Plainly stated, this post is dedicated to two things: first, many of you have emailed me or messaged me on Instagram, asking me when I would be reviewing the recently launched Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo (also available at Nordstrom).
I am over the moon to report that the time has come and this story features my selections as well as swatches of all eight shades of this innovative lip product. Second, I have a preview of the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit beauty gift; we are currently in the midst of the event and the bag is brimming over with a plethora of deluxe skincare and beauty samples to behold!
Kindly scroll on for more details, swatches and images of the products in action as well as the Bottom Line…
The Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo (also available at Nordstrom) are a lip color lover’s dream. With a lush, self-sharpening retractable liner on one side and a pigmented and creamy lipstick on the other, this beauty device streamlines two essential products in a singular form of packaging. Genius!
The Lip Contour Duos come in eight highly wearable hues…shade descriptions are per my experience and observations:
(01) Public Display: A neutral tan brown lip liner and creamy tan beige lip color…very reminiscent of Catherine Deneuve’s iconic nude lip in Belle du Jour. This nude is darker what one might expect from the first shade in color lineup but I think that will make it that much more appealing to those seeking a neutral nude that won’t wash out the face.
(02) Fling It On: A nude pink lip liner and creamy peachy pink lip color…it’s like a slightly deeper Tom Ford Nude Vanille and I have a feeling this will be on heavy rotation in my life, especially once my end-of-summer tan fades a bit more.
(03) Dream Obscene: A lilac lip liner and cool violet pink lip color…with more dimension and intrigue than a traditional light pink, I am wearing this particular shade as I type this!
(04) Show It Off: A rosy mauve nude liner and creamy lip color to match, this shade will fly off the shelves due to its universally flattering nature.
(05) I’ll Teach You: A bright fuchsia pink lip liner and bold fuchsia pink lip color…this shade is not for the faint of heart!
(06) Devil Inside: A classic neutral red liner and opulent red lip color…perhaps the most perfect red.
(07) Secret Escort: A cool cherry red (leaning slightly pink) lip liner and vivid cherry red lip color…this will be stunning on fair skin tones going for a “Snow White” effect.
(08) Make Me: A light violet purple liner and rich aubergine lip color…initially, I dismissed this as too dark, but was smitten with the unique tone of the liner enough to purchase. The resulting blackberry look feels super apropos for fall!
In summary, I am entirely impressed with the formula of the Lip Contour Duos; the liners work well to establish a strong and precise base of color that ensures the subsequent lipstick stays put for hours on end. To put things in perspective, I applied #03 Dream Obscene at 9 AM this morning and at 1:32 PM as I type this (a coffee, water bottle and croissant later, mind you!) my lips feel smooth and hydrated and my lip color still looks freshly applied.
On an aesthetic note, I deeply appreciate that the lip liner is a touch lighter (in most cases) than the full-coverage, coordinating lip color as I think it creates a fuller, more flattering and multidimensional look.
One could argue that a dual sided lip product might be gimmicky but my sentiments couldn’t be more opposite from this stance; I find this svelte wonder extremely convenient to have both the liner (which doesn’t need sharpening) and lip color in one place and am confident that others will appreciate this pairing the same way I do!
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| Hasty swatches of the other Fall 2016 releases…the Cream Eye Color in Pink Haze and Platinum (both repromotes) are versatile hues for a subtly gleaming neutral eye. |
Official details, courtesy of Neiman Marcus:
TOM FORD innovation meets lip artistry with a dual lip color and shaping tool. On one end, the slim and sleek pencil features a lip shaper to enhance and define lips. On the opposite end is a full-coverage, slim stick lip color concealed inside. Use the lighter shade of lip shaper together with the deeper lip color to add dimension, shape and create an ombré effect to your lips, from subtle contour to high-definition contrast.
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| From top to bottom: Swatches of Public Display, Fling It On, Dream Obscene, Show It Off, I’ll Teach You, Devil Inside, Secret Escort and Make Me in indoor lighting. |
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| From top to bottom: Swatches of Public Display, Fling It On, Dream Obscene, Show It Off, I’ll Teach You, Devil Inside, Secret Escort and Make Me in outdoor lighting. |
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| Swatches of my four selections in outdoor shade. |
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| 01 Public Display. |
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| 02 Fling It On. |
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| 03 Dream Obscene. |
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| Make Me. |
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| Swatches of my selections in direct sunlight. |
To complement the Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo (also available at Nordstrom), I combined the four shades with the following products:
- *SK-II Genoptics Aura Essence: Designed to brighten, lift and add radiance, I have been loving this serum for hydration and glow day and night.
- *Maison Martin Margiela Replica Filter in Blur: This fragrance enhancer imparts a lush, cotton and musk-inspired element that brings out the comforting notes of an existing fragrance.
- *Maison Martin Margiela Replica Filter in Glow: Equally clever, this fragrance enhancer intensifies the warm notes of a particular perfume, though I find it so divine that I wear this one by itself!
- *Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge #3 (reviewed HERE): Applied as an initial priming base.
- *Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick in Sand (reviewed HERE): Still smitten with this medium coverage foundation; it covers like a dream and doesn’t budge, even after a 10+ hour work day.
- Kat Von D Lock It Concealer Creme in Medium 25: My first foray into the Kat Von D concealer realm, I am impressed by how pigmented yet blendable this formula is. Medium 25 works well on my currently NC 25 skin and the concealer’s ability to resist creasing, even in my sleep-deprived under eye zone is remarkable.
- Gucci Golden Glow Bronzer Powder in Indian Sand (reviewed HERE): Applied as a contour/bronzer, this shade compliments light and medium skin tones while still looking extremely natural.
- *Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer in Almond (reviewed HERE) applied with the *Surratt Beauty Artistique Highlighting Brush (reviewed HERE): This finely-milled platinum highlighter creates a muted radiance that makes skin look lit from within rather than “highlighted.”
- Surratt Beauty Artistique Eyeshadow in a combination Marron and Dore Rose (reviewed HERE): I am in love with this pairing from Surratt…it creates a neutral smoky eye in seconds and doesn’t crease, even over the course of a long day.
- *Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara (reviewed HERE): Two coats creates long, dark and fluffy lashes that do not flake or smudge.
- *Edward Bess Fully Defined Brow Duo (reviewed HERE): For defined brows, a swipe of this retractable pencil takes care of business and I love the tender pale pink highlighter on the other side.
- *Surratt Beauty Expressioniste Brow Pomade (reviewed HERE): My consistent go-to to keep brows polished and in place.
- Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue in B40: I picked up this powder on a whim and love it for touch ups throughout the day…it is profoundly pigmented and banishes shine on contact. Can’t wait to try it by itself in the days to come.
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| SKIN ELEMENTS. |
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| COMPLEXION. |
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| Swatches in direct sunlight. |
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| EYES. |
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| Swatches in direct sunlight. |
The following images reflect all products in action in afternoon sunlight…shirt from Equipment + denim by Frame:
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| #1 on the lips. |
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| #1 on the lips. |
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| #1 on the lips, Surratt Beauty shadows and By Terry liner on the eyes. |
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| #1 on the lips. |
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| #2 on the lips. |
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| #2 on the lips. |
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| #3 on the lips. |
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| #3 on the lips. |
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| #8 on the lips. |
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| #8 on the lips. |
Finally, on Friday, September 9th, Space NK will host the “Autumn Beauty Edit” event across all of 27 US locations. Within this shopping event, you will get a glimpse at beauty and skincare trends for fall as well as meeting brand experts for makeovers, facials, advice and tips. Exclusively for the event, and while supplies last, shoppers who spend $250 or more will receive a gift with a selection of must-haves from 29 featured brands. N.Dulge members will have early access to the gift on September 7-8, before the offer opens up to the public on September 9th. This gift with purchase will sell out in stores early, but will also be available to online shoppers at spacenk.com on September 9th (US only).
I had a chance to preview the *generious gift and am thoroughly impressed with the vast array of deluxe skincare and beauty samples…valued at well over $400, the gift includes:
· Space NK Limited Edition Cosmetic Bag
· 111SKIN Space Anti Age Day Cream NAC Y2 (15ml)
· Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Peel for Face (15ml)
· By Terry Baume de Rose Crystalline (2.3g)
· Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 x 3ml)
· Diptyque Eau De Toilette (10ml, assorted scents)
· Diptyque Le Redouté Scented Candle (35g)
· Dermarché Labs FullFill (2g)
· Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum (0.16oz)
· Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser (50ml)
· Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir (5ml)
· Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon (1g)
· Juara Candlenut Body Crème (1.5oz)
· Kat Burki complete b Bio-Correcting Face Crème (5ml)
· Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Mascara (4g)
· Lipstick Queen Medieval or Hello Sailor Lipstick (1.5g)
· Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (1oz)
· MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 (0.25oz)
· Mila Moursi Lifting Serum (4ml)
· Miriam Quevedo Platinum & Diamond Serum (50ml)
· Natura Bissé The Cure Cream (5ml)
· Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (5ml)
· Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo (15ml)
· Ouai Finishing Crème (0.5oz)
· Philip B. Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Crème Rinse (2oz) or Maui Wowie Volumizing Thickening Beach Mist (2oz)
· R+Co Dallas Thickening Spray (1.7oz)
· Ren Flash Hydro Boost (10ml)
· Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer (5ml)
· Smith & Cult Lip Gloss in Life in Photographs (0.08ml)
· Sunday Riley Good Genes (10ml)
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| Swatches in direct sunlight. |
To help you qualify for the gift, my top five Space NK shopping suggestions are as follows:
- *Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick (swatched and reviewed HERE): This buildable cream foundation has the portability of a stick and the customization capacity of a high-end base. Extremely long lasting and visibly skin perfecting, it’s one of my most favorite foundation launches to date.
- *Mila Moursi pH Balancing Toner (reviewed HERE): I consider this toner a comforting “re-set” for my sensitive skin and use it in tandem with whatever skincare I happen to be experimenting with. It balances, calms and evens out the skin instantly and I hope to never be without it.
- Mila Moursi Dual Action Serum (reviewed HERE): It is rare for me to go through three bottles of any skincare but I come back to this multi-tasking wonder (hydrating, anti-aging, brightening and firming) time and again…my mom and I adore it.
- By Terry Sun Designer Palette (reviewed HERE): I love how quickly this palette creates a full face…from contour and bronzer to highlighter and blush, this gorgeous, streamlined vessel does it all. I use it so much that I recently picked up a back up.
- Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Sunlight (reviewed HERE): Don’t let the muted taupe gold powder deceive you in the pan, once applied to the high points of the face, it comes alive to reveal an ethereal and glowing complexion. Although I have a wealth of highlight powders, I don’t a single version that has this depth of tone…its ability to transform one’s features is unprecedented.
–Shop the Autumn Beauty Edit–
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| Last look. |
–Shop the Post–
Bottom Line: I hope you enjoyed this beauty-centric story and would love to hear which Tom Ford Lip Contour Duo (also available at Nordstrom) caught your eye!
Don’t forget that the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit is running now (for N.Dulge members) and the insane gift will be available for public access on 9/9/16.
Oh, and if you are in the Seal Beach, CA area this weekend, consider swinging by the Seal Beach Arts & Crafts Faire at the SB Pier and Main Street (Sat. 9/10 from 9 AM-6PM and Sun. 9/11 from 9 AM-5 PM). My brother Seth, who designs and handcrafts purses, bags and other leather goods, will have a booth there (when facing the ocean, he’ll be just to the right of the pier) and I will be helping him. It would be wonderful to see you there!
Good things ahead…xx,
–The Beauty Professor
** PR samples provided for review denoted by an asterisk (the rest purchased by me), however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally my own. © 2012-16 Beautyprofessor® All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, reprint or republish content and/or photos without author’s written permission.
Comment (1)
Hi! Love Tom Ford lipsticks!! I want to try Surrant Beauty eye shadows. You are so amazing!