If you’ve heard of the clean beauty brand ILIA, here are my thoughts on some of their most popular products and my ILIA beauty reviews.
After loving Beautycounter’s makeup for years (see this post for why the pause: Is Beautycounter Coming Back?), I’ve been on the hunt for some good alternative makeup brands while they are on pause. It’s actually been pretty fun to test out some new makeup products from Crunchi, Dime, ILIA, and more.
The world of clean beauty has been growing fast, with more and more brands creating products that swap conventional ingredients for safer, more natural alternatives (That’s supply and demand for you!). But we know not all clean beauty brands are created equal. Some go all-in on high-performance formulas, while others miss the mark on quality or wearability by maybe going a little too natural.
I had been hearing about ILIA for years from the internet along with my sister, who loves their tinted moisturizer. I’ve been using the below ILIA products for a while now, testing them in my everyday routine, and today, I’m sharing my honest thoughts.
ILIA Beauty Review
What is ILIA Beauty known for?
ILIA is known for innovation and creating multi-tasking products that are approachable and easy to use. They also prioritize safety, transparency, cruelty free, and sustainability in their formulas. Products are free of parabens, phthalates, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and chemical sunscreen. ILIA follows the EWG (Environmental Working Group) standards and disclose all ingredients in their formulas (which is a clean beauty must for me!). ILIA uses recycled aluminum, glass, and responsibly sourced paper for packaging. They also have a recycling program to help reduce beauty waste—just send back your empties! Lastly, ILIA does not test on animals and is Leaping Bunny certified. Most of their skincare ingredients are vegan, with the exception of some that contain ethically sourced beeswax.
Fun facts: ILIA Beauty is based in Laguna Beach, California. The brand was founded in 2011 by Sasha Plavsic, who wanted to create clean beauty products that didn’t compromise on performance.
What Are The Best ILIA Beauty Products?
The Skin Tint Serum is super popular due to having SPF 40, and the Multi Stick is great for the minimalist because you can use it on cheeks and lips. They also just launched an Eye Stylus Shadow Stick that is an easy-to-apply eyeshadow in stick form. Admittedly, there are a lot of ILIA products I have yet to try! The main four I have tried are all best-sellers.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is a multi-tasking product that combines skincare, sun protection, and light coverage. It acts as a serum, foundation, and sunscreen in one. With broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection, the formula uses non-nano zinc oxide, making it a clean, reef-safe sunscreen option. It is also free from silicones, fragrances, and chemical sunscreens, aligning with clean beauty standards. ILIA Skin Tint is ideal for normal to dry skin types and perfect for achieving a “no-makeup makeup” look. Available in 30+ shades, it offers an inclusive range to suit various skin tones. While this may seem overwhelming, I used the Shade finder and the shade I ordered matched perfectly.
It’s actually known for having a very strange scent, which is definitely it’s biggest drawback. You apply it with a dropper, and it’s one of the more liquid-y of all the tinted moisturizers I’ve tried. The formula and coverage is great though, and I’d actually describe this almost as more of a light foundation than a tinted moisturizer. But it still has some great skincare ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and squalene. There are so many shades, so you are bound to find the perfect match! My shade is Balos – ST3.
Check out The Best Tinted Moisturizers for my full review of all of the ones I’ve tried.
ILIA Multi Stick
I am a big fan of the Multi Stick, and it is my favorite ILIA product! The Multi Stick’s lightweight, buttery texture melts into the skin, delivering a natural flush of color with a dewy finish. Infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, and orange peel wax, it hydrates while adding a soft, buildable tint. I’ve been a fan of cream blush for a few years now – I find it easier to blend.
It is designed to be used on cheeks and/or lips, and I just love how easy it is to swipe up my cheekbone and then across my lips for a matching color (You can even use it on eyes, but I don’t look good with pink color shadows)! It’s my go-to color product in my gym makeup bag because of how portable and compact it is! I have the shade ‘In The Mood.’
ILIA Mascara
ILIA has two different mascaras: Fullest Volumizing and Limitless Lash. The Volumizing is the one I’ve been using for several months, and I’d like to try the Limitless Lash next! Volumizing is infused with provitamin B5 and arginine, which helps strengthen and condition lashes over time. Free from silicones, synthetic fragrances, and carbon black, this mascara is clean, cruelty-free, and ophthalmologist-tested, making it safe for sensitive eyes.
The brush is hourglass-shaped as you can see above, and I really like it for the application. The formula also does not smear on me, and is easy enough to remove with my favorite cleansing oil. My one complaint about this mascara is that it WILL clump if you don’t keep the brush clean. The formula feels thicker to me, and it dries fast, so I have to wipe the brush every other week or so to keep it from clumping. I also find if I do a second coat my lashes group together. I think my lashes do a little better with a comb-style brush, so that’s one reason I want to try the Limitless Lash next!
ILIA Complexion Stick
The Complexion Stick is such a cool alternative to liquid-y foundations! Some will find this so much easier to use and blend than the liquid super serum. It is described as being medium coverage, and I would agree – it’s almost a little too much coverage for me, as I prefer a lighter weight base. I’d liken it to a medium coverage concealer. The buildable coverage of a stick is great for blurring pores, redness, and texture (from fine lines) with a natural-matte finish. Mature skin loves this blur effect! I’ve been using it more as a complement to other tinted moisturizers or when I need more coverage in one spot instead of all over my face.
Other ILIA Products I want to try:
Is ILIA Beauty Worth It?
As far as clean makeup brands go, I think ILIA is one of the best! All of their clean standards fit my criteria, and so far I think their products are awesome. The prices are in line with other clean brands in the market. The brand is committed to eco-friendly packaging and ingredient transparency. I also love how much shade variety they have. Plus the color shades are all very natural looking, which is always the look I want. ILIA is perfect for everyday wear, giving you that effortless “your skin, but better” glow. Would I repurchase? Definitely—especially their mascara, lip products, and skin tint.
Where To Buy Ilia Beauty Products
- iliabeauty.com – Best for exclusive deals, shade-matching tools, and direct access to their full product lineup. I also appreciate you using my affiliate link!
- Sephora – Great for in-person shade matching and trying before you buy.
- Credo Beauty – A clean beauty retailer that carries ILIA.
- Nordstrom – If you are Nordstrom loyal.
- Amazon – If you’re a Prime loyal shopper.
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