which is the same for the cream color, but I have re-swatched it for reference. The colors in this launch are quite stunning. Descriptions of each color:
  • Opale is a pale champagne ivory shimmer, the shimmer is smooth and non-glittery, although the shimmer is definitely noticeable
  • Sphinx is an iridescent pink gold peachy duo chrome color, the shimmer flecks are slightly more visible and larger in this one compared to other shades, it’s not a full on glittery shade, but the sparkle factor is definitely there, even though there are chunks of sparkle, it’s smooth and I didn’t experience any fallout
  • Platinum is the perfect lids-but-better kind of subtle contour light beige tan color for me, it has a smooth shimmer that works so good alone or as a blending shade
  • Siren Blue is the only color that I can’t see myself wearing alone on a regular basis, I did try this alone and it gives the lids the prettiest wash of aqua colored shimmer. It’s not for me alone, but I did try this one layered softly over Midnight Violet and Caviar for two separate looks. Add this one on top and it gives the other shades a soft iridescent sheen.
  • Burnished Copper is a shimmering khaki olive color, it has a very smooth texture similar to that of Platinum
  • Midnight Violet is a deep violet shade, it sheers out when you blend it on the lids, but is easy to layer and build
  • Caviar is a deep metallic grey-black shimmer with tiny flecks of silver shimmer, it’s not as sparkly as Sphinx but the shimmer particles are visible for a smokey shimmer look

 

Close ups of each shade:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To apply the shadows, I like to use fingers or any one of these brushes.

 

 

My favorite cream shadow brush to use is actually a concealer brush. The Chanel Brush #10 is my go-to for cream shadows. It has a smooth tip and it’s just the right size to blend colors nicely on my lid (not too small and not too wide). I also really like the Laura Mercier Corner Eye Brush for powders and creams. To layer and blend creams as a detail color I like Tom Ford’s Eye Definer Brush #15.

 

Swatches left to right are Platinum, Opale, Sphinx, Spice (original), Siren Blue, Burnished Copper, Midnight Violet and Caviar

 

 

I did three different eye looks to share for some ideas, in each one I used only the cream shadows listed, nothing else for eye bases or liners:

 

 

 

 

For comparisons, I pulled a few other Tom Ford Cream Shadows (most of which have been discontinued or limited-edition colors) and some Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Shadows. In my testing experience the cream ones from Charlotte Tilbury have the most similar texture in terms of how emollient they are, pigment and color payoff, shimmer and overall quality. I find all of these last extremely well throughout the day without fading, creasing or budging – but do note I think I may be the only person I know who doesn’t have oily lids. Most eye bases are too drying for my skin.
Below for size and packaging comparisons:
Swatch Comparisons 1: Note the original and new Platinum colors are identical, but if you’ve played with it you know that depending on the angle the light hits it sometimes you see more of the shimmer, other times you will see more of the tan base. All the shades in Set 1 are from Tom Ford. Escapade, Pink Haze, Spring 2015 have been d/c.

 

 

Swatch Comparisons 2: Shown below are some of the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Eyeshadows and NARS Dual Intensity Eye Shadows.

 

 

Based on my comparisons, Tom Ford Opale is a lighter version of Charlotte Tilbury Norma Jean. On my skin once blended, they are similar. I have a slight preference for Norma Jean, but both shades are such pretty neutral shimmers.

 

NARS Himalia is more metallic and frosted than Tom Ford Platinum. Charlotte Tilbury is a few shades darker and warmer compared to Tom Ford Platinum. I’m a sucker for a good taupe shimmer, but I think Platinum is a must no matter how many other taupes you own.

 

Between Charlotte Tilbury Bette and Tom Ford Spice, I vote for the Charlotte Tilbury in terms of color choice. It’s warmer in color, but I think they are close enough that you don’t need both.

 

Tom Ford Midnight Violet almost seems like a muted violet plum shimmer, but when swatched next to Charlotte Mona Lisa, the Tom Ford almost looks bright.

 

I don’t own many aqua colored shadows, NARS Lysithea is a cool-toned sage, on my skin it pulls almost blue.

 

 

Bottom line all winners. With the exception of Siren Blue, I can see myself wearing each color on a regular basis for everyday. They have enough shimmer to dress up the look for an easy evening look. You can always layer powder shadows on top of these colors. They have an emollient texture that makes them super easy to blend. It takes a little bit of time for them to set which I like because then I don’t have to rush the blending and layering process. I think the only color some might have issue with is Sphinx – it’s the most unique peachy gold shade that flashes pink, but there are tiny micro sparkles I think some might find too sparkly. I really like it, alone or layered over another shade, but if you’re super conservative on the shimmer you may want to see if you can test before buying. What I like the most about these is that they brighten the eyes with the prettiest wash of shimmer. They are indeed on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way. All the ones I’ve purchased in the past have lasted a long time and none of them have gone bad yet.

 

According to Tom Ford PR, these are all limited-edition. If there’s one shade you track down, definitely pick up Platinum if you don’t already own it.

 

You can find the Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes now. Online at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford Beauty.

 

Five of the shades featured sent courtesy of Tom Ford Beauty for review consideration, two of the colors purchased by me.
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Eye Makeup Fragrance Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty – New Spring 2016 Launches

February 1, 2016

There are quite a few new items launching this spring from Tom Ford Beauty. There appear to be mini product launches versus a full seasonal collection release. I did some major hauling over the past few weeks and have thoughts + swatches of my picks to share today. Shown above and swatches of what I picked up below:

Honeymoon Eyeshadow Quad ($80, on backorder at Neiman Marcus) 
Lip Color Shine SS16 ($52)

First up are new eyeshadow quads. The good news is that there are new eyeshadow quad colors in Disco Dust, Honeymoon, Last Dance, Starry Night and Lilac Dream. The bad news is that some like Cognac Sable are being discontinued. I picked up two of the new quads, the neutral warm ones in Disco Dust and Honeymoon. I had to call around to several stores to track down Honeymoon a couple weeks ago. I heard these are permanent so even though Honeymoon seems to be sold out for now, it should be available for purchase when they restock.

Both quads pull very warm on me. They also have shimmer in them which is absolutely stunning. Disco Dust has a cool silvery mauve sparkle, a warm satiny tan, a copper peach shimmer and a dark plum brown shimmer. Two of the shades are very similar to NARS Hammamet Eyeshadow Duo (swatched here) so if you’re not a fan of glitter, you may want to check out the NARS.

Honeymoon is one of the warmest eyeshadow quads I own. It has a shimmering tan, shimmery copper bronze, reddish auburn shimmer and reddish plum. This one pulls very warm on my eyes but it’s still very wearable if I layer and blend it and use the two darker shades along the lash line smudged. If you are very fair this one will pull a lot more red on your skin compared to me. On deeper tan skintones, I think this one will look absolutely amazing on.

Swatch comparisons to Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita (another warm quad I have) and Tom Ford Orchid Haze. In terms of neutral quads, Orchid Haze is one of my favorite everyday neutral palettes from Tom Ford.

Quick eye swatch/look of Disco Dust:

There are two scents launched for early spring called Soleil Blanc. Since I was a huge fan of the Shimmering Body Oil from last year, I picked up both the fragrance and oil. I think I could have skipped the Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, although it smells amazing. I prefer the fragrance simply because it’s stronger and I feel like it’s not as messy as the shimmering body oil. Also this year’s oil seems to be more emollient than last year’s which I found absorbed quickly into the skin. This one has a lingering feel that isn’t greasy, but definitely noticeable, almost like it’s slightly sticky. For both of these, there isn’t much I could find online to describe the notes except that it has floral combined with amber. 
Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum is a white floral. I don’t find amber notes to be very strong – but when I smell it closely, I can see how there is some blended in because this isn’t an overly powdery floral. It’s a warmer weather scent but I’m completely obsessed with it right now. The Soleil Blanc is what I wanted the Guerlain Terracotta fragrance from a few years ago to smell like (which I found too strong and too floral last time I smelled it).

Next up are one hit and one miss for me. I had very high hopes for the Lip Color Shine in SS16 and Shade and Illuminate in SS16. I almost never try lip color testers at the counters because they are loaded with germs, so I bought the Lip Color Shine without trying it on the lips. On the hands it swatched like a gorgeous glossy nude. On my lips it looks like concealer.

Swatched below is uneven, streaky and concealer-like on my pigmented lips:

If you’re like me and can’t pull off pale nudes, you may want to check out Lip Color Shine in Bare instead which is more pink in color:

Swatch comparisons:

Tom Ford Lip Color in Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color in Sweet Mystery (swatched)
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Eddie (swatched here)
MAC Lipstick in Creme de Nude

Last but not least is the new Shade and Illuminate in SS16. This is the first Shade and Illuminate product I’ve tried from Tom Ford even though there are two other shades. This is a sheer dewy cream illuminator duo. The texture is very dewy and glossy for a natural sheen. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea since it’s on the dewy side. I like using this as a base for powder blushes or bronzers because it gives the skin a natural glow from within look. If you have oily skin you many want to proceed with caution on these. On my skin this gives a barely there glow. I actually still prefer the Edward Bess All Over Seduction highlighters (they are my holy grail cream highlighters), so if you want something more versatile and more visible, check out the Edward Bess ones instead.

Two sets of comparison swatches:

Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust (discontinued, review)
Tom Ford Cream Blush in Pink Sand (discontinued, review here)

Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlight, Afterglow and Paradise

There’s lots to explore from Tom Ford right now. I believe there is a mix of permanent and limited-edition items. I suspect the SS16 items are all limited, but the quads are reported to be permanent. Also new from Tom Ford includes a new Purifying Cleansing Oil that I’ve been testing (review soon). It looks like new items for lips and eyes that just launched online including Cream Colors for Eyes, Patent Finish Lip Colors and High Definition Eye Liners.

Out of the items I reviewed on the blog today, I would say that my top picks are the Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum, Disco Dust Quad and SS16 Shade and Illuminate Duo. The SS16 Lip Color Shine doesn’t work for me by itself – I suspect it can be easily fixed with a deeper lipliner like MAC Boldly Bare or Subculture though. Honeymoon is all kinds of gorgeous – but does pull dark and warm on me. It’s very pretty on but I prefer Disco Dust.

Have you checked out the new items from Tom Ford yet? Some pieces have sold out on different sites so if you’re shopping online you may have to order from multiple places.

Eyeshadow Quads can be found at all Tom Ford retailers such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

The Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum appears to be exclusive to Neiman Marcus at the moment.

SS16 Shade and Illuminate + Lip Color Shine can be found at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter.

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