At an average 8 bucks a pop for these faithful facsimiles, you could buy four for the price of a single Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lipstick. (Amazon)(Amazon)
If there’s one lip color that reigns supreme in its near-universal appeal, it’s Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick. This flattering, tawny matte pink is the stuff of legends. First launched as a lip liner in 2013, it quickly became a worldwide obsession that spawned a pink-nude army of Pillow Talk products: blush, highlighter, eye shadow and more. It’s been reported that a Pillow Talk product sells every 10 seconds globally, and celebrity fans include Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Nicole Kidman. There’s only one rub: The revered lipstick is normally $35. And while we bow down to the original Pillow Talk — seriously, it’s terrific if you can swing it — we’re also fans of having, you know, money. So, on behalf of thrifty lipstick lovers everywhere, we’ve scoured the internet to track down the seven most impressive Pillow Talk doppelgängers — and each one is $10 or less on Amazon.
The phrase “your lips but better” is lobbed around a lot, but it’s highly relevant in the case of Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk. This soft, subdued hue — somewhere between petal pink, mauve and beige — melts into lips so that they look simultaneously bare and better. (Hence why so many brides choose it as their wedding-day lip color.) “When I’m offering makeup lessons and editing women’s makeup bags, my clients will pull Pillow Talk out as the one thing that just works and doesn’t need updating,” says New York-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. “The color value is muted enough to keep the eyes the focus, the texture blurs the surface of the lips and has enough staying power to not require babysitting, and the shade strikes the right balance of warmth and rosiness to enliven the face.”
To figure out exactly how Pillow Talk achieves that balance (and how our cheaper lipsticks can approximate it), we took Pillow Talk's ingredient list to the formula experts. "The pigments listed — white, black, yellows and reds — are the typical pigments used to make nude shades," notes Roselin Rosario-Meléndez, a formulation chemist in New York City. "However, they also list blue pigment, which can be used to give a cool undertone and deeper color. In my experience, lipstick shades with blue undertones are flattering and work well for all skin tones." (You'll be happy to know that our seven lookalikes have the same blue pigment.)
Rosario-Meléndez also notes Pillow Talk's blend of skin-softening ingredients. Its main emollient, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate (yes, it's a mouthful), is "a great one for the smooth and silky feel it gives," while silica ensures "a well-balanced matte finish with a comfortable feel." While the lipsticks below don't use the same primary emollient, many of them contain silica, and all had to both look like Pillow Talk and mimic the way it feels on lips.
If there’s one lipstick that comes the closest to Pillow Talk, it’s this $8 Milani formula, a sophisticated, toasty clay pink. “They do a very good job with the texture,” says Gerstein. “It’s got a matte finish that’s very soft focus and modern. The tone is also quite flattering across a wide range of complexions.” Other pros agree. “As a working makeup artist that has a ton of bridal clients, I kept having to restock on my most-used lip color, which is Pillow Talk by Charlotte Tilbury,” explained one makeup artist reviewer on Amazon who was determined to find the most accurate swap. "This is it! It is the perfect universal lip color! The formulation is velvety and the color payoff is A1!”
Milani’s formula has also dialed in the perfect consistency for women aged 50 and up. “I am an older woman with thinning, dry lips and sensitive skin,” divulged one shopper. “I struggle to find lipsticks that are moisturizing, yet will stay on. … This particular matte lipstick works even on my older, dryer lips … much better than the high-end brands. I especially like that no Milani products irritate my sensitive skin.” Be aware that this formula is scented: “There is a slight cosmetic fragrance that doesn’t bother me but should be noted just in case someone is sensitive to those sorts of things,” says Gerstein.
"This is one of my favorite lipsticks," says Rosario-Meléndez. "Long-lasting, transfer resistant and very comfortable." A debate rages on about which hue of Maybelline Super Stay Ink Crayon most perfectly pairs back to Pillow Talk: the cooler-toned Trust Your Gut (called a “mauve nude pink”) or the warmer Lead the Way (this one’s described as “pink beige”). Frankly, they're both excellent matches. Something everyone can agree upon? This lipstick goes on and stays on. And with over 23,000 5-star ratings on Amazon, shoppers have a lot to say. “It's much longer lasting," declared a reviewer from team Trust Your Gut. "I can put this on in the morning, and it lasts through my lunch and then almost to dinner. It goes on smooth, it isn't as drying as I expected, and for the price you just can't beat it.”
Supporters of Lead the Way echoed those sentiments: “I was looking for an affordable option instead of paying a lot of money for the awesome Pillow Talk lipstick, and I have to say that this lipstick is exactly what I was looking for if not better,” they said. “It's a beautiful nude color that goes with any complexion.”
Some Amazon reviewers say that this matte formula — a mere $6 — improves upon the original. “I actually love this color way more than the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk!” exclaimed one lipstick aficionado. “Wears beautifully and long-lasting.” Revlon's formulators have also cleverly threaded the needle so it looks shine-free yet doesn’t feel dry on lips. “Put it on, and I was so impressed!!” raved another shopper. “I have never used Revlon before, and I absolutely love the texture and how it feels on my lips. Not dry at all for a matte finish! Perfect nude pink.”
This hue is a touch darker than other lipsticks in this round-up, and some reviewers warn that the shade doesn’t exactly match what you see online. “The actual color is more of brown rose, no light mauve color or shine at all,” reflected another Revlon reviewer. “It is a true matte. However, it does fulfill the objective of a cheaper version of another product, and I love it!”
This buttery $7 wonder (currently on sale and nearly 30% off) particularly excels in its moisturizing ability. The subtle peachy rose goes on creamier and is more moisturizing than the others on this list, but doesn’t bleed or settle into fine lines. “While searching for the perfect nude lipstick — you know, that holy grail kind — I stumbled upon these ...,” wrote an excited Amazon shopper who bought multiple shades from the L’Oréal Les Nus collection. “Gals, the search is over! … The formula is more moist than the originals and will last up until eating a meal. ... They are NOT as long-lasting as all the matte lipsticks out there, but aren't you sick of dry mattes? These just feel so buttery and moisturizing!”
As for the shade itself, fans call it a true "universal lip color" that looks just like its more expensive cousin, even if it doesn't stay on lips quite as tenaciously as the original. "I knocked off one star for longevity," remarked one four-star reviewer, who otherwise attested that it was the best match for "the infamous Pillow Talk!"
e.l.f. is known for its ability to approximate more expensive makeup products, and we have to give them props for the bold move of naming this clever clone Dirty Talk. For those who want Pillow Talk's tawny neutral but aren’t into its matte effect, this satiny, buildable formula is your best bet. “It does not look shimmery when you open it, but once I applied it to my lips, there was some slight shimmer to it, which I really like,” shared one shine lover. “The lipstick glides on smooth. With first pass, the color was subtle, but with every additional application, the color gets more prominent. ... Oh, and I love the magnetic cap.”
That added bit of sheen also layers well with other less-moisturizing lip products. “I've been using a lip stain for a few years, but it makes my lips look dry,” explained another fan. “I used this on top of the stain and it worked pretty well, staying in place and also making my lips look moist.” Fans say this gets the color right, though they also note that it’s not a transfer-proof formula. “Beautiful color and pigment,” praised one pleased reviewer. “It does transfer, so use with a setting spray to minimize this.”
Amazon reviewers have called this slim, elegant lipstick the “perfect nude for darker brown skin” thanks to its rich hue, which skews toward a refined terracotta rose. “I am hesitant to try pink lipsticks because most of them look pasty," reflected one 5-star reviewer seeking a Pillow Talk lookalike for deeper skin tones. "But paired with a brown lip liner, it looks stunning on my skin tone.” The formula is also infused with moisture magnet hyaluronic acid to keep lips plump and hydrated. Another fervent supporter remarked, “The color and texture are beautiful! I love that it doesn’t dry my lips at all. … I paired it with a gloss just for a little more shine.”
All praise to Drew Barrymore for perfecting Spiced Petal, which has just a touch more pink to it than Pillow Talk. Some wearers observe that the shade is particularly flattering for lighter complexions. “It’s hard to find a nice neutral pink for very fair skin with warm undertones,” said a redheaded fan. “This worked well, and I think the color would flatter many skin tones. It’s not super long-wearing, but it does leave behind a hint of color if it fades.”
There's an impressive amount of moisture in this formula, too. “Gorgeous!” announced another reviewer on the prowl for Pillow Talk swaps. “The formula is one of their ‘creamy’ formulas, but it's not TOO creamy. It doesn't slide all over. It stayed right where I put it, no straying outside my lip line.”
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
