ILIA makeup review

ILIA is one of the most recognized (and desired) clean beauty brands. It stands at the same level as brands like RMS Beauty or Kjaer Weis. Here’s my honest review after testing some of their makeup products.

If you’re into clean beauty and sustainable living, you’ve probably seen ILIA beauty products somewhere over the internet. It happened to me a while back, but as this brand wasn’t available at my local market… I decided to wait (instead of placing an order overseas).

ILIA was created out of sheer necessity. Its founder has put herself through the challenge of re-creating her mom’s favorite lip balm, using only ingredients that are good for you.

What do I like the most about this brand’s philosophy? That not all-natural ingredients are that great, nor all synthetic ingredients are that bad. So they try to find a balance between both worlds to bring us their sustainable formulas. Also, they see skincare and makeup as one - this means their makeup products not only look good on you, they’re also good for you.

Just like the other brands I’ve previously mentioned, ILIA’s products aren’t exactly cheap. Nor are these the most expensive products out there. Let’s say, their prices are mid-range. At the same price range as Urban Decay or Tarte. So, like me, you’ll probably have to wait until a nice deal comes around or think about it thoroughly before buying one of their products.

Luckily, I found this ILIA set called “Meet the Minis” at Laconicum for a reasonable price and I decided it was time to give it a try. As I could test 4 products for 32 euros (28€ thanks to the 10% off on the first order). The box brought mascara, a liquid eyeshadow, a lip tint, and a lip mask.

Without further ado, here’s my honest review after testing these products for a few weeks. Even though I was dying to talk about the mascara first, I will review the products according to their application order. Makes sense, right?!

Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask

First things first, hydration is key for good-looking makeup and that also applies to your lips. No matter if it’s hot or cold outside, my lips always suffer from the changing of the seasons. So I am always looking for natural (and reliable) products that allow me to keep my lips hydrated at all times. 

One of the products that I use daily is indeed a lip mask, so when I saw that this ILIA set included one… I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to see how it performed against my all-time favorite lip mask from Burt’s Bees.

What does the brand say about it? ILIA’s Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask is a twice-daily treatment mask that helps reveal our smoothest, softest lips. Its potent dual-action formula works like a facial, sweeping away dry, flaky skin while drawing in moisture to visibly renew and revitalize. This lip mask exfoliates and hydrates at the same time, thanks to its ingredients (papaya enzymes, Salicornia, and hyaluronic acid). The brand also claims that after 1 day: 94% noticed lips felt smoother, 97% said lips felt nourished, and 91% said they got instant moisturizing results.

My experience: As I haven’t read anything about this product when I tried it for the first time, so I was really surprised when I found some “sugary” grains on the formula. 

The grains are hardly noticeable, as you get two or three grains per application, and there doesn’t take long to dissolve. The formula is comfortable to apply and easy to spread. It has some similarities with the one I use from Burt’s Bees, and it’s way more comfortable to use than that hyped lip mask from Laneige.

It doesn’t feel heavy or oily at all. It felt like I was using a more moisturizing lip balm, rather than a lip mask. Which for me it’s a plus.

Even though it felt a bit strange at the beginning, I like the two-in-one concept. Not that my lips are usually cracked or in need of some extra care, but because I think it’s a cleaver (and effortless) way of keeping your lips in mint condition.

What about hydration? Yes, I can tell that my lips looked more hydrated and plumper after using this product a few times. My lips looked beautiful and natural the day after, even if I wasn’t using any lip product at the moment.

So, now that I have a new clean beauty lip mask… is the one from Burt’s Bees still my favorite? I would have to say, yes! I enjoy applying it several times a day like if it was a lip balm. As it doesn’t have the exfoliating grains, it ends up being more suitable for me. Oh, and it’s also cheaper.

Would I recommend it? Well, if you’re looking for a moisturizing lip mask with a gentle scrub effect this might be a nice solution for you. As I said, the formula has a comfortable feel and you can see the results. But in case you’re just looking for a reliable face mask that you can use daily (or several times a day, if you please), then the one from Burt’s Bees will be the ideal one for you.

7/10

Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil

Who doesn’t like a good lip product? I certainly do. However, I am a bit picky with the textures and the colors.

The Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil that comes in the “Meet the Minis” box is in the color Only You. It’s a neutral nude, more on the light pink side.

What does the brand say about it? The Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil from ILIA is a cushiony, tinted lip oil packed with plumping hyaluronic acid and major moisturizing properties that leaves lips soft, smooth, and anything but sticky.

The active feels of hyaluronic acid and a blend of powerful botanicals deliver deep hydration with each wear. Lips instantly feel fuller, smoother, and softer with a natural, glossy sheen that blends to a wash of color. 

My experience: Well, this product name says it all. When you apply it, it looks like a non-sticky gloss. But once the color runs out, your lips look nourished and pumper… as if you have just applied a lip oil. At least, that’s what happened to me.

As a gloss, it happens to be comfortable. I’ve never really had a positive experience with a gloss, as I tend to find these too sticky or heavy. The Only You color is a beautiful soft pink tone, clearly not a shade that I am used to.

When it comes to lip products, I prefer something more long-lasting (like Pat McGrath’s liquid lipsticks) or that fades out evenly (like my beloved lipsticks from Charlotte Tilbury). The glossy concept is not right up my alley. However, I enjoyed the lip oil side of this product. Especially how healthy and beautiful my lips looked.

So, instead of discarding this product (which is something I hate to do), I’ll keep wearing it when I have zoom meetings. As the color isn’t too noticeable, at least on my work computer camera. Also, I like its small wand and how easy it is to properly apply the product to the lips.

Would I recommend it? If you’re a lip gloss fan and you’re looking for a more natural approach in terms of ingredients, this one is worth trying. Plus, they have several shades available on their website.

Even though it hasn’t exactly met my needs, I’ll have to admit that this is a really good lip product.

7/10

Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint

OK, even though I am not the biggest fan of liquid eyeshadows… I had high expectations of this product. I have a couple of liquid eyeshadows from Catrice, that I wear now and then. And I especially like how fast it is to create a look with it.

What does the brand say about it? The Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint is a clean and highly-pigmented liquid eyeshadow that transforms into a weightless, metallic powder. It glides like a cream and dries like a powder. The one that comes in the box is in the tone Mythic, a soft rose gold shade with pink pearl.

According to ILIA’s website, we can sweep the cushiony wand along the eyelid for a bold metallic effect or gently blend it out for a more diffused wash. They also mention that this is a 99% naturally derived water-based formula that doesn’t crease or budge. 

My experience: I ended up being pleasantly surprised with this one. I was expecting a glittery eyeshadow packed with different undertones. Instead, I got a light liquid chromatic eyeshadow that gets a powdery texture once it dries out.

The formula is light and it still feels exactly like that, once the product fully dries out on the eyelids. Its wand makes it super easy to apply the product anywhere you want, to the point that you can pretty much draw lines (if you want to).

You can have two finishes, depending on how you apply them. A more chromatic tone if you apply it directly with the wand (without using your fingers or a brush afterward) or a more diffused shade if you opt to blend out. Even though the product has a gorgeous tone, it happens to be a little intense for me (or stronger than the ones I am used to at the moment).

After wearing it as a single eyeshadow a couple of times, I decided to twist it and pair it with my glittery pink liquid eyeshadow from Catrice - using the ILIA’s liquid eyeshadow as the base layer. And it worked out perfectly. Not only both tones were a perfect match, but ILIA’s eyeshadow gave depth to the look. Which is a super-easy way of creating a more interesting look.

Three things that surprised me about this eyeshadow: its lightness once it dried out, its powdery finish, and how easy it was to blend out.

Also, the eyeshadow lasted perfectly the whole day. And no, I haven’t used any eyeshadow primer or even concealer on my eyelids before applying this eyeshadow.

Would I recommend it? Oh, absolutely! If you’re looking for a natural eyeshadow that is effective and long-lasting, look no further. While the shade Mythic is the one that comes with this kit, there are plenty of other tones available on ILIA’s website. Also, if you’re just getting started on eye makeup or makeup in general - this one is without a doubt a great product to get started with.

7,5/10

Limitless Lash Mascara

You might already have noticed that I am a mascara fan. It’s that one product that instantly makes me feel (and look) better, and the one that I would choose if I could only wear one makeup product for the rest of my existence.

As you can see from other reviews available here at the blog, I am always looking for new conscious mascaras. So I knew that, sooner or later, I would end up testing this one from ILIA beauty.

What does the brand say about it? It’s buildable and flake-free, 99% naturally derived mascara that lifts, curls, lengthens, and adds just the right amount of volume. It weightlessly conditions each lash, leaving these lifted throughout the day. Has a dual-sided brush for a perfectly natural application. Use the shorter side to curl and create volume, then the longer bristles lift, lengthen, and separate. Can be effortlessly removed with water at the end of the day  - no scrubbing or tugging required.

My experience: The Limitless Lash Mascara hasn’t immediately caught my attention because of one particular reason: its brush. It has a two-sided silicone brush, and I am not particularly a fan of silicone mascara brushes - as I usually end up hurting myself in the eye while applying the product. I’ve started with the shorter side and then the longer one. 

Even though I could notice the difference, after using each side of the brush. Unfortunately, some lashes ended up looking clumped, and there were some product residues right at the tip. While the whole experience was a bit weird for me, the truth is my lashes looked way longer with only two coats of product. Also, the wand was easier to use than I initially thought.

After wearing it for over 8 hours, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the volume remained the same the whole day. Another thing that surprised me was that the formula hasn’t flaked or smudged. 

Unlike what happened with the Milk Makeup mascara, I haven’t had to wait a few days for the formula to dry out and see its real performance. Which is awesome! Also, the product felt super comfortable on the lashes - even when I was wearing it for over 8 hours. No stiffness or itchiness.

In terms of volume, I have to say that it had a better performance than the mascara from Milk Makeup. On the other hand, I still prefer the Milk Makeup one as the lashes end up looking fuller and perfectly combed (no clumps or undesired residue).

And, I’ll have to agree with ILIA. This formula is super easy to remove, which for me is a plus - as I have sensitive skin.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, yes. Especially if you don’t have a problem with silicone mascara wands. This mascara had a really impressive performance from day one, which is pretty unusual when it comes to most mascaras. Also, its formula is gentle and effective.

As it’s available in two sizes (travel and standard), you can opt for the smaller one to see if it works for you.

9/10