Charlotte Tilbury The Pretty Pink Lipstick Set: Review and Swatches

I admit this post wasn’t planned, but I received one of my orders from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (are you all tired of hearing about that yet?), and it happened to be my only makeup order. It’s also something I highly recommend – I really try not to over exaggerate my opinions and say “OMG you HAVE to get to get this,” or “this is BEST thing I’ve ever tried,” but I really think this is a great set to try if you like Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks, or have been interested in trying them out.

The Charlotte Tilbury The Pretty Pink Lipstick Set was the only makeup item that caught my eye for this sale, and after seeing some preliminary swatches, I knew the shades would be right up my alley. The set includes three lip full-szie products: the famous Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Rose Kiss, and K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Blushing Dream. The retail value of the set is $90, and the set sells for $60, so it’s a pretty good deal.

• Pillow Talk is a pinky-rosey beige. It really doesn’t look like much but it pairs with anything and also looks gorgeous with a sheer gloss over it.
• Rose Kiss is is a plum-mauve shade
• Blushing Rose is a rosy pink shade

I already own Pillow Talk, but it’s one of my favorite lip liners, so I’m happy to have a backup. These lip liners are truly exceptional as they glide on to the lips so effortlessly, and they don’t feel drying at all, but they really make my lipstick and other lip products last so much longer. I am a sucker for lip liners in shades like this, and this is definitely my favorite of all of them. I rarely wear lip liners on their own, so it’s hard for me to tell the wear of them, but paired with a lipstick, it can easily last from an 8am application to my usual lunch at 1pm – and that’s with multiple cups of coffee and water. Without a lip liner, my lipsticks usually need hourly touch ups (if I touch up at all).

I only have one other lipstick from Charlotte Tilbury – one of the Matte Revolution lipsticks in Bond Girl – and I absolutely love how creamy and comfortable the formula is, so I was so excited to try more. I absolutely fell in love with Charlotte Tilbury from trying these lipsticks, starting from the shape of the bullet that allows for a precise application and the velvet cushiony texture that doesn’t feel drying. Bond Girl is a gorgeous plum-brown shade for the fall and winter, and Rose Kiss is a great alternative that’s slightly more rosy and more of a refined, sophisticated rosy neutral shade.

Blushing Rose is my first lipstick in the K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formula, and it has more a satin-luster finish. It’s not quite as glossy as a MAC lustre lipstick might be, but it’s not quite a cream finish, either. It’s right in the middle. This makes it a great everyday formula, and something that looks easy and effortless – even if it’s not quite as longwearing as the Matte Revolution Formula. Blushing Rose is also what made me want the entire set. It is the kind of shade that I love to wear on an everyday basis, and I really bought it because it reminds me of my super beloved HG lipstick, MAC Gem of Roses, that was also a limited edition shade. See the comparison swatches to see how they compare – although they are very similar, Blushing Rose is slightly pinker and not as red. But still, having such a close shade means that I will get a TON of use out of this one, and I hope that this is released as a single shade, or that I can find another comparable shade in the permanent range.

Here are some comparison swatches to Rose Kiss:

I have similar shades, but nothing quite like it. Bond Girl is considerably darker and more brown. Kosas Cosmetics Stardust is sheerer and more beige, although most similar to Rose Kiss than everything else I own. MAC Twig is more plum. Bite Chai is more brown toned. Maybelline Touch of Spice is more purple toned. Bite Pepper is also more purple toned.

And here are some comparisons to Blushing Rose.

Again, MAC Gem of Roses is very similar, but *not quite* the same. Smashbox Primrose looks the closest, but is has a more satin matte finish than Blushing Rose. Tom Ford Indian Rose is more similar to MAC with slightly more red than pink tones. Bite Fig is deeper and more plum toned. Kosas Cosmetics Rosewater is brighter and more pink.

Overall, this set is more than worth it for me, as these are all the kind of shades I wear on a regular basis. I think the formula on these is one of the top lipstick formulas I’ve ever tried. If you like rosy pink or rosy neutral lipsticks, and you love Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks, or have been wanting to try them out, definitely give this set a try. It’s the only makeup item I bought, and I couldn’t be happier with it.