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One of the popular cosmetic brands at the moment is Charlotte Tilbury, created by makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. I have tested some products from the brand, and here are my top picks and flops.
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Who is Charlotte Tilbury?
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Charlotte Tilbury is an English makeup artist, well-known for her work on the red carpet. She has worked with celebrities such as Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian, Gisele Bundchen, Penelope Cruz, just to name a few. She is also rumored to be the favorite makeup artist of Meghan Markle and Amal Clooney.
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She worked for many years as a makeup artist for renowned fashion designers and created makeup for fashion magazine photo shoots. She has also been a creative director for various cosmetic lines. She participated in the creation of Tom Ford’s first makeup collection, worked for Helena Rubinstein, and finally launched her own eponymous line in 2013.
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Makeup entered her life when she was just a 13-year-old girl. She loves it so much that she has declared that she even wears makeup to bed (which I personally advise against), and her husband has never seen her without makeup.
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Her cosmetic line, although relatively young, has been successful from the start, partly due to Charlotte’s fame as a star makeup artist. Her tutorials created with her products on her YouTube channel and a lip pencil offered in her makeup line, which has driven the blogosphere crazy, have also contributed greatly to its success. It is called the Pillow Talk and has a nude pink color that many believe is suitable for all skin tones. The lip pencil was then accompanied by an entire line dedicated to this shade, which includes lip pencils, blush, eye palette, and lipstick.
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The brand is known for its good quality, after all we are in the field of professional makeup, and it is quite inclusive in terms of the colors offered: its foundations boast 44 shades.
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But let’s take a look at some of the products from the brand that I have tried.
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Filmstar Bronze & Glow (Fair to Medium)
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This is the first product I tried from the brand, the one that got me interested in the brand and, in my opinion, is the best among all the products in the line. It is a duo composed of a bronzer and highlighter available in two shades. The golden packaging is of excellent quality, elegant, and practical. The two product pans are made of extremely fine powders that blend perfectly with the skin, blending gradually.
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The application is simple and quick. The effect is discreet but present. The bronzer sculpts without obvious contrasts and in a very natural way. The champagne-colored highlighter seems almost non-existent, yet it illuminates the areas on which it is applied.
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For those who love a discreet effect, this duo represents the right product. Makeup lovers who prefer a bold effect might find it too soft. The light-medium shade is perfect for medium and medium-light skin tones.
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In my opinion, Filmstar Bronze & Glow contains both one of the best bronzers and one of the best highlighters I have ever tried. In short, I have already purchased my second case within a year.
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Eyeshadow palettes
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The Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadows from the Luxury Palette that I have tried have a correct but not exceptional texture. In addition to Pillow Talk and The Vintage Vamp from the permanent line, I also tested the latest holiday proposal, Starry Eyes to Hypnotize.
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The Luxury Palettes, which contain 4 eyeshadows, boast a well-studied color combination to create various eye makeup looks without making mistakes. Even Starry Eyes to Hypnotize, which contains 12 pans, offers matching colors. It even divides the pans into 4 trios, suggesting the creation of 4 different types of makeup looks with perfectly matching colors. The pans in all the palettes, even those with matte colors, are not powdery. The eyeshadows have good texture, but the pigmentation does not excel when compared to other products on the market, even those sold at a lower price. However, the product has good staying power. The eyeshadows applied, both with and without a primer, last all day. The shades are luminous and discreet, suitable for everyday wear and easy to apply.
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Foundations
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A bit of a disappointment for me were the foundations, particularly the latest addition, from which I had high expectations. I tried two out of the three offered by the brand.
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My first Charlotte Tilbury foundation was the Magic Foundation, described as a new generation anti-age foundation that enhances the skin, provides a 13-hour hold, and remains lightweight on the skin. This foundation is the result of five years of research. The anti-aging properties are ensured by the presence of active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and mushroom extracts. The declared sun protection factor (SPF) is low, SPF15. The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser, and there are 20 shades available.
The Magic Foundation applies well with both a brush and a Beauty blender type sponge. It has medium coverage and a fairly natural finish. The hold is good, lasting up to 8 hours before starting to come off on the chin and nose. Once applied, it doesn’t settle into pores or wrinkles. The finish is semi-matte and quite luminous. In summary, a good product, but not magical as the name might suggest. Compared to other foundations on the market, it’s not the first foundation I would choose, although it remains a good product.
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I had heard a lot of praise for the Airbrush Flawless Foundation, the latest addition. This foundation offers 44 shades and promises a matte but natural finish, minimizing pores and reducing the appearance of wrinkles thanks to Magic REPLEXIUM®. In short, it’s a foundation with skincare components that, according to the claim, provides results after 8 weeks of use. I didn’t use it for that long, and after a few days, I felt the need to switch products on my skin.
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It’s not an easy foundation to apply; it tends to dry quickly, so it needs to be applied quickly to the skin. The initial impression is that it pulls on the skin, although this sensation disappears quickly. If you have dry or mature skin, this foundation will probably require the application of a good amount of moisturizer before applying.
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Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the advertised moisturizing effect, nor did I notice any reduction in the appearance of pores and wrinkles. Despite containing various silicones, it tends to accentuate signs of aging.
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I think it’s a product more suitable for young and combination to oily skin types. At the end of the day, I noticed that it tends to slightly shine on the T-zone and chin, so I recommend using a finishing powder after application. The coverage of imperfections is good, and the finish of the product on the face looks great in photos, giving the impression of flawless skin. However, in real life, it’s a foundation that can be noticed, although it blends well with the skin. It’s not suitable for those who want a natural effect.
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Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
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The Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is a product that I highly recommend. I purchased it in the color 2 Medium. It is an extremely fine, mattifying finishing powder that smooths the skin and minimizes the appearance of pores. Its ultra-fine texture makes it suitable for setting even the under-eye area concealer. It doesn’t accentuate wrinkles and gives the skin a smoothing effect. It performs exceptionally well on mature skin like mine.
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Cheek to Chic Blush
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Another product with excellent performance is the Cheek to Chic blush that I purchased in the color Pillow Talk. The color is magnificent and refined, as it is famous for. I believe it can truly adapt to many different skin tones. The product consists of two pans: the actual blush and a smaller pan of highlighter. When used together, the effect of this product is similar to that of Marc Jacobs’ Airblush. Like other powder products from the brand, its texture is ultra-fine, easily blendable, and well-pigmented. The presence of the highlighter ensures a satin and very luminous finish.
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The Magic Away Concealer
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The Magic Away Concealer is a liquid concealer pen with a sponge applicator. The application concept is the same as Maybelline’s Instant Anti-Age. Available in 20 different shades, Magic Away Concealer has a fluid and thin texture that is easy to apply. Its fine texture would make it suitable for mature skin, except that once it dries, it tends to accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. Moreover, it is not a full-coverage product as advertised, and it may not be sufficient for significant under-eye circles. However, it is very illuminating and suitable for those who do not have major under-eye problems but just want to brighten their eye area. The product content in the case is very small considering the price, only 4 ml, and given the daily use of concealer.
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Matte Revolution Lipstick
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The Matte Revolution Lipsticks by Charlotte Tilbury deserve all the fame as top products on the market. I purchased these lipsticks in three shades: Pillow Talk, Very Victoria, and Bond Girl. The packaging is elegant, a refined gold case that reminds me of the old Estée Lauder lipstick case from a few years ago. The colors are bright, extra pigmented, and provide full and even color. These lipsticks have a slight vanilla scent and a creamy texture despite being matte. They are extremely comfortable upon application. The wear is excellent. They are among the few lipsticks that can compete with Pat McGrath’s Matte Trance. I have not tested the brand’s other lipsticks such as Kissing, Superstar, and Hot Lips, but I plan to do so shortly.
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Conclusion:
The Charlotte Tilbury brand represents the top of the market for face powders (bronzer, highlighters, blush, and powder), in which it excels, as well as for matte lipsticks. The eye shadow palettes are characterized by good quality and excellent color coordination, but in terms of pigmentation, they are less performing than other eye shadows on the market. However, they remain the ideal product for those who do not seek a dramatic effect but want to create everyday makeup looks. As for foundation and concealer, at least those that I have tested, in my opinion, better options can be found on the market.
