What I *Really* Thought of the Sell-Out Charlotte Tilbury Highlight-Blush
Main Image – Courtesy of writer
As a huge fan of most Charlotte Tilbury makeup products, you might be surprised to hear that, until recently, I hadn’t yet tried her best-selling Beauty Light Wand Easy Highlight-Blush.
I know what you’re thinking. “Call yourself a fan?” But as someone with oily skin, I’ve always been put off by Tilbury’s more ‘glowy’ products as they really are very glowy. The models on the website all look like they’ve turned on a light switch beneath their skin and whilst I like to look subtly radiant, I need to be careful about adding too much extra glow to my already shiny skin.
I finally got around to testing out the Disney100 edition ‘Pink’ shade (£30 from Cult Beauty UK /$42 from Charlotte Tilbury US) though and, well, you’ll just have to keep reading to find out my verdict. Was this gel highlighter-blush one step too far for my oily skin? Or did it provide just the right amount of glow?
The product details
The product comes in a tube with a pull-off lid. Once the lid is off, the sponge applicator is revealed which, when you first open it is completely white, until you squeeze the tube and it turns a different colour as the gel pigment comes through.
The product comes in 10 shades – Pinkgasm, Pinkgasm Sunset, Peachgasm, Goldgasm, Spotlight, Pillow Talk Original, Pillow Talk Medium, Disney100 Edition Spotlight, Disney100 Edition Pink and Disney100 Edition Gold.
Image – Courtesy of writer
First impressions
My Disney100 Edition Pink looked quite dark as I squeezed it through the sponge but on my hand, it was a pleasing rosy pink. It also has a twisty nozzle so that you can turn it ‘on’ or ‘off’ to avoid any unnecessary pigment coming through the sponge when you’re not using it.
I didn’t need to squeeze very hard before needing to ‘lock’ the nozzle shut and I applied it in dots along the tops of my cheekbones where the light would catch. It felt wet and squidgy at first – the sponge is super soft and comfortable – and a little goes a long way it seems as my first application of three large dots proved to be a little over-generous. But I dabbed it with my finger to dilute it a little and all was well.
The colour pay-off was gorgeous – this shade is a really beautiful pink for my fair-medium skin – and I instantly fell in love with the shimmer it gave my cheeks. It catches the light beautifully. At first, it feels a bit OTT. But once you’ve blended it in with a brush or your fingers, it calms down and a few minutes later, I no longer felt like a light bulb.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Highlighter-blush convert
Initially, I was confused about the term ‘highlighter-blush’ because I’m not one for applying highlighter on my cheeks, nor for putting blusher too high up! But it just sort of….works!
Image – Courtesy of writer
Knowing it is a half-highlighter automatically made me want to position the pink similar to where I’d position a highlighter – a little higher up, which for some reason I’d got out of the habit of with other blushers. This helped my cheekbones look a lot more accentuated rather than dragged down by my usual form of applying it on the apples of my cheeks.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The shimmer is a real pull for anyone who wears a matte foundation (me!) wanting a little radiance, but zero grease. It all depends on what skincare you’ve applied and other products of course, but as someone who is fussy about the liquids and gels she applies to her face, this one passed the test.
And the shimmer and pigment last too. I’m not sure if it’s because I applied my usual setting spray or if the formula is just good at ‘sticking’. But what I will say is that I applied some to my hand before testing it out on my face and the pigment and shimmer is still visible eight hours later.
With not a bad word to say – yet – about this product, I can officially add it to my list of Charlotte Tilbury staples and I’m planning on testing out a few more shades!
What other users are saying
Having experienced a lovely amount of pigment with my shade, I was surprised to read that someone had experienced the complete opposite. Anna (charlottetilbury.com) writes “Beautiful colour but no pigment and for the price tag, it’s not worth it.” The pigment dilutes quite easily but it is very simple to build, meaning you get a stronger colour.
Mel Fin writes, “totally overpriced for the amount of product you get for your money. Used daily this blusher would run out in a week.” I disagree with this – two dots per cheek and that’s all you need if you’re happy with the pigment. The formula spreads out so easily and even two dots for me was a little close to ‘clown’ vibes so I’ve now ended up doing just one, meaning I’m using way less.
Meanwhile, Becky says, “when I walked past the mirror I noticed the product catch the light and I thought wow! It really does work.” Whilst Jothomas2702 says, “my makeup routine has had an overhaul! This product is amazing! Only a small amount is needed but the glow you get is unbelievable! Really easy to apply and small enough to keep in your handbag should you need a touch up.”
Image – Courtesy of writer
Overall value for money
This is where things get tricky because £30/$42 for a finishing makeup product is pretty extortionate. But when you’ve tried loads of others and they don’t match up, it comes down to whether you care enough about the finish and look it gives your skin to spend that kind of money.
If you’re neither here nor there about the glowy, highlighted, blusher-look, don’t spend the money because you won’t use it often enough. However, if you’re eternally searching for cheeks/cheekbones that catch the light, have pretty pigment and don’t leave a greasy finish, this might just be the ideal investment.
The takeaway
It highlights, it provides a glow, it provides a pop of colour and it lasts. What more could I ask from a highlighter-blush?
I’m a sucker for a multi-tasker too so this is right up my street, coming a very close second to my all-time favourite Jones Road Miracle Balm in Miami Beach which, actually, is a lot greasier than this.
You don’t need to use much as a little goes a long way plus I’m always in search of the finish it provides so, despite it being a whopping £30/$42, I can justify treating myself.
Get Glowing!
