ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum Review

True Skin Radiant Priming Serum is a makeup primer with skincare benefits.

A makeup primer and skincare in one? Sign me up! ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum is not only is this face primer said to create an even base for makeup application, but it also features benefits such as skin firming and environmental protection. The price tag is high at $52 a bottle and has a lot to live up to being in the same luxury category as my favorite Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Keep reading the review to find out if ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum even comes close. 

Promises vs. Performance: This makeup primer has a lot of promises to meet.

Said to bridge the gap between makeup and skincare, True Skin Radiant Priming Serum has a lot of promises to fill. According to ILIA’s website, this product will plump the skin, minimize pores, and fill in lines. This oil free, silicone free primer also helps protect against environmental stressors. It promises to increase the wear time of makeup and create a seamless canvas for application. Upon application, there is supposed to be a tightening effect, to minimize the look of pores and improve skin texture, before drying down to a silky soft finish. 

My Review Thoughts: ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum

During review I tested out ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum while a full face test of ILIA products. I applied as the packaging suggested, shaking it really well and using only four drops across my entire face. As recommended, I made sure to really press it into the skin and waited about two minutes before applying the ILIA True Skin Foundation on top. While it didn’t give the all over radiant glow it claimed, it did give some radiance, especially on my forehead and cheeks.

Ultimately there was really no visible difference, and there definitely was no color correction, or blurring of pores and fine lines. At the end of the day, the radiance didn’t last and the foundation never fully sank into my skin. The True Skin Primer and True Skin Foundation are supposed to be working together in conjunction and I don’t see that. The performance of this primer is not worth the price. 

How It Compares: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is the best face primer.

As part of the review let’s compare ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum to best primers. While the ILIA serum primer was a let down, I do have a recommendation that is not. The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer retails for $54 and is a much better choice. Like ILIA, Hourglass primer is oil free and vegan. But Veil Mineral Primer actually minimizes my pores and extends the wear time of my makeup, two things the True Skin Primer doesn’t do. It also contains SPF 15, whereas the ILIA primer does not. If I’m going to spend over $50 on a makeup primer, I want it to perform well and actually make a difference on my skin. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer does.

Milabu Beauty Method: Maddie’s tips to make this $52 primer work.

While I didn’t enjoy the performance of this primer with the foundation, one of our editor’s, Maddie, found this primer works really well with the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint ($48).

1. Begin with clean skin. I like to apply this primer before applying any other makeup, and before beginning my eye look. It needs time to soak into the skin.
2. Shake the primer (more than you think you need to!) to ensure all the ingredients combine. The ingredients tend to separate, which can cause the primer not performing correctly.
3. Dispense about half a dropper of product into your hands and rub them together to warm the primer up.
4. Next, pat the product into your skin.
5. Before applying any product on top, wait at least two minutes. This product needs some time to work into the skin.

Again, not a fool proof, works with any foundation primer, but if you have it in your makeup drawer and need to get some use out of it, this is the way to do it. Have you made it work with other products? Let us know!