Charlotte Tilbury's new lip liner is the secret behind Aimee Lou Wood's pouty Met Gala look
Amid the sculpted cheekbones, crystal couture and billion-dollar brows at the 2025 Met Gala, one beauty moment stood out for us: White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood's lip look. Gloss-free but very sculpted and somehow plumper than ever, her lips were the main event—and it turns out the secret is a just-launched pencil from Charlotte Tilbury.
Meet the Lip Cheat Contour Duo, the double-ended lip liner that's quickly earning icon status. Designed to fake the illusion of fuller lips with two complementary shades– one for contour, one for volume– it's part make-up, part magic trick.
Aimee Lou's makeup artist (Shayna Goldberg) used the "Medium" duo to build that contoured effect. The result? A lip look that's structured but soft, and defined but completely wearable– especially when paired with her luminous skin and slick updo. For a bit of extra colour on her lips, Aimee also wore Charlotte's Matte Revolution Lipstick in shade Super Fabulous, £29.
And if you're wondering whether the new lip liner really works, just ask our Head of Beauty, Zoe. She tried the same duo pre-launch and was floored: 'It instantly doubled the volume of my lips,' she said in her review. Not enhanced. Not subtly boosted. Doubled.
Of course, Aimee Lou wasn't the only A-lister to have this new lip liner in her clutch. Zendaya also wore it as part of her Met Gala glam. Zendaya opted for the shade Tan of the Lip Cheat Contour Du o – one shade darker than Aimee's choice – and paired it with a second new launch from Tilbury, the new Big Lips Plumpgasm gloss in Nudegasm Diamonds, £27.
In true Tilbury fashion, this lip liner's texture is creamy, blendable, and beginner-friendly. Even if you're not a pro at overlining or blending multiple tones, this pencil makes it feel easy. One end adds depth, the other fills in, and together they create a pout that looks naturally fuller. At £22, it's definitely a treat product– but when it gives your lips the same red carpet treatment as two of the night's biggest beauty icons, it's one that feels justified.
However, if it is a little out of your price point, another good lip sculpting option is NYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lip Line r, a steal at £3.20.
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The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Born in the USA: Is American Eagle really using whiteness to sell jeans?
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In another video that has since been removed from American Eagle's social media channels, Sweeney, who has blond hair and blue eyes, says: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality, and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.' Critics were quick to point out the implications of the advert's wordplay. In one video that has had more than 3m views, a TikTok user compared it to 'fascist propaganda,' adding: 'a blonde haired, blue-eyed white woman is talking about her good genes, like, that is Nazi propaganda'. On the brand's own channels, users are battling it out in the comments section. 'It's giving 'Subtle 1930's Germany',' reads one. Another person posted: 'The woke crowd needs to leave the room.' Even the US senator Ted Cruz has weighed in. Reposting a news story on X, he commented: 'Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. I'm sure that will poll well ...' According to Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of the book Girl on Girl which explores how pop culture is shaped by misogyny: 'The slogan 'Sydney Sweeney has good jeans' obviously winks at the obsession with eugenics that's so prevalent among the modern right.' Dr Sarah Cefai, a senior lecturer in gender and cultural studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, agrees. 'Honestly, what were they thinking, that a white supremacist fantasy has permission to be aired so conspicuously?' Aria Halliday, an associate professor in gender and women's studies, African American and Africana studies and author of Buy Black: How Black Women Transformed US Pop Culture, isn't surprised by the ad. In recent years, she says, 'we have seen an influx of media reasserting the beauty of thin, white, blond, and blue-eyed people,' with many brands 'invested in re-presenting the wholesomeness and sanctity of conservative white values.' Critics have also zeroed in on the campaign's focus on Sweeney's body. In one clip the camera zooms in on the actor's breasts – lingering in a way that Gilbert sees as 'leering and unapologetic' – as Sweeney says: 'My body's composition is determined by my jeans.' The camera then cuts back to Sweeney's face as she shouts: 'Hey, eyes up here!' For Cefai, 'its sexualisation of the viewer via its voyeurism exposes western sexism as a racialised fantasy of whiteness'. American Eagle were approached for comment by the Guardian but did not respond. Fashion campaigns are notorious for purposefully sparking controversy, but the denim genre is a particularly seedy seam. In a 1980s Calvin Klein campaign, a 15-year-old Brooke Shields mused: 'You know what gets between me and my Calvin's? Nothing.' In 1995, another Calvin Klein ad featured models including Kate Moss being filmed in a basement as they undid the top button of their jeans and were asked: 'Are you nervous?' It was criticised for alluding to child exploitation. The American Eagle campaign comes at a time when the US is witnessing a cultural shift centering whiteness as well as more conservative gender roles, while the Maga movement has been linked with promoting a 'soft eugenics' way of thinking. In 2025, there are new factors reinforcing old stereotypes. For Halliday, the rise of GLP-1 medications for weight loss and the record high unemployment of Black women in the US all feed into a wider cultural shift that is 'about recentering whiteness as what America is and who Americans look like.' Some fashion imagery is reflecting this wider regression. The blacklisted photographer Terry Richardson is shooting for magazines and brands again, while Dov Charney, whose role as CEO of American Apparel was terminated after allegations of sexual misconduct, is now making content for his new brand that resembles the heavily sexualised noughties style of his former brand's advertising. For American Eagle, a brand whose biggest demographic is 15- to 25-year-old females, to tailor their campaign to the male gaze seems retrograde, if not downright creepy. However, Jane Cunningham, co-author of Brandsplaining: Why Marketing is (Still) Sexist and How to Fix It, says many gen Z-ers who are fed a 'hypersexualised visual diet' on social media may buy into the strategy. 'Their attitude may be that they are 'owning' their sexuality by being overtly sexual in the way they present,' she says, pointing to the pop star Sabrina Carpenter as another example of someone who has also been accused of catering to the heterosexual male gaze. Sign up to Fashion Statement Style, with substance: what's really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved after newsletter promotion Halliday says that while 'Black girls are rarely the target audience for ads,' some may still be curious to try the jeans: 'the desire to be perceived as beautiful is hard to ignore,' she says. Many gen Z-ers may not have experienced this genre of advertising, or 'intentional provocation as branding strategy', before, says Gilbert, for whom the campaign also reminds her of 90s Wonderbra ads with their 'Hello Boys' slogan. But maybe they will come to see through it. They are 'extremely savvy as consumers', she points out. 'They have the kind of language and expertise in terms of deconstructing media that I couldn't have dreamed of utilising as a teen during the 1990s. And they know when someone is trying to play them, which seems to be happening here. 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Metro
13 hours ago
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Charlotte Tilbury's bridal beauty service is every bride's best-kept secret
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Finding the perfect makeup artist for your big day is one of the biggest tasks for any bride-to-be. With so much pressure to look flawless on your wedding day, choosing someone who understands your personal style, skin, and how to make your look last all day can be overwhelming. Bridal makeup needs to make you feel confident, comfortable, and camera-ready from the ceremony to the last dance. But luckily, there's one name that's becoming a go-to for brides everywhere: Charlotte Tilbury. You might not be aware, but Charlotte Tilbury's team of expert makeup artists offer bridal makeup services that go beyond just applying makeup – there's a range of full beauty experiences designed to make you and your wedding party feel special. Whether you want a makeup artist to attend your venue, a transformation in one of the brand's stores, or a fun hen party masterclass with your friends, Charlotte Tilbury's team has got you covered. The Tilbury team use bestselling products like the iconic Pillow Talk lipstick and Airbrush Flawless Finish powder, all designed to deliver a long-lasting and typically gorgeous Charlotte Tilbury look. Whether you're looking for a soft natural or a bold glamorous look, the team will listen to your preferences and tailor everything to suit your style. For the big day, Charlotte Tilbury offers three specially designed bridal beauty packages to suit every bride, making sure you and your bridal party look and feel amazing. For brides who want a personalised touch, the Bespoke Bride package includes: £150 trial with expert artists Personal moodboard to create your unique bridal look Professional wedding day makeup session Bridal gifting worth over £100, including Charlotte's Magic Cream 50ml and iconic lipstick Total cost: £500 Step it up with makeup for you and your bridal party: £150 trial and personal moodboard Wedding day makeup for bride and 4 members of the bridal party Bridal and party gifting valued over £400, including Magic Cream 50ml, lipstick, Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, and Instant Magic Facial Masks Total cost: £1000 The full wedding day beauty experience, from ceremony to dancefloor: £150 trial plus an additional trial session Personal moodboard and professional makeup artist dedicated to your entire day Wedding day makeup for bride and 4 bridal party members Bridal and party gifting worth over £500, featuring Magic Cream 50ml, fragrance, setting spray, makeup bag, and more Total cost: £1500 Charlotte herself says: 'There is nothing more beautiful than a bride glowing with confidence. I want everyone to experience that Tilbury feeling on one of the biggest days of their life!' More Trending We couldn't agree more, Charlotte! No matter which package you go for, Charlotte Tilbury's bridal team delivers everything a bride might want. The team's calendar is booked up fast though, so if you want to feel amazing on your big day, head to to secure your spot. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: Cult Beauty announces 2025 advent calendar — here's everything we know MORE: This new Trinny London serum is a non-negotiable in my skincare routine MORE: I tried Molly-Mae Hague's holiday makeup routine – and I'm never going back Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
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