[productsample/affiliate] Just as a general view, I feel that the Charlotte Tilbury brand has a lot less ‘Charlotte’ in it these days. I mean, it’s a fantastic example of a British beauty brand (and we really don’t have enough home-grown beauty brands that have made global waves) going stellar very, very quickly where very few can or do (Makeup Revolution is another…). The downside to that is that brands can lose their sense of self and identity is everything to keep a loyal customer base, especially when there is so much choice. I also have a spidey-sense that it’s gearing for sale but that is literally my gut feeling and not based on anything else.
When it comes to the Icon Palette – well, I cannot find anything not to like in terms of quality, pigment and application. These are solidly made shades that won’t let you down and there are any number of looks to be had from it. When I have looked around at other reviews, the only thing that seems to be a sticking point is price – this is £55 for 12 colours. Bottom line is, there will always be an infinite number of luxury consumers so this will sell and sell I am sure of it… the customer that’s going to baulk is the considered purchase customer; the one that’s a fan of Charlotte, loves the brand, aspires to the concept, but is being slowly edged out on price. This palette is also at odds with the trend for ‘less’ so I expect it will do better in some regions than others. Ultimately, it’s an absolute winner if you don’t have to think too hard about spending £55 and you don’t have these shades covered off in other palettes. It’s less painful if you consider the palette is laid out in rows of 3 (going down) and each downward 3 is a particular look.
So, the first three is Day Eyes, then Date Eyes, Diva Eyes and Disco Eyes.
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I’ve swatched as top, middle and bottom rows because it’s so versatile that you don’t need to stick to the suggestions at all – everything goes with everything.
Next up, Latex Love – a collection of lacquer glosses that are super high on pigment (I’m in love with Berry Nude that has a golden sheen running through it for a twist on a basic neutral) and have just the right amount of tack to keep them in place for a reasonable length of time. The problem I find with the lightweight finish glosses is that they don’t stay and these certainly do. Despite the name ‘latex’ they’re not overly lacquered – the finish is mid-to-high shine; nicely glowy without looking like it’s going to slide down your chin at any moment. The brighter you go in colour, the more obvious the shine.
My top picks are Berry Nude and Studio 64 – a rocking, orange based red. The one thing about these is that there is a bit of an oily back-taste to them.
In the swatch, the colours are: Studio 64, Belle du Soir, Cannes Tropez, Video Vixen, Dirty Dancer and Berry Nude. They’re £24 each. I’m directing you to FeelUnique who have an offer if you’re feeling spendy in general – spend £125 on CT and get a free 50ml Scent of Dream worth £67 – perhaps a good opportunity to stock up on gifts and get yourself something for your generosity ;-). Find the palette HERE and the Latex HERE. Non affiliate HERE.
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All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
9 comments
Really not feeling the love for this palette Jane – not sure about it at all. Berry Nude will definitely find its way into my bag though!
I know.. people have really mixed feelings about it. I don’t think it’s ahead of the curve enough but if those are your shades, the quality is there.
Your gut feeling about a potential sale makes sense. I don’t feel like we’ve such much of Charlotte (the person) lately, and it’s often the case that the founder steps back slightly before a sale to dissociate. Who would be your guess for a buyer?
Hi Jane, you hit the nail on the head. I was just thinking the other day that CT has lost its way. I’m a fan from day one when there were individual “looks”. All gorgeous, different from what was out there and we’ll edited. Now the brand is all over the place and doesn’t seem as special, seems to hover in the disco arena. I heard whispers that Charlotte is stepping back and letting her niece Sofia move front and center. I’ve noticed I’m swaying back more to Chanel…again. Why do brands think they need to go so much younger to capture customers, elegance and sophistication are not age dependent.
All very valid points.. I hadn’t heard that Charlotte was taking a back step but I obviously felt it!
Hmm, I’ve had too many misses with Charlotte Tilbury to rate this brand as highly as I used to. For instance, I detest the Magic Away Concealer because on me it does the complete opposite of what it is supposed to do and I think her eyeshadow palettes are pretty average for the price. I do like her lipsticks and eye pencils, but I’m wary of buying anything else, I think she’s been taken over by the hype. I preferred her brand before it went stellar!
Hi, Jane – I haven’t tried CT precisely because of the price points. (Similarly, I visit the Tom Ford display but always walk away refusing to spend that much on eyeshadow.) It seems to me that the industry has expanded so much and seen the rise of such high quality products at an array of price points – including very reasonable prices- that it’s difficult for me to justify the splash. This is especially true knowing that there are a limited number of cosmetic manufacturers cranking out products, so clearly the high end & lower /mid level are coming from the same places. I fully support choice for folks at every level. It’s just that there’s a point at which I simply won’t spend even though I can afford to do so. It’s probably the influence of my Great Depression era granny, yet again!
I think anyone is justified from walking away from a price point they’re not comfortable with – we have so much choice and the right to exercise it!
Two one star reviews for these glosses Jane on FeelUnique. Seems the taste you mentioned is indeed a problem!