Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Kissing Lipstick Review & Swatches

Of all Charlotte Tilbury makeup that I have my eyes on, the one item that stood out to me the most was actually the lipstick in shade Bitch Perfect. It is true when they said this is the perfect nude color for a variety of skin tones but what about the formula? Is it any good? I have the review for you!

Did you know that the full name of the lipstick line is actually Kissing Fallen From The Lipstick Tree? And before you go out looking for this tree, this is actually a “secret” ingredient that supposedly contains an antioxidant to protect your lips from harmful UV rays and help fight oxidative stress.

The Lipstick Tree originates from a tropical plant from America. The plump yet prickly red fruits appear like pouting lips that blow kisses at you as you walk by.

Kissing Fallen From The Lipstick Tree, hence the name! :D

Now, let’s move on to the beautiful packaging! The lipstick is housed in a glamorous rose gold ribbed casing. The brand’s initial “CT” is stamped on top of the lid and the full brand’s name “Charlotte Tilbury” is also present on the inner casing. The bullet doesn’t feel as heavy as I thought but at least I’m glad it isn’t a fingerprint magnet! :) The lipstick has a faint vanilla scent that vanishes very quickly upon application.

Online, Bitch Perfect may look like a nice pinky nude but in person, the true color actually has strong peachy-coral undertones. So depending on the lighting, you may see a pinky nude or peachy nude on your lips. It has lots and lots of shimmer, too, but it isn’t very noticeable once applied on the lips. The shimmer helps make my lips appear smooth and full which I really like. I absolutely love Bitch Perfect on me. It is pale but not enough to wash me out. It pairs well with a variety of makeup looks, be it everyday neutral or dramatic night out! :)

Bitch Perfect is pigment-heavy! Having a medium-to-full coverage, it almost covers my natural lip color in one pass. It becomes fully opaque just after a few applications. The finish it leaves is slightly glossy — not as glossy as a true lip gloss but definitely more glossy than most lipsticks.

Formula-wise, I’m a little hesitant to give it a perfect 10. It has a slight grainy feeling due to the high shimmer content. The texture is creamy but rather thick. In my experience, it doesn’t particularly “glide” on the lips. It doesn’t drag or anything but it doesn’t go on as smoothly as my other high-end lipsticks. It also highlights dry spots so I make sure to prep my lips to the most perfect condition they can be prior to application. It is not the most moisturizing lipstick out there but at least it doesn’t dry out my lips when the color wears off and only the shimmer is left behind.

It also has a very slight “waxy” and “heavy” feel in the first hour of wear but after that it feels just like another lightweight (but not weightless) lipstick. The grainy feeling will also eventually subside. Basically, you may not like the initial feeling of the lipstick when you first apply but it will become more and more comfortable on the lips as the day wears on.

What I can give a perfect 10 to, though, is the staying power! Bitch Perfect lasts really well on my lips! I am able to wear it for up to 4 hours with very minimal fading — and this is just over a lip balm, not lip liner/primer. Quite impressive for a nude color! When the color finally starts to fade, it fades softly and evenly, no patchiness in sight. I suppose it isn’t so bad that the formula isn’t the most moisturizing. If it means I’ll get a better staying power out of it, I can certainly live with! :)

So, how do you like Bitch Perfect? (I feel funny every time saying the name out loud, haha.) Do you think it’s too pale? Too peachy? Do you see yourself wearing it? Do you see yourself telling people what you’re wearing on your lips? ;D

Extra: For review and swatches of Penelope Pink and So Marilyn, click here!

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