Charlotte Tilbury’s new lip liner is the secret behind Aimee Lou Wood's pouty Met Gala look
White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood accentuated her lips for the Met Gala with Charlotte Tilbury's new launch that gives a 'filler-like' plumping effect
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.
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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 Duo – 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 Liner, a steal at £3.20.