My Mixed Feelings on Charlotte Tilbury's Lip Cheat

Hello everyone!

2025 was a wild ride for me, and it all started with my crazy obsession with Charlotte Tilbury. I ended up buying almost their entire product line - Liquid Cheek Tints, Cream Bronzers, Matte Lipsticks, Face Palette, Cream Eyeshadows, and liquid highlighters. Most of their stuff really impressed me, but some products didn't quite hit the mark, like the foundation (review coming soon) and the lip liner, which I'll talk about next.

Since I went on a pomade-buying spree from Charlotte Tilbury (seven different shades, to be exact), I just had to try out their lip liner. And, of course, I chose the most popular shade, Pillow Talk.

Packaging.

The design is classic Charlotte Tilbury - gold accents. It's a plastic lip liner with a gold-colored body and cap, and the liner itself is colored to match the shade.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat The packaging has the brand logo, product name, weight, and country of origin, as well as the expiration date after opening.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip PencilI was a bit surprised to see the brand name repeated on the lid - it's a nice touch. The lid itself is a great fit, keeping the pencil secure, which is important since the formula is gel-based and dries quickly if not closed tightly.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip PencilDespite being in plastic, the pencil sharpens beautifully with my trusty old Ruby Rose sharpener - no need to break the bank for a fancy one.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip PencilThe packaging is top-notch, with no fading or smudging over time. The color stays vibrant and true to the original shade.

Key Features

Weight: 1.2g

Price point: around 3000-4000 rubles

You can find it on various platforms, including international delivery options like Letuial, Podruga, SDEK, and Ozon Global.

Country of origin: Germany

Color and Finish

I've got the most popular shade from the brand, Pillow Talk, and it's a lovely, versatile choice for everyday wear.

Daylight Artificial LightingThis is a gorgeous, unique nude shade. It's a warm pink with peach undertones.

I have to admit that my bias towards this pencil is partly due to the shade, because it's not my usual color. And I knew that going into the purchase, but I ended up buying the most popular shade, Pillow Talk, and that's that. I actually prefer brown-beige shades, but a bit darker. Objectively, though, the shade is great, even if I don't use it often.

Application and Staying Power

This is a gel formula pencil. Remember, pencil crayons in wood have a wax formula, while those in plastic are gel. But this one isn't a dry, plasticky gel pencil that dries out your lips like most gel pencils do. It applies like a balm, so smooth and soft to the touch, making it a joy to apply.

I'm not a fan of wearing pencil crayons instead of lipsticks, but this one can get away with it because it doesn't dry out or pull on your lips. That's, of course, assuming you have smooth lips without any flakiness. If you do, though, it'll accentuate the texture and any fine lines. I'm a bit too old for that kind of look, to be honest.

The finish is matte, but it doesn't look dry.

The pigmentation is great. You don't need to layer the pencil, it creates a clear, pigmented contour from the first stroke. If needed, you can layer it, and the pencil lets you do that thanks to its flexible, soft texture. But the shade is light, and the lip contour comes out soft, muted, and delicate.

It draws a clear line without any dots or flakiness, and it doesn't stick or smudge.

The coverage gives itself to blending and stretching, as the pencil doesn't set quickly (it doesn't set at all, like most gel pencils).

But in terms of application, this is the most comfortable gel pencil - not like a plasticine, it glides on without drying out the skin, doesn't crumble, and isn't applied too thickly. It doesn't pucker the skin, and in wear, it behaves really well, you don't feel it on your lips, it doesn't weigh you down or dry you out, and there's no greasiness or stickiness.

But because of this soft texture, it doesn't have as high of a staying power as standard gel pencils. This pencil doesn't even set completely. So, it'll last through a light snack, but not more. It leaves an impression on cups and during kisses. After eating a full meal, you'll need to reapply it completely. Without eating or drinking, it comes off nicely, and you can't take that away - there are no flaky bits of pigment or flakiness, the pigment just fades away smoothly.

Removing it is a breeze. You can just wipe it off with a regular tissue.

The usage is a bit above average. The pencil is soft and gets used up quickly, I sharpen it every two applications, and I'm only using it for contour.

I haven't noticed any negative reactions (dryness, allergic reactions).

For makeup enthusiasts.

Daylight Daylight Artificial Lighting Artificial Lighting After wearing it for two hours, paired with a cup of coffee and a cookie, I noticed that the artificial lighting wasn't too bad, but it didn't quite last as long as I'd have liked. Artificial Lighting Daylight Daylight Artificial Lighting Artificial Lighting

Daylight Daylight Artificial Lighting Artificial Lighting

Daylight Artificial Lighting Artificial Lightingxa0xa0

Daylight Daylight Artificial Lighting Artificial LightingFinal Verdict

Yes, this pencil is good in terms of quality, but it's a bit of a mixed bag. The color and finish are great, and the packaging is top-notch. However, the staying power is a bit of a letdown. I've got pencils that are a fraction of the cost, and I love them even more. Plus, the fact that they don't hold up so well is a bit of a letdown.

So, if I'm being objective, this pencil is great, but it's not worth the money. I ended up buying more Charlotte's pencils after trying them out, and I wouldn't even consider buying this one in a color that suits me.