Tom For Shade and Illuminate compact - Review

Tom For Shade and Illuminate compact has the signature Tom Ford sleek packaging with a glossy surface and the gold-toned trim that comes in a brown suede pocket.  The compact is oblong, has a mirror inside and two compartments, one for the illuminator and the contour shade.

 This compact is available in two shades namely Intensity 1 and Intensity 2. The highlighter is the same, only the contouring shades are different. Intensity 1 is yellow based shade and is meant to be for lighter complexions whereas Intensity 2 is a deeper red brown shade with grey undertones for darker complexions.

I bought the Intensity 1 and what I most love about it, is that it has no orange cast to it at all, therefore its perfect for contouring but not so ideal to be used a bronzer.  Keep in mind that countering will sculpt the shape of your face through shadow effects while bronzers achieve an artificial tan and give your skin more color. So basically you should apply the bronzer on your cheekbones and working upwards our temple , whereas you should apply a contour under your cheekbones or in the hollow part of your cheek and under your jaw bone etc.

I really like the creamy consistency of the contour shade and it feels like silk on my skin and it blends very well with my foundation. I use a contour brush to apply it , and it goes on at first quite light and sheer, but can be built up and any patchiness can be smoothed  and blended out without any problems.

The illuminator is very sheer with a dewy wet look finish that is often seen on the backstage models. I would describe it as healthy glow and looks like very well moisturized skin rather than a shimmer disco ball, so if you are after glitz and shimmer, you won’t be happy with this product.  I apply the highlighter with my fingers and then just tap it in with a light touch of my fingertips.

Like with all Tom Ford cosmetics the price can be bit of a turnoff, but you do get two high quality products in one palette and they would last you both very long time even if you would apply it every day.

Price in Ireland €65 for g of product.

I really like the  Tom For Shade and Illuminate compact and would definitely recommend to everyone who is looking for a good countering kit.

Have you tried the Tom For Shade and Illuminate compact yet? What do you think?

xxx Marina

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Bobbi Brown Shimmery Eyeshadows - Review

What I love about Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadows is that the colors are skin tone flattering, highly pigmented, and finely milled. The color is pearlized so it has a beautiful sheen and glow. This is the perfect amount of shimmer definitely not too much for daytime, simply a subtle illumination.  The texture is buttery and creamy, and the shadow applies with ease. I don't experience major fallout, so no powdery mess with Bobbi's shadows! I recommend applying them with fingers, then blending with a brush for a more subtle effect. You can also use the Shimmer Eyeshadows over matte eyeshadows to give them some shimmer and a bit more pop.

The lighter shades can be used as natural base for the lids to open up eyes and they also double up as highlighter over your blush, cheekbones, forehead, bridge of the nose, cupids bow, the  inner corner of the eye and on the eyebrow bone. Just a tip when using these eyeshadows to highlight your browbone, use an eye definer brush to make a small line just under your eyebrow and blend out lightly, that way it looks more natural and doesn’t give you a puffy eye or the dated “Dancing on Ice” - Look.  

 They are sold as single pans, but you could also pop them into your own custom palette. Although they are expensive, they will last you a long, long time. So defiantly worth the investment.

Price in Ireland € 24.00 for 6g.

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Heathery Meave, Cheeks: MAC Blush in Harmony and MAC blush in Pink Swoon, Lips: Laura Mercier Lipglass in Bonbon

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadow in Heather Mauve

Heather Mauve is a shimmery silver-taupe-brown. It can be used as a sheer wash over the lid for the day make up , or for a more dramatic look it can be also used to highlight the brow bone when sporting the smoky eye.  I would say this as a neutral color suitable for many different complexions.

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Champagne, Cheeks: Catrice Defining Blush in (010) Toffee Fairy , Lips: MAC Ruby Woo

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadow in Champagne

Champagne is a shimmery cream shade with a hint of soft peach,  that is neither too yellow nor too beige. It is similar to MAC’s Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch only less peachy and shimmery. This is a good nude base color for daytime paired with  just a brown liner and mascara; it just makes me look so fresh and more awake.

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bone,also used it as a highlighter in this photo Crease: MAC Eyeshadow in Cork, , Cheeks: MAC Blush in Dollymix, Lips: Lancome Le Contour Pro Precision Long Lasting Lip Contour in (315) The Rose

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadow in Bone

Bone is a shimmery ivory/off-white with golden undertones,that isn't too warm or too cool. This is another great base and highlight eyeshadow. It goes great with all colors and I recommend this shade if you are looking for a highlighter or base color and don’t want a matte white.

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Petal, also used as highlighter, Cheeks: MAC Blush in Pinch O'Peach, Lips: Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in (16) Pink Gold

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadow in Petal

Petal is a soft light rose pink shade with cool blue undertones  Quite similar to NARS blush in Orgasm maybe only a tad cooler. No need to mention that this makes another great highlighter. This shade is particularly great on blue, grey and hazel eyes, but if you also have pale compexion, you'll need a darker crease shade or a dark liner to offset the paleness.

Eyeshadow: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Gold Rose, also used as highlighter on the apple of the cheeks,  Cheeks: Bronze Universel de Chanel, Lips: MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Peach Blossom

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadow in Rose Gold

Rose gold is a salmony-pinky gold with a bronzey brown undertone that's neither too dark, nor too light, very unique shade in my opinion. This shade would work well on all skin tone, but I think it will look particularly great on darker complexions as a base or highlighter. I also use this eyeshadow sometimes as a blush and the result is a very natural rosy glow on my cheeks. If you like shades like Stila Jezebel and MAC Mythology and Expensive Pink, then you would love this shade.

Have you tried Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eye shadows? Did you like them? What is your favorite shade? Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

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Tom Ford Illuminating Highlight Pen - Review

Tom Ford in his own words:

The Illuminating Highlight Pen allows you to enhance, contour or diminish your features to create the appearance of symmetry. The range includes eight highly micronized shades: four tones that catch the light and bring focus to the cheekbones and eyes to create balance and symmetry and four tones that act as skin-priming concealers to diminish flaws and shadows. All eight tones work to soften and diffuse light for a smooth and undetectable finish.

Cost in Ireland Euro 55 for 3.2ml.  Available at Brown Thomas in Dublin

 

Tom Ford’s Illuminating Pen in the shade 05 Naked Bisque

I bought the Tom Ford’s Illuminating Pen in the shade 05 Naked Bisque, which I would describe as a matte ivory/nude beige shade with pink undertones, and this shade would suit most lighter to medium skin tones.  Generally speaking I don’t find the whole color selection to be great or extensive, so there are eight shades available in total, which four of them are shimmery and can be mixed with the other four matte shades for an illuminating effect.  05 Naked Bisque is one of the lightest matte shades. I find the other shades to be too dark to give any illuminating effect, and this was the reason why I bought the pen in a first place, but they would be great for color correcting, especially if you have dark under eye circles.

The texture is quite thick and pigmented but yet smooth, and it goes on very evenly, almost invisible. As mentioned before, it is quite matte, with a slight sheen, and it does slightly brighten the skin, but if you're looking for lots of shimmer or need loads of coverage and concealing, this products won’t do it.

 One thing I like about this pen is that is does photograph beautifully, and I have used it few times in my recent photo shoots, the only problem is that the price is unfortunately not makeup kit friendly.

It comes in a thicker than the usual pen form with the typical brush & twist up applicator to release the product.

To be perfectly honest I prefer YSL Touche éclat over this pen, because it’s more illuminating and brightening. For more coverage with illuminating effect I like and can highly recommend Mister Light by Givenchy or if you are on a tight budget try the Catrice Re-Touch Light-Reflecting Concealer.

Overall, for 55 Euro I really expected this to be amazing product, I wanted it to be all singing and dancing Illuminating Pen, but it just didn’t cut it for me and I am afraid I won’t be repurchasing. I am not saying that this is the worst product I have ever tried, as it might be perfect for someone else, but given the price, I just expected it to be better.

Have you tried Tom Fords Illuminating pen? What do you think? Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

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