Tom Ford Bolt, Control, Firestar Lip Sparks Reviews & Swatches
Bolt
Tom Ford Beauty Bolt Lip Spark ($55.00 for 0.1 oz.) is full of fine, silver shimmer suspended in a translucent base with slightly larger pink and blue micro-sparkle. It looked complex swatched, but as soon as I applied it to my lips, it lost a lot of its potential due to how poorly it went on–it clumped up, felt gritty, and had uneven (sheer) coverage that didn’t build up at all. I could only see it working decently applied over another lip color with fingertips or a lip brush, which might help prevent it from clumping up in places. It lasted for three hours and was hydrating (thank goodness for something positive!).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Destined for Stardom (LE, $20.00) (100% similar).
- Urban Decay White Lie (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Funfetti Cake (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Blizzard (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Sugar Cookies (LE, $17.50) is less shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Violet Icing (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn Tears (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
- MAC Pearly One (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Eloquent Air (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Slush Fund (LE, ) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$56.00/0.1 oz. - $560.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "look" like "loose glitter on lips" with "uniform payoff" and "multidimensional color" paired with an "emollient" feel. The pigmentation varied from medium to semi-opaque that adhered evenly and fairly smoothly to my lips. The consistency varied from emollient without any grit/texture from the glittery bits to slightly noticeable during application but didn't feel gritty or rough to me while worn (for any of the shades).
The texture had slip but was lightweight and on the thinner side, so it did not feel slippery. Only one shade was problematic--Surge--which clumped up and was sheerer compared to the other shades. They lasted between four and six hours and were lightly hydrating over time. They had a hint of vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Spark swatches.
Ingredients
Bolt
LELimited Edition. $56.00.
Control
Tom Ford Beauty Control Lip Spark ($55.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and flecks of multi-colored sparkle (dominated by purple). The consistency was emollient with moderate slip with a little bit of texture coming from the shimmer/sparkle in it. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied somewhat evenly, but it was uneven along the inner areas of my lips with slight product that sat in my deeper lip lines. The shimmer/sparkle could have distributed better, too. It wore well for five hours, left a faint stain behind, and was moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Ciate Elektra (P, $22.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Starstruck (LE, $20.00) is lighter, less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Allure (P, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Milani Automattic Touch (07) (LE, $8.99) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- Sephora Sagittarius (97) (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Strange and Unusual (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Grape Glaze (P, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Junie Bee (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced TF 20 (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Plague (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, warmer, less glossy (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$56.00/0.1 oz. - $560.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "look" like "loose glitter on lips" with "uniform payoff" and "multidimensional color" paired with an "emollient" feel. The pigmentation varied from medium to semi-opaque that adhered evenly and fairly smoothly to my lips. The consistency varied from emollient without any grit/texture from the glittery bits to slightly noticeable during application but didn't feel gritty or rough to me while worn (for any of the shades).
The texture had slip but was lightweight and on the thinner side, so it did not feel slippery. Only one shade was problematic--Surge--which clumped up and was sheerer compared to the other shades. They lasted between four and six hours and were lightly hydrating over time. They had a hint of vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Spark swatches.
Ingredients
Control
LELimited Edition. $56.00.
Firestar
Tom Ford Beauty Firestar Lip Spark ($55.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium orange with warm, reddish undertones and flecks of gold, copper, and pink micro-glitter. The pigmentation was semi-opaque in one layer, but the more emollient consistency made it difficult to apply more than two layers as it started to feel rather slippery and settle more and more into my lip lines. The consistency was lightweight and comfortable to wear with minimal “grit” from the sparkle coming through during application. It stayed on well for four and a half hours and was hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Ciate Topaz (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lucky Diamonds (P, $34.00) is lighter, less pigmented (80% similar).
- MAC TNTeaser (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- YSL Orange Electro (74) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Wild Ginger (P, $36.00) is less shimmery, cooler (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Throb (P, $56.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (80% similar).
- MAC Banana Muffins (LE, $17.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$56.00/0.1 oz. - $560.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "look" like "loose glitter on lips" with "uniform payoff" and "multidimensional color" paired with an "emollient" feel. The pigmentation varied from medium to semi-opaque that adhered evenly and fairly smoothly to my lips. The consistency varied from emollient without any grit/texture from the glittery bits to slightly noticeable during application but didn't feel gritty or rough to me while worn (for any of the shades).
The texture had slip but was lightweight and on the thinner side, so it did not feel slippery. Only one shade was problematic--Surge--which clumped up and was sheerer compared to the other shades. They lasted between four and six hours and were lightly hydrating over time. They had a hint of vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Spark swatches.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Firestar
LELimited Edition. $56.00.
P.S. — These shades appear to be available outside of the US only, despite the US website actually referencing several shades (that did not launch here), but Tom Ford’s PR team confirmed that they’re not expected to launch in the US at this time.
I absolutely love the way Bolt looks in the tube. Too bad it’s so awful on the lips!
Control is a beautiful shade, and Firestar looks especially nice on you. It’s a pity the application doesn’t live up to the price point.
I was gonna say, she looks amazing in Firestar!
Tom Ford has been having a bit of a rocky quarter! So many ups and downs. That silver is truly tragic and I want to say personally, I appreciate you taking one for the team, Christine. Hopefully you didn’t have to go out of the house with that on. It looks dreadful and I say that in the nicest way possible.
I was cheering for bolt, but it sprinted off my list faster than you can say Usain.
Had so much potential, but these int’l shades were mostly flops!
I’m dying, Wednesday! ???
Why aren’t more people commenting on this comment? Genius! 🙂
Tough crowd? You and Nancy.. thanks for getting me!
If they ever bring these to the US, I would like to see how Firestar looks on me compared to my tube of UD Wildfire. Finally time to bring that little orange gem out and in to rotation!
As for Bolt, Wednesday covered that commentary perfectly! ✓?
I like Firestar too, and a slightly cooler dupe is PMG Electra BlitzTrance which I wear a lot.
Electra is amazing. My favorite of the first set of BlitzTrance.
Shame on you, Tom Ford, for bringing out a lipstick that costs so much and performs so poorly. If I am going to spend $70+ Cdn for a lipstick, it had better score at least an A-.
Control looks beautiful with your hair coloring! I prefer to use these as toppers over a variety of lipstick types and shades and have been enjoying the shades I purchased..
For all the apparent texture issues, Bolt actually looks great on you, Christine. It’s super reflective and interesting. Then again, might it be the photo and editing?
A lot of things look “decent” from afar, though, especially when light reflects off of it, but if someone were sitting down and having dinner with you? They’d see every bit of awfulness.
I got Control from the UK and its so beautiful. I use it with a primer to keep it from sliding around. I wish the case was magnetic. Its so lretty but the click shut seems cheap, considering.
Firestar is a lovely shade, perhaps a tad too orangey for me. But at this price point, all of them are a bit average. And as for Bolt…well, it’s bolted……
These look so beautiful in the tube, shame they don’t perform well. Love Control on you though, it goes so well with your hair!
Bolt, you broke my heart.
Why not mix a very light lipstick or lipstick base with pigment.
Not gonna lie, I live for Christine’s “F” grade reviews! Talk about a guilty pleasure while sipping my tea!