We’re often bewitched by her perfectly pink-nude pouts (shoutout to the OG Pillow Talk lipstick), silver screen-worthy eyeshadow palettes and glowing, glasslike skin, for example.
When a brand is as popular as Charlotte Tilbury (no, really — it goes viral every other week thanks to new product launches and long waiting lists) it’s hard to know whether the hype is justified. Especially considering prices range from £10 to £327.
With that in mind, I put 12 of the brand’s most iconic bestsellers to the test, ranging from skincare to makeup. Read on for my honest thoughts.
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Charlotte Tilbury Multi Miracle Glow, £45
This has been one of my favourite Charlotte Tilbury discoveries, a skincare saviour often overlooked for Charlotte’s Magic Cream. The Multi Miracle Glow is a three-in-one wonder product: an ultra light, gel-like cream that can be used as a cleanser, mask and balm. It’s packed with hydrating oils, brightening vitamin C, moisturising vitamin E and regenerating vitamin A.
I haven’t been using mine as a cleanser, though. At £45 a pot, there’s no way I’m putting this stuff on for just a few moments, only to wash it right off! Rather, I’ve been applying a small amount (a little goes a long way) to my skin in the evening and leaving it on overnight as a mask two or three times a week. I make sure to apply it to my neck, décolletage and lips, too.
It takes a little while to sink in (I use this time to make a cup of nighttime tea and read a little before bed) but once it does, I’m glad to report that it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily and sticking to my pillow. (A note to fellow glasses-wearers: I recommend putting this on just before you go to bed. It’s easy to grease up your lenses.)
I’ve been waking up the next morning to baby soft, glowing skin that looks plumper. My skin is dry, sensitive and gets flaky as soon as the temperature drops but this has been such a help in keeping all that at bay. The only downside is the smell. Multi Miracle Glow has a very distinct, sweet floral scent (like geraniums). It hasn’t irritated my skin yet but I would caution others who dislike heavily fragranced skincare.
Charlotte Tilbury Multi Miracle Glow, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream, £75
Remember the aforementioned flaky skin situation? As soon as the clocks went back and the November chill set in, I developed dry scaliness around my nose and mouth. This happens year after year, usually accompanied by redness and a dull complexion. After using Charlotte’s Magic Cream for a month, though, the change is noticeable.
My skin feels dewy and hydrated, with a subtle glow that shines through makeup. Apparently, Tilbury developed this very thick, almost greasy cream as an instant hydrator for models’ tired, dull skin. It’s a powerful concoction of hydrating hyaluronic acid, skin-strengthening peptides, moisturising oils, vitamins C and E, soothing aloe vera and smoothing shea butter to revive skin.
It leaves my skin slightly tacky but perfectly prepped for makeup to stick all day. In the pot this smells more like a sunscreen but the scent doesn’t linger too strongly on the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue, £45
Magic Eye Rescue is greasier than the gel-cream consistency of my usual eye cream (Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream, £66). Because of this, it definitely took a little longer to get used to but I liked the results I saw. After just a few days of using it, the skin around my under-eyes looked tighter and less puffy. My dark circles aren’t eradicated but they appear lighter. Even better, it’s over £20 cheaper than Shiseido. Although at £45 for a tiny pot, it’s still a big investment (the art deco packaging is very misleading). That said, you only need a tiny amount of product: one tap of your ring finger does the job when massaged well into your skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, £28
I have no idea what crystal was used for this or how it was infused but this lip oil really is magic. If you thought my skin got flaky in the cold weather, then my lips are a different story. But putting this on as an overnight treatment alongside the rest of my skincare has changed that. Now, I wake up to soft, supple lips and they remain soft even after putting on drying lipsticks. If you’re worried about your lip products drying your lips out, you can pop this over the top for an extra glossy look and feel.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £36
I’ve been using this for a while because I bought into the hype after seeing it in pretty much every TikTok beauty tutorial last year. Though subtle, I can safely say that the hype is worth it. Worn underneath foundation, it really does give that Hollywood-starlet, lit-from-within glow. As someone who doesn’t really like a lot of foundation, I wear this alone to amp up a natural-looking dewiness. It’s best concentrated on natural high points like the cheekbones, temples, nose bridge and tip of the nose.
I also recommend Saie Glowy Super Gel, £22. Saie’s offering is a lighter, gel-like consistency, which can give an almost glowy, wet look if built up. However, Charlotte Tilbury wins on the merit of shade range (there are 12 shades of Hollywood Flawless Filter to choose from).
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, 2 Fair, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, £36
As I mentioned, I’m not really a foundation person (I prefer tinted moisturisers, which don’t cover my freckles and let my skin’s natural dewiness shine through). It takes a lot to win me over and the Airbrush Flawless Foundation is almost there. It has a matte finish but I’m glad to say it never makes me look or feel cakey.
It’s very lightweight and hydrating, which is great for my dry skin, and it does stand the test of time. I’ve had plenty of compliments while wearing it, even after downpours and sweaty commutes, and especially when used in tandem with the Hollywood Flawless Filter. My only criticism is that because it’s so light and runny, you can easily use too much. Honestly, you only need a tiny amount to even out your skin. Too much and I find my freckles disappearing.
If, like me, you only need a little coverage, I recommend using a small, fluffy concealer brush like this one from Real Techniques to touch up any spots or redness. The packaging (it comes in a beautiful, frosted-glass bottle with a handy pump applicator) lends itself to the control of the product.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation, 2 Cool, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, £36
Besides being packaged beautifully (I really do feel like a 1920s celebrity when I open this rose-gold compact on the Tube), this powder is one of the best I’ve ever used. It’s super finely milled, which means that it doesn’t settle in your pores or fine lines as visibly as other powders. The blurring effect is a dream for my creasy under-eyes! Again, this is another win for dry skin, infused with rose wax and almond oil to hydrate as it sets makeup.
The super fine, light-reflecting pigments also help stop any cakiness or dullness. Personally, I haven’t found that I need to re-powder throughout the day. The sheen on my forehead and chin is manageable with this product but I can’t speak to how it would fare on truly oily skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, 1 Fair, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer, £42
Yet more stunning packaging! From now on, unless my makeup products make me feel glamorous and mysterious at 8.30am on the Northern line, I don’t want them.
When I first opened the Airbrush Bronzer, I admit I wasn’t impressed. I know I’m pale but how could this light beige shade give my skin the much-needed warmth it requires in winter? Oh, how wrong I was. I swirled it on with a big, fluffy brush, applying to my cheekbones and temples. My complexion was instantly sun-kissed and glowing. Again, this is a fine-milled powder that doesn’t look or feel heavy but I’ve noticed that it definitely looks better on skin that has something on it rather than on naked skin. It needs the tackiness of foundation or a primer to look its best.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer, Fair, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow in Colour of Dreams, £30
Technically speaking, you might want to avoid putting cream products over powder (especially those you swipe on) for fear of dislodging the powder or creating a messy, paste-like mixture. But so far I’ve had no problems adding Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow in Colour of Dreams over the top of the Airbrush Bronzer.
I think the application is key here. Use your fingers. The warmth of your hands makes the cream easier to apply, and rather than wiping it on, tap it onto the apples of your cheeks (and up your temples if you want a lifted look). Lip & Cheek Glow has a really unique consistency. In the pot, it’s an oily, greasy cream (thanks to a nourishing mix of beeswax and vitamin E) but once tapped into the skin it settles into a light, natural-looking glow of colour that lasts well. It also makes a nice lip tint without any stickiness.
If you’re a fan of the OG tawny brown pink of Pillow Talk, then you’ll love Colour of Dreams. It’s a warm, rosy pink that looks super natural on, like an actual flush.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip & Cheek Glow, Colour of Dreams, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in Spotlight, £29
This is the highlighter that singlehandedly dominated TikTok, racking up impressive numbers (currently over 30 million views). After finally working out how to ‘unlock’ the product (you need to twist the base of the doe foot from ‘closed’ to ‘open’), I find it super easy to dispense. You can see why it’s so popular almost instantly. It’s light, dewy, glowy and buildable. I’ve found that the best way to apply it is to use a fluffy brush (like the same brush I use for my bronzer or blush) or my fingers, as it really helps all the products to blend and melt together well on my face. The result is a lot more natural than a harsh, controlled line of highlighter on the cheekbone. Because all Charlotte Tilbury products are soft and super blendable, they lend themselves well to this natural glowy look.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand, Spotlight, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! in Super Black, £25
I have to admit, I needed to read our deputy beauty director Jacqueline’s review of Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! to learn how to apply this properly. It has a strange brush (or, at least, a brush unlike any I’ve experienced before). It has a distinctive ‘paddle’ shape, featuring a flat area designed to layer the product onto the lashes. On the other side, tiny plastic bristles comb the product through. The trick with this, I’ve learned, is that you don’t just comb the product through as you would any other mascara. You need to rotate the brush at the same time to dispense it equally and coat all your lashes.
My very first impression of Push Up Lashes! is that this really is the blackest of black mascaras. I’m not blessed in the lash department and accidentally trimmed a few lashes off the last time I trimmed my fringe (note to self: invest in proper bathroom lighting). This mascara makes my thin, sparse lashes look full, thick and like I’m wearing a set of fluttery falsies.
Put to the wear test, though, it’s not fully waterproof. Also, it does take longer than other mascaras to dry, which is especially annoying for glasses-wearers. However it is formulated to be the most ‘comfortable’ wear thanks to carnauba wax and something called Kerestore 2.0 (an ingredient that mimics keratin) to treat lashes and keep them feeling soft and flexible, not overloaded.
It’s also difficult to take this off: I’ve had to do double and sometimes triple cleanses (CeraVe Micellar Water and Hydrating Cleanser). A bit of a ‘mare, especially after a night out.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes!, Super Black, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit, £40
This is undoubtedly the most perfect lipstick shade: a soft, warm, tawny nude-pink that suits everyone (there’s also Pillow Talk Medium for olive skin tones and Pillow Talk Intense, which enhances darker tones). Because it looks so natural, you really do get the ‘my lips, just better’ look: fuller, plumper and more pillowy. This is also largely because of its consistency. Pillow Talk lipstick is super creamy, soft and buildable, and it keeps my lips hydrated. For the best and longest lasting lip look, I’ve found that you need to line and completely fill in your lips first with the liner (which is waterproof and gel-like). The lipstick grabs onto this tacky surface much longer than your natural lip.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
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