Pillow Talk Push Up: This Charlotte Tilbury Mascara Wand Is Tricky

Despite it’s rave reviews, Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! is not my favorite mascara.

Charlotte Tilbury says Pillow Talk is not just a color, but a “beautifying world.” There’s an entire collection of Pillow Talk products outside of the iconic lip color, from eyeshadow to highlighter and even mascara. Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! is the formal name of the mascara, proving to be an award winning formula that gives a false lash effect, without even the need for a lash curler. I mean, that sounds amazing! And, I do love several other pieces of the Pillow Talk franchise (Lip Cheat Liner is one of my faves) so this one should be a no brainer love for me. Except, it wasn’t. This mascara fell flat in many ways, from the brush to the wear. Let me explain.

Promises vs. Performance: Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! has so many claims. Will it make them all?

Expect 24 hours of vertical lift, volume, length, and stretch with Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara. This award winning formula promises a “false lash effect in a wand,” largely in part to the innovative brush. It is a flat, pro precision paddle brush with “load, comb, & lift” technology, which has diamond shaped bristles on each side of the brush. The formula contains what Charlotte Tilbury calls “Push Up Lash-Lifting Polymer,” derived from the larch tree, which helps lashes lift and hold, essentially working like a lash curler would. It features carnauba wax to add body and texture while still having a weightless feel. And, Kerestore 2.0 Keratin is infused to condition lashes and give a thicker look and feel. Finally, this Charlotte Tilbury mascara promises a smudge proof, humidity proof wear.

To be honest, I put this mascara to the side for a while after first trying it. I did not like the formula and felt like it did nothing for my lashes. Though, I do prefer a drier mascara formula and this is a wetter formula. So, once it sat in my collection for bit and had time to dry up a bit, I decided to give it another go. I will say, this did help with how I liked the formula and application. It gave me natural, wispy lashes and subtle volume at the root. But, I’m still not a fan of the brush. It’s a flat paddle brush with bristles only on the sides and I find it a bit tricky to use.

How does it wear?

Charlotte Tilbury claims a smudge proof wear that is heat and humidity resistant, but I don’t experience that. I get a lot of transfer to my under eye area throughout the day that I need to pat and gently wipe away. This definitely isn’t a mascara to wear on a day you need your makeup to last with no touch-ups.

Quick RATING Rundown:

This Product

(3.7)

:Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara

Price: $29.00

0.33 oz

Value

(4.1)

Application

(3.5)

Volume, Length, Curl, Define

(3.7)

Longevity

(3)

Extra Benefits

(4)

Industry Standard

(3.8)

:LE VOLUME DE CHANEL

Price: $35.00

0.21 oz

Value

(2)

Application

(4.7)

Volume, Length, Curl, Define

(4.8)

Longevity

(4.4)

Extra Benefits

(3)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

How It Compares: There’s so many better mascaras out there.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! falls short in many ways. First, the wand. This wand is a flat paddle shape with bristles just on the sides. I find it is tricky to use and definitely has a learning curve. Second, the wear. This mascara transfers under my eyes no matter if I set my under eyes or not. I find myself having to rub away mascara smudges throughout the day. Finally, it’s lackluster in terms of volume, length, and definition. It gives a pretty natural, wispy lash, which I don’t mind, but the claims scream bold volume and length, which is not what this mascara gave me.

This is better.

Now, let’s chat about a mascara that always outperforms itself: Lancome Lash Idole (rated at **** 4.4). One of my holy grail mascaras, it volumizes, lengthens, separates, and defines lashes with a truly smudge poof wear. I can wear this mascara all day long and not have to worry about it transferring, flaking, or smudging. The formula doesn’t clump, and I like it right out of the packaging just the way it is.

Chanel makes a great luxury formula, Le Volume De Chanel (rated at ****3.8). It lengthens, volumizes, and defines for a false lash effect. The formula has minimal smudging and transfer or flaking for a wear that keeps lashes full and fluffed all day long. The only drawback of this mascara is the amount of product for the price in the tube, otherwise this would be a ****4.5+ mascara.

Truly, you can’t go wrong with Lancome Lash Idole or Chanel Le Volume. I like both of these mascaras for different effects. For everyday wear that I can count on, I reach for Lash Idole. For that bold, false lash effect, I reach for Le Volume.

Milabu Beauty Method: Here’s how to apply this Charlotte Tilbury mascara.

Give yourself a bit of grace with this one as it isn’t the most intuitive mascara to apply.

1. Even though Charlotte Tilbury says there’s no need for a lash curler, I would recommend curling your lashes if they have a tendency to fall flat. One of my favorite curlers is this one from Kevyn Aucoin ($21).
2. Start by holding the wand horizontally. Using the flat side, push upwards and coat the lashes from root to tip.
3. Now, begin twisting the wand and comb through the lashes with the bristles to lift and coat each individual lash. Again, work from root to tip.
4. Wiggle the wand from side to side separate, lift, and define lashes. Keep working from root to tip.
5. To get those pesky inner corner lashes, use the tip of the wand to paint each lash individually.
6. For bottom lashes, turn the brush vertically and coat each lash individually.

Tip: For extra drama, Charlotte Tilbury says Pillow Talk Push Up can be layered.