Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Is Glam --Swipe on a Look for Less
Charlotte Tilbur's Pillow Talk lipstick is iconic, but you don't have to pay that much to look just as stunning for less.
Charlotte Tilbury is one of the few makeup artists famous worldwide. Based in the UK, her work has appeared on magazine covers, editorials, fashion shows, and celebrities. She started her cosmetics company in 2013 with around 200 products, including her now iconic lipstick, Pillow Talk. In 2024, the brand claimed that someone’s purchasing a Pillow Talk lipstick worldwide every 10 seconds. That’s a lot of lipstick!
A quickie on Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk
When Pillow Talk launched, it was a neutral nude pink lippie that complements every complexion. The formula is a creamy, moisturizing matte that doesn’t look flat when applied. That one lipstick morphed into an entire collection of beauty products. However, let’s concentrate on the lippie. There are now four Pillow Talk lipstick shades: Pillow Talk Fair, Pillow Talk Original, Pillow Talk Medium, and Pillow Talk Intense. I will concentrate solely on the original Pillow Talk shade for this article. Otherwise, it’ll be too unwieldy.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk is gorgeous. The faceted rose gold case adds a touch of luxury to your bathroom counter, makeup bag, or back pocket. This long wear lipstick feels weightless, too. I own it and wear it on rotation. And, while it’s lipstick that seems universally loved, it’s also on the pricey side. Not everyone wants to plonk down $38 for a lipstick they may wear occasionally. I don’t blame them. I was gifted mine from a PR firm. The good thing about covering beauty is you can road test lots of products. The bad thing is that your bathroom looks like a lab.
How I discovered my first Charlotte Tilbury dupe
Sometimes, I decide I need a certain shade of lipstick, eyeshadow, or liner. I get hyper-focused and spend too much time darting in and out of stores, stalking websites, and reading makeup forums looking for a particular shade. There was a time when I wanted the perfect nude lipstick. A lipstick shade like the nude lipstick Sandra Bullock seems to wear in all her films, yet a tad warmer. I have fair olive skin with red undertones, so finding a shade of anything neutral is hard. For me, many colors either run too warm or too cool. Until I understood what I needed in a foundation, it used to take me an hour (no exaggeration) to find one that matched my skin tone. I know I sound long-winded, but bear with me; there’s relevance here!
I’m looking for the perfect nude lippie, and then I find it. It’s L’Oreal Nu Intense 181 lipstick. Halloo, hurray and frabjous joy! Fast forward a few months later; I’m looking for lipstick for an outfit. I grab Pillow Talk and Nu Intense. I swatch them. I realize they’re dupes. I then pick up my Nars Afterglow Sensual Shine lipstick in Dolce Vita and swatch it. Yep, they’re triplets. I need to shop in my closet before I leave the house. But that’s another story for another day. And then. And then. I found more dupes!
Here are lipsticks that could be the iconic Pillow Talk’s twin for less.
Nars Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick in Dolce Vita $32
Nars’ lipstick price is close to Pillow Talk’s, but his is a hybrid lippie. A cross between a hydrating lip balm and lipstick. It’s lightweight and packs a lot of shine.
L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Les Nus Intense Lipstick, 191 Nu Intense $7.12 Walmart, or $7.12 Amazon
L’Oreal’s lipsticks smell faintly like roses. Once applied, the scent goes away. With one swipe on my lips, I have all day color. L’Oreal’s formula is moisturizing, and there’s a hint of shine.
Milani Color Fetish Matte Lipstick in Secret $10.99
The only bad thing one can say about Milani is that its products sell out quickly. They’ve achieved cult status. Between their price point and the quality of products, people have become obsessed with anything they make. Milani’s Color Fetish line is creamy, pigment-rich lipsticks that last day into night.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick The Lucious Mattes Untold Stories 011 Lipstick $10.49
This lipstick is a neutral nude pink hue. Revlon’s lippie hits the sweet spot between flat matte and too shiny. Available only online at Ulta Beauty.