If there’s 1 thing I’ve come to learn, it’s that Tom Ford never fails to put sexy into beauty.  The latest Soleil Collection for Summer 2017 comprises of a small but tightly curated color makeup designed to make traveling so much easier, and a Blanc Bath & Body line to make it seem like you’ve spent all day stretching out and soaking up the sun.

Tom Ford’s latest Soleil Collection returns with many of the product formats that we had seen last year, but with new color variations.  These will replace last summer’s offerings, and be available for the entire year ahead.  The one thing is a completely new, is the cute Clutch-Sized Lip Balm.

These 4 miniature lip offerings are the same size as the Tom Ford Lips & Boys, but in the Soleil white-gold casings.  Housed within is a completely new tinted lip balm that not only pampers the lips with moisture, they also pack a good dose of color for a jelly-like juicy pout. The small rounded-dome bullets are really cute and glide over the lips easily without much fear of smudging out of the lip lines.

As can be expected with lip balms, these are definitely sheer, though Neotropic and Fathom boast more color than L’Odisea and Cruising.  I like that they don’t start to dry out after a couple of hours the way some tinted balms do on my lips, and at the same time, they don’t make my lips feel slick and slippery.  For a lip balm, these actually have fairly impressive lasting power, although they go away with eating, they do leave a pretty light stain behind.

Returning this season is the double-deckered Cream & Powder Eye Shadow Duo.  There are 2 repromotes – Golden Peach and Naked Bronze [swatched here].  In addition, there are 2 new shades this season – Sun Worship and Young Adonis.

For some reason Sun Worship showed up much more bronze in the picture above, but it swatches out to be a cool gold.  The top layer of powdered eyeshadow is a gold glitter with a translucent base and is a great topper.  The cream eyeshadow in the jar below is a dense gold shade with highly reflective metallic finish.  The combination of the two gives greater opacity and even more shine, but does not change in terms of color.

In contrast, Young Adonis seems cooler and more muted.

The top layer of Young Adonis is a muted pale bronze with some champagne gold glitters, and is quite sheer.  In contrast, the lower level cream shade is a medium-light bronze that has more red tones than the powdered shadow.  It also has a metallic finish though not as reflective as Sun Worship.  The combination of the two results in a shade that reminds me of Platinum from Holiday 2014 [reviewed here].

The big palette in the collection is a new color variation of the Soleil Contouring Compact – Soleil Afterglow.  This is a highlighter/blush/bronzer housed in a square-shaped palette.  Compared to last year’s Afternooner, this Soleil Afterglow is noticeably cooler and much pinker in tone.

On the other hand, I found Soleil Afterglow to be even more pigmented than Afternooner, and I would recommend a very light hand with both the blusher and bronzer, and blend blend blend!

For those who prefer something more compact, the Sheer Cheek Duo returns this year with a new color variation – Paradise Lust, and a new Sheer Highlighting Duo – Reflects Gilt (shown above).  The formula is the same as last year’s Bicoastal [reviewed here], which is a designed to be used both wet and dry, and leaves a luminous finish.

As you can see, both pull warm-ish.  Paradise Lust (on the right) is noticeably warmer and more coral than last year’s Bicoastal.

Again, I feel that Paradise Lust is more pigmented than last year’s Bicoastal, but if you already have plenty of coral blushes and cannot justify getting both of them, I suggest picking up Reflects Gilt instead.  One can never have enough highlighters in this day and age, and both shades are so pretty, I am tempted to wear them on my eyes too!

For fans of Tom Ford bronzers, the beloved cult classic has been reformulated this season.  I failed to capture a picture of them at the preview session I attended, but there is a noticeable bump in the pan, so the powder is not flush with the palette but slightly raised.  Cosmetics aside, the new Ultimate Bronzer now comes in a hybrid liquid and powder formula has a bouncy airy texture that stays on for up to 10 hours.  Available in the 3 usual shades – Gold Dust, Terra, Bronze Age.  And to accompany the new bronzers, Tom Ford has released a retractable Soleil Bronzing Brush.  This is a dense synthetic brush with a pointed rounded tip.

Apart from the color collection, Tom Ford has also added a few new pieces to the Soleil Blanc body line.  I am particularly loving Soleil Blanc All Over Body Spray.  This comes in an aerated spray can, and dispenses Soleil Blanc in a cloud that feels much lighter and as a result, less sweet.  This is perhaps my favourite way to wear Soleil Blanc by far!  Not shown here is a Body Oil which is colourless and shimmer-free, but hydrates the skin after all day tanning in the sun and smells faintly of Soleil Blanc.  For those who are averse to direct sun exposure, there is a Bronzing Gel (housed in a tube that is similar to the SPF shown above) that gives a healthy touch of color to mimic a few minutes out in the sun.  This can be used on the face or all over the body, and reminds me of last year’s Radiant Moisture Souffle.

Here is a simple makeup look featuring Reflects Gilt used on the eyes, with the bronzer shade from Soleil Afterglow in the crease.  I also used Reflects Gilt on my cheeks to highlight, but the effect is lost to my camera.  On my lips is Neotropic, about 3 swipes without any primer or liner underneath.

And here is another look featuring Sun Worship dabbed to the middle of my lids, on top of Platinum from Holiday 2014.  Cheeks feature all 3 shades of Soleil Afterglow – pink blush along the cheek bones from the apples to the hairline, highlighter higher up on the cheeks, and bronzer under the cheeks to sculpt.  On my lips I’m wearing Fathom lip balm, about 3 swipes without a primer or liner underneath.

Tom Ford Summer 2017 Soleil Collection will be launched in Singapore on 10 May.  As always, be sure to get there early to avoid disappointment!

_{This post featured some products (marked with *) that were generously provided for my consideration.  All other swatches were taken during the media preview.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Tom Ford released the Private Blend Les Extraits Verts Collection last year, which comprised of 4 green-themed fragrances.  3 of them were released here in Singapore last Fall [read here], and the 4th – Vert de Fleur has only very recently hit counters.

Like most of Tom Ford’s fragrances, Vert de Fleur is intended to be unisex, but it is by far the lightest and most floral of the Les Extraits Verts Collection.  It was inspired by ’70s glamour, and has a rather boudoir-esque air of intimacy.  At first spritz, I was mesmerized by the unbridled play on florals… iris and hyacinth enchant with their shy sweetness, amped up by orange blossom and neroli.  It is an unusual floral bouquet that lingers for awhile before the usual suspects of jasmine and rose floats up as a cloud.

A smokey base of galbanum and vetiver brings Vert de Fleur closer to the gents, and personally I love borrowing fragrance notes from my better half.  As the scent settles, oakmoss and patchouli emerge, bringing with them a damp, earthy sensuality.

Tom Ford Vert de Fleur has moderate sillage and lasts about 6 hours on me before fading gently.  Of the Les Extraits Verts Collection, I find Vert de Fleur sits best on my skin, but I would really love to catch a whiff of this on a man.  Try it out for yourself at Tom Ford counters in Singapore now.

_{This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Summer times are for sailing away into the sunset, but instead I have been hard at work.  How I wish I was back on the Amalfi Coast, enjoying a chilled glass of wine by the seaside.  Instead of grappling after the ephemeral, Tom Ford has effectively distilled the essence of the Italian coast in its Neroli Portofino Collection, and the latest Tom Ford Sole di Positano EDP takes its inspiration from the beautiful cliffside village of Positano.

Tom Ford celebrates the 10th year anniversary of its Private Blend Collection this year, and what a milestone it is!  Since the very first mahogany brown flacon found its way into my heart , Tom Ford Private Blends have grown to become some of my most treasured possessions.  The Neroli Portofino Collection started out as a special cologne-style offering, it was so well loved that it has grown into its own line of fragrances over the years.  Sole di Positano is the seventh and latest member of the family.

The fragrance is perhaps the most floral and lightest of the Neroli Portofino family.  Sole di Positano starts out crisp but not overly tart, with a lovely balance between fragrant Italian bergamot and bright citrus lemon, with green petitgrain and shiso.  This gives way quickly to a clean floral bouquet comprising of ylang ylang, jasmine absolute, muguet and orange floral.  Soft musk and green moss at the base keeps the freshness with a touch of sensuality.  The entirety feels much lighter than is commonly possible with such notes, and is a stroke of masterful perfumery.

Tom Ford Sole di Positano is billed as an EDP with average sillage, but it starts to fade about the 4-hour mark, and then stays fairly close to the skin for the next 4 hours before disappearing completely.  With the hot weather that we have been having lately, this has been my most preferred scent throughout the past month.  It is out in counters now, do stop by and enjoy a whiff!

_{This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Listen up boys, there is a whole new class of girls waiting for you!  This season, Tom Ford introduces 50 brand new girls to his annual line-up of Boys and Girls Lip Color Collection.  Most of the boys from last year return [see here] with 6 new entrants, and they are joined by 50 limited edition gorgeous girls.  Named after women he admires, Tom Ford Girls come in ivory and gold clutch-sized packaging.  I selected 5 unique shades and would like to share them with you today!

Clockwise from top right: Lily, Natalia, Georgie, Isamaya, Nico

There are plenty of exuberant reds, pinks and corals in a choice of Lip Color Sheer [last seen in Summer 2015] and Ultra-rich Lip Color [from Summer 2016] formulas.  The Lip Color Sheers are lighter and sheerer than before, and come in unique shades that wear well on their own for a nude look, even better layered over others.  Even the Ultra-rich Lip Colors in this series are somewhat sheerer than their name implies, and some contain shimmers whilst others are straight cremes.

I selected 5 on a whim, based purely on the way they look in the tube.  If you have a fairly extensive lip wardrobe like me, this is a good opportunity to pick up something extraordinary, after all, the Girls are all limited edition!

• Lily is a white Lip Color Sheer that lightens any lip color it is layered over, and lends a pearlized sheen
• Natalia is a medium coppery brown with a metallic shimmery finish.  It has good medium buildable coverage, and is a lovely nude on my lips.
• Georgie is a medium raspberry pink Ultra-rich Lip Color that has medium opacity.  The finish is lightly glossy with beautiful iridescent micro-shimmers.
• Isamaya is one of the unicorn colors of the range, and is a very light lilac with an almost translucent base with some frosty shimmers.  This cools down any lip color it is layered over, and gives a purple-y tinge.
• Nico is a plummy brown Lip Color Sheer that is slightly translucent and has some lovely micro-shimmers

Here are some lip swatches to give you an idea of how these Tom Ford Girl Lip Colors look when worn on their own.  Do keep in mind that my lips are somewhat pigmented so the shades may look quite different on you.

Unless you are a translucent waif and/or favor the deathly pale look, Lily and Isamaya are best worn layered over a darker and more opaque lipstick.  So here are a couple of lip swatches for your reference:

In the top swatch, I added Lily to the middle of my lips over a creamy pink.  As you can see, Lily lightened and added a touch of pearl.  In the bottom swatch, I added Isamaya to the middle of a warm-toned red.  The result is a much cooler-toned and lightened color, with a lustrous shimmery multi-dimensional effect.

I was also intrigued by the look of Nico and Georgie.  At first meeting, I felt compelled to pick up Nico, mesmerised by the dazzling turquoise shimmers.  Immediately, I was reminded of my instantaneous attraction to Jay last year.  My next pick was Georgie, which also reminded me of Theo from last year’s Lips and Boys [see here].  But despite how they appear in the tube, I was surprised by how different they are in these side-by-side swatches:

Similarly, Natalia reminded of me of Rose Soleil and Skinnydip from Summer 2015:

Before I bore you to death with my endless exuberance about these exotic shades, here is a peek at the full 50 Tom Ford Girls:

The 4 unicorn shades pictured in the front are (from left to right): Lily, Lena, Violet and Isamaya.

Here is a full makeup look featuring Nico on my lips:

Tom Ford Boys and Girls Collection is out in counters now.  They retail for SGD50 each, and the Girls are limited edition, so do check them out soon!

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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We are counting down to the final months of this year… isn’t it unbelievable?  Work has been insane lately, because of course, all the transactions have to drop at the same time.  It’s definitely been a very productive couple of months, and I’m excited to share this bumper crop of #empties.

If you were following my Instagram (@silverkis), you may have heard that the bottom of my vanity drawer fell out last month, and I took the opportunity to clean it out.  After much deliberation, I decided to throw out 2 cream eyeshadow primers because I reckoned they are way past their shelf-life.  Rather than keep them as photo props and tempting the fates, it was much more satisfying to bin them.

1. Tom Ford Eye Primer Duo – This is a double-deckered 2-in-1 product consisting of a beige cream primer housed in a glass jar below, and a packed translucent setting powder in the upper deck.  I’ve loved this for a good part of the last 3 years ever since it was launched, but even with daily use, I barely got through half of it and never saw bottom.  Definitely pricey, but given how long it’s lasted, well worth the money!
2. Dior Backstage Eye Prime – another cream eyeshadow primer, very similar to the Tom Ford though it feels just a tad creamier.  Does not come with a setting powder though, but retails for almost half the price.  It does a decent job of holding my eyeshadow and boosting the intensity, but for some reason I never reached for it quite as often as the Tom Ford.

There were a couple of skincare empties, one I loved, the other not so much.

1. Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi+ Cleansing Oil [reviewed here] – One of my favourites from Shu Uemura’s considerable offering of cleansing oils!  Removes impurities, even the tiniest PM2.5 pollutive particles… leaves my skin clear and bright.
2. Clarins Detox Skin Booster [reviewed here] – I love the idea of these skin boosters, and when I first tried this out, it helped accelerate the healing process of my zits.  However, after the initial phase, I realized that it stopped being effective, and in fact, the acne seemed to settle in for longer periods.  It wasn’t until I had completely finished it, that I realized my skin actually got better, the extent of my breakouts was much less severe and recovered faster without the Detox booster!  Very confusing and disappointing, but I will definitely not be repurchasing.

I was most pleased with my haircare empties this month!

1. Goldwell Kerasilk Control Intensive Smoothing Mask [reviewed here] – I love Goodwell’s Kerasilk haircare range, and this is my 3rd hair mask from them that I’ve completely emptied and my top favourite!  It leaves my frizzy hair smooth and shiny, and helps tame flyaways.  So much love, I’ve repurchased already!
2. Goldwell Kerasilk Color Protective Blow-Dry Spray – I don’t have a habit of applying a protective hair spray prior to blow drying, but that completely changed after I started using this!  It not only protects my hair from heat damage, it helps to detangle and makes it easier for me to blow my hair straighter.
3. Kerastase Vita-Ciment Shampoo – Before Goldwell’s Kerasilk range entered my life, L’oreal’s Kerastase was a permanent staple in my bathroom.  I always stocked something from the straightening range, and something from this reparative line.  This giant bottle has taken a very long time to empty because once I started on Goldwell, I just fell out of love here.  It strengthens weakened, hollow hair, but it leaves my hair feeling coarser and stiffer.
4. Kerastase Cristalliste Cristal Sculpt – this is an old, discontinued product, I only recently dug it out of my warehouse and am so glad I got to experience it!  It is super lightweight, non-oily, absorbs straight away… leaving my hair smoother and straighter.  Sadly, it is no longer available as Kerastase seems to have reformulated this entire Cristalliste line.

Now onto body care…

1. La Mer The Body Refiner – the first time I tried this, I was just blown away.  It is filled with the finest diamond dust that polishes my skin and smoothens away all the bumpiness without irritating my eczema.  There is a creamy, moisturising lotion base in there that soothes and hydrates.  The surprising thing was the diamond dust lingers on long after showering, giving a luxurious sparkle to the skin so you don’t even need a shimmering body oil afterwards!
2. Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control – this is probably my 3rd bottle and to be honest, I never quite saw any improvements in my cellulite.  Of course I don’t think i’ve been diligent enough and nothing really beats exercising.
3. Lush Bubbly Shower Gel – part of last year’s Christmas collection, this smells of uplifting citrus and lathers well without stripping my skin of moisture.  I saw it’s available in a naked version now, and i’m looking forward to trying that.
4. Crabtree & Evelyn Goatmilk & Oat Body Lotion – is a lightweight fluid body moisturizer formulated with goat milk and oat.  This one smells great like powder, and keeps my skin moisturised without any trace of oiliness.  Perfect for getting dressed quickly in the mornings.  I also like that it soothes sensitive skin and pampers my body.
5. Estelle & Thild Spring Rose Blonde Body Scrub – gentle and effective, and it is lightly scented so it is suitable for both him and her!  My hubby definitely got more use out of this one than I did.

Did anything pique your interest here?

The post Empties Vol. 3: August – September 2017 appeared first on Silverkis' World.

I knew I needed to get hold of the new Tom Ford palette as soon as I laid eyes on those sneaky preview images, because of that glorious purple!  And to make it all so much more interesting, Tom Ford has mixed it up with some unconventional warm hues.  The latest Winter Soleil 2017 Collection sees the return of the eye & cheek palette and sheer cheek duo formats in new colours; as well as a brand new tinted lip oil.

Tom Ford Eye & Cheek Palette in Violet Argente is the most striking of all the palettes in this rectangular clutch format due to its bold purple shimmer shade juxtaposed with a warm brown and terracotta red.  The previous palettes that Tom Ford had released were all neutrals of varying intensities and hues, so Violet Argente is a nice change of pace.  These palettes are my favorite travel companions as they pack a complementary blush and highlighter in a sleek portable size, and I really welcome the addition of a fun colour (not to mention my personal bias towards purple) to the family.

Here are the swatches:

• The blush shade on the left of the palette is a neutral-toned blush pink with a hint of shimmer
• Eyeshadow quad in the middle of the palette swatched in clockwise direction starting from top left – pale pink shimmer with a semi-translucent base
• Top right eyeshadow – medium terracotta red with pink micro-shimmers
• Bottom right eyeshadow – medium-dark purple with violet micro-shimmers.  This shade lacks opacity and does not apply smoothly.  It took multiple swipes and pats to achieve the intensity and even coverage shown in the swatch above.
• Bottom left eyeshadow – medium-dark brown with a frosty finish
• The highlight shade on the right of the palette is a frosty pale pink that shows up easily and blends out well

Violet Argente has been highly criticised on social media because the star shade on the palette seems to fail many people’s expectations.  Indeed, as noted in the description above, it takes much more work than one should when it comes to using Tom Ford makeup.  But its characteristic does not differ much from Tom Ford’s other glitter shades, and when used layered over one of the other shades, it shows up quite easily.  If you insist on using it as an actual purple shade, that is still possible with a good fat pencil brush as demonstrated in the eye look above.  I started with the terracotta red over the inner 3/4 of my lid, followed by purple on the outer corner.  Blended the outer V with the brown, taking it down along my lower lash line.  Finished with the pale shimmery pink on my inner corner.

Here’s the full makeup look featuring the eye look shown above, accompanied by the blush and highlighter (which the camera has failed to capture) shades on my cheeks.  On the lips is Guerlain Rouge G in Glamorous Cherry from the Holiday 2017 collection [reviewed here].

Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Lavender Lure is the latest shade offering of this nifty blush/highlight travel duo.  The small squarish compact contains a blush in the bottom and a complementary highlight on top, and the two may be used blended together as a luminous blush.  They may be used both wet or dry, though I’ve never felt compelled to use any of my blushes wet before.

Compared to its predecessors, Lavender Lure is the coolest-tone of them all.  However, I did not find it very much different from Bicoastal, with just a very slight change in undertone, but if you already have one, you probably don’t need the other.

And to round up the colour makeup offerings from the latest Tom Ford Winter Soleil Collection, are a handful of Lip Slick.  There are 4 tinted shades to choose from, and all are formulated with Jojoba and Coconut oils to protect and nourish lips.  The product is a light liquid that is dispensed by a twist-click mechanism at the bottom of the pens, and applied via the roller-ball tip.

The 2 shades that I have are Hibiscus Kiss and Bitten Berry.  As you can see from the swatches above, Hibiscus Kiss is more fuchsia, whereas Bitten Berry is a muted plum.  The colour sheers out substantially though, leaving no more than a mere whisper of a tint.  The Lip Slick does feel very pampering on my chapped lips though, but it does not last and goes away with a mere sip of water.

Here is another makeup look featuring the Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Lavender Lure on the cheeks, and Bitten Berry Lip Slick on the lips.  On the eyes is an upcoming SS2018 makeup palette that I’m currently working on… *multitasking*.  I do think the Lip Slicks can be a nice alternative to glosses, if you use it over a liner, or lipstick (although in the latter I would recommend using a clean brush instead of the rollerball).

Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2017 Collection is out in counters now.  Everything here will be available for at least 6 months, until the next Summer Soleil collection arrives.  Did anything here pique your interest?

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Goodness, is it Summer already?!  I suppose somewhere in the world, it is always sunny and fabulous.  Tom Ford released its Summer Soleil 2018 collection about a month ago in the US, and I had my eye on the new eye & cheek palette right away.  In addition to releasing colour variations of some core members of the soleil line, Tom Ford has also introduced a couple of brand new items this season.  Here are my picks from Tom Ford’s summer 2018 collection:

Tom Ford’s Soleil Eye & Cheek Palettes are such an instant hit with fans that the brand has since branched into bolder and more colourful hues.  Last Winter we had the lovely Violet Argente [reviewed here] which was a toe-dip away from safe neutrals; now mere months later we have a deeper and more serious play on bold reds.

Tom Ford Soleil d’Ambre Eye & Cheek Palette* is the 5th member of this brilliant family of palettes, and I was irrevocably drawn to it at first sight.  The mix of muted reds with taupe, and a bold shade of blush to accompany the eyes, is so unconventional and unapologetically seductive.

The shades, from left to right, are:

• Blush – medium-dark terracotta red with a satin finish.  Fine golden shimmers give it a warm tone, and medium pink micro-shimmers lend a lustrous finish to the cheeks.  This is a very pigmented blush, so I recommend using your airiest brush and pressing rather than sweeping over the pan, and layering more if needed.  Perhaps due to the intensity of the shade, I found it required more work to diffuse the edges once applied.
• Eyeshadow 1 – pale pink with a semi-sheer base and a frosty finish.  This has a slightly warm undertone that complements the overall palette.  Best used as an inner corner highlight, though it can be layered with either of the 2 darker eyeshadow shades at will.
• Eyeshadow 2 – light-medium barley gold shimmer with a translucent base.  This is a glitter topper, which is designed to be used over any of the other shades for a bit of pop.  As always, it is very fine and the hue is elegant enough to be used all over (even over the cupid’s bow for a bit of highlight if you so desire!).
• Eyeshadow 3 – medium taupe with a satin finish.  There is some sparse violet and champagne micro-shimmer interspersed for a dimensional effect.  If this was available as a single, I imagine it would sell out immediately!
• Eyeshadow 4 – medium plummy-red with a satin finish.  Violet micro-shimmers bring this shade to life under low-light, but ordinarily applied on my lids, it is much less obtrusive.  This is slightly warm-toned as befits the overall palette, but it works well on my cooler skin tone, and is as red as it can possibly get to be worn on a daily basis.
• Highlight – light warm-toned peach with a strong metallic finish.  I use this interchangeable as an inner eye corner highlight as well, and it stays on all day without fading.

I was reminded by Liz’s review [here] of Tom Ford’s Eye & Cheek Compact in Pink Glow from Summer 2015 [reviewed here] and was surprised by how similar it is with Soleil d’Ambre.  And here is a side-by-side comparison for your reference:

In my opinion, Soleil d’Ambre is much improved from Pink Glow by tuning the overall hue somewhat cooler and deeper, and adding that spectacular taupe.  That taupe changes the entire eye look, and makes the palette much more versatile.  Pink Glow really lacked an alternate deeper shade, which is part of the reason why it has remained largely untouched in my collection over the years.

You can compare this eye look below with the one I created with Pink Glow [here]:

I used the taupe all over my lid, and the red in the outer v, feathering out to the crease for an interesting twist on the smoky eye.  Pressed some of the glitter on the middle of my lid for dimension, and popped the pale pink into the inner corner.

This is the full makeup look with the matching blusher and highlighter from Soleil d’Ambre on my cheeks.  On my lips is the Ultra Shine Lip Color in Ravenous… coming right up!

I know dropping USD155 on a palette is not for everybody, not to mention red is not everybody’s cup of tea.  Fret not, there are still plenty of beauties to obsess over, starting with the Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Exotica Flora!

As with past releases, Exotica Flora is much more pigmented than its name implies.  Tom Ford has designed these sheer cheek duos to be used wet or dry, but I never felt compelled to use them wet.  Breaking from the tradition of pairing a highlighter with a blusher, this summer’s rendition features 2 bright cheek hues!

I was surprised when I swatched Exotica Flora because I had expected the upper pink shade to be quite different from the lower coral.  Interestingly, when I swatched them side-by-side, their warm undertones united them and the difference is made much less visible.  Notably, the two shades are of equal intensity and have a satin finish with a hint of luminosity.  I also compared them with the blusher shade from previous Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duos, because the blogosphere has been describing Exotica Flora as being the love-child of Paradise Lust and Lavender Lure.  There are definitely similarities, but the differences are obvious too.  On the cheeks, Exotica Flora is bolder and would look really beautiful on darker skin tones.  For fairer ladies, the denser pack of this palette helps you pick up less pigment, just go easy with the brush.

The innovative product in this year’s summer soleil is the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Glow Stick in Sunstruck.  This is a duo-ended cream cheek in a jumbo twist-up pen format.  One end houses a gorgeous orange blusher, and the other contains a warm golden highlighter.  Sunstroke is the warmest cheek shade ever released by Tom Ford so far, and I have swatched it next to Paradise Lust to show you the difference.  The cream formula is so easy to blend you can do it with either fingers or brush as you like, and it stays on well throughout the day.  The pigmentation is far superior to the palette versions released last Spring 2017 [see here], it contains far less slip, and stays on much better.

There are several lip options this Summer 2018, choose from a pampering tinted balm, sheer glistening nudes, and intensely pigmented and lustrously creamy lipsticks.

The 2 Tom Ford Lip Color Sheers this season are Nudiste and Bambou.  Nudiste is a light golden peach that is very close to but slightly more pink than Skinny Dip [reviewed here].  Bambou is a dark bronze with violet and golden micro-shimmer flecks, it is very elegant on the lips, and very different from Rose Soleil which comes closest in my memory [reviewed here].

Tom Ford Lumiere Lip is a very creamy and soothing lip balm formulated with hyaluronic acid to plump, natural plant extracts to soften and condition the lips, and antioxidants to protect.  It looks like a bright papaya shade in the tube, but reacts to the natural pH level of the lips to create a personalized tint.

The Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Color is a new lip formula for the Soleil line, but the flattened bullet and elongated slim tubes are reminiscent of the older Lip Color Shines.  There are 11 shades to choose from, each intensely pigmented, creamy and luxurious on the lips, and leave a lustrous shine.  I was surprised by how long-lasting these are, remaining intact even after munching my way through a breakfast bun and coffee.  The 2 shades I have are Ravenous – a brightened fuchsia with a cool blue-base; and Luscious – a dark purple-brown.

Tom Ford makes my favourite cream eyeshadow formula, and I’m always excited to see new shades being released.  There are 2 new shades this season, and the one I have here is the Cream and Powder Eye Color in Emerald Isles.  It features a deep smoky forest green cream shadow in the lower jar, and a sheer golden shimmer powder shadow on the upper deck.  For a green shade, it is neutral- even cool-toned, with the golden shimmer adding a slight warmth.  For those of us who have cool undertones, Emerald Isles works well and brings out brown eyes beautifully.

Compared to other Tom Ford Cream Eye Colors, Emerald Isles has more of a gel-like texture, and sheers out substantially.  On my oily hooded lids, it stays put all day without creasing nor fading when applied over a primer, which is as good as it ever gets for me.

For this eye look, I applied the cream Emerald Isles over my lid, starting near the lash line and blending upwards.  Thereafter, I patted the golden powder shimmer over the middle of my lid and added a little in my inner corner using a pencil brush.  To get a smokier edge, I used a dense flat-topped eyeshadow brush to build up the green in the outer corner, blending downwards along the lower lash line.

For the makeup look above, I paired Cream & Powder Eye Color Emerald Isles with Shade & Illuminate Glow Stick in Sunstruck and Bambou Lip Color Sheer.

Have you picked anything from Tom Ford Soleil Summer 2018 yet?

_{This post featured products (except those marked with *) that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

The post Tom Ford Summer Soleil 2018 appeared first on Silverkis' World.

The first quarter of the year is over in a blink, and now we are accelerating right into summer.  2018 has been a very productive start for me in many aspects of my life, though the ride has been bumpy with several members of my family falling severely ill.  Nonetheless many seeds that were sowed last year are starting to germinate and take hold, so I’m looking forward to a fruitful harvest.  On the beauty side of things, many of the brands that were once so elusive are now launching in Singapore – be sure to follow me on Instagram [@silverkis] to catch my stories on the latest launch parties!  Not everything shiny and new are the best though, I discovered several HG products that I am going to share with you today.

Haircare

I emptied out this KMS Moistrepair Shampoo & Conditioner duo faster than I expected.  They cleansed well without stripping my hair of its natural moisture, and actually helped to restore natural protective coating on my damaged hair.  I can feel my hair getting stronger and smoother, and much more manageable – I notice it much more now that I’ve had to switch out to something else!  The conditioner is excellent at untangling, and also keeps my hair soft and silky.  It does not weigh my hair down unnecessarily though I feel it keeps my crazy flyaways and naturally wavy hair in check.  Fyi, I typically use a treatment mask in place of conditioner on a daily basis, but I never felt the need for more with KMS Moistrepair Conditioner.

The Aveda Color Conditioner has been a staple in my bathroom for the past decade or longer.  It deposits color on the hair, helping me maintain my dye-job so that I can stretch out the visits to the salon.  There are several shades in the range, and I use Clove which is a red-based shade meant to enrich warm tones in medium brown hair.  I recommend using it together with the matching shampoo once a week or fortnightly depending on your hair.

Makeup

Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Cushion to many of my friends over the past year, as this is one of my favourite cushion foundations!  The coverage is medium-full, yet incredibly lightweight and the finish is so skin-like and forgiving on flakes.  You can read the full review here.  This is as good as the YSL Fusion Ink Cushion [see here] at a fraction of the price.

I had to bin my old Tom Ford Extreme Mascara in Black Plum because (a) it has been lying in my stash for 3 years – omg!; and (b) is completely dried out.  This was a limited edition color for Spring 2015 [reviewed here], but the same formula is available permanently in black.  I recommend it for Tom Ford fanatics, but personally I don’t have a habit of investing in high end mascaras because they don’t have very long shelf lives.

Benefit Gimme Brow is another one that is probably expired, but the terrible secret is I’ve been digging out the last crummy bit for as long as I possibly could.  The small size makes this so easy to travel with, and the packaging is so cute.  But now that I’ve had to switch out to something else, I realized how inadequate this formula is at holding my brow hairs in place and for filling in any sparse areas.  Kudos to Benefit for keeping this product around for as many years as it has been, but it’s probably time to update the formula.

Skincare

This is a bumper month for skincare because I literally love every single product here!  Sometimes it seems to take forever and I’m tempted to bin stuff that I don’t like, but it has been a joy to use up every last drop of the products here.

Kate Somerville makes some amazing cleansers, and this EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser has been one of the best acne-treatments I’ve tried.  It contains 3% sulfur to reduce and prevent blemishes, unclog pores, and balance oily skin.  This is nicely balanced out with a patented Botanical Complex blended with Honey and Rice Bran Extracts to calm and soothe skin.  It foams up just nice, does not smell funky, and cleanses my skin without leaving it feeling parched and squeaky.  I love that my skin looks brighter afterwards, and it does not irritate my sensitive skin.  Cannot rave about this enough, please go and try it out for yourself!

Pixi is finally here in Singapore <<check out my Instagram stories!!!  Their cult-favourite Glow Tonic contains 5% Glycolic Acid to exfoliate and unclog pores, leaving skin brighter and smoother.  Aloe vera, ginseng and botanical extracts work together to nourish and treat the skin.  It can be used morning and night, but since I have several other products in my routine that contain acids, I reserve this for alternate mornings.  Immediately after sweeping this with a saturated cotton pad, my skin looks brighter and feels crisper.  I also like to place cotton bud saturated with this Glow Tonic over zits after I pop them, to zap and dry the suckers up.

Switching gears completely, Chanel Sublimage Supreme combines a proprietary magnetic water complex for faster and more optimal absorption by the skin, with Vanilla Planifolia PFA and intense Vanilla Planifolia water to improve cellular regeneration and forms a protective film over the surface of the skin.  It visibly boosts the efficacy of my entire skincare regime, and amps up the hydration of my skin.  I reviewed it back in 2015 [here], put it aside for a long time and recently went back to it, and was surprised by how much I still love it!

I dabbled in some Tom Ford skincare when the brand first launched in Singapore years ago, but the products I picked were too masculine for me to fully enjoy.  The line was originally designed to be unisex, but sometime last year Tom Ford reformulated the line and added new products such as this Tom Ford Purifying Cleansing Oil.  I love that it removes every last trace of makeup without leaving my skin feeling greasy, and I could happily skip double cleansing without feeling uncomfortable.  The texture is light and the scent is very pleasant, neither overly floral nor musky so that it can really be enjoyed by both men and women equally.  I’m glad to see Tom Ford is finally paying more attention to its skincare range, and this Purifying Cleansing Oil is definitely a nice way to get started.

The other item that surprised me in this round of empties is the La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion.  I am often asked which is my favourite whitening skincare product, and this definitely ranks high in my books.  It speaks volumes that I emptied it within months of getting started, so quickly that I have forgotten to review it properly!  La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion works not only on melanin-induced spots, it also soothes irritation in skin to bring down redness, and shields the skin from dulling environmental pollution.  My skin is often sensitive to Vitamin C products, but La Prairie has managed to encapsulate a stable and powerful form of Vitamin C so that its full potential is only unleashed when pumped, and yet without irritating even the most sensitive skin.  I didn’t realise how much my skin has been pampered by this until I stopped using it!

The other serum that I have thoroughly enjoyed is my Skin Inc Custom Blended Serum.  To be honest, I don’t even remember what was in that bottle, the components had completely rubbed off from the back by the time I was done with it.  I did remember hyaluronic acid being one of the components and it definitely helped keep my skin moist and plumped.  This is generally my observation of all the Skin Inc serums I’ve tried, but they’re not always the most memorable.

Tatcha makes the first bio-cellulose mask that I’ve ever tried and still love to this day, so I ordered the Luminous Deep Hydration Eye Mask* the moment it was released.  However, for some reason I can’t seem to fall in love with this.  It keeps sliding off my face even when I lie down flat on my back, and it stings whenever I have red patches on my cheeks (which is quite often unfortunately).  So for me, these do not serve the purpose of soothing my under-eyes when I most need them.

I only recently got the hype surrounding Supergoop sunscreens, and I simply adore the Everyday Sunscreen SPF50.  It is oil-free and water-resistant which makes it perfect for lounging by the pool.  I have tried it both on my face and body, and I love it for both!  It is lightweight, non-greasy, no funky smells, and layers beautifully under makeup.  However, I stopped applying it on my face but kept it for my arms only because it contains avobenzone.  Yes, I’ve taken to wearing SPF50 on my arms because I’ve recently noticed an increase in dark spots forming on my arms, probably from being exposed to the sun while driving!

The last product in today’s mix is the Yves Rocher Stop Blemish Lotion.  This is generously sized for a spot-treatment, and so affordably priced.  I have tried all of the popular drugstore and cult brands out there, and this is hands-down my favourite non-prescriptive product.  It is gentle enough to be used under makeup, is effective at reducing the size of my zits without drying up the surrounding skin and causing scarring.  I love that it doesn’t sting nor leave my skin feeling tight, and actually works!  It is no miracle spot buster though, do not expect to wake up to blemish-free skin overnight.  But at least it doesn’t relegate me to walking around with pink crusty dots all over my face!

It really takes me a crazy amount of time to write these empties posts… brevity really isn’t my strong trait.  And there were a couple of products that really deserved their own mini-review here before I finally send them to the recycle bins.  I hope you’ve enjoyed the lengthy read.  Let me know if anything here spoke to you!

_{Almost everything in this post was generously provided for my consideration.  The only item purchased by myself is marked with a (*).  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

The post Empties Vol. 5: Life Updates & Beauty Stories appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford has been unrelenting in changing up its makeup offerings lately!  First the brand redefined its eye colour offering by breaking up several of its well-loved eye colour quads and offering them as singles in an updated formula; and now it is going a step further by pushing out an entire wardrobe of never-before-seen colours dripping in shimmers and foil.  Next, the brand has reimagined one of my personal favourite patent finish lip colour as a new lip lacquer, pushing it to the maximum boundaries in terms of colours and finishes.  This SS2018, Tom Ford heralds in the future of makeup with the Tom Ford Extrême Collection!

The Tom Ford Extrême Collection was released earlier this year in the US, but has now just been launched in Singapore.  The collection that we have here consists of 2 product lines – the Tom Ford Shadow Extrême, and Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Extrême .  I have full swatches for you today, because this collection is only available exclusively on Sephora.sg [unaffiliated link], so hopefully this post will be helpful!

The new Tom Ford Shadow Extrême break from the conventional mahogany and gold that is signature of the brand, and come in sleek highly reflective silver polished metal casings.  The opening mechanism is similar to the Private Shadows, the cover is held firmly in place by clasping to the signature plate that swings forward.  The entirety has a very futuristic feel that I love, but it is the contents within that makes my heart flutter.  With 20 brand new shades, all ultra-pigmented in 2 finishes – micronized glitter and foil.  Here are the swatches in the same order as the shades presented above:

Most of the shades have really amazing pigmentation and colour-payoff, the only exception is the blue TFX9 which reminded me of Night Sky Cream and Powder Eye Color from Holiday 2015 [see here] that had the same problem.  The glitter foil shades are a mixed bag, some of them had a sheer base (e.g. TFX16, TFX18, and TFX20) whilst others had better opacity.  This is not a big problem because they are anyway meant to be patted over a base shade, but the glitters are much chunkier than anything Tom Ford has ever released in the past and they do fallout, so I suggest using a fixing base for the glitters to adhere properly.

The 2nd part of the collection consists of the brand new Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Extrême.  These are billed as lip glosses, but they dry down quickly and then are virtually bullet proof.  Consistent with the rest of the collection, these Lip Lacquer Extrêmes come in a shiny silver tube with the bottom 1cm left clear so you can quickly see-through the colour of the shade contained within.  The top twists up to reveal a standard doe-foot applicator which allows the product to be spread out evenly and efficiently, and also gets around the contours of the lips easily.  There are 8 shades and here are the swatches:

All of the shades have a micro-fine shimmer to them, and thankfully they are imperceptible on my lips.  Some of the shades have a duo-chrome cast to them (e.g. Loveless, Loveshock, Panty Pink) which is unusual and executed immaculately.  They are all edgy, and some are more statement-making than others, all equally bold and unconventional.  One way to tone them down for everyday wear is to dab just a tiny bit on the center of the lips and then spread it out using a finger or brush for a less intense finish.

For this makeup look, I applied Shadow Extreme TFX4 all over my eyelids, followed by a pat of TFX15 in the middle and TFX20 in the inner corner.  On the lips I’m wearing Lip Lacquer Extreme Torch sheered out with a finger.  Interestingly the duo chrome nature of the shade pulled it almost pink/red when sheered out rather than orange when fully opaque.

Tom Ford Extrême Collection is limited edition and available exclusive on Sephora.sg now.  Will you be picking anything up?

_{This post featured some products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

The post Be Bold. Be Extrême. Be Tom Ford! appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford is back with a new class of Boys & Girls for 2018.  As before, there are 50 in total – 25 boys and 25 girls.  The boys are clad in the brand’s signature dark mahogany with gold trims, and the girls in pristine white and gold.  This time round, there are 15 new shades on each side, with 10 returning favourites.  I swatched the 30 new shades (a couple were missing from the testers unfortunately), and here they are for your viewing pleasure!

In case you are new to the brand, the Boys & Girls are clutch-sized editions of Tom Ford’s classic lipsticks, standing at a petite 2ml versus the regular 3ml.  The girls come in Ultra Rich and Lip Color Sheer formulas, both with a glossy finish and varying levels of translucency.  In contrast, the boys are richer and more saturated, with either Matte or Cream formula.

Here are the swatches of the new shades of Girls from the class of 2018!

• 29 Uma – pale warm beige with a cream finish
• 32 Tomoko – light warm pink with a slight shimmery finish
• 30 Camilla – light brown-beige with a luminous finish
• 29 Ava – light pink-beige with a luminous finish
• 30 Gal – light-medium rose pink with a cream finish

• 36 Cardi – dark purple with lilac, silver and blue micro-glitters giving it a dual-chrome cast.  Very sheer, best used as a lip topper over another color.
• 35 Bella – brightened red with a cool blue-toned base, cream finish
• 35 Sonja – dark red with a cool berry hue and cream finish
• 34 Helena – dark plummy red with a slightly sheer, luminous finish
• 34 Imari – brightened fuchsia with a luminous finish
• 33 Kaia – dark purple with a luminous finish
• 32 Letitia  – medium warm-toned purple with a cream finish
• 31 Cindy – light-medium lavender with a cream finish

Unfortunately at the time of swatching, Liora and Jessica are missing.

And here are the Tom Ford Boys of 2018!

• OM Mason – medium cool pink with a cream finish
• OG Alistair – medium barley beige with a cream finish
• OH River – medium warm russet beige with a cream finish
• OP Hudson – light rose with a cream finish
• OR Bryan – light warm pink with a cream finish

• 99 Warren – brightened red with a luminous finish
• 33 Armie – dark fuchsia red with a matte finish
• 32 Jagger – brightened coral red with a matte finish
• Ox Li – medium pink with a cream finish
• Ow Kendrick – medium vermillion with a cream finish

• OK Donovan – warm brown with a pearl finish
• OT Jordan – dark ox-blood with a pearl finish
• 31 Lukas – brightened salmon pink with a matte finish
• OL Chadwick – dark chocolate with a luminous cream finish
• ON Scott – dark plum with a luminous cream finish

These Tom Ford Boys & Girls 2018 are already out in counters and are also available at Sephora Singapore.  Which ones do you have your eyes on?

The post Tom Ford Boys & Girls 2018 – swatches! appeared first on Silverkis' World.

Tom Ford never does things half-hearted, so when the latest Tom Ford Traceless Touch Cushion Compact Foundation dropped, I knew it was going to be unlike anything I’ve ever tried.  The best part, it is exclusive to the UK and Asia!

I was first impressed by the casing, luxe mahogany trimmed with gold.  When every brand in the market is trying to outdo each other with fancier and more heavily decorated cushion cases; I really appreciate the minimalistic aesthetic of the Tom Ford cushion compact, its clean lines and sleek flat top.  Even the cushion puff applicator bears a grosgrain ribbon with Tom Ford embroidered on it (rather than printed), a detail that speaks of the luxe and an eye for detail.

Tom Ford has formulated this Traceless Touch Foundation with the brand’s signature Infusing Complex which has the ability to boost skin’s nature repair mechanism and SPF45/PA++++ to protect skin from damaging UV rays.  Full list of ingredients may be found here.

There are currently only 8 shades available, and other than 5.5 Bisque, the shades run light.  The same shade names are used, though for Singapore the shades usually start from Cream and this time Tom Ford is bringing in 3 shades lighter.  The difference is that whilst there is usually a distinct pink/yellow difference in undertone with Tom Ford foundations, this new Traceless Touch Foundation seems to be more uniformly neutral.

I always find myself in between shades when it comes to Tom Ford foundations, and generally opt for a lighter shade for a fresher finish.  Linen is my best option in both Traceless Perfecting Foundation [reviewed here] and the Waterproof Foundation and Concealer [reviewed here], and have picked the same for Traceless Touch.  However, no 2 Linens are alike, though their relative intensities may be the same, the undertones are different so I would highly recommend heading to a counter in person to find your best shade match.

Notwithstanding, the relatively sheerer finish of the Tom Ford Traceless Touch Foundation allows it to blend in better with the skin, so differences in shades are less obvious.  And here is a half-faced before and after comparison:

^{**Please click on image to open in a separate window and zoom}

Tom Ford Traceless Touch Foundation has a beautiful satin-matte finish that is quite unlike any other cushions that I’ve encountered so far.  The finish is so smooth it emits a glow that gives my skin a porcelain like appearance.  It is certainly the sheerest of all Tom Ford foundations, but it does a decent job of concealing the redness around my nose and dark circles.  The Traceless Touch Foundation dries very quickly upon application, so it is important to work fast and in small areas.  Once it dries and sets, it does not budge, and if you try to blend or layer more, it starts to get streaky.  On the flip side, the foundation stays put all day, and does not fade or smudge as the day progresses.  I always wear my makeup with a primer, but I found that this Tom Ford Traceless Touch Foundation does not layer well over any of my primers, instead it is best applied over well hydrated fresh skin.  In any case, it has such remarkable longevity that no primer is necessary, so I can save the extra few minutes in the morning!

The lightweight, long-lasting and perfecting skin-like finish of the Tom Ford Traceless Touch Cushion Compact Foundation has made this my favourite foundation from the brand.  Its luxe case is also one that I secretly thrill to have in my purse.

_{This post featured a product that was provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Another season heralds a new Tom Ford Soleil collection, and with it, the new Winter Soleil 2018 Eye and Cheek Palette. This palette reminds me of sunshine setting over the horizon, and is perfect for an escapade away from the cold northern winter to a luxurious resort, and it arrived just in time for my Maldives holiday!

The new Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2018 Eye & Cheek Palette is formulated with a gel-powder texture designed to be used wet / dry, which makes it uniquely different from previous iterations of such Soleil palettes. Otherwise, the ivory-and-gold casing is similar, and comprises of a blush, highlight and 4 eyeshadows.

I swatched the shades in corresponding placement relative to their positions on the palette:

I must admit Tom Ford’s wet/dry formula for cheeks is not one of my favourites, and as you can see from the swatches above, the blush shade lacks pigmentation when applied dry. It takes several vigorous swirls of a very dense cheek brush to achieve any sort of colour on my cheeks and I do not have the patience for that. At the same time, I am not a fan of applying my makeup wet so the option is not very practical for my preference. Otherwise, the blush itself is a rather pretty warm-toned peach-pink with a golden undertone.

The highlighter on the right end of the palette is much better pigmented and shows up with an intense champagne metallic flash with a single swipe.

There are 4 eyeshadows arranged in the middle of the palette, in clockwise direction starting from top left:

• Light warm-toned metallic gold
• Pale warm-toned pink with a metallic finish
• Dark purplish-blue in a satin finish sprinkled with golden micro-shimmers
• Medium-dark copper with a satin finish and sparse golden micro-shimmers

Generally speaking, the pigmentation is softer than most other Tom Ford eyeshadows that I’ve tested so far, although this allows the intended effect of a light wash of sun-touched skin. The intensity is immediately transformed when applied with a damp brush. At the same time, I did not have any problems getting the dark purple to show up even when applied dry.

Personally, I feel this Winter Soleil 2018 Eye & Cheek Palette is better suited for a nude-makeup look, quite a departure from the heavier party palettes available this season.

Alternatively, it is entirely possible to create a smokier makeup look with Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2018 Eye & Cheek Palette by using the dark purple on the outer corner for greater definition.

What do you think about this latest Tom Ford palette? Hope you’re all having a wonderful holiday season!

_{This post featured a product that was provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Hello 2019! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and loved ones. My son started primary school yesterday, which is a new milestone for him and a whole new change for the entire household as we all have to adapt to his new schedule. In previous years I’ve made resolutions relating to (buying less) makeup and (doing more) social media, but this year I find my interests straying in a whole new direction. I’d like to commit to living more in the moment, finding new experiences and hopefully having more memorable vacations with my son. I may be back home but my heart and mind are still tethered to that glorious week spent in the Maldives, and in case you hadn’t seen our videos yet, please do subscribe and check out Ezra’s youtube channel here (shameless plug!).

It may seem odd to kick off the year with an empties post, but there is an immense sense of achievement when I am able to properly bin a bunch of products without a sense of waste, and to memorialise them here on my blog. 2019 had seen the launch of many brands in Singapore, not all of them new in the world, but they certainly took their time. There wasn’t anything earth-shatteringly innovative that I’d seen, and personally am feeling a little tired by many brands, with the exception of Chanel which keeps growing stronger with every season. As such, I find it difficult to select “bests” or “worsts” for the year, instead I go back to my staples many of which are perennial favourites as you will find out below.

I go through hair and body products at a regular clip, so I often start my empties post there.  Unfortunately, makeup takes me far longer, and even though I started the year with the hopes of panning some powder, that target proved elusive as I switch up my eyeshadows with every season and I’ve been putting my cream products on rotation more often in an effort to prevent them from turning bad before I can make a dent. Regardless, I still managed to empty out a good dozen of makeup products over the year, and here is the star of the lot which I plan on replacing the next time I find myself shopping for a foundation.

Makeup

1. La Mer The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation [reviewed here] is my favourite foundation as it gives a soft-focus radiant finish to my face, is comfortable to wear and long-lasting to boot. I started out wearing it daily because I loved it so, and then towards the end I saved it only for special occasions. There are several other foundations that I love, but none compares to this. Of course, the fact that the shade Linen is a perfect match for me makes a huge difference as well.
2. Cle de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara [reviewed here] is one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried. It lengthens and defines in an elegant way without clumping nor weighing lashes down. I love that it doesn’t smudge on me, and is completely fuss-free, but the price (SGD73) makes me weep. Generally I don’t feel as strongly about mascaras as I do foundations, and at this price point there are excellent alternatives.
3. Dior Diorshow Colour & Contour [reviewed here] was from the Spring 2016 collection, and since it is a cream formula, is technically expired and unsafe for use on eyes. However, I was quite fond of this Iris shade and had been carefully using it from time to time. Sadly though, the eyeshadow flew out of its pencil-shaped casing one day when I was opening it, landed on the floor and broke into pieces. So as fate wants it, the bin it is. This past year we’ve seen other pen-types eyeshadow products, some cream like this, others liquid. But in general, I think this particular Diorshow Colour & Contour formula is better, the pencil liner end was relatively budge-proof and the colour pairings are more to my liking. If Dior ever releases these again, I’d probably spring for one.
4. It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Reviver Lipstick Stain is a lip balm that turns into a pretty lip stain according to your natural tones. I apply this as a lip treatment every morning before makeup, and it protects my lips from all the various kinds of products that I test out. Surprisingly, even with my daily swipes, this tube lasted me the entire year! Even on weekends, when I head out to the market bare-faced, this gives me a nice natural-looking pink lips without the need for lipsticks. I like the lightweight, non-greasy feel of this one, and it perfectly balances my lips’ needs for hydration.
5. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is my 2nd tube this year, it is a staple and I always have 1 on my desk at work. I love that it soothes my lips and keeps them looking polished with a coat of colour. I appreciate very much that it comes with SPF15 protection, as my lips have a history of breaking out with cold sores at random and excess sun exposure is one of the triggers. It was surprising to me that there are not many lip products out there with sun protection, so ever since I discovered Fresh, I’ve always kept it on hand!

Skincare

1. Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Cream [reviewed here] is hands-down my favourite moisturizer of the year! I don’t remember the last time I emptied a jar of moisturizer, so the fact that I accomplished this is a feat to crow about. The gel texture feels crisp and refreshing on the skin, and it keeps my skin well hydrated and plump all day, across all seasons. It is heavily scented as with the rest of the line, but I’ve had no problems with it despite my sensitive skin. In fact, I’m a huge fan of the entire Hydra Beauty range, so I would highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from dehydrated skin.
2. Chanel Sublimage La Brume is an intense revitalizing mist from another of my favorite skincare ranges from Chanel. It is part of a 5-vial set and is every bit as precious as all the other Sublimage items. I initially bought it to help me with my additional travels, but loved it so much I took to spritzing the fine mist all over my face every day whenever I am feeling tired at work, or too hot after lunch. It does not affect my makeup, and it does not leave my skin feeling sticky. Instead, it cools me down, soothes my skin, rehydrates and leaves a soft glow. It is definitely a splurge, but there is no other mist that have been able to replace it in my arsenal.
3. Estee Lauder New Dimension Neck & Chest Treatment [reviewed here] is one of the rare creams that my neck is able to tolerate without breaking out in itchy eczema. I enjoyed the silky cream and I found it helped to smooth out the many lines that I’ve developed over the years and also tone up my sagging jowl. It comes with a massaging tool but I’ve been too lazy to use it, though whenever I bother to I noticed a visible lifting effect.
4. Tattoo The Deep Cleanse [reviewed here] was a recent find and immediately became one of my favourite cleansers. I love everything about it, from texture to scent, it is simply perfection. Despite having exfoliating beads inside and the harsh-sounding name, I found it to be very gentle on my sensitive dehydrated skin, and a pleasure to use on a daily basis. I already have several backups of this, so don’t be surprised to see this again in future empties posts. The only drawback about this product is the squeeze bottle that dispenses in giant dollops which is wasteful, and the brand logo fell out after a few squeezes. But otherwise, the product contained within is simply beautiful.
5. Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence [reviewed here] is the most lightweight of all the essences I’ve used / own, and to be honest I’m not fond of the smell which is somewhat vinegar-y. For my dehydrated skin, I’m also not sure if it really made a difference. I’ve also been trying to streamline my skincare routine, so watery essences in general no longer serve much of a purpose for me.
6. La Mer Cleansing Micellar Water [reviewed here] cleanses incredibly well and yet still respectful of skin’s natural hydration barrier. I am generally not a fan of micellar water as most of them sting my skin and are not able to remove my heavy foundation completely. The reason I liked this La Mer is because it performs top-notch yet does not sting me. Having said that, I used it a couple of times to remove sunscreen and stage makeup (after his school performances) from my son’s face and he complained it stung. So, for those with extremely sensitive or irritated skin, I would recommend trying other oil or balm type of makeup removers.
7. Cle de Peau Synactif Lotion was 1 of the products that I managed to rescue this year before they expired. This is from the brand’s prestigious range and contains exclusive ingredients to brighten, even out skin tone and hydrate skin. Thankfully, it is not as harsh as Essential Correcting Refiner [see here] which I abhorred, but I am still not a fan. The Synactif Soap [here] can be a rather stripping cleanser and I would not pair it with this Synactif Lotion as I find it insufficiently restorative. Instead, if you are looking for a lotion that helps to remove the final stubborn traces of makeup or grime after cleansing, or a lotion with gentle exfoliating action, then I will suggest you take a look at this. However, at the rich price point, I think there are many other alternatives one might consider.

Bodycare

Somehow as I was photographing these, I found myself arranging by colour theme rather than product segments, so there are actually 3 items here that should have been included in the previous skincare group.  They are:

1. Bottega Verde Sol Protezione Siero Viso is an Italian brand formulated with natural ingredients. The high SPF50 drew me initially, and I also liked the pump packaging. However, this is so heavily scented that I could still smell it on my skin long after I step out of the house. It is also quite heavy in texture, so much so that I couldn’t bear to use it on my face. In the end, I applied it on my arms instead so as not to waste, but the heavy scent was appalling and I was immensely relieved when I was finally done.
2. Tom Ford Face Protect is a permanent member of the Soleil line, and comes with broad spectrum SPF50 to protect your skin all year round. I love the simple, lightweight tube packaging which is perfect for traveling. The product itself is a lightweight cream which is just barely comfortable enough for layering with all my skincare and makeup during the hottest months. However, I found that I much preferred wearing it on my neck, opting for an even lighter more fluid type sunscreen for my face.
3. Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Cleansing Oil [reviewed here] is no stranger on this blog, and a staple in my daily routine. This particular bottle was a limited edition release from the Kye for Shu collaboration from 2016 [see here].

Back to body care proper…

1. Clarins Body Fit is another returning staple. If you expect it to miraculously remove stubborn cellulite and fats, keep on dreaming. But now that I’ve stopped using it, I realise it does make a difference to my body shape! So, if I ever feel so inclined to shop for body shaping products again, this will certainly be the top of my list.
2. Crabtree & Evelyn Venetian Violet Shower Gel is a recently released new scent. It is sufficiently light that it suits everyone in my household, including Ezra. Interestingly, it does not make too much foam, which some may prefer or miss depending on personal preferences. In general, I am always happy to receive and put to use Crabtree & Evelyn Shower Gels, and this was no exception.
3. Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, Coriander Body Souffle is a very old seasonal release that I dug up and decided to put to use. The texture is more like a body cream than souffle, but the crisp scent made it more refreshing to use. I liked it for the evenings, before I go to bed in air conditioned interiors.
4. Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Intensive Smoothing Hand Creme is a luxurious hand cream that soothed my hands every night for over a year! My hands are prone to eczema from washing with detergent, and no other hand creams are able to soothe and protect my hands as well as this one. It absorbs like a dream too, unlike those heavy-duty commercial hand creams that feel like I had dipped my hands in wax. I absolutely love this Re-Nutriv hand cream and will repurchase soon.
5. L’occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is one of dozens lying in my stash and I have started putting 1 of these in every handbag and travel pouch I own just to make myself use some of them up. I never understood the mass appeal of these hand creams because they really pale in comparison to the likes of the Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv above. Of course, affordability is a huge factor, but it does nothing for my hands.

Haircare

Finally, we are almost at the end of this post!   Just 4 hair products this time, although there were 2 others that I was hoping to have finished as well…

1. Botanist Hair Treatment is a relatively new Japanese brand available at Sephora that is formulated with 90% natural plant-based ingredients. It comes in these huge 500ml bottles and are affordably priced to suit entire families. I also found the pump dispenser to be very convenient. As with most other mass market conditioners, I found this to be heavy on silicones.
2. Goldwell Dual Senses Color Extra Rich Shampoo & Conditioner are the latest line extensions targeting dyed hair. Generally, I am a fan of Goldwell haircare products, and these were no exceptions. I like the gentle yet thorough shampoo that helped maintain my hair color, and the conditioner helped me detangle and kept my hair soft without weighing it down.
3. Christophe Robin Hydrating Leave-in Mist with Aloe Vera is my 2nd encounter with the brand, but unfortunately more than half of the product spilled before I was able to put it to use. I sprayed it on my hair before blow-drying and found it great at detangling my hair. However, I found it somewhat heavy for a hair mist, leaving a tangible coating after my hair is thoroughly dry.

Looking back on my empties post, I am truly proud of the progress I had made at using up all the products that are cluttering up my home. Many of these are returning staples partly because I actually like and hence use them, and also a reflection of the continued support from the many brands and PRs that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Along the way, I’ve also encountered some inconsistent brands and PRs, but I’ve since gone past the point of lamenting. For the coming year, I am resolved to live in the moment, enjoying what I have and holding less tightly onto the chase for more sponsorship. I still enjoy creating content though, but that may take the form of other things such as more lifestyle posts on instagram, and videos on youtube. I hope I don’t lose your friendship in this process, but trust that if and when I feel compelled to review something on this blog, it will be of interest to you. Meanwhile, if you would be so kind as to give a view/like/follow to my other channels, I would be eternally grateful!

Whatever your hopes and dreams may be for 2019, I pray that they will come true and may our good Father in heaven bless us all with great health and protect us in the days to come.

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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I am a huge fan of Tom Ford makeup, especially their sexy soleil collections that bring out the best glow in skin…who can resist?  The Winter Soleil 2018 collection was released last November, and I had already reviewed the Eye and Cheek Palette here.  Today, I would like to show you the rest of the collection, along with my first impressions on the new items.

If the Winter frost is killing your glow, make like the rich and famous, pretend you’ve just spent the weekend in St Tropez soaking up the sun with the new Tom Ford Glow Drops.  Tom Ford turns out new liquid highlighters every 2 years, and they are always immediately soldout.

The latest renditions come in rounded bottles finished in white and gold, and unlike the pump dispensers used in the past, the new Glow Drops come with a glass dropper.  The highlighter packs quite a punch and a full drop is way more than I need, so proceed sparingly.  I love that it is easy to sheer out with finger or brush over makeup without causing your makeup to streak, and it sets well and lasts all day.

There are 2 shades to choose from – Liquid Sun is a shimmery gold that gives skin an enviable sun-kissed gossamer; and Liquid Sky reflects light off the high points of the face for a regal sculpted look.  If you are a collector like me, you may already own one or more Tom Ford liquid illuminators, but as liquid products generally have a 12-month shelf life, I don’t recommend you keep using those.  Just in case you’re curious how Liquid Sun compares to is predecessors, I have swatched them side-by-side for your reference.  As you can see Liquid Sun is more gold than Fire Lust, and paler than Lust for Life.  None of them are identical, so you should definitely consider adding Liquid Sun to your collection!

Although the gleam from liquid highlighters are incomparable, I find myself reaching for powder highlighters more on a daily basis out of convenience and habit.  If you were following me on Instagram, you’d have seen a sneak preview of the Tom Ford Radiant Perfecting Powder in Gilt Glow when I first swatched and went to highlighter heaven.

Gilt Glow is a pale warm-toned gold powder with micro-shimmers.  It feels slightly dry to the touch, but picks up easily with a brush and applies beautifully without any sign of powderiness.  If Liquid Sun is too dark for your complexion or Liquid Sky too frosty, then Gilt Glow is the perfect in-between for you.  I prefer these shimmery highlighters to the matte ones as they look more “natural” under standard indoor lighting, yet still stand out under the spotlight.

For winter, it is always nice to have something to soothe the lips, and Tom Ford returns with 3 new shades of the Lumiere Lip.  This was first released last summer [reviewed here], and the original shade is back as Universel.  The formula is the same, with the extension to 3 new shades – Rougir (translucent pink), Aurora (cool lavender), and Glimmer (pale pink).  As you can see from the arm swatches below, all of them are very lightly tinted, and are marginally different when applied depending on your lip colour.

Last but not least, Tom Ford has also released a new Shade & Illuminate Eye Kohl Duo in 3 variations.  These are incredibly smooth and blends like a dream, with a darker definition shade paired with a complementary lighter highlighter.  I have been wearing them smudged out all over my lids in place of eyeshadow, and it actually works really well.  There is a white sharpener included in the box, which is a little bit of a collectible in my opinion.

Tom Ford Winter Soleil 2018 collection is out in stores now and will be available until summer returns.  What did you think of this season’s pieces?  Have you picked up anything for yourself?

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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For the title of this post, I really wanted to write “I lost my cherry to Tom Ford…” which is a cheeky pun that makes utterly no sense of course, but in a strange turn that was what happened to me.  Cherry notes generally do not rank high on my list of fragrance preferences, and I have a strong version to the sickening sweet variety used by many mainstream brands.  So admittedly, I was only mildly interested in the new Tom Ford Private Blend for its packaging.  I mean, who can resist the cherry red encased in clear glass bottle?  But one spritz of Lost Cherry, and I was utterly and completely besotted.

Tom Ford Lost Cherry literally pops with a trio of cherry accord – sweet, juicy cherries combined with a dash of tart griotte syrup and cherry liquor.  It morphs and takes on multiple facets in the opening burst before settling into a black cherry cordial.  The syrupy sweetness is kept in check by the presence of roasted bitter almonds, another quality that I don’t usually favour in a fragrance, but it lends a warm and green quality to the bouquet.

Soft lush petals of Turkish rose and jasmine sambac envelops the cherry heart, accompanied by a waft of vanilla.  It is perfectly balanced, the cherry is never completely veiled, instead it becomes softer and takes on a velvety quality that I love.  But true mastery is in maintaining the balance, and Lost Cherry has a surprising translucency that sets it apart.  When I tried to focus on it though, I found myself falling into a base of cedar-sandalwood-vetiver and tonka beans.  These lend subtle depth to the fragrance, and a sort of sexy masculinity.

Tom Ford Lost Cherry is a happy and playful scent, yet very grown-up and subtly sexy.  I’ve really enjoyed wearing it myself, but I can also see it on my man.  For the first few weeks after I received it, I could not stop wearing Lost Cherry.  If there is a purse-spray, I would buy it in a heartbeat.  Because unfortunately for me, Lost Cherry has very little sillage, staying very close to the skin.  Even then, it lasts only about 5 hours before being completely lost, so a mid-day touch-up is definitely needed.

_{This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Summer is well and truly here, and nothing is more welcome in my makeup stash than the latest glow-inviting collection from Tom Ford Summer Soleil 2019!  Well-loved staples have been reformulated, and there are a couple of new and innovative lip products to pamper and delight.  Here is a look at the main items to covet and hold.

Tom Ford bronzers are a cult classic, with their large generous pans and luxurious gold detailing, they are a must-have in every summer wardrobe.  There are 2 perennial shades in the lineup – Terra and Gold Dust, both have been swatched before here.  This year, Tom Ford has reformulated and renamed them Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer.  The texture feels softer and more powdery, so you may wish to switch out to an airier more loosely packed brush with this.

To me, the star of the show is the new Tom Ford Contouring Compact in shade Bask.  It has a medium yellow-toned bronzer at the top which is quite close to the Terra Glow Bronzer, and is accompanied by a pale gold and light peach champagne highlighter.  Here are the swatches:

Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo are very popular as well, and this summer has introduced a new shade Lissome.  The pocket-sized palette houses 2 cheek colors, a medium brown-tinged mauve and a medium slightly-warm pink.  Both shades have a luxurious satin finish.

Wherever you are heading to this summer, a good lip balm is an indispensable item in your purse.  Tom Ford’s Lip Blush is encased completely in gold and bound to elicit endless envy.  The clear tube is flecked with gold, making each swipe on the lips as decadent as you deserve.  The product reacts to your skin’s pH level and in most cases turn a light pink tint.  I’m most in awe of the smooth creamy feel that lingers on my lips after a single swipe, not overly buttery nor does it turn tacky after a few smacks.  It well and truly moisturizes my lips, although at this price point it jolly well should!

The Lip Gelees seem to be rather controversial, as always die-heart fans love anything Tom Ford whilst others decry them as gimmicky.  To be honest the Gelees don’t swatch well, and on the lips they apply just like any other lightly tinted balm.  But for some reason the clear gelee outer ring encasing a tinted creamy core makes me all tingly inside.  I think it is adorable, and I would chomp them down like a tasty dessert if I could.  They are less pampering than the Lip Blush, so if you really have to choose, my advice is to get the Lip Blush.

As always, the Lip Color Sheers return with the classic shades Paradiso and Sweet Spot.  3 shades made the transition from the old Moisturecore Lip Color fomula [reviewed here] from 2016 over to this year’s Lip Color Sheer crew.  I rather wish Tom Ford brought back the Ultrarich Lip Color formula, but these Lip Color Sheers seem to have grown creamier and richer with each season so they’re fairly close now.

The item that I almost overlooked is the new Tom Ford Acqua Metal Shadow.  There are 2 shades – Venus Rising and Violet Argente.  If I’m not mistaken this is the first time Tom Ford has introduced a liquid eyeshadow, so that is worth checking out.  The external carton packaging is similar to the Lip Color Sheers, so you may imagine the size of the tube to be similar as well.  The doe foot applicator is commonplace, and it deposits quite a lot of product so I suggest a tiny pea-sized dot.  A finger is probably the best tool to blend it out, and you have to work quite fast as it dries and sets in under a minute.  The golden flash from Venus Rising is very strong, so you really need to blend it out well to prevent patchiness.  This works well as a highlighter for small areas such as the cupid’s bow as well!

I like experimenting with my makeup, and created this eye look by mixing the Acqua Metal Shadow with shades from the Contouring Compact.  The contouring shade gives more depth to my eyes than an all-golden look.

And putting the pieces together, here is a full makeup look featuring Lissome on my cheeks complemented by Bask under the cheek bones and along the high points of the face to sculpt.  On my lips I’m wearing Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in Mustique, which is probably not the ideal choice to pair with a rather minimal eye look.

Tom Ford Summer Soleil 2019 is out in counters now.  Go ahead and indulge in some new contouring bronzers and lip treats now!

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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Summer skin is all about that gorgeous glow and letting the natural you shine through.  Whilst some brands go the full monty in revealing the bare skin, some of us everyday mortals need just a bit more help.  For the sexiest perfected bare skin, look no further than the new Tom Ford Glow Tone Up Foundation!

This is the first foundation from Tom Ford’s Soleil line, and it comes in the highly coveted white and gold trimmed casing.  As a touch of the product’s luxurious heritage, the cushion comes in a white velvety pouch and gold carton box.  The interior opens up to reveal the standard mirror under the cover and a swing lid to keep the cushion from evaporating.  The puff applicator picks up the product well and is easy and comfortable to use.

Unlike the other preceding Tom Ford Traceless Touch Cushion Foundation [reviewed here], the new Glow Tone Up Foundation is sheerer and leaves skin with a slightly glowy finish.  It has high SPF45 sun protection, which is great for getting out and about on your vacation.  For a foundation, it packs a hefty punch with skin-loving ingredients such as the brand’s signature Tom Ford Infusing Complex and pearl powders for all-day hydration and a radiant finish.

^{**Please click on image to open in separate window and zoom}

As you may observe from the half-faced comparison shot above, Tom Ford Glow Tone Up Foundation brightens up my face and lightens my dark undereyes and also brings a glow to my complexion.  It provides decent coverage, sufficient to mitigate the redness around my nose and forehead, and also smoothens out the texture of my skin.  I don’t have serious pigmentation issues at this point, but the slight scarring I have on my forehead from recent pimples need a separate concealer to fully eradicate.  But mostly I just let it be.  I found this Tom Ford Glow Tone Up Foundation to have decent longevity, lasting a good 8 hours before fading gently.  I did not notice much oxidation, which is great because I live in a hot humid climate and am often in and out of air-conditioned interiors.  I do enjoy how comfortable this feels on my skin, and never need to bother about touching up!

Tom Ford Glow Tone Up Foundation is available in stores now.  There are 6 shades, and I am using the shade 2.0 Buff.

_{This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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I’ve not had the chance to review many Tom Ford makeup this past few months because their PR seems to have slowly weaned me off their distribution list.  On my part, life has taken precedence (read here), and just getting through what comes in the door is filling up my waking hours (and space at home!).  However, my eyes perked up when I saw a mysterious silver-plated palette one day, and I knew I had to have this Badass in my collection asap!

Tom Ford Extreme Eye Color Quad in Badass is part of the Extreme collection, and was recently released to accompany the new Badass Mascara for Holiday 2019.  It comes completely clad in stunning silver, from the exterior carton packaging to the velvet sleeve down to the actual palette itself… even the tiny brushes inside bear silver metallic accent instead of the usual gold.  Of course, the reflective silver makes this a fingerprint magnet, but I don’t usually get bothered by that.

The shades contained inside are unlike any other Tom Ford Eye Color Quads… all 4 shades are shimmery, and none of them apologetic.  This is one Badass that cries for attention people, none of that everyday-muted-tone-bullshit.

In clockwise direction starting from the top left, the shades are:

• Soft shimmery taupe with a dirty-brown base.  This one layers well over the others as a highlight, and also pops the inner corners of the eye well.
• Deep metallic eggplant with a dual-tone violet tilt-shift
• Deep black with much finer shimmers in a variety of colors – silver, violet, blue
• Deep graphite grey that is so dark it almost seem black, filled with a ruckus of shimmers

When I first saw this palette, I assumed the deep graphite would have a translucent base as so many Tom Ford glitter shades do, but it is actually fully opaque on its own which is a nice surprise.  The textures here are grittier than usual because of the shimmers. There is also a density to the powders which makes them harder to pick up and apply with a brush, especially the 2 darkest tones, but surprisingly adheres well to the lids with a stronger intensity than usual.

This is my first attempt at playing with Tom Ford Badass Extreme Eye Color Quad, and despite my original intention to go easy for a daytime look, it turned into quite an intense smokey eye…which I LOVED!  The purple eggplant did get overwhelmed because I tried to layer it over the black, but you can see it in the sun.  Even though my camera normally eats up shimmers on my motd shots, you can still see them clearly here so you can imagine it is much more striking irl!

Definitely a stunning palette, one that completely unapologetic.  It is limited edition of course, so pick it up while you can if you are a bit of a badass yourself!  Have a blessed Christmas holiday, my dears! xx

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The Tom Ford Winter Soleil collection this year is titled Soleil Neige, and as befitting its name, seems to be rather icy and cool-toned overall.  I was not very drawn to the 3 eye quads initially as I felt they were much too pale for my tastes, and if I had to pick something for this holiday season, it would be the Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad.  So unsurprisingly, when I stopped for Badass (reviewed here), Soleil Neige came home with me as well.

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad is comprised of 4 icy shades – 2 lighter, and 2 smokey shades.  The composition of colors is actually very interesting as it allowed for several different possibilities to suit varying occasions, taking you from day to night.  Similar to Badass, all 4 shades possess some element of shimmer and shine, though to a much lesser extent.

The shades, in clockwise direction starting from top left, are:

• Icy frosted white with silvery shimmers, perks up the inner corners immediately
• Light metallic taupe that is just a little too pale on my skin tone [there seems to be some variant of taupe across the entire collection this season, so take your pick!]
• Black that pulls brown when applied and is semi-sheer with silver and violet micro-shimmers
• Midnight blue with silver micro-shimmers

After all these years, I have finally reached the conclusion that Tom Ford does not do blue eyeshadows well.  This particular variant is dry, lacks intensity and difficult to apply evenly across the lids with my usual brushes.  The black shade as well is much less pigmented than usual, though applies smoother and easier in contrast.

Here is an eye look featuring all 4 shades.  I started with the taupe all over my lid, followed by the black in the outer corner which has all but disappeared.  Next I layered the blue over the outer half of my lid, though it seemed to want to migrate to the outer contour instead of sitting on my natural crease.  I buffed everything to blend, and added a pop of white to the inner corner.

On another occasion, I abandoned the blue and relied mainly on the taupe, using just a bit of black on the outer corner to define and white in the inner corner to highlight.  I like this look better, but it is unspectacular to say the least.

Overall, Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad is a bit of a disappointment to me.  It is not the quality that I had taken for granted from Tom Ford over the years.  Perhaps I am suffering from lathergy having been following this brand for so long, but I feel it needs something fresh to inject some life back into the seasonal collections.  What do you think?

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Another year comes to a close… and with it, a fresh decade awaits.  So many feels, too little time to dwell upon them.  Instead, I’d like to round up 2019 by gathering my final batch of empties.  There are quite a few high end luxury items this season, and I also decided to bin a number of old, expired makeup.  So sit back, get a cup of coffee or glass of wine, and get ready for a good long read!

Skincare:

I used up lots of skincare over the past 3 months, and they are mostly high-end with a few minor exceptions.  The interesting thing is that their price tag or brand prestige don’t seem to guarantee great results on my skin.  In fact, there were a few that I decided to bin in spite of their cost.  Here is the full low-down!

Skincare: The Hits:

1. Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover – another empty!  I reckon I go through a bottle every 4-5 months, so this one should not be a stranger to you if you’ve been following my empties post.
2. Albion Embeage Whitening Lotion* – is a very rich, luxurious lotion from one of Albion’s most expensive lines.  I find it very hydrating on my dehydrated skin, and I really enjoyed patting this into my skin after cleansing and feeling the bounce.  However, it is clearly not suited for those with oily or younger skin.
3. La Prairie Absolute Filler Caviar Luxe* [reviewed here] – is an absolute gem, and I loved this so much it is the first cream that I have used up to the last drop in years!  Infused with potent Caviar Absolute, this recent addition to the Skin Caviar Collection targets loss of volume and restores tone and density for enhanced skin fullness and refined contours. My skin looks better rested and calmed after every night I apply this, and visibly more youthful!
4. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate* – is the latest addition to the famed ANR franchise, and it is sooo good!  It calms my skin down, reducing redness and irritated patches within an hour.  Because I’ve been traveling so much lately, my skin has been dry and stressed, so this has been great for boosting hydration.
5. Su:m 37 Sun-Away Cooling Watery Sun Block EX* – comes with SPF50+ / PA++ sun protection which is my daily di rigour for face, neck and arms.  I loved the light watery texture, and even though the fluid is white, it did not leave a white cast on my skin.  Most importantly, it layers well under makeup, and does not cause my skin to breakout.
6. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser* – is a really affordable drugstore cleanser that I thoroughly enjoyed!  It is non-stripping and yet does an excellent job of cleansing all traces of dirt from the skin.  I’ve used it both in the mornings on bare skin and as a 2nd step of a double-cleansing routine, and found it did brilliantly both ways.  For its price tag, I highly recommend you to try if you have never encountered this!
7. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser* – is a great gentle cleanser suitable for just about any skin type, and I have really enjoyed using it both on its own as a morning cleanser and as a 2nd step in my double-cleansing routine.  It is formulated with plant-based ingredients, and free from all manners of nasties.  Highly recommended if you have sensitive or dry skin like me!
8. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice*  – is a wonderful addition to the line, and is packed with skin-loving vitamins C, E, and B5, lemon and orange fruit extracts, and minerals that helps revitalize dull skin for a vibrant, healthy-looking complexion.  The light texture layers well over other skincare, and leaves my skin feeling plumper and brighter.
9. La Mer The Illuminating Eye Gel* [reviewed here] – my favourite of 3 different eye products from La Mer, this lightweight gel-fluid keeps my eye area nicely hydrated all day, and does not irritate the sensitive skin around my eyes.  The bottle lasted me for almost an entire year of daily (AM-only) use so it really goes a long way for its price tag!
10. Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* – is a deluxe-sized sample from 1 of the Lookfantastic beauty boxes, and I actually used up 2 of them (not pictured) in the past few months.  It is a gel that melts upon contact to break down makeup, and transforms into a milk that rinses off easily with water.  I love that it does not leave an oily residue on my skin, and still removes all my makeup thoroughly!
11. La Prairie Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil* [reviewed here] – is another luxurious gem that I had been hoarding for far too long and only managed to rescue from expiration in time.  The tube is so generously sized it lasted me over a year of daily (AM-only) use that the print on it had completely worn off!  It comes with SPF50 / PA++++ broad spectrum protection and uses both physical and chemical blockers for optimal efficacy and best lightweight texture.  It is slightly heavier than the Su:m37 above, but does not break me out and still wears well under makeup.  I like it on my neck as it feels somewhat hydrating as well and has wonderful skincare properties.

Skincare: The Misses:

12. Madara SOS Moisture+Radiance Hydra Mask* – is another deluxe sample from a Lookfantastic beauty box.  This mask works like an extra-rich cream that may be left on or tissued off after 15-20min.  It is supposed to soothe and hydrate stressed out skin, and lift tired complexions.  I used it recently on a short staycation and found that whilst it does feel quite luxurious in texture, it did not do much in terms of soothing irritations nor plumping my skin.
13. Skin Inc Beauty & The Beast Get Glowin’ Serum* – was a limited edition release from 2017 which I finally put to work.  Like so many of Skin Inc’s serums, this bottle is formulated with 3 of the brand’s my Daily Dose serums – hyaluronic acid, Vitamin A & chlorella.  The drop dispenser was already broken by the time I opened this up, and it is possible the formula is already compromised.  After several uses I found my skin breaking out to this, so I decided to bin it.
14. 3ina Makeup Fixing Spray* – is 1 of those products that straddle the makeup/skincare divide, and somehow I decided to place this here.  It contains betaine to restore hydration, and may be used before makeup to prep skin as well as throughout the day to refresh.  I actually only used it to dampen my makeup sponges for application of foundation, which it did beautifully.  But the nozzle dispenses too large a burst that I did not enjoy using over makeup.
15. Origins Dr Weil Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief* – is a hero product of the brand and often marketed for sensitive skin relief.  I have received several bottles of this over the years and only decided to try and go through this entire bottle before making up my mind.  Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one because rather than soothing irritations, I found it stung my skin.  I did not observe any healing properties over the months I used it, and barely tolerated it long enough to finish it.
16. Cosme Decorte Whitelogist MX* – this is a limited edition jumbo size from last Christmas.  Cosme Decorte is the luxury line under Kose, but their products have been more miss than hit for me.  This Whitelogist MX has a lovely lightweight watery texture that is easily absorbed without leaving any trace on my skin.  However, it really did not do anything in the way of overall brightening nor spot lightening.
17. Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm* – I remember really liking this when I first tried it years ago [see review here], but after having tried so many other beauty balms, I now find this particular balm heavier than other comparables, and harder to remove completely.  Even with a muslin cloth, there is still a film left over my skin, which is fine if it is deep winter and you have severely dehydrated skin.  However, at this particular point in life, and living in hot humid Singapore, I found this unsuitable.
18. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair* – is another hero product that I’ve received numerous bottles over the years.  However, regardless of my respect for its cult-like following, I did not notice any improvements to my skin’s overall health from using this.  There are definitely more effective products in the market today, and it pales in comparison to its latest sibling (see item 4 above).  I also did not enjoy the smell of this product, and I never grew to accept it in the months that I committed to emptying this bottle.
19. Shu Uemura Re:set Lip Remover and Conditioner* – is designed to gently remove those budge-proof lipsticks and exfoliate the lips to ensure optimally kissable lips.  However, I found this really terrible at removing lipsticks, and barely made a dent on those liquid long-lasting lipsticks.  In contrast, I always use a swipe of Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover (see item 1 above) to remove all traces of lipsticks.
20. Kanebo Illuminating Serum* – was pleasurable to use because of its light fluid texture and gentle floral scent.  However, as with most Japanese skincare, I did not find this worthy of raves.  If you have very sensitive skin, and/or already great skin to begin with, and would like something to maintain your fairness, then this is something to consider.  However, on its own, I would not recommend it for brightening.
21. ByTerry Cellularose Detoxilyn City Essence* – is a companion to the Detoxilyn City Mask, and is intended to protect skin from pollution and other stresses of city life.  However, it is high in alcohol content, and I found it broke me out.  I really wanted to like this, and been using it on and off for years, but it is a real struggle to get through and I decided to bin it even though I am barely halfway through this bottle.

Body & Haircare:

Over Oct-Dec 2019, I alternated between trying to empty out some oldies before expiration, and also wanted to pamper myself with some new luxurious arrivals.  There are a number here that I really enjoyed, they are:

1. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!* – is a deep conditioning mask that only needs 5 minutes to work, so I don’t have to sit around in the bathroom too long.  It is very nourishing for over-processed hair that is brittle and dry, and yet not too heavy that it weighs hair down.  I find my hair much less tangled after using this, and restores shine.
2. Sabon Shower Oil* – this is a deluxe mini that was available during the festive season.  Sabon’s famed shower oils are luxurious to use, with a beautiful fragrance that lifts to fill the bathroom when showering with hot water.  Unlike its name, this is not at all oily, gives a light delicate foam when mixed with water, and cleanses my skin well without stripping it.  There are several different scents to choose from, enjoy!
3. Molton Brown Bath & Shower Gel* – is part of a festive gift set and this Orange & Bergamot scent is so uplifting I couldn’t get enough of it!  Definitely a treat in any bathroom!
4. Chanel Gel Douche* – was part of a new shower gel series that was launched in the summer of 2019.  Paris-Deauville is too strong for me to wear as a fragrance, but it actually worked well as a shower gel.  I loved everything about this, from the texture to the foam to the scent…. luxurious!
5. Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil – was a staple during my last pregnancy, and I didn’t hesitate to pick up 3 bottles of this immediately after I found out I was expecting again!  It keeps my skin hydrated and supple, and prevent stretch marks.  Towards the end, my skin always feels so taut and itchy, so I really look forward to applying this after showering day and night.
6. Lush Once Upon a Time Body Lotion* – is a seasonal offering that is formulated with nourishing almond and jojoba oil, and smells amazing with an apple orchard scent.
7. Klorane Shampoo with Oat Milk* – is something that I had used myself many years ago and did not enjoy.  HOWEVER, when I used it on my 7 year old son, I really liked the gentleness of the formula!  My son has eczema and his scalp is often itchy, and this shampoo seems to suit him the best.  It does not foam up too much, so it can be a problem for those with very thick or long hair like me.  But for anyone with thin baby hair, or those who don’t need a lush foam, or have highly sensitive scalps, this is definitely one to check out!

Body & Haircare: The Not-so-Great

8. Crabtree & Evelyn Shower Gel* – was part of a festive bauble set from Christmas 2018.  The brand has recently gone through a rebranding and everything has been repackaged.  However, I believe the formula remains the same and even their staple scents are still there.  In comparison to the other shower gels I tried, I found the scent to be weak and just generally unimpressive.
9. The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream* – in contrast to the Crabtree one above has a much stronger scent.  In terms of texture and use, I personally liked it.  It is here under the not-so-great simply because I wasn’t quite sure I liked the scent which was surprisingly strong.  Try it if you’re a fan of coconuts.
10. Kerastase Reflection Bain Chromatique* – was part of a Lookfantastic beauty box, and I emptied 2 of these.  I used to be a big fan of Kerastase haircare, but over the years I found their prices to be unreasonably high and their formula to be unspectacular compared to the many other smaller brands available in Sephora.  This particular shampoo is intended to help conserve haircolors, but I did not find it particularly effective.  In any case, most other shampoos now are also designed to conserve haircolor whilst also performing other functions such as maintain perms, etc.
11. Goldwell Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum* – is a rich cream that is meant to be applied to towel-dried hair and left on.  It is intended to repair hair structure from within as well as the outer lipid, thereby strengthening hair and increasing suppleness.  Personally, I found the texture too heavy and not suited to my usual routine of washing my hair at night before bed.  At the same time, I didn’t find it very effective at detangling my hair either, so was glad to be done with this.
12. Kose Cosmeport Je l’aime Bright & Moist Treatment Conditioner* – is great value for money for the whole family.  It is on par with any supermarket / drugstore conditioner with a rich, smooth creamy texture and strong artificial floral scent.  To be honest I didn’t dislike this, and actually used up this giant bottle.  However, in contrast to other more niche haircare ranges out there, this is unlikely to be something I would restock.

Makeup:

Finally, we get to makeup.  This is a category that I was in half a mind to bin exponentially, but somehow couldn’t find the time to do the deep spring-cleaning that was on my todo list over the holidays.  What is shown here, are products that I have been working hard to empty all year.  Most of them are completely done, with the exception of 2:

1. Tom Ford Pink Sand Cream Cheek Color* [reviewed here] – is the first cream blush that I fell in love with, and I am embarrassed to say that this particular pan has been with me since 2015.  I have been using this daily for the past year and still this is as far I managed to get.  The color is simply gorgeous, a warm-toned pink with golden shift, beautiful for everyday wear and matches practically everything.  Sadly, it is long past its expiration, and I started breaking out on my cheeks.  So with the passing of the year, it is time to finally bid goodbye.
2. Surratt Artistique Blushes in Aureole & Grisaille* [reviewed here] – I was really caught up with pan-fever and set out to pan this at the start of 2019.  The colors and textures are perfect for daily wear, and in fact I still have not managed to find a suitable replacement for Grisaille amongst my extensive collection of bronzers and contour powders.  Again, I acquired these in 2015, and even though I like to think powders have longer longevity, these really started to break me out so it is also time to bid farewell.
3. Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil* – was my favourite travel brow pencil!  The size is perfectly suited for smaller faces with thinner brows like mine, and I find the formula to be the best amongst all the other brow pencils out in the market – hard enough to create perfectly defined brows whilst still being nicely pigmented so it does not take too much effort.  I also liked the spoolie at the end for blending out the lines, it is not too scratchy.  The shade I have is Mahogany which is perfect for me!
4. Chanel Stylo Sourcils* – in contrast was too wide for me, and there isn’t a perfect shade match for me.  I made do with Brun Claire, but it is just slightly reddish in undertone.  The spoolie also felt scratchy to me.  I should also note that this has only 0.27g of product whereas the Bobbi Brown one above has 0.33g, which made a real notable difference because final bit is too close to the container and impossible to use.
5. Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel* – is perfectly designed in every way, from the small brush head that fits my skinny brows well to the beautiful mahogony packaging.  The formula contains bits of fiber (hence the name) to fill in sparse areas which is great for creating the lush, full brows that Tom Ford is famous for.  My one sole gripe is that it does not hold the hairs in place well, some of my longer brow hairs tend to flop, weighed down by the extra fibers.  So, do make sure to trim evenly before using! ;P
6. Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Balm* – is another HG that has already appeared several times in past empties so I will not mention it again.  I have 1 in my office at all times, so expect to see this one reappear in future!

So that’s a wrap, folks!  2019 has been very gratifying in terms of binning products, great and small.  If I have to round up my top faves / must-haves, they would be undisputedly,

• Chanel Biphase Eye & Lip Makeup Remover
• Shu Uemura Ultime8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
• Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-in Defining Creme
• Shu Uemura Hard9 Brow Pencil
• Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Eye & Lip Contour Cream
• Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Balm

Note that I have not listed color makeup here because I feel that there is always something new every season, and much as I love both Tom Ford Pink Sand and the Surratt Artistique Blushes (and will likely restock them sometime) I am very sure there is a dupe somewhere in our beauty wardrobe.  Is there anything that I’ve shown over the past year that you’ve tried and fallen in love with too?  Tell me, I’d really love to know!

_{This post featured many products marked with (*) that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}

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