Tom Ford Clutch-Size Lip Balms (Part 1) Reviews, Photos, Swatches
L'Odissea
Tom Ford L’Odissea Clutch-Size Lip Balm ($36.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy coral with warm undertones and a soft sheen. There was “coverage” with this shade, but it had less noticeable impact on my lips due to my natural coloring; I saw deepening of the color with a warmer tone overall. On those with more natural pigmentation, it may be even less impactful (possibly lightening, brightening, or warming only). The formula felt smooth going on, thin without being clingy, and was comfortable over the hour and a half it lasted. This one did not seem to leave behind any stain and was just slightly hydrating.
It’s a new, limited edition formula for summer, which is supposed to have a “jelly-like” feel that is hydrating, tinted (described as “subtle shades to enhance your natural lip color”), and shiny. This is the type of product that I’ve found some readers love–quick, easy for every day, and comfortable–and others can’t see paying this much for something that is sheerer. The formula was thin, slightly shiny, somewhat hydrating, and tinted; some shades had a more noticeable tint than others, but it was very much like a lip stain or tinted balm, where a lot of the natural color came through. They wore down within one to three hours, but some of the deeper shades left behind a subtle stain afterward. I did not find the formula to be all that hydrating (the brand’s regular, squeeze-tube Lip Balm is a favorite for me). They had a very subtle vanilla scent and are similar in size to the brand’s Lips & Boys Lip Colors.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Universel (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Glimmer (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, glossier (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Sheer Liar (DC, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rougir (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Too Faced Pink Slip (P, $22.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Crunch (LE, $7.00) is more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Aurora (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).
- MAC See Sheer (DC, $19.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).
- MAC Dreaming Dahlia (LE, $19.00) is brighter, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Testosterone (LE, $19.00) is darker (80% similar).
L'Odissea
LELimited Edition. $36.00.
Neotropic
Tom Ford Neotropic Clutch-Size Lip Balm ($36.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a brighter, medium orange with warm, red undertones and a natural sheen. This was one of the more pigmented/impactful shades in the range, while it still retained the look of a lightweight, tinted lip balm on the lips. It had more semi-sheer coverage, which applied evenly and smoothly across the lips. It wore well for almost three hours on me and had a subtle stain that lasted for another half hour to an hour. The formula was somewhat hydrating.
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Safari (LE, $7.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Chanel Shipshape (114) (P, $37.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Slowburn (DC, $18.00) is darker, more pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- Givenchy Mandarine Bolero (304) (P, $36.00) is lighter, brighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sunlit (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lustrous (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (80% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Sunset Orange (DC, $37.00) is brighter, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Scorching (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (80% similar).
- MAC Excite (LE, $19.00) is brighter, more pigmented (80% similar).
Neotropic
LELimited Edition. $36.00.
Cruising
Tom Ford Cruising Clutch-Size Lip Balm ($36.00 for 0.07 oz.) is medium, fuchsia pink with cool undertones and a moderate sheen. It gave my lips a deeper, pinker appearance (it looked more fuchsia in the tube than on the lips, where it looked more like a muted raspberry). The consistency was smooth, lightweight and thin but not clingy, and comfortable to wear. It had sheer coverage, but it went on evenly and definitely provided a noticeable tint. The shine lasted about two hours, and the color lingered a little longer as it seemed to actually stain my lips ever-so-slightly for another hour or so.
Top Dupes
- Givenchy Rose Perfecto (204) (P, $36.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Chanel Rendez-vous (87) (P, $37.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Maldives (LE, $55.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Pink Dragon (P, $30.00) is brighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rougir (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Sheer Ladyflower (DC, $22.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Aurora (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
- MAC Lustering (P, $19.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Viva (95) (LE, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Guerlain Geraldine (77) (DC, $58.00) is brighter, more pigmented (80% similar).
I laughed when I saw these swatches and the $36 price tag. Save yourself some money and just buy Maybelline Baby Lips for $3.
It’s definitely not a product that will be worth it for everyone!
When it comes to brights, I want full on saturation (my face can ‘eat up’ a lot of colour..if that makes sense to anyone else.. ) so these are not of interest.
Easy skip!
I’m one of those people who wouldn’t pay much for a sheer product, because I just think of them as balms. And balms for me are what I buy at my grocery store and just wear at home to moisturize my lips. I don’t really think of them as makeup per se, I guess. When I do my makeup, I favour an opaque finish to my lip product, because it provides some measure of sun protection.
Totally understand that, Isa!
Any smaller, TF will sell something the size of an ant. Ridiculous.
If it was regular-sized, it would probably have been regularly-priced at $50+, though.
Tongue in cheek comment.
Hmmm reminds me of Dior Lip Glow. These are a pass for me; I don’t think any of these would show up 🙁
They are in the same vein!
These are way too sheer for me!If I’m paying 36 dollars for a lip balm I want some pigmentation.They look so beautiful in the tube.I was hoping they produced a color pay off similar to the Fresh Tinted Lip Treatments I love those and I feel like they give you a nice bit of color and they are still a hydrating balm product.I won’t be getting any of these.
Which Fresh Tinted Lip Treatments actually yield color? I haven’t tried any in awhile, but I was never that keen on them.
While I don’t mind an occasional, and rather rare purchase of a TF Lipstick or Lips & Boys, I’m in the “won’t spend that on a tinted lip balm/lip butter type product” camp! They ARE pretty. But my own underlying lip color would mess with these, and probably not in a good way. Besides, I’ve got almost every single Revlon Balm Stain from when those were released, and I hardly ever use them.
Yeah, one’s natural lip color will play a big role with these (and anything sheer in general!).
I belong to the “never in my life will I pay this much for such a sheer product”, so this is a very easy pass.
I’m really bad at the oz system, I could Google it, but are they also tiny? Clutch size sounds like something very small.
Totally understand! They are similar in size to the Lips & Boys, so they are smaller than a standard lipstick. MAC lipsticks are 0.10 oz. for reference!
Thank you!
I remember buying my one lipstick from TF, Malik, I was almost in a state of chock at how much it cost, and how small it was. I like that lipstick, but it’s not a favourite, so it wasn’t money well spent, but I did dip a toe, or lip, in the TF pool 🙂
They are roughly 2g each 😉
Thank you!
Neotropic is my favorite. I wonder how it would mesh with my lip color.
Neotropic was fun!
I am surprised they scored as high as they did they don’t look impressive to me at all. I think tom ford needs to do a better job with his summer releases or should I say his summer re releases for the umpteenth time.
I’m not sure what you mean by impressive/not impressive – I rate based on what the brand says they’re supposed to do (and if they don’t give me much, then it’s my attempt to what an “average” product of that type, e.g. a lip balm would be hydrating).
I understand. I guess these are just an easy skip for me. I actually love sheer lip products and my favorite is Dior addict lip glow.
I’m starting to see the point in sheerer lip products. Before I always liked them on others, but never on me. But now that we’re having this super cold winter here, I’v been reaching for my sheer, and moisturizing lip products!!!
These I wont be springing for, as I DO NOT have the funds for tom ford right now. But I’ll be checking out dupes and such!!!
I totally get the point – to me it’s like I love teal lipstick but not everyone does, and that’s okay 😀
This is the kind of lippie that I go nuts for. You can’t go wrong with these. Great for “no makeup” days or off to the gym. Young ladies, old ladies and everyone in between will be enhanced without looking overdone or ridiculous. I’m afraid I’ll need one of every color.
Happy to hear these will work well for you, Meredith!
I grew up at the beach and no one needed makeup, we were tan and flushed from the sun. I don’t care for heavy, dark makeup. It’s too severe for me. I like to look fresh and natural but better and I find that I can’t see a woman’s beauty if their eyes are covered with black liner and coatings of mascara. Too much or too dark makeup covers a woman instead of enhancing her beauty. That’s why I love sheer lippies. You’re never at risk of being overdone. It’s another day now and styles change so each to their own, but these are right up my alley! I’m very pleased to have something like this. I also like the smaller size because I never get even a quarter of the way through a lipstick so why pay for what I’ll never use. These, I may actually get towards the bottom of them. I love the photos of you, Christine when you have minimal to no makeup on your eyes. They have such a lovely shape,why cover them? Your skin is to die for too. Enjoy it all, my dear. Youth is priceless.
I predominantly buy Dior and Guerlain lipsticks (although I usually keep UD Vice and MAC in my purses), and I have never tried Tom Ford. I thought I’d start with this (in “Pure Shores”) as a little toe-dip to test the TF waters.
I prefer my cosmetics and skincare to be scented. Scent and packaging are little luxuries in the everyday necessities. I suppose I was expecting MAC-type vanilla scent . . . but even on the clearest of Spring Sinus days, I detect no smell whatsoever. Sort of bummed about that.
Hmm, that is strange, they’re usually vanilla scented!
I like that TF is continuing to release these small size lipsticks at a cheaper price. I’ll check these out at the counter as the colours are very nice for summer 🙂
Better than paying $50+!
Hmm…I guess I’ll have to check out their squeeze-tube lip balm XD
I really enjoy it, but my Jack Black is just as good so 😉