Yo, if my pillow could talk, it would probably tell a sordid tale of insomnia and drool, ha ha ha! That’s not nearly as sexy as Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Pillow Talk Lipstick ($34) and Lip Cheat Lip Liner ($22), I know, but such is the life of a sleep-challenged lady. ?♀️
Chances are you’ve heard about Pillow Talk, the nude-pink lipstick and lip liner famous for flattering so many different skin tones, and bumping and plumping lips to bodacious, billowing proportions.
It’s a pricey combo…but if two lip products can get me some juicy Angelina Jolie lips without any needles or pain, sign me up!
Just to be clear, neither the lipstick nor the lip liner are technically lip plumping products. When used alone or together, both are supposed to make your lips look bigger. How? By combining a smoother-than-smooth semi-matte finish and a universally flattering pinkish-brown nude color.
Whenever a brand calls something “universal flattering”, I think it’s always a good thing to temper your expectations, because let’s face it — one woman’s lip ecstasy is another’s agony.
I’m a MAC NC42, and my lips are fairly pigmented, and on me, both the Pillow Talk lipstick and liner are pinkish brown with a little bit of beige. It skews a little warm, but not so warm that it appears yellow-based. I definitely get a nude vibe, and I like the color, which is like a blend of MAC Velvet Teddy and MAC Half ‘N’ Half.
The lipstick also smells and tastes very similar to MAC’s signature vanilla (the liner has no flavor or scent), and now that I think about it…when I’m wearing both the lipstick and the liner, the combo feels and looks very much like a mashup between a MAC Cremesheen and a MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick. It has the same light and feathery texture, along with a similar hazy, semi-matte finish. Very, very pretty and very comfortable.
Charlotte does take it to the next level, though, because the way both products glide across my skin is absolutely superior. They’re so, so smooth. No skipping, no dragging, no sort of hesitation when you run the tube or the pencil across your lips. And my lips, after the first application, look extremely smooth.
Pillow-y and plump? Not so much, but definitely smoother. And this effect lasts a while. I’m talking four or five hours. But at the tail end of it, my vertical lip lines look more pronounced than I’d like… It’s not like my lips look like a sad prune waiting to be chucked into the garbage, but they do look a little dry.
I’ll finish both the liner and lippie eventually because the color is totally my thing, but I don’t know if I’d freak out like I do when I’m about to finish a MAC Velvet Teddy. While the Pillow Talk lipstick/liner combo is noticeably smoother, I think Velvet Teddy’s similar enough, and if I were chatting with a stranger on the street about lipstick (as one does, LOL!), I’d suggest that they try Pillow Talk once, but I’d also recommend that they give MAC Teddy a go, since it’s a little more affordable ($18.50).
For about the same price as the Pillow Talk lipstick/liner combo, you could also buy three tubes of Velvet Teddy — one to keep at home, one to keep in your purse, and one to perhaps keep as an extra in case one of the others falls in the toilet…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
If you like this combo, I am sure to as well, since we both love Half ‘N’Half and Velvet Teddy. I might have a hard time justifying the price though when Teddy is so dang good!
Hi Tina,
Velvet Teddy is SO good. Seriously it is one of those shades that I can wear with everything. Love it so much!
I’ll take a MAC lipstick over CT any day. Half the price, more comfortable wear. At least for me. I was B’dales in SF and tried Pillow Talk, liked it enough that I bought it on the spot. But after walking around The City for four or five hours my lips were so dry I couldn’t stand it. I returned that lipstick pronto without ever opening the box. Of course, YMMV.
Hi Tatiana,
I do love me some MAC. You know what I rediscovered today? Modesty Cremesheen. Do you have that one? It’s such a pretty nude-pink.
Happy Friday to you and have a great weekend.
You’re the second person to say they like Modesty in recent days. I can’t recall if I’ve ever worn it. Need to go check it out. How’s the new girl kitty settling in?
She’s sitting on my windowsill right now enjoying some sunshine and checking out the birds. 🙂
During the day, she hangs out with me in my office; she also follows me all around the house now, too (I guess she feels she needs to supervise? Or she’s a nosy busybody, LOL!).
Her personality is so different from Tabs, which I think is a good thing. She’s skittish and shy, so it takes her longer to warm up to people (Tabs was such a confident thug that he’d love up on anyone who walked through the door instantly). She’s similar to him, though, in that she’s affectionate, loving and interested in what the humans around her are doing.
It’s nice to have a kitty companion in the house again. 🙂 Thank you for asking about her.
Maybe she follows you around because she feels like she needs so security right now. You know how with little kids if they can’t see you they think you’ve disappeared or are gone. When Dear Husband and I first got married we got a black cat from SF SPCA and named her Calcutta. She would follow me around the house. Sat under my desk while I worked. Claimed the rocking chair just off the kitchen as hers, just to keep an eye on me while I made dinner. Slept on my side of the bed at night. Peed on the down comforter (after we got home) when we had the audacity to go away for two days and left her with someone else. Lol.
Girl cats are definitely different creatures than boy cats.
Modesty is a gorgeous shade!
You look beautiful in that shade! Well, you always look beautiful. I got a sample of that CT lip and I look dead wearing that color. So much for universal. My skin is medium neutral. I need something leaning a little more pink.
Have a fun weekend!
Hi Lily,
Thank you so much. 🙂 If you need something a little more pink, how about MAC Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick?
Thanks for the rec Karen!
You’re welcome. I hope you give it a go, it’s a gorgeous color.
Happy Saturday to you!
Thank you for doing a post on this. I haven’t tried any Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks that I can remember, that is. But I’m incessantly hearing about the wonders of Pillow Talk so it’s been on my list of things to try.
Also, I’m having an extra yay in my Friday because I’ve discovered my dream foundation: Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation in N2.
Adore it, skin looks great, a bit on the dry side but great.
I’m totally with you on the Dior Backstage love, Jennifer! So amazing. If you haven’t tried the primer with it, the combination of the two looks fantastic and stays on for-ev-er. (Even in the deepest, most hideous depths of a Florida summer.) I’ve been having success with The Ordinary’s moisturizer, which is under $8.
Oooh thanks for the tip! I have a sample of the primer. I’ll stop procrastinating and try it. However I can’t believe how long lasting the foundation is alone. I’m using a Belief moisturizer right now. I tried the Ordinary’s dupe for Good Genes and wasn’t impressed so I haven’t used anything else from that line yet.
Hi Jennifer and Suzanne,
I always love hearing when people find their holy grails, especially with foundation (which can be super tricky). Gotta give that one a go ASAP! Is it much like MAC Face & Body?
I love love her lip cheat lipliners in Pillow Talk and Pink Venus. Unfortunately i look blah in the Pillow Talk lipstick (I love the texture though) it seems to look grayish on me idk why. The Dutchess and Amazing Grace I use with the liners, they’re more pink nude on me. My lips do look much fuller with them.
Hi Diana,
I’ve heard that it can look gray on some people. How interesting! Might be the brown tones? Anyway, I’ll have to check out those liners, because I really liked the “glide” on the Lip Cheat.
The lip cheat in Iconic nude would look great on you too I bet. I think it’s a slightly darker pillow talk.
Love this review – I look terrible in Velvet Teddy-like colors so I’ll probably pass but it looks great on you!
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you. 🙂 Bummed to hear Velvet Teddy doesn’t work on ya… Does it pull too brown?
Happy Friday and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I have both Pillowtalk products and sadly, I’m not crazy about the lipstick formula. The lipliner is awesome BUT I found a dead on DUPE. The NYX Suede lipliners are the same exact consistency. Both dry down and don’t budge. My favorite color is Soft Spoken.
Hi Nadia,
Awesome, thanks for the budget recommendation!
Hi Karen 🙂
I totally agree with you, the lipstick is so similar to Mac Velvet Teddy, I actually think that Mac is better than pillow talk. For me the color does NOT show as pink or any undertone of pink is brown nude and for that reason I prefer Mac one plus the price is so much better , you practically get two Mac lipstick for the price of one Charlotte’s
Liner is good too but I found one from Essence for $5.00 here in Canada that is pretty much the same as pillow talk liner
Hope you have a great weekend
XO’s
Hi Bebe,
MAC Velvet Teddy is so great. I seriously always have a few tubes around. 🙂
Happy Saturday to you!
I was tempted to buy CT in Chicago when I was finally able to experience a CT display at a Sephora but then I realized how nothing special her colors were and how horribly cheap and clunky her packaging was! It’s not lux imo and for $34 I expected better. I already have what she offers from MAC and I love my MAC so I put down the CT and walked away. No regrets?
I’m not sure, it’s been many moons since I’ve used the MAC.
I like the texture of the liner, but the color does look a little off on me, so I won´t go crazy once I am done with mine either,
I’m in the market for something to help my lips look bigger so I’ll have to give this a try (MAC Velvet Teddy is already on my list). In general, nudes don’t look very good on me but maybe it’s just about finding the right shade. I’ve been hitting the Black Honey lately. I know, it’s shocking. 😉
I saw your note above about Rosie and I’m glad it’s going well. I think she’ll learn quickly that you don’t need to be micromanaged. HAHA! It’s great that she’s settling in and wants to be around you, though.