Tom Ford African Violet Eye Color Quad Review & Swatches
African Violet
Tom Ford Beauty African Violet Eye Color Quad ($88.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a new, permanent palette that includes a pop of purple, copper-gold, soft brown, and rich orange-red. I liked how the colors came together in a look, though I wouldn’t consider it overly versatile–like I’m not seeing lots of variations of looks with these four shades. The only shade I had any trouble with was the sparkly shade (#2), which was about as expected based on past experience with Tom Ford’s quads that often include a glitter finish shade that still has room for improvement.
African Violet #1
African Violet #1 is a medium purple with strong, warm pink undertones and a soft, pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, more emollient consistency–it felt like it had slip but was definitely more of a powder than a cream. The texture was also thinner, so it didn’t feel as heavy or as thick as some of the more recent silicone-heavy formulations have been. The color applied well to bare skin and blended out easily along the edges, though I think some may find it doesn’t have the “impact” they expect as has finer pearl. It wore well for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced TF Mascot (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Violet Cassis (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Faerie (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Colour Pop On the Rise (P, $5.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Smokes (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Jingle Berry (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Jouer Amethyst (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Junkshow (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Awake (P, $5.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I-90 (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
African Violet #2
African Violet #2 is a soft, coppery gold with strong, warm orange undertones and a sparkling , shiny finish. The texture was drier and felt a bit chunky to the touch, which made it harder to apply it dry to bare skin. It worked better with a dampened brush, but I would recommend using it with an adhesive base or dampened brush (I like it with MAC Fix+), as the dampness helps improve the pigmentation and evenness in color application, while the adhesiveness helps keep the sparkles in place. Without an adhesive base, there was some fallout over time after seven and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- BH Cosmetics Club Tropicana #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Lucky Star #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sphinx (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Amberluxe #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Outer Limits (DC, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Alexandra (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Warm Wash #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Morning Light (LE, $8.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Apricot Blend #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Sin City (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
African Violet #3
African Violet #3 is a medium brown with warm undertones and a fine, golden shimmer that gave it a satiny sheen. It had excellent pigmentation with a soft, smooth, and blendable texture that wasn’t powdery nor was it too firm in the pan. It lasted nicely for eight hours on me before fading a bit.
Top Dupes
- Chanel Mystere et Intensite #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Foxy (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Iris Bronze #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever S632 Hazelnut (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever I634 Praline (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Dream Team (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Summer Fling (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Territorial (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone #9 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Dior Lucky Star #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
African Violet #4
African Violet #4 is a medium-dark, rusty orange with very fine gold and pink micro-shimmer over a matte finish. It had rich color payoff with a soft, velvety texture that was a smidgen dusty in the pan but didn’t have any fallout when I applied it to my lid. The eyeshadow applied evenly and blended out easily along the edges. The color wore well for eight hours on me before it started to fade.
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Dynamic (P, $9.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Buxom It Crowd (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Baja (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Persia (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Red Brick (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Cairo (P, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Malibu (LE, $5.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Rose in the Air #10 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Juvia's Place Zakiya (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Main Squeeze (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
That eye look you did, though! 💜
As for this palette, I know I could go 2 ways with it, but would need to pull in other palettes to do what I am thinking. Thought of it last night with that Sephora surprise sale, but *fortunately* for me it wasn’t available. Probably a good thing, since I think I may have sort of talked myself out of it. 😅
I feel like #2 was completely unnecessary, and this palette would have benefited from maybe a dark warm pink or something similarly strong.
I really don’t think this is a versatile quad at all and the bright pink shade looks out of place, even though it is an African violet shade. Certainly shade 2 is pretty bad.
Got a look idea for Queen of Hearts out of this. (I have no imagination, but gosh, I love that palette.)