Sometimes brands (especially luxury brands) just pass me by completely, which is very evident with Charlotte Tilbury. I checked out the counter loads of times, I had even got my makeup applied there one morning but I didn’t really like anything enough to buy it afterwards. The moisturiser ran too pricey, the foundations seemed too warm and although loads of other products looked amazing in passing I could never seem to get fired up enough about anything to make the splurge. To be honest, I have no real idea why I haven’t bought one solitary thing from Charlotte since she hit Dublin but I was very happily forced into the situation when I was sent some products to try.
So today is all about the lipsticks in the shape of these two ladies, Coachella Coral and So Marilyn. The K.I.S.S.I.N.G line of lipsticks run at €30 each which isn’t spare change, especially if you wanted a few so one doesn’t get lonely. However, we all know luxury buys aren’t about getting stressed over the price because that takes all the fun out of them. Basically, if you’re happy handing over €30 for a lipstick in general, these aren’t going to disappoint you and if €30 for a lippie breaks you out in a sweat, don’t even bother swatching these because you’ll probably want one.
For €30 of your hard-earned cash, you do get a lot in return. Firstly, although it’s not the most important thing, the rose gold packaging is seriously beautiful and made most of my other makeup look grubby as a result. I am a sucker for a luxury product that gives that magical feeling of decadence before you even use it (it has to be a basic requirement when you’re spending above a certain amount) and I instantly felt more glamorous just having these two lying around the place. Still, looks only go so far here but I needn’t have feared, Charlotte definitely knows her way around a good lipstick.
These are creamy and very pigmented, with a pairing of a long-lasting satin feel and a soft glossy look that gives big impact. The finish means these don’t give a huge amount of slip like a regular glossy lipstick would when you use them but they don’t tug at the lips or feel uncomfortable. Instead they apply pretty perfectly with a big colour payoff that coats the lips in one pass. The satin feel means these are longer lasting but the finish to the eye is a flattering, light glossy look that gives the best of both worlds. Wear time is around 4 hours and the finish didn’t emphasise dryness but for me wouldn’t offer anything much in the moisturising line of things either.
Coachella Coral is a lovely medium pinky coral that’s slightly tamer in the tube than it is on the lips. It’s a pretty perfect shade for the warmer weather and the light glossy finish but satin feel means it has all the easy prettiness of a summer shade while being a hardier option than a traditional glossy lipstick. So Marilyn is a classic bombshell red that is deep enough to have a timeless feel that I think will work for a huge range of girls regardless of skintone/hair colour or anything else. Reds are normally hard work to apply (well for me anyway) but this was seriously easy and gave amazing coverage in one swipe. If you love your reds it’s kind of one you need to check out if your budget will stretch to it.
These remind me of the NARS Audacious Lipsticks in that they have a luxurious feel and finish with amazing pigmentation but these have a shinier finish that should really appeal to girls who prefer a glossier look. I think the Audacious line has a better shade selection and I would prefer it overall but there’s a lot to really like here. The quality is spot on and these were beautiful to use and beautiful to look at which is pretty much the perfect combo for any luxury buy. The only downsides I can see for people are the high price and the slightly drier feel to them. If you can get over those two hurdles, there’s a huge amount to really love here.
If you’re feeling spendy, the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks are available here along with the rest of her range
So girls have you tried Charlotte Tilbury and what have you thought of her products?
*This review contains samples but it also contains no b******t
