Tom Ford Face Focus 2016

I find myself in a little bit of a time squeeze right now, as the year is rapidly winding down and I still have several launches from this year that I have yet to share with you.  As a real Tom Ford fan, it feels a little strange that I have taken this long to share today’s topic with you.  But in my attempts to get you an early peek on the Winter Soleil collection [see here] and those Lips & Boys [here], these permanent releases had to take a back seat.  In any case, today we shall sit back and examine the new Face Focus 2016 collection from Tom Ford.

Tom Ford releases a new foundation every other year, and the last launch was the matte, full coverage Traceless Perfecting Foundation [reviewed here].  Living in humid Singapore, I’m always on for a matte foundation, and was really looking forward to the new Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer [SGD128].

In many ways, I found it refreshing that Tom Ford had chosen to package its new Waterproof Foundation and Concealer in a flat squeeze tube rather than the usual hefty bottle.  This is so much more convenient for traveling, and even for applying makeup on the go.  If it was ever imaginable to design a chic and luxurious looking squeeze tube, Tom Ford has managed it.  I like that there is a thoughtful transparent strip near the end of the tube so you can see when you are running out, and also allows you to see the shade contained inside (in case you have a few that you mix to get your perfect match).

There are 9 shades available in Singapore, and as you may have noticed from the swatches above, most of the shades seem to run rather close to each other in terms of color intensity, with just subtle differences in undertones between them.  I am using the shade Linen, which is a little light for me right now when compared against my current roughly NC20-25 skin tone.  Lately I’ve been gravitating towards a more natural match, but on days when I feel like going fairer like most Asians like to pretend, Linen works well.  Otherwise, Ivory would probably be a closer shade for me.

The first thing I noticed about Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer is that the texture is incredibly thin, not as watery as the likes of Dior Nude Air [see here] or Shu Uemura Skin:Fit Foundation [here]; but certainly thinner than its predecessor Traceless Perfecting Foundation.  It applies silkily, but goes on best over very moist skin surface.  For those with dry skin like me, I highly recommend applying it over a layer of hydrating base such as the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Nourishing Milk [review coming soon].  It settles and dries very quickly, so be sure to work in small sections, and personally I find blending with a damp sponge to be the easiest way to go.  Once it is on, Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation is absolutely budge-proof, does not crease nor fade nor oxidize throughout my longest days, and is completely heat and sweat resistant!  It is incredibly lightweight, you will not feel it drying out your skin nor weighing it down at all!

Contrary to its claims, I found the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation to be somewhat light in coverage, though buildable to medium.  As you can see from the half-faced comparison shot above, any blemishes and dark circles are still visible, and a separate concealer is definitely required for me.  What I really appreciate though, is that for a very matte and waterproof foundation, Tom Ford has managed to create something that still looks skin-like, which moulds to the contours of the face and throws off radiant light to make my face look alive!

One of the most highly sought after item(s) from this collection is the Tom Ford Shimmer Shot [SGD60].  Unlike the other items discussed today, these are limited edition of course.  They come in a shortened round bottle with a twist-up pump dispenser that resembles the Traceless Perfecting Foundation.  There are 2 shades available:

Spin Spin Sugar is a very pale pink with a frosty finish and plenty of micro shimmers; and Lust for Life is a metallic bronze with its own fair share of micro shimmers.  These are designed to be mixed into any Tom Ford liquid foundation for a more luminous finish; and may also be used to highlight the high points of the face and bring out those cheek bones.  I don’t usually like to add liquid highlighters to my foundation as they tend to make me look even more drawn out, but I found a tiny pearl drop of Spin Spin Sugar does indeed transform the look of my foundation.  It adds a subtle luminosity to my face, pairs especially well with matte foundations; and I also sometimes apply to my cheeks underneath my foundations.  Lust for Life is a nice one to have if you are heading somewhere sunny (perhaps Australia?) this winter, and need something to add back some glow.

Tom Ford is all about that handsome brow, and to expand their brow offerings further is the new Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel [SGD65]!  These come with a small spoolie applicator that works well to comb the product through the brow hairs, even on my rather narrow and sparse brows.  The formula contains some fiber to fill in and create the illusion of fuller brows.  It also helps to keep strays in place for a neater look.  There are 4 shades available as swatched below:

Finally, I just want to draw your attention to the new Tom Ford Angled Brow Brush [SGD88].  I am a big fan of Tom Ford brushes because they are truly high quality, incredibly soft against the skin yet perform beautifully.  They never lose their shape after washing, and so far I’ve never encountered any shedding!  This Angled Brow Brush is very thin though wide, allowing you to be very precise with the outline of your brows and draw life-like hair to fill in sparse brows.  I also tried using it as a liner brush for my eyes, and it worked beautifully without irritating the sensitive skin around my eyes at all!!

The Tom Ford Face Focus 2016 Collection is available in stores now.  Definitely check out the Shimmer Shots while they are still available as these are limited edition.  If you have oily skin and / or have problems with humidity affecting your foundation, you will find the new Waterproof Foundation and Concealer quite helpful.  I have really enjoyed using the Fiber Brow Gel for the past couple of months, and I suggest you check it out too.  The Angled Brow Brush is a bit decadent for its stated purpose, but if you double it up as a eye liner brush as well, it’s well worth the investment!

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