ILIA Beauty Review: Best and Worst of ILIA 

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Everyone has been asking about Ilia Beauty. You all want to know what products from Ilia are worth buying and which are not. After spending some serious money, I’ve tried a good portion of what Ilia has to offer. In this Ilia Beauty Review, I will be giving you a comprehensive and completely honest review of each Ilia product I’ve tried.

In addition to my thoughts on Ilia’s products, I’ll be sharing who I think might like the product and if there are other clean beauty alternatives that I like better.

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About Ilia

Ilia was founded in 2011 by Sasha Plavsic. She set out to recreate a version of her favorite lip balm formulated with “clean ingredients.”  From there the brand has expanded into a well know clean beauty brand.  The product line is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. 

Ilia Beauty Review

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

The Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint Foundation is a lightweight skin tint, not a foundation. It has a thicker texture when first applied, but it blends out to provide light coverage. The coverage is in between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation. Since the coverage is pretty sheer, you can get away with a shade that is not a perfect match. I purchased mine in Balos, but it is not the best match for my skin tone.

When applying this skin tint, it is important to start with a well-moisturized face. If your skin has any texture, this tint will emphasize it. I also found that the finish of the skin tint varies depending on how you prep your skin. To get a dewy finish, I had to use a setting spray.

I would recommend the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint to people with normal or combination skin. If your skin is dry, proceed with caution. Again this tint is very sheer. If you like a no-makeup look, you will like the skin tint.  But if you want coverage, Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint is not the product for you.

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Ilia True Skin Radiant Priming Serum

First and foremost, the Ilia True Skin Radiant Priming Serum is not very radiant. It looks like a radiant serum when dispensed from the bottle. However, once it dries, it does not look radiant.

I don’t generally use primers. If I do use a primer, I prefer one that adds hydration to the skin. The Ilia Priming Serum doesn’t add enough hydration or enough radiance.

I would only suggest this primer for those with combination or oily skin. If you do use it, this primer pairs better with the Ilia Serum Foundation. I would not use this primer with the Ilia Skin Tint.

Because my skin is getting drier and more dehydrated from retinol use, I prefer to prime my entire face with a nice sunscreen. Most of the time I reach for the Glow Screen from Supergoop. I prefer the Glow Screen over this primer because I get sun protection, hydration, and glow.

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Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation

The Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation is a medium-coverage foundation with a natural finish. Currently, it is available in 30 shades.

Of the two foundation products, this is the one I liked more. It does have more coverage than the Skin Tint. I would consider the coverage to be buildable to medium, not full coverage.

If you are looking for the best clean foundation from Ilia, this is the product I would recommend.

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Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer

The Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer is a medium coverage concealer with a natural finish. It is available in 20 shades with a variety of undertones including warm, neutral, and cool.

This concealer and I did not get along. First, I picked the wrong shade. I purchased Suma, which is supposed to be light with cool undertones. Buying online, without swatching the concealer in person is difficult. I don’t blame Ilia for the fact that I bought the wrong color. However, I won’t be trying another shade because I don’t like this concealer. The coverage is in between light and medium. But the biggest turn-off for me was that it was very drying.

While I didn’t like the concealer, it does have a lot of positive reviews. People with combination or oily skin types might like this concealer more than I did. For those with drier or aging skin, I would stay away from the Ilia Serum Concealer.

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Ilia Color Haze

Ilia Color Haze Multi Use Pigment

The Ilia Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment is available in 5 shades that can be applied to the lips and the cheeks. When squeezed from the tube, the pigment has a very thick consistency. Once blended on the cheeks it becomes very thin and weightless.

When I squeezed the product from the tube, I noticed that it was very thick. I tried putting the Color Haze on my lips straight from the tube, but that just made a mess. After that, I decided I wouldn’t apply the pigment directly on my cheeks. Instead, I put the product on the back of my hand to warm it up and thin it out. After I thinned it out, I used my fingers to apply it to my cheeks. It went on nicely and gave my skin a very subtle flush.

If you like natural-looking blush, you will enjoy the Ilia Color Haze Multi Use Pigment. Also, if you have dry skin, this blush may disappear after applying. To make the blush last longer on dry skin, apply a little more than you think you need.

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Ilia Liquid Light Serum Highlighter

This gel-based, anti-pollution serum highlighter can either be mixed with your foundation or applied on top of makeup. The Ilia Liquid Light Serum Highlighter is available in 3 shades: soft gold, rose gold, and pink pearl.

One thing I like about the Ilia Serum Highlighter is that you can use it in multiple ways. My preference is to mix a small drop into my foundation or applying it to the skin before the foundation. Applying it on top of makeup is doable, but it takes a bit of finesse to get right.

This serum highlighter is nice but it is very expensive. If you are looking for a more affordable clean beauty option, I would recommend the Saie Highlighter.

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Ilia Cosmetics Review

Ilia The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette

The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette features six talc-free eyeshadows. The cool palette features cool-toned purples and browns. In the warm palette, you will find rich reds and warm neutrals. Both colorways are great for everyday wear.

The formula in this palette is the best clean eyeshadow formula I have tried. The shades all work well and blend nicely. The color payoff is better than I expected. You can’t get very vibrant colorful looks from the palette, but you will get a couple of nice looks from the six shades.

I would recommend this palette to anyone that likes simple, classic eye looks. This palette would also be great for traveling. It has a sturdy case, a slim profile, and a good mirror.

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Ilia Liquid Eye Tint

Ilia Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint

Who doesn’t love a one-and-done eyeshadow? The Ilia Liquid Eyeshadow comes in 16 beautiful shades. This eye tint glides on like a cream and dries like a powder, applying effortlessly and instantly locking on without creasing.

I love a one-and-done eyeshadow so I was not surprised that I live in this one from Ilia. It applies well and blends easily. I only wish I had purchased more colors.

If you like simple eye looks, I think you will enjoy this liquid eyeshadow. For those of you that like complicated eye looks, you probably won’t enjoy this formula. It just doesn’t work well with other liquid or cream eyeshadows.

If you are wondering, I prefer the Ilia liquid eye tint over the Kosas.

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Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara

The Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara is an award-winning clean mascara. It gives you beautiful lashes while also nourishing them. Made with beeswax and shea butter for flexibility and hold, this flake-free formula lasts yet comes off easily with warm water.

I very rarely buy a second tube of the same mascara, but I like this mascara so much that I made an exception. I love that it lengthens my lashes while also giving a bit of volume.

This mascara is one of my favorite high-end mascaras. Even if you are not a clean beauty devotee, you should try it.

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Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick

The Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipsticks come in 8 great colors. The formula features apricot seed oil to lock in moisture, castor seed oil to soften and soothe lips, and mango seed butter to boost elasticity.

It is exciting to find a clean lipstick that actually has a good color payoff. I will say I don’t find the formula to be too hydrating. Overall it is a nice lipstick.

I’d recommend this Ilia lipstick to anyone looking for more color than most clean lip products tend to provide.

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Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil

It seems like every brand is making lip oil, Ilia is no exception. The Ilia Tinted Lip is available in six very pretty colors. This tinted lip oil is packed with plumping hyaluronic acid to leave lips soft, smooth, and anything but sticky.

I really love lip oils and have tried almost everyone available. I like that the Ilia lip oil has more color payoff than most lip oils but is still easy to apply. It would be nice if they made a few more cool-toned colors. Then I would buy them all.

I recommend this lip oil to anyone that is looking for an easy-to-wear lip product. Just throw it on before your next Zoom call and you will look instantly put together.

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Overall Thoughts On Ilia Beauty

Overall, I enjoyed a good number of Ilia products. They offer a fair range of well-performing, clean beauty options. That being said, there are some Ilia makeup products I liked more than others.

My favorite Ilia beauty products:

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1 Comments

  1. 7.26.23
    carol burr said:

    I ❤️love❤️ your review. You are one of the few really honest beauty reviewers out there, and I hope to read more of your reviews:
    Cosmetics (high end) are so expensive. Reading your review helps to America’s better purchasing decisions. Thank you so much!❤️🌸✨😊