Tom Ford SS16 Soleil Makeup Collection

It’s that time of year, when all the summer beauty collections land on counters, and we all start dreaming of tropical beaches, hot summer nights, and shimmery sparkly, sheer, summer makeup. And that’s what Tom Ford are offering with their new Soleil Color Collection.

There are some lovely new products in this collection, but, I have to admit that it does feel slightly familiar, and it’s not the most exciting thing I’ve seem from Tom Ford over the years.

I had a makeover on the counter yesterday, and whilst it was lovely- and I am particularly in love with the Le Mepris lipstick I had applied – I wasn’t like ‘WOW’, you know?

So, let’s focus on the new products first, and come back to my makeover later. The star of the collection – all based around the new Soleil Blanc fragrance, and all in crisp, clean, white and gold packaging – is the Contouring Compact (£78), in shade, The Afternooner, which has three lovely quilted effect powders to highlight, blush and contour.

There’s another similar compact, the Sheer Cheek Duo (£58), in Bicoastal, a pair of petal-perfect pinks that give a light-reflective finish to bronzed summer skin. You can use them wet or dry, for a subtle veil, or a pop of vibrant colour.

Of course there are bronzers in every summer collection, and the Tom Ford Bronzing Powders come in Large (£70) and Small (£50) and in three shades – Gold Dust, Terra and Bronze Age. Developed with an exclusively formulated mineral blend of sunstone, amber and black tourmaline crystals combined with unique
pigments to flawlessly highlight your skin’s natural radiance. And there are two Cream Cheek Colours (£50) – the one shown here, bottom right is Pieno Sole, the other a deep pink, Pink Sand.

There are some other interesting new additions in this collection. The Radiant Moisture Souffle (£70) will replenish, hydrate and illuminate the skin. Its a rich whipped cream that will re-energise your skin, apparently, after time in the sun. I have no idea what is actually in this, as there are no ingredients listed on the press release, but it promises to return radiance and vitality to tired skin. It is a lovely soft cream, and it feels lovely on the skin, as you would expect.

The Bronzing Primer (£54) in Resort To Pleasure,  creates a buildable golden shimmer, and features the Tom Ford energy complex which moisturises and revitalizes skin. The Skin Illuminator (£54) in Fire Lust, that was launched a few years ago now, is also still available, and is one of my favourite summer products.

And then there’s the lovely Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil (£68) which is a lovely way to wear the new Private Blend scent.

Back to my makeover, and products used on me from the new collection were the Radiant Moisture Souffle Primer, the Eye Color Duo in Golden Peach – although this is not technically new, it is part of this ‘look’, the Cheek Contouring Compact and the Le Mepris shade of Lip Color (£39), the Ultra-Rich Lip Color is vivid, high-shine, and moisturising.

I’m not sure I look that summery with my leopard print fur coat on here, but the effect is subtle. I do wish perhaps there had been a bit more cheek colour used, and a bit more of an ‘oomph’ created, but I am not one for the understated…! I also think a little of whatever was used (am not sure) to give my eyes a little line has transferred a bit to my lids in this picture, which is a shame.

The lipstick, in gorgeous orange-coral shade, Le Mepris, is probably my favourite thing. I think the fact that the Eye Duos are not brand new, and yet are the focus of my look here is maybe a little disappointing – I’d rather have had more of a focus on the cheeks, and skin, with all these new products. So, to the lipsticks, and there are five shades, Solar Affair, Le Mepris, Aphrodite, Revolve Around Me, Temptation Waits, and Purple Noon.

There are also some Moisture Core Lip Colors (£39), which we have seen before, I think, and I am not sure if there are new shades  These are lipsticks with a liquid core, infused with passion fruit oil.

I love the white and gold – this was the original lipstick packaging, but I do like the way it has now been re-appropriated for summer, and the black is for the rest of the year shades.

Oh, and finally, those Cream and Powder Eye Color Duos (£48) – they have a creamy colour underneath and a shimmery powder on top, and they are worth a mention, even though they’re not new. There’s the Golden Peach shade used on me, and the other is Naked Bronze

The Tom Ford Soleil Summer Color Collection is on counter now, from May 2, and available online at various stores including Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, House of Fraser