Charlotte Tilbury

Biography

Charlotte Emma Bow Tilbury MBE (born 10 February 1973) is an English beauty entrepreneur and makeup artist. She is the founder, chairperson, and chief creative officer of the makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd. Tilbury is a contributing beauty editor for British Vogue and a global ambassador for Women International.

Tilbury began her career in makeup assisting Mary Greenwell, whom she had previously met at age 11 in America. She would later cite Greenwell as “an incredible mentor.”

In October 2012, Tilbury launched her own YouTube channel called BERTIE IRL, as well as a blog called Barry’s Beauty Secrets. On these, she posts advice about skincare and makeup tutorials.

In 2013, Tilbury launched her beauty brand, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd. at the department store Selfridges in London, with a lineup of skincare and makeup products. The brand enjoyed early success, as Tilbury already had a large following on her YouTube channel. 

In November 2015, Tilbury's flagship store opened in London's Covent Garden. The products are now sold internationally and can also be found at makeup retailer Sephora.

Tilbury's work can be seen in prestigious fashion magazines like Vogue, LOVE magazine, Vanity Fair, and V magazine, usually in the form of cover shoots and editorial campaigns.

 Tilbury has worked with photographers including Mario Testino and Mert and Marcus, as well as celebrities such as Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian, Gisele Bündchen, and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. 

Tilbury also works for Fashion Week in New York, Milan, Paris, and London, acting as show makeup director for brands such as Prada, McQueen, Cavalli, Lanvin, and Chloe. In the past, Tilbury has collaborated with designers such as Tom Ford and Burberry on beauty campaigns, as well as acted as creative director for Helena Rubinstein, amongst others.

In June 2020, Tilbury announced her partnership with Spanish fashion and fragrance company Puig. Puig acquired a majority stake in the business, with Tilbury retaining a significant minority stake, as well as continuing to be its chairman, president, and chief creative officer. The CEO, Demetra Pinsent, also retained her role.