Both Charlotte Tilbury and Pat McGrath Labs cater to the luxury makeup market, offering a wide range of products with a focus on quality and luxurious packaging. Charlotte Tilbury has a clear cruelty-free stance and generally positive user reviews, but some users find the performance underwhelming for the price. Pat McGrath Labs stands out for its highly pigmented eyeshadows and inclusive shade range, but its cruelty-free status is uncertain, and some users have reported issues with foundation wear time and irritation. The choice between the two depends on individual priorities, such as cruelty-free status, specific product preferences, and skin type.
| Attribute | Charlotte Tilbury | Pat McGrath Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Product Range | Foundations, lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, complexion boosters, setting sprays, Quick & Easy kits with cream eyeshadow wands, lip & cheek wands, and highlighter wands. | Foundations, lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, highlighters, mascaras, complexion boosters and setting sprays |
| Skin Tone Inclusivity | Shade range is fairly expansive, but more deep shades would be appreciated. Beautiful Skin Foundation comes in 30 shades. Airbrush Flawless Foundation has the largest shade range with the best spread of undertones and colors from dark to fair. | Wide range of shades, categorized by skin tone level and undertone |
| Pigmentation Quality | Lipsticks are incredibly pigmented. Eyeshadows are buttery, buildable, and pigmented. | Highly pigmented and vibrant eyeshadows; lipsticks deliver pure color in one swipe |
| Longevity and Wear Time | Airbrush Flawless Foundation is transfer-resistant, humidity, sweat, and waterproof. Beautiful Skin Foundation is a longwear foundation. Matte Revolution lipsticks are transfer-resistant and long-lasting, fading gracefully. Hollywood Lips in Screen Siren is very long-wearing. | Lipsticks claim up to 12-hour wear; some foundations are long-wearing, lasting for a solid 8 hours |
| Packaging Design and Luxury Appeal | Packaging aligns with the brand's luxury image. Every product is presented to reflect the brand's signature rose-gold elegance and glamour. Custom packaging enhances perceived value and brand loyalty. Packaging is designed to eliminate single-use plastics. | Artistic and luxurious packaging; foundation bottles have a retro, Art Deco design |
| Cruelty-Free Status | Leaping Bunny approved by Cruelty Free International. The brand has maintained a cruelty-free commitment since 2013. Does not test their products or ingredients on animals or ask others to test on their behalf. | Unclear; the brand states they don't test on animals, but there are uncertainties regarding animal testing practices by suppliers and third parties; no cruelty-free certification |
| Ingredient Quality | All products on the Charlotte Tilbury website have an ingredient tab. Some foundations contain dimethicone, which may clog pores or cause irritation for sensitive skin. The Magic Cream contains a combination of ingredients including bionymph peptide complex, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, rosehip and camellia oil, shea butter, aloe vera and frangipani flower extract. | Some products are paraben-free and fragrance-free; some products used to contain PFAS, but the brand is reformulating to remove them. Some foundations have alcohol in the formula, which may cause irritation for sensitive skin |
| Finish | Foundations offer matte, dewy, and shimmer finishes. Matte Revolution lipsticks have a soft matte formula. | Foundations offer natural, satin, or dewy finish; lipsticks come in matte and cream finishes; eyeshadows are available in matte, shimmer, metallic, and duochrome finishes |
| Ease of Application | Makeup is easy to apply. Quick & Easy kits are super easy-to-use and easy-to-apply. | Eyeshadows are known for their blendability; some foundations are easily spreadable and blend well with fingers or a sponge |
| Price Point | High price point | High price point |
| Specialty Products | Complexion boosters, setting sprays, and contour wands are available. | Complexion boosters and setting sprays |
| User Feedback (Pros) | Works well on oily and combination skin with primer and powder (Beautiful Skin Foundation), Lipsticks last through drinking and eating (Matte Revolution), Eyeshadows are easy to blend, Packaging is durable and travel-friendly, High-quality and easy to use | Ideal foundation for normal to dry skin, Natural look and hydrating feel of foundation for dry skin, Wide and inclusive shade range in foundations |
| User Feedback (Cons) | May not work well for dry-combination skin (Airbrush Flawless Foundation), Some users feel underwhelmed by the performance, Some foundations contain dimethicone and fragrance, which may be irritating if you are sensitive to either of those ingredients | Foundation breaks down and isn't long-wearing for some users with oily skin, Alcohol in formula may cause irritation for sensitive skin, Some foundations are sheerer than expected, Long-wear claims of some products don't hold up for all users |