Can The $44 Charlotte Tilbury 'Pixie Dust' Highlighter Survive The School Day?
Written by Avery Lurie
THE BEAUTY ED®’S NOTE: Is the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand worth $44? THE LAB mentee Avery tests the iconic highlighter on fair, sensitive skin, breaking down its easy-to-apply liquid texture and why it requires a heavy-duty setting spray to survive an 8-hour school day.
Since this past summer, I have been on the search for a highlighter that makes my cheeks look like Tinker Bell is sitting on top.
Fortunately, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Beauty Highlighter Wand may give the pixie dust glow that I have been searching for.
The Application & Texture
In the shade light (aka original), and generally retailing for $44, it provides a luminance that reflects off your cheeks, similar to that of a celebrity’s cheekbones in an instagram post.
Nonetheless, with a small amount, the highlighter can also look incredibly natural. Keep in mind, I have fair, eczema-prone skin and prefer to use this product with an extremely light pink liquid blush: Flower Knows’ Strawberry Cupid All Day Glow Liquid Blush in shade Frosty Strawberry
The glitter is soft, not chunky, causing the highlighter to come across as shiny rather than sparkly.
The wand makes for an application similar to a liquid blush and is easy to blend with a beauty sponge, creating a seamless application.
I would like to add: the highlighter does not pair well with a powder blush underneath, so you may want to consider applying the highlighter before the powder blush.
The ‘School Air’ Reality Check
The formula is very thick but feels weightless on the skin. Regardless, I can attest that the highlighter does not withstand “school air,” and only lasts about a couple of hours.
Unless you have a miracle of a setting spray, Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Highlighter Wand will not survive all day - a little disappointing for the price.
Overall, the highlighter is really nice for a cute selfie, brunch, or a couple of hours at a formal event, but certainly not for 8-hour-plus wear unless your setting spray is fully trustworthy.
✓Pros
Easy to apply
Perfectly shiny
Layers well with liquid blush
Works well with fair skin
⛌ Cons
On the pricier side
Doesn’t pair as well with powder
Will not last all day
Avery Lurie is a junior, beauty content enthusiast and THE LAB mentee who enjoys writing makeup reviews and opinions on beauty culture. You will most likely see Flower Knows, e.l.f, and M.A.C on her vanity.
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