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Tom Ford Inhibition & Gratuitous Cheek Colors (2017) Reviews, Photos, Swatches

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Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Inhibition Cheek Color

Inhibition

Tom Ford Inhibition Cheek Color ($60.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a soft, medium rosy brown with warm, peachy undertones and a satin sheen. There was very fine gold pearl in the finish that added a subtle glow to the skin as it was buffed and blended on my skin. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. The consistency was soft, velvety, and slightly dusty in the pan, though it applied beautifully and blended easily. The color wore well for nine and a half hours before starting to fade on me.

For 2017, Tom Ford reformulated this powder blush formula, and the new formula is described as “layers of possibility, from a sexy glow to a more dramatic, color-rich look” (that sounds like “buildable”) that is supposed to apply “with the comfort of a cream.” Overall, the texture is thinner, finely-milled but drier than the original formula, and the shimmer has become finer and less apparent through many of the new-old shades. The formula was still fairly blendable to very blendable and particularly long-wearing with semi-opaque to opaque pigmentation.

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Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color
Tom Ford Beauty Gratuitous Cheek Color

Gratuitous

Tom Ford Gratuitous Cheek Color ($60.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a dark plum with cool undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage with a finely-milled, thinner texture. I had some trouble blending out this shade on skin; it applied best if I powdered prior to applying, but it had a tendency to go on unevenly and was harder to diffuse and blend out over bare skin or over foundation. The finish became more satiny as I blended and worked the product onto the skin. On me, the color wore for almost ten hours.

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Cle de Peau #101 Eye Color Duo
  • Cle de Peau #102 Eye Colour Duo
  • Cle de Peau #104 Eye Color Duo
On lips:
  • NARS Belle du Jour Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

41 Comments

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Lea Avatar

I would say if you’re fair and like Gratuitous, it may work better for you. I’m more fair than Christine, so I don’t need it to build up for a nice flush. I don’t use powder, but had no trouble blending over Armani Maestro and Tom Ford stick foundations. My overall experience with his blush line is more limited than Christine though.

Marie-Estelle Avatar

I really like both colours! Inhibition is a great everyday colour ?.

It is sad that Gratuitous is difficult to work with. When I first saw the cheek application I noticed straight that it was a bit uneven. Considering that you use excellent tools and that you are very experienced (and the price of course! ) … It could be reason enough to pass for some!

Tracey E. Avatar

Of the two shades, Inibition would be the more complementary to my skin tone, though not special enough to add it to a wish list. I’m more struck by your eyeshadow, Christine. ☺️

Pearl Avatar

I’m really looking forward to getting Gratuitous and playing around with it. Inhibition will be a no-brainer but I don’t have anything like Gratuitous (or Disclosure). I’ll have to be verrrry light handed with it. Good to hear that the more it’s buffed/blended, it takes on a satin finish – I don’t care for heavy frost or random shimmer deposit.

Katherine T. Avatar

Wow, love both colors! Will need to check my stash for dupes, but I swear TF is going to get me some day. Unlike other HE blushes (Guerlain, Burberry, Chanel), his don’t have any fragrance, which means trouble for my wallet!

vivaglamdiva Avatar

Will you be doing a comparison post with them all like you did with prior brand reformulations (UD vice lipsticks, for example)? Thanks Christine!

Lisa Avatar

For so long you wore the Guerlain foundation. The finish was always sublime, flawless on you. It photographed beautifully. This Dior foundation that you are wearing does not measure up to the Guerlain. It does not give you that flawless finish and photograph as well as the Guerlain. (IMHO)

Wednesday Avatar

Inhibition should have been one of my picks. It looks more similar to traditional TF blush finish, but I have a number of the dupes. Definitely a can’t go wrong blush colour.
Gratuitous I wore for the first time yesterday, layering a touch of it over Surratt Rosee du Soir right on my cheekbone point. It’s was tricky to blend even over another blush and using very diffused brush end. I ended up liking the effect/combo, but the formula is a letdown for me in this shade. The older formula was definitely more ‘melty’ into the skin regardless of the intensity of the shade; so wearable by light to dark skintones easily. The new formula, not so much.

Adriana Avatar

Estée Lauder now owns Tom Ford, per the Lauder district manager in our area. In time you will see more and more of the Tom Ford products change to the Lauder formula. Personally, I have never really been impressed with Lauder products. The eyeshadow palettes are for the most part very ordinary and quite dry. The lipsticks are average and a bit heavy feeling when applied. While I own a number of Tom Ford eyeshadow palettes, blushes and lipsticks and love the quality, I doubt I’ll be buying any more….certainly not at the current price.

Adriana Avatar

Thanks Christine. Will share that with the Lauder rep next time I see her. She also mentioned they recently purchased La Mer Skin Care and now own Jo Malone fragrances as well.

Adriana Avatar

Thanks again Christine. This is why I love ❤️ and appreciate your beauty blog. Your reviews and information is always up to date. This gal use to work for Lancôme and is now with Estée Lauder. Will recommend your beauty blog to her.

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