I've found the ultimate Charlotte Tilbury bronzer swaps for *that* sunkissed glow—and they're $33 cheaper
Love Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Contour wand by can't quite justify the $42 spend? Well, we have good news as TikTok says these Charlotte Tilbury bronzer dupes will still give you that summery glow but for a fraction of the price...
While being a beloved beauty brand, with a number of viral products to its name—namely the Flawless filter and pretty much everything Pillow Talk—Charlotte Tilbury alas, does not come cheap. In fact, as a fan of the highlighter and blush wands myself, I can relate to that sinking feeling that often comes when restocking your faves from the luxe beauty line and looking at the basket total.
Thankfully though, that's where TikTok swoops in to save the day. After supplying us with all the intel on the best non-comedogenic foundations, not to mention Le Labo Santal 33 dupes, the app has found us a few, affordable swaps for the bronzer wand in question...
The best Charlotte Tilbury bronzer dupes
e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand
RRP: $9
Makeup Revolution Eye Bright Concealer
RRP: $5
Tarte Sculpt Tape Contour
RRP: $35
Glossier Solar Paint Luminious Gel-Cream Bronzer
RRP: $20
Now, the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour wand (at Sephora) is popular for a reason, so if you're a fan of the brand it might be worth the spend for its sunkissed effect, though you can get similar alternatives for more than half the price, from brands like e.l.f and Makeup Revolution.
The OG wand itself comes in two shades and works to snatch and define your features, with its soft focus and semi-matte formula. It's packaged in a tube, with a sponge tip for easy application. But be warned, don't squeeze the tube too hard, as shoppers have found it can get very messy when too much product fills the sponge.
Charlotte Tilbury's wand will set you back a hefty $42 for 0.40 fl oz, so if this isn't feasible for you, TikTok has named the likes of e.l.f's Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand, as a close contender—and for just $9, it's a real bargain. Much like the e.l.f Halo Glow Filter, which also went viral over on TikTok, with many dubbing it a dupe of Charlotte Tilbury's own Hollywood Flawless filter—thanks to its skincare ingredients like squalane and overall glow-giving powers.
e.l.f's contour wand features a very similar tube and sponge combo, that allows you to dot on the product, where you want it and is available in five shades. It's also perfect if you've been loving the super radiant 'Espresso' or 'Latte makeup' trends!
Beauty lovers also recommend Tarte's Sculpt Tape contour, which again has that similar sponge applicator, but offers a wider shade range (eight to be exact). It is on the pricier end, at $35 though this is still cheaper than Charlotte Tilbury's options.
How to use contour wands
If you're new to these sponge-tipped bronzer wands, there are a few things to know. In most cases, you'll need to twist the applicator to unlock it, before then squeezing the tube and locking the lid again, allowing the product to saturate the sponge. Squeeze very gently and make sure to lock it before use, to avoid too-much bronzer leaking out and thus wasting product.
The rounded sponge allows you to easily dot your bronzer shade straight to your face, without using a brush. We'd recommend applying two dots to your cheekbones and jawline. Then blend with either a bronzer brush or a damp beauty sponge—a good tip is to wet your beauty blend with setting spray.