Tom Ford Reflects Gilt Sheer Highlighting Duo Review, Photos, Swatches
Reflects Gilt
Tom Ford Reflects Gilt Sheer Highlighting Duo ($78.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to have a “light-reflective finish” that can be used “dry for a sweeping pop of vibrancy” or “wet for a soft veil of color.” I felt like it was more like dry for a medium, buildable coverage product with a shimmery finish and wet for a more opaque coverage with a stronger, more metallic sheen. I don’t think it is necessary to use either shade damp, unless you wanted a stronger sheen, as the lighter gold built up coverage well and the coppery shade was quite pigmented dry. I think if you like more shimmery highlighters and prefer stronger pigmentation when they’re used dry, you won’t be disappointed. If you were counting on sheerer coverage dry (or damp for that matter), you won’t get that with either shade.
Worth noting, the compact didn’t seem small, but the actual amount of product contained in it was only 0.10 oz. This type of formula is common across several brands–NARS Dual Intensity ($45.00 for 0.21 oz.), MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.), Make Up For Ever Pro Fusion ($39.00 for 0.30 oz.), and Dior Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer ($56.00 for 0.21 oz.), just to name a few–and was much smaller (and obviously, more expensive).
Reflects Gilt
LELimited Edition. $78.00.
Reflects Gilt (Top)
Reflects Gilt (Top) is a medium gold with warm, brownish undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. There were more noticeable sparkles in it, which were visible when applied and blended on the skin, but there weren’t so many that it read glittery once applied. It gave my skin a glowing finish–between moderate and intense–with subtle warmth. The texture was soft, smooth, and easy to work with, as it wasn’t powdery nor was it stiff in the pan. It had more medium, buildable coverage when I worked with it dry, whereas a lightly dampened brush yielded more opaque coverage that was smoother and less sparkly. The highlighter wore well for eight and a half hours regardless of whether I used it dry or damp.
Top Dupes
- Looxi Beauty Centerfold (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam Dark (Star Glow) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Hourglass Lucent Strobe Light (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Dripping in Gold (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia So Hollywood (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Moon Glow (P, $48.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Maybelline Gold (300) (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Physicians Formula Champagne (P, $10.99) is lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Opal (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Reflects Gilt (Top)
LELimited Edition.
Reflects Gilt (Bottom)
Reflects Gilt (Bottom) is a soft, rosy copper with warm, reddish undertones and a frosted sheen. Applied dry, it had a more shimmery finish that was less reflective, while the damp application yielded a deeper, richer color paired with a more metallic sheen. The powder felt soft and smooth to the touch, blended out easily, and sat well on the skin dry and emphasized my skin’s natural texture slightly when used damp. It wore well for eight and a half hours both dry and damp.
Top Dupes
- Lancome Rose Twinkle #2 (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Superb (P, $37.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Embruns (-, ) is darker (95% similar).
- lilah b. b captivating (P, $60.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Overt Trickery (LE, $37.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Stride of Pride (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Mirage (LE, $47.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Cover FX Golden Peach (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Call the Shots (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Crown of my Canopy (LE, $4.99) is lighter (90% similar).
Very pretty but for that price, Mr. Ford, I’ll stick with something that offers better value for money.
Definitely plenty of dupes out there instead!
Tom Ford is literally pushing out the same thing over and over. I’m so underwhelmed by all his collections now. =(
I’m sorry to hear that!
While these are definitely my type of highlighter shades, $78 for .10 oz??? Is TF out of his mind???
Good thing I’ve got dupes, and good high quality ones at that. But still….
Anywho; I have decided that I’ve got to go and try to find EL Naked Truth Hi Lustre lipstick, try it on, and pray it doesn’t look like anything else I have! ?
I was surprised, since the Sheer Cheek Duo (similar type of formula, packaging, etc.) has 0.15 oz.
I think I’m a bit too old for this palette, I have about 5 of his highlighters in various palettes that aren’t so “vivid” like this one. I’m glad I can remove it from my Beautylish basket!
This spring collection was dismal, and I’m a true blue Fordette. I also don’t see much from Soleil, which is my favourite collection to buy either, lots of repeats. Time to try some more Surratt!
The Soleil collection does tend to be repetitive after awhile, I think! It’s always pretty but if you’re a big fan, you likely have most of it already!
So Nude Dip for the face? Pretty but pricey. Looks like I need that Bite Gloss too 🙁
It is expensive!
Hi Christine, is the lower rating in part due to the discrepancy in the products description (intense when dry & sheer when used wet claim) vs how it actually preformed. Thanks!
Correct.
When I first saw this I thought I have to have it! Then a closer look I realized I don’t even like the shades and yikes the price! Ouch!
Yay for money saved!
They are pretty shades, but for the price I think I would stick to the dupes.
Makes sense to me 🙂
Man, that is pricey. For that price I want Mr. Ford to come over and apply it.
Yeah, I was surprised at the amount in the pans!
I passed on this – I like a more subtle highlighter. Beautiful colors, though. I prefer the highlighter formula in the Soleil palettes.
Good call! Definitely best for someone who likes a stronger highlighter.
So very pretty, but so high a price for so very little product! It’s the same size as the Benefit dandelion twinkle highlighter but more than twice the price! And that one was already considered undersized (and consequently overpriced) by many. I understand Tom Ford is positioned as a luxury brand while Benefit is more mid-range, but still! It seems like many brands are testing the waters recently, trying to gauge just how little value their customers will tolerate. Another egregious example: the Lancome rose highlighter.
It is strange, since Tom Ford has other cheek products that are quite large!
These are pretty. I wish I was ballsy enough to hit checkout on one of his items!
Aww!
This is gorgeous – not my colors but I love them!
They are lovely!
Am unlikely to go for the duo, they’re too pricey and too shimmery for me. Gorgeous eye look !
Thank you, AB!
Hi Christine, Thanks for the review I am so happy I picked this one up I really like both shades and the quality. I never try and figure out how much I am paying for something as far as how many ounces I am getting when it comes to makeup it is either Too High a Price or Not. I never hit pan on anything so the size doesn’t matter to me.
It’s important to judge value based on what’s worth it to you 🙂 I only point out when I see quantity/pricing that is out of sync with the brand or for that type of product.
Hi Maria, from swatches I’ve seen, this product’s coloring depends on one’s skintone. How do the shades show up on you?
Hi Tracey E,
I still don’t know what my skin coloring is but as far as how it shows up on my skintone I think it looks very similar as to how it is on Christine. I know that the formula is beautiful and it looks very pretty on my skin.
Thanks for letting me know, Maria. I’m not sure if the top shade suits me but I’m not ruling the palette out just yet. I’m heartened that you find it pretty on the skin!
Pretty, of course, but definitely dupable and the price is brutal considering the tiny size!! The Moodlight Illuminating Duo is .42oz for $80- this is quite a leap.
This really suits you! Lovely highlighters.
I have one Tom Ford lipstick I bought because I had a gift card. I like it, and would buy most everything Christine gives a B+ or higher to, if only TF would be reasonable with their prices. Yes, the packaging is very nice, the prestige is …ok I guess. But the real reason I buy makeup is if it makes some difference in my routine and is flattering to me. So I guess I’ll leave TF to the millionaires and the “influencers” who get product for free. Just IMHO
Hi Christine! I was wondering how similar is the ‘Reflects Gilt’ shade to the pinky shade from his previous ‘moodlight’ highlighter duo? I own moodlight and the Charlotte Tilbury filmstar and glow (which you duped for the golden shade) – so i’m wondering if I need his new duo in my life 😉
Thanks!
Moodlight is lighter and not quite as rosy!
Very beautiful, no doubt about, but $$$.
I like the idea of a stronger Tom Ford highlight palette but not sure if these shades would work for me. It’s likely I would need to try it on and, if the shades were flattering, buy it on promotion/ discount.
My bigger concern with Tom Ford products is the prices overall are becoming unaffordable without a discount, and especially in Canada where the exchange rate and higher sales taxes have created a significant jump in prices.
I’ve been on a hunt for a highlighter that works well with my CoverFX N70 skin. Due to skin problems, I cannot do liquids or creams. So many are too chalky, or have chunky glitter. Also, some highlighters exacerbate a patch of eczema on my cheek (looking at you Laura Mercier and Dior). Just got TF today, and thus far it’s a winner. It’s a highlighter that’s THERE, but it’s not overpowering, and somehow looks classy on my skin.. not chunky, not overly glittery, but refined. Both colours work well together. Based on the review I was worried it’d be too warm for me (I’m more of a neutral undertone, and I do well with slightly cool, and slightly warm tones), but so far this seems to work very well with me.