Chances are, you’ve seen the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter pop up on your TikTok For You page or Instagram feed at least once over the course of the past year. When I first came across the product, in 2020 during the height of the pandemic—I’m talking the whipped-coffee, banana-bread-baking era—I was instantly intrigued by the product’s alleged ability to simultaneously smooth, blur, and illuminate skin.
As a writer who’s tried and tested dozens of products that make equally as bold claims, I’ve learned not to get my hopes up too much. Still, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. Was it really as good as everyone and their mother says? If this question keeps you up at night too, I’ve got some good news: It’s as good as everyone says. If anything, it exceeded my expectations—and I can’t wait to upgrade to the full-size bottle as soon as I finish up my miniature one. And, at the rate I’m using it, that’ll happen sooner rather than later.
The Flawless Filter is a lightweight liquid formula that leaves skin with a dewy glow without any shimmer or sparkle. The product, which features ultra-fine powders that help blur pores and smooth skin, can be worn either alone as a primer or layered over your usual makeup as a highlighter to accent your cheekbones, brow bones, Cupid’s bow, and tip of the nose.
Premakeup lookCourtesy of subject
After cleansing and moisturizing my face, I went in with Flawless Filter in Shade 3 Light/Medium. I applied dots all over my face with the doe-foot applicator before using my favorite makeup brush for streak-free blending and to create a light, even layer of product. You can also use a damp makeup sponge if that’s your preference.
Immediately after blending in the product, I was surprised and impressed with how radiant my normally dull skin looked in the mirror, not to mention how small my large pores appeared. While the coverage was sheer, I still looked and felt more awake—and I finally had a smooth canvas for applying the rest of my makeup.
