This $12 Drugstore ‘Glotion’ Is an Affordable Alternative for the Always-Sold-Out Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter
Out of all the viral makeup trends that have graced my social feed recently (soap brows, anyone?), glowy, dewy skin might just be my favorite. My acne-prone complexion has been thanking me again and again for swapping my heavy, matte foundations with light, breathable BB creams. It seems that plenty of makeup fans have hopped on the glow wagon with me, considering my favorite sun-kissed product hasn’t been in stock for a hot minute.
Save for a mini version of shade 3, the entire Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($34) collection is completely sold out on Sephora right now— and for good reason. For those out of the loop, this magical complexion booster blew up on social media for its ability to create a smooth, luminous canvas. Celebrity makeup artists have been raving about the product's ability to cast an IRL Instagram filter over dull, uneven skin.
The internet hype is totally warranted, but unfortunately, the demand makes re-upping incredibly difficult. Since I haven’t been able to track down my shade in months, I took to Amazon in search of an in-stock, reasonably-priced dupe, and oh boy, did I find one.
Behold, the L'Oréal Paris Makeup True Match Lumi Glotion ($12), a nearly identical Charlotte Tilbury dupe and my current daily makeup must-have. Just like the Hollywood Flawless Filter, the Lumi Glotion can either be worn under your favorite foundation to add a boost of radiance or alone for maximum luminosity.
Before using Lumi Glotion, left, and after, right.
The Lumi Glotion has the same blurring, complexion-evening effects of the Flawless Filter with the added hydration benefits of glycerin and shea butter. When it comes to packaging and product accessibility, the Lumi Glotion comes out on top. While the Flawless Filter’s glass container is nice, it doesn’t allow for easy product removal, especially when paired with the included doe-foot applicator. The Lumi Glotion comes in a squeezable bottle sans applicator, allowing you to directly apply the perfect amount of product onto a blending sponge.
Top swatch: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (Shade: 4.5)
Bottom swatch: L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion (Shade: Light)
Since my summer tan is long gone, I decided to try the Lumi Glotion in shade Light, a peachy deviation from the golden Flawless Filter shade I usually sport during the warmer months. While the colors pictured above are clearly different, the shimmer pattern in both is indistinguishable IMO. My main gripe with drugstore dupes is that they tend to rely on chunky flecks of glitter to replicate the shimmer and shine of their name-brand counterparts, so this was a pleasant surprise. Over 13,000 5-star reviews on Amazon echo my praises of the Lumi Glotion, with several reviewers calling it a “100% CT dupe.”
Alas, all that glitters is not always gold. Even though I’ve been sporting the L’Oréal dupe religiously lately, there are some clear areas where Lumi Glotion falls short in comparison to Flawless Filter. One major difference worth noting between the two products is texture. While Flawless Filter is light and airy, Lumi Glotion has a slightly sticky feel. This might be a non-issue for those who like to wear foundation on top, but this change in texture could be a deal breaker for those who prefer to wear it alone. As for myself, a light dusting of translucent setting powder on top did the trick, effectively removing any stickiness.
Flawless Filter also beats out its L’Oréal counterpart in terms of longevity. While the Lumi Glotion sticks around for a while, bare patches start to emerge after a few hours. A quick refresh is no biggie halfway through the day, but if you’re counting on it to stay in place all day, consider investing in a long-lasting setting spray to lock the glow in.
The OG Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter can’t be replaced, but I have to give L’Oréal some serious kudos— the Lumi Glotion made my skin look just as radiant, and for $34 less, I'd say that's a win.
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