I like to wear shades (as in sunglasses).
Connor Claire also likes to throw shade, which is cute now, but it may not be in 12 years.
Now, neither of these types forms of shade have anything to do with the two new Shade and Illuminate Cheeks cream blushes in the new Tom Ford Spring 2017 color collection, but that’s OK.
They’re lovely (albeit incredibly expensively).
The Tom Ford 2017 spring collection is available now, and my gawd! — can we just take a moment to appreciate the drop-dead gorgeousness of this makeup?
The collection includes two cream blush duos and six lip duos that are all about shade and illumination, as in highlighting and contouring — playing with lighter shades to catch the light and darker shades for shading. Through strategically using complementary colors to shade and highlight the cheeks and lips, it creates balance.
I hope you’re sitting down now…because they’re $80.
Yeah, I never get over that shock.
And they’re also purposefully sheer…so if you’re all about that #pigmentedlife, you might as well go grab a coffee at Starbucks, and I’ll meet you back here in a few.
If, however, you’re cool with them being sheer, and you’re cool with creams that are easy to blend, there’s some good stuff happening here.
First, they look really, really natural, and I’m all about my cheeks looking natural these days. If you like wearing makeup, but you don’t like to look like you’re wearing a lot of blush on your cheeks, these are fantastic.
There’s a dewiness to them that makes skin look like it’s been pampered at a pricey spa where they use mysterious French skin care that you can’t pronounce, and serve tiny cucumber sandwiches on expensive China. Skin looks fresh and un-fussy.
Scintillate is a peach contouring blush with the peachy pink pearl highlighter, and Sublimate is a rosy pink blush with a pinkish beige highlighter.
I think that both of them benefit from a layer of makeup primer worn underneath them, as well as an additional layer of blush and/or highlighter on top, especially if you plan to have a long day, because they otherwise fade over the course of an eight-hour day, at least on my combination dry/oily skin. Without extra help, they get to where I can’t see them on my cheeks at all.
Of course, I also have to say again that they’re sheer, so they never really look like a ton of makeup in the first place.
The keys here are that you have to be OK with them being sheer, and you have to really love the look of natural, barely-cheek color.
The closest thing I can compare them to right now is Kjaer Weis Cream Blush, which I also love (it also lasts longer than TF’s, so that’s something to think about).
I think these would look amazing layered under other Tom Ford powder blushes for extra dimension, but they’re probably best for die-hard Tom Ford-ies. If you just want a cream blush that looks natural and really lasts, you might want to peep Kjaer Weis instead.
Not to so say that these aren’t ridiculously pretty — they are. They just don’t last extremely long.
Cute workout tanks
When I went to Old Navy the other day, I had plans to try on their High Waisted Rockstar jeans, but I was thwarted by this cute workout tank!
I love the one that says, “She Who Dares.” The open back shows off your sports bra, like if you’re wearing a cute one with lots of straps or a bright pop of color. Added bonus: it helps keep you cool.
I’m glad I didn’t grab it in the store, though, because it’s on sale online right now for $12. Woo-hoo! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
For half the price you can pick up the new Bobbi Brown version of these cream cheek palettes, and I think there’s three color versions. BB cream rouge is a top notch blush, from same parent company as Tom Ford. Better value by far.
Hi Susan,
I remember trying those a while back and liking them. Thanks for the reminder. What color do you wear?
I’ve worn BB pot Rouge off and on for years and so when the duos came out, I picked up the BB in Pink Opal/Homecoming Pink. It wasn’t a question of value, though, as BB and TF are just about even when you look at the cost per ounce. BB is 0.30 ounces at $50 ($167 per ounce) and TF is 0.49 ounces at $80 ($163 per ounce). What influenced my decision was that BB had a color combo that suited my complexion whereas TF did not. Also, because I change up my look on a daily basis, I knew I wouldn’t even use half the prodcut before I became bored with it or before it was time to toss it.
Hahaha, Connor Claire’s face, I love it 🙂 Really like the look of these duos so far! Lots a pretty combos! And also loving the look of that open back top!
I love her face, too. 🙂 She’s very expressive!
Have a great Tuesday!
I got excited when I saw the first photo, but the price………
*Googles “how to sell your organs”*
I dunno… these are pretty, but too expensive for me if they’re not going to at least last all day. I’m dying to try a couple of the lip duos, though. Hopefully they’ll be longer-lasting!
I need to try those Rockstar jeans, especially if they make some lightweight, cropped (but not ripped/torn) ones for summer. Summer bottoms are a real challenge for me — most don’t hit at a good spot on my rather short legs. Bermuda shorts are a great length for me (2-4″ above the knee), but hard to find. I would love to wear a great pair of white Bermuda shorts with a striped T or a sleeveless linen button-down shirt and white blazer this summer. Seven- or nine-inch shorts are OK, but strictly casual. And mini- or knee-length culottes can be great, but a lot of them are cut too baggy/dowdy. Skirts look best on me if they’re short, but then it’s hard to be really active in them without being self-conscious, without tights underneath. I suppose I could resort to wearing bike shorts under skirts, but who wants to wear two layers in summer?
I think I’ve seen crops in that fit! I’m petite, too, by the way, and they have petite sizes, which is wonderful! Isn’t it such a pain getting pants hemmed? It’s not my favorite thing.
Have you ever looked at Tommy Bahama for shorts? They’re $$$ but they’ve got some longer-length cuts that might work for you. Including a white pair of bermuda shorts! (And they come in mint, too!)
Nice shorts, in great colors! I like their linen shorts, too. I just signed up for emails, so I can be on the lookout for sales… but, it would be better to have one great pair of shorts than three pair that aren’t quite what I want! Thank you 🙂
Getting pants hemmed is a pain, but it really is the easiest of my fitting problems. I’m seriously considering taking up sewing again. (bust one size larger than shoulders — a hideous alteration; lack of booty resulting in baggy back-of-the-thighs — not possible to fix with alterations; waist four sizes larger than hips = no way to fit high-waist pants, especially those with pockets. and I look good; my body just does not correspond in any way with those of the fit models chosen by the fashion industry! It’s one reason why I love scarves so much… there’s no way for them to not fit properly! Making your own clothes takes a lot of time, and also money these days, but it really might be worth it.)
I feel you. I’d rather have one thing that fits perfectly than a bunch of things that are close but not exactly what I want.
It’s really hard to find clothes that fit perfectly, isn’t it? I think maybe that’s why I’m all about the athleisure trend happening right now. It’s so much easier to find stretchy yoga pants that fit decently than it is to find proper slacks, etc., that fit decently. It doesn’t help that sizing is off-the-rails cray-cray, either. I really wish women had standard sizing like men do. I went shopping with El Hub for work clothes last week and I was amazing how you could get pants with a specific waist and leg length. Why can’t they do that for women?
And alterations! One of the reasons why I love shopping at Nordstrom is their wonderful alterations department (even the alterations at Nordstrom Rack are excellent!).
Tom Ford, you hateful man. HAHA! The colors are very pretty and Tom Ford’s gonna Tom Ford on price but, luckily, I prefer longer lasting, more pigmented and powder. 🙂
Even Connor’s shade face is adorable, btw. 🙂 But, oh, I just can’t do it on the high-waisted jeans. I get the 80s cringe just thinking about them. I could use some tummy control but I can’t stand the feel of a high waist. I’m not down on anyone who likes them, they’re just not for me and I hope low rise never goes out of style!
LOL! Why does he want to obliterate makeup budgets? HE’S SO CRUEL!
Connor Claire is infinitely adorable, even when throwing shade!
Like I said the other day, I love my local Tom Ford counter gal. I can go to buy one nail polish and stand and laugh and talk with her for hours. But right now, I’m not feeling these. Sigh. And there is a beauty event coming up with a tote bag at Neiman’s soon and I thought, “okay, Tom Ford SS” Nope. I don’t mind natural, I just hate when my make up fades away. “Hellooo makeup! Where’d you go?”
I’m the same. I looove natural, but I want to see it there at the end of the day.
How about a TF cream shadow? They are swoon-worthy.
Unless they create some new colors I’m pretty sure I have all the TF cream shadows that work for me. (And one Charlotte Tilbury that always ends up creasing and disintegrating.) Yes, I’m a Tom Ford junkie.
Girl, I can’t blame you. When TF does stuff right, it’s SO right. 🙂
Sublimate is pretty cute.
Yeah, it is really cute! It would be a nice layering blush, methinks.
So, so pretty.. but $80?! That’s a staggering price tag! I’m not sure my wallet can cope with that. The only cream blush I’m down with at the moment is Rituel de Fille’s Lovesick – it has some staying power on my oily skin!
TF is always crazy expensive. I do have to say that when he gets stuff right, it’s perfection. His liquid liner, cream shadow and brow pencil are TO DIE FOR. So are the lipsticks and a few of the quads.
Hope you’re having a great week so far!
Just back from grabbing a cup of tea. I am all about that #pigmentedlife, so no, not for me. The promo picture is stunning though.
Haha, thanks for coming back from your tea break! I’m about to take one… Rooibos time!
Hi Karen,
These are beautiful indeed. How do they compare to Bobbi Brown’s blush – highlight duos, if you’ve tried them both?
Greetings from London!
x
These are gorgeous!
I’m currently on a circus hiatus due to a sprained ankle, but I want cute workout tanks for when I go back. I love when you can see cute sports bras because of cutouts
Me too. Plus the cutouts keep ya cool.
Sorry to hear about your sprained ankle. They take forever to heal! Was it a circus injury?
so no rockstar jeans? I was hoping these would work for you. note that there’s low rise and mid rise. i personally don’t like the mid rise for my body type but it may work for you! try them both 😉
ps. connor claire is too cute! shade or no shade
I still plan to go back and try the high rise! This sounds lame but I’m waiting for the rain to stop, LOL!