Tom Ford Solar Exposure, Shade & Illuminate Lips & Cheeks, Review, Swatch & FOTD

Happy Easter! Hope most of you are enjoying the wonderful long weekend. It has been rainy here recently but the temperatures are mild and pleasant. Cherry trees are already in full bloom, a sight to see. There is one right across our window, can't get enough watching it.

I have already mentioned that I ordered third Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette, called #03 Solar Exposure together with my bulk Suqqu order from Selfridges around a month ago. I would like to share my thoughts a little earlier but I wasn't sure if I made the best out of this palette because it didn't look as well as the other two (reviewed here) on me. So today is the day I am sharing my thoughts about it, together with one of the Shade & Illuminate Lips and Cheeks as well. I have been testing Tom Ford Summer Collection for a few weeks as well and I will catch up with the review of that very soon, but first Spring, right after the jump.

Tom Ford Solar Exposure, Shade & Illuminate Lips Tantalize & Cheeks Scintillate

Since I was smitten with Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #01 Cool and #02 Warm, when I heard that a third one was being released, I decided to get that one as well without too much consideration. I love the fact that in the morning I just reach for one palette, do my eyes, my cheeks and even the highlighter without searching for another product and finish it with a lippie, I am done. I have been wearing #01 and #02 so frequently that I was convinced #03 would be a good addition to my stash, especially because it wasn't as warm as #02 Warm and not as cool as #01. 

Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #03 Solar Exposure

It turns out though this one is not too warm nor too cool but it is very fair! You will be able to see in the following swatches what I mean. The shade that is supposed to be middle tone is too light for my liking and doesn't show up well on my rather dark lids. The inner corner highlight is at the same time not light enough to brighten up. The deep shade and the glitter both work fine but dark shade has a little more fall out than the other two palettes. Also the end result isn't something which blows my mind like the other two palettes did. Check out yourself.

Eye look with Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #03 Solar Exposure

There have been nice comparison swatches online but I still would like to show you what I meant by #03 Light as an alternative name to Solar Exposure. It is not only the eye shades but also the blush shade that is very fair, so much that it barely shows on my NC20 complexion. The highlighter shade though works better than the ones in the other two palettes. I wished the blush would be a bit deeper and mind you I am not one who likes striking blush shades. All in all unfortunately Solar Exposure won't be a palette I will be reaching as often as #01 and #02. I would recommend it to you only if you have a light complexion and like light brightening shades on your eyes.

Comparison: Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #01 Cool, #02 Warm, #03 Solar Exposure

Comparison swatch (eyes): Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #01 Cool, #02 Warm, #03 Solar Exposure

Comparison swatch (cheeks): Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette #01 Cool, #02 Warm, #03 Solar Exposure

With their Spring Collection Tom Ford released Shade & Illuminate for Lips and Cheeks following the ombre lips and draping trend. There are six shades of Shade & Illuminate for Lips and two shades of Shade & Illuminate for Cheeks in the collection.

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips Tantalize & Cheeks Scintillate

I am not a huge fan of Shade & Illuminate for bronzer/contour from Tom Ford's permanent collection (reviewed here) so I didn't expect to love Shade & Illuminate Cheeks but I am glad that I got to test it, I am head over heels with this one. It can be used over or under your blush or alone. I love the blush shade in here, looks very natural and the pigment shows so well. Scintillate is a lovely coral pink that goes well with cool or warm lip shades. I am not digging the highlighter all that much because I prefer powder highlights but for a subtle effect, that one also performs well.

Swatch: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Lips Tantalize & Cheeks Scintillate

Here is one of the last FOTDs I took with my long hair before I ran to the hair dresser to get rid of them. I never had so long hair and it was bothering me but somehow my curls aren't coming back, that is really sad. Below I am wearing Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette #03 Sun Exposure on Eyes and Cheeks although I topped it with Shade & Illuminate Cheeks Scintillate on the cheeks. On lips I mixed the deep and the nude shade  of Shade & Illuminate Lips in Tantalize. 

FOTD: Tom Ford Solar Exposure, Shade & Illuminate Lips Tantalize & Cheeks Scintillate

Below I am wearing only the blush from Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette #03 Sun Exposure. You can see that it barely shows on me. If you are deeper than me, investing your money on this lovely piece of product might not be your best bet. Check before buying has to be the key there. I am wearing only the nude shade from Shade & Illuminate Lips in Tantalize. My honest opinion about Shade & Illuminate Lips is that, I'd rather invest in a full size Tom Ford lipstick than these because they tend to wear longer and dry less on my lips but of course having two shades, even three since you can mix those with the price of almost one is also very attractive.

FOTD: Tom Ford Solar Exposure, Shade & Illuminate Lips Tantalize & Cheeks Scintillate

Final thoughts: Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette #03 Sun Exposure is rather for very light/fair complexions so if you are a little deeper than me, make sure to swatch and even apply before buying. I am in love with Shade & Illuminate Cheeks in Scintillate, super pretty and can be applied under or over your blush as well as alone for a natural look. I personally prefer Tom Ford's regular lipsticks to Shade & Illuminate Lips but they can be used as three different shades so you might find these justifying the price more than a single bullet. 

Have you picked any of these products? Do you like cream blushes?

Disclaimer: Solar Exposure was purchased by me, other were sent free of charge for my consideration. 
I am not paid for this review. All opinions are honest and my own.