The 12 Best Charlotte Tilbury Products of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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Peak gorgeousness, right this way.
Joy Kim
One little known fact about the mega famous makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury, is that she was one of the very first vloggers on YouTube back in 2012, before social media was even a thing. So when her eponymous beauty brand launched Stateside a few years later in 2016, we couldn't wait to get our hands on the makeup products we were certain would change our lives. And they didn't disappoint.
Yet makeup aside, there's plenty more to love about the Charlotte Tilbury brand. We've long been enamored with Tilbury's beauty philosophy, which is centered on the idea that every woman is just as beautiful bare-faced as she is wearing full glam. The overall goal of makeup, according to Tilbury, is to feel gorgeous and empowered — a sentiment we are fully on board with. And when it comes to Tilbury's makeup, it'd be hard to not feel confident while wearing anything she created because everything simply oozes glamour, from the gold-gilded hues that deliver an all-over glow, right down to the flashy product names (Supernudes Nudegasm Face Palette, anyone? Or Goddess Cleansing Ritual?).
Whether you've been a Charlotte Tilbury loyalist for years or are just discovering the iconic brand, these are the absolute must-have products that our team of highly critical, glow-demanding editors swear by.
Most Universal: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow
What We Love: Each shade is gleaming with shimmer and pigment, and they're impossibly simple to apply. What We Don’t Love: Cream eyeshadows may slide, especially on oily lids, so be sure to apply a primer first.
We don’t know how else to say this, but when we swipe one of the Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadows on our lids, we can’t help but feel like the sexiest, most put-together woman alive. There is something about these cream eyeshadows that make them stand out above the rest. Perhaps it’s the long-lasting formula, the gorgeous shade range across 12 hues, the ease of use, or the way that Charlotte uses them to expertly accentuate anyone’s eyes.
“Eyeshadow is not my strong suit, so for a one-and-done eye look, I love to use the shade Pillow Talk,” says Jasmine Hyman, a writer and producer at InStyle. “The creamy eyeshadow is extremely beginner-friendly. It can be applied in one swipe and I even use my fingertips to blend it out. It has a subtle, yet iridescent finish that pairs well with any level of glam.”
We’ve never had an issue with creasing, although most of the time, we do use an eyeshadow primer first to make the pigment and shimmer last all day. Mary Honkus, commerce editor at InStyle, also relies on Pillow Talk to pull her look together in a snap.
“Pillow Talk is the brand’s most iconic shade and it never fails to make my blue eyes pop,” she says. “Spending $35 for one eyeshadow pot may seem like a lot, but I’ve had mine for two years and it's still half full — the tiniest dab is all I need to create a high-impact, low-effort everyday eye look.”
Price at time of publish: $34
Size: 0.23 fl oz | Shades: 11 | Feature: Highly pigmented
Best Multitasking: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo
What We Love: It’s a classic duo that works to contour the face beautifully. What We Don’t Love: You might run out of the bronzer much earlier than the highlight.
We've gone through about six of these Filmstar palettes over the last ten-ish years. It’s our go-to when it comes to a contour and highlight duo, and we're absolutely obsessed with the perfect shades, the finish, and the epic packaging.
This contour palette comes in two shades: Light to medium and medium to deep. It’s important to note that the contour shade is not matte — the formula has a blend of pearl and pigments, so if you prefer a matte contour, this may not be for you. Opposite the contour is the gorgeous highlight. It has a golden base that really warms our complexion and provides a soft, diffused luminosity, not unlike the impossibly alluring way skin looks near candlelight.
We use more of the contour shade than the highlighter, which means that we reach the bottom of the bronze pan faster than the highlighter, but we keep them anyway because they're just too pretty to toss them.
Price at time of publish: $68
Size: 0.79 oz | Shades: 2 | Feature: Stunning, art deco-inspired packaging
InStyle / Joy Kim
Best Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm
What We Love: Not quite a lipstick, but not quite a balm, this hybrid lippie is deeply nourishing with impressive color payoff. What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t stay on your lips super long.
Charlotte Tilbury’s lip products are legendary — and it’s not just us who think that. Just ask Amal Clooney, Penélope Cruz or Meghan Markle, who sported the dusty pink Pillow Talk for her 2021 Time cover.
“Truthfully, I’ve never tried a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick I didn’t love,” says InStyle writer, Sophia Wirt. “Like so many other fans, however, Pillow Talk has always, and will always, reign supreme among any other shade.”
If you don’t want to use the same shade everyone seems to use, take a page out of beauty writer Tamim Alnuweiri’s book and opt for this hydrating balm instead.
“My favorite Charlotte Tilbury product, Hyaluronic Happikiss, doesn't have the recognition or virality I think it deserves,” she says, describing it as the intersection of a lip mask, lip gloss, traditional lipstick and lip plumper. And if you, like Alnuweiri, suffer from decision fatigue by the endless number of lip colors out there, you may find peace with Tilbury’s curated collection of 10 hues. Her favorites are a peachy-rose number called Romance Kiss and of course, Pillow Talk.
“Once you land on a color, you will be just as impressed with the formula itself — the hyaluronic acid and peptides feel incredibly nourishing and hydrating,” she says. “It feels thick, moisturizing, glossy but not sticky, and makes my lips look fuller, thanks to its amazing color.”
Price at time of publish: $34
Size: 0.08 oz | Shades: 10 | Feature: Loaded with hyaluronic acid for extra moisture
Best Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Liquid Foundation
What We Love: It blends into skin seamlessly and is very buildable for customizable coverage. What We Don’t Love: It might clog pores, depending on your skin type.
Charlotte Tilbury has a few foundations within her makeup empire, but the Beautiful Skin Foundation is our favorite.
“There haven’t been a ton of times when jealousy caused a knee-jerk reaction from me, but one of them was when I saw my roommate's skin while she was wearing this foundation,” says InStyle writer and producer, Irene Richardson. “Without even bothering to shade match properly, I immediately purchased the product so I too could have the glowy, radiant complexion of a perfectly backlit angel.”
This buildable formula comes in 30 shades and can be applied with a brush, sponge, or your fingers. “I love that it disguises every pore and blemish, but feels weightless on my skin, making it the perfect foundation for sweaty, summer days when I still want full coverage,” says Richardson.
Price at time of publish: $44
Size: 1 fl oz | Shades: 30 | Feature: Buildable coverage
InStyle / Joy Kim
Best Skincare: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
What We Love: It's a great hydrating option to layer underneath makeup. What We Don’t Love: The texture is quite rich, so if it feels too heavy for your skin, opt for the recently launched lightweight iteration.
This moisturizer has won about a million awards — and graced the faces of the biggest celebs, like Khloe Kardashian and Amal Clooney — and for good reason. It’s luxuriously rich, hydrates the skin beautifully, smells nice, and works wonders as a primer under makeup. We must admit that due to our very sensitive skin, we don’t use this decadent moisturizer daily, as it can sometimes clog our pores with overuse. However, on days that we need an instant shot of moisture to our skin or are planning to do full-on glam, there's nothing better than this moisturizer to create a dewy base for foundation.
Magic Cream started out as a secret formula that Tilbury used on models backstage to prep their skin for the layers of runway makeup that were about to be applied. She decided to “bottle up” her custom blend and sell it to consumers, and Magic Cream was born.
This cream will make your skin look incredibly dewy and hydrated, so it’s not ideal for anyone who prefers a matte makeup look. It includes an A+ roster of skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, rosehip oil, aloe vera, and shea butter, just to name a few.
We should note that this cream carries a soft rose scent, so if you are someone who prefers fragrance-free skincare, you might want to skip this one.
Price at time of publish: $100
Size: 30, 50, and 150 ml | Shades: N/A | Feature: Hydrating, luxe texture
Best Palette: Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Palettes
What We Love: It contains truly everything you need in one palette — just add mascara and you're set. What We Don’t Love: The shades are limited edition.
We were gifted one of these palettes years ago, and we've been clinging onto it for dear life. It is reserved for Special Events Only, like vacations or weddings. It’s one of those palettes that has basically every shade we need for both our face and our eyes, allowing us to streamline our routine for our most important events.
We really love that these palettes come with the Filmstar Bronze and Glow shades, which we rely on to create multidimensional looks. When jetting out of town, we like to pack this palette instead of the bulkier, kind of heavy Filmstar duo palette. Plus, there's nothing better than this eyeshadow trio to create a soft eyeshadow look when we're having a relaxing long weekend (going all out with a time-consuming smokey eye look would ruin the zen vibe).
The biggest downside with the Look of Love Palettes is that all seven shades are limited edition. In fact, the palette that first stole our heart has been discontinued, but the two colorways that are still available, Glowing Beauty and Pretty Blushed Beauty, are just as striking and now that we've had them in our lives, we doubt that we could go on without them. If you're a world traveler or you simply don't travel light, even around your neighborhood (we definitely don't, so no judgment here), we highly suggest investing in one of these palettes. It will make packing that much easier.
Price at time of publish: $75
Size: N/A | Shades: 7 | Feature: Great for on-the-go
Best Concealer: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
What We Love: It settles into the skin beautifully and minimizes the appearance of dark under eye circles. What We Don’t Love: It's so popular that it sells out quickly.
Concealers often don’t get the glory of colorful lippies or shimmering eye palettes, but once you find one that works with your skin type and tone, you’ll never let it go (if you’re anything like us, that is).
“When it comes to face makeup, I don’t like to switch things up. I used the same concealer for seven years without entertaining thoughts about trying a new one — until I tested Charlotte Tilbury’s for a story,” says Honkus. The rest, she says, is history.
“The formula is creamy and hydrating, which is perfect for my notoriously dry under eyes, but it blends easily and melts into my skin rather than sitting on top,” she says.
While many concealers have a dewy finish, this one isn’t. Although it’s not entirely matte either. It looks just like skin, only airbrushed, which is exactly what we want in a concealer. With its medium coverage and a 16-hour wear time, it feels slightly thick on skin, but that also means it remains in place without sliding or smudging. In fact, it’s so magical that we tend to completely bypass foundation while wearing it.
Tilbury recommends using this pick for three things: Concealing, brightening, and contouring. To brighten shadows, Tilbury recommends choosing one shade lighter than your foundation, and focusing on areas with discoloration.
“Glide onto the inner corners of the eyes, under and out towards the lash line to conceal and brighten dark shadows and hyperpigmentation for an instant awakening eye lift effect,” she says. However, to create a snatched look, Tilbury recommends using the angled side of the Hollywood Complexion Brush to precisely contour under cheekbones, down the sides of the nose and along the temples and jawline.
But you can’t go wrong any way you use it.
“It looks like my skin but better,” says Honkus. “And with just a few dabs here and there, my blemishes are totally camouflaged and my entire face looks smooth and even.”
Price at time of publish: $33
Size: 0.25 oz | Shades: 30 | Feature: Brightens dark circles instantly
Best Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic Blush
What We Love: Soft, romantic and universally flattering, these blushes offer a perfect flush. What We Don’t Love: Some of the shades are too light.
Even the editors who declare their allegiance to cream blushes only have fallen for these pressed powders. Each blush features two interlaced shades — one is more of the traditional pink color you'd expect in a blush, while the other works more as a very subtle shimmery highlighter. When you swirl the two together and dust them onto the apples of your cheeks, a nice wash of color appears, along with a sexy, subtle sheen.
There are a delightful number of shades to choose from and we recommend opting for a brighter blush color than you usually would — and not just because we're maximalists when it comes to makeup. The pigments here aren't very strong, so if you select a too-light shade, the blush will go from a subtle sheen to almost invisible.
Price at time of publish: $40
Size: 0.28 oz | Shades: 9 | Feature: A blush with a very subtle highlight
Best Mascara: Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Volume 2 Mascara
What We Love: It makes our lashes look thick, fanned-out and very long, just the way we like it. What We Don’t Love: It's not for the faint of heart.
While many Charlotte Tilbury loyalists believe that her other mascara, Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes, rule, we respectfully place it as number two. Of course, everyone has different preferences when it comes to how they want their lashes to look. Some people like airy, fluttery, natural-looking lashes. Others prefer a thick, bold eyelash style (think Twiggy), and then there are those who are devoted to dramatic lashes that they could pass for falsies. For better or worse, we're all-in on the more-is-more mascara look.
Because of our undying love for inky black formulas and a doe-eyed effect, we love the Legendary Lashes Volume 2 Mascara. Out of all the Charlotte Tilbury mascaras, this wand — without fail — elongates each lash and coats it with a thick, jet black formula to give us the bold lashes of our dreams. We like that this option has brush-like bristles, rather than a rubber head, which offers plenty of volume and makes our eyes pop.
Price at time of publish: $32
Size: 0.27 oz | Shades: 1 | Feature: Brush-like bristles
Related: Dakota Johnson's Lash-Lengthening Trick Makes My Mascara Look Like Extensions
Best Highlighter: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
What We Love: It really gives you that sexy, lit-from-within, Tilbury-style glow she's famous for. What We Don’t Love: A dab will do — too much product might look overpowering.
Nothing really screams Charlotte Tilbury quite like the next-level highlighted glow she’s famous for. Her Beauty Light Wands are gorgeous liquid formulas that are dispensed through a cushion applicator. They’re available in six shades that look beautiful and natural on darker skin tones, too. (Sometimes brands only carry silver-based highlighters, which typically don’t look the most flattering on darker skin.)
Pinkgasm, the wand’s best-selling shade, went viral on TikTok and Hyman calls it her go-to cheek product. “It’s a two-in-one blush-highlighter hybrid that leaves my face flushed with a perfect pink glow,” she says. “Not only does the wand pare down my makeup routine, but the formula is super blendable and easy to work with, thanks to its lightweight and dewy consistency.”
Alnuweiri agrees, describing the hue as perhaps the best blush she’s ever tried — after swapping it with another Tilbury blush, one of the pressed powders. “It has somewhat of a shimmer, light-catching sheen to it, so I skip highlighter altogether when I use this,” she says, adding that the application is so incredibly easy, it’s nearly foolproof. “I make three very light dots on my cheeks and use my middle and ring fingers to tap and blend.”
Price at time of publish: $40
Size: 0.41 fl oz | Shades: 6 | Feature: Cushion applicator
Best Lip Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat
What We Love: It comes in a wide range of shades, promising an option for every skin tone. What We Don’t Love: It can be drying.
Finding a great lip liner that lasts can be tricky, but this pick will last for up to six hours, and should stand up against hours of sips or smooches. We love that it comes in 15 shades, including the iconic Pillow Talk, a pink nude, that spawned its own collection of products. Pillow Talk has also expanded from a single shade to an entire rainbow of Pillow Talks, including Pillow Talk Medium, a rich berry, and Pillow Talk Intense, a tawny brown, designed to enhance an even wider range of skin tones.
One downside is that this formula is a bit drying. If you find your lips feeling parched, consider layering a gloss or moisturizing lipstick on top for a more comfortable wear.
Price at time of publish: $24
Size: 0.04 oz | Shades: 15 | Feature: Flattering shades
Best Highlighter: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
What We Love: This primer offers the perfect base for a crazy-good glow that’ll last all day. What We Don’t Love: It’s not the right fit for anyone who prefers a matte look.
One of the most popular makeup products on social media, Hollywood Flawless Filter, is a magical formula that instantly provides a gorgeous glow upon application. Although it's designed to be worn as a primer, many folks on social media have been using it as a lighter-than-light foundation. But if you're not looking for much coverage (because this surely will not provide it), then by all means, slather it on.
We've applied this highlighter every which way, and when it is dotted onto the high points of the face and then buffed out, it will add a lovely boost of radiance to any matte foundation or tinted moisturizer.
Be forewarned that this product is only for those who live and die for dewy finishes. If you're more of a matte person, keep scrolling. Additionally, it’s best if you start low and slow with this product before applying it all over your face. Otherwise, you might end up looking a bit like a sparkly disco ball, but we're not here to judge.
Price at time of publish: $46
Size: 1 fl oz | Shades: 12 | Feature: Gorgeous luminosity
Our Testing Process
Over the years, InStyle editors have tested the complete collection of Charlotte Tilbury products since the brand’s inception. For this story, we considered and evaluated the entire skin and makeup line, going way back to the very first products they launched in 2013.
Our team of editors span a wide range of skin tones, textures and concerns — not to mention makeup preferences and styles — all of which we took into consideration while making our selections. Each Charlotte Tilbury product featured on this list is one that we always return to time and time again, earning a permanent spot in our makeup bag, or is one that we tested for another story and loved.
What to Keep In Mind
Fragrance
Most of the Charlotte Tilbury products are fragranced, which is a bummer for anyone who prefers fragrance-free products or has skin (or noses) that are sensitive to fragrance. However, there are definitely some products that are fragrance-free, so make sure to check the website when purchasing.
Skin Tone
Although Charlotte Tilbury does offer many of her products in a range of shades, we'd like to see her expand the colorways even more, especially when it comes to deeper shades and undertones. Although her lipsticks and color cosmetics are pigmented enough to enhance darker skin tones, there's still work to be done for the complexion products — namely, concealer and foundation — which can be hit or miss.
Makeup Finish
Charlotte Tilbury's signature beauty style centers around the dew and glow. As such, most of her products contain shimmer or hydrating ingredients that impart a dewy finish. While yes, she does have some matte products in her line and they're perfectly fine, but it's kind of like going to a steakhouse and ordering a salad. If you're looking to join Team Tilbury, embrace the glow.
Your Questions, Answered
Who is Charlotte Tilbury?
Charlotte Tilbury is a British celebrity makeup artist and founder of the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty brand. Before starting her own collection, Tilbury worked with other makeup brands, including MAC, Armani, and Tom Ford, to lead their creative product development. Tilbury is also a fashion week mainstay, whipping up runway looks as the makeup director for fashion houses, like Alexander McQueen, Prada, Miu Miu, Lanvin, and Chloe.
Is Charlotte Tilbury cruelty-free?
Yes, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty is considered a cruelty-free beauty line, meaning that neither their products, nor their ingredients, were tested on animals. The brand is Leaping Bunny approved by Cruelty-Free International.
Why Shop With Us
Kaitlin Clark is the senior beauty commerce editor at InStyle. Daley Quinn is a freelance journalist and beauty industry expert with over 10 years of experience. For this story, they tested every Charlotte Tilbury makeup product, evaluating each one for color payoff, longevity, and the way it looked overall, while the skincare lineup was ranked for consistency and texture, hydration, and the lasting effects it provided. Quinn interviewed Tilbury for her advice on how to apply and wear her products for maximum impact and gorgeousness.
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