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Charlotte Tilbury review: "These are the 16 makeup products I rate from the brand"
From new launches to long-loved classics
It's hard to remember a time before Charlotte Tilbury. It seems the makeup artist has always had a place in my beauty bag with her red-carpet-ready formulas – not to mention a spot on my TikTok For You page, promoting some incredible campaigns with the likes of Elton John and Bella Hadid.
When the brand launched in 2013 with the Magic Cream, we were all put under the Tilbury spell as we learnt how to create a complexion that's designed for the red carpet. Quickly after, the power of Charlotte's Pillow Talk line became a household name as we all lined our lips to create a perfectly pink pout.
Over ten years on, the brand continues to go from strength to strength with legendary ambassadors (my personal fave being Twiggy), as well as some major moments like the *expanded* Covent Garden flagship store that's triple the size of existing stores. The space also features a new Skin Spa where you can escape the hustle and bustle with a Tilbury facial – and know the brand does some epic skincare, too.
I hate to say it, but I was a little late to the Tilbury party myself. It wasn't until 2018 when I first got my hands on a Charlotte Tilbury product – I still remember the plushy packaging of my Matte Revolution bullet – and from then on, I was a converted "darling!"
As such, I've tried a lot of products. Some of them good and some of them...meh. But with so much newness coming from the brand, now seemed like a good time to do an in-depth review of the Charlotte Tilbury makeup line-up. From the viral Hollywood Flawless Filter to the entire Pillow Talk range, here are the 16 Charlotte Tilbury products I genuinely think are worth the money:
Best Charlotte Tilbury products
Best Charlotte Tilbury foundation
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation
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Ready for a review of the entire Charlotte Tilbury makeup line? Keep scrolling.
Best Charlotte Tilbury products
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless FIlter
If I had to pick one Charlotte Tilbury product out of the lot that I couldn't live without, it would be this. I reach for it daily. When it first launched (pre-TikTok), I made the mistake of thinking this was a foundation and ended up looking like the Tin Man. However, once I got to grips with using this as a base, mixing it in with a foundation or as a highlighter, I fell in love.
I've tried all the dupes out there and trust me when I say, what you pay for is what you get. Some are too gold, some have too chunkier a glitter – this is the perfect metallic sheen to leave you looking healthy and sunkissed. Despite using it daily, I find the bottles last me an incredibly long time, too.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation
I genuinely don't understand why people aren't raving about this more, it's my favourite Charlotte Tilbury foundation. It's pretty thick in texture but leaves skin looking dewy and juicy.
The hyaluronic acid-packed formula delivers medium coverage and leaves skin looking hydrated but not greasy. For such a radiant foundation, I was seriously impressed with its staying power and how well it camouflages breakouts.
I've hit pan more times on this powder than any product I've ever used. This means two things; I use it a lot and frequently reach for another. If that's not enough of a selling point, the fact that it mattifies – without drying or caking – should be.
It's lightweight on the skin and leaves you with a velvety finish, rather than a flat matte, so you can set your makeup and reduce shine without leaving your skin resembling a Ryvita crispbread. However, it only comes in four shades, so a shade extension would be greatly appreciated.
Creamy, hydrating and lightweight, this concealer is the perfect match for tired eyes that have gone down a TikTok rabbit hole the night before.
The dewy formula plumps my hollow under-eyes, but does it provide enough coverage to cover up active breakouts? No, but I find a good under-eye concealer is actually the hardest nut to crack.
Many brands have tried to copy these highlighter wands, but the OG really does hit (the light) differently.
Yes, on a basic level, these are just liquid highlighters but the cushion applicator dispenses just the right amount (don't worry, you can build up in just a squeeze if you want to go full alien skin) and the formula is like a gel-cream hybrid, leaving skin looking glossy but not greasy.
They might be too glowy for some but I'm a fan; they're like a candlelit lighting shining on your cheekbones. Not all shades are for everyone, so pick your fighter wisely.
Everyone raves about the 'Pillow Talk' shade, but you're missing a trick by ignoring the deeper tones in the Matte Revolution lipstick. Formula-wise, these are matte and super pigmented (one swipe will have you sorted) and last a decent amount of time. They're not the most hydrating (hello, matte finish) but I can rely on them for a big occasion not to budge. They also trump all the other Charlotte Tilbury lipstick formulas (yep, I said it).
The browny brick red 'Walk Of No Shame' is one of my favourite lipstick shades of all time. If you're pale (like me) it's the perfect undone bold red and gives darker skin tones a 'just bitten' look.
'Can a brow pencil really be that revolutionary?' you may ask, and I'm here to tell you, yes. I've bought this pencil more times than I can count for its waxy long-lasting formula and cool brunette tones; all brown eyebrow pencils were too red for me until I met this one.
My one pet peeve? The lids always crack before I'm finished. I know, I'm being pernickety but if I'm spending over £20 on a brow product, I want to use it down to the nub.
Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara
I hate to brag but I'm blessed in the eyelash department. Those flutters are fluttering, but since wearing Tilbury's Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara I've received compliments that can only be attributed to this brow-skimmer.
The wand is thicker than most in my collection so a good wiggle, from root to tip, layers on a rich black formula and adds instant drama to my lashes.
It's certainly one to reach for if you fancy a bold look – if you're into natural lashes, opt for my fave REFY Lash Sculpt. And the best part? I've even night-out proofed it, so it lasts the evening without smudging down your face.
I'm all for a full-coverage foundation, but I equally love a dewy skin tint when I'm feeling a natural look (or when I overslept my alarm and don't have time for foundation). The Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint does exactly as it sounds; with a balm-like texture, the formula easily slips over to unify my complexion while adding a radiant finish.
The base does have shimmer particles laced through it, so I'd steer this in your direction if you prefer dewy finishes or if your skin sits on the drier side.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
After a seriously long-lasting full-coverage foundation? Look no further. According to Charlotte herself, one of the biggest mistakes we're all still making is buying the wrong foundation shade. "It can make you look ill and tired," she tells me, which is why this comes in an extensive 44 shades.
It's described as a “stay all day, full coverage, natural-matte” foundation, and I couldn't have put it better myself. This is my go-to for when my skin is acting up, whether it be a breakout or a rosacea flare-up, because it does the job of covering up any redness and leaving my skin with a blurred-out effect – FaceTune in a bottle, if you will. I can wear this all day long and my greasy forehead doesn't break the seal. Seriously flawless.
Think of these as lip crayons, rather than pencils, because they are seriously creamy. They don't tug or drag on your lips and deliver a pigmented splash of colour.
As they're more hydrating than traditional lip pencils, I do find I go through these quicker but it's a small price to pay for not leaving my lips feeling like a fresh sponge.
Charlotte Tilbury Mini Filmstar Bronze and Glow
This is one of my OG Charlotte Tilbury purchases and is still one I use to this day, so that should speak volumes about how good it is.
The bronzer delivers the perfect sunkissed glow to cheekbones and contains a very fine dusting of shimmer. The highlighter is super fine in texture too and provides the perfect sheen to cheekbones. Both are super blendable – no streaks to see here.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand
Tbh, I never got what all the fuss was about with the Cheek To Chic powder blushes, this blush wand reigns supreme in my opinion. Shimmer and blush don't mix for me (hello, pores and uneven texture), which is why I'd opt for these matte blush wands over anything glittery.
It's the same cushion applicator as with Light Want (no brush needed here) and one dab will leave you with a royal flush. The matte formula also sticks around longer.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm
The Cosmo team are lip plumper experts (well, we call ourselves that, anyway), so I can give you the full lowdown on Charlotte Tilbury's 'Plumpgasm'.
These feel more minty than firey (so if you hate lip plumpers that feel so tingly your lips will fall off, this is a good option). They don't leave my lips the plumpest (Il Makiage's Uncensored Lip Plumping Gloss takes that crown) but I like how comfortable they are to wear and for a gloss, they deliver an impressive amount of pigment. They're my top pick out of all the glossy options from Charlotte Tilbury.
Gilded gold lids in just one swipe? Just call me Goldfinger. These pots are mousse-like in texture, making them a doddle to apply and don't require a ton of blending either. What's more, there's no fallout to be seen.
If you build up the colour they do crease a little, but they're one of the best cream eyeshadow formulas I've tried. A little goes a long way too so this gold pot will last you a while.
Charlotte Tilbury Immediate Eye Revival Patches
I know, this isn't a cosmetic product, but Tilbury's Immediate Eye Revival Patches are like my makeup pregame. As I prep my skin with a moisturiser and primer, I also give my under-eyes a little TLC to bring radiance and the look of a good night's sleep – even though I've only had about five hours.
The cooling gels instantly refresh tired eyes, helping to reduce puffiness, not to mention the bucketload of hydration they bring. As, IDK about you, but there's nothing worse than dry skin that makes your concealer go crusty.
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
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