Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra, Gold Dust, Shade & Illuminate Intensity One, Review, Swatch, Comparison & FOTD

Weekend is almost there. I can't get very excited though because there are tons of work I have to get done before the week is over and there is only tomorrow left *double sigh attack*. On the exercise front, the day before yesterday I failed to find the time but other than that I am going strong with 50 min Zumba everyday. That will be for now until I figure out what else I can do. Today it is raining again, so outdoor activities are out of question. I only like getting wet if I choose to swim ;-)

I have reviewed most of the items from Tom Ford Summer Collection Soleil but left out the bronzers, since they were released a few years ago (you can see a Caught in Action Post with Gold Dust from Summer 2013 here). After I reviewed lots of other bronzers and posted comparison swatches, I started getting many questions regarding Tom Ford Bronzers such as how light they are, how shimmery, how cool... Today I would like to write about how to get a healthy tan and warm up the face using Tom Ford products. For this I selected not only two of their bronzers, Terra and Gold Dust, but also cream contour Shade & Illuminate. I like using it more as a bronzer since it leans rather warm for me as a contour. More about these, after the jump...

Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra, Gold Dust, Shade & Illuminate Intensity One

Some quick notes about packaging. I have expressed my love for Tom Ford packaging many times before. To me they are the apple of make-up brands. I also started a discussion here about how you feel about the compacts of different make-up brands. Feel free to join, I would like to read your thoughts too. Many of you have stated that they Tom Ford packaging is very appealing for them.

Now on to bronzers. You might get a little confused with white or mahogany, small or big. The packaging for bronzers in Tom Ford permanent line is big mahogany ones as seen on top right in the photo below. They are giant bronzers which have 20 g/0.7 Oz of product and cost around 90€/$95. For Soleil Collection this summer season, Tom Ford released the same giant bronzers in limited edition white packaging (seen below in top left) as well as their smaller 8.5 g/ 0.3 Oz versions, which cost 65€/$65. Smaller bronzers look super cute and they are more affordable. Remember though, you are getting less than half the product by paying two third of the price. If you use your bronzer regularly, I suggest you go for the bigger version. If you have many bronzers and don't want to commit to one or take it with you while travelling, small one might be better. I personally prefer big ones since I can't get enough of these on my cheeks!

Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra, Gold Dust, Shade & Illuminate Intensity One

Here is a swatch of these three products side by side. Terra is cool and matte, Gold Dust is warm and a little shimmery, but no where near Hourglass one which I reviewed here recently. Shade & Illuminate Intensity One gives you the healthy glowy skin and it is also rather warm.

Swatches: Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra, Gold Dust, Shade & Illuminate Intensity One

I would like to start with Shade & Illuminate Intensity One. Although I love almost each and every product in Tom Ford line, this particular product left unloved in my stash. Make-up gods must be very angry at me and sent me another one of this after I won an auction in Evilbay for multiple products so I am stuck with not only one but two of them. The main reason this was untouched until now is that I like working with powder products more and it was too warm for my taste of a contour. 

Early this year, I started enjoying cushion foundations and glowy skin. Since I have normal to dry complexion, I can live without setting powder too. This is how I started giving it a thought. If I don't powder, it is not a good idea to use powder products directly after the foundation, they would stick and not blend properly. I came to terms that I needed a cream bronzer.

This was when  Lisa Eldridge's Golden Glow Make-up Video was released. She exclusively uses Shade & Illuminate for a bronzy look. This rang a bell. I may not like Shade & Illuminate for a contour but as a bronzer, j'adore!

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Intensity One, Shade & Illuminate brush

Here is me wearing Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Intensity One on a dewy complexion. I have MAC Extra Dimension Stolen Moment on eyes (review coming up) and RMK Irresistable Glow Lips in Cherry Red on the lips. You can find all the products used for this makeup here.

By the way I have heard Intensity Two is cooler, have you given that one a go?

FOTD with Tom Ford Illuminate Intensity One

Now on to powder front. There are two options, a cool matte (Terra) and a golden with light shimmery finish (Golden Dust). I will go into more details below on how and when to use them. The formula of Tom Ford bronzers are very finely milled, silky to touch. The strong point of these is in how they blend. It is almost impossible to over apply them although they can be build up easily. The texture of Gold Dust is a little thicker than Terra due to shimmery particles.

Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra and Gold Dust

Since I have natural undertones, warmer products work on me as well but need a few tricks. Below I used a warmer base (Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing in Ivory) and the rest of the make-up is not too cool. As an example, if I would be wearing silvers or greys, it would be more challenging to make Gold Dust work on me. Or a base with cooler undertones might clash with the warmness of this powder. Good thing to note down is that Gold Dust doesn't look shimmery on the face. It is a product I would recommend to those with neutral to warm skin tones. It is also great if you are already tanned. I find myself reaching for Gold Dust more often after my holiday than before it. You can see the rest of the make-up on my face in this Instagram post.

FOTD with Tom Ford Bronzer Gold Dust

Terra is a cooler and matte bronzer which can be used as a contour/bronzer. It is especially great if your complexion has cooler undertones and some bronzers look too warm or too orangy on you. Also the lack of shimmer makes it a great summer time contouring product. Not as ashy as a contour but cool and matte enough to define and sculpt. If you have natural undertones like me, this bronzer reads rather subtle. Some stated it is the deeper version between the two, I don' think that this is true. I think both of the bronzers are best on light and medium complexions. On deeper complexions these may not show up that well.

If you have warmer undertones and find the contouring products too ashy, Terra might be a great contour for you. If you are cool, it would make a great bronzer. It is my favorite of the bunch, love it to bits and using it so often that I am happy to own the bigger one. Don't laugh, struggle is real, today I hit the pan in Smashbox Fusion Softlights Baked Star Blush (reviewed here) after only two months!

Here is one of the many FOTDs where I wear Terra. Tom Ford Terra, MAC Delicates and Smashbox Deep Matte are my go to bronzers at the moment. I am wearing Dior Lipstick in Grege on lips. You can see the rest of the make-up listed here.

FOTD with Tom Ford Bronzers Terra

Here are some comparisons for your reference. Smashbox Deep Matte and Tom Ford Terra are close, Terra is a tad ligher. Tom Ford Gold Dust and Guerlain Terracotta (reviewed here) in #2 Naturel is close, Gold Dust is lighter. I also included Hourglass Luminious Light which is more shimmery than any bronzer I have owned to date. I am also loving MAC Delicates (reviewed here) at the moment, it has a very strange undertone which I can't describe but works on me like a charm.

Comparison Swatches: Tom Ford Bronzers, Terra, Gold Dust, Shade & Illuminate Intensity One

Final thoughts: The texture of Tom Ford Bronzers are a dream, very finely milled, silky to touch, difficult to over apply but easy to build up. I recommend Terra for light and medium complexions with cool to natural undertones as bronzer, to warm complexions as contour. Gold Dust gives a more dramatic effect in case your undertones are not warm, I like using it after getting tanned. For warm complexions, it makes a great bronzer. Shade & Illuminate Intensity One is rather warm for a contouring product but great for a dewy bronze goddess look by using cream products to keep the skin fresh looking. Doesn't matte if you want to get warm, sculpted, dewy or bronzed, Tom Ford got you covered.

Have you tried any of these products? Which one is your favorite?

Which is your go-to bronzer at the moment?

Disclaimer: Terra was provided free of charge for my consideration. 
Other products were purchased by me. I am not paid for this review. All opinions are honest and my own.