Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation Review: This Is the Best I've Ever Used
According to Tilbury, the foundation contains “serum levels of skincare ingredients” in order to prevent wrinkles over time, as well as moisturizing skin for up to 24 hours. That explains why my dry skin is able to tolerate the heavy coverage. A bit of a warning, though: This stuff is hard-core, so a little goes a long way. The first time I applied the foundation I used too much, which resulted in gathering around my nose and hairline. A tiny pump is all you need for your whole face. I like to use a damp Beauty Blender so a tiny bit of my skin shows through. If you want more coverage, use a brush.
To develop the shades, Tilbury did a study of 650 men and women across various ages, skin tones, and skin conditions, including severe acne and rosacea. The foundation comes in 44 shades, in four “overtones”—fair, medium, tan, deep— and three undertones—cool, warm, and neutral.
Most foundations are made starting with the lightest shades, and the white pigment base is stretched to cater to the darkest shades, which is why so many foundations can look ashy. “We went into the laboratory and said ‘Guess what, we’re going to manipulate these undertones and overtones based on our study, and we’re going to start with the deep skin tones,'” says Tilbury. “We can stretch it so they never go ash.”
The new campaign showcases the foundation on a wide range of people, including Joan Collins, Miss Fame, and Tilbury’s mother, Patty. It also features before and after photos of real women and men with wrinkles, acne, and rosacea. It’s refreshing to see such a range of skin tones, ages, and gender identities represented, and illustrates Tilbury’s motives behind the foundation: to make everyone feel flawless. I know I do.
Bella Cacciatore is the Beauty Associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.