Swatches of All Tom Ford Lip Shines

Springtime makeup always brings the release of sheer shades…as the weather gets lighter, brighter and warmer, it is as cosmetic lines believe our lips are craving the lip color equivalent.   One particular incarnation of this product that luxury makeup lovers everywhere were waiting for is the Tom Ford Lip Shines (also available at Nordstrom).  Yes, the man that somehow skillfully convinced us to spend nearly $50 on a single tube of lip color without batting a single eyelash has finally released a new lineup of sheer, glimmering shades in a variety of  tones, from uber-nude to radiant crimson.  
While perusing the latest arrivals at Neiman Marcus recently, I had the chance to swatch all 10 shades and am excited to share them with you…since Tom Ford cosmetic counters are few and far between across the country, perhaps the following images will assist those of you seeking to order a shimmering, sheer springtime update to your lip wardrobe!
tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The first five shades in the lineup, photographed without a flash in indoor lighting.
tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The first five shades in the lineup, photographed outdoors (gloomy day!) with a flash.

tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The first five shades in the lineup, photographed in outdoor light.
tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The next five shades in the lineup, photographed without a flash in indoor lighting.
tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The next five shades in the lineup, photographed outdoors (gloomy day!) with a flash.

tom ford lip shines swatches
Above: The next five shades in the lineup, photographed in outdoor light.

Bottom Line:  It is impossible for me to accurately say how I feel about this formula because I do not own a tube (yet?!).  If I had to pick, I think I would choose Bare or Chastity, both because because they are light pinky nudes (naturally!) and seem have the most opacity.  I am such a lover of the intense creaminess and opacity of the original Tom Ford lip color in shades like Nude Vanille and Scarlet Rouge, that I am not sure if I am ready to opt for a sheer version.  I recently tried a couple shades of the new By Terry sheer lip color and find that, at first swatch, the opacity is more profound…I’ll be posting swatches of the full line soon!  The price points for both should also be mentioned; the Tom Ford Lip Shines (also available at Nordstrom) retail for $48 (the same price as the the original formula) and the By Terry version is $35, which feels substantially less, especially for that line!

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Comments (21)

  • Anonymous Reply

    My heart sank a little in sympathy of my bank balance when this post popped up on my feed because I know I won't be able to resist picking at least on of these up after drooling over your swatches x Becky

    cosmeticdebris.blogspot.co.uk

    March 1, 2013 at 1:28 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Cosmetic Debris…I love the drama and syntax of your comment ; ) I hope you are able to pick up the shades you want soon!!

      xoxo and have a wonderful weekend,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 2, 2013 at 1:18 am
  • Holly Reply

    Love the look of these, Chastity and Smitten will be mine x

    March 1, 2013 at 1:28 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Holly,

      Yes! Chastity is such a pretty pale 1960's pink and Smitten seems to give a wonderful pop of color! Enjoy them!

      xo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 2, 2013 at 1:19 am
  • beautiful me plus you Reply

    wow they look amazing.. love the smitten lipstick 🙂
    xxx Marina
    beautiful me plus you by Marina Bergmann

    March 1, 2013 at 1:49 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Marina,

      I am so glad you like the swatches…Smitten is a really unique nude…light enough to be neutral but pigmented enough to brighten up the face!

      xo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 2, 2013 at 1:21 am
  • Unknown Reply

    Interesting colors!
    Lily
    http://lilyseymour.blogspot.com

    March 1, 2013 at 6:37 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Goddesslily Seymour!

      Thank you for stopping by!

      xo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 2, 2013 at 1:21 am
  • Rola Reply

    I haven't worn mine yet, but I know these are winners when I tried them at Neiman. The formula is sheer yet pigmented and smooth.

    March 1, 2013 at 9:55 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Rola,

      I can't believe you own some of these and haven't tried them yet…I am typically guilty of applying my newly procured lip products immediately ; ) Which colors did you get? By the way, I ended up picking up the Lutens powder…the 040 is a perfect match and the finish is insanely smooth and refining! Thanks for all of your details on this!

      Take care and have a wonderful weekend…xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 2, 2013 at 1:32 am
  • Makeup Remastered Reply

    I have Smitten and its a very pretty baby pink! I think the colour range is wonderful and everyone should be able to find a suitable shade.

    March 2, 2013 at 10:50 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Makeup Remastered!

      I am so glad you love Smitten! How do you feel about the formula? Any description might be helpful for my readers since I haven't picked one up yet ; )

      Take care…xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 3, 2013 at 5:42 am
    • Makeup Remastered Reply

      Hi BP
      I have a review on my blog- but basically it is quite a thick formula on initial application, but this allows for 'slightly' longer wear time for a sheer lipstick. It has a nice glossy look and with the darker shades will be even more pronounced. It feels comfortable on my lips and is not drying for me. I cannot say it is super hydrating either, but if you picking one up as a gorgeous sheer lipstick , you should be happy! I would get one or two more, probably bare and quiver….

      March 3, 2013 at 6:18 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Makeup Remastered,

      Thanks for the information…I will have to make sure to read your review! It sounds like you have given these a proper test drive and analysis, indeed!

      Take care and have a lovely week…xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 4, 2013 at 5:00 am
  • MarciaF (Beauty Info Zone) Reply

    OK Lipstick Twin, you didn't pick Quiver? That one looks so pretty. I think if it's sheer I'd want to start with a little more color than Chastity.
    It's possible that Saks nearish me might be carrying Tom Ford now. I've avoided the store but I do have a gift card to that mall. What could be better than Tom Ford??

    March 3, 2013 at 12:45 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello dear Marcia,

      Quiver is so pretty…trust me, I truly mulled these over; it's just that I had picked up two of the new By Terry sheer lippies literally minutes earlier and had to exercise a bit of restraint ; ) That kind of willpower is excruciatingly difficult, I tell you!!!

      It seems to me that Quiver is in your future indeed!

      I hope all is well with you…xoxo and talk soon,

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 3, 2013 at 5:49 am
  • lola seicento Reply

    Hi sweetie,

    Quiver, Chastity, Bare and Smitten are the colors that I would wear. As much as I try to branch out from nudes and pinks- I just don't seem to wear many lip shades out of that color range! Speaking of the By Terry sheer lippies– I swatched and posted all of them about a week ago. I only bought one (one of the pinks). I am having a hard time wrapping my head around spending $48.00 on a sheer lipstick- so I may hold off on the TF sheers.

    I know that you are head over heals in love with Frantic Pink- do you find that it remains a pink or does it pull very warm on the verge of peach? Every time I am near a counter I forget to swatch it!! If it is too warm or too peachy it won't look good on me. I really don't need another pink blush since most of my blushes are pink, but I become weak in the face of beautiful pink blushes!!!

    xoxox

    March 7, 2013 at 12:48 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Lola!!

      So lovely to hear from you. I totally agree with you…the pinks and nudes are all I ever want as well…why try to fight the inevitable?! Which of the By Terry Sheer lippies did you buy? I got Baby Bloom and Nudissimo (of course!) and need to devote a blog post to these little gems very soon! I love the texture and the stain power is pretty impressive as well. I concur, $48 for a sheer lipstick is a bit much for me to accept as well…especially when there are commensurate options at a lower price point.

      Yes, I still adore the TF Frantic Pink…I actually hit pan this week (that hasn't happened since Sunday Riley Blushing) and I cannot seem to get enough. I would describe it as a fairly neutral very light pink…it doesn't pull peach or hot pink on me (as so many blushes, unfortunately, do). For being so light, it is still remarkably pigmented and the slight luminosity imparts an awesome glow (rather than a shimmer fest). It is great on its own, or, over bronzer (a combination I often embrace).

      I hope this gave you the details you needed to make a decision…my hunch is that you'll love it, but you must follow your heart ; )

      xoxo to you, dear friend!!!

      -The Beauty Professor

      March 8, 2013 at 12:43 am
    • lola seicento Reply

      Hi BP,

      You are so right- why fight the inevitable with respect to pinks and nudes. While I periodically purchase other shades– pinks and nudes are what I by far reach for the most. I want to pick up Baby Bloom and Nudissimo, but only picked up Princess in Rose. I almost bought all three, but decided that I wanted to make sure that I really liked the formula before making that commitment. I am quite pleased with the formula as well. The TF (or rather Estee Lauder) pricing on the TF Sheers is a little bit crazy– it's almost as though they want to see if we are willing to pay that much! There really is far too much competition in the hybrid lip category at a lower price point. This seems especially true when By Terry is priced so much more reasonably than TF– yet their full coverage lipstick prices are the same. It just doesn't make much sense to me.

      Wow, I am amazed that you hit the pan on Frantic Pink– now if that isn't a ringing endorsement– I don't know what is! A neutral light pink is the perfect kind of everyday shade for me– if it pulled too warm or too peach it would just wash me out, but a light neutral pink with exquisite luminosity sounds perfect (and worth the price tag). I need to stop by the counter and swatch it. I will keep you posted, but I think we both know what will happen– especially since our blush shades have remained the same for so long (Blushing, Gracilis etc.)

      Let's catch up soon!
      xoxox

      March 8, 2013 at 4:35 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Lola,

      How do you like Princess in Rose? I am wearing Nudissimo over my La Prairie lip enhancer and couldn't be happier with the medium (!) opacity and finish. It is telling when the By Terry (which, in my opinion, is at the top of the makeup-as-skincare game) is significantly less expensive than the TF lip sheers!!

      I know…hitting pan on anything, much less a blush, is fairly significant for me (especially with the plethora of makeup in my possession)! I truly think (and hope!) that you will love the Frantic Pink…it is just so versatile and flattering. I can apply it with a much less precise hand than I do with my beloved Gracilis (which is wholly more deeply pigmented overall), making touchups a dream. Keep me posted on what you decide, dear friend!

      I hope your weekend is a restful one…xoxo and talk very soon!!

      –The Beauty Professor

      March 9, 2013 at 10:52 pm
  • Lynn127 Reply

    So glad to hear it's not just me with the addiction to nude and pink glosses and blushes! Absolutley love the beauty professor discussions on this very important matter!!

    March 13, 2013 at 7:13 pm

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