Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Perfecting Foundation
Tom Ford Beauty released the new Traceless Perfecting Foundation alongside its Fall collection last month, and I was looking forward to trying it out. I was a big fan of the original Traceless Foundation (reviewed here), so much that I was so close to ordering a bottle from the US just because I couldn’t wait the month or so before it arrived in Singapore. But I was advised by my local BA to wait to try the shades in person because they are rather different from the older line, and there isn’t a direct shade-for-shade match. And I am glad I waited, because having tried the foundation out in person now, I’m just not sure.
From the looks of it, Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation had all the characteristics that I love in a foundation. It is billed as long-wearing and humidity-resistant. It also contains the same Tom Ford Infusing Complex that is in all of its skincare and base products to nourish the skin, hydrate and smoothen lines and hide pores. The foundation comes with SPF15 protection, which is the same as the older foundation, so lame I don’t know why they even bother.
Traceless Perfecting Foundation comes in the same round bottle packaging as the Illuminating Primer. There is no cap, the pump dispenser pops up when twisted, and locks back down with another twist. The new bottle is plastic instead of glass, and is lighter to carry around and not breakable.
Having tried both the older Traceless Foundation and this new Traceless Perfecting Foundation, I have to say they are completely different. Traceless Perfecting is much thicker in texture than its predecessor, and leaves a velvety matte finish. Coverage is heavier, medium buildable up to full. Amongst the handful of new foundations released to the market this season, it has the thickest texture and highest coverage (compared to Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet and Diorskin Star).
The foundation itself dries fairly quickly, so you have to work fast. The best way to apply is in very thin layers and work on sections of the face each time. Compared to Diorskin Star, this is slightly more forgiving in that it does not dry up my skin and is not as prone to patchiness. However, it did still emphasize my pores and cling to fine lines as the day progresses (although this could be due to my skin being more dehydrated than usual lately). More importantly, it left my skin feeling sticky which I did not take to at all. It also felt heavy on the skin, which is never a good thing.
I was also very disappointed to find that Singapore did not bring in the full range of shades. And in case you were hoping to be able to get a match through shade descriptions and swatches that are in circulation online, please note that the shades are really very different in real life. I am roughly between NC15-20 at the moment, and I used to wear Pale Dune in the Traceless Foundation range, and I thought I’d be a match for either Ivory or Linen. However, both are too dark for me. Ivory is very close, but it is rather yellow and I generally prefer to look a bit more fair (Asian fetish). Based on online swatches, Cream appears to be very pink and pale, but I did manage to swatch it in person when I was in Bangkok, and it would have been a perfect shade for me. I had assumed it would also be arriving in Singapore, and skipped picking it up there because it was a bit more expensive… but alas it is one of those shades that isn’t available here.
As a big fan of Tom Ford Beauty, I’m sad to say the new Traceless Perfection Foundation is not for me. This whole velvety matte finish and medium coverage trend is not new, it has been done, and done beautifully by the likes of Guerlain (see here) and even Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Fusion Foundation. Both are cheaper, and more elegant in texture than any of the new foundations released this season.
Glad I’m not the only one this foundation didn’t work for. After hearing everyone wax poetry about it, I thought I had finally stumbled upon the perfection foundation for me. I had the exact same problems you did: sticky, heavy (even with a light layer), and it emphasized my pores like none other. It’s not that it highlighted my pores, but that it seeped into my pores and pooled into them so that I had all these little dots on my face throughout the day. I also couldn’t find a color match. I tried Buff, which is the second lightest shade in the line, but it was a tad too pink/peachy for me. Linen was waaaaay to dark and kind of peachy. Fawn was too dark, though I liked the yellow tone. I’m intrigued about Ivory now since you think that it’s yellow. I was told it is has a neutral to pink undertone. I don’t have a counter near me, so I have to drive about an hour and pay horrendous parking each time I want to see the line in person. Ridiculous!
Hi Christina, yes you’re definitely not the only one for whom this wasn’t big love. Linen does have pink undertones, but it would have still been better for me than ivory. I’m intrigued about Buff as 1 of my gfs told me it was lighter on her than Ivory… something which I didn’t think so at first swatch. In any case, there are better, less troublesome foundations out there at lower price points.
How annoying the whole range was available! Hate it when that happens. Do you think they were shades that would not have sold well in Singapore?
Really like the packaging, but it sounds like it’s not something I need to keep on my radar.
Well, I swatched the lightest shade in Cream when I was in Bangkok and it would have been a much better match for me than Ivory. And I’m not exceptionally fair nor pink for an Asian. In any case, Singapore is very cosmopolitan. So i don’t see why Cream wouldn’t have sold well in Singapore.
Too bad this doesn’t work for you, but be glad you actually tried it out at the store instead of buying it sight unseen! I’m always very fussy about my foundations, especially finding the closest shade match, so sampling the foundation is a must 🙂
Yes i’m beginning to feel the same way too! I used to just order sight unseen online and pray for the best. But when you’re talking about high end products that cost a pretty penny, one has to be very careful!