Charlotte Tilbury Medium Airbrush Bronzer Review & Swatches
Medium (2)
Charlotte Tilbury Medium (2) Airbrush Bronzer ($55.00 for 0.56 oz.) is a very light brown with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable color coverage. It was extremely matte… like looked almost powdery/dry matte when applied to my skin, which was more “normal” than dry or oily when I tried and tested this product. It seemed to accentuate my skin texture, especially when I smiled–it made my skin look papery. I don’t know if that’s a descriptor you want to use with a beauty product…
It has a drier, more noticeable finish compared to the pressed finishing powder it’s an off-shoot of, which may be due to the fact that the bronzer offers more pigmentation than the pressed finishing powder. For someone who may have more natural oils or may get oilier during the day, it might possibly work as a mattifying bronzer, as it did fade fairly evenly on me and looked less-matte after several hours of wear. The thing is… the formula is heavily marketed to make skin appear “softer and smoother in seconds” for a “soft-focused effect” while also having “increased payoff.”
To the touch, the powder seemed finely-milled enough, but there were very small bits of product that didn’t seem to be well-mixed into the product. It wasn’t as noticeable with this particular shade as it was closer to my skin tone (it was more apparent with the two darker shades in the line), but it was still apparent when I looked closely at the powder as I applied it. The color stayed on well for eight hours before fading visibly.
There are four shades in the line with this shade being second in the line-up, and it is definitely one of the lighter bronzers I’ve tried. The next shade in the line is a few shades deeper — this is really more like “Light” based on a lot of other bronzers that have been released. (The lightest shade is extremely light, more like medium beige.)
Top Dupes
- Rare Beauty Happy Sol (P, $26.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Rare Beauty Power Boost (P, $26.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Vallarta (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Light Level 3 (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Intensity 1 (Contour) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Light Golden (P, $35.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tan-tastic (Trio) (P, $49.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Light Level 2 (P, $38.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Intensity 0.5 (Contour) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Tan Bronze (04) (P, $48.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Ingredients
TALC, MICA, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE, NYLON-12, SILICA, ZINC STEARATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, LAUROYL LYSINE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, DIMETHICONOL, HYALURONIC ACID, HYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, [+/- IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Wow, I’m surprised. All of the YouTube people I follow are raving about this product. I wonder if it’s the cornstarch in the product that makes it look so dry. I’m glad I hadn’t purchased this yet. My skin is combo, oily t-zone in the summer, but that’s only in warm weather. Otherwise it’s a little dry so I’ll skip. Too expensive to take the risk.
I’ve been curious about the Buxom Primer-infused bronzer. It’s half the price of the CT. Might just try that one.
I cannot get over how drying it looks! I have used the finishing powder and haven’t had issues with that, so I was surprised.
I thought this product did not have cornstarch. Maybe that’s why it looks dry. I’m quite the opposite. I thought it looked beautiful on my skin. I’m oily, and the setting powder makes me look like the Sahara desert. What works for one doesn’t always work for another.
Since this only makes minimal impact on your NC20/25 skintone, on my NC35/40 skintone this would be virtually INVISIBLE. Yikes!
Oh, and the papery finish gets a big ol’ heck no from me, too!
It shoes lightly on me and I am nc43. I love mine. I bought the tan as well but haven’t tried it yet.
I’m NC 30/35, and I love it. It blends beautifully on my skin. I’m surprised because the setting powder makes my face look horrible.
I was waiting for your review, this a pass
Thank you, Christine, once again you saved me money! I saw all the vloggers and youtubers raving about this, but it really does look very papery. I normally go for a matte bronzer (I have fair skin) but when I saw this product I thought it could use a bit of shimmer! lol. It looks very flat to me, and not that flattering.
I didn’t see the dryness coming! When I read that it was supposed to be moisturizing (I’m sure not in the sense of an actual full-on moisutrizer), I was like what..!
I brought this palette two weeks ago and I love it. Granted, I am super oily and love things that does not make me a disco ball. My skintone is considerable deeper than yours and I love the fact that the bronzer shows up on me. I also love that on me it wasn’t super red and not a harsh grey brown color. I am a fan of it and I do see how you may not like it due to it being dry.
Hi Christine lone time reader here, thank you for your review I thogh I was the only one thinking that the bronzers are dry i got mine in medium and I still think the powder is patchy on my skin, i don’t know if I got a defective one or what but i don’t think they are as good as some of the you tubers said.
It’s a relief to know I’m not the only one, TG! Sounds very similar to my experience!
That’s so strange. I thought mine applied beautifully.
Wow! I, too, have seen Youtubers loving this—I don’t have any bronzers, but after seeing this review I’d be more likely to go for the Fenty line. I do have an oily t-zone, but dislike powdery/dry-looking products. Glad I saw this!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Here I was thinking it was the Holy Grail of bronzers according to all the youtubers :/ Not purchasing now!!! Will you be reviewing the Desert Haze palette that came out with this?
When all the youtubers were taken aback by all its loveliness it during their try-ons, I wondererd WHY? I figured I was missing something that perhaps they were seeing in person. On camera it read dead flat. From what I can see on screen, it added no radiance, depth, or dimension.
Thanks for the review and saving me $
Wow, I’m so shocked by the performance of this bronzer… Charlotte Tilbury complexion products are usually some of my favorites, and the airbrush flawless powder is great. I had this in my cart to purchase at Sephora last week and didn’t pull the trigger, I’m so glad I waited! Thank you for once again saving me from an expensive bad purchase, you’re the best Christine!
This is exactly what I was afraid of. I love love love the airbrush formula as a finishing powder, but I knew it wouldn’t work for my on-the-drier-side skin. I’ll continue to use her Filmstar bronze and glow.
You’re the best Christine. I’m taking this bronzer out of my cart right now. I have dry skin. It’s not that I like my bronzers to be shimmery, but no way would this work on my dry skin.
I adore the powder – works well on my 50 year old skin – so I had high hopes for this bronzer. I was very disappointed. I found it difficult to even get color on my brush and it did seem to dry my skin.
Nice to know I’m not totally alone, Kelly! Sorry it didn’t work out for you, though 🙁
The lightest shade of this bronzer has the same exact tone as my skin. Do you think I could use it as a setting powder/retouch powder in replacement for the flawless finish powder? It’s twice the size for a cheaper price! What’d you think? 🙁