Made over: Charlotte Tilbury launches at johnlewis.com
I once had the chance to meet and interview make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, when she first launched her new make up brand, but deadlines got in the way. I kick myself to this day. The woman has worked with some of the most incredible people in the industry including - this list is not comprehensive - Mario Testino and Mert & Marcus, Tom Ford and Stella McCartney, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna as well as stylists and editors Katie Grand, Carine Roitfeld, Emmanuelle Alt and Nicola Formichetti. She did Kate Moss's make up for her wedding - the two are really close mates - and is currently, reputedly, about to do Caitlyn Jenner's. Needless to say, from its packaging to its super skin-friendly formulations, from its ease-of-use to its transformative powers, Charlotte Tilbury Makeup has become cult stock in any self-respecting fashionista’s make-up bag. This week, thanks to johnlewis.com, I had the chance to experience one of the make-overs that Charlotte is so famous for. The department store has just welcomed the brand onto its website and, to celebrate, the Oxford Street flagship store has been hosting a Beauty Booth and dedicated a street window to the brand.
Shoppers can have a 15-minute mini on the ground floor but I headed up to the first floor, where 'Transformation Stations' are hosting full 45-minute sessions. From a menu of Charlotte’s most famous ‘looks’ including the fresh-faced Ingénue to the beach-inspired Golden Goddess and beyond to Uptown Girl and Sophisticate, lovely MUA Kate and I decided on Rock Chic. Not because I’m a rock chick, mind, but because every make-up artist I’ve ever met thinks I suit the look.
It's a safe bet - dark, broody eyes, almost nude lips; who wouldn't look nice? - but it was gloriously, deftly performed by Kate: from the Magic Cream Treat & Transform Moisturiser (because beautiful, hydrated, healthy skin is the basis of every Tilbury look) to the Magic Foundation applied with the softest, fluffliest of make up brushes to a lush new golden eye colour cream.
You can see the result: hands down, one of the best make-up looks I’ve ever had - and I’ve had a few. Once done, a few seconds inside a GIF Booth created an animation of my face that was then screened in the Oxford Street Beauty windows as part of Charlotte’s #WhoCouldYouBe campaign. That was just a tiny cherry on the cake; the big cherry was my boyfriend’s double take when I walked through the door. I do like to surprise him.
Try it. You have till September 27th. And Charlotte, if you’d ever like to meet up again, I promise, I’ll be there …
Customers will be able to purchase products in store at the Charlotte Tilbury Backstage Beauty Booth till Sunday 27th September. After that, it’s online only at www.johnlewis.com/charlotte-tilbury
