Tom Ford Moss Agate Shade and Illuminate Palette Review & Swatches
Moss Agate
Tom Ford Beauty Moss Agate Shade and Illuminate Face and Eye Palette ($155.00 for 0.49 oz.) includes four, shimmery eyeshadows paired with a copper highlighter and medium-dark brown contour powder. I struggled with the sculpting shade, which was stiffer and more challenging to blend, and the blue eyeshadow was decent but not spectacular.
The highlighter was a lot more pigmented than marketed but I imagine that isn’t a deal-breaker, especially as this type of gel-powder formula makes it easy to use a lighter hand for sheerer coverage if preferred. Three of the four eyeshadows were very nice, though.
Ingredients
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Moss Agate
LELimited Edition. $155.00.
Moss Agate Highlight
Moss Agate Highlight is a bright, medium copper with warm, orange undertones and a strong, golden sheen. It was intensely pigmented, though it was supposed to be sheer, so it was rated lower as a result–but it might not be a deal-breaker for some. The texture was smooth to the touch, dense and firmer compared to the eyeshadows but still wasn’t stiff or difficult to pick up product from. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Fast Times (PiP, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Aruba (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Losing Sleep (PiP, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Mo' Hunny (PiP, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- The Estee Edit Ray (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever 12 Copper (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Picture Perfect (P, $9.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Barbados (LE, $35.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Your Treat (P, $25.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Dose of Colors Chasing the Sun (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
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Moss Agate Highlight
LELimited Edition.
Moss Agate #1
Moss Agate #1 is a dirty, deeper gold with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had excellent pigmentation both wet as well as dry, though a dampened application yielded a smoother sheen. The texture was soft, smooth, and dense but easy to work with a dry brush. It stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before showing signs of fading.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Sun Worship (Eye Color) (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NABLA Cosmetics Cleo (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Les Indispensables #8 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Gilded Thrill (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Vegas Past (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- MAC Glowing Gold (LE, $17.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Ulta Gold (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Jinxie (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Jouer True Gold (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Morphe Pure (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
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Moss Agate #1
LELimited Edition.
Moss Agate #2
Moss Agate #2 is a dusty, medium-dark blue with subtle, cool undertones paired with a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff applied dry but was a bit truer-to-pan and more opaque when applied with a fingertip or a dampened brush. The consistency was smooth to the touch, dense but not too firmly-pressed into the pan. This shade lasted well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Tarte Artist (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Splendor (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Pewter Veil #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Splendor (DC, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Party Animal (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay LCW (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Sherbet (LE, $6.25) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Frozen North (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Moskova #1 (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Dose of Colors Teal Me More (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
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Moss Agate #2
LELimited Edition.
Moss Agate #3
Moss Agate #3 is a deep taupe with subtle, warm undertones and a smooth, metallic sheen. The eyeshadow was intensely pigmented with a soft, smooth texture that was blendable and easy to pick up, yet wasn’t powdery at all. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
Top Dupes
- Melt Cosmetics Santa Maria (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Silver Gunmetal (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Golden Snow #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Frosted Morning (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Tisse Gabrielle #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Dior Moonlight #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Auric Ego (Cream) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever ME554 Gunmetal (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- ColourPop 773 (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Sydney Grace Rover (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
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Moss Agate #3
LELimited Edition.
Moss Agate #4
Moss Agate #4 is a blackened green with neutral undertones and warmer, golden sparkle. It had good color coverage in a single applied dry, though it needed to be applied with a dampened brush for full coverage in one layer–it was buildable otherwise. The green base came through more noticeably when applied wet, too. The consistency was soft, slightly powdery compared to the other shades in the palette, but it wasn’t dry or prone to sheering out. It stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before signs of wear were noticeably.
Top Dupes
- NARS Indio (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Olivia Palermo Malachite (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Peacock (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Galaxy (P, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox STFU (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty TFX11 (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Epic (P, $9.99) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Midnight Green (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Morphe Diva (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Hundred (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Look Using this Product
Moss Agate #4
LELimited Edition.
Moss Agate Sculpt
Moss Agate Sculpt is a medium-dark brown with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque color payoff in a single pass, which was harder to blend out as the powder was firmer and stiffer in the pan and translated that way onto my skin. It lasted well for eight hours before showing signs of fading.
Top Dupes
- MAC Richer Golden (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Deep (P, $44.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Fawn (P, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Mocha Queen (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Contour Deep (Tarteist) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- elf Sun Kissed (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Hazelnut (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Kaja Hot Chocolate (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Phytosurgence Golden Twilight (11) (P, $25.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Cocoa Goddess (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Another case of my only wanting the eyeshadow quad. The blue may not be spectacular, but it does still seem quite lovely when used wet. The highlighter and sculpt powder are both too deep for even my complexion, NC41+. If only the e/s quad was sold separately!
It definitely works better damp, and I don’t think that’s a deal-breaker (some might prefer versatility from having a wet/dry formula, too). Agreed that a quad/duo would have been better!
B+ just isn’t a good enough rating, IMO. Fortunately, I have dupes for the 2 things that attract me most in this palette – eyeshadows #3 and 4 (I also have UD Frozen North, which is a dupe for #2). #4 looks so much less green in the closeup photo and swatch than it does in the photo of the whole palette.
Not that $88 is easy to swallow, but I very much feel like splitting out the quad and leaving the cheek colors as duos would have made more sense just because they haven’t been consistent enough as both pieces to merit the $155 price point.
I agree. Though Tom Ford’s not on my “must have” list, I’d be more interested in the shadows than in the highlight/contour shades in this (and several others). Bear in mind too that the $88 or $155 climbs much higher in Canada. I think his quads are well over $100 at Sephora here and I shudder to think what the cost of the palettes would be….
I cringed thinking about what this converted to in CAD!
You’re in good “cringe company”. What’s especially galling is when these pricey cosmetics perform poorly and it’s one of the many reasons your work and this site are of such value.
The brand just had its annual July price increase. Fragrance went up over 10%. The 10 ml size increased from $75 to $86, which is a big jump. The quads went from $107 to $110. Sephora has them at $115. I would expect a $190-210 price point.
I love this colour story, though I do wish the blackened green was a little less black… I really like the cool tones of the blue and taupe and that soft gold really complements the shades. The highlighter and bronzers are a waste of space and only detract from the eyeshadows. It’s a more interesting colour story from Tom Ford and I do like it.
Is this coming to other stores?
I can only find it on Nordstrom.
Per Nordstrom, it said it was exclusive.
It reminds me so much of the Estée Lauder Bronze Sands Pure Colour Gelée Powder Eye Shadow Palette from Summer 2012