It's a bold statement, but I'm gonna say it – Charlotte Tilbury is the queen of bases. I don't know one person who doesn't adore her iconic (and much duped) Hollywood Flawless Filter, her Beautiful Skin Foundation is loved by dry-skinned beauty editors worldwide for its dewy finish and Unreal Skin Tint is a sheer coverage-lover's dream base. But for full coverage lovers, you may have noticed there was a gap in the market, and that's because the CT team had sneakily taken the brand's old matte foundation off the market to make way for a shiny new one – the Airbrush Flawless Foundation. Normally, when a product you love is reformulated, it's a huge disappointment, but, hand on my little heart, this is the best case scenario, because to put it simply, this is an excellent foundation, here's why...
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, reviewed
Pros
- Lasts all day
- Doesn't need to be set
- No flashback
Cons
- Dries down quickly
- Not for very dry skin
Facts
| Shades | 44 |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Full |
| Finish | Matte |
Keeks Reid, Beauty Director
Skin type: I'm a combination station!
Shade: 13 Neutral
Review: I'm an all-or-nothing girl when it comes to my bases. I either like a super light tint (Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint vibes) or a full coverage evening look that lasts through blood, sweat and tears– there is no in between. This, I was hoping, would tick the latter box as the brand describes it as a 'life-proof 7-in-1' foundation. To say it delivered is an understatement – this is my new go-to full coverage foundation and the thing I'm most impressed with is the lasting power.
To illustrate, the above pictures of me show me on the left with the foundation freshly applied at 7am before heading out to my big girl job. The right image shows me after a full day in the office and a post-work dinner at around 8.30pm. 13.5 hours later, the foundation was still intact, only slightly shiny, and the best part is that this was not powdered or set with any setting spray, because I wanted to see how it lasted without it, and wow, it does. I have tested with powder and spray since, and of course, it helps to keep things in tact, especially in more humid or sweaty situations, but on an average day, I would say you don't need anything on top.
I used a soft buffing brush (my trusty IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe and Concealer Make Up Brush) to apply and liked it as it blended in well, but as it does set quickly, I'd say if you want more time to apply, use a damp beauty sponge. Also, if you want to sheer the coverage out slightly, I've mixed it with Hollywood Flawless Filter before, and it's still worked perfectly for full coverage with even more radiance. A diverse queen!
Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer
Skin type: Oily (but like, the oiliest one's skin can get!!)
Shade: 6 Warm
Review: Never did I think I'd be laughing in the face of oil slicks and humidity, but here I am, armed with my new favourite foundation – and with a flawless complexion to boot. Ha!
OK, so for context, I have oily skin like no other. So much so that, not to brag, I would win first place in the non-existent oily face Olympics. Knowing this, I own a handful of foundations that work well with my skin type and rotate through them depending on the occasion. For nights out, where I'm looking for longevity and a full-coverage, flawless base? My new favourite is the Airbrush Flawless Foundation, and that's because the formula dries down matte, camouflages redness and hyperpigmentation, and blurs pores. Yep, she's a triple threat.
Putting this foundation to the ultimate test, earlier this month, I wore it to a hot and sticky London summer festival. After squirting one pump on my face (only one pump is needed as a little goes a long, long way!), I buffed it out with the By Joy Adenuga Brush 011 and set my full face with the ONE/SIZE BEAUTY Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder. If, like me, you have super oily skin, you can secure your base with a final spritz of setting spray like the new Char Tilbs Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray Matte, but TBH, it's not totally essential as the foundation does all the work.
Throughout the 25-degree day, I found that my face needed minimal (and I mean minimal) blotting, and upon my return home, I was pleasantly surprised that it looked just as good as it did 12 hours earlier... Sweaty dancing, you've got nothing on Charlotte Tilbury.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
