Review: Tom Ford Lips and Boys - Giacomo, Cary, Didier

As Tom Ford usually does to us makeup fanatics, he somehow convinced me to order sight unseen more than one limited edition lipsticks from the Lips and Boys collection. And I usually just go one lipstick at a time. On a more self-forgiving note, this collection contains 50 (FIFTY) shades so 7 doesn't sound that bad. I based my decisions mostly on my previous experience with his lipsticks, stock images, and some unconfirmed information on repromoted shades. In other words, this haul was a leap of faith in Tom Ford. And boy, he does not disappoint.

The most frequently asked questions I've noticed is how mini these lipsticks are. Priced at $32 each for 0.7 oz compared to a full-size version at $50 for 0.1 oz, they are actually less expensive. Because the price is friendlier, I image they will be more appealing to a larger group of customers. As someone who mainly just touches-up lip makeup, I really appreciate a lighter version to carry around. Also, I love the skinnier bullets of the minis for precise application.

The first three shades that arrived are Giacomo, Cary (Casablanca in permanent range), Didier. It's funny to refer to a lipstick as he. Anyway.

Giacomo  is a satin bright deep rose. The shimmer is so fine that it's only visible under direct sunlight It's 70s I tell you. Very Tom Ford! He's bright yet still muted enough for daily look. I love to sport him as a statement lips with a very natural complexion. Giacomo is the most exotic pink of the three, in my opinion. Coincidently his names sounds exotic eh?

Cary is a more redden plum version of Collin (Indian Rose). They are very similar in tone. Cary doesn't have any shimmer yet it still has some sheen finish. Although the muted plum undertone makes it a safe my-lip-but-better choice, I think he adds interesting plum touch to the lips. 

Didier is a satin deep plum rose with ultra fine fuchsia shimmer. This particular shimmer reminds me of that in Tom Ford Ravish and Wicked blushes. It's edgy and lovely! Didier is the most moisturizing of the bunch. He's sheerer and brighter on my lips than in the tube. But by no mean it's a sheer lipstick. 

Giacomo is the most rosy. Cary has the most brown. Didier has the most plum with fuchsia tint. 

All three shades wear well for 5 hours, surviving lunch and many glasses of water. They moisturize my lips and feel so comfortable. In fact, after these lippies were washed out down to a stain, they still have the same undertone and look pretty. I do need a lip balm as usual but Tom Form's creamy lipsticks don't dry out my lips. This quality is consistent across his range. In this case, I slightly prefer the hydrating performance of Didier to the other two, although all three deliver the Tom Ford quality that I want.

Now it's time for some lipswatches.

Giacomo

Cary

Didier

 See how Didier is considerably deeper in the tube?

Were you able to resist or wait for counter swatching? What did you pick up? How do you like these boys?

Peter, Alasdhair, Addison and Richard are on the way. I hope to get the review early enough before they're once again sold out. 

Review: Tom Ford Contouring Cheek Color Duos Softcore and Stroked Fall 2014

As I am typing this line, the two limited edition Contouring Cheek Color Duos Fall 2014 Softcore and Stroked ($77 for 0.7 oz) are on and off available on tomford.com. If you haven't had a chance to try them at the counter or are on the fence of whether to invest, I urge them to grab them both! The reason? For me: it's Tom Ford cheek product, duh! I have come to love (and collected) all Tom Ford powder blushes. The formula, the color, the texture, the wearing, worth every single penny. So these two cheek duos were what I most anticipated from his fall collection, not Nude Dip eyeshadow quad you guys. 

But if you haven't had the same experience as I've had with his blushes, I hope this review will help you to decide whether Softcore and Stroked deserve a place in your makeup collection. 

First, let's take a look at these stunning cheek duos. 

Softcore is a frosty pinkish champaign highlighter (hint of metallic finish) and a matte reddish brown. This palette leans cool on my warm skin although it's not too cool to the point I can't wear it. I need to go extra easy on the highlighter shades or else it can look ashy. 

Stroked has a shimmery golden champaign highlighter and a shimmery warm medium brown that's not as deep as the contouring shade in Softcore. It's no surprise that Stroked looks more natural on my warm skin tone than Softcore but it's neutral enough that I think it will flatter cooler skin tones as well. 

You can tell right away that these aren't typical greyish, taupe or brown that we regular makeup users think of. And I'm so glad they aren't. While the taupe color family might more like "killer cheek bones" in photos, I much prefer these reddish warm brown for everyday contouring. 

Softcore and Stroked deliver a phenomenal quality just as I expected from Tom Ford wonderful powder blushes. The highligher shades add a lovely glow to my cheeks as if my skin is that healthy even under the dreadful car lighting. Both the highlighting and contouring shades are seamlessly blendable. They don't require much blending to look natural. The texture feels so smooth like velvet. Both palettes wear well for 8-10 hours without fading. 

Some other favorites of mine: Bobbi Brown Pink Oyster shimmer brick, Dior Amber Diamond, Tom Ford Ravish blush, the Balm Mary Lou Manizer, Dior Rose Diamond

The highlighter shades compared to some highlighters

The closet to Stroked highlighter shade in my collection is Dior Amber Diamond. The Balm Mary Lou Manizer has more beige than Stroked. Bobbi Brown Pink Oyster is quite similar to Softcore. But all in all, I love the texture and the blendability of Tom Ford's duos the best. I also think they give me a more believable glow than the rest. 

The contouring shades compared to Tom Ford Ravish blush

Contouring cheeks aren't either my type or my strong suit. These duos make contouring very easy.
They help me sculpt my face effortlessly for everyday and natural looks. The key is to use a very light hand because these babies are richly pigmented. For those of you who have deeper skin tones or you prefer strong dramatic sculpted face, you won't be disappointed either. I would recommend you use lighter hand to contour your temples and hair light still.

Nude Dip on the eyes, Softcore on the cheeks, Twist of Fate on the lips

Now let's talk the price. Tom Ford contouring cheek color duos are priced at hefty $77 for 0.7 oz/20 g of product. That's a lot compared to other designer brands, and to Tom Ford itself. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate (cream formula) offer 0.49 oz/14 g of products at $77 while his blushes are $57 for 0.28 oz/8 g of powder. These duos, I tell you, will last a long long time given how pigmented they are and the amount of product they offer. 

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Bottom line: Pure love! Softcore and Stroked should be a part of permanent range. 

Have you cheek our Softcore and Stroked? How do you like them? What brushes are you using to apply them? 

Look: Soft stain lips

When the fall comes, I just simply can't resist deeper lip colors. My two favorite vampy lipsticks for fall are Bite Beauty Mulberry (review is here) and Tom Ford Black Orchid which by the way looks almost identical to its replacement Bruised Plum (yay!). I love the dark deep decadent shade of plum yet sporting it daily can be over the top. Lately, I've been wearing Tom Ford Black Orchid non-stop as a stain and pair it with his cream eyeshadows to create a softer and youthful look. Tons of compliments have been received. Hope you enjoy! The full list of products used is at the bottom as usual. 

Color products used. In my very own fashion, I forgot Dior Beige Massai :D but I link to it below. 

Look breakdown

Face

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick No 5

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Custard

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate #2

Dior Healthy Glow Powder Aurora

Tom Ford Cheek Color Ravish

Eyes

Nars Pro-prime Eye primer

Tom Ford Cream eyeshadow in Pink Haze (main lid color) and Escapade (1/3 inner lid)

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad Golden Mink (the brown shade for outer V)

Dior 5-color Eyeshadow Quint Beige Massai (deepest brown to define lower lash line)

Sephora Eyeliner Retractable Waterproof #10 Matte Brown/Black (this baby puts Chanel version at shame) 

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Babydoll Mascara
Tom Ford Brow Scupltor Espresso

Lips

Tom Ford Lip Color Black Orchid (2 sheer layers) 

Review: Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 8 No 5

via Neiman Marcus (non affiliate link)

A few months back, I did a mini-exploration with Le Metier de Beaute and came home with a sample of the famous Classic Flawless Finish Foundation. It comes in 11 shades ($68 for 1 oz). I picked shade 5 but shade 6 could work on my skin tone too (FYI, my top three foundations are Clarins Ever Matte 108, Tom Ford Traceless Stick No 5, Burberry Sheer Luminous Trench 6).

The first thought came to my mind was that the finish, texture and coverage felt very similar to those of Burberry Luminous Trench foundation. But LMdB's has slightly thicker formula and hence offers a bit fuller coverage. It's light weight and smooth. I love how it evens out my skin tone and creates a ultra smooth finish.

Swatched under direct sunlight

I also found No 5 a good color match. It leans a bit pinker than my overall facial. LMdB Classic Flawless does oxidize slightly on my skin and warms up to half shade deeper. However, this oxidation falls into my workable zone and isn't as obvious as many other foundations that I must pass over. 

A facial shot. I use LMdB Splendid Frost kaleidoscope kit for eyes and cheeks. Tom Ford Blush Nude on my lips. 

More close-up

LMdB Classic Flawless last all day in humid weather. This, alone, beats my beloved Burberry Sheer Luminous. I didn't need to set it with powder. It stayed fresh for 6 hours then warmed up slightly and looked good until hour 8. Burberry Luminous stays 6 hr only and becomes shiny and fates quickly after 6 hours.

The only throw-offs, you may not be surprised, are parabens and mineral oils. I try to avoid these ingredients in my makeup and skincare as much as possible. I prefer Burberry's for color match and preservative-free, but it's only because it suits my taste better than LMdB Classic Flawless. If those ingredients ain't your concern and you prefer natural full coverage and long-wearing formula, LMdB got you covered.

Bottom line. Highly recommended! 

Favorite Combo: Burberry Lip Cover Devon Sunset and Nars Lipgloss Easy Lover

Not sweet like a pink or soft like a peach, water melon is my new favorite color for this summer. It feels fresh and cool like the taste of the fruit itself. I also want to walk out of my non-stop hot pink lips for every summer. To create the bell de jour peach base I applied Burberry Devon Sunset on my prepared lips. Then I topped it with Nars Easy Lover, a sheer hot pink shiny lipgloss that complements warm skin tones very well. The result is a juicy pair of lips, or I thought at least!

(Click to enlarge) Swatched under direct sunlight

On my lips

At the below angle, you can see more hot pink on my lips. 

For full makeup list of this look please check out my Sans Eye Makeup post. 

Look: Easy Smokey Eye with Dior 5-Color Smokey Design

Smoldering bedroom smokey eyes is one of the techniques I aspire to conquer. Sounds oh so serious eh? I don't have defined eye sockets so the popular techniques that define the creases don't work on me.  And neither do warm browns. I usually pick neutral to cool color family and various finishes to create depth. Dior 5-color All in one palette in Smokey Design is one of the best I've come across for the job. 

I wanted a very natural bronzy based and soft rosy lips to balance cool grey smokey eyes. I thought the shimmer shade (shade 4) in the palette was a nice touch for this look. Enjoy guys! 

Close-up of the shimmer!! 

Makeup worn

Face

Tom Ford Traceless Stick Foundation #5 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

YSL Touche Eclat #8

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Dior Aurora Bronzer
Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush Rose Brazilia

Edward Bess All Over Seduction Afterglow

Eyes

Dior 5-color Smokey Design

Bobbi Brown Long wear Gel liner Espresso

Dior Extase mascara

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor Espresso

Lips

Dolce and Gabbana Shine Lipstick Soiree

What is your go-to smokey eye shadows? How do you coordinate your look? 

Look: Sans Eye Makeup

No matter how minimal I go with eye makeup, my eyes need a rest from time to time. My already straight stubborn eyelashes became a bit sparse. That really scares me. The Bobbi Brown gel liner I use for almost every looks is hard to get off completely. And I'm diligent at removing makeup right after I get home. I rarely wear makeup for over 10 hours. Still, constant application and removal of makeup seemed to take a toll on my eyes. So for 10 days, I skipped eyeshadows, mascaras, eyeliners and eyelash curlers. Nothing on my eye lids.

The look. 

To balance the bare eyes, I opted for subtle full brown, very glowy rosy cheeks and bright lips. Time to turn to Prince Charming Edward Bess!! For effortless natural looks, no one does it more elegantly than Edward. 

Here is how.

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation in 108 all over my face in a thin layer

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Mustard under the eyes

YSL Touche Eclat to brighten dull areas under the eyes but not too close to the lash lines

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder to set the concealers

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso to fill in gaps in the brows

Edward Bess Compact Rouge in Lover Affair on the apples of the cheeks

Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Bronzer Daydream under the cheekbones and hairlines

Edward Bess All Over Seduction Afterglow on the high points of the cheeks

Burberry Lip Cover Devon Sunset on the lips

Nars Lipgloss Easy Lover to top off

Another angle to show you the color. Nars Easy Lover really shines!

Have you tried eye makeup fast? How do you handle the heavy makeup aftermath? 

Review: Dolce and Gabbana Shine Lipstick Soiree

The calssic way to wear smokey eyes is to pair them with pale nude lips. I can't do that at all. After many failed attempts to look smolderingly hot but end up looking like lifeless, I settle for one or two shades lighter than my natural lip colors. In that picture, Dolce and Gabbana Shine Lipstick Soiree ($32 for 0.12 oz) fits in my makeup collection perfectly. 

Soiree is a sheer medium rose with golden shimmer. It's lovely, indeed. And I'm not just raving about the color. It stays fresh for 5 hours, which I find pretty good for a sheer formula. My lips feel moisturized and it glides on smooth and easy. It also feels comfortable and weightless, very easy to wear. 

Under direct sunlight

The pigmentation lies between sheer to semi-opaque. I don't expect Soiree to be highly pigmented as it ain't designed to function as that. Yet I'm pleasantly surprised at the color intensity AND it stays put well despite the hydrating formula. The only minor complain I can think of is the shimmer. It could be more delicate. Although the shimmer isn't overdone to the point the it casts a wash of golden frost on the lips (which I hate!), it's a bit large and too predictable.  

A look I did with Soiree. 

Bottom line. An overall cute lipstick to have for everyday or more dramatic eye looks. Given that almost every brand on the market offers the same type of formula and ridiculously diverse color ranges and price points to choose from, Soiree isn't a must-have. I would still highly recommend the Dolce and Gabbana shine lipsticks. 

What's your favorite Dolce and Gabbana makeup products? Have you tried Soiree or any shine lipticks? Do you think they're worth the price?

Look: Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 with Escapade and Pink Haze

Boo!!! You thought this look would be an interpretation of Tom Ford ad campaign. I'm no Charlotte Tilbury guys. And I want to use Tom Ford products in a wearable fashion that proves that we can all wear sexy edgy Ford's makeup. Since I'm in the full mood for bronzing cheeks, it's the focus of this look. I keep the skin matte and a subtle sheen on the lips to balance out the shimmery eyes. I did apply more cream eyeshadows Escapade and Pink Haze than usual for the sake of the photos. Hope you enjoy! Scroll down till the end for the list of makeup worn. 

 Close-up of the eye makeup. 

 With warmer lighting

Makeup breakdown

Face

Clarins Ever Matte SPF 15 in Sand 108

Nars Creamy Conealer in Custard

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminiate #2 (highlighter)

Dior Aurora Bronzer (summer 2011 limited edition)

Tom Ford blush in Savage

Eyes

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso

Tom Ford cream eyeshadows in Escapade and Pink Haze as main lid color

Tom Ford eyeshadow quad in Cognac Sable all but the copper shimmer

Bobbi Brown long wear gel liner in Espresso

Dior mascara Extase

Lips

EOS lip balm

Chanel Rouge Allure Exquisite

Tom Ford lipgloss in Rose Crush

Favorite combo: Tom Ford Lipgloss Rose Crush and Chanel Rouge Allure Exquisite

You guys probably remember that I love pink lips. I find them the most flattering and easy to rock. But I don't want a predictable cute sweet pair of pink pouts. I want characters, versatile and shine, and of course pink. Chanel Exquisite is a bit overly sweet for my everyday while Tom Ford Rose Crush adds slightly too much earth to my lips. Since Chanel Exquite is a warm medium pink with golden shimmer, I thought it'd be the perfect base under a rosy nude brown Ford's signature. The results is understated enough for smokey eyes while adding enough oomph for a minimal eyemakeup.

I've been pairing this duo non-stop. Together they last for good 5 hours on top of a lip balm, either EOS or Fresh. Loving them!!!!

Swatched under direct sunlight

On my lips. Please pardon my hair and pimple. 

What's your current favorite lip combo? 

Look: Wedding Makeup Take 2

How I would have done my wedding makeup? For the peace of mind, I hired a professional makeup artist. And I think she did a good job for the pictures. They turned out OK. I still looked like myself! But I wasn't satisfied. My dress has peal and crystal details, so does the veil. The make up was a bit too done up especially with the eyes. She used a pair of natural looking false lashes and jet black eyeliner. She also altered the shape of the inner corners of my eyelids so that they appeared to be more even. Why on earth did I let her do so? Those eyelid tapes were uncomfy and didn't feel right, although they were teeny tiny.

I felt like a more subtle and relax look would balance out my wedding gown better. Here are my wedding makeup for pre-wedding photos. And by the way, the hubs and I endured the photo session for the sake of our parents. We knew back then that we would laugh at these pictures some day. We already did.

The dress. Me a few years back,  a couple of days before the wedding ceremony.

The traditional dress. I was very into bright floral at the time. Now I would opted for a simple white instead. 

This is how I would have much preferred. Glowy skin, softly contoured cheeks, natural eye shadow, crisp eyeliner, and casual red lips. So I keep my complexion matte with glowy cheeks. I want full brown, natural and well defined eyeshadows and NO FALSIES. No objection to false lashes but I love the relaxing look of my lashes. I also opted for a undone throw-away red lips instead of the classic bridal soft pink lips. There you have it.

My re-do makeup. Cool lighting. I wasn't topless guys. 

My re-do makeup. Warm lighting. My actual wedding jewelry. Peals! 

Makeup breakdown

Face

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation SPF 15 in 108

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Custard

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlight (everybody should own it)

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity 2 (contour shade)

Tom Ford Blush Narcissist

Eyes

Dior 5-color eyeshadow quint Beige Massai (my all time favorite palette)

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel liner Espresso

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Stretch Mascara

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor Espresso

Lips

EOS Lip balm

Laura Mercier Satin Lipstick Cherrywood (same here)

I had so much fun writing this post. Tell me what you think ladies. And if there's enough interest, I'll do another look (yes, I have something else in mind too).

Joanne xoxo