Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Collaboration

August 5, 2015

Charlotte Tilbury has launched a stunning collection in collaboration with the Norman Parkinson Archive. The collection is dedicated to and decorated with the legendary British fashion photographer’s iconic images on the packaging for all the products. The limited-edition collection includes two Matte Revolution Lipsticks, Cosmetic Cases and with new products for the Cheeks. Items with this launch include:

Matte Revolution Lipstick in Miss Kensington ($32)
Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1975 Red ($32)
Color of Youth Healthy, Happy Lip & Cheek Glow ($58)
Dreamy Glow Highlighter ($65)
Filmstar Bronze and Glow Sun Tan and Sun Light ($80)
On Call Makeup Bag ($45)
The Bathing Beauty Bag ($80)

The collection does not disappoint. True to Charlotte Tilbury’s line, the quality of everything is phenomenal in terms of color, pigment, blendability and performance. I was a bit skeptical when I ordered some of the items as they are all pretty high in price point. I had very high hopes for everything but wasn’t sure the items would live up to my expectations given the price points. After testing the collection for a few weeks now, I am pleased to report that all items have far exceeded my expectations.

I reviewed and featured the creamy Sun Tan + Sun Light Filmstar Bronze and Glow in an earlier post comparing it to the original Filmstar Bronze and Glow (renamed Light to Medium) and the new Medium to Dark. The Norman Parkinson version is a cream product with a warm tan brown and a luminous glowy pale gold. As mentioned in my earlier review I found it to be extremely glowy and dewy. Lasting power to be fairly good for a cream product but I prefer the powder version of the Light to Medium. I’m reposting photos here for reference. Swatches of all three side by side and also applied on the face in this post here.
Top is Light to Medium
Bottom is the Norman Parkinson Palette
Right is the Medium to Dark

There are two lipsticks with the collection in the Matte Revolution Lipstick formula. Both are extremely pigmented. There is a light pink called Miss Kensington. In the tube and sunlight it looks like a natural warm pink. On my lips it looks more cool-toned. It’s light but not too pale. If you have dry lips you may want to prep the lips with a bit of lip balm first. The color is very saturated in pigment and adheres well to the lips. Lasting power is very good. As with all of Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks there is a slight vanilla scent.

The other shade is 1975 Red which is a vibrant orange red cream. Long-time Beauty Look Book readers know this color is way outside of my comfort zone but the color is phenomenal. It’s a super bright orange red but it’s one I think will flatter any skintone. What impressed me was how quickly this one set and how long it lasted. I had no lipstick transfer to my teeth which I find rare for any red lip. It’s a very dramatic bold color.

The final two makeup items are what I’ll call the highlights of the collection. The Colour of Youth is a Lip and Cheek cream product that I think is pure genius. It looks very warm in the pan and swatches warm on the cheeks. On my lips it pulls a bit more cool-toned into a very youthful healthy pink glow. It’s easy to blend and layer – I would say the pigment is sheer to medium but gives more coverage than the Beach Sticks. It’s perfectly named as it does give the face life and color in a youthful way.

Last but not least the Dreamy Glow Highlighter is a powder highlighter. It’s so soft and velvety it almost feels creamy. It is indeed very dreamy with finely milled shimmer that looks glowy and not frosted. It has a soft rose champagne base with a soft golden shimmer. Those who are anti-frost need not worry with this one. It has a very refined glow. It comes with a very high price tag but I think it’s worth every penny. It has a soft rose undertone that makes the skin glow like magic.

I posted comparisons with the NARS Tribulation Blush from fall, here they are again for reference. As you can see below the Charlotte Tilbury Dreamy Highlighter has a slight pinkish cast.

Overall I’m extremely impressed and pleased with the collection. The price points are high but everything is made extremely well and I have to say all the items far exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend the Dreamy Glow Highlighter and Colour of Youth – they add just the right amount of color and glow to make the skin look alive and polished. The Matte Lipstick Revolution shades are very good if you like matte lipsticks. I personally prefer creamy formulas or sheerer ones but both perform really well. Miss Kensington is pale pink perfection without looking too pale or too mod-like. The Sun Tan + Sun Light Filmstar Bronze and Glow is excellent for a cream product but I prefer powder cheek items unless they are in a stick form simply because I find it’s easier to keep clean.

My top two picks are the Dreamy Glow Highlighter and Colour of Youth.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Collection at all Charlotte Tilbury retailers now. Online at Beautylish, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury. Note that the items are all limited-edition.

The On Call Makeup Bag and 1975 Red Lipstick were gifted.
All other Charlotte Tilbury items featured were purchased by me.

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