Tom Ford Stroked Contouring Cheek Color Duo: Reviews, Swatches and Photos

I am finally getting around to the rest of my Fall 2014 Tom Ford haul. Today I have Stroked Contouring Cheek Color Duo for your consideration.

The Contouring Cheek Color Duos are a new, limited edition product ($84.00 CA/$77.00 US) from Tom Ford and "contains a lighter, pearlescent shade to highlight and a deeper, matte shade to add definition and structure." As well, the formula has "spherical powders and rich emollients to ensure colors glide seamless onto the skin with the comfort of a cream."

Stroked is not your typical contouring duo in the sense that the contour color is not a neutral or skin tone but a blush. The formula of both shades of Stroked is exceptional, it is highly pigment, creamy, blends beautifully and conforms perfectly to the companies description. All photos taken in natural light, swatches on NC 35/40 skin.

The highlighting shade of Stroked is a warm peachy beige frost with a slightly metallic finish. You will want to use a light hand and loose brush with this highlighter to ensure you don't come out looking too robotic.The highlighter is a good universal, versatile shade and could be paired with countless other blushes.

The contour shade of stroked is an earthy, medium-deep toned peachy brown with a slight red pearl. The finish that is more satin and less of a straight up matte, which is nice because the color is quite deep. It's definitely a fall shade, and I think could be used both as a blush and a contour, though it would work better as a contour on warmer skin tones. I know some people expressed doubt as to whether this shade could actually function as a contour given that it's not a neutral "shadow" color, but I think it can function as both if you blend it up onto the cheek from below the cheekbone.

Tom Ford Stroked: highlighter and contour

This is a beautiful duo that has great pigmentation, wear and formulation. True, it's not your standard highlighter/contour duo, and I would say not your typical blush color either, but that's what makes it a unique product. If you are familiar with Tom Ford's makeup looks both on the runway and in promotional pictures, you will notice that the looks are typically dramatic with the face highly sculpted. Indeed as Ford puts it "sculpted cheekbones are vital to creating the Tom Ford look."

It goes without saying that since this is a Tom Ford product it comes with a hefty price tag. One should consider that this duo is the equivalent to two of Tom Ford's regular blushes which retail for $57.00 US each, so you are essentially getting two blushes with a discount of about 32%, or one blush at full price and the second for only $20.00 US. Whether or not you find this a good deal of course all depends on what your spend limit is.

Overall I'm very happy with this purchase. I actually prefer that the duo features a highlighter and a blush shade rather than a neutral contour shade. I personally don't contour my face on a day-to-day basis, but do wear blush and highlighter daily, so this is a good purchase for me. Even with the sticker shock.

Tom Ford products are available in Canada at Holt Renfrew (Vancouver and Bloor St. Toronto locations) and through online retailers such as Berdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

Grade: A

J