Magic Vanish Color Corrector from celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury claims to not only neutralize and disguise discoloration, but also smooth and brighten. It’s hard not to want to test something that literally calls itself “magic”. Also, although I never know where brands pull their numbers from, the blurb from charlottetilbury.com about Magic Vanish boasts “100% of people agreeing dark circles appear visibly neutralised and 99% agreeing it smooths the look of skin”. You had me at 100% Charlotte, take my thirty bucks.
Price: $32
Find it HERE
Tested August 2020
A little back story…I’ve only recently been made aware of Charlotte Tilbury and her makeup/skincare line. The brand itself is fairly new (launched in 2013), but Charlotte the makeup artist has been around for years. She has an exceptionally curated YouTube channel with great application tips for each of her Iconic 10 Looks. She explains the philosophy behind them as such: “Designers tell you what tops to wear with what skirts and shoes, but no makeup brand tells you what eyes to wear with what cheeks and what lips, and puts it together in an easy format. What women want is time-effective, easy-to-use, easy-to-choose products. We are all time-poor. We want quick, efficient products.” Preach sister!
“What women want is time-effective, easy-to-use, easy-to-choose products. We are all time-poor.”
Last holiday season I picked up a Charlotte Tilbury mini set (sadly no longer available) containing some of her best sellers. I immediately fell in love with infamous Pillow Talk lipstick and liner (review coming soon) and have since gifted it to a few friends. Liz and I had mixed feelings about the kohl liner (check out that review here) but in general the brand’s glamorous packaging and quality ingredients sparked our curiosity. Not coincidentally, these products aren’t cheap, so I’ve been (im)patiently waiting to pick one up until I had a hole in my collection to fill. When this didn’t happen fast enough, I decided to make one.
After browsing the site I settled on Magic Vanish Color Corrector in shade Medium. I have never used a color corrector so while I know of them, this was my first foray into using one. I’ll cut to the chase, this product is awesome! So good in fact that I immediately ordered a second to give to my mom. Over the course of the last few weeks testing it, I’ve learned a few tricks and changed the way I apply concealer as a whole.
The packaging and website specifically say to apply and blend in using your ring finger. The website shows a video of brush application initially followed by ring finger tapping. One of the main ingredients in this corrector is carnauba wax (from palm trees in Brazil) designed to add “structure and body to the formula”. That it does, but initially this cream needs the warmth of your finger to soften and smoothly apply. I use the term “cream” loosely because this unique product is slightly more dense in the pan than a cream. Somehow it’s still incredibly lightweight when applied and so pigmented that the lightest whisper of a layer effectively corrects any darkness underneath. I was shocked how well it accomplished this. Not only did the blue circles under my eyes disappear but also the darkness around the outer corners that seems to be worsening with age.
This is not a concealer. While it does correct discoloration, the final result is still too peach to be left on its own. I tried both a heavier concealer, my beloved Bye Bye Under Eye (review here), and a more lightweight formula from e.l.f. that I’m also testing. I was surprised to find that the lighter concealer paired better. Bye Bye requires a fair amount of blending to warm and soften, which ends up mixing it in with the corrector. Instead, a lighter formula layers better with the color corrector when it’s tapped on lightly with a sponge (check out some of our favorites here). I’ve become accustomed to the somewhat intense blending that the thick Bye Bye Under Eye requires, so this lightweight tapping was a pleasant change. Honestly, it’s better for the delicate skin around the eye so I think I’m changing my ways for good.
The only complaints about this product I found online from other people were in reference to the compact’s size. I think these were hasty comments because it only takes one application to see how little product you need to get the job done (1-2 dabs per eye with a single finger). I can’t imagine why you would need anything bigger. I don’t want it to dry out before I can use it up, so from where I’m typing the modest size is a pro.
The end result of Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish Color Corrector layered under any lightweight and moderately pigmented concealer is a dream. No creasing, not heavy feeling, long-wearing and light reflecting. I did set the area with a light wash of powder and this made everything good to go for the duration of my work day. I only wish Charlotte Tilbury would also make a green version to combat the redness around my nose.
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