If you’ve been with me for the past 10 years, you’d be quite familiar with a few things about me. One of it is that my choice of lipstick colour is at the brighter end of the colour spectrum. Specifically, I wear red or bright lipstick colours. Rarely a nude because no one wants to look like a walking corpse.
Well, not me at any rate. Yet, after years of dabbling in makeup, I might have found a nude lipstick that works for me. I found it first in Chanel’s Rouge Allure Ink in Amoureux, which I swear I need a back up of! It’s such a perfect colour for me.
Secondly, I’m not a fan of desserts, sweets and cakes. To see 2 of them in one picture therefore, means the moon is blue, and there’s a cow jumping over it LOL! Incidentally, I’ve found another nude lipstick that works for me. Hallelujah!
Or maybe let’s not raise our hands so quickly, because while I like the colour a lot, I feel that the formula leaves a lot to be desired.
It does leave me in the minority, I feel, because this lovely nude lipstick, with the perfect kickass name of “Bitch Perfect” is by Charlotte Tilbury.
This is the Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Kissing Lipstick, a colour I bought because, really, wanted people to ask me what colour I was wearing so I could tell them “Bitch Perfect”! LOL! :D I did look up swatches and reviews before I bought it online (Charlotte Tilbury makeup isn’t available in Malaysia at time of writing) and most people did say it was a good nude lipstick.
I’d agree. Bitch Perfect is truly perfect, because it isn’t a straight beige of death. What it is, is a very neutral, light coloured lipstick, with a pink tint. It is that pink tint that makes all the difference in the world!
The rose gold packaging appeals to many but I actually wasn’t impressed by it. The packaging lacks heft, and the metal feels thin. I also found the fluted design reminiscent of an old Estee Lauder lipstick – Sumptuous, I believe it was called – so I actually found this packaging design a little old. Not a retro sort of old, but a “It’s makeup my grandmother would use” sort of old.
The other thing that brought back the “old” vibe was the smell (vanilla, but with a hint of eau de wax lipstick) and the texture (waxy). To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this from the brand. It was my first time trying anything from Charlotte Tilbury (the other makeup items were too expensive!) and it wasn’t leaving me with a good impression.
I’m not a big fan of the texture, which I find waxy and which sits on your lips. I must say that I’m rather spoilt by all the lovely creamy or balmy textures of new lipsticks, that pack a punch of colour, yet sit lightly on lips, that it was a surprise to have a lipstick remind you that you’re wearing lipstick.
But there is one saving grace, and that is that the Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Kissing Lipstick is a perfect nude, if you have lips that are naturally a little more pink.
Here is a swatch of Bitch Perfect alongside my other favourite, the Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Amoureux. The Chanel one looks a tad brighter pink, while Bitch Perfect looks a little more muted, with a little more beige in it. Both are a little more pink in this picture than they are in real life, but it gives you an idea of how similar the shades are.
When I wear it, it’s just perfect.
It is quite literally my bare lips, but better. The tint of pink is enough to brighten the complexion so I don’t look like the walking dead, and yet, it works well enough for when I don’t want to really wear a bright lip. This comes in useful for occasions when I have to look a little more subdued, or if I go a little crazy and do a very dark eye makeup look (rare, but it happens). It’s one of those lip colours that just pull the face together, so you don’t look washed out, yet you aren’t out there in your face.
It has been described as having a matte texture but as you can see from the shine, it is in fact, a satin texture. I don’t find it drying, but because I can feel it on my lips, and because of the vanilla-wax scent, this isn’t my favourite lipstick formula. I only keep it for the damned colour! :P
IN A NUTSHELL
The Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick range is a range of satin-matte lipstick and the first range of lipstick released by the brand. I find the packaging a little old, and I’m not much a fan of rose gold in general. I also find that the formula, while creamy and satin, which are textures I like, do sit more heavily on the lips than similar formula in other brands. What I do love is the shade, which I find to be a perfect nude colour for me. It is very natural yet flattering, as the beige tones are tempered with enough pink to add life to lips. I won’t buy another, but I’ll keep using this one that I have.
PROS: The perfect nude lip colour with just the right mix of beige and pink, Satin formula adds a touch of shine and dimension to lips without making them too glossy, Does not slip, Not drying
CONS: Heavy formula, Scented with vanilla with an underlying waxy scent
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone looking for the perfect nude lipstick that does not blot out the lips, Anyone who has had trouble finding nude lipstick that do not wash them out
PRICE: £24 | US$34
WHERE TO BUY: Net-a-Porter, Charlotte Tilbury website, Cult Beauty, Selfridges, Nordstrom
Do you own this Bitch Perfect lipstick? Is there anything else from Charlotte Tilbury worth trying?
I bought mine a while ago from Net-a-Porter and I use it more often than I realised. I also picked up a few other items, but if I’m to be honest, I haven’t been wowed by much of what I’ve tried from the Charlotte Tilbury brand. Share your thoughts? :)
Paris B
Perfect nudes are hard to come by, but honestly, I just want it because of the name! XD
Part of the reason I got it was the name, Laura! LOL! And yes, perfect nude lipsticks are very hard to come by. Most of them leave me looking like I’m ill and coupled with a dark smokey eye, it just makes me look like a zombie LOL!
I agree with the packaging! While I have thought of buying a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in the past, I’d always talk myself out of it because of the aesthetic. Sorry la I like my makeup pretty haha
It’s not very pretty is it? I was actually quite surprised when I received it and realised that it wasn’t as hefty or sturdy as it looks in pictures. Almost toy-like!
I first encountered Charlotte Tilbury back when she hadn’t released her own line yet. I knew she was a famous make up artist but what differed between her and the rest was that she has this super glamorous persona and a personality which was hard to resist. Few years ago she did makeup tutorials for net-a-porter beauty on how to achieve the perfect base and I still use her technique to this day. The one item that I would highly recommend from her line is the Filmstar Bronze & Glow. HG item for me. The bronzer has just the slightest touch of glimmer so it looks really flattering as I find some bronzers can look “muddy” on my skintone (light medium asian). And the highlighter is also quite subtle but you can build it up. However if you like your highlighter blinding, then probably not :P
I’d heard of her briefly mentioned by other British makeup artists, but because I never really paid attention to these things, I never really bothered LOL I only got curious about the range because it was everywhere for a while, but it seems to be much less hyped now than before. I did get curious about the Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette. But because I’m not big on bronzing or highlight, I wasn’t sure if I should get it. Still, it’s one of those things that bug you if you don’t get it, doesn’t it? :P
Hi Paris, you should check out the Marc Jacobs new nudes sheer gel lipstick in the shade “Eat Cake”. I love that it’s a rosy nude colour that’s very flattering and easy to wear! I use it all the time!
Thanks for the rec Su Hiang! I’ll take a look :) For some reason, MJ Beauty doesn’t really grab my attention – but their eyeliners are amazing though. I swear by them now because they dont’ move at all!
I only have one of her lipsticks which is the matte lipstick in Pillowtalk. I was debating between this and Bitch Perfect and decided Pillowtalk is less pink. I agree on what you said about the packaging as well. Doesn’t feel very luxe :-)
Kinda bummed about the packaging isn’t it? For that sort of luxe prices, I’d expect something super luxe!
I have the Pillow Talk one and I really like it! Scent wasn’t strong, feel is nice and balmy. I also don’t look like a dead person haha interesting you mentioned the packaging, cuz I also bought Estee Lauder x VB at the same time and it is very similar!
It’s so important not to look like a dead person in nude lipstick LOL :D I think it’s a big challenge for those with more pigmented lips, because blotting out the lips really makes a face look strange. I remember when the trend was to wear lip colours that were practically skin coloured a few years ago when the trend started. It was so weird seeing these huge smokey eyes and then no lips LOL! :D Oh good observation about ELxVB! But I think EL did a better job :P
Can’t stop laughing at the “makeup my grandmother would use” part, LOL~~~~ The color does look really pretty, but the swatch looks like it would accentuate dry flakey lips. Hmmm.. Now I’m suddenly interested in finding MLBB lipsticks.. Yikes! :D
Haha but it’s true! Except my grandmothers didn’t wear any makeup LOL! :D Actually the formula is very lip friendly which I like. But there are many options out there from everywhere in the price scale :D I remember that Revlon used to do some really good MLBB lip colours and their formula used to be generally quite good as well. I haven’t checked them out in a while though, so I can’t vouch for them now.
Love your foundation in this post!
Thank you Sharon :) I think it’s the Guerlain Meteorites primer + Sulwhasoo Brightening Cushion foundation :D