Charlotte Tilbury is an incredibly hyped brand, not only does Charlotte hype up the brand a lot but the products are beautifully packaged so you see them all over Instagram and I am certainly guilty of fueling this. If you look at my Instagram, (SophaaRambles) you will see many flat lays containing Charlotte Tilbury products. However I haven't always felt that the brand deserves the accolade it gets on social media.
How Charlotte Tilbury Came Back in my Life
I started my Charlotte Tilbury journey with 4 lipsticks: 2 of which I loved and 2 of which I didn't really like at all and did not think were worth the money. I adore matte lipstick so all four of these lipsticks were part of the Matte Revolution range, however they all worked in different ways. The shades I loved were Super Cindy and Amazing Grace. They were beautifully pigmented, easy to apply and creamy in texture. Whereas the two I disliked were the complete opposite. The two shades I did not like were Miss Kensington and Miranda May. I didn't think the colour pay off was very good, they were quite stiff and the bullet of Miranda May snapped basically the first time I used it. As I could not see a consistency between the lipsticks, which were all supposed to be from the same formula, I didn't want to waste my money on anything more expensive.
My mindset on the brand only changed when I decided to give the Filmstar Bronze and Glow Palette a go. I had wanted the palette for a long time and finally picked one up towards the end of last year. I loved the palette from the first time I tried it and I still really like it to this day. After trying the Filmstar Bronze and Glow I realised the brand is actually pretty good and I have been buying products from Charlotte Tilbury ever since. Since I have now accepted the brand back into my life, I do spend a little bit more time at my local counter and when I walked past a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a rare discount was happening. Charlotte Tilbury products are hardly ever discounted so when I see a discount you can be damn sure that I am going to make the most of it.
Charlotte Tilbury Sale
A lot of the products that were discounted were limited editions so they must have had lots of remaining stock they wanted to get rid of. There wasn't a massive range of products but there was a palette that I did automatically pick up, the Instant Look in a Palette in the colour way Seductive Beauty. I had been eyeing it up for ages but a palette for £49 seems a bit much for the amount of product you get. However, in the discount it had gone down to around £32 which seemed much more reasonable. They also had the Smokey Eye version of the palette for the same price but I did not like the eye shadow shades as much as this palette.
In the sale, they also had: the Bar of Gold Trio, the Glowing, Pretty Skin Palette, and the two blush compacts that were part of the Hollywood Filter collection. The Bar of Gold Trio was a real find if you managed to get it because it is a stunning product but once again £49 was a lot for the compact. Other than the Bar of Gold Trio (which I already own,) nothing really took my fancy other than the Seductive Beauty palette as clearly I am a seductive beauty.
I very quickly picked one up and I tried not to look at anything else in order to not be suckered into buying anything else. However, they had discounted products by the till as well. This time it was lipsticks and if you have read my blog before you will know I am a sucker for a good lipstick. They had two different shades of the Hollywood Lips lipsticks and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try one. The two shades were: a light barbie pink sort of shade or a shade that looked like a melted version of my beloved Tom Ford Flame Lipstick. I imagine you will be able to guess which shade I went for, the melted version of the Tom Ford lipstick is called Walk of Fame. I had no idea what it was going to be like as I hadn't tried the formula before but I had read a couple of not so great reviews on them. I figured at £16 I wouldn't be too annoyed if it turned out I didn't like it. Plus looking at the shades I figured using the palette and the lipstick together would create a strong look.
The Palette
I have now been using these products for a couple of weeks so I thought I would include a review of the products, starting with the palette. I had always wanted a Instant Look in a Palette and the only two that have ever intrigued me was of course the Seductive Beauty version and the Beauty Glow version. The Beauty Glow Palette sold out quickly when it was launched partially because it was perfect for Summer, partially because it was inspired by Poppy Delevingne's wedding makeup and she looked incredible.
The Seductive Beauty palette was the second version of the Instant Look in a Palette to be launched and I wanted it back then but could not justify the price. The thing that drew me to this palette was the colour scheme as it seemed like something that would compliment my pale complexion. The Instant Look in a Palette is compiled of 7 components that work in a step-by-step guide for an easy application that I guess is designed to be completed in around 5-10 minutes. I can't do it in that time but I appreciate the concept of the product. If you manage to find a palette entirely made up of colours that you would use, it would be perfect for travelling. Luckily the Seductive Beauty palette is literally perfect for me.
The Seductive Beauty palette was the second version of the Instant Look in a Palette to be launched and I wanted it back then but could not justify the price. The thing that drew me to this palette was the colour scheme as it seemed like something that would compliment my pale complexion. The Instant Look in a Palette is compiled of 7 components that work in a step-by-step guide for an easy application that I guess is designed to be completed in around 5-10 minutes. I can't do it in that time but I appreciate the concept of the product. If you manage to find a palette entirely made up of colours that you would use, it would be perfect for travelling. Luckily the Seductive Beauty palette is literally perfect for me.
Eyeshadow
The first three steps of the palette are the 3 eye shadows in the palette. The first shade is the Brighten shade which is a gorgeous champagne white gold, that does exactly what the name suggests, it brightens the look and your eye. If you use this in the inner corner of your eye, it instantly makes your eyes look wider. The second shade is called Enhance, it is a gun-metal/taupe grey that blends the brightening shade and Smoke shade together. The smoke shade is a darker, slightly warmer brown that has subtle gold shimmers in it. I use all 3 in the exact order they are listed but I will go in with a little bit of shade 2 just to blend out the other two a little bit after I have applied shade 3. Typically I will use Brighten in the inner corner and on part of the lid. Enhance I will use as the crease shade and then I will pack smoke onto the outer corner, making sure to blend it out into a slight cat eye shape just to give the full seductive effect.
In terms of the formula of the shadows, they are pretty good. I would say they are more powdery and buttery than the shadows I've used in the Pillow Talk Quad but as you are applying the shadow first a little bit of fall out doesn't matter and it is pretty easy to tidy up. All 3 shades in this palette are shimmers which is a bit of a pain and not the type of look I usually go for but I do also like to use the bronzer in this palette a part of my eye look just for a more subtle look and also if I want something a little bit warmer. I don't think the shadows in this palette are quite as good as the individual quads because they are a little bit too soft but they are beautifully pigmented. The colour selection works brilliantly together to create a cohesive look.
Face Powders
Moving on to the face powders, product number 4 is the Bronze shade. As this was launched a long time ago, I cannot find a whole lot of information about this palette. I know one of the Instant Look in a Palette was supposed to have the powders from the Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact in it but I can only assume it wasn't this one as both the contour and the highlight shades are very different from the Filmstar Bronze and Glow.
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| Instant Look = Left, Filmstar B&G = Right |
In terms of the bronzer, the one in this palette is a lot darker than the Filmstar Bronze and Glow. I've always found the Filmstar Bronze and Glow will give me a subtle definition whereas this is a golden goddess level of bronze. On an average day I would say this is too dark for me but I do use this alongside the bronzer in the Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact just to give a little colour boost. The powder is very smooth and has a mirco shimmer to help make you look glowy and healthy. Applied with a Spectrum A05 Brush I use this over the top just to reinforce shape and colour into my face. At first I didn't think I liked this contour but as we move ever closer to Summer I think this is going to come into its own.
The next two powders are blushers. The standard Charlotte Tilbury Blushers are called the Swish and Pop Blushers and the two blush powders in this palette have the same concept. Number 5 is the Swish shade and Number 6 is the Pop shade. In the normal compacts the swish shade is in a circle with a dot in the middle, sort of nipple like, and the idea is that you swirl your brush in the outer circle and then you lightly tap the brush in the Pop shade. The Swish shade is supposed to be like a normal blush; it is a slightly lighter shade with a bit of a shimmer so it adds a healthy glow to your cheeks. The shade is a light pink with warmer undertones which are enhanced by the golden shimmer within the shade.
Then with the Pop shade it is intended that you use it on the apple of your cheeks to bring them out. This is certainly more of a rosy shade and it is more matte. As this does not have as much shimmer, it is more pigmented which I have to say makes it harder for me to use it. I do not like a really pigmented blush because it instantly makes them harder to blend so I have to make sure my brush only lightly taps into the Pop shade or it is already too much.
The combination of the two blush shades is stunning but I do prefer the Swish shade. Having said that as a pale girl I do have to be incredibly careful with blush or it can look like too much very quickly. I did see if I could find out if these two shades exist within a compact that already exists but there is really limited info on this palette online so I can't find out but it has intrigued me in regards to some of the other Swish and Pop blushers. I might have to give one a go.
The final powder in the palette is the Highlight. I have quite a few highlighters from Charlotte Tilbury. There is the highlight within the Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact and I also have the Bar of Gold Trio. I assumed the highlight in the Instant Look in a Palette had to be the same as either one of the other highlighters I own but it turns out it is different and probably my favourite yet. The formula is a bit powdery but this doesn't come across when it is applied to the cheeks. The shade is very light, the lightest out of all the highlights I own and it has more of a peachy tone opposed to being golden like the rest of them. It is incredibly pigmented and simply looks stunning when paired with any look but this look in the palette especially. I have been using this highlight even when I don't use the rest of the palette simply because I think it is gorgeous. I would love to one day see this shade become an individual permanent product.
Overall I have to say I am really pleased with this purchase and I have used it a lot. I do not use it everyday, I use elements of the palette regularly but I won't always go for the whole look. I think the stronger elements of the palette are: the highlight, the Brighten and Smoke eye shadow shades and the Swish cheek shade. These are the sort of shades I love to use daily. The other three I will use but I have not gravitated towards them like I do the 4 powders.
The packaging of the palette is stunning as all Charlotte Tilbury products are and I have to say you have basically got all of your powder products in one palette, except a setting powder. This makes it much more convenient to take with you when travelling. Not only that but it has a massive mirror in the lid so it truly does have everything you need. I really think it is a shame that these palettes are limited edition because they are really handy. I love that they make creating a look super easy and they are slightly more budget friendly as you do not have to buy the products separately. I have been loving using this palette and I look forward to seeing the colour ways they launch in the future. Do I think this palette is worth £49? Yes I do. For the amount of products you get and the quality I do think it is worth it. Sometimes when a palette groups together a couple of different products, the quality can be slightly diminished and there is a tiny bit more fall out in some of the products but other than that these are wonderful powders and the quality is no different from the full size products.
Hollywood Lips
Moving on to look at the second product I purchased which was the Hollywood Lips Lipstick in Walk of Fame. I believe this was an exclusive to John Lewis which could be why it was discounted. I have always wanted to try this formula as I really haven't heard too much about it and when I saw this shade, I knew I had to give it a go.The Shade
The shade of Walk of Fame reminded me of some of my favourite summer red shades like Tom Ford Flame and the Miley Cyrus Viva Glam 2 Lipstick. It is that bold orange/red that just seems to light up your face but takes some balls to wear. I love this type of shade and Walk of Fame certainly fits in with these two lipsticks in terms of the shade. It is incredibly bright and not for the faint-hearted. This is slightly more red than the other two lipsticks I've mentioned but that means it is an easier way of getting into a red/orange shade which looks set to be the shade of Autumn/Winter 2019.
Formula
I had always been hesitant to try this lip product as I knew the formula was meant to be Charlotte's alternative to a liquid lipstick. I remember seeing her speak to Pixiwoo about them and the idea is, they aren't supposed to be as drying as your normal liquid lipstick, nor are they supposed to exaggerate any lines/texture within your lips. For a liquid lipstick this has a really odd formula. For anyone who has tried them, this formula seriously reminds me of the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipsticks which were a controversial product a couple of years ago. A lot of people were quite excited by the Rimmel launch because it was one of the first liquid lipsticks to make it to the high street market but the formula was really thick so if you applied too much, it felt gross on your lips and this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick is exactly the same.
The fact that this is quite thick wouldn't really matter if you were using a nude but as this is such a bold shade you need to make sure it looks even which means applying more product. This is an incredibly pigmented lipstick so that isn't hard but as the wand starts to hold less product, it does struggle with the colour pay off which means you have to dip into the product for a second time. As you are applying more product, it progressively gets thicker and it feels cakey on your lips. When this happens, you need to use the wand to spread it and remedy this but it most certainly is not as liquid as the majority of liquid lipsticks I've used.
In turn as this is not as liquid, it is not as drying which means if you can apply the correct amount, this is actually really comfortable. I can get away with wearing this all day and it doesn't dry out my lips, nor does it feel awkward. The one problem with it not being as liquid is that it does not set so there is a bit of transfer. I don't think that is a real problem but it does mean it will move if you touch it so you do have to be careful not to smear it all over your face and make yourself look like the joker. As this is a red I do recommend having a concealer close by to clear up any movement. The wear time is actually pretty long, I only top up this lipstick about twice a day which isn't unusual for me so I can deal with that.
Having compared this to the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick, I do think it is a bit of an unfair comparison as I didn't really end up liking the Rimmel version but I do like this Charlotte Tilbury one. I'm not wowed by it but I will certainly continue to use it.
Applicator and Smell
The applicator is surprisingly small which means I have to go in a few times to do my entire lips. I do not have massive lips but still one dip into the product doesn't quite cover it. Not only that but it's a bit of a weird shape. The wand is sort of curved and it does give a little bit more coverage so I do like that aspect of the wand. The bit I'm not sure about is the square end, it makes it really hard to shape my Cupids Bow. I usually use the cross method to help empahsise my Cupids Bow but using the flat end or even one of the points makes it look too sharp and too severe. I like my Cupids Bow to have a more rounded effect because no one has a pointed Cupids Bow. Other than that the wand is ok but it isn't spectacular. As the product itself is so thick I find it doesn't get enough on the wand so I do have to dip into the tube a couple of times. Considering it is supposed to be a benefit, I'm not sure this wand works how they wanted it to.
Another element I'm not sure about is the smell, this has that fake Vanilla cake sort of smell which I loathe. It is enough to stop me from using a product but luckily it doesn't linger once the lipstick is on your lips. It isn't the worst but it does make the application slightly harder because I am trying not to smell it. I do love the shade of this liquid lipstick and that is enough for me to continue to use it and I think it is going to come into it's own during Summer, even though this certainly isn't my dream lipstick.
Am I Still Loving Charlotte Tilbury Based on These Purchases?
I started off with such an unsure view of the brand, using the lipsticks really made me question my thoughts on the brand. I knew going back to a lipstick was going to be a risk but I do quite like the Hollywood Lips lipstick. Would I buy one of the Hollywood Lips again? No. I do not like the formula that much and the shade really is the only redeeming quality about this product.
On the other hand I think the palette is great. Each individual product is lovely and they come together to make a very wearable look. I think for the amount of product you get, it is a good price and I have been using this daily.
Purchasing these two products has only reinforced in my mind that Charlotte Tilbury is not a brand to go to if you are looking for a lipstick. However, if you are looking for a good powder product then you should think about Charlotte Tilbury because they are beautifully pigmented and create an almost ethereal glow that softens any look. Other than perhaps the Pillow Talk lipstick, I highly doubt that I will buy another Charlotte Tilbury lipstick again but you can bet that there will be more face powder product reviews on my blog.
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