If there's one compliment I want to hear about myself on any given day (big Leo energy, I know) it's that I look fucking fabulous. I mean, who wouldn't, especially when it comes to your makeup? Alas, I don't always have the time to whip up a full face of show-stopping glam before work, so I need products that can deliver a high-impact look without me resorting to hours of painstaking application. But as a beauty editor with a decade-plus of experience, I know without a doubt that an exceptional, bad bitch lipstick is the quickest way to make a statement with your makeup. So when I hear that Tom Ford was extending its infamous "Fucking Fabulous" collection from the eponymous candle and fragrance to a lipstick, I knew I had to get my hands (and lips) on it immediately.
In case you weren't already familiar, in 2017, 300 lucky people received an invite to the Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2018 show along with the first iteration of the FF fragrance, a spicy, leather-meets-lavender scent with touches of vanilla, amber, and bitter almond. Since then, the brand has launched a corresponding candle, but the collection hadn't expanded beyond the fragrance category—until now.
This week, Tom Ford released a 10-piece collection of lipsticks "designed for the collective of beautiful personalities and provocateurs of modern life: uptown escapists and streetwear muses—artists and intellectuals—nightlife denizens and cultural provocateurs," according to a press release from the brand. In other words, these lippies are capturing the perennially sexy, cool girl energy for which Tom Ford has become known. But how does the formula itself stack up to the many, many other lip options in my makeup stash? Keep scrolling to find out.
The Formula
The brand states that this is a "solid to fluid" formula, but a liquid lipstick this is not. The color is housed in a very sexy black leather bullet and has a sharply angled point, which is perfect for someone like me who has a pronounced cupid's bow. There is also a blend of conditioning emollient ingredients (reminder: an emollient softens the skin and helps to lock in hydration) like grape seed oil and matricaria flower oil, according to the packaging, to keep your lips soft and moisturized throughout the wear time.
The Application
I don't like to fight with my makeup, so the slide of a lipstick is always the first thing I notice. Luckily, this FF formula glides onto the lips with ridiculous ease. I barely had to apply any pressure to see gorgeous color payoff, and it really did feel like it was melting into my lips. With that in mind, I did have to be careful with the overall application—a mirror is required here. Otherwise I risked slip-sliding my lipstick all over my mouth.
I also prefer to blot the color around the edges for a diffused effect, rather than a crisp line, and this formula made that incredibly easy. If you are someone who enjoys a more precise application, a lip liner would be a valuable tool to keep this lipstick exactly where you want it for the rest of the day.
Wearing Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous Lipstick in F9 Red.
The Wear
In terms of staying power, I was impressed that this lipstick was able to hang on through two iced lattés, especially with a shiny satin finish. The formula is incredibly creamy but it does manage to stain your lips with color so it doesn't wear away super easily. After eating a meal, I needed a slight touchup to the center of my mouth, but there wasn't any crazy bleeding in the corners—I usually start to look like the Joker with an extended smile if I'm not careful.
As with any lipstick that's not a fool-proof liquid formula, this would definitely require some mirror time to reapply after eating or drinking, but I was impressed that the color didn't totally vanish by mid-day. And by the time I was ready to remove my makeup, it melted away just as easily as it applied, especially with an oil cleanser.
Wearing Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous Lipstick in F8 Fuchsia.
The Takeaway
Overall, a luxury lipstick (this retails for $62) is mostly about the brand identity and whether or not you want to be a part of that world. In the ecosystem of luxury beauty, this isn't the most expensive option on the market by far (that crown belongs to La Beauté Louis Vuitton, which offers $160 lipsticks) but it's certainly not inexpensive. The formula quality is definitely there, and the leather lipstick bullet is chic and sturdy, but the real incentive to buy here is being able to respond to a compliment about your makeup with, oh this? It's Fucking Fabulous. That, in my opinion, feels pretty worthwhile.
Shop Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous Lip Color
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