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
- 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).
- Urban Decay Bliss (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Fort de France (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Becca Creativity (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Exposed (P, $28.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Beauty Beam #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Gold Ore (P, $39.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Earth (LE, $6.99) is more shimmery, brighter (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
- 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).
- MAC Wonder Years (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Moscow Mule (PiP, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Coucher de Soleil III (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Laura Geller Pink Buttercream (P, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Dominate (P, $30.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Isadora (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Incandescent (Bottom)
PiPPermanent in Palette. $75.00.
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent Skin Illuminating Duo
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Bottom) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Bottom) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Bottom) Illuminating Powder
Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Bottom) Illuminating Powder
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.