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Charlotte Tilbury is a brand synonymous with luxury, Hollywood glam and backstage beauty, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular choice for red carpets, weddings and celebrity makeup bags.
When it comes to investing in higher end makeup and skincare products, it can be tricky to know which ones are worth the money, which ones are the most versatile and which ones you simply won’t find yourself reaching for.
Over the last five years, I’ve tried a lot of Charlotte Tilbury beauty innovations, from the iconic Pillow Talk range to her glow-giving formulas, with my current number of individual CT items in my cosmetics collection standing at 42 – based on 21 different products.
From skincare essentials to makeup must-haves, I’ve been taking a look at my Tilbury empire, including my holy grail and desert island must-haves, as well as the ones I likely won’t repurchase in the future to help you work out which ones to add to your beauty routine.
So, here’s my honest opinion on 21 Charlotte Tilbury beauty products, from flawless base formulas and setting sprays, to plumping lip products and high performing palettes.
Air Brush Flawless Setting Spray
I used to think setting sprays were a bit of a fad, but it turns out I had been using underperforming mists that would leave my face feeling wet and leaving droplet marks rather than set in place for the day. The Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is definitely up there in my top three though, alongside the Milk Hydro Grip Setting Spray and Mac Fix+ Stay Over spray.
Formulated with aloe vera, hydrating Japanese green tea and an aromatic resin, the Charlotte Tilbury spray locks makeup in place for hours on end while delivering a gorgeous, dewy finish that leaves skin looking radiant. Glass skin is a major trend this year, and if there’s one setting spray to help you achieve that luminosity, then it’s this one.
Loved by a long list of a-listers and their makeup artists, it really helps to extend the longevity of my makeup even through nights out, weddings and more. My top tip? I like to use the priming and finishing mist before I start my makeup, after completing my base makeup, and when I’ve completed the full makeup look, setting everything in place after each ‘stage’ of my routine really makes a big difference to the overall staying power. I also love to keep a travel sized version in my bag to help refresh my face on those longer days.
Charlotte’s Magic Cream
There are few Charlotte Tilbury products as iconic as the best-selling and award-winning Magic Cream, which is why it’s hailed as a holy grail product for so many. Originally designed backstage for use on models during fashion week, thick, immediately hydrating moisturiser is a pre-makeup ritual must-have for creating the ideal canvas for your beauty routine, but equally, because it’s so rich, it’s just as dreamy as a night cream, too.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream contains hyaluronic acid, to help hydrate the skin, infused with BioNymph peptide complex to firm and plump. Vitamins C and E, aloe vera, shea butter, frangipani extract, camelia oil and rosehip oil then combine to brighten and even the skin tone while nourishing, softening, plumping and toning the complexion. If you suffer from dry skin like me, definitely give it a go.
Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser
Launched in 2024, this cleanser is a relatively new product to the CT skincare collection, but I have to admit it’s not my favourite. The priming cleanser is said to remove makeup and impurities while hydrating the skin and reducing the appearance of pores.
The creamy formula transforms to a foam, then a milk, using hyaluronic acid to moisturise the skin, and peptides to help smooth the complexion, while biomimetic barrier shield technology supports the skin barrier.
For me, the formula was a little too thick with a sticky consistency that left a tacky residue behind, and while I can see why this could be good to help create a primed base for makeup, I personally prefer using a gel cleanser to remove any dirt, then going in with a grippy primer like Elf Power Grip instead.
I’m quite picky on my cleansers and a dealbreaker for me is whether it passes the sensitive eyes test, and sadly I found the CT cleanser to sting a little, making it difficult to remove stubborn mascara. If you do want to try a transforming cleanser that I love though, then Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Glow is a dream.
Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask
I’m a big believer that a face mask can fix anything and I’ve always got a stash ready and waiting to deliver the pick me up I need, whether it’s brightening vitamin C or detoxing clay, but the Charlotte Tilbury sheet masks are different to any other face mask I’ve tried. Why? Because they’re dry.
Inspired by the technical innovations of Korean beauty and infused with supercharged ingredients, including vitamins, floral extracts, peptides and oils, the CT masks are designed to offer facialist results in 15 minutes.
The masks hook over your ears and fit really well, and are really comfortable to wear. You can use a roller or gua sha over it to supercharge the results, or simply sit and let it do its thing.
And while my skin can often look brighter and more radiant after using these masks, they come in at £18 a pop. They can be used up to three times, however, I definitely think that if you had £18 to spend on some Tilbs goodies, your money could be better spent on other products.
Beautiful Skin Island Glow Tanning Drops
I’ve typically avoided tanning products over the years following an Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging Wotsits legs situation in middle school. I’d love to say it’s been an act of defiance, one in which I’m embracing my natural pale skin. But truth be told, I do enjoy a bit of a sun kissed face every now and then, and the Island Glow tanning drops from Charlotte Tilbury – another 2024 launch – allow me to achieve just that.
Available in two shades, the fair/medium option is designed for cooler undertones, so those with a rosier complexion or a tendency to burn in the sun. Infused with radiance-boosting, skin-plumping, hydrating skincare ingredients, the buildable formula can be fully customised to create a level of tan and glow suited to your skin.
The fuss-free, streak-free drops can be used under, mixed with, or on top of your moisturiser depending on the intensity you’re looking for – for example, over your moisturiser is going to be less intense than directly onto your face. You can then go on to apply between 2-12 drops of product, depending on how tanned you’d like to be. Then, light reflecting pigments in the drops provide a pearlescent glow that looks gorgeous with or without makeup.
The drops apply clear and then develop in six to eight hours, lasting up to four days. If you’re a total tanning novice, like me, then I recommend using 2-4 drops on top of moisturiser for your first go and then building it up to find an application method and tan intensity to suit you.
Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer
The sun is responsible for up to 80 per cent of visible premature skin ageing, so using SPF every day is incredibly important. However, finding a sunscreen that sits well under makeup, leaves no white cast and doesn’t pill can be a challenge – but not for CTilbs of course.
The Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer is a primer-SPF hybrid with factor 50 sun protection that not only protects against UVA and UVB rays, but also acts as a smoothing base for foundation and concealer to glide over.
As well as offering immediate protection and priming properties, hyaluronic acid works to plump the skin, while the addition of Collalift 18 improves skin elasticity, smooth pores and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. The overall result? Skin with a soft-focus dewy finish, that’s protected, hydrated and ready to go.
Wonderglow
For that lit-from-within glow, Wonderglow is my go-to. Not only can it be used underneath foundation or on its own to achieve an effortlessly relaxed, dewy look, but it can also be applied on top of makeup as a pick-me-up throughout the day, delivering an instant glow to the skin.
Although it looks tinted and shimmering in the bottle, Wonderglow applies sheer and blends seamlessly even into pale or darker skin tones, with innovative light diffusing technology that re-emits light around the face and soft focuses to reduce the appearance of fine lines and imperfections with a gently blurring effect.
Wonderglow adds luminosity to my skin, ensuring my makeup looks fresh and radiant all day, and when paired with other high-performance products from the brand, it really enhances the overall finish. With Wonderglow, Charlotte Tilbury has definitely created a must-have product whether you’re going for a natural daytime look or a glamorous evening vibe.
Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
This little gem is your secret weapon for covering dark circles, blemishes and redness but is also perfect for priming eyes ready for eyeshadow, too. With its lightweight formula, this concealer provides medium and buildable coverage without ever feeling heavy or cakey. Sweat-proof, humidity-proof and waterproof, this non-creasing formula has been described as ‘shapewear for your eyes’ by Charlotte Tilbury for the lifting and sculpting effect it gives.
Infused with a powerhouse of skin-loving ingredients, including hydrating hyaluronic acid, plumping plant-based collagen, and radiance-boosting golden vitamin C, this concealer not only covers imperfections but also works to improve the appearance of your skin with each use. Niacinamide helps to brighten and smooth the skin, while soft-focusing silica and natural mica-based pearls create a luminous, second-skin finish that blurs imperfections and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If I’m being super picky, I prefer a slightly bigger applicator, but I’m sure other beauty buffs would say the thin wand is better for a more precise application. Charlotte Tilbury also suggests you can use a darker shade of this concealer as a contour product, too – we love a multi-use product.
Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation
Much like the concealer, Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation is a makeup product infused with skincare properties like hydrating hyaluronic acid and a brightening rose complex to give your skin an instant boost of moisture and glow.
Not only does it provide buildable coverage for a flawless finish, but it also boasts long-term skincare benefits, thanks to ingredients like Coconut Extract and C.T. Defence, which help strengthen the skin barrier and defend against environmental stressors.
With its 16-hour long wear formula, you can trust this foundation to stay put all day long without the need for touch-ups. Plus, its neutralised base and clear colour pigment formula make it suitable for all skin tones, undertones, and types.
The formula is lightweight yet offers fantastic coverage without sinking into my fine lines or clinging to dry skin, leaving my skin looking flawless and natural but enhanced and smoother.
Flimstar Bronze and Glow
This palette features a bronzer and highlighter duo designed to sculpt, define, and enhance your features. The bronzer is more of a contour shade, in my opinion, perfect for shading the hollows of your cheeks, temples and anywhere else you may want some definition, with a blend of pearl and pigment to help contour your face and mimic that sun-kissed skin.
The highlighter boasts a golden base and Light Flex Technology, formulated with colour-rich pigments rolled into elastomer pearls, for blendable coverage and a seamless finish. However, I’ve always found the highlight shade not to compliment my skintone very well, and when the duo is £49 alone, it’s a lot of money to only like half of it.
There are bronzing and highlighting products within the CT range that I prefer to these, and while it does mean spending more money on two products, it’s definitely worth it for the results. I do love that this compact comes with a mirror though, making it great for on-the-go touch ups.
Beautiful Skin Sun Kissed Glow Bronzer
Now this bronzer, I love. It’s the first ever cream bronzer from the brand that works to blur, hydrate and bronze all in one, having been so popular that it sold one every 30 seconds on launch day.
Formulated with finely milled pearls, elastomer ‘elastic’ polymer, and soft-focusing silica, this bronzer delivers a luminous, second-skin effect that blurs imperfections and smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, with its film-forming resin and silky polymers, it offers long-lasting wear that lasts for up to 16 hours, making it sweat-proof and humidity-proof for all-day radiance.
Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid and sunshine provitamin D3, it gives you an instant sun-kissed skin effect and comes in four shades so you can find one perfect for your skin tone. Charlotte recommends you start by applying a small amount, before building up to your desired beachy-bronze, but my favourite tip is to apply it to your eyes as a shadow for an effortlessly cohesive look.
Matte Beauty Blush Wand
Inspired by the world-famous Beauty Light Wands, this easy-to-use blush wand is a one-dot-wonder for lifting facial features and adding a flush of colour to the cheeks. You know they’re great because so many brands have gone on to try to replicate with similar launches, including Elf, 17 Cosmetics and Revolution Beauty.
Infused with Lumi-Blur Technology and light-reflecting pigments, the blush wand delivers a smoothing, soft-focus finish that blurs imperfections and enhances your natural glow. Poreless polymers and flawless film formers ensure a smooth, airbrushed effect that lasts all day long and the magic cushion applicator is perfect for precise application.
The quick-drying formula sets in seconds, so I always suggest doing one side first and blend, followed by the other to avoid a patchy effect. I use the shade Pillow Talk Pink Pop, which is said to be a universally flattering pink hue that’s just vibrant enough to be noticeable without being too much.
Beach Stick
The Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick first launched in June 2014 but was later discontinued – now they’re back by popular demand in three summer-ready, beach inspired shades, including the one I use: Las Salinas.
Easy-to-use, and easy-to-blend, this cheek and lip multi-use product features a twist applicator for on-the-go and is the perfect companion for creating a radiant, beachy look.
Formulated with smoothing ceramidone, glowing pigments, and light-diffusing spheres, this cream blush stick effortlessly blends onto the skin for a lit-from-within glow and soft-focused finish. Its ultra-light texture enhancer, silky coconut alkanes, and emollient ester blend ensure a smooth, silky texture, while a fusion of hydrating waxes provide a hydrating, dewy-looking finish that lasts all day.
Cheek to Chic Pillow Talk Original
While I like all three of the CT blushes I own, if you are more inclined to reach for a powder product, then I love Cheek to Chic. The two-in-one blush and highlighter duo features two complementary shades—a soft pink and champagne which blend seamlessly for a flush of colour and cheekbone lift in one brush sweep.
The texture is super silky and blends well so you can go as natural or flushed as your desire. Plus, it’s infused with gold flecks and a special Light Flex Technology to leave you beaming. It comes in a number of shades but Pillow Talk original is my go-to as it really compliments the other Pillow Talk products I use, including eye palettes and lip products.
Pillow Talk Multi Glow
Of the two CT highlighters I own, these are my least favourite. The Multi-Glow highlighters are super shimmery, but in a way that’s giving 2014 – on me, at least. The highlighters combine the light-reflecting shine of a liquid with the easy-to-use power of a powder for a smoothing, soft-focus, blurring finish, but I find them to be too intensely pigmented for my ultra-pale skin, which means it can make me look a little muddy and patchy.
There’s no denying that the glitter compacts are gorgeous, and the fact there are four colours in each palette does mean that I can still make use of them elsewhere in my beauty routine, often using shades from Romance Light on my eyes and brow bone.
Beauty Light Wand
If you want to illuminate your complexion with a more subtle-yet-buildable formula, then this easy-to-use highlighter wand is the GOAT. The shade Pillow Talk Light adds a subtle shimmer that’s perfect for everyday glam and is ideal for pale girlies.
In the same packaging as the blush wands, it has a cushion applicator that allows you to dot and blend for a soft-focus glow. They’re brightening and radiant without being glittery, dry quickly so as not to feel greasy or tacky on the skin and most importantly, don’t look patchy or cakey when layered with other products.
Formulated with lustrous polymers, velvety silica, and brightening pigments, they’re a dream to use and wear – just don’t forget to twist the applicator shut after use because otherwise they get messy fast.
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palettes
Moving on to the eyes, I have two of the Luxury Eyeshadow palettes in Pillow Talk and Pillow Talk Dreams, and they’re fantastic for creating a range of looks thanks to each shade in the quad complementing one another.
Inspired by the brand’s best-selling Pillow Talk Original Lip Cheat lip liner and Matte Revolution lipstick, the universally-flattering palettes can be used for a light everyday look, or to create gorgeously glam, smokey evening vibes.
Each palette has two rich and pigmented matte shades alongside two dazzling shimmers, with Pillow Talk offering a pearly pink and matte dusky rose with soft matte brown and shimmering rose gold, while Pillow Talk Dreams offers similar tones but in a darker, more intense palette.
Super easy to use, the pearlised pigments blur fine lines and reflect light for a shimmering, radiant finish, while emollient esters ensure effortless shading and blending. I love how they also take the fuss out of selecting shadow shades because they just work so well together. Once you find the quad you love, be it soft, romantic hues or sultry, smokey shades, you’ll just keep reaching for it time and time again.
Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipsticks
Earlier this year, Charlotte Tilbury launched two new lipstick lines inspired by Hollywood Icons like Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. The collection features five pink lippies in the brand’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula, alongside five Matte Revolution reds, all of which have been designed to suit and flatter everyone, no matter their skin tone or age.
The K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula lipsticks offer a satin shimmer finish in a range of pretty pink shades, including Icon Baby, Candy Chic, Red Carpet Pink, Rose to Fame and 90s Pink.Encased in a chic pink metallic tube that makes them easily identifiable in your kit, they’re infused with Lipstick Tree Extract, softening and hydrating while delivering a multi-dimensional finish for fuller-looking lips. The wax formula glides on, however, those with more shimmer in them can feel a little bit gritty on application.
On the other hand, the Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipsticks in the Matte Revolution formula offer high colour-impact head-turning reds in a matte finish. But unlike other matte formulas, they are very hydrating and comfortable to wear thanks to their blend of oils and waxes. Coming in the shades Hollywood Vixen, Mark of a Kiss, Fame Flame, Pizzazz and Cinematic Red, they’re as sexy as they sound, delivering long-lasting colour for up to 10 hours.
Out of the two collections, I definitely lean more towards the red range over the pinks. I prefer a warm-toned nude like Velvet Teddy for every day, so rarely reach for the pinks, but the reds are perfect for date nights or those days when you need a confidence boost in the form of cosmetics.
Lip Cheat Liners
Lip Cheat has long been a backstage beauty secret for fuller, wider looking lips, which is why I’ve racked up so many shades over the years – though Pillow Talk remains a firm favourite.
The velvety, waterproof formula glides onto lips and smooths over texture for a seamless line, lasting for at least six hours without smudging. Thanks to micronised powders, the liner offers a gorgeous colour payoff with enhanced blendability and smoothness, infused with jojoba seed oil to lock in moisture.
Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm
The Big Lip Plumpgasm from Charlotte Tilbury is the latest launch from the Pillow Talk empire, from which one product sells every two seconds. This plumping gloss is designed to provide fuller, smoother lips in seconds, and according to the MUA, ‘the more you wear it, the more your natural lips look plumper and smoother’.
Priced at £27, the gloss comes in two shades, fair/medium, and medium/deep – and both are equally as gorgeous as one another. The diamond tip applicator allows for an even application, while the gloss itself is well-pigmented and not patchy, which means you can opt for one swipe, or load it on.
The tingling sensation is almost immediate but it’s not painful or uncomfortable, instead offering a heating and cooling sensation which balances it out. The result is a 3D glazed effect that’s plump and juicy without being sticky, with a seriously impressive staying power.
Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur
Last but not least, there’s the Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur, a range of modern matte-meets-moisture liquid lipsticks. The lipsticks feature a Powder-Blur Technology and hydrating hyaluronic acid to visibly smooth, blur, mattify, and hydrate your lips as you wear them. And with weightless colour that lasts up to 12 hours, they’re perfect for all-day looks.
Available in eight shades, including the iconic Pillow Talk and Walk of No Shame hues, they can be worn in two different ways – blurred or bold. For a blurred effect, swipe onto lips and lightly press with your fingertips to blend and diffuse, or sweep the diamond applicator across the lips for a more intense, pigmented look.
Despite the powdery-matte formula, they’re not at all trying and remain buttery on the lips all day, however, this does mean that they’re a little prone to smudging, too. For me, they’re not an every-day go-to formula, but they’ve definitely still earned a spot in my beauty cupboard.
And that is currently every product in my Charlotte Tilbury collection and my genuine thoughts on them. I’ll be sure to keep this list updated with any newbies I get to try – next on my list to try has to be a CT mascara or the brow range.
