Tom Ford

Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes Warm and Cool Review and Swatches

January 26, 2017

The most anticipated collection of Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes has finally landed in Australia. Being his loyal fan, I bought both colors on a whim. The cool palette was purchased in Neiman Marcus while I was in the US, and the warm palette was recently purchased back home. Both palettes are still available online in the US, and they are also available online in Australia but the trick is to select ‘store pickup from a store where it has Tom Ford’ otherwise it shows ‘out of stock’ if you choose for home delivery.

I struggle to find words to describe how stunning these two palettes are. As usual, they are on the expensive side, but my justification is that you get a lot of products in one palette (4 eyeshadows, 1 blush, and 1 highlighter in the finest buttery texture) so it is not too bad given how pricey of each individual product is from the brand. The signature limited edition packaging of the glossy white packaging case with golden trim is also to-die-for and it looks and feels even better in real life.

Both palettes contain beautiful neutral colors that I would wear every day, and there is not a single color that I do not like. To me, Tom ford is one of the very few brands that offer many colors in a palette in such a complementary harmony but are not too boring nor too over the top. Apart from the colors, the difference between the two palettes is that the cool has 2 sparkly and 2 satin eyeshadows, whereas the warm has only 1 sparkly and 3 satin eye colors. So if you are not too big on sparkly, I would suggest to go for the warm palette.

Closer look at the Cool Palette

Color Description:

1. Cool medium pink blush

2. Sparkly peachy pink

3. Sparkly lavender

4. Satin true taupe

5. Satin dark chocolate brown with a plummy undertone

6. Pale peachy pink highlighter with shimmer (amazing texture)

Closer look at the Warm Palette

Color Description:

1. Medium Coral blush

2. Satin gold

3. Sparkly golden brown taupe – one the most beautiful sparkly colors I’ve ever come across!

4. Satin medium brown taupe with bronze undertone

5. Satin dark brown

6. Pale shimmery ivory champagne highlighter with the most buttery texture for a highlighter

Bottom Line: Save your money from mediocre products! These palettes will make your heart sing!

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Labels: BLUSH • EYE SHADOW • HIGHLIGHTER • Tom Ford

Chanel Camelia De Chanel Illuminating Powder Review and Comparison Swatch

January 9, 2017

If there is one makeup item that I consistently collect, it has to be the Chanel Highlighter! Most recently, Chanel has done it again with another elegant piece Camelia De Chanel Illuminating Powder that is both aesthetically pleasing and flattering to use as an everyday product that adds a soft glow. The highlighter is exclusive to the Chanel online and the makeup boutique stores.

This highlighter is embossed with Chanel’s iconic symbol – the camellia, presented in a special edition red Les Beige case. The quality of this highlighter is on par with the previous releases. It has a creamy and velvety texture, and the powder is extremely finely milled to give a second-skin effect that blends in seamlessly. The best thing with the highlighter is that it has a neutral champagne color that would look flattering on most complexions, and you can also use it as eyeshadow base color. It’s neither too warm nor too silvery, and it blends in perfectly with my complexion without adding much color to it. It gives a silky satin finish, with a gentle sweep across the high points of the face, it reflects the light softly and adds a luminous glow with a hint of dewiness that is just beautiful but not too overly done.

Swatch

Here is a comparison with some of my other favorite highlighters. Clockwise Camelia-de-Chanel; Dior Diorskin Nude Air Highlighter 001 (reviewed here); Becca Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop (reviewed here); Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Highlighter Fair (reviewed here); Tom Ford Illuminating Duo Moonlight (reviewed here)

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Labels: BECCA • CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • DIOR • HIGHLIGHTER • Tom Ford

My picks for the best neutral colors from Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 – Evan, Ashton, Julian and Addison

December 13, 2016

Everyone swooned over the 26 new shades of Tom Ford’s Lips and Boys 2016 released this November. Yes they are pricey for a mini lipstick, but they are Tom Ford – the epitome of the most luxurious lipstick in the world and worth the splurge for a few shades. After going through all the colors, I ordered Evan and Ashton online (bought here in Australia), and they are so beautiful and exactly what I expected. In this post, I am also sharing the swatch for Julian and Addison (from the previous release) which I had never shown on the blog before.

I have covered the review for Tom Ford Lipsticks in tons of other posts, so this post will mainly be showing the swatches. See my review for the other shades of Lips and Boys.

Evan (matte) – A true matte brown nude. Absolutely head over heels with this color!

Ashton (satin) – Another must-have new discovery for me. It is a medium rosey brownish pink that reminds me of my newly found HG lip color Givenchy Le Rouge 105 (reviewed here).

Julian (cream) – A cool medium pink with mauve undertone. If you think it might pull too cool on you, you can wear it on top of a pink-peach lip liner which is beautiful.

Addison (cream) – A medium peachy pink that is very similar to the famous Tom Ford Pink Dusk.

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Labels: LIPSTICK • Tom Ford

Tom Ford Nightbloom Velvet Orchid and Guerlain Météorites Perles de Légende Light Revealing Pearls of Powder Review and Swatch

November 14, 2016

Today’s post I am covering 2 drop dead gorgeous products – the Tom Ford NightBloom Powder in Velvet Orchid and the Guerlain Météorites Perles de Légende (available here in Australia) from the Holiday 2016 Collection. Both of them are powders with a tinge of colors, and add a luminous glow to the complexion, so I thought it’s a good idea to have them combined.

The Tom Ford Nightbloom Powder in Velvet Orchid is a must have for me. Australia just received this collection, and at the moment the Nightbloom Powders have just been re-stocked in both colors online here. As usual, Tom Ford never fails to deliver a superior product from packaging to the finish. I love the idea of this powder – it’s not quite a blush nor a setting powder. It is more of a color correcting powder, or like a beauty powder (think of MAC) that adds a tinge of color to give your cheeks a softer and brighter look. Since the color payoff is so subtle, I love applying it over the blush for blending out the harsh edges to achieve a gradient, dimensional and doll-like finish as it transforms any blush color to more cool-toned.

The powder feels silky and smooth (not powdery). There is subtle shimmer in it and you can only see it under some certain angle of lighting. Once applied on the face, it goes semi-translucent with a hint of lavender tone. If you have a neutral to cool complexion, this powder is amazing to have.

Heavy swatch with 6 swipes

Each holiday Guerlain releases their signature Météorites in a limited edition packaging with a slight difference in the colors of the pearls. In my opinion, these multi-colored pearls work better for setting the makeup than a traditional loose powder. It is very light, and due to the mix of warm and cool colored pearls, it never makes your makeup look flat. There is also an elegant glow to it – unlike the shimmer and the over-the-top highlighters, this is the product that I would reach out to every day for swipe-and-go.

This limited edition contains gold and pastel pink and tiffany blue pearls with micro glitters. The pearls are more fragile and softer than the permanent editions, so they are prone to break. When applied, it goes on translucent for my NC15-20 and a hint of brightening effect. It adds a touch of radiance to it, takes away the shine and gives your makeup a polished and clean look without looking too matte.

A lot of people are concerned about the glitters. I too am not a fan of any glittery products, and I would not recommend any product that makes you look like a glitter ball. With this product, the micro-glitter is very fine and is almost undetectable on the skin. Under the sun, you can see the little glitters here and there if you look at your face very closely, and from a distance, it just creates a youthful and subtle dewy glow.

Heavy swatches

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Labels: GUERLAIN • HOLIDAY 2016 • POWDER • Tom Ford

My Favorites Lately

November 7, 2016

Here is a quick round-up of the products that I have been loving a lot lately.

Capture Your Style – You probably would have seen a lot of pictures of this book on my insta! Love Aimee’s blog and style (well who doesn’t?!), and different to the usual photography books, this book is written from the fashion/beauty/Instagrammer lovers’ perspective of how to take and style your pictures with your phone – think about Song of Style’s feeds.

Tom Ford shades – Lately I love wearing aviators for a casual chic vibe and this pair by Tom Ford fits my typical flat Asian face perfectly!

Marc Jacobs Contour Powder – This is still one of my favorite go-to highlight and contour palettes that is easy to use and fool proof for a natural contouring effect.

Givenchy Le Rouge 105 Brun Vintage – It is a gorgeous MLBB color that is on trend. I didn’t think I needed a backup of any of my lipsticks as I never get to finish them, but Givenchy 105 was an exception. I heard there is a long wait-list in some countries for this color, so I decided to get another one in case it runs out in Australia! Reviewed here

Chanel Velvet Nail Pink Rubber – Must have for anyone who loves pastel nail colors with an edgy twist. Reviewed here

Dior Dreamskin Cushion Foundation – The more I use it the more I love it. Though the coverage is sheer, it is making my skin look poreless and refined. Reviewed here

Suqqu Concealer Palette– Love this convenient palette for covering every type of imperfection, and the result is never cakey! Reviewed here

Artis Brushes – I have been gushing about how much I love these brushes to everyone! They have completely surpassed my expectations as they deliver pro-blending results without any skill required. Review to come soon.

Breydo Handcream Suede – Smells amazing (soapy with a hint of leather) and very moisturizing without feeling greasy.

Tom Ford Velvet Bloom Nightbloom Powder (just released in Australia) – Oh I can’t let this powder go. It’s a beautiful brightening powder for people with cool to neutral complexions. Review to come soon.

Shu Curler (LE) – I always wanted a black lash curler, so happy to see my HG eyelash curler come in the black version from the 2016 holiday collection.

Bottega Veneta Fragrance – This is a lovely sophisticated all year round fragrance for me. It has a perfect blend of soft floral notes (with jasmine and gardenia) and accented by a modern twist (with pink pepper and bergamot).

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Labels: ARTIS • BOOK • BYREDO • DIOR • FRAGRANCE • GIVENCHY • LIFESTYLE • MARC JACOBS BEAUTY • MONTHLY FAVORITES • My Favorites • PERFUME • SUQQU • Tom Ford

If I Could Only Have One Sweater

October 1, 2016

Though the weather is getting warmer in Australia, I couldn’t help but pick up this cozy Acne Studios Deborah Sweater recently as soon as i saw it online. It is oversized, chunky, ribbed with slightly puffy sleeves – it’s such an everyday easy-to-wear style but so-on point with the silhouette. I love it so much that I really want to get the grey piece as well! Size-wise, for a boxy fit or layering, stay true to your size, otherwise go down a size for a more fitted look.

Sweater – Acne Studios (available here, here, here and here)

Pants – Zara

Bag – Chanel (similar here for under $300)

Shoes – Acne Studios (similar here)

Beanie – Eugenia Kim (similar here)

Sunglasses – Tom Ford Aviator

Necklace – Jennifer Zeuner

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Labels: ACNE STUDIOS • BAG • CHANEL • Fashion • OOTD • SHOES • Tom Ford

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo Review and Swatch- Public Display, Show it Off and Devil Inside

September 26, 2016

Lately I’ve been obsessed with wearing a lip liner and a matching lipstick together, and when I heard the news that Tom Ford would release a Lip Contour Duo collection with a lipstick and lip liner in one tube, I was very thrilled! The new collection has just been launched, and I picked up 3 gorgeous colors- Public Display, Show It Off and Devil Inside (bought here in Australia). As usual, both the packaging and the formula are supremely luxurious which equates to the high price tag of them. It retails for $53 each (AUD$78) – yes it is pricey but compared to their normal lipstick at $53 each, with this product you get both the liner and the lipstick, so it’s not too bad.

The formula is nourishing and creamy enough for my dry lips. The lip liner is ultra pigmented, and it glides on silky smooth and buttery but not slippery. It doesn’t feel drying nor chalky on the lips. The lipstick has a creamy balmy texture and feels ultra hydrating on the lips. It works perfectly with the lip liner, as it helps to conceal the dry lines and makes the lips appear more moisturized and plumped. When the lipstick is applied on its own, it gives a semi glossy finish in full coverage. If it is applied on top of the lip liner which is my preferred application, it gives a semi-satin creamy finish that looks modern and sophisticated. Lasting power is phenomenal, as the color will last you the whole day with drinking in between.

The liners contain fine glitters, but it doesn’t bother me as once you apply the creamy lipstick over, I can barely see the glitters on my lips (as you can see in the close up swatch) but it adds a lovely sheen and dimension to them. I have seen reviews that people feel the glitters make their lips feel crumbly, and I don’t have this problem at all with the 3 colors I picked.

Public Display is a neutral terracotta/brown color with a peachy pink undertone. Brown is the IT color of the moment, and this is a very wearable pink brown lip color that everyone can pull off.

Show It Off is a MLBB color (dusty rose color) with a hint of bronze undertone. It’s a no-brainer everyday color with an edge.

Devil Inside is a bright pink coral color that instantly brighten ups the complexion. This is the kind of color that tends to be overlooked, but once you have applied it on the lips, the impact and the finish literally blows me away.

Group Swatch

The Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo is available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter US.

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Labels: Lip Liner • LIPSTICK • Tom Ford

My 6 Best Eye Shadow Blending Brushes

September 11, 2016

I love doing top 5 (or more) picks posts, and today I am sharing some of my ultimate favorite eye shadow blending brushes. If you ask me to pick only a few favorite lip colors, it will be nearly mission impossible, but with brushes it’s a relative easy job as I tend to reach out for these brushes all the time, and I just know that my makeup routine will not be the same without them! They are suitable for all budgets, ranging from the most premium high end such as Suqqu, to the very affordable brand from the rising star Zoeva.

From left to right:

Suqqu M, Chanel Large Tapered Brush #19, Tom Ford Blend Brush, MAC 217, ZOEVA 227, Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush

All of these brushes are of very high quality, even though they are priced differently because of the type and source of bristles, where they were made and the packaging along with the brand name. However in terms of usability, they all stand the test of time and will last you at least 10 years of use. I have had each of them for a very long time, and none of them shed hair, change shape or fall apart.

MAC 217 – Using the MAC 217 as the standard blending brush. Needless for me to say how useful this brush is for eye shadow application, and you can find my detailed review for MAC brushes in this post.

ZOEVA 227 Soft Definer – If you love the MAC 217, you will love this ZOEVA brush made with goat hair which pretty much feels and works the same. The hair softness is similar, with an oval shape, but a tad more flat than 217 which is great for working the color into the crease. I love ZOEVA brushes in general which I have hauled a lot lately – they are affordable with a big selection, and I find that the quality is on par with MAC. Each brush comes in an individual zip bag.

Edwass Bess Luxury Eye Brush (available here in Australia) – This is the star product from his line. I have had this brush for more than 5 years. It boasts the same dome shape as the MAC 217, but slightly larger and feels softer and more dense against the skin. It is a powerful blending brush that gives lots of resilience so it blends eye shadow effortlessly. I normally like to use this brush for applying a neutral color over the entire eye crease area, and it only takes 1 to 2 strokes for the color to distribute evenly and seamlessly.

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Blend Brush (bought here in Australia) – The ultimate luxury eye shadow blending brush you could ever find, as the packaging and the handle feels so luxurious and precious that makes you not want to ever use it! Once you overcome the ‘obstacle’, you will find this is such a practical blending brush. The bristle is made of premium super soft goat hair, and it is all hand made in Japan. It is about the same size as MAC217, but the head is more tapered for a more precise application. It’s particularly great for blending the color just along the crease, and blending multiple colors.

Chanel Large Tapered Blending Brush (exclusive to Chanel.com only) This is best-seller out of the entire Chanel brushes collection. I was actually on the wait list for a while until it became available again. All Chanel brushes have black bristles, except for this exclusive edition with white bristles which makes me adore it even more! It’s made of goat hair, and is made in France. It’s a cute and ‘chubby’ blending brush compared to the MAC 217. The brush head is more rounder and dense with shorter hair, and it picks up lots of pigments which works perfectly with eye shadows that do not have intense color payoff. If you always want a brush that is tad smaller than MAC217, then this is the one to look out for.

SUQQU Brush M – Last but not least, leaving the best at the end. The Suqqu is the crème de la crème, as it has the softest squirrel hair that feels non scratchy even on the most sensitive skin. It is a smaller blending brush (same size as the Chanel) with a tapered end. The ultra fine and silky soft bristles deposit the pigments softly on the skin, so it is the best for applying dark colored eye shadows to create perfect shade gradation, as well as allowing for precise application around the eye corners. I have a post for the entire Suqqu brushes.

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Labels: Beauty Tools • BRUSHES • EDWARD BESS • MAC • My Favorites • SUQQU • Tom Ford • ZOEVA

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