I Tried the New Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Plumping Gloss

As a shopping editor, I test more new beauty products in a year than most people do in a lifetime, but I have a few enduring favorites that will always have a place in my makeup bag. Case in point: Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Lip Liner in the shade Pillow Talk. In fact, I can’t think of another product that has been a consistent part of my everyday makeup routine for as long as this iconic lip liner. 

I’ve been a Charlotte Tilbury devotee since 2015, when I first discovered Pillow Talk at the brand’s counter at Selfridges on a trip to London. That’s right, we’re talking nearly a decade of allegiance to one lip liner—it’s that good. Lip Cheat’s velvety, intensely pigmented formula is enough of a selling point on its own, but the true magic of this lip liner is the inimitable Pillow Talk shade. 

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk

What I love most about the rosy mauve hue is its versatility—it always looks great, no matter the season or occasion. A perfect combination of pink and nude, Pillow Talk is subtle enough to wear with your everyday makeup, but it’s also a classic choice for a glam night-out look (especially when topped with a swipe of lip gloss).  

You don’t have to just take my word for it, though. The pink-nude shade is a viral mainstay in the world of beauty TikTok, plus it has more than 1,600 five-star customer ratings on the Charlotte Tilbury website. Since launching Lip Cheat in 2013, the brand has expanded the Pillow Talk shade range to include a variety of makeup products including a matte liquid blush, a highlighter, and more. The latest iteration? A plumping lip gloss.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Plumpgasm Plumping Lip Gloss

I’ve always been a bit skeptical of plumping lip products (Do they actually work? Is it worth the uncomfortable tingly sensation?), but my Pillow Talk obsession prevailed and I had to try Plumpgasm when it launched earlier this month. To my surprise, I was immediately obsessed with this lip gloss, which has become part of my new go-to lip combo paired with my Pillow Talk Lip Cheat.   

I opted for the Fair/Medium shade (it also comes in a berry pink Medium/Deep option) after using Lip Cheat to line my lips, overlining slightly at my cupid’s bow and the center of my bottom lip. My first impression of the lip gloss was how effortlessly the non-sticky formula glided across my lips. I also found the cooling feel to be soothing, unlike the tingling effect of many other lip plumpers. Most importantly, however, I was struck by how full and smooth my lips looked.              

There was definitely a noticeable plumping effect, but I was most impressed by the smooth, ultra-shiny finish of the gloss, which made my lips look extra juicy. It instantly blurred the fine lines on my lips and as the day went on, my lips only looked more plump. Beside the beautiful results of this lip gloss, I was also pleasantly surprised by how hydrating and comfortable it is, almost like a lip oil. I even forgot my lip balm one day when I went to the office, but I had Plumpgasm on hand and it proved to be just as nourishing, thanks to the hyaluronic acid-infused formula.  

Since first putting Pillow Talk Plumpgasm to the test, I’ve worn it nearly every day with my trusty Lip Cheat. As a bonus, you can even save 5% and buy both products together as a set with the Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm Lip Kit. If you’re looking for a flattering everyday lip combo, this plumping pair is as good as it gets. 

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm Lip Kit