Beauty Snob note: You read Beauty Snob Sharon’s take on the lipsticks earlier today… now please read Mansnob’s review!
Seriously: everything Tom Ford does is premeditated. It might sound a bit cold, a bit callous, even a bit conniving, but how else to explain the sheer perfection that is everything the man touches? His new sumptuous Private Blend Lip Color collection (translation: lipsticks) has without a doubt set a new bar in this highly-lucrative category. If you gawked at the price of a Chanel lipstick, brace yourself: Tom’s creations will set you back $45 a piece (despite that, I hear Vanilla Suede has already sold out at Bergdorf Goodman).
Last week a cocktail reception was hosted for select beauty bloggers and, naturally, Beauty Snob was there. There I realized what Tom meant when he said to WWD of his interpretation of 12 classic colors, “I took the most universally flattering colors that a woman can wear, and then I re-imagined them in a modern and authoritative way.” Authoritative? This from the man who once designed Gucci handcuffs.
When it comes to beauty products, first impressions count. A lot. Each lipstick is packaged in an amazingly chic ivory and gold case that you almost want to slip into a velvet pouch to keep it pristine and free of chips. Whether you choose Bare Nude or Fire Red (Ford’s fave? Cherry Lush–the one in the marketing materials), each highly-pigmented lipstick includes a selection of exotic ingredients, including soja seed extract, Brazilian Murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil which, when combined, create an ultra-creamy texture with a velvety smooth application. Disclosure: I didn’t try any lipsticks, but instead asked a few female friends to.
Also of note, the lipsticks have no rose or floral scent. Disappointed? Don’t be. Tom has conveniently made a purse-sized index card that matches his lipstick colors with his own fragrances. For example, Vanilla Suede nude goes with Azure Lime or Jasmine Musk. True Coral goes with Black Violet. Smoke Red lipstick goes with Tobacco Vanille perfume. Love!