7 Tom Ford brushes, 5 more to go… A short review of the ones I own today
I admit, I love luxury.
Tom Ford says :
“My mission is to bring luxury back, expressed through my voice and my style. It is important to me to instill glamour, integrity, and sophistication in everything I do.”
Everything in these brushes feels luxurious, the packaging, the handles, the quality of the natural or the synthetic hair and the finish, but there’s a catch : the price. Their price starts at 35 Gbp for the cheapest brush up to 80 Gbp for the Bronzer brush.
The Tom Ford brush collection is made of 12 white bristle brushes, natural or synthetic depending on the brush, the handles seem to be made of the same material and color as his eyeshadow quads, blushes or the new lipsticks.
I have 7 Tom Ford brushes and I will be giving you some information on the ones I own today :
| Tom Ford Brush |
Full length | Hair length | Width of the ferrule foot |
|
| 05 Bronzer | 17.2 | 4.2 | 3 | |
| 06 Cheek | 15.8 | 3.3 | 2.3 | |
| 02 Cream Foundation | 15 | 2.5 | 2 | |
| 11 Eye Shadow | 17 | 1.5 | 1 | |
| 12 Eye Shadow contour | 16.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | |
| 13 Eye Shadow blend | 17.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | |
| 14 Smoky Eye | 16.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
Table is in cm (cm x 0.39 = in)
I have always preferred brushes with white bristles, whatever the brand. They look dirty faster than black brushes but I have washed these many times and they always clean perfectly well and revert to the original color, no stains left behind at all.
I have tried to ask at the TF counters what hair they were made of, they always replied “natural hair”. What natural hair ? They could not tell me, at that time they had just launched… I had a very short look at their file since it was open on the counter and I read “goat” and “horse” but I am sorry I cannot tell you exactly which one since they could not confirm…
They are so incredibly soft, I guess that for the bronzer brush, they may have picked goat hair from the neck region since these are the softest, longest and thinner hair but this is only a guess…
- They are well-balanced and feel heavy.
- I did not experience any eyeshadow fall-out during application.
- They did not shed.
- Most of them are very densily packed.
- The hair are perfectly shaped, I just cannot find any flaws on the ones I have.
- They don’t have a funny smell.
- If they fall on a hard surface, I am not sure how they would react, my bronzer brush did and there is a very tiny chip on the handle, you cannot see it unless you look very close but they may be more fragile than any other Mac or Louise Young.
- The gold ferrule is exactly the same gold color as the Hakuhodo S100 series, but I don’t know if they are also made of brass-rolled 24-karat gold with clear coating…
The packaging
They are protected with a small plastic brush guard that covers the bristles and also another full size plastic brush bag, they come in his typical TF boxes.
They are made in Japan, JAPAN is engraved on the back of all the brush handles.
Tom Ford Bronzer
This brush is a master piece. So soft that you will wonder how this is even possible. Heavy and well-balanced. Picks just the perfect amount of bronzer and the application feels like Heaven.
Before having this brush in my collection, I was using Mac 134 or the Louise Young. When I travel I use the LY, otherwise I use the TF on a daily basis.
Brushes are extremely expensive here in Switzerland, buying TF online for me is like buying a normal brush in a shop here. Depending on where you live it can be interesting to buy online rather than in a local shop unfortunately.
Tom Ford Cheek Brush
This is the picture of the TF Cheek brush you will see on the online shops of any Tom Ford distributor.
The site pictures it more pointed and mine as you can see is not that pointed at all.
It still does the job perfectly well, it’s also extremely soft and VERY dense, for very pigmented blushes I would not use this one for example. It’s flat , you could imagine holding it differently for thinner and more precise application of blush and since it’s very dense I also use it for foundation. The only similar brush I have is the Hakuhodo pictured below but the TF is more densily packed and firm.
Tom Ford Cream Foundation
Bigger than the Shu and great for cream contour or foundation. Very densily packed as well and extremely soft. I am always surprised that it reverts to it’s pure color after so many washes.
Tom Ford Eyeshadow
I love it for base eyeshadow, cream of powder. Really soft and picks just the right amount of product for a soft all-over application. Today, it has become my favorite for base eye shadow application. I like how it feels heavy and well-balanced, it gives me better control of the application.
Tom Ford Eyeshadow Contour
The Tom Ford 12 is shorter than the other two Mac similar brushes pictured here, the 239 and the 272, the TF is more densily packed, it allows more precision. It’s designed for the crease and the corner eye application, you can pack a lot of color on the tip of this brush and then draw a nice outer V for example before blending it.
Tom Ford Eyeshadow Blend
The first time I saw this brush at the TF counter, it had just been washed or cleaned, I don’t know why but it did not look great, it was a bit yellowish looking and I thought it would not age well, so I did not purchase it back then.
I just got this one very recently, that’s why it’s not included in my recent post on my favorite brushes, I did not have it yet. I just found my HG crease, packed densily to give a firm but soft application. It’s firmer than the Mac 217 and more precise. I have only washed it once since I got it… hopefully it will keep it’s original color and shape. Time will tell.
I use it to apply crease color and to blend but since I really like a very blended application, I will use the Hakuhudo B214 afterwards.
Tom Ford Smoky Eye
The TF is the softest of these 3, but the difference is not that noticeable…
It’s more firm and densily packed than the Sigma. Between the Mac and the TF the difference is not that obvious, if you have the Mac you sure don’t need the TF…
When I want to smoke the shadow underneath my eyes I will use the Hakuhodo G5520 since it’s even more precise and thin and I like to keep the smokey look under my eyes as thin as possible, but this TF will allow you to do that as well.
I just have way too many brushes and I don’t really need so many… I know…crazy.
The care
I wash them regularly, once a week and it takes me 5 minutes.
I rinse them with lukewarm water, then I use very mild soap or baby shampoo to clean them and rinse them thoroughly.
I very gently press the bristles on to a towel to remove some of the excess water, I put them back to shape (as you can see in the picture below) and I lay them flat on a towel to dry. They dry very quickly, between 1 hour up to 4 hours for the biggest brush.
Once they are dry, I spray a tiny amount of alcohol on the bristles, I don’t know if this is safe, but I just can’t help myself. I am really scared of bacteria and I do this with all my brushes every time I clean them.
This is a picture of them still wet :
I don’t show you a picture before since they were really ugly dirty, you know how the Mac 239 can look so these would look the same.
Bottom Line
The only reason why I don’t have them all is because of the price.
Even if these are very good quality brushes, I think there are still some more out there that I haven’t tried yet, but I will someday…
It’s a matter of taste and preference, I just love everything about these Tom Ford but I am not discussing the fact that you can achieve similar results with less expensive brushes… I just want to add that they are much denser, which means much more hair, and I guess we also have to pay that extra hair and extra work somehow…
Of course I recommend them but for such a price you should be able to see them in person before purchasing since they are so insanely expensive. If, like me, you live in a country were any make up brush is expensive, then just order these TF… 
Hakuhodo will also launch some more brushes in the near future with white bristles, as soon as they will be available I will test them and will let you know what I think of them. I can’t wait !!
Update :
I forgot to mention that I use all these brushes, except the Bronzer, with cream blushes and cream eye shadows and that’s also why I love them so much. Unfortunately this means that I have to clean them more often in between each application but it’s just a matter of minutes and the result is totally worth it.
Another brilliant review, Sonia. For those prices, I would jolly well hope that the handles contain 24kt gold! Have you used the cheek or eye brushes with liquids/creams as well?
April 15, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Thank you Dena
Absolutely, since they are white, I use them a lot for cream blushes or waterproof eyeshadows. They are very densily packed so if I want to use Chanel Bronzer Universel I would use the Mac stippling for example and not the TF Cheek or Cream Foundation brushes.
I have used the TF 11 with a few paintpots and also with their new TF cream shadow in Platinum (I just got Platinum and Spice), it works really well for an all-over wash of color or you could build up a base color as well. I did a smoky eye with Mac Blackground and the TF 14 and was sold ! I use all of them (well, not the Bronzer one) with cream and liquid eyeshadows and blushes.
The TF 13 helps me to softly build up some dark cream shadow or paintpot in the crease, much better than my Illamasqua which isn’t firm enough…
Cross-fingers that Hakuhodo will launch some of my Hakuhodo favorites with white bristles so that I can use them with cream shadows (G5524, G5527, G5520, B214…)
April 15, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Oooooooh……BRILLIANT Post!! Thank you:))
I ordered 5 new TF brushes two days ago and I’m super releived that you rate them so well. Considering that I have to give up eating for a while in order to afford them I would have been VERY sad to see a bad FB.
I caught up with all your previous posts this morning too & signed up as fast as I could so that I don’t miss any future entries. Our taste in makeup and brushes seems amazingly similar.
May 2, 2012 at 10:11 am
Thank you Buggsiebee
Yes I know we have such a similar taste in make up 
To me, these TF are worth it, it is still possible to do better but I haven’t found better quality than these.. yet…
Which ones have you ordered ? Please let me know what you think of them, there aren’t many reviews out there, mainly because of the price, which I understand can be creepy scary… and it’s not easy to get our hands on them and feel them before ordering !
Thank you also for following this blog, I am really very happy to see you here !!!
May 2, 2012 at 10:55 am
Fantastic Blog!! It’s my pleasure to be here. Thank you:))
I’ve ordered the bronzer, blush, foundation and the # 11 & 12 eye shadow brushes.
I already have the blend brush & the shade & illuminate brush…..AND the # 12 which I rediscovered today – so now I’ll have two!! Silly me! I have WAY too many brushes but I just can’t help myself – always looking for the absolute HG!!!
Have you tried any of the Chikuhodo brushes?
You don’t mention any Le Metier brushes. Have you tried them? The blush brush is one of my faves…..as is the Rouge Bunny contour brush and the IPSA blush brush which is SUPER soft and perfect for those really pigmented blushes.
I read some mention in the comments of the Claudio Riaz brushes. Have you tested any of them? I haven’t heard anything particularly positive about them yet.
I’m also LOVING the Tom Ford cream shadow in Platinum & in Spice. Platinum is so complex I can wear it on it’s own and it looks like I’ve done a full eyemakeup with crease color and highlighter included. It just depends on how it catches the light. The Tom Ford products are super expensive & darn hard to get hold of – there’s no doubt about that – but so far I have yet to be disappointed. The blushes are also DIVINE:))
Sorry…..enough rambling…….:))
May 2, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Hi Buggsiebee
Today, in my brush wishlist I have Chikuhodo, Le Metier (I will then start with the blush brush as you recommend), Burberry, Trish (I need to try more…), and the next Hakuhodo that will launch soon… I just can’t wait ! I love white brushes and it looks like they will launch a few of them, I am so excited ! I haven’t tried Le Metier brushes yet, and I haven’t tried Claudio Riaz… but I am planning to !
I have the TF Platinum and will write a review shortly on this cream shadow, so far I love the color, so complex and gorgeous, I just need to test the lasting power again ! Rouge Bunny Rouge cream shadows seem to last longer but I need to try both of them on the eyes in extreme conditions !
TF make up is amazing… I totally agree with you !
May 3, 2012 at 7:46 pm
The Platinum lasts quite well on my more oily lids but it never really sets so, unlike the RBR, it is easily smeared if I rub my eyes.. What I love about the TF is the luminocity. It has a nice glow which I find missing in the RBR which, though they have a slight shimmer , are pretty matt. I use the taklon brushes from Hourglass for my cream shadows & other creamy products. They are EXCELLENT quality and cruelty free:))
I wasn’t aware that Hakuhodo was releasing a new range untill you mentioned it. I’ll keep my eyes open. Thanks!
May 4, 2012 at 6:22 am
Thank you for this information
I have seen the new Hakuhodo brushes in this gossmakeupartist video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka52kJTwXwM&feature=plcp at minute 3:10 he talks about them. I started checking Hakuhodo’s online site after I saw that video but after a few days I lost patience and contacted Hakuhodo to ask them when they would be released. They told me they would contact me by email… I just can’t wait ! They look amazing !
May 5, 2012 at 7:57 am
I got one of my best tips off one of Wayne’s gossmakeupartist videos. You know how bloggers/ makeupartists always say one should smile when one puts on blush so that one can see where the apple of the cheek is? Well…..he says NOT to smile while you put on your blush and he’s absolutely right. At my age ,if you smile when you put on your blush and then stop smiling ….your blush ends up somewhere near your chin:)))) FANTASTIC tip.
He doesn’t like the TF cream shadows btw.
I just checked out his IMATS video and YES those white brushes are lovely looking. The smaller blush brush is DEFINITELY going to be mine. Beautiful!
PLEASE let me know when Hakuhodo mails you.
Happy weekend:)))
May 5, 2012 at 6:05 pm
is tom ford cream foundation brush way softer than the shu uemura one? I’d like to know how they compared to each other in more detail! thank you for the great review.
May 20, 2012 at 5:25 am
Hi !
I wouldn’t say way softer, but softer for sure. If you are really picky, you will notice the difference, I can tell which one it is with my eyes closed without hesitation
So, the Tom Ford is softer, bigger, denser, and more flat. Today I use the Shu only for cream contour or for applying a foundation base on precise zones since it would take me a very long time to apply the foundation all over with this small brush. The Tom Ford is more multi-purpose for my make up routine, I can get more use of the TF than the Shu, but your choice may depend on the size of brush you are looking for since for the other specs, the differences are really not that noticeable.
I hope this helps
Thank you for your nice comment !
May 20, 2012 at 10:14 am
Thank you so much for your thorough explanation! I really enjoyed your favorite brush post as well as the makeup organization post .
meanwhile, i couldn’t help but notice that you have both chanel and no.7 foundation brush.
I have chanel one but couldn’t get my hands on the no,7 one since i live far from u.k lol
I’ve noticed lisa eldridge using the no.7 more than the chanel foundation brush.
would you be able to compare these two as well?
after reading your posts and replies, I’ve come to a conclusion that I can trust your opinion 100% when it comes to brushes!
May 23, 2012 at 2:31 am
Hi Anaksunamun, I am really touched by your sweet comment and cannot thank you enough ! <3 I am so happy to meet people like you here, I am blessed
!
I will try to explain the difference between these 2 foundation brushes, I hope it is understandable since my english sometimes is too basic when it comes to getting into detailed explanations, but I'll try my best
The N7 brush has a different bristle lay out, the shorter bristles start closer to the base of the ferrule, it has more layers, it's thicker and it's more pointy and more flexible than the Chanel.
This means many things to me : you just get many more uses from the N7.
The N7 will give you a less streaky foundation application than the Chanel, I could consider not blending at all after the N7, but after the Chanel I prefer to always buff or blend with another brush, this additional step is necessary to me. Although I could apply my foundation only with the N7, I also prefer to use another brush (like the Radiance) afterwards for buffing slightly (I like a light to medium foundation coverage that you can barely detect, or not detect at all if possible).
The main reason why I love the N7 so much, is to use with thicker (harder to pick) cream blushes or for example Mac ccb's, cream products that are less soft and creamy. The layering of the N7 has "something" that makes the product stick better to the bristles, probably way more than a stippling brush would. The Chanel has more of a sleek bristle finish therefore the bristles glide more on the product…
The N7 is a great multi-purpose brush, I think you could do anything with this one, countour, blush, highlight, concealer, foundation, etc, more than the Chanel, and it's also cheaper. I can live without the Chanel, but I cannot live without the N7, I mean if I had to choose only one
The N7 concealer is also fantastic, thick and nicely layered, it works well to apply and blend concealer, although I prefer a rounded brush for that…but anyway this does the job perfectly well. You can also use this N7 concealer for cream waterproof eyeshadows, it's what I tend to do right now.
The N7 Smokey Eyeliner brush is very similar to the Chanel 24, a fantastic brush. I have only these 3 N7 brushes but I am really satisfied and I totally recommend them !
I know it's difficult to get them, I always manage to find a way (like swapping or ebay, or mail forwarding, but you may end paying more than they actually cost).
I hope this helps
May 23, 2012 at 11:20 am
Thank you for your kind review of No. 7 brushes! I had my eyes on those brushes but hesitated because I didn’t want to pay the extras if there weren’t going to be as great as I expect them to be. Now, you’ve compared them with other brushes that I own and i have a quite clear idea of what they are really. I finally placed order on ebay for all 3 brushes that you mentioned.
now i am eagerly waiting for them to arrive at my door
Thank you and have a nice weekend!
May 27, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Just stumbled upon your blog today and really love it. Drooling over all your beautiful brushes!!
How do you usually do your brush wash? Mind sharing? Thanks a lot!
June 6, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Hi !
Thank you
There is a topic “The Care” in this post, I don’t do anything more than that, just using baby shampoo or a mild soap and softly rinsing under lukewarm water, gently remove excess water with a towel and then lay them flat to dry…
Thank you for stopping by !
June 6, 2012 at 6:58 pm
I was just reading about the Tom Ford bronzer brush and apparently one of the SAs said that the range is made by Hakuhodo. What do you think is the most similar Hakuhodo brush overall, considering shape and softness? Thinking whether I should get the Tom Ford or get a similar Hakuhodo at the moment. How is it generally for powder, not bronzer? Thanks so much! I’m pretty much just compiling my brush orders based on your reviews because they’re so detailed
October 20, 2012 at 2:10 pm
The most similar brush is the J501 which is goat and synthetic, it is smaller but it’s definitely also really soft and dense.
I also have the J5541 which is only goat and it’s bigger than the J501 but it not as soft as the J501. If you can go for TF, you won’t regret it, it’s a master piece. But the J501 is also a fantastic brush for either powder or bronzer, either way, you will be happy
October 20, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I would love the 12, but cannot afford it! Any Hakuhodo brush that is similar?
February 19, 2013 at 8:28 am
Hi Jennifer,
This brush is really unique and I haven’t found an exact dupe for it at all but I won’t stop searching !
In my next post I have included it in my favorites brushes and I actually talk about my mission to find a dupe, maybe somebody will read me and will suggest one… fingers crossed !
February 19, 2013 at 8:56 am
Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly! By the way – I love your blog! You make me want all the pretty brushes!
February 19, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Sonia, at the end of the day, are there comparable brushes to the Tom Ford 13?
March 23, 2013 at 10:20 am
to be honest .. No, they aren’t and so far I haven’t found a similar one even in another japanese brand, this one makes crease and blending so easy that I hardly believe it could get any better.
If I find a similar one I’ll let you know, this TF is “unfortunately” worth its price… I wish Tanseido could create one, I haven’t found a similar one on their website, the ones they have appear less dense and with less precision.
March 23, 2013 at 10:37 am
Wow! This is an awesome review! I love high end brushes as well (in France, good makeup brushes are very expensive too, so I don’t even bother to look on “middle” range brands as I only have to add a few euros to get a handcrafted, not-made-in-China brush!). You sold me on these – I HAVE to buy some! I have the Shu Uemura foundation brush, do you think it’s worth getting the TF one??
Thank you! xx
March 25, 2013 at 7:56 am
Hi Rada, thanks
If you want a brush that is approx twice the size of the Shu, the TF 02 is the one to go for. If you are using it for foundation and you want another recommendation for a fantastic one, mother of these two, get the Houkodou
Still loving the TF and so far no other similar goat brushes can compare, of course Koyudo and Tanseido are great but TF is a level up in my opinion.
March 25, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Thanks for the heads-up, Sonia.
I’m saving for the fupa 14, so this will be my next big buy.
Maybe for my saint’s day, 2 November.
Yeah. That seems like a good present to celebrate one’s saint’s day.
March 25, 2013 at 11:56 am
that reminds me… I have a few things to celebrate, so many ideas that I don’t even know how to start
but November is still far away
March 25, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Very nice post and review! i’ m desperately trying to find a bronzer brush that doesn’t pick to much color at once and most important one that feels soft against my sensitive skin!!!! i was googling on tom ford brushes and i found your blog! Thank for your post! May i ask you where can we find these brushes online? We only have tom ford perfume in my country(in Europe). Thank you!
April 14, 2013 at 9:05 am
Hi Su,
the problem is that online there aren’t many places where you can find them, Harrods don’t deliver TF internationally, but try, maybe your country can get them and is allowed to receive them. Try saksfifthavenue.com (maybe your country is find, mine not), try Selfridges.co.uk but the shipping is certainly very expensive, if you call them they do ship internationally, the order has to be placed by phone though.
I heard that TF will sell the brushes in Zurich soon, don’t know where yet but I know where to find my sources, I just need to wait they have more info, not before the autumn anyway and I don’t know if they ship abroad either
Otherwise, I have used forwarding companies in the past. Unfortunately I don’t have a trip planned to the uk at the moment, otherwise I would help.
April 16, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Thank you for the information! You are being very kind offering your help! I checked Harrods and i think they do ship internationally, at least in the EU, though the shipping cost is high! What to do- i’ m a makeup junkie who needs to start saving money for it! lol! Thank you anyway!!
April 19, 2013 at 5:32 pm
If you have friends or family travelling you could ask them if you know what you want in advance
April 19, 2013 at 6:18 pm
Maybe it’s been posted up before, but what is the issue with the shipping of these brushes?
Is the hair from an endangered species?
April 17, 2013 at 12:27 pm