Charlotte Tilbury Tan (5.5) Hollywood Flawless Filter Review & Swatches

Tan (5.5)

Charlotte Tilbury Tan (5.5) Hollywood Flawless Filter Charlotte Tilbury Tan (5.5) Hollywood Flawless Filter ($44.00 for 1 oz.) is a darker, peachy gold with strong, warm undertones and a soft, luminous sheen. It had a very lit-from-within glow, whether applied as a standalone highlighter on the high points of the face or mixed in with base products (or even applied all-over as a thin layer of product). The texture was lightweight, spreadable, and gel-like, which made it easy to apply to bare skin or over foundation (as it did not lift) and blend it out.

The coverage varied based on application, which was as expected; it was more buildable and had higher coverage when used as a standalone cheek product, but it sheered out readily when mixed in with base products, so the shade itself was somewhat flexible (but better suited for medium to tan skin tones). The pearl was very fine, so it wasn’t overt and never emphasized my skin’s natural texture. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours as a standalone product and did not extend nor shorten the wear of base products when used as a primer or mixed with foundation.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Laura Geller Gilded Honey (P, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Kaja Dreamy (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Medium (4.5) (P, $44.00) is lighter (90% similar).
L'Oreal Golden Hour (P, $14.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Tan (5) (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Dark (7) (P, $44.00) (80% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Fair (2.5) (P, $44.00) (80% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Light/Medium (3) (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
Tarte Exposed (P, $29.00) (80% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Medium (4) (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more muted (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$44.00/1 oz. - $44.00 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be a "customizable complexion booster" that can be used as a primer, highlighter, or mixed with base products. The line includes seven shades, like a more typical foundation or concealer range, but they have sheerer coverage and fine pearl, so there is some flexibility, though for added luminosity (but not altering color) all-over, one would want to choose a shade closer to their actual skin tone.

It has a jumbo-sized, doe-foot applicator, which I preferred for spot highlighting and priming but isn't as functional for mixing in with base products (compared to a pump). I find that the lighter shades look very similar when mixed with foundation or layered under it, so the shade range is more flexible than it might seem (for some skin tones).

The texture was smooth and lightweight, like a thin gel-based primer in feel, so the product easily spread across my skin for an all-over application (worn as primer, per the brand), and it made my skin look radiant. I can see one person finding that finish to look "oily," and another person to feel like it looks beautifully glowing--it's definitely very radiant on its own, so I'd recommend strategically applying it over bare skin, like a very diffused highlighter, or mixing it in with moisturizer if you're someone who wants glow but not full-on dewiness.

I also liked to gently swiped the product on using the included doe-foot applicator on the high planes of my face, diffused and blended (over a greater area than I would have if using it specifically to highlight my cheekbones) and gently dabbed foundation over it. I recommend using a sheer to medium coverage foundation over something full coverage, because full coverage will work better when it's mixed in otherwise the coverage level will tamp down the luminosity quite a bit.

As a standalone highlighter, it gave me a lit-from-within-glow that was luminous but not tacky or truly glossy, just looked dewy on my skin. It worked as well over bare skin as it did blended on top of foundation for me. On its own, it lasted well for nine hours with minimal fading and no migration as a cheek highlighter. As a primer, it seemed to help my makeup go on more smoothly but I didn't notice any extension of wear (but no shortening either); though the brand made no claim about it extending longevity, only that it would improve the finish and give skin a glow (so I didn't rate it down for not extending the wear).

Browse all of our Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter swatches.

Ingredients

AQUA/WATER/EAU, HYDROGENATED DIDECENE, MICA, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, SQUALANE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, ISOAMYL LAURATE, HYDROGENATED STYRENE/ISOPRENE COPOLYMER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS, HOYA LACUNOSA FLOWER EXTRACT, [+/- IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)].

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

Tan (5.5)

PPermanent. $44.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

96%

Total

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