Tom Ford Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo Review & Swatches
Incandescent
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo ($80.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a new, seemingly-permanent highlighting duo that features a pale, warm gold and a richer, warm plum. Both shades had good pigmentation, were blendable, and long-wearing. It was consistent with past duos released by the brand in this formula.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Incandescent
PPermanent. $80.00.
Incandescent (Top)
Incandescent (Top) is a soft gold with warmer undertones and a luminous sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation with a denser, firmer consistency that was smooth to the touch but applied evenly and blended out beautifully. It had a gel-powder type of formula, which works best with denser brushes and a moderate hand, but the product goes on exceptionally nicely over skin and had a glowing finish that didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me before I noticed fading.
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Bliss (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Clinique Gold Celebration Pop (LE, $25.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Boujee Call (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Flip Flops (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Fort de France (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Cover FX Sunlight (P, $34.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sol Body Star Light (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Selfie (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Hourglass Champagne Flash (P, $42.00) is darker (90% similar).
- rms beauty Grande Dame (P, $38.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Incandescent (Top)
PiPPermanent in Palette. $75.00.
Incandescent (Bottom)
Incandescent (Bottom) is a medium-dark plum with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It had opaque pigmentation with a smooth, moderately dense consistency that had no powderiness but remained blendable on my skin. The trick to this type of formula (gel-powder hybrid) is that it requires a denser brush to pick up product evenly, though I wouldn’t call it stiff to work with as the powder goes on and almost “melts” on my skin for a seamless finish. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- MAC Wonder Years (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Moscow Mule (PiP, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Plum Pop (11) (LE, $48.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Tempo (-, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Shiseido Berry Dawn (08) (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Lovejoy (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Ravish (Discontinued) (DC, $60.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Anastasia Taffy (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Faux Sure (P, $31.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Rare Beauty Captivate (P, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar).
Thank you so much for reviewing this; It wasn’t even on my radar! Recently I felt like I had perfected my pressed gel-powder highlighter formula, but after pressing I was worried that they were too firm/dense. The colors I made work well with fingertips but, like you mentioned, the gel-powder formula tends to work better with a denser brush (it needs firmer bristles to evenly dislodge powder particles, but not so dense that they disrupt too much product). It wasn’t the *exact* texture I wanted to create, but seeing how similar it performs to other gel-powder formulae on the market (especially as high-end as Tom Ford!) I feel so much more confident going forward. Sometimes I get too deep in my own head and neglect some really great things I develop because I simply lack the self-confidence to appreciate what I’ve made; your website has been a God-send in helping me get over that hurdle! Thank you again for your continued excellence.
My advice/input: ideally, a more dome-shaped, blush brush should be able to pick product by swirling or “tapping” against the surface with medium pressure – if I have to really JAB at it or angle the bristles enough where I’m working, then it’s probably a little too firm.
Then, as long as it blends out easily + sits well, you are likely there!
This duo is perfectly put together and simply stunning! Soooo tempting!
And then I have to just remind myself that I do have Laura Geller Pink Buttercream and a slew of light golden highlighters, and lemming quelled!
You are covered, Nancy!
Love this look on you!
Thanks, Kira! 😀
Oh my word, isn’t this lovely? What a gorgeous combination it is.
It is a great combo!
It’s a beautiful compact and on my wishlist. I’ll forgo the Dior Plum Pop listed as a dupe for the blush shade.
Pretty.