Charlotte Tilbury Cream Shadows: Eye Make-up Wizardry
Now I have to be honest. I don’t typically wear cream eyeshadows. *Queue sudden gasps*
I know, how can I possibly make judgement on something I don’t frequently use? Well that is actually why I thought I'd do a post on these little pots of paradise – because it will be based on experience with a totally open mind, trying out something new to my world!
So, here’s why I think CT should be prosecuted for some sort of treason and witchcraft for producing the ‘Eyes to Mesmerise’ cream shadows.... 😍
Just to be clear – these beauties get a 10/10 from me. I love everything about them and basically need every colour of the rainbow to be created as separate shades so that I can buy them all and drown my eyes in a pool of creamy, shimmery goodness. Actually, let’s change the score then – they get a 9/10, with the missing point being due to the simple need for more shades !
First of all, the packaging. On the off chance that you don’t appreciate sophistication, luxury and convenience all in one – you won’t like the packaging. Each shadow gives you 7ml of product, in a frosted glass pot, the perfect little size to throw in your handbag or travel-worthy make-up bag. Don’t be fooled though; just because they are small, that doesn't mean they’re not adequate! I use less than a pea-sized amount per application (and that covers both eyes!)…. They are of course closed up with a screw top lid in the signature Charlotte Tilbury ‘espresso’ shade, with the gorgeous rosey-gold lettering. As soon as you open the lid for the first time, you are greeted with a little ‘whip’ at the top of the product, demonstrating how beautifully produced each pot is.
So, the shades then. Now obviously you could just look on CT’s website but, since you’re already here (if you still are!) I'd thought I'd share the shades with you now. So here we go:
Cleopatra – vibrant peacock blue
Bette – amber-gold
Veruschka – minky-mossy golden grey-green
Mona Lisa – wisteria-chocolate bronze
Marie Antoinette – oyster gold (and my absolute fave shade!!)
Jean – sparkling-pink champagne
Rose Gold – soft pink rose-gold (currently out of stock, returning Spring 2019)
Star Gold – starlit golden bronze (currently out of stock, returning Spring 2019)
(Swatches in order listed above)
My favourites are Jean, Marie Antoinette and Cleopatra.
Jean is the ideal shade for everyday looks; just throw it on your lid either by itself, or with a little transition shade above it and you are good to go! Your eyes will be lit up, bright and awake with one swipe.
Marie Antoinette is similar but, for me, it’s ideal for a day-to-night eye look. It has the perfect amount of golden metallic to be great for a day-slay, and the perfect amount of smokiness to be transformed to an evening appropriate look with a little mascara top-up or a waterline eyeliner.
Cleopatra is something a little bit special. It is SO vibrant and pigmented. It literally is like peacocks’ tears in a pot! I imagine this colour would look very striking if you have red hair and/or hazel eyes. The perfect combo!!
The formula......
For cream shadows these are, in my opinion, quite mousse-like. They are beautifully soft and hydrating - I guess just like a cream! When I swatch the product or use it on my eyes, it is super smooth, glides on with minimal effort and doesn’t tug at my eyelid or cause any sort of ‘dragging.’ So no need to worry about those crow’s feet with this by your side!
All of the shades have a shimmer-metallic finish, and look beautifully light-reflecting in every shade. I haven’t tried this yet – but what do we think about mixing shadows?? Imagine 'Jean’ mixed with a little bit of ‘Cleopatra’ to make a lighter shade, like the Caribbean Sea spread across your eyelid... Wow. Definitely going to try that.
Oh, and by the way, once these shadows are on, that’s it. They’re on for the long-haul. When I put any one of the shades on in the morning before work, it is still perfectly in place, as shimmery and as bright at the end of the day (with absolutely no creasing) when I take it off before bed. That’s a good 15+ hours of longevity without budging!! And yet, it comes straight off with eye make-up remover without clinging on and tugging at my eye.
How to use these pots of heaven....
Now I have no doubt in my mind that, if you’re reading this, you’re probably not a stranger to eyeshadows. But you never know, sometimes it’s nice to get a little bit of inspo from others, so here are some of my little suggestions for occasions and eye looks that you could create.....
For work – apply ‘Jean’ with your finger (I find that works the best) all over your lid up to the crease and slightly into the inner corner. If you prefer a more intense look for work, add a transition shade across your crease. Add mascara, and done!
For date night – apply ‘Mona Lisa’ all over the lid up to the crease. Use a blending brush to diffuse a neutral transition shade across the crease. Use a dense smudge brush to gently apply the product to the lower lash line for a smokier effect. To vamp up your look, use a dark brown eyeliner in the water line after applying mascara.
For the no make-up, make-up look – this is one of the most straight-forward looks with the highest impact that I have ever known! It goes like this: ‘Jean’ on the lid. Mascara. Done. It really is that easy to look awake, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with one single shadow!
Tip: this looks especially delicious with a red lip and a glowy complexion 😉
For the party girl/guy – use ‘Cleopatra’ all over your lid up to the crease (maybe even slightly above if you like it). Blend out with a mid-tone, warm brown shade in the crease. If you like a heavier look, deepen the outer V of your eye by lightly applying a black or chocolate brown shade with a smaller blending brush. Drag Cleopatra underneath your lower lash line with a smudger brush and add a wing to your top lash line with your favourite black eye liner. Add a little bit of ‘Jean’ or any other shimmering champagne shade to your inner corner for that extra glow. For full-glam, add your favourite lashes and, girl, you are good to go!
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So, if you’re not by now reading this post whilst already in the make-up section of your local department store, or rapidly searching through the brand section of an online beauty retailer, I guess I'd better finish up, so you can get on the case and bag yourself one of these beauties!
Now, at £22 per pot, you may think it’s slightly steep for a 7ml pot of eyeshadow.
However, when you combine the minuscule amount of product that you need per application (and therefore an almost endless life-cycle), with the insane quality of the shadows, their unreal staying power, pigment and versatility.... *come up for air*…. I think that’s a pretty fair deal.
In the words of Charlotte herself.... Darlings, stand-out from the crowd!!
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