ILIA true skin foundation

Milabu Rating

  • Overall
    (4)

Price Category: Pro-Grade

  • $54.00 Retail

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Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Natural finish that mimics base underneath
  • Applies easily with brush or sponge
  • Buildable light to medium coverage
  • Skincare benefits
  • Minimal settling and creasing
  • Doesn’t accentuate texture or dry spots

Cons

  • Can look heavy if built up too much
  • Not long wearing (only about 6 hours)

Overview

The new and improved ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation is better than the first. It’s a true second skin foundation that provides a light to medium coverage and natural finish.

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Our Rating Criteria

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation is a clean foundation with medium coverage.

ILIA has some award winning products in their natural beauty line, including their True Skin Serum Foundation, which recently got a makeover. The original formula had already won awards, but they made it even better with an inclusion of active levels of niacinamide and allantoin. I’ve tried both formulas and I can’t say I loved the original. But, the revamp pleasantly surprised me.

Promises vs. Performance: Just how skin-like is it?

According to ILIA’s website, this foundation is weightless and buildable, offering a light to medium coverage. It is said to be a weightless, medium coverage with a natural finish. Promising to blur imperfections and minimize pores, True Skin Serum Foundation is supposed to plump fine lines, soothe irritation and redness, and effortlessly melt into the skin. ILIA’s founder, Sasha Plavsic, says it was created for this reason: to really look and feel like the best version of your skin. The new version of True Skin Serum Foundation has an infusion of active skincare levels of niacinamide and allantoin to improve skin with each wear.

Grab your favorite brush or sponge to apply ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation. This lightweight foundation blends easily and evenly for light to medium coverage. It has a natural finish, but can mimic the type of primer worn underneath to be more matte or luminous. True Skin feels lightweight and looks like a second skin on. However, if too much is applied it can look heavy. I wouldn’t recommend trying to build this foundation up to a full coverage. Instead, add a concealer to areas you want/need more coverage.

Although, long wear isn’t something you’ll get with True Skin Serum Foundation. It wears well for the first 4-6 hours, but after that it can start to fade. The good thing is that there is minimal settling and creasing, nor does it accentuate texture or dry spots.

So, how does it compare to the original formula?

I’m happy to report that the new and improved formula is much better than the original! I know there were lots who loved the OG, but, on my skin, it separated and accentuated my texture and dry spots. The new formula is a thinner consistency as well, which allows it to actually achieve the “second skin” finish ILIA promises. Its a closer texture to their beloved Super Serum Skin Tint, just less dewy on the skin!

If you were like me and didn’t love the original version, I’d give this new one a go. ILIA improved it and now I feel that I’ll actually reach for this foundation more.

Quick Rating Rundown

This Product

(4)
ILIA true skin foundation

:Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation

Price: $54.00

1.0 oz

Value

(3.9)

Application

(4.5)

Coverage

(4)

Texture

(4.3)

Longevity

(2.5)

Shade Range

(3.8)

Extra Benefits

(5)

Industry Standard

(4.6)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

:Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Price: $48.00

1.0 oz

Value

(3.9)

Application

(4.8)

Coverage

(5)

Texture

(4)

Longevity

(4.8)

Shade Range

(5)

Extra Benefits

(3.5)

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Our Rating Criteria

How It Compares: ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation is better than before.

I’m so glad ILIA recognized the need for improvement with their True Skin Serum Foundation. What we have now is a solid medium coverage clean foundation that holds its own against other best sellers. With True Skin, you’ll find a lightweight feel that has skincare all-stars like niacinamide and allantoin to improve the appearance of skin with each wear. I don’t get the longest wear with this ILIA foundation, but the first 4-6 hours have minimal settling, creasing, and fading. The formula doesn’t cling to dry spots or accentuate imperfections either. This is a great everyday foundation for when you don’t need your makeup to last against the elements. For that, I’d look to a full coverage formula like Estée Lauder Double Wear (rated ***** 4.6), which, in my opinion, is the standard in prograde beauty.

For a complete list of our top foundation formulas (rated ****4.5+), check out our MILABU PICKS article, ‘The 12 Best Foundations You Need To Try.’

Milabu Beauty Method: Give this serum foundation a little TLC.

Here’re some tips and tricks to make it work. To begin, apply your favorite gripping primer (Milk Hydro Grip, $36, is a good one to pair with True Skin Serum Foundation).

  1. Dispense 1 to 2 pumps of foundation on the back of your hand.
  2. Dot the foundation across your face evenly, and then apply it to the skin. It’s pricey, but I love the Bobbi Brown Face Brush ($55) with just about any face base.
  3. If using the first method, a damp Beautyblender ($20) is best at helping this foundation sink into the skin. If using a brush, blend the foundation into your skin using a stippling motion. I recommend working in layers with this product, as you can always add more or use concealer for added coverage.
  4. Finally, finish out your makeup look as desired. Layer cheek products or finish off with a setting powder. The choice is yours!

Advertised Product Highlights

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation

SHADE/COLOR: SF1 Formentera (very light with cool undertones); SF1.5 Mallorca (very light with neutral undertones)

FORMULATION: Liquid

FINISH: Radiant

COVERAGE: Light to medium

LONGEVITY: No claims

PROTECTION: No SPF

BENEFITS: Pore minimizing; Antiaging; Lightweight

OTHER:  Dermatologist tested; Non comedogenic; Vegan; Cruelty free

CLEAN BEAUTY CLAIMS: Gluten free

Edited by Maddie

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