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Thursday 18 September 2014

Charlotte Tilbury FilmStar Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter | Review

I'm back! I feel like I've been away from my own little corner of the internet for far too long and so I'm returning with a bang! Maybe not quite a bang, I'm still hobbling a bit from my broken back but I'm hobbling with a nicely bronzed visage thanks to this stunner. The whole beauty blogging world has gone a bit mad of late over all things Charlotte Tilbury. In Ireland, we recently had a full launch of her beauty range in Brown Thomas Dublin and having tried her Magic cream (Review HERE), I was eager to see what else I needed (not wanted, this is definitely a case of "need"). Having decided beforehand that I was really interested in this fella and one of the colour chameleons (expect a review at a later date), I had to practically fight off the make up artist at the counter to avoid being talked into spending the bones of €400 on everything else she tried to convince me to buy- I'll go into that in more detail at the end of the post.

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter

For now, let's talk about this beauty. Here's what Charlotte has to say about this product: 
"It's amazing what clever shading and highlighting tricks can do to contour your facial framework. You can slim, sculpt and illuminate- it's an illusion I use all the time for my clients. Enhance your natural assets with filmstar bronze and glow!"

I'm actually really into contouring at the moment, not in a terrifying Kim Kardashian way but I know when I make the effort and apply bronzer and highlighter carefully, my face looks slimmer and my cheekbones look like they're there for a reason, other than holding my face up, obviously. There's lots of excellent contouring palettes on the market and for a lot cheaper than this; Sleek and Inglot to name just two but what really sets this apart is firstly, the packaging:

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter
Angels sing..
Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter
Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter

Is that too much ogling? Possibly but I actually can't stop looking at it. And now for the glorious inside:

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter

There she is in all her art deco beauty. SWOON. 
Not only does this look stunning in the palette but it is a dream to apply; there's absolutely no fear that you can tango yourself here, while the bronzer is pigmented, it's also designed to be built up- it's not orange and will suit most pale skin tones. 
This means that you can apply it in layers and it in turn gives you a gentle, natural glow. I actually almost didn't buy it because it appeared to have a shimmer running through it and I prefer a matte bronzer. However, the make up artist assured me that it's a matte bronzer and someone had just swirled a brush in the highlighter and transferred the shimmer to the bronzer. Well, it turns out on closer inspect that that was a lie as it very much has shimmer in it. It is incredibly subtle though and you won't look like you're off to a teenage disco. In fact, once it's on my face I can't see any shimmer at all but it does add to an overall glow. 
The highlighter is a very understated golden champagne that provides a stunning soft focus to the skin. Together, those are a winning couple. I tried this out a day after surgery in hospital but told no one I was wearing it and had several people exclaim how well I looked and that I must've slept well the night before (I hadn't, I was in a four-bedded ward) but I took that as confirmation of the almighty powers of the bronze and glow. 
If you were looking for anything to get from the range I can heartily recommend this, having tried most of her other products. This came up trumps and is possibly the best contouring palette on the market, in my humble opinion. 

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlighter
Pre nap, poorly taken photo on my phone but don't I look all glowy and healthy?! (not taken in hospital fyi).

And now, on to my gripe. While the CT sales assistants/make up artists seem excellent at their jobs, they really do go for the hard sell. Every product I already use was dismissed as not being as good as the CT version, if I wanted the bronzer well then I had to get a brush to go with it, if I wanted the colour chameleon then I had to also buy the pencil sharpener. Except that I didn't. I have a pencil sharpener and plenty of excellent brushes and I don't appreciate feeling pressured into spending money on things I don't need. Even as I was paying "are you sure you don't want a lipstick?" I had expressed no interest in buying a lipstick (UNUSUAL, I KNOW). Just let me pay!! For me, I can happily say "no thanks, I don't need or want that" but it doesn't add to an overall pleasant shopping experience and so this is more of a word of warning if you're going in for a snoop. Be prepared for the ultimate hard sell!

That aside, there are plenty of other gorgeous looking CT items I have my eye on! Have you tried anything yet?
XX

18 comments:

  1. Damn you Chloe. I had absolutely bog all interest in that and there you are looking all lovely & glowy & not orange & now I'm think, would it be lovely. And I don't even do bronzer.....what is wrong with me? Will I just post my wages directly to CT do you think?

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    1. Sorry!! I think a direct debit to CT would be a good idea alright. I also love the bits you've already picked up too though so I may well be making purchases based on your recommendations!

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  2. I'm pining for a bit of Charlotte at the minute but I think it'll be Christmas - I really don't like the hard sell, I know people are told to do it, but it makes me want to drop all and leave! Good to see you back and in high spirits, hope recovery is treating you well x

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    1. I actually think these are the ideal Christmas presents- pure luxury and often something you'd unlikely buy for yourself. Yeah tbh I was withered by her by the time I actually left, made me think twice about buying from the counter again! x

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  3. Agh it's so pretty my eyes hurt! I think I'll have to treat myself. I hate that hard sell as well I always end up running away

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    1. It is the ideal treat I think! Such a lovely self gift! I'm delighted with myself! I normally do run off as well but I knew exactly what I wanted and was more annoyed than anything, you know that way? Gah!

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  4. The jealous level is high. Very high. I hope you sleep well knowing I'm sitting here crying at the beauty that is this little combo hahaha.
    Cannot stand pushy sales people, it makes me so uncomfortable and panicked seen as I find it hard enough to even walk up to a cashier in a shop!!
    Great post and hope you're feeling much better! :) xxxx

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    1. Sorry Nicole! Put it on your Christmas wish list, by the time you have it mine will be half way gone and you can laugh in my face! ;) I know, i hate that pushy sales technique too. Like, i know they have to do their job but I wasn't asking for a whole new make up wardrobe, i just wanted the two things!! xx

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  5. I was hoping I wouldn't need this, but I think now that I do... !

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    1. Yes, yes you do. It's too hard to resist! Although I also want all the CT things you've bought so we're clearly a bad influence on each other!

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  6. I really, really, really want this! Think I'll order online to avoid the hard sell though! I bought a lip pencil & eyeshadow quad so far from CT & IT IS LOVE!

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    1. I think I need an eyeshadow quad too to be honest- may leave that as a christmas present though! I've done enough damage! ;)

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  7. This looks very pretty! I hate when brands do a really hard sell, it comes across as too much pushing for me to even take them seriously and usually puts me off!

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    1. I know, it really put me and my sister off going back to the counter to be honest. I think I'll pop in to swatch and if its like that again I'll just order online, can't be dealing with all that nonsense!

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  8. "angels sing" is possibly the post accurate description for it.. oh MY. So stunning. I'm mad to try this and an eyeshadow palette, my Brown Thomas birthday wishlist is getting scarily long. My face currently resembles the heart eyes emoji, I can't stop looking at the compact. NEED.
    On another note, I worked in cosmetic retail for a while and still will never understand the need for obnoxiously hard selling workers. I know as a consumer before all, there's nothing that makes me want to avoid a particular counter more! x

    LongHairAndLashes.blogspot.ie

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    1. I know, my list is pretty long too. I'd love the dolce vita palette and an eyeliner for starters anyway…after that who knows!! See you've got a good excuse there with your birthday coming up cause as well as presents from other people you'll need a treat for yourself too! ;)
      Yeah in fairness, they really know their stuff but I just felt a bit pounced on, if you get me?! Just took away from the pleasure of a nice shopping experience! x

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  9. without a doubt this is the nicest bit of makeup i have ever seen. so glamorous and luxurious, it is grand and elegant looking and totally reminds me of 1930s hollywood.
    You are looking fab by the way!

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    1. Aw thanks Grace!! Yeah it's an absolute stunner, I'm obsessed with it! x

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