For many women, stepping into womanhood involves a shift in their beauty routines, moving from the playful application of lip balm to embracing the sophistication of high-quality makeup. A Charlotte Tilbury product epitomizes this transition, offering a sense of elegance and maturity.

As someone who owns about 20 eyeshadow palettes, I’ve found myself repeatedly reaching for my Charlotte Tilbury palette (I’ll gate keep the name for now). Unlike any other, this palette is used and abused until the last specks of powder are gone, highlighting its effortless quality and my unwavering dedication to it.

Charlotte Tilbury, MBE, is a titan in the beauty industry, celebrated for her transformative makeup and skincare products that have revolutionized the way we perceive beauty. As the President, Chairman, Chief Creative Officer, and Founder of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, she has paved the way for women entrepreneurs, making high-glamour accessible to everyone.

From her early days working on film sets to creating iconic products beloved by celebrities and everyday beauty enthusiasts alike, Charlotte has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. Today, we delve into the details of her latest creation, “Unreal Skin,” exploring the inspirations, technologies, and philosophies behind it — plus, we further explored a conversation about her indomitable journey and beauty values so far.

Beyond technological advancements, what personal experiences or inspirations led you to create the “Unreal Skin” concept?

Darling, three inspirations led to the creation of Unreal Skin. Firstly, I wanted something that transforms you from drab to fab, from tired-looking to just-got-back-from-a-spa. It needed to cater to the needs of my friends, family, celebrities, and customers who want a foundation that feels and looks invisible while giving them a glow-up!

Secondly, I aimed to create something for our time-poor world. We are all living in Generation Exhaustion, so it had to be speedy and easy to use, delivering an amazing aesthetic payoff with skincare benefits both instantly and over time. It’s for everyone who has no time but wants effortless makeup that can be applied in seconds, even in the wing mirror of a car.

Thirdly, it all comes back to light. I’ve always been obsessed with light, from working on film sets to red carpets, and I’ve bottled those lighting secrets to give everyone that Hollywood glow. For Unreal, I focused on how ring lights blur, smooth, and revive, creating a product that offers a soft-focus glow effect of a ring light, bottled! It gives weightless, dewy coverage, instantly illuminating your skin with a natural, spa-fresh glow while strengthening and supporting your skin barrier.

You describe Unreal Skin as a “no-foundation foundation.” Can you elaborate on the target audience for this product and how it fits within your existing foundation portfolio?

Darlings, it’s for everyone everywhere. There was a big gap in the market for my friends, family, celebrities, and customers who want a no-foundation foundation look. It’s perfect for my niece Bella and her clean-girl aesthetic, for friends who never wear foundation but need some blurring and smoothing, and for working mums who want out-the-door makeup in seconds.

Unreal Skin is for mature women who want lifting, smoothing, and blurring with instant results, no matter their age. It’s so easy to use you can apply it in the dark. It’s the ultimate second skin finish for a smooth, snatched glow. It hydrates for 24 hours, is non-comedogenic, and ensures no pore clogging or breakouts. Celebrities loved it so much they named it “Unreal!” because of its incredible effects.

It fits perfectly into my complexion wardrobe, complementing my iconic Hollywood Flawless Filter, Beautiful Skin Foundation, and Airbrush Flawless Foundation. There’s a glow for every mood, look, and moment!

The press release mentions a “Light Mapping Mesh Tech™.” Can you delve deeper into the science behind this technology and how it achieves the “ring light effect”?

Darlings, Light Mapping Mesh Tech™ is a unique innovation. It’s a blend of soft-focus, blurring, smoothing emollients, combined with a special glow moisture mesh formed from multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Using three different weights of hyaluronic acid, it provides instant and long-term results.

Larger molecules form a hydrating layer on the skin’s surface, preventing water loss and protecting from pollution. Medium molecules penetrate the skin, binding to water, keeping it plump and smooth. Smaller molecules reach deeper, targeting the source of wrinkles, binding with water, and plumping up fine lines.

These are combined with light-mapping, micro-fine smoothing diffusers that cut shadows, lift sagginess, and scatter light evenly, giving a natural, healthy glow. The skin barrier defense matrix locks in hydration for 24 hours, and plant-powered Collageneer™ reconstructs the skin over time, adding firmness and elasticity.

Your brand champions inclusivity and caters to a wide range of skin tones. How does the Unreal Skin line further this commitment?

Inclusivity is at the heart of Charlotte Tilbury. Unreal Skin is available in 20 buildable, skin-morphing shades that adapt and blend seamlessly with all skin tones. You can apply it all over to instantly correct, smooth, blur, illuminate, and unify your complexion. Go one shade lighter to brighten or one shade deeper to ‘glow sculpt’ and define for a supermodel snatched effect.

You’ve built a beauty empire based on empowerment and confidence. How do you translate these values into the development of your products and the overall brand experience?

Throughout my 30-year career, I’ve seen the transformative power of beauty. I realized there was a gap for products that make it easy for everyone to look and feel their best, especially for red carpet looks. Everything I create is designed to help people feel like the best, most beautiful, confident version of themselves.

From the Pillow Talk collection to Airbrush Flawless complexion products, I use my career knowledge to demystify Hollywood beauty secrets and democratize makeup, skincare, and fragrance.

Technology plays a big role in your approach to beauty, with tools like the “Easy Beauty for You” app. What excites you most about the future of beauty tech and its potential impact on the industry?

Since launching Easy Beauty for You, we’ve had over a million downloads. I strive to be at the forefront of technology, supporting our community with video tutorials and pro-tech tools like the pro skin analysis and shade match tools. Tech and innovation are part of our DNA, and we will always keep innovating and disrupting.

Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of achieving in the beauty industry?

Darling, I’ve had many magical moments! This year, my brand became an official partner of F1 Academy™, supporting female drivers in motor racing, a sport with only 5% female participation. It’s a huge achievement for inclusion and diversity in sports.

I also fulfilled a lifelong dream by launching my Fragrance Collection of Emotions, using science and technology to create fragrances that boost moods and resonate with everyone. These scents are your invisible superpowers!

Who are some of your personal beauty icons, and how have they inspired you?

My incredible mother, Patsy, is my ultimate beauty muse and icon! She inspires me every day with her fabulous beauty tips and tricks. I remember being mesmerized by her morning and evening beauty rituals. She always says, “Red lipstick is instant glamour – just wake up and wear it!”

What advice would you give to aspiring makeup artists and beauty entrepreneurs who dream of building their own legacy?

Work on your dream, self-belief, and positive thinking. It’s about the power of positive visualization: “dare to dream it, dare to believe it, dare to do it.” You can make up your destiny and achieve anything you set your mind to.

A beauty editor once left me a note saying, “Knock it to them, Charlotte, I know you’ll be a star!” It encouraged me to keep following my dream and believe in myself. I put a hand-drawn star on all my brand packaging as a reminder. Every step has taught me lessons in creating perfect products. I hope my story inspires strength, determination, and the pursuit of excellence among young disruptors and innovators.

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