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Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow Review, Photos, Swatches

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow ($80.00 for 0.54 oz.) is a cream-based bronzer and highlighter. Both shades had a really slick, almost greasy feeling to them, which will make them more forgiving even on drier skin types, but I found that it made it hard to get the product to really stay where it was applied and resulted in patchy, more uneven coverage overall. It was shorter-wearing, and the higher slip in the texture made these better suited for bare skin or applied over still-damp base products.

Sun Tan (Filmstar Bronze) is a muted, medium tan brown with warm, yellowed undertones (but not really orange-y) with a faint gold pearl and natural finish (some shine). It had semi-sheer coverage that was buildable to slightly more opaque color, but it wasn’t very pigmented. I’m not sure this will work for medium-dark or deeper skin tones, as it was subtle on my light-medium to medium complexion (NC25). It lasted for six hours on me. MAC Gold Go Lightly (LE, $28.00) is darker. MAC Nude on Board (LE, $30.00) is darker. Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light (P, $50.00) is darker, warmer. Make Up For Ever #20M (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer. Make Up For Ever #25I (P, $36.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Sun Light (Filmstar Glow) is as softened, light-medium gold with bronze tones and lighter gold pearl. It had semi-sheer color payoff that applied with a soft sheen that didn’t emphasize the skin’s natural texture. The emollient consistency made it harder to apply without also moving everything underneath it, so it is a product best applied with fingertips-patted on–if applying over foundation or better yet, used over bare skin. It started to break down after five and a half hours on me. Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is darker. Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is darker. Laura Geller Gilded Honey (P, $24.00) is more shimmery. Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment (Original) (P, $26.00) is darker. See comparison swatches/ compare dupes side-by-side.

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow
Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Filmstar Bronze & Glow

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Makeup Look
On face:
  • Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On lips:
  • Charlotte Tilbury Miss Kensington Matte Revolution Lipstick

36 Comments

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Nicole Avatar

I have this and so far have been happy with it. But, I have only used it once or twice. I really haven’t tested wear time. I think I am going to really study this and possibly think about returning it. It s just too expensive for a product that performs the way you have noted. I don’t use a lot of powder and my skin is dry-ish even in summer so it may be a better product for me. I only powder my T-zone and then go real light with what is left on the brush on the other areas of my face. For the highlighter, I have been using a stippling brush or my fingers and patting. But, I do notice it has to go on first or be used with other cream products. Thanks for the review. I am really awaiting the cream blush now!

Andrew Avatar

Aww, I’m sorry this was a bust Christine! Would you say that the Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow Duo in ‘Sculpt’ is a comparable dupe color-wise? I can already tell that when it comes to performance the Kevyn Aucoin duo blows this out of the water.

Andrew Avatar

I don’t know why I thought the duo was called ‘Sculpt’. It’s ‘Sculpting Medium/Candlelight’. I’m such a doofus sometimes!

Janet Avatar

I was really disappointed in this product ? I normally love everything CT but for the price of this I have to agree too patchy! I have dry skin and thought this would be perfect but it was a big miss. I do love her LE highlighter though and definitely am super happy I got it. Back to Nordstrom this filmstar goes

Clemence Avatar

Oh this is disappointing. But at least I now know I’ll buy the classic Filmstar Bronze and Glow and not this cream version…

Tracey E. Avatar

Hi Rachel, I paid that price as it’s one of the few bronzers that looks really good on me and I know the original Filmstar looks ashy/beige on my skintone. With my complexion, it is a treat to have a warmer look and this does the trick perfectly. Yes, it’s expensive but a little goes a long way, as I’m finding with the other LE items in this collection. I’ll get a lot of use out of them and will repurpose the compacts when finished. I really look forward to wearing it. (The fact that it sheers out to almost nothing and can be built up is a big plus for me.)

Kat Avatar

Yikes! Really glad I didn’t get sucked in to buying this! I have a hard time working with good cream contour products, let alone something like this. It looks almost slimy in the arm swatches! I think I’ll go back to ogling the powder FIlmstar Bronze and Glow!

Nancy T Avatar

The shade colors are in themselves beautiful, but the formula itself actually looks greasy, uneven and kinda gross! Def not worth the $’s.

Wednesday Avatar

This looks like one hot greasy mess. I wanted to jump on this one since I am a big fan of the powder version (the colour is so right for light skin). Cream products are my fav so seemingly this would be a perfect buy for me. Very glad I did not pick this up on a whim. I saw a couple of other reviews and thought the product looked ‘muddy’ on the skin and now I understand why. Pass.

Tracey E. Avatar

I really love this product but it has taken some experimentation, especially with brushes ,to find out how to best use the creamy bronzer. I currently use a Lancome foundation paint-style brush or a MAC duo-fibre 127 brush using buffing motions after initially application. I admit to closely following CT’s video for the product. (I’d really like to use a Tom Ford cream brush or Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Complexion brush when it comes out, or similar if Wayne Goss has a compatible brush.) For me, this bronzer gives a beautiful warmth to my face, which tickles me to no end given my fair to medium complexion. I apply the highlighter using the flat side of a foundation brush or my fingers. I powder my face when finished and will use a setting spray on occasion. On humid days, I find cream products slip, so I choose other products on those days and this product is no different.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the Sun Tan and Sun Light in spite of the outrageous price as it gives me a summer glow that is just beautiful. The original Filmstar Light to Medium can looks ashy on me.

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