Can you actually believe that Charlotte Tilbury Beauty is celebrating its 10th birthday this year? That’s 10 years of Charlotte Tilbury herself leaving a magical trail of Pillow Talk lipsticks, Hollywood Flawless Filters, and Beauty Skin Foundations in her wake and into our hands to look and feel la dolce vita, darlings.
What magic is the Queen of Glow planning to bestow upon us with her wand—or some might say, the Hollywood Complexion Brush—next? Tilbury might have just been awarded a Special Recognition Award from The British Fashion Council (BFC) and despite her astounding array of accolades—180 magazine covers, 600 editorial and advertising campaigns, and relationships with over 100 designers—she’s only just getting started.
But of course, not before taking the time to sit down us with to share a makeup tip for instant sultriness, her #1 tip for budding female entrepreneurs, and a trend she’s predicting will light up the dance floor this December.
GRAZIA Singapore: Who is a style icon you’ve loved since Day 1?
I used to have posters on my wall of all the famous beauty icons, from Marilyn to Audrey to Brigitte! I would study them for hours—I wanted to know what it was that made them so magnetic!
I was always thinking “How can I steal a bit of their beauty DNA and bottle it?’” and it’s the reason I started my brand! Now, I’m so lucky to create incredible campaigns with my own inspiring beauty muses, like Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn, and Michaela Jae Rodriguez!
Name your greatest fashion buy?
My Atelier Versace dress for the Met Gala! Donatella and her team are true geniuses.
Whose wardrobe would you like to raid?
Kate Moss and Stevie Nicks!
What is your favourite book?
Madame by Helena Rubinstein. This is the inspirational story of someone who revolutionised women’s lives through cosmetics.
What’s your fashion secret for looking and feeling more put together?
Darlings, high heels. I love them and wear them all the time. I’ve got heels for the office and for parties but also heels for the beach and for going up mountains! I stand differently if I’m wearing heels.
They just make me feel great, longer, leaner, more fabulous and confident. As I always say the higher the heel, the closer to heaven.
What’s a recent achievement that you’re the proudest of?
2023 has probably been one of my most memorable years yet! I’ve been transformed into a Disney cartoon for my Disney100 collaboration (only the third person ever!), I’ve worked with Elton John on my new holiday campaign, and we’re celebrating 10 incredible years of my brand! I can’t choose!
On a personal level, I’ll never forget the day I received an MBE from her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the beauty and cosmetics industry. It was a very proud moment for me.
When was the last time you were genuinely surprised?
Darlings, I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to tell me that I would be receiving the special recognition award from the British Fashion Council! I was lost for words, which never happens!
Ever since my early days working as a makeup artist, I’ve understood the transformative powers of skincare and makeup to make everyone feel and look like their most confident selves, and every day I wake up so grateful that I get to share that mission with the world through my brand!
What is your makeup trick you wish more women would adopt?
Darlings, my top makeup trick is my feline flick—it’s iconic! It’s the perfect way to elongate and accentuate the eyes! I’ll let you in on my secret, darlings! Always start at the inner corner of the eye, then draw a fine, straight line along the lash line, three-quarters of the way across the lid.
After that, you draw a point at the eye’s outer corner and lift and angle the line up towards that point.
The #1 lesson you would like to tell budding female entrepreneurs.
If I could give my younger self, and all aspiring entrepreneurs, one piece of advice it would be to dare to dream it, dare to believe it, and dare to do it!
It’s the mantra that’s got me to 10 years of Charlotte Tilbury beauty, and will take me to 20, 30, and beyond!
What is a makeup trend you’re excited about this party season?
The shades I’m predicting as the next big things are cyber silver and digital lilac! These are the shades of the season, darlings! You’ll see them at all of your New Year’s Eve parties!
What is an item in your everyday bag that has seen many emergencies?
Darlings, I have an Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray ($59) in every bag I own! This setting spray weightlessly primes, controls excess shine and sets your makeup for up to 16 hours.
There are so many ways to wear it—you can fix, set or glow! I always say: stay all day, party all night!
What are you excited to do or launch in 2024?
I have so many exciting breakthrough beauty innovations coming in 2024! I wish I could reveal them all right now, but good things come to those who wait darlings! Watch this space!