Charlotte Tilbury Review: Is The Makeup Worth The Price?
While I’m not a professional makeup artist (or anywhere close to that), I love cosmetics just as much as any other girl.
However, due to my lack of knowledge and expertise, I typically tend to stick to the same products over and over again, because I know what works well for my skin.
But after seeing so many girls rave about the luxury brand Charlotte Tilbury all over social media, I figured I would see for myself what the hype was all about.
if you’re not familiar, Charlotte Tilbury herself is the iconic makeup artist who launched her brand “Charlotte Tilbury” which has taken the beauty world by storm with its iconic makeup products.
I hopped onto the Charlotte Tilbury site and was immediately taken aback by the steep price points. Oof! But…..I have found in the past that when it comes to cosmetics, there is often a correlation between quality/efficacy and price.
So, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a few of the oh-so-popular products myself. Today, I’m giving you my 100% honest Charlotte Tilbury review so you can decide for yourself if the brand’s products are worth the splurge!
Charlotte Tilbury Review
There were 6 Charlotte Tilbury makeup products that I was most interested in. Here are my thoughts on what I received and whether or not they’re worth the hefty price tags.
Beautiful Skin Foundation
The Charlotte Tilbury brand has many incredible products. However, one of their most popular is the beautiful skin foundation, and for good reason. It’s a hot seller with 30 different shades to choose from and it works great for dry skin as well as normal and combo skin types.
This foundation offers buildable medium coverage that contains hyaluronic acid which helps to improve the appearance of fine lines over time while also helping to reduce the look of pores.
I attempted to use the AI pro shade match tool that is available on the site to find the perfect shade for my skin tone, but the results that it gave me seemed WAY off.
So, I decided to read through the descriptions of the colors I thought would best match my skin and I ended up choosing my color that way. I went with 4 Warm.
Although the 4 warm is a bit too dark for me right now, I know that with summer rolling around, it will likely be a perfect match, so I kept it.
Something that I think is important to note is that if you do order a color and it ends up not being perfect, you can return it for free in new or gently used condition. In my opinion, this is a HUGE benefit to shopping on the Charlotte Tilbury site vs. Sephora/Ulta, etc.
Ultimately, I didn’t end up returning the 4 warm because I know a month or two from now when I actually see some sunlight, it will work perfectly.
The cool thing about shopping on the Charlotte Tilbury site is that they offer several ways to help you choose the right color such as the pro shade match tool, the “match your current foundation” tool, a virtual try-on, a personalized complexion edit, and virtual consultations.
Growing up I always had oily skin but as I’ve gotten older I’d say it’s combination, so that’s why I chose this foundation. For those with oily skin, it’s best to check out the Airbrush Flawless Foundation.
My first thoughts on the foundation were that it went on pretty smoothly. I tend to go for a foundation with a more matte finish, but based on other reviews that this foundation gave a more even appearance, I wanted to give it a try.
Ever since getting pregnant with my first child 10 years ago, I’ve suffered from melasma. I’ve managed to get rid of most of it but the few dark spots I have left, I prefer to cover up. This foundation definitely did help make my skin appear more even, plus it’s lightweight and breathable.
If you have other specific skin concerns, you can check out all the Charlotte Tilbury Foundations here.
Verdict: 10/10. Recommend, but trust your gut when it comes to the pro shade match tools.
Hollywood Flawless Filter
I’ve never been one to wear makeup to the gym or one who worries about having makeup on every time I leave the house. However, I find that I’m either all out or nothing at all. So, to get that in-between look without trying too hard, I figured I’d give the Hollywood Flawless filter a try.
Again, I didn’t choose the shade that was recommended to me on the Charlotte Tilbury site, so I was extremely relieved when the shade I picked out on my own (3 Fair) ended up being the right choice.
I wouldn’t say that I have fair skin per se, but for this particular product, the other colors seemed a bit darker than the names reflected.
I did find that this was a great solution to a full face of makeup. This would be a great replacement for a tinted moisturizer on days when you want even-looking skin but don’t want to go through the hassle of an entire makeup routine.
One thing that I really enjoy about it is that it really does give a dewy, highlight finish. Plus, you can use this on its own for just a dewy glow, or you can use it underneath or on top of your regular foundation for added coverage.
I put it on before my foundation to see if it helped with additional coverage. It definitely did, but once you put foundation over it the “dewiness” disappears. If you want to get the dewy look I recommend reapplying after your foundation.
The Flawless filter is available in 12 shades, has a lightweight feel, and moisturizes the skin while offering a poreless finish.
Verdict: 10/10. Recommend but again, trust your gut when it comes to the color.
Pillow Talk Lip Kit With Lipstick & Lip Cheat
The Pillow talk lip kit was the first product I tried from the brand’s collection.
The kit comes with lipstick and a lip cheat lip liner to match. There are 3 colors in both the lipstick as well as the liner which range from the original pillow talk color to the pillow talk medium and then the pillow talk intense, which is a bolder, darker shade in the same hue.
I have fair/medium skin depending on the season, so I opted for the lipstick in the “pillow talk original” color and the lip cheat in the color “pillow talk”. I am wearing these products in the headshot photos above.
Over the last few years, I’ve been using Mac matte lipstick regularly. One thing I don’t like about Mac’s matte lipstick is that it doesn’t snap shut very tightly. It’s not the biggest deal in the world, but when you throw your lipstick into your makeup bag, it could be an issue if it opens.
The Charlotte Tilbury lipstick clicks closed very tightly, so you never have to worry about that. Additionally, the lipstick itself isn’t drying at all, offers the same matte look, and it lasts me all day until I wipe it off before bed.
The “pillow talk original” lipstick color that I got is the perfect neutral and I think that it would likely work on a wide range of skin colors.
There is also a matte revolution lipstick and lip cheat combo if you prefer that.
Verdict: 10/10 Recommend.
Beauty Highlighter Wand
The beauty light wand is a liquid highlighter with a unique application system. It has a velvety texture and a little goes a long way (thankfully, considering it’s $42). It’s one of my favorite products from the beauty brand so far.
The color that I chose was once again “Pillow Talk” and it is the perfect peachy pink shade.
The product comes in both a radiant finish and a shimmer finish, and depending on what color you prefer, that will determine which finish you get. In total, the shade selection features 6 colors.
The product is very easy to apply, but it’s important to not squeeze too much product out onto the applicator because you really don’t need much at all to make a big impact.
I use a bit of highlighter on the high points of the face, the tip of my nose, brow bone, and of course, cheekbones. I found that again, the product did last a long time and didn’t look caked on, yet still gave me the look I was going for.
Verdict: 10/10 Recommend.
Hollywood Contour Wand
Next up in my order was the Hollywood Contour Wand from the Pillow Talk Collection. The applicator is exactly the same as the beauty highlighter wand, which I like.
I love that there is such ease of use for both the beauty light wand and the contour wand, and although they are quite pricey, a little really does go a long way.
The first time I used the contour I ended up using WAY too much product. It goes on very silky and smooth, so it’s easy to blend in and leaves no harsh lines.
The contour shade options for this wand are light to medium or medium to deep. I chose the light to medium and again, it was the right choice. I didn’t use the virtual try-on tool, but if you feel like you need to, you have that option.
Verdict: 10/10 Recommend.
Side note: If you want to try both the beauty light wand and the contour wand, you can save 10% by purchasing them together in the Hollywood Contour Duo Kit.
Push Up Lashes Mascara
To be honest, I’m not really a stickler for mascara. If it makes my lashes appear fuller, thicker, or more curled – I’m all about it, whether it’s from the drug store or department store.
My lashes aren’t sparse or short, but they stick straight out which makes it look like I hardly have any.
The wand of the Push Up Lashes Mascara is very thin which is nice, but it does have firm bristles, which in my opinion, is a good and a bad thing. The firm bristles make it easier to separate your lashes, but it also makes it a lot easier to poke yourself in the eyeball.
So is the Charlotte Tilbury mascara worth it?
I did find that my lashes curled a bit more than with my other mascaras and they definitely do appear more full. However, the product kept flaking off into my eyeballs and it was unbearable.
Additionally, while it made my lashes thicker, fuller, and appear curled, I also found that they seemed a bit clumpy.
Initially, when I put this on in the morning, it was fine. It wasn’t until later in the day that the flakes started falling off into my eyes. I thought maybe it was a one-time thing so I gave it another try.
This time, I actually had so many flakes in my eyes I had to fully rinse the mascara off. HARD PASS.
Verdict: 1/10. Clumpy, flakes off into eyes, pricey.
Perks & Rewards
If you’ve never shopped on the Charlotte Tilbury site there are a few things that are important to take note of.
For starters, always be sure to check the HOMEPAGE for promo codes. Once submitted, orders cannot be adjusted. However, I noticed immediately after ordering that I forgot to insert my promo code.
I called CT customer service and they were able to cancel my order so I just went. back in and ordered with the promo code. Phew.
Currently, there is a 20% off promo code for orders over $60 with code RED CARPET.
Here are 2 awesome perks I learned about when you shop CB direct through the brand’s web site.
- You get free samples
- Those in the Charlotte Tilbury loyalist program receive great perks such as free gift offers, $20 vouchers, etc.
Charlotte’s Magic Cream
In my most recent order, the samples I chose were from the latest launch which was Charlotte’s night cream and arguably one of the best Charlotte Tilbury products available, “Charlotte’s Magic Cream“.
To be completely honest, I’ve never had any complaints about my $10 play moisturizer from the food store. I’m just not all that picky when it comes to moisturizers.
However, with such hype around the Magic Cream, I figured I’d give it a try. The Magic Cream has tons of amazing ingredients including aloe vera, vitamin e, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil, and so much more.
I typically tend to go for a lightweight moisturizer, but this one is definitely on the thicker side. However, I will say that I do like it and am looking forward to seeing how it helps improve the appearance of my skin.
The product description has some pretty amazing claims and if they really are true, I’ll be a happy girl lol.
Night Cream
“Charlotte’s Night Cream” is also on the heavier and thicker side, but I expected that as most night creams are heavier than something you wear all day. What I like best about this product is that it features a unique timed-retinol release while also delivering antioxidants for smoother skin.
FAQs
Is Charlotte Tilbury worth it?
From my experience, yes, with the exception of the push up lashes mascara.
What’s special about Charlotte Tilbury makeup?
Charlotte Tilbury is different from many other brands in that just about every single product offers a highlight or dewy effect. If you love the dewy look, the products are top-notch. Additionally, everything glides on ultra-smooth.
What makes Charlotte Tilbury cream so good?
As mentioned above, there is a unique blend of ingredients that offers incredible benefits in almost every regard. It’s a multi-functional product that not only feels good but helps with the appearance and overall health of your skin.
How long does Charlotte Tilbury beautiful skin foundation last?
Per the information on the site, it lasts 16 hours. I put mine on in the morning and it lasts all day.
Conclusion
So is Charlotte Tilbury any good?
Yes. So far, I’m really happy with my Charlotte Tilbury beauty products, with the exception of the mascara. While I do think the products are quite pricey, I also believe that you can’t really put a price tag on how you feel.
With that being said, if there is one product I would advise you to not purchase, it would be the mascara.
I hope this Charlotte Tilbury review has made it easier for you to decide if you’re ready to make the splurge!
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