Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Dupes Guide: Social Media-Perfect Skin at a Fraction of the Price
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- What Is Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless Filter?
- Tips when Choosing Flawless Filter Dupes
- How I Chose These Dupes
- My Favorite Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Dupes
- Maybelline Master Chrome Jelly Highlighter Face Makeup
- Revolution Beauty Pro Blur Stick Bright
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
- Saie Glowy Super Gel
- L'Oreal Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer
- Revlon Skinlights Prismatic Powder Highlighter
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Primer + Serum
- Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer
- FAQs
- Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Dupes:Bottom Line
When you’re on social media, how often do you use filters? I use a filter nearly every time I post a TikTok video! I love how filters give me flawless makeup and make my skin look amazing.
But what if you could have that look in real life? Charlotte Tilbury tried to do that with Flawless Filter. This is called a glow booster, meant to either be worn alone or mixed with foundation. Charlotte Tilbury promises it provides the illuminating effects of Hollywood lights, which blur imperfections and make your skin glow.
While it all sounds great, I wasn’t impressed. I tried so many amazing illuminators and foundation boosters that offer the same benefits as Flawless Filter at a fraction of the price.
Are you ready to get glowing skin at an affordable price? Read my Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter dupes guide for more!
Bottom Line Up Front
The best product dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter is the Maybelline Master Chrome Jelly Highlighter. Since it has a jelly texture, it blends well with foundation and doesn’t leave your skin feeling tacky. If this dupe doesn’t work for you, I mentioned several others in liquid and powder formulas that can be used as a primer, foundation, or highlighter.
What Is Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter?
First, what exactly is Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter? Many people confuse it as a foundation, but it’s technically a “foundation booster.” Foundation boosters are becoming more popular; they’re products you mix with foundation to change the color, offer a different finish, and more.
When you mix Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter with any foundation, your skin will have the social media-perfect glow–as if you’re wearing a filter IRL.
At the same time, you can wear Flawless Filter as a foundation. It offers light coverage and is available in various shades, so it’s perfect for those who want a glowing finish without a lot of coverage. You can also use Flawless Filter as a primer underneath foundation.
No matter how you use Flawless Filter, I recommend applying it with either a brush or a sponge (such as a Beauty Blender). Pat the product into your chin, forehead, and cheekbones–or anywhere you want a glow. Blend the product for the perfect glow!
If you have dry skin, Flawless Filter offers some skincare benefits. Charlotte Tilbury promises it’s moisturizing, though doesn’t mention specific ingredients.
Looking at the website, glycerin is one of the first ingredients mentioned. Glycerin is an extremely hydrating ingredient, perfect for dry skin types. It also protects the skin and strengthens the skin barrier function. Your skin will not only look glowing but will feel soft all day.
There are some issues I have with Flawless Filter. The obvious is the price–at $49, I was already skeptical. I’ve used many illuminators, primers, and glowing foundations that work just as well and are a fraction of the price. You also have to wonder if you need social media-perfect skin every day. I know I don’t. So, what’s the point of spending all that money?
Looking at the ingredients, mica is one of the first that’s mentioned. Mica mining has largely been the center of controversy since many children are forced to work in the mines. I see nothing about responsible mica mining on the Charlotte Tilbury website, so I can’t help but wonder about the ethics of using this product.
That’s why I recommend these dupes over Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter. Keep in mind that since Flawless Filter is so versatile, I will include foundation boosters, illuminizers, primers, and foundations with a glowing finish.
Tips when Choosing Flawless Filter Dupes
I’m going to mention quite a few dupes here. To find the one that’s best for you, I suggest using these tips.
Product Type
One of the benefits of Flawless Filter is it’s such a versatile product. When choosing a dupe, consider how you would use Flawless Filter and find a product dupe that best represents your preferences.
For example, Flawless Filter can be worn as a foundation. There are plenty of foundations that have a glowing finish and are available in multiple coverage options. If you see yourself wearing Flawless Filter as a primer, there are illuminating primers out there that give the same glowing finish.
If you want to use Flawless Filter to give your skin a lovely glow, you can use an illuminator. Of course, there are similar foundation boosters out there if you want a glowing product to mix with your foundation.
Skin Type
Flawless Filter has moisturizing ingredients, perfect for those with dry skin. But if you have oily/combination skin, Flawless Filter and its dupes may make your skin look too shiny. Fortunately, other products will make your skin look glowing without the shiny finish.
I have sensitive skin, and I suggest others with my skin type be adamant about choosing gentle products. Flawless Filter or one of these dupes may work perfectly on one person but could irritate those with sensitive skin. You’ll also want to choose a non-comedogenic product if you have acne-prone skin.
Formula
Flawless Filter is a liquid formula, so it’s perfect to wear alone or mix with foundation. If you prefer a creamier or powder product, I suggest choosing a different product.
I will mention illuminators of all formulas, and I will detail what type of product it is. I also suggest looking at the ingredients in a product. For example, illuminators with oil can breakout skin and cause shininess, especially for those with oily/combination skin.
Application Method
The best way to apply liquid formulas, like Flawless Filter, is with a foundation brush or Beauty Blender (or similar sponges). But with different formulas comes different application methods. For example, if you’re applying a powder illuminator, you’ll want to use a powder brush and sweep the product over your cheeks, chin, and forehead.
Sample Option
If you can, get your hands on a sample before purchasing the product. The dupes I will mention are significantly cheaper than Flawless Filter, but it still helps if you can try the product before buying it. Even if you want to use Flawless Filter or expensive options, more brands are making travel-sized products for cheaper. I suggest trying these first before buying the full-size product.
How I Chose These Dupes
I considered the previous points when choosing these dupes, as well as other best practices. These include application, formula, and the results you can expect.
Application
Since Flawless Filter is a liquid formula, I prioritized other liquid and even cream products. Some cream luminizers are in a stick formula, so all you have to do is apply it to the desired areas and blend it in with your fingertips, brush, or sponge. Since powder formulas work better for certain skin types, I also mention some of those options and how they compare to Flawless Filter.
Formula
Results
Of course, I only mentioned a dupe if it offers comparable results to Flawless Filter. Flawless Filter not only offers a beautiful glow but blurs imperfections.
Your skin will feel fresh and hydrated, which is a plus if you struggle with dryness or texture issues. If you want a daily dose of luminosity, I will mention products that offer that same glow but are affordable enough to where you won’t feel bad about grabbing for that product every day.
My Favorite Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Dupes
Are you ready to discover my favorite dupes for Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter? Keep on reading for my favorite examples!
Maybelline Master Chrome Jelly Highlighter Face Makeup
There are many reasons why this Maybelline highlighter is my top dupe. The price is one of the biggest factors; at $10, you can’t get much more affordable than this product. I suggest using this product if you want to give your skin an irresistible glow and want something that will mix perfectly with your foundation.
This product has a lovely jelly formula that blends seamlessly. It has a buildable formula, so you can give your skin as subtle or as striking of a glow as possible.
Since this product isn’t meant to conceal or cover, it’s only available in two shades: metallic rose and metallic bronze. I suggest metallic rose if you want a blush effect and metallic bronze if you want a bronzer effect. Both shades can work with any skin color, so don’t think you should only choose one. Since they’re so affordable, you can also buy both!
How It Compares to Flawless Filter
This Maybelline highlighter is the dupe I recommend most since the results are comparable, but there are some differences to note. Flawless Filter is more lightweight, while the Maybelline highlighter has a jelly-like texture. But when you apply the Maybelline highlighter, it blends easily like Flawless Filter.
It doesn’t feel sticky or tacky against your skin–it gives a natural glow just like Flawless Filter. And like Flawless Filter, the Maybelline highlighter is buildable.
The finish is more comparable to an illuminating blush or bronzer look, as opposed to a healthy skin glow like what Flawless Filter offers, but I still find the Maybelline highlighter offers the best results compared to these other dupes.
Pros
- Two different shades
- Buildable formula
- Offers a healthy glow that looks natural
- Affordable
Cons
- The jelly formula may not work for oily/combination skin types
- Doesn’t cover or conceal imperfections
Revolution Beauty Pro Blur Stick Bright
Before starting this review, I want to say I purchased a Revolution haul, and I’m in love with this brand! They offer so many great products, and they’re quickly becoming one of my favorite drugstore makeup staples. I’m especially impressed with their highlighters and primers–I have my eye on the watermelon primer! But I will be talking about the Pro Blur Stick in the Bright line.
This stick is a primer, meant to blur the appearance of imperfections and give your skin a perfect glow. Like Flawless Filter, Revolution makes this with light-reflecting particles to brighten your complexion. The result is a smoother foundation application with glowing skin–never shiny or greasy.
Plus, Revolution makes this primer with vitamin E and shea butter, keeping your skin moisturized all day. The skin-loving ingredients also help the product blend into the skin, resulting in seamless foundation application.
And how much cheaper is this primer? Only $15! So you get results comparable to Flawless Filter but at a fraction of the price!
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
I honestly feel the Revolution Primer offers so many more benefits. While Flawless Filter gives your skin a nice glow, Pro Blur Stick Bright does the same but also gives your skin a poreless, airbrushed finish. It blurs the look of imperfections. And infused with skin-loving ingredients, this is a product that’s absolutely worth the $15!
Pros
- Gives skin a healthy glow
- Blurs imperfections
- Blends well
Cons
- Might feel too heavy on those with oily/combination skin
e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Most people recommend e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter as a dupe for Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter. While I agree that it’s probably the best foundation alternative to Flawless filter, there are some aspects I don’t like about this foundation.
First, there are only eight shades. While these shades target all skin tones, I wish e.l.f. offered more shades–especially since this is such a popular foundation. I also find this glow booster is more shimmery than Flawless Filter, thanks to the finely milled powder. But if that’s the look you’re going for, you’ll be more pleased with e.l.f.’s Liquid Filter than Flawless Filter.
Otherwise, this foundation was made as an alternative to Flawless Filter. e.l.f. calls this a liquid glow booster that you can wear alone or with foundation. It offers blurring benefits more than coverage, so it’s perfect for those who only want a glowing effect without spending tons of money on Flawless Filter.
e.l.f. even made this with a similar doe applicator as Flawless Filter. I suggest using the applicator to apply the product to your cheekbones, chin, and forehead, and then blending it in with a Beauty Blender or brush.
There are other qualities I like about the e.l.f. foundation more. For example, it’s made with more hydrating ingredients than Flawless Filter, such as hyaluronic acid and squalane. This makes it the perfect product for dry skin.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
I think e.l.f.’s Liquid Filter has more of a creamy texture than Flawless Filter, which to me feels more liquidy. I also love how Liquid Filter contains more hydrating ingredients.
Pros
- Perfect to wear as a foundation or as a glow booster
- Creamy texture
- Perfect dupe to Flawless Filter
Cons
- May not work for oily/combination skin types
- Only eight shades
Saie Glowy Super Gel
Saie is a brand that’s becoming more popular since they make products to enhance natural beauty. The Glowy Super Gel is a perfect example; like Flawless Filter, it’s a multi-purpose product, and you can use it as a primer under foundation or an illuminator over foundation. It’s available in two shades, starglow and sunglow. While both are ideal for all skin types, sunglow is the one that truly gives you a sunkissed glow.
I also love the skincare benefits that this product offers. It offers a full range of ingredients to benefit all skin types: papaya seed oil to reduce inflammation, vitamin C to brighten the complexion, and squalane and rose canina fruit oils to keep skin hydrated.
Saie Glowy Super Gel has a liquid formula like Flawless Filter, but I think it’s more lightweight. This makes it perfect for all skin types. The glow also looks more natural, which is perfect if you don’t like the shimmery look. I suggest wearing this product on your cheekbones and chin for a beautiful natural glow.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
I think Glowy Super Gel blends more effortlessly than Flawless Filter, thanks to it being so lightweight. Like Flawless Filter, Glowy Super Gel can also be used as a primer or illuminator, so it’s the perfect multi-purpose product if you want healthy, glowing skin.
Pros
- Natural glow
- Skincare ingredients
- Perfect for all skin types
- Lightweight formula
- Two shades to have a natural or sunkissed glow
Cons
- Less is more; if you use too much, it will feel greasy on the skin
L’Oreal Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer
Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer is another multi-purpose product. On its own, it’s the perfect BB cream. It’s made with shea butter and glycerin to keep skin hydrated all day.
It offers sheer coverage when worn on its own, or you can wear it under foundation as a primer. The coverage is more like a tint that gives skin a perfect glowing finish. It’s only $15.99, so it’s the perfect affordable dupe for Flawless Filter. The only downside is it’s only available in four shades, and they’re not exactly inclusive.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
There are some issues I have with the L’Oreal Glow Enhancer, like how it’s only available in four shades. At the same time, it does give you an impressive, natural-looking glow.
Pros
- Made of hydrating ingredients
- Natural yet luminous look
- Blends into the skin well
Cons
- Not good for oily skin
- Isn’t available in many color options
Revlon Skinlights Prismatic Powder Highlighter
If you want a powder alternative to Flawless Filter, I suggest trying this powder highlighter from Revlon. What I like about this highlighter is it isn’t glittery.
Instead, it gives your skin a healthy sheen. Since it’s a powder formula, it’s ideal for all skin types. The powder is lightweight and won’t make your skin break out in oil. This highlighter is available in three shades: daybreak glimmer, twilight gleam, and gilded dawn. All these colors are perfect for all skin tones, especially if you want that all-day radiance look.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
Like Flawless Filter, Revlon Skinlights Powder Highlight gives your skin a healthy glow and doesn’t make your skin look glittery. But since it’s a powder formula, I like this one better for oily/combination skin and texture issues, such as enlarged pores. The powder disguises these imperfections better since the liquid formula can cause oil breakouts and crease into textured skin.
I also think powder highlights are easier to apply than liquid ones. All you need to take is take a fluffy brush and brush the highlighter onto the area where you want your skin to glow, such as on the cheekbones.
Pros
- Powder formula
- Perfect for all oily/combination and textured skin
- Gives skin a healthy glow
- Not glittery
- Multiple color options
Cons
- Not the best option for dry skin types
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Primer + Serum
When I first started wearing makeup, I turned to Neutrogena for its makeup-meets-skincare approach. After all these years, not much has changed, and we can take this primer as an example.
This serum also acts as a foundation primer, enriched with vitamin E and peptides to soften skin and decrease the look of texture issues. The pearl pigments are what makes your skin look radiant, and the result is healthier-looking skin. I also like how the glow is subtle and not glittery. Like Flawless Filter, the primer is also lightweight and can work with different foundation formulas.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
While this primer is expensive for Neutrogena ($17), it’s still a fraction of the cost of Flawless Filter. Plus, you get more benefits, such as skin-loving ingredients.
Pros
- Serum-meets-primer
- Lightweight
- Works with different foundation formulas
Cons
- Better as a serum than a foundation primer
Rare Beauty Positive Light Liquid Luminizer
While I think this luminizer is more on the glittery side, it’s perfect for those who want a serious glow. The title says it’s a liquid luminizer, I describe the texture as more of a gel. It still dries quickly and doesn’t feel sticky, so it works for a variety of skin tones.
Even though it can’t work as a primer or serum, I love how it works with all foundation formulas. Even though this product is on the pricier side ($25), it’s still cheaper than Flawless Filter. I recommend spending the extra money since Rare Beauty products aren’t made with dangerous ingredients like parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, mineral oil, or phthalates. Plus, Rare Beauty is also vegan and cruelty-free.
How Does It Compare to Flawless Filter?
Even though Rare Beauty’s Luminizer is more glittery than Flawless Filter, it’s still very subtle. While the formula is buildable, a little goes a long way. I also love how the Rare Beauty Luminizer is available in multiple shades.
Pros
- Buildable luminizer
- A little goes a long way
- Not made with harsh ingredients
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Multiple color options
- Works with multiple foundation formulas
Cons
- Too sparkly for me
- Expensive
- Doesn’t blend as well
FAQs
Question: When should I choose Flawless Filter over the dupes?
Answer: Honestly, nothing justifies choosing Flawless Filter over these dupes. The dupes work just as well. I suggest only choosing Flawless Filter if you read this guide and aren’t interested in any of the dupes.
Question: Which highlighter shade should I get?
Answer: One of the best parts about highlighters is various shades can work for all skin tones. But some shades might work better for your skin color than others. When I select a highlighter, here’s a guide that I like to follow:
• Peach or beige highlighters: light skin with neutral or cool undertones
• Golden highlighters: light skin with warm undertones
• Caramel highlighters: tan skin with neutral or warm undertones
• Peach highlighter: tan skin with cool undertones
• Bronze highlighters: deep skin with all undertones
Question: Should I choose a luminizing primer or a highlighter?
Answer: First, a recap on the differences. A primer goes under foundation to create a barrier between your skin and the makeup, while a highlighter goes on top of foundation to give you a glowing sheen.
As far as which product to you, it depends on personal preference. If you really want an intense glow, I suggest using a highlighter over foundation. If you want a subtle sheen, wear a luminizing primer.
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Dupes:Bottom Line
My favorite Flawless Filter dupe is the Maybelline Master Chrome Jelly Highlighter. Like Flawless Filter, this product gives your complexion an irresistible glow.
While it has more of a jelly texture, it still blends perfectly with foundation. Your skin won’t feel sticky or tacky while wearing this highlighter. But because it has a jelly texture, I don’t recommend this product to those with oily/combination skin.
There are many different dupes here that include liquid and powder formulas, as well as products meant to be used as primers, foundations, and highlighters. I suggest looking at all these options before choosing a dupe.
