Be it the facial steamer used by Victoria Beckham or a hair oil Scarlett Johansson can’t live without, ‘Celebrity Approved’ details the most beloved celebrity beauty products and how they use them.
It’s hard to remember a time before Charlotte Tilbury makeup and skincare existed. What did celebrities wear on the red carpet? How did brides beautify for their wedding day?
It’s safe to say the makeup artist’s range of skin, cheek, lip and eye products are behind some of the most iconic looks in celeb history, from Oscars appearances to Grammy award wins.
And there’s a reason for that – before creating her own collection, Tilbury was already a major name in the beauty business, painting the faces of the A-list.
With almost 30 years’ experience in the industry, there’s barely a star who hasn’t had the Tilbury touch, from Adele and Amal Clooney to Lizzo, Kate Moss, Olivia Palermo and the Kardashians.
Using her wealth of experience and product knowledge, Tilbury launched her brilliant line in 2013. And much like her red carpet makeup looks, the brand has become synonymous with high-octane glamour, featuring mesmerising colour palettes, lustrous textures and fast-track solutions for a plump pout, smouldering eyes and gilded cheekbones.
And it seems that’s exactly what we all want: now, the brand has over 390 awards to its name and has attracted the likes of Twiggy, Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn and Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor as faces of the brand over the years.
So, what are the best Charlotte Tilbury products in the range? And which A-listers are in the fan club? Here, I reveal all…
The best Charlotte Tilbury products, beloved by celebrities
1. Best Charlotte Tilbury lip liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, £19
A nude pout has been one of Charlotte’s signatures since the 1990s, when she used to experiment with different shades of concealer on her friend and muse Kate Moss. It’s no surprise then, that the supermodel was one of the very first stars to sport Charlotte’s debut liner on the red carpet.
The lip pencil is so popular, it’s inspired a series of matching products, including a bestselling lipstick, eye shadow palette, highlighter and even mascara.
So, what makes the OG liner one of Charlotte Tilbury’s best products? For starters, the tawny-rose is the perfect neutral shade to complement another of Charlotte’s trademarks: the dramatic smoky eye. The colour has an incredible pout-plumping effect when used to gently over-line the lips, and is flattering on all complexions. Just ask celebrity devotees Salma Hayek, Olivia Palermo, Jourdan Dunn and Amal Clooney; who even wore it on her wedding day.
2. Best Charlotte Tilbury contour palette: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, £49
Move over Kardashian family, Tilbury has been working with contouring makeup since before Kim even started wielding a makeup brush. Think subtle sculpting and carefully-placed accents for instant cheekbones.
Her weapon of choice? This genius duo, comprising a matte brown bronzer to chisel the hollows of the cheeks, jawline and sides of the nose, and a shimmering highlight to add luminosity to higher planes of the face – think the cheekbones and bridge of the nose.
Offering a seamless blend and skin-true tones that don’t look glittery, you’ll find it in the makeup bags of some of the industry’s most polished faces, including Dakota Johnson, Holly Willoughby and Meghan Markle’s makeup artist Daniel Martin.
3. Best Charlotte Tilbury moisturiser: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, £75
Charlotte was hand-making her own beauty blends for decades before she actually developed her own product range. Her number one concoction? A nourishing skincare elixir, used backstage to brighten models’ dull skin during fashion week, which she’s now bottled in the form of her iconic Magic Cream.
Its secret? The rich yet non-greasy formula contains three powerhouse components for immediate skin-boosting benefits. There’s glycerin and hyaluronic acid (humectants) to hydrate, shea butter (an emollient) to support the skin barrier and occlusive ingredients to lock in all that moisture.
The moisturiser also boasts anti-ageing peptides for smooth, plumped and luminous skin that acts as the perfect canvas for foundation. No wonder the likes of Sofia Vergara, Elsa Hosk and Gigi Hadid swear by it.
4. Best Charlotte Tilbury highlighter: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £34
While adored by shoppers and celebrities alike, this has got to be one of Charlotte’s most misunderstood products. Is it an illuminator? A primer? A beautifully sheer foundation? Consider it all three – and so much more.
Inspired by Instagram filters and the illuminating effects of Hollywood lighting, the one-of-a-kind light-reflecting liquid boasts supreme blurring and radiance-boosting powers. Used alone, it offers a fresh, dewy base that’s ideal for days when you want to look pared-back but polished. Pop it underneath foundation (or mixed together) for a lit-from-within glow, or use it as a highlighter on the tops of cheekbones, down your nose and on your Cupid’s bow.
Its devotees? Adele, no less, who says it makes her look like she’s ‘just walked off the beach’, while Penelope Cruz and Sienna Miller wore it at the Oscars, and Lizzo rocked it at the Grammys.
5. Best Charlotte Tilbury eye palette: Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Bella Sofia, £43
You know a product is one of Charlotte Tilbury’s best when she names it after her beloved niece (and fellow makeup artist), Sofia. Formerly known as the Dolce Vita palette, this clever quad is one of Charlotte’s personal favourites and houses a medley of matte and metallic bronze and copper shades.
There’s a Prime shade to use across the entire eye, an Enhance shade for the outer corners, a Smoke shade to blend towards to crease and a Pop shade to make the centre of the eye sparkle.
The overall vibe: a warm smoky eye that Charlotte describes as ‘divine and dreamy,’ and reminiscent of her summers ‘spent in magical Ibiza’. It was the product behind Poppy Delevingne’s exquisite bridal eyes, plus Ellie Goulding’s 2015 Met Gala look, so it’s a palette that really does stand the test of time.
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