Simone Gannon’s verdict on Charlotte Tilbury’s new stick foundation

When I think of summer skin, I think of light, weightless bases that take seconds to apply and leave the skin looking healthy and radiant. Stick foundations rarely come to mind in this context, but interestingly, Charlotte Tilbury has just launched one in time for summer.

My feelings about stick foundations are mostly confined to my Max Factor Pan Stik era, as I like to call it, and the hours spent painting (or caking?) them on to my face, eliciting unforgettable hues of orange. “Cringe” as my son would say.

There was a distinct smell from Pan Stik if you remember, and an even more distinct feeling on the skin – a heavy combination of stickiness and powder that left delightful streaks if not blended properly. And realistically, who was blending back then? Not me, anyway. I’m not sure I even knew what the word “blending” meant.

You can imagine my reaction to the news that the queen of glow was releasing a foundation stick. Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick (€47 from Arnotts and available in 20 shades) is described by the brand as the “ultimate no-foundation foundation, offering blurring, smoothing, sheer-to-light, buildable coverage, and … a ring light effect”. Having used it for several weeks at the time of writing this piece, I’m here to report that Charlotte Tilbury has, perhaps for the first time, undersold a product.

Why? Well, the glow from this foundation is nothing short of obnoxious – it’s blinding, in fact. Imagine applying highlighter all over your face, and said highlighter happens to have a hint of coverage. I don’t think “ring light effect” entirely cuts it.

It’s unlike any foundation stick I’ve ever used – smooth, feather-light, barely there, with no discernible scent, yet extremely luminous. A quick glance at the ingredients list tells me why: hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and pearlescent filters abound. Application is quick and effortless; you can swipe the stick across your skin in seconds, and it blends brilliantly with fingers or a make-up brush. My favourite tool of choice, however, is a blending sponge.

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The finish and feel on the skin remind me of one of Tilbury’s other glow-giving products, Flawless Filter – a product that delivers a little bit of evening-out and an awful lot of glow. I’m inclined to think that Unreal Skin is, in fact, the foundation iteration of the former, something consumers have been asking for many years, myself included.

Although its obtrusive glow may not suit everyone, especially those with oily skin, those who embrace a (very) radiant finish will love Unreal Skin. Personally, I’m obsessed with it. Light bulb skin is what I strive to achieve on a daily basis, and this product delivers it in spades.

My only complaint is the price, €47 seems quite steep for a foundation stick, especially one with lightweight packaging such as this. That said, the price seems relatively on par for foundations at the moment. It’s a lovely product and will probably sell out in record time, as many of Tilbury’s offerings do.

This week I’m loving … Bahama Skin Glow Sun Stick SPF50

A great product for teens and preteens this summer, and indeed anyone who likes a quick, efficient solution to reapplying sunscreen: Bahama Skin Glow Sun Stick SPF50 (€19.95 from cloud10beauty.com). This solid gel-balm sunscreen stick can be swiped across the skin without stickiness or fuss. It’s completely transparent and leaves no residue on the skin. The compact size makes it perfect for travel, too.

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