Charlotte Tilbury has recently released a new foundation called Magic Foundation which I plan on buying very soon! But for now, let’s take a look at her other foundation that I’ve been using on and off for a while called Light Wonder Youth-Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation. It has a much lighter coverage in comparison to the Magic Foundation so for anyone who’s not much into heavy coverage and prefers something light and skin-like instead, this one might be worth a look!
Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Youth-Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation comes in a plastic squeeze tube with a small nozzle dispenser where you can dispense the desired amount easily. I like that the tube is slightly flattened and stands upright making it easier to store/travel with. It is a water-based foundation so you will need to give the tube a good shake to properly homogenize the contents before use. There’s a light floral scent that I find very pleasant but it’s only noticeable in the first few minutes of application.
Main ingredients:
• A botanical alternative to retinol to stimulate collagen production and delay the onset of wrinkles
• Ceramides to hydrate and soften skin
• Titanium Dioxide (Nano) to provide protection against harmful sun rays
The formula is oil-free and suitable for dry, normal, and combination skin types.
It wasn’t mentioned on the box about the SPF but from my research it seems to have SPF 15. A little low and not enough protection in my opinion. I would not rely on it as a sole source of sunscreen and would always apply my daily sunscreen underneath.
Texture-wise, as you can see in the photo above, it’s quite fluid-y! I wouldn’t say watery but definitely less viscous than most foundation and less liquid-y than say MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation or Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15 (review). I simply love the texture; it’s extremely lightweight and blendable on the skin. Its thinner consistency spreads so well and doesn’t take much time and effort at all to achieve a nice and flawless finish while still allowing your natural skin’s lustre to peek through. I can use a foundation brush, a damp Beautyblender, or fingers to apply but my preferred method is fingers followed by a Beautyblender using a press and roll motion for the most flawless, smoothest, and skin-like finish.
Speaking of finish, this one does leave a dewy appearance with a youthful, healthy glow just as promised! It’s the kind that enhances the natural glow of the skin without adding any obvious shimmer. You can tell from the feel of it that this is a very moisturizing formula and that’s why it’s ideal for people with dry, normal, or slightly combination skin. It perks up dull complexion beautifully! Those whose skin is oily may want to skip it or your face might turn a little too glowy (and borderline shiny!).
My skin is combination-oily so I like to set with powder as a finishing step to tone down the luminous glow just a notch. The color I have is 5 Medium which blends seamlessly with my MAC NC30 skin with yellow undertones. The color does not oxidize on me during the day and I’m very happy for that!
In my arm swatches below, you can see how thin and fluid-y the texture is:
The coverage is sheer but buildable to medium. It doesn’t really get to full, though. Any obvious blemishes or scars will need a separate concealer. It does cover minor imperfections such as redness, dryness, and pores but I don’t see any noticeable difference in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I love, love, love how it never clings on to dry patches on my skin! (I have a lot of those on my cheeks.) The SPF does not seem to create a flash back so it’s flash photography-friendly! My face overall looks more even toned with a lovely luminous subtle glow. :)
While it wears comfortably throughout the day, the wear time is actually shorter than I expected. By lunch time I need to blot. By the end of day the formula starts to break down around my nose and my pores become noticeable again. So with this foundation, I always use it in combination with a pore-minimizing primer and mattifying primer. :)
All in all, Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Youth-Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation is a lightweight, water-based foundation with SPF that helps even out minor discoloration and smooth out complexion while providing a nice, healthy luminous glow to the skin. The moisturizing formula keeps skin hydrated and plump throughout wear. It is a foundation that doesn’t look or feel like a foundation and for that, I am in love with it. Even though I have combination-oily skin, I still find it a good base to use on a light makeup day. As long as I use it in combination with a mattifying primer and set with a powder, I don’t find it to be too moisturizing or glowy at all. :) Another success for Charlotte Tilbury. Now I can’t wait to try the Magic Foundation! If you’ve tried it, please share your thoughts! :)
Purchase
US$45 at Nordstrom ○ Charlotte Tilbury ○ Amazon
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I tried this foundation before too and I found that it only works well when used with the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Primer. I tried both of those separately and I got the same results as you – super blotty and broken down by mid day. With Wonderglow, though, I get this amazing result that lasts all day, and also looks extremely smooth and glowy. Even better if I use with the Magic Cream to start. Seems like CTilbury products work better in conjunction together, which is such a good selling point! (but sucks for buyers like us haha)
I have yet to try the other two products you mentioned! Hopefully that will change soon. Good to know they help extend the wear time of the foundation! :)
Hmmm, I wonder if it would stick around better on dry skin. I’m glad to hear a mostly positive review from you, however. I’ve heard mixed things about this. I know I’d probably like it as I prefer sheer to medium coverage even with my skin issues. The worry for me is if there is a fair enough shade and that the undertone would be good. Think NARS Siberia in lightness but with a peachier/pinker/beige but not full on pink undertone seems to suit me best all over even though a yellow foundation like Siberia is better for my cheeks. I’ve actually been doing the thinnest skin layer of Siberia under certain foundations to help disguise redness and lighten them up/highlight a bit without sparkle.
I wish we had a CT counter so I could get a make over, though I have a feeling I’d leave the counter $500 in the hole!
I’m kinda glad in a way that Charlotte Tilbury is not accessible in Thailand! Otherwise I’d be in big trouble! :D That’s a good idea to layer different foundations with different undertones! I will have to try your trick! Thanks, Erin!
I haven’t tried any base products from Charlotte Tilbury line, but, I whatever products have tried (eye shadows and lipsticks) I totally love them. You can feel her experience in the products! I am still researching online for my exact shade match so that I can try her base products. I am really intimidated by her airbrush powder.. which I am gonna try soon :-)
AND those pictures where foundation is squeezing out of the tube…….. my jaw literally dropped:-D
Haha, thanks, Eesha! I’ll have to do some research on her airbrush powder then! :) Have you tried it yet?
I haven’t been to impressed by what I read about CT foundations so far, and this one is no exception. I don’t think it is a bad product, don’t get me wrong, I just think it isn’t suited for me and my needs.
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
I’m not losing hope, though. Maybe her Magic Foundation will be better! ;)
Ooh! You have this foundation – how exciting!! There are a few new foundations I’d like to try, but since I know I won’t be buying any of them, I don’t even bother sampling. I still have a few full sized bottles which I haven’t really used yet, and it’s ridiculous for me to buy more. Still, the chase for that perfect foundation is neverending – even though I have a few I absolutely love.
I wonder if there’ll ever be one! The perfect foundation! I don’t think I’ve come across one yet either but yeah, there are some of them that I absolutely love. :)
Thanks for your wonderful review – and I love the pictures!!! I may just buy this from your pictures alone! It sounds a bit like a bb based on the finish, but it looks like it gives decent coverage for casual wear. Lovely!
Aww thanks, Linda! :D It does have a BB cream feel. Not heavy, not full coverage, but still some coverage to even out the skin. :)
Hi! I really love the foundation but I also do find that it doesn’t have much staying / setting power. I’m thinking of using a mattafiying oil control primer before putting this on to help it stay on t zone. Do you have any recommendations that work well? I know you can mix water and silicone based primers and foundations so I was thinking perhaps becca ever matte?