Here’s What Happened When I Tried This Legendary Charlotte Tilbury Mascara
Main image – Courtesy of writer
Of any makeup brand around, Charlotte Tilbury is probably the one best-known for creating such a sheer volume of cult favourites.
And on the mascara front, the brand doesn’t disappoint either – with a generous four offerings, each designed for a different lash goal; from full-on drama with Legendary Lashes Volume 2 to soft, fluttery separation with Full Fat Lashes.
As someone with naturally straight, mid-length lashes that lose their curl quickly – even after using a curler, I need something that not only lifts but actually holds that lift throughout the day.
I also need a formula that won’t smudge or flake against my oily skin type (but isn’t waterproof)… I know, I’m asking for a lot.
My current favourite is Glossier’s Lash Slick for a natural look or Clinique High Impact if I want something more dramatic. I am a massive Charlotte Tilbury fan though (I’ve been using my beloved Pillow Talk Lip Cheat for almost a decade), so I jumped at the chance to try the Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara (from £16 from Cult Beauty UK/ from $15 from Sephora US) when I was offered it. All in the hope that it might mean I could consign my eyelash curlers to the bin permanently.
Can this mascara hold a long-lasting curl in my straight lashes while delivering a romantic bridge between natural and dramatic lashes? Read on to find out.
Product details
Push Up Lashes! Is part of the brand’s Pillow Talk range.
What started as a bestselling nude lipstick has grown into a full collection of products, all aimed at creating a soft-focus, romantic glow. Meanwhile this mascara promises “instant volume, vertical lift and stretch,” mimicking the effect of a push-up bra for your lashes.
Image – Courtesy of writer
It comes in two shades: Super Black for a classic, bold look, and Dream Pop, which is a warm reddish-brown. I love a deep black mascara, but I’m also eager to try Dream Pop, as I’ve been a huge fan of burgundy mascaras recently.
You can get it in a full size (10ml) or a smaller mini version (4ml) if you want to try it out first.
As for the ingredients, it’s got a Lash-Lifting Polymer to help keep your curl in place, Kerestore™ 2.0 to condition your lashes, and natural waxes that add volume and a nice shine. It’s cruelty-free but not vegan due to the beeswax-derived ingredients.
First impressions
Packaging-wise, it’s classic, gorgeous Charlotte Tilbury with a soft metallic rose and embossed branding. It’s lightweight and luxe. The wand is flat with short bristles designed to load product, comb it through, and lift in one motion.
There’s no noticeable scent, and the colour is strong – the black is sleek and creates a doe-eyed look.
Image – Courtesy of writer
My results
When I first saw the wand, I thought it would be perfect for pushing up my lashes – unfortunately though, once I started using it, I realised the formula here probably wasn’t aimed at my type of lash issues.
And that’s because even after curling my lashes, the mascara felt too wet to grip and lift effectively. Colour-wise, it did define my lashes to some extent, but it sadly didn’t deliver the full “push-up” lift in my case.
Image – Courtesy of writer
And over the course of the day, the curse of my oily skin type returned when the mascara started smudging slightly after just 30 minutes. By the end of the day, I had smudges below both eyes (although, as I mentioned, this is fairly normal for me).
What other users are saying
Not everyone shares my experience though, while some users on Reddit mentioned a smudging issue, many others love this mascara.
User Tedlovesme said: “Smudgy as hell. I had raccoon eyes after a few hours.”
But plenty of others are big fans. BozoInAMiniSkirt said, “I found it decent if you follow the directions of using the flat side of the wand then the edges to lengthen. I didn’t find it smudges or flakes personally.”
Meanwhile, Amb_31 said: “My favourite is the pillow talk push up lashes mascara. Love it so much.”
Other users have found the name Pillow Talk a bit confusing. For example, user ScaryPearls said: “This actually looks like a mascara I would really like. But I just can’t for the life of me figure out how this is Pillow Talk? Or why?”
Personally, I’m not too bothered by the name! I get why it’s called Pillow Talk. It fits perfectly with the rest of the collection. It’s iconic and feels like a seamless part of Charlotte Tilbury’s range, even if quite a few products now share the name.
Overall value for money
At £28/$29 for the full size, this mascara falls into the high-end bracket. While the packaging and shade range are lovely, the formula sadly just isn’t ideal for my particular lash and skin type.
That said, it has worked for plenty of other people and the mini size is a smart way to test it without fully committing.
The takeaway
While beautifully packaged and available in two lovely shades, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! mascara was a very rare product from the overall brand that I didn’t instantly love.
If you have naturally curled lashes and don’t struggle with smudging, this could be the perfect fit for you – but for those of us with straight lashes or oil-prone skin, there may be other options out there this time.
Get Glowing!
