Is ILIA Liquid Powder Eye Tint Really The Best?

ILIA Liquid Powder Eye Tint delivers a one and done eye look.

In its short life, ILIA’s Liquid Powder Eye Tint has received plenty of praise and awards from the beauty community. From an Allure Best of Beauty token to awards from Glamour and InStyle, there’s no shortage of people loving this ILIA eyeshadow. It has a unique liquidy consistency, but is a cream-to-powder formula, providing buildable color with no-budge, all day wear. With the recent launch of the matte shades (previously only chromatic shades were available), I wanted to get my hands on this coveted eyeshadow and see for myself if it is one of the best.

Promises vs. Performance: Is a quick-dry formula a good thing?

ILIA Liquid Powder Eye Tint is unique in that it applies like a cream and dries like a powder. This cream-to-power eyeshadow has a water-based formula that can be applied for a diffused wash of color or built up for a bolder look. ILIA promises no fading or budging with this quick-drying formula that doesn’t require an eye primer. Liquid Powder Eye Tint comes in 16 shades of matte and chromatic finishes. For best results, ILIA recommends working one eye at a time, applying with the fingers or a dense flat brush using a gentle patting motion.

When ILIA says this formula dries quick, they really mean it! In my opinion, this is both a good and bad thing. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.

For best results, this liquid eyeshadow should be applied one eye at a time. The cream-to-powder formula sets fast and can become tricky to blend once it dries down. In my experience, blending after its dried can cause the shadow to pill up. Liquid Powder Eye Tint is buildable in intensity, however it can look patchy if too much is layered or you don’t let each layer dry completely.

Now, for the good: this eyeshadow does.not.budge. Because it dries so quickly, it sets and stays in place resisting creasing and fading. It also doesn’t require an eye primer, which makes it perfect for that true one & done eye look. Even though my eyelids tend to be oilier and crease pretty easily, this shadow stays put from application to removal. If you’re patient, work one eye at a time, and blend correctly, these cream eyeshadows are a great addition to any makeup bag.

Quick Rating Rundown

(4.2)

ILIA:Liquid Powder Eye Tint

Price: $28.00

.12 oz

Value

(4.2)

Application

(3.5)

Pigment

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.5)

Extra Benefits

(4.3)

(4.5+)

MILABU PICKS:Best Eyeshadows For A One & Done Look

Price: $6.00 – $36.00

various sizes

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Pigment

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)

How It Compares: Is it the best cream eyeshadow, or just the best clean eye tint?

Let’s recap. ILIA Liquid Powder Eye Tint has a unique cream-to-powder formula that is relatively easy to apply and stays where you put it all day long. It’s available in a variety of chromatic and matte finishes that can be mix and matched, layered with other products, or worn alone. But, here’s where the tricky part comes in: these babies set fast, and once they’re dry there’s no going back. In my opinion, this is a good and bad thing. Good, because they last all day with little to no creasing, smudging, or fading. Bad, because they do take a little bit of TLC when applying. Patience, working one eye at a time, and blending carefully are my best tips when using this liquid eyeshadow. If you don’t mind spending a few extra minutes on your makeup, these make for a great one and done eye look.

So, what is the best liquid or cream eyeshadow? While ILIA is one of the best clean options, there are a handful of other products that we enjoy. For a matte liquid shadow that lasts all day, about-face Fluid Eye Paint (rated **** 4.6) is, in Milabu’s opinion, the gold standard. They are easy to apply, easy to layer, and last all day on the eyes. If the best metallic cream eyeshadow is what you’re after, look to rms Eyelights (rated **** 4.8). We recently tested these out and fell in love with this foolproof, no-budge formula.

Perhaps you’re looking for something a bit different, like a pressed glitter shadow or an eyeshadow stick. If that’s the case, you’re in luck – The Milabu Team has put together a list of our favorite eyeshadows for a one and done look, AKA swipe and go! Check out our MILBAU PICKS here.