INTERVIEW

Charlotte Tilbury: how I created a billion-dollar make-up business

She parties with Kate Moss, hangs out with Amal Clooney — and is behind one of Britain’s most successful make-up brands. Hadley Freeman enters the glamorous world of Charlotte Tilbury

Kate Moss and Charlotte Tilbury have been close since first working together in the 1990s
Kate Moss and Charlotte Tilbury have been close since first working together in the 1990s
MATT EASTON
Hadley Freeman
The Sunday Times

‘Darling! You are so gorgeous and fabulous, I love you!” is how the make-up mastermind Charlotte Tilbury greets me in a west London private members’ club on a rainy December afternoon. The weather is extremely ungorgeous and unfabulous, but Tilbury — who has been running around in high heels since 5am — has always lived within her own microclimate where everything is sunny and sparkly and fun. “It’s the make-up, darling. You put some on, you feel better and your energy changes. I see it all the time. Darling, it’s a virtuous circle of life!” Her eyelids twinkle with the glittery purple shadow from her new Beautyverse eyeshadow palette. I gulp down my coffee to catch up.

I don’t know if make-up is a mood