"I don't pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford"
Foreword
Tom Ford is not only at the top of my list of "famous people I want to hug" (more about that some other time), but to me he is also the most inspiring human being that I know of. I love his creative vision, perfectionism, dedication, fashion influence. Plus, as someone who worked in advertising, I can easily say that his ad campaigns (same as his movies) are true cinematic masterpieces. His beauty line is finally available at both: Sephora (North America) and Sephora Middle East; which is why I thought now was the best time to go through Tom Ford bestsellers with you guys and I hope you enjoy the ride!
Products marked with (*) are PR Samples; everything else I purchased myself.
Traceless Foundation Stick
If I could only use one foundation for the rest of my life, it would be Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick (87 USD/389 AED; Made in Canada). The one you are about to see is an old tube, which is well loved (and frankly on its last legs). Fear not, I already have a backup (ok, I have two).
Whether it is a work event, date, party - this is the first product I put on my face. It is also the only foundation I have been traveling with for years now, because guess what? It won't break, leak or fail you. While it looks incredibly natural in real life, I also believe that Traceless Foundation Stick is a perfect foundation for brides, who only want one cake on their wedding day.
The texture is quite sheer and creamy; the product can be blended out with either fingers or sponges (my favourite technique). It glides on like a dream, practically becoming part of the skin and you can easily adjust the coverage (from light to medium) by adding more/less product. It never accentuates pores and effortlessly glides over dry patches, thus helps conceal the look of skin texture. Finish here is on a natural/dewy side and considering just how breathable and long-lasting this formula is, I would highly recommend it to those of you with normal, normal-dry and dry skin types. If you are on an oily/combination side, I suspect you might not enjoy this product's rather dewy nature.
Verdict: OUI! A++
Eye Defining Pen (*)
This is not just an eye liner. This is THE LINER. I kid you not when I say that after trying this bad boy, you will not be able to use anything else (correction: you will not want to use anything else).
Eye Defining Pen (58 USD/252 AED; Made in Japan) is a dual-ended liquid eye liner, that is pitch-black (even if you apply it over a glittery shadow) and bulletproof. If you ever wanted to "cut" someone with your sharp wing, this is the tool for that. One side is a dainty felt-tip liner that you can use for small work and finessing; the other side is an actual brush-type applicator. It is precise, easy to use and even if you don't know how to apply a liquid liner, it will practically do the job for you.
I can wear this liner for up to 12+ hours (i.e. from 8 AM till 8 PM) and it does not move. I have slightly hooded lids, but Eye Defining Pen never smudges or transfers; those of you guys with monolids - hope you are taking notes. It will survive life's wildest adventures and considering that you will only need to replace it every 5-6 months (even with daily use), I think it is a great investment.
Verdict: not sure what you are waiting for? A++
Shadow Extreme (*)
Say hi to the brand's newest collection of single eyeshadows aka Shadow Extreme (36 USD/168 AED; Made in Italy). The one you see above is TFX10, described as "black" with a metallic/shimmery finish (there is a fair amount of glitter here, but for some reason it is not considered as "glitter" by the brand).
Single eyeshadows are somewhat a controversial subject in the beauty community these days. Not everyone is willing to spend this much money on one colour alone, when you can get an actual eyeshadow palette for the same price. Personally, I am ready to make an exception when the colour/texture is exceptionally good and unique. I actually have a separate container in my desk, full of eyeshadow singles with most of them having a foiled/glittery finish ('cos I am a low-key magpie like that).
TFX10 gives me Kate Moss, Brigitte Bardot vibes. It is rock-n-roll in a pan; dark and sparkly just like a good festival night. It is not extremely opaque in colour, so to make it that extra bit sultry, I pat it (with my finger) over a dark cream eyeshadow base. Whenever I use it, there is zero fallout or kick up. This formula is neither dry nor gritty; glitter particles are smooth and sophisticated.
Verdict: if you don't mind splurging on a boujee little eyeshadow, by all means go for it. But if you want more bang for the buck, I'd stick to actual quads from the brand. A- (minus for the price)
Lip Lacquer Extreme (*)
Lip Lacquer Extreme (54 USD/258 AED; Made in Italy) is a newer addition to the Tom Ford lipstick family. It is described as a two-toned metallic matte liquid lipstick; it has a faint yet pleasant scent and the shade you see above is Cameo (I would describe it as a pastel peachy-pink with a gold/pink shift).
While the colour is extremely beautiful and chic, I am not sure that I get the whole metallic lip trend. I would definitely never wear a colour like this on its own (too sheer and too 80s for me), but I do think that it looks very nice patted over a classic nude like the brand's Spanish Pink (my number one lipstick from the brand). This way it adds that je ne sais quoi oomph, without changing the finish drastically.
Now, I might be alone in my anti-metallic-lip boat, so if this type of a finish is something you crave in your collection - I think you might quite like Mr. Ford's newest creation. The colour lasts really well on its own, but just like most liquid lipsticks, it feels a bit drying and can look patchy in certain areas (applicator leaves streaks). I prefer to blend this product with my fingers.
Verdict: all in all, I am not the target market here. While I think that the colour is pretty, I just don't think it is a must-have. I do want to highly recommend the brand's actual Lip Color Lipstick range instead, which is a solid A+. It really is every lipstick aficionado's dream! As for the metallic friend here, I give it my C+.
please click to zoom in; all swatches are unedited and raw
The Look
For this look I have used every single Tom Ford product mentioned in this post. I was inspired by Pat McGrath makeup for the brand's AW '18 show; she used a shade very similar (if not identical) to TFX10 on models to create that sexy-yet-effortless, lived-in smokey eye paired with a nude lip. The focus was also on fresh, clear skin and the brand's foundations are perfect for that. I will link the video where Pat talks about the look here.
I did use a darker cream base underneath the eyeshadow in order to make it that extra bit smokey. I also blended out my crease with a dark grayish-brown matte shadow; I felt it added more sultriness. On my lips I am wearing Spanish Pink with a small amount of Cameo on top.
That's it for my Full Face Of Tom Ford Bestsellers review. Hope you guys enjoyed it! If you are curious to explore Mr.Ford's entire beauty range, check out sephora.com and sephora.ae (as well as physical Sephora stores!).
PR Samples & Purchased Products; Full Disclaimer Here
