WHEN it comes to the world of make-up, few products are quite as iconic as Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick.
With celebrity fans such as Nicole Kidman and Kate Moss – who purportedly uses the lipstick on a daily basis – the matte lipstick is considered by many to be the perfect pinky nude hue.
And while it’s not hard to see why Pillow Talk has become a cult favourite, many people admit they can’t warrant spending £29 on just one lipstick.
As such, more and more make-up companies are releasing their own budget dupes of the lipstick, hoping to emulate the success of the original.
But can they really hold a candle to the original?
I tested five budget high street dupes to see whether any of them are worth buying, or if it’s better to save up your pennies to buy the original itself.
Matte Revolution lipstick in Pillow Talk, Charlotte Tilbury, £29
There’s a reason one of these lipsticks sells every four seconds.
Despite being a matte consistency, it’s smooth silky when it slides on – not drying like a lot of other matte lipsticks.
I’ve got quite a fair complexion, and while Charlotte recently bought out a lighter Pillow Talk shade for lighter skin, and a darker one for darker, I wanted to compare the dupes to the original.
I also don’t think the original Pillow Talk is too dark for me.
But can any of the dupes live up to it?
Verdict: There’s a reason it’s the original, 5 out of 5
No7 Matte Muse lipstick in Rose Couture, Boots, £11.21
A budget option from Boots’ No7 is their Matte Muse lipstick in Rose Couture.
While the swatch showed the hue was more pink than the original, on the lips it had more of an orange finish.
Consistency wise, it’s much the same – a silky feel when it’s applied, but matte once on.
And it lasted well too, a full 5 hours, and even through eating lunch and having a cuppa.
Verdict: A close match, and silky smooth to apply, 4 out of 5
Top beauty trends for 2025
Hayley Walker, Beauty Expert at Justmylook spoke exclusively to Fabulous about the big beauty trends for 2025.
Haircare
Hair gloss treatments are a must-have as beauty enthusiasts love the salon-quality shine and enhanced colour delivered by the trending treatment.
Hair glosses are multifunctional as they nourish the hair while offering a vibrant, healthy-looking finish, combining 2025’s core trends. This treatment is perfect for those seeking an affordable, at-home glow-up.
2025 will focus on skin repairing and texture-enhancing treatments.
Skincare
Rejuran treatment, a celebrity-endorsed procedure, will see a rise in demand this year as many seek to enhance the skin’s appearance. The procedure entails injecting polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA to enhance skin texture and elasticity. “Rejuvenation is expected to dominate 2025 skincare trends as many seek to a achieve flawless, youthful complexion.
Skincare routines will also include back-to-basic products for a simplified routine.
Ginseng cleansing oil and panthenol cream are among the trending products for 2025. The cleansing oil is excellent for dissolving makeup and impurities without clogging pores and is enriched with nourishing properties to leave the skin feeling and looking refreshed and radiant.
Makeup
Makeup trends will follow suit to achieve youthful and radiant looks. Under-eye brighteners will be sought-after products for delivering coverage while enhancing natural radiance. This beauty tool will complement natural beauty while improving and brightening dull skin.
Makeup looks will be bigger and bolder in 2025 with cluster lashes expected to surge this year. These lashes bring the glam to glamorous looks as they deliver dramatic volume to enhance everyday or special occasion looks.
Peel-off lip stains circulated the beauty industry in 2024 and are expected to dominate in 2025. The growing popularity of this product is due to its ability to provide long-lasting, transfer-proof colour to lips, enhancing a natural aesthetic. Additionally, cherry-coded aesthetics are expected to be everywhere this year as the deep, rich hue can be achieved using peel-off lip stains or bold lip looks for a dramatic effect.
Nails
2025 will be another year of countless, show-stopping nail trends. Goddess Nails and Aura Nails deserve an honourable mention as these designs channel an ethereal, celestial aesthetic for bold, self-expressing nails.
L’Oreal Color Riche satin lipstick in 520, Boots, £9.99
If you search for “budget Pillow Talk dupes”, this L’Oreal lipstick is one of the ones that people suggest.
But I wasn’t too impressed with it.
While it’s a pretty shade on its own, it’s far too dark to be considered a copy of Charlotte’s.
It was also a bit too silky for my liking, meaning that longevity wise, it left a lot to be desired.
Verdict:Far too dark to be comparable to Pillow Talk, and too dark for me, 2 out of 5
Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip Liner in Sweet Pink, Boots, £4.99
One of the more unexpected dupes to be recommended is this Maybelle lip liner.
While it looks initially like it could be a good match, once on the lips it’s easy to see it’s far too pale.
It’s also much more pink than nude.
And due to being a lipliner rather than a lipstick, it’s harder to apply, especially if you’ve got dry lips.
Verdict:Not one I’ll be trying again, hard to apply, too pink and drying, 1 out of 5
Revolution Lip Allure satin lipstick in Chaffeur Nude, Boots, £4.79
My second favourite dupe of the lot was this Revolution number.
It’s also one of the cheaper ones I tried.
In terms of colour, it’s a bit more nude than pink, but it’s a pretty good match.
It was also easy to apply and my lips felt moisturised when I put it on.
However, it didn’t last as long as I’d hoped – especially once I’d necked back a Diet Coke.
So it would definitely require more re-applying than the original.
Verdict: Nice colour, bit too nudey, and didn’t last that well, 3 out of 5
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in After Glow, Boots, £7.19
I have to say I didn’t have high hopes for this after swatching it.
One of the biggest draws of Charlotte’s Pillow Talk is the matte finish of it.
In complete contrast, the Revlon version has a touch of shimmer to it, which meant it was hard to compare.
On the lips it looked even shinier so, although the actual hue was a pretty good match, the shimmer knocked it out of the race to be crowned best dupe.
Verdict: Too shimmery to be a copy of Pillow Talk, 2 out of 5