Tom Ford Young Adonis Cream & Powder Eye Color Review, Photos, Swatches
Young Adonis
Tom Ford Young Adonis Cream & Powder Eye Color ($62.00 for 0.31 oz.) includes a glittery, powder eyeshadow in the top portion of the duo and then a cream eyeshadow housed in the bottom portion of the duo. The cream eyeshadow is supposed to be “ultra-pigmented” while the powder eyeshadow is supposed to “intensify eyes with alluring shimmer.” For those familiar with Tom Ford, the cream eyeshadow is the Cream Color for Eyes formula, which I’ve found to be pigmented, easy to use, and long-wearing, while the powder eyeshadow is comparable to the glittery eyeshadow often included in the brand’s eyeshadow quads, which tend to be sparkly/glittery with sheerer base coverage and can have minimal to some fallout. I wish the powder eyeshadow’s actual color was more different compared to the cream eyeshadow, as it would have made it a more versatile duo to me.
Look Using this Product
Young Adonis
LELimited Edition. $65.00.
Young Adonis (Eye Color)
Young Adonis (Eye Color) is a soft, light brown with warm undertones and silvery glitter. It had semi-sheer coverage, which improved to semi-opaque coverage if applied with a damp brush. The texture was rather firm in the pan, which made picking up product a little more difficult. The eyeshadow blended out without issue, though, and I had minimal fallout over an eight-hour wear time. Patted on top of the cream eyeshadow, it added noticeable sparkle and lightened the color slightly.
Top Dupes
- Glaminatrix New Nude (PiP, $8.04) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC White Haute (Fairy Land) (LE, $20.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Rivage #4 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia 10K (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Nutmeg (LE, $16.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Meet in Madrid (LE, $9.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Iris Bronze #2 (LE, ) (90% similar).
- Chanel Empreinte du Desert #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Space Cowboy (DC, $20.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Primavera (PiP, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Look Using this Product
Young Adonis (Eye Color)
LELimited Edition.
Platinum
Platinum is a deep taupe brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. Though it is not officially listed as such, as far as I could tell by comparing the two, this shade is the same as prior releases of Platinum. The only difference I noted at all was that the one included in the duo seemed ever-so-slightly sparkly, but it was such a minute difference that it could have easily been a batch or application difference. It was nicely pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing–over ten hours–and worked well as a sheer wash or as an all-over, opaque lid color.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Force of Nature #1 (LE, $21.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Paradise on Earth (PiP, $9.99) is lighter (95% similar).
- Le Metier de Beaute Champagne Shimmer (P, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Snowdusk (LE, $20.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- LORAC Mocha (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Iraklion (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Spiked Cider (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Bronzed Taupe (P, $7.99) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP Python (PiP, $9.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Maybelline Sleek & Spice (95) (LE, $6.99) is darker (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$45.00/0.17 oz. - $264.71 Per Ounce
The Cream Color for Eyes formula is supposed to be “ultra-pigmented” and “metallic” with a “creamy formula” that doesn’t “crease or smudge.” The majority of the shades I’ve tried in the range live up to those things–good pigmentation but can be applied sheerly (use less and/or apply with a fluffy brush) or kept opaque (a little goes a long way) with eight to twelve hours of wear (no primer). They’re blendable and dry down fast enough not to crease too easily while you’re working on them but not so quickly that they don’t budge. I did find that a couple of the new shades were more emollient than past shades and did have a longer dry down time and were harder to keep out of creases (in this review, that would be Siren Blue).
Browse all of our Tom Ford Beauty Cream Color for Eyes swatches.
Thanks for the review Christine! I am a little disappointed (well, my wallet isn’t lol) that this duo isn’t anything new since he’s release and re-released Platinum a few times. I was extra disappointed when they reformulated the blushers too =T
I bought my iteration of Love Lust back in 2015, and for some reason when I got it, I thought it looked lighter, less pink and more peach than your swatches from 2012. Then in their 2016 A/W collection, they re-promoted Love Lust in that collection; thebeautylookbook.com did a review that compared the 2016 A/W Love Lust with an older one that she had and the difference was astounding – the old one was richer, more coral pink, and the new one was almost chalky looking in comparison. Now I am definitely wondering if they changed the formula even before this announcement, and I’ll never know the glory that was the original Love Lust blush. Boo =(
Oh no, Tiffany! I am so sad to hear it 🙁 I have a new-ish Love Lust (a backup I got a couple of years ago) which runs a little lighter than my original but wasn’t remarkably different.
An interesting review, Christine. The cream shade is a curious one as some swatches I’ve seen have had noticable shimmer, which left the question as to why also include a shimmery powder. Your swatch of the powder shimmer has a slight yellow tinge that looks lovely in your eye look.
Yeah, I’m not certain what the thinking was behind either of the duos – they both suffer that “same” factor – I’d want more versatility when layered than slightly more or less glittery.
I am glad I did not pick up Young Adonis I own so many Tom Ford Platinum’s already because I stocked up. I did purchase Sun Worship because I only own one Guilt cream shadow and it is so tiny which came out a year or two ago. The cream shadow in Sun Worship is the same as Guilt. The powder glitter shadow is pretty but it isn’t something I would necessarily purchase on its own if it did not come with the cream shadow but for night over the cream it is pretty and it surprisingly stays put.
Haha, I hear you, Maria! It’ll take me a few lifetimes to finish a single Platinum, let alone two. Good to hear that you found the cream eyeshadow in Sun Worship to be the same as Guilt – I compared as well but I feel better hearing it from others as well!
Because I’ve always wanted Platinum, this is quite the lemming caller for me. But then I see the powder component, and it just sort of kills off that desire, y’know? If it was like past duos with Platinum, I’d be all over this in a heartbeat!
I hear ya, Nancy! The sparkly eyeshadow on top just doesn’t wow me.
It certainly has a resort feel to it.
True! Soleil always nails that summer feeling.
So pretty! But $62 is just too much for my budget.
It is pricey!
Forgotten already.
Money saved at least!
Thanks for the reviews so much! I really wanted this but I feel not really worth it.pretty but not $62 pretty?
No problem, Janine!
This is a really mixed up duo – the Young Adonis is average and the Platinum is stellar, but very, very dupable. As you have said Christine, there should be a tad more contrast between the shades to make it more useful/appealing/workable. For the price, Young Adonis should be excellent too.
Beautiful eye look Christine – subtle and sophisticated.
Thank you, Genevieve!
It looks like a less bronzy version of the Naked bronze duo. I think I will pass. I was hoping they would come out with a purply duo this year.
Yes, definitely in that vein!
Hi Christine, thanks for the great blog which I read almost daily! Just wanted to ask where you heard that the cream portion of Young Adonis was Platinum, because my local TF counter people swore to me that it wasn’t…they said it was greyer and less taupe than Platinum.
Any thoughts on this?
I swatched them side-by-side (like, in person, on my hand) against two Platinums I have, and I couldn’t see any significant difference. In the past, the cream color has often been a repeat of a shade released on its own, so I always end up checking against what I already have.
You weren’t the only blogger to point out that the cream shadow is basically Platinum. I dislike that TF keeps cranking out the same cream shadows (but with different glitters) but even more so that they won’t just confess that it’s a repeat! If the “difference” is undetectable in a swatch it’s the same shade.
Well I already own Platinum so money well saved 🙂
Since no one else has mentioned the Elf dupe in Crusin’ Chic (for the Tom Ford Platinum) I thought I’d go ahead and do it here. Not only is the shade spot on but the Elf product is a creamy, almost whipped, eye product as well. I had the Elf and a good sized sample of the Tom Ford but after comparing them just could not bring myself to spend the money for the Platinum. They are virtually identical. (IMHO) 😉
Hi Christine! Thank you for the review. I have Platinum (single) and love it, so was really interested in hearing your thoughts about whether or not the cream potion of Young Adonis seemed to be a re-release. I’ve found that a rarely use the sparkle portion of the TF duos, and would have only considered purchasing if the cream was significantly different from Platinum. As you said, it will take a lifetime to use the one I have! Crazy-good pigmentation.
Absolutely stunning eye look there … but I’m not sold on the Young Adonis, I’m afraid. Not enough bang for the buck. It’s cool, though, since there are those new Chanel quads to be tempted by ….
I have been eyeing these TF Cream to Powder eyeshadows since I saw them at Pentagon City VA Nordstrom 1.5 yrs ago but have been very hesitant to purchase one as @ $62 they are pretty expensive. The concept is great, but I don’t want a glitter bomb on my lids. A wash of shimmer over the cream would be my goal. So….I remain ambivalent and will look out for them at a Cosmetic Company and try one out when I can get a discount. Tom Ford still remains *sadly* out of my price range. His e/s quads look too glittery for me as well to be honest.
I bought this and feel like it was a huge waste of $60. The mousse-like texture of the cream made it apply easily (easier than the Estee Lauder duos) BUT it also made it have lousy wear time. The powder, as you said, did not provide much of a amp up to the cream shade and was almost not even worth applying. This duo made my non-oily lids look oily at 4-5 hours and the shadows began fading and looking awful. I’m sticking with the EL ones which are less than half the price and 200% better.
Christine do you think it’s a better “value” (if buying tom ford anything can be considered value-shopping, lol) to get this duo or to just try to get my hands on Platinum all by itself? (that’s still possible, right?) I keep seeing conflicting product amounts so now I’m just confused! thanks! 🙂
I think I’d get the single unless you’d use the powder EVERY time you used the cream!
Christine, this cream combination is beautiful on you as it shows off your lovely eyes rather than showing off the eyeshadows, a very elegant and rich look, which serves to highlight your beautiful complexion.