Charlotte Tilbury Limited Edition Range - is it worth the hype?

Charlotte Tilbury in collaboration with the work of the late photography Norman Parkinson, has brought out a range of colour and cosmetic bags using some of his most famous images. These little beauties have been flying around the Internet courtesy of bloggers who received them as pr samples and featured them from around the month of May (too much of a good thing, when products are hyped before launch and you are bored of seeing them before you can buy them - well it's not a positive is it really?). 

This was always going to be a selection that gave me mixed feelings, I love the work of Norman Parkinson but I have never been a huge fan of model Jerry Hall, since she features rather a lot in this collection it didn't overly excite me. 

The whole presentation of Charlotte Tilbury's range is luxury, beauty, old style glamour but it is let down by the packaging. When a brand evokes such stunning results, lovely textures, the packaging needs to mirror this and in many cases it simply doesn't. Cheap plastic packaging disappoints and takes the glow away from what should be a stunning product.   

I did however cherry pick a couple of delights from the range, one being a red lipstick. I can't possibly need another, and I don't, but it was so pretty and since it's called 1975 (yes I was around then!, very young might I add) how could I not? 

The packaging felt heavy, though it is still rose gold plastic! The colour is outstanding, a strong orange red with a pink/coral tone. A lipstick that will suit nearly all skin tones, perfect for summer with it's matte texture and smooth application. A glorious thing, which smells like cake!

The item that really caught my eye was what I hoped would be reminiscent of beautiful old powder compacts of years ago, which were ornate and refills were bought to replace used pans of yellowed powder. 

This lip and cheek glow, looked so classy and I couldn't wait to open the box and see what a delight it was. 

This small compact looks perfection, but on close inspection it's beauty is tainted by the rose gold plastic surround. It feels cheap to hold and looks it, the product itself felt grainy to the touch but actually when applied this pink toned cheek and lip cream blends smoothly on the cheeks. The colour is also nothing like the warm coral shade on the Charlotte Tilbury website. Make sure you powder after using this and not before, it will cake and collect on your face. I like the product, the colour is flattering although very subtle, pigmented it isn't. 

A reasonable product but not worth the hype or the price. 

Pout thoughts:

The colours are lovely, the packaging let's the product down and the price point is aimed far too high.

I appreciate the collaboration is an innovative idea but relying on both the Tilbury and Parkinson name leaves the expectation of something high-end to be quality in every aspect of the range, it isn't. 

I only have two from the limited edition range, other items may be of higher quality. 

Overall this is a disappointment, having seen the numerous positive vibes from those who received these well before launch, I wonder if they would have been so giving of their high praise if they had paid for them?