Any product that claims to magic away spots, pores, or, in this case, dark under-eye circles, will always receive a raised eyebrow from me. As we all know, our skin is often a window to what’s actually happening inside our bodies, and everything from sleep to iron levels and basic genetics play a part in creating those dark circles. Even when you've already got a great foundation lined up, that's a lot for one product to work against. So, can Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish get the job done? It's been billed as a bit of a miracle-worker recently and has emerged as yet another cult classic to break out from the legendary make-up artist's eponymous brand.
Instead of working like a simple concealer to cover up dark circles, Magic Vanish uses the warmer side of the colour wheel (think peach and terracotta shades depending on your skin tone) to cancel out the blue, purple and grey shades that make up dark circles. Consider it underwear for your concealer, which goes on top. And - classic Charlotte Tilbury - this stuff brightens too. She's big on a flawless finish after all.
Now, Magic Vanish isn't new. As Charlotte herself told me, it's been many a pro make-up artist's kit staple for a long time, but in recent months it's become a hot topic. Take the TikTok video from content creator Kim Wolff that is currently going viral and shows her using Magic Vanish to its full effect.
So, of course, team Grazia and I had to see what all of the fuss was about. The reviews are in:
Shop: Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Vanish
Annie VischerCharlottetilbury.com
Annie Vischer, beauty director, says: ‘I’d heard about this concealer but never given it a real go until recently – it’s the only eye make-up I’m wearing in this picture. I went for shade 1, a peachy flesh tone intended to cancel out purple tones, the shade of my dark circles. It works a treat. I’ve been using it for the past two weeks and apply it with a slanted blending brush, sweeping it lightly and gently onto my delicate under eye area and the inner corners of each eye, right up against the side of my orbital bone. It takes very little of the creamy product to blur away my dark circles and it doesn’t feel cakey. I even use it to soften the shadows cast by my nasolabial folds on either side of my mouth. Sometimes it’s all I wear – even though I know you're supposed to follow up with concealer! - a quick application is enough to freshen my face ahead of the nursery run. Otherwise I’ll top with my foundation and continue on to blusher, eye make-up, the lot. It’s long-lasting, the most I notice after a few hours is a little bit of creasing, but it’s easy enough to tap back to even with my fingers, so that doesn’t bother me. I love it, it serves as my quick complexion pick-me-up and is a new staple in my make-up bag.’
Renee WashingtonCharlottetilbury.com
Renee Washington, fashion and beauty writer, says: ‘I don’t usually reach for colour correctors since brightening concealers tend to be enough for me. But the colour correctors I’ve seen tend to be a liquid formula, so I was intrigued by this red balmy texture. I went for the deepest shade, and I’ll admit it threw me off at first, and I wasn’t sure how to apply it. I ended up using my fingers - even though I’m not really a fingers girl - but it blended in surprisingly well. I paired it with my YSL concealer and Huda Beauty powder, and while some redness still peeked through, my under-eyes looked noticeably brighter, and my dark circles were concealed. After wearing sunglasses for a while, I did notice fine lines starting to appear, so it might not have played well with these products. That said, it worked well for my dark circles, and I can’t wait to try it on a full face to see how it really performs.’
Lauren CunninghamCharlottetilbury.com
Lauren Cunningham, contributing beauty editor, says: ‘My under-eye circles are one of my biggest body insecurities, so much so, I’m considering finding a more permanent masking solution (if you have any advice, I’m all ears). Until then, though, it’s all about quick fixes, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish is one of the best ones I’ve tried. It’s easy to apply with your fingers – just rub the product and gently pat it on under the eyes – and it actually feels quite hydrating on the skin with no classic powdery cakeyness that comes with other dark circle products. I opted for shade fair, and really concentrate it on the inner parts of my eye (between the eye and the nose and just beneath) to brighten the darkest shadow, and it absolutely works. You can see here, I’ve only added it to my right side, and there is a real difference. To make it even more flawless (in the words of CT), I would then add my Dior concealer and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish power on top – dark circles be damned.’
Lauren Cunningham is a freelance fashion and beauty editor. She currently lives between Lisbon and London and is always on the lookout for exciting collaborations, new small brands and those boasting impressive sustainability credentials. Find her on Instagram @laurencunningha.m.