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I've been on the hunt for dupes to the pricey but TikTok famous Flawless Filter. I found at least four that offer similar results.
Mollie Davies/Insider
The $44 Flawless Filter from Charlotte Tillbury works wonders, but there are some amazing dupes on the market.
From $13 to $28, there are plenty of affordable alternatives.
These products all deliver a red carpet worthy glow, with many currently viral on TikTok.
Although it was launched in 2018, social media has recently blown up with love and devotion to one particular makeup base product: Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter. The brand has bottled up a foundation-primer-illuminator hybrid that offers the ultimate glow — one that celebrities, influencers and beauty experts are all obsessed with. So much so, that TikTok currently has over 79 million views on the hashtag #FlawlessFilter.
I've always been a fan of the glowy look, wanting to look as though I just stepped out of the sunshine wearing nothing but my skincare, so the rise of more dewy skin-focused products from the dominating matte a few years ago has been heavenly to me.
I prefer a natural dewy look to more matted makeup.
Mollie Davies/Insider
I'm known among family and friends as a hardcore Charlotte Tilbury fan, but, it's no secret the products aren't exactly cheap, and even when buyers are ready to make the investment, the viral products like the brand's Beauty Wands and Flawless Filter, are often sold out.
The price and lack of availability is likely why the top three liked videos for Flawless Filter on TikTok are all about dupes. So I set out to find the best dupes on the market — from the viral products of TikTok, to those lesser known, there are plenty of options out there, and these are the best that I found.
The original product: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
Mollie Davies/Insider and Charlotte Tilbury
Before we get into the dupes, it's helpful to know what we're up against. I've been using Flawless Filter since it was released in 2018 when I want something lightweight that gives coverage without being as heavy as foundation.
My usual shade is 1 Fair, and when I've been in the sunshine I swap out to a 2 Fair. I apply the product using the sponge-brush it comes with across my forehead, chin, and along my cheekbones, and blend outwards using my fingertips. I originally tried the product with the intention of using it as a primer underneath my foundation, but found that I didn't need any foundation at all with just a few patches of Flawless Filter. Somehow, the product makes my skin look like my skin, but more hydrated and softened — flawless indeed.
The only downside is that the product isn't the most affordable, especially for everyday wear, which is exactly what it's perfect for.
Dupe #1: XX Revolution Skin Glow Tinted Booster
Mollie Davies/Insider, Revolution Beauty London
I haven't used too much of the Revolution range, despite hearing great reviews from fellow beauty experts. But, I read that this tinted product has lots of similarities to Charlotte Tilbury's Flawless Filter, and also contains niacinamide in order to make skin seem poreless, and smoother.
Instantly, I noticed that even the lighter of the shades I tried out (Fever), was darker than a shade I would usually take, and there aren't many shades to choose from. The product applied more like a foundation than a base, and was visibly more of a bronzed illuminator than my natural skin tone. But the end result of blending the product in was very similar in terms of glow levels to Flawless Filter, and for a fraction of the price, is definitely worth trying.
Known for affordable makeup, Maybelline comes through time and time again with great, inexpensive products. This 4-In-1 product is a primer, concealer, highlighter and BB cream all in one bottle, so it's similar to the Flawless Filter in the way that it delivers the effects of multiple products in one.
I saw Mikayla Nogueira go wild for it on TikTok, telling her followers it's "exactly the same!" as Flawless Filter, and was wowed with the results, leaving me so excited to try it.
I was really impressed with how the product blended into my skin, and evened out the pigmented parts where I have sun damage or redness from spots. My shade is 00 Fair, and is a perfect match for my skin tone. The texture is creamy, and very similar to that of Flawless Filter. Side by side, it would be really hard to tell the difference between the two products.
Dupe #3: Saie Glowy Super Gel
Mollie Davies/Insider and Saie
Perhaps the least well-known brand on this list, Saie has some gorgeous products that are perfect for enhancing natural beauty. Available in just two shades, Starglow and Sunglow, the formula is definitely more on the skincare side of things, rather than a makeup product. Triglyceride helps to strengthen the skin's barrier, which means that your skin looks hydrated throughout the day, whilst glycerin keeps it looking plump.
Although you can wear the product as a primer, mix it with a foundation to make it brighter, or alone for a dewy finish, it is much lighter in coverage than Flawless Filter. However, in terms of the glow that it delivers, it's on par with Flawless Filter. I applied Starglow directly to my skin after my skincare, but add in a bit of concealer around my eyes and chin, where the Glowy Super Gel lacks coverage.
I'd say that for those who love the glow that Flawless Filter delivers, but want less coverage, this is the one for you.
Dupe #4: e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Mollie Davies/Insider and e.l.f.
I first heard of e.l.f's Halo Glow Liquid Filter after seeing my friend rave about it. Available in eight different shades, the brand says that all wearers should be able to find a shade to suit their skin, and I opted for 2 Fair/Light.
The doe-foot applicator is really similar to that in the Flawless Filter bottle, so even applying the product to the skin feels like the same experience. I blended the product into my skin using a damp Marshmallow Sponge, and focused mainly around my T-zone and the apples of my cheeks, blending outwards.
As far as complexion boosters go, this one is a clear rival for Flawless Filter. There is a slight shimmer to the product, and a very welcome tint that makes my skin look especially healthy, like I've spent some time in the sun. The similarities between the two products are, for me, uncanny.