Tom Ford Lip Gelees Reviews & Swatches
Lustrous
Tom Ford Beauty Lustrous Lip Gelee ($55.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a pink-red with cool undertones and a barely-there sheen. It gave my lips a darker, reddish tint but didn’t really lean cool or warm-toned to my eye. It had sheer, tinted coverage, as described, though those with more naturally pigmented lips will likely find that the different shades run together more on their lips than mine (which are light-ish). The color had to be blended in with my fingertip or when I pressed my lips together as the “core” of color yielded an uneven, patchy line of color across the center of my upper and lower lip (as the jelly did not do a good job of combining everything together). The consistency was lightweight, thin, and clingy after the shine wore down, which was a mere half hour after application. It did not feel comfortable to wear; it felt almost like an emollient film and then nothing at all after the shine wore away. I tried to wear it twice in a row, hoping for some hydration, but alas, it was not at all hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Succexy (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- NARS Chelsea Girls (P, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Suqqu Ayasango (04) (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Anne (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker (80% similar).
- Suqqu Syunake (07) (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Suqqu Akibara (02) (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Neotropic (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Dior Diorosphere (649) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Cle de Peau Raspberry Snapple (239) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Broadcast (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$55.00/0.07 oz. - $785.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "transparent color" and a "wave of glossy shine" that "imparts a cushion-like, conditioning tint." It has a "sheer color core" surrounded by a "hydrating balm." The product screams gimmicky, and the performance was so dismal that I can't help but think that's all it is. On my lips, I did actually see differences in tints--warmer, cooler, pinker, redder--but anyone with more natural pigmentation will likely find that harder and harder to determine. The transparent aspect was accurate, and the sheerness was really as expected based on the marketing.
What wasn't expected was that these did not function at all as a hydrating product. I put one on, and I had to reapply before I even finished taking photos of various cheek colors because it had disappeared. The shine lingers for a half hour, at best, doing absolutely nothing (no eating, drinking, or talking), and all that remains is a tight, clingy feeling, no shine, and no comfort. I wore them over and over again, and my lips never felt hydrated during nor did they feel hydrated after wearing the formula all day long. Even upon initial application, "a wave of glossy shine" is a stretch.
To make matters worse, the whole concept of the jelly encasing the tint makes it difficult to apply evenly, as the color portion is tiny and delivers tint to the center of my lips but doesn't move it outward. In order to get even distribution of color, I had to press my lips together or use my fingertips to spread out the product.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Gelee swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Barium Sulfate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Lustrous
LELimited Edition. $55.00.
Maldives
Tom Ford Beauty Maldives Lip Gelee ($55.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a barely-there sheen. It had very sheer coverage that looked like a tint of color, which was as intended. I was able to discern subtle differences between these shades applied to my lips, but someone with more natural pigmentation is less likely to see the differences (I could see having a cooler and warmer take but four shades in such a sheer formula seems unnecessary). The texture was very thin, lightweight, and emollient but still managed to feel almost clingy. The minuscule shine lasted for a half hour, while the tint lasted for an hour and a half, but once the shine wore away, it felt clingy and almost drying. The color went on unevenly due to the jelly preventing the actual color “core” from distributing color along the edges of my lips (unless I wanted jelly outside of my lips!).
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Love Supreme (P, $40.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- MAC Floral Coral (LE, $20.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Eau de Rose (112) (P, $42.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- YSL Nude Lavalliere (44) (P, $38.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Pure Shores (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Lipstick Queen Mornin' Sunshine (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- L'Oreal Polished Tango (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Cruising (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Guerlain #677 (P, $33.00).
Formula Overview
$55.00/0.07 oz. - $785.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "transparent color" and a "wave of glossy shine" that "imparts a cushion-like, conditioning tint." It has a "sheer color core" surrounded by a "hydrating balm." The product screams gimmicky, and the performance was so dismal that I can't help but think that's all it is. On my lips, I did actually see differences in tints--warmer, cooler, pinker, redder--but anyone with more natural pigmentation will likely find that harder and harder to determine. The transparent aspect was accurate, and the sheerness was really as expected based on the marketing.
What wasn't expected was that these did not function at all as a hydrating product. I put one on, and I had to reapply before I even finished taking photos of various cheek colors because it had disappeared. The shine lingers for a half hour, at best, doing absolutely nothing (no eating, drinking, or talking), and all that remains is a tight, clingy feeling, no shine, and no comfort. I wore them over and over again, and my lips never felt hydrated during nor did they feel hydrated after wearing the formula all day long. Even upon initial application, "a wave of glossy shine" is a stretch.
To make matters worse, the whole concept of the jelly encasing the tint makes it difficult to apply evenly, as the color portion is tiny and delivers tint to the center of my lips but doesn't move it outward. In order to get even distribution of color, I had to press my lips together or use my fingertips to spread out the product.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Gelee swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Barium Sulfate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Maldives
LELimited Edition. $55.00.
Sunlit
Tom Ford Beauty Sunlit Lip Gelee ($55.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a sheer, peachy-orange tint that gave my lips a slightly warmer, orange-red appearance. I have less natural pigmentation, so I could differentiate a bit between the translucent shades but anyone with moderate pigmentation likely wouldn’t notice much, if anything. It was difficult to apply the color evenly as the jelly prevented the color from getting to the edges of my lips (without then getting jelly outside my lip lines, too). It was emollient and glided on without tugging, but it was thin and didn’t feel hydrating at any point. The shine lasted for a half hour, tops, and there was no moment during, after, hours later, that this actually felt hydrating. The tint was noticeable for about an hour and a half on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Wet Your Lips (570) (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Mr. Mint (LE, $9.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Succexy (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Suqqu Akibara (02) (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Tan (109) (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- Dior Diorosphere (649) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Cle de Peau Raspberry Snapple (239) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Neotropic (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Urban Decay Broadcast (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- Suqqu Ayasango (04) (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$55.00/0.07 oz. - $785.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "transparent color" and a "wave of glossy shine" that "imparts a cushion-like, conditioning tint." It has a "sheer color core" surrounded by a "hydrating balm." The product screams gimmicky, and the performance was so dismal that I can't help but think that's all it is. On my lips, I did actually see differences in tints--warmer, cooler, pinker, redder--but anyone with more natural pigmentation will likely find that harder and harder to determine. The transparent aspect was accurate, and the sheerness was really as expected based on the marketing.
What wasn't expected was that these did not function at all as a hydrating product. I put one on, and I had to reapply before I even finished taking photos of various cheek colors because it had disappeared. The shine lingers for a half hour, at best, doing absolutely nothing (no eating, drinking, or talking), and all that remains is a tight, clingy feeling, no shine, and no comfort. I wore them over and over again, and my lips never felt hydrated during nor did they feel hydrated after wearing the formula all day long. Even upon initial application, "a wave of glossy shine" is a stretch.
To make matters worse, the whole concept of the jelly encasing the tint makes it difficult to apply evenly, as the color portion is tiny and delivers tint to the center of my lips but doesn't move it outward. In order to get even distribution of color, I had to press my lips together or use my fingertips to spread out the product.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Gelee swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Barium Sulfate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Sunlit
LELimited Edition. $55.00.
Scorching
Tom Ford Beauty Scorching Lip Gelee ($55.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a soft, pink-coral with warm undertones and a barely-there sheen. It had sheer coverage–tinted just as described–that I could detect against my lip color those with darker or more naturally pigmented lips may have to hunt for it. The texture was thin, emollient so it didn’t drag, but it sank into my lip lines, went on unevenly, and felt clingy. The shine was weak, and it did not seem to be in line with the product’s claims, while the color lasted for just over an hour, the shine was gone within a half hour. I wore it twice in a row (so about three hours in total), and it just did not feel hydrating at all.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Glazed (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Waikiki (LE, $7.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Chelsea Girls (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Succexy (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Kitten Mischief (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Dior Grege 1947 (169) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Smashbox Nude Beach (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- L'Oreal Luminous Coral (P, $9.99) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- YSL Corail Intuitive (15) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- NARS Lip Priming Balm (LE, ) is darker, more pigmented, less glossy (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$55.00/0.07 oz. - $785.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "transparent color" and a "wave of glossy shine" that "imparts a cushion-like, conditioning tint." It has a "sheer color core" surrounded by a "hydrating balm." The product screams gimmicky, and the performance was so dismal that I can't help but think that's all it is. On my lips, I did actually see differences in tints--warmer, cooler, pinker, redder--but anyone with more natural pigmentation will likely find that harder and harder to determine. The transparent aspect was accurate, and the sheerness was really as expected based on the marketing.
What wasn't expected was that these did not function at all as a hydrating product. I put one on, and I had to reapply before I even finished taking photos of various cheek colors because it had disappeared. The shine lingers for a half hour, at best, doing absolutely nothing (no eating, drinking, or talking), and all that remains is a tight, clingy feeling, no shine, and no comfort. I wore them over and over again, and my lips never felt hydrated during nor did they feel hydrated after wearing the formula all day long. Even upon initial application, "a wave of glossy shine" is a stretch.
To make matters worse, the whole concept of the jelly encasing the tint makes it difficult to apply evenly, as the color portion is tiny and delivers tint to the center of my lips but doesn't move it outward. In order to get even distribution of color, I had to press my lips together or use my fingertips to spread out the product.
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Lip Gelee swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Barium Sulfate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
How disappointing. At that price point, there’s no excuse for such poor performance.
My thought exactly! I can’t imagine myself ever spending $55 for a tinted lip balm, but if I was going to, I would want the tint to apply evenly, be luminously beautiful, and hydrate the heck out of my lips!
Yikes.
Wow! I can’t believe all these F’s lately. Thank you for the honest reviews! Based on your reviews of TF things, I’m glad I never bought anything from their makeup collections.
Hi Sandy, there’s high grades coming, which Christine is wearing beautifully in these photos. I always expect a summer lip range by TF to grade/perform poorly.
These are $70 in Canada – SEVENTY flippin’ dollars! You’d have to have more money than sense to spend that much for these, with F’s (and I’m pretty sure you haven’t given that rating in honour of Tommy boy’s surname) across the board!
Mariella, I LOVE how you put that! ?
If the only good thing to say is that the bullet looks incredibly cool, Houston, we have a problem.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
And this is why I call him “Major Tom”! He’s lost out there somewhere if he thinks he can just crank out such inferior crap at these overinflated prices! Pfft!
LOL, Nancy – you are so right – this is really a case of “your circuit’s dead; there’s something wrong”!
Wow, this is possibly the worst product I’ve seen reviewed on Temptalia, especially considering the ridiculously high price tag.
?
What a frigging waste of time. I’m actually insulted on your behalf 😐 FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS WORTH OF USELESS, I DON’T THINK SO, TOM
I can’t believe how lacking in texture/comfort/hydration they were… even all the rest… I actually really enjoy Tom Ford’s lip balm (in a tube, I think it’s for men, technically), but these were a total loss.
At $55, I could buy 10 Chapstick tinted lip balms and it would look, apply, and feel better than this!
Amen to that! ???
Thanks for your review!
It always blows my mind when such poor performing products are being released… How on earth did these ever passed quality control?
x.
Wasn’t it another Tom Ford product that got an F lately? Maybe I am remembering it wrong. This is pretty sad. You can buy a $2.00 chapstick and get the same look and likely feel better. I love these types of lipsticks with the clear gloss around the outside and purchased a couple from S. Korea that have the little flowers suspended in the gloss. Super cute but they weren’t all that good either. I have pretty pigmented lips so I like a little more pigmentation if there is going to be colour at all. Otherwise, the colour will sometimes make my lips look funny when the super light pigment mixes with my natural lip colour. I don’t have to worry about that with these because I won’t be getting them!
Whoa! Are they trying to dip their toes in K-beauty type lip products?
Oh my!
These feel a bit gimmicky, I could understand the concept, if the colour went on evenly, but a coloured stripe going around the lips, or a gelly lip contour doesn’t sound appealing.
They could at least have been hydrating.
I still have one of Avon’s version of these, and it leaves more colour on my lips than any of these swatches, though not by much, and for a tenth of the price!
Me too! I actually liked the Avon ones and can’t beat the Avon price compared to this!
Ye gads. Does Major Tom have no shame? Yes, I believe that’s a legit question. These look like something Bonnie Bell would sell at Walmart for under $5! ?
Wow. It’s one thing for a brand to lose its footing but this feels like just outright hubris or at least not caring.
I own one Tom Ford product and it looks like it will be the only one. How can anyone justify that price point for bad lip balm? I’m all about my boughey makeup, Mother Pat & Natasha Denona, but this is too much.
Pretty darn awful – and the swatches you showed us the other day weren’t flash either. Another HE brand hits the dust.
?wha the what ?
These company’s keep getting acquired by large conglomerates, Lauder I believe owns this one , along with Becca, too Faced , Smashbox, MAC , etc and on and on.
That might not be a bad thing as long as the quality and unique brand appeal that made them successful ithe first place is protected .
Anyway ….. …………
Estee Lauder never acquired Tom Ford — it was always owned by ELC!
Ahh thanks for the clarification!
I think you had a question posed recently about the type of products you’re willing to go the inexpensive route for – I didn’t answer, but this…this is the type of product I’m not willing to shell out money for. I can do a hint of color with so many much cheaper products that if I’m going to shell out $55, it’s going to be for pigment and a formula that warrants $55. This is really disappointing.
I was really tempted by these…but…that rating! And that price! I bet this would last one week on my table.
wow… at this price point even a B isn’t really good enough. And I also heard that the “new” emotion proof eyeshadow is basically the same as MAC paint pot, at more than twice the price.
You just saved me a ton of money! Is there a charity I should donate to in your name instead? Seems like a much better use of the money!
Such an unusual product and to have all shades perform so poorly makes me wonder where quality control is in the product development process.
Christine, I forgot to mention how much I love your cheek colour in these photos. The bronzy pink tone made it look like sumner had arrived! (Your eyeshadow complemented the look beautifully as well.)
All I can say is thank god you didn’t have to purchase these atrocities and they were sent to you bc I would be super pissed if I had spent the money…these are horrifically bad.
Unbelievable. $55.00USD for a product that performs this poorly is simply shameful 🙁 Especially from a brand that was once (IMHO) a brand that could be counted on to produce beautiful products. I’m not sure what’s happening at TF Quality Control, but it ain’t good. As always, big thanks to Christine for taking one for the team on this!
Well, shit.
Josie Maran did a concept similar to this years ago with a color core by a moisturizing clear balm–I loved it as a tinted lip balm for my conservative work place. I can’t find them anymore though, sadly.
$55 for a shitty tinted balm??♀️??♀️??♀️
Dear Tom Ford,
WTF are you doing to your cosmetics line??