Here’s What I Really Thought of Charlotte Tilbury’s Super Viral Beauty Light Wand
With more than 300 global awards since launching in 2013- and a legion of diehard online fans (I count myself as one of them)- it’s probably fair to say that Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most iconic beauty brands of the time.
But does that mean every single product is going to be a hit with everyone? Well, no. Afterall, makeup is a pretty personal thing.
That’s why, when I got the chance to review one of the brand’s bestselling products, I jumped at it.
Because while I’m already a Charlotte Tilbury convert, there are definitely some products I rate more than others, and I was keen to see how the hugely popular (one reportedly sells every eight seconds) Beauty Lights Wands ranked.
Read on for my honest thoughts.
Product details
First up, if you’re not familiar with Beauty Light Wands (£30 from Charlotte Tilbury / $42 from Charlotte Tilbury US), let’s dive into the details.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Designed as a lightweight highlighter, the brand claims these wands create a ‘Hollywood effect glow’.
I personally love a highlighter that appears more natural on the skin, providing an effortlessly dewy and healthy look to my complexion so I’m excited to see just how natural the results are here.
The Beauty Light Wand contains ‘glow gel technology’ and lindera extract for a high gloss finish. It’s also vegan-friendly and comes in 7 shades, ranging from golds to rosy pinks (the latter are blush-highlighter hybrids that we’ve already reviewed separately here).
I’m trying ‘Spotlight’; described as a candlelit gold shade, which I’m hoping will add some glow and dimension to my currently fairly pale complexion.
First impressions
My very first thought on swatching the product? Squeeze with caution!
The beauty wands come with a built-in applicator sponge, and as I found, it’s really easy to squeeze too much out of the applicator when you’re first using it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I was also struck by how pigmented this highlighter is, as well as how the shade ‘Spotlight’ was even lighter than I was expecting. I can imagine this working for the fair to medium tones, but deeper tones might want to go straight to shades like ‘Peachgasm’ or ‘Pillow Talk Medium’ instead.
Image – Courtesy of writer
My results
Using the applicator sponge, I applied two dots on the apples of my cheeks, brow bone and cupid’s bow using the cushion applicator, and then blended them in with a Real Techniques blush brush.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The product itself is really easy to work with, gliding over my skin without drying before I had a chance to blend it out.
While a lot of highlighters contain chunks of glitter, which I find a bit overbearing, Light Wand just left behind a pearlescent, radiant finish.
And instead of any kind of obvious shimmer, it was giving the kind of natural dewy vibes I tend to gravitate towards.
Image – Courtesy of writer
On day one of testing, I applied the product bright and early at 6am before heading off on my commute. Impressively, and it was still in tact when I arrived home at 6pm.
There definitely was some fading which is to be expected but the product was still visible after a full 12-hour day out, which is pretty good going.
Now that I’ve had more time to test Light Wand too, I’m still impressed, and it’s probably my new favourite liquid highlighter for a natural, healthy look.
Image – Courtesy of writer
A word of caution though; don’t forget to twist the applicator shut after use (I made this mistake) otherwise you might find the product has leaked into the lid.
What other users are saying
Not all viral products are worth the hype, but with over 700 5* reviews on Charlotte Tilbury’s website it’s hard not to be sucked in.
With comments like, “it lasted all day” and, “the formulas in these are so bendable,” there is a definitely a lot of love for Light Wands out there.
No product can be perfect though, can it? And there has been criticism around the amount of product you get for the price here.
At 12ml, it is fairly compact, I would say. Having said that, Iconic London’s Illuminator also only contains 13.5ml, while Benefit’s cult classic High Beam contains a teeny 6ml.
And a little really does go a long way with Light Wand; I’ve found I’m only using the tiniest amount to get a glowy finish.
Value for money
As always, Charlotte Tilbury’s products are on the more expensive side, with the Beauty Light Wands coming in at £30.00/$42.00.
Despite the small packaging though, for me the quality of the finish and the amount of wear you get from the size of the product makes it worth it if you’re a big highlighter fan.
Having said that, I love the idea of the pinky shades in the range, like ‘Pinkgasm’ and ‘Peachgasm’, to get a 2-in-1 highlighter and blush for your money.
And if the price tag is just too hard to swallow, I’ve found that e.l.f’s Halo Glow Beauty Wand in the shade ‘Champagne Campaign’ offers a similar effect for just £9.00 /$9.00.
The Takeaway
Despite the hefty price tag here, I have to say that, for me at least, the love is real. Light Wands are easy to blend and last all day, giving me a dewy glow without a hint of disco ball.
And while the packaging may look small, I’m impressed with how far the product goes. Yes, it’s in the treat price range, but hey, we deserve it.
Get Glowing!
