We Tried ILIA's Skin Tint On Different Skin Types

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint | Space NK
If you’re partial to a sheer to light coverage base that offers a subtle dewy finish, ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint will need no introduction. For those who haven’t come across the award-winning, bestselling skin tint, the formula is packed full of ingredients you’d expect to find in your creams and serums.

We’re talking hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and squalane. As a result, ILIA’s Skin Tint promises to help hydrate skin and ease the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles over time, while also doing the immediate job of a lightweight foundation and concealing any unevenness. It's also available in 30 shades, catering to all skin tones.

It’s a very popular makeup product and is lauded by beauty editors, but does ILIA Skin Tint work for everyone? We asked three people from the team to road test the foundation for three weeks. Here is their honest ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint review…

Ruby’s ILIA Skin Tint review

Skin type: Combination/acne prone

Skin tone: Fair

The product: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £48.00 in Kai

Ruby's Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review | Space NK

I usually opt for light coverage foundations, and I like it when they leave my skin feeling moisturised and looking dewy. My immediate thoughts on ILIA’s Skin Tint were how easy it was to use. The liquid formula blended into my skin quickly and easily with minimal effort. While the coverage is light, it did colour correct and disguise my red patches.

I applied the Skin Tint before my usual concealer, and I used my fingers and a damp beauty blender to apply it. In terms of staying power, I’d say it lasted for most of the day but definitely not the whole day. If you applied it before work and were going out after, you’d definitely need to reapply this base.

Ruby's before and after Ilia Skin Tint | Space NK
Ruby before and after using ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint in Kai

All things considered; I will definitely continue to use the ILIA Skin Tint as part of my makeup routine when I’m going for a more natural look. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an easy, hydrating base.

Vanessa’s ILIA Skin Tint review

Skin type: Oily

Skin tone: Olive

The product: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £48.00 in Matira

Vanessa's Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review | Space NK

My taste in foundations varies according to the time of year. During the winter, I prefer medium and full coverage, but come the summer I love skin tints. I always opt for dewy over matte finishes as I find them more flattering. ILIA’s makeup-meets-skincare approach intrigued me, and I was interested to see how its Skin Tint would differ to other formulas I’ve tried, and whether it would be enough during the colder months.

Firstly, I was surprised by the thickness of the product as I expected it to feel lightweight, but it definitely feels more like a foundation than a serum. Secondly, I was surprised but the amount of coverage it offered – it’s not a standard foundation, but it’s absolutely higher than I was expecting. As ILIA promised, it gave my skin a healthy glow and I even received some compliments on my skin when I was wearing it.

I applied the Skin Tint with my fingers and had no issues blending it in. The formula also sat well over my primers and other makeup. Towards the end of the day my skin didn’t look as glowing but given that I have oily skin I was impressed with how long ILIA’s Skin Tint lasted for.

Vanessa's before and after Ilia Skin Tint | Space NK
Vanessa before and after using ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint in Matira

I reviewed Matira and I probably could have gone a little lighter as it’s winter, so I would definitely recommend going to store to get shade matched. While I loved the feel and finish of ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint, it hasn’t become my go-to base for winter. I love the fact that it has niacinamide and SPF 30, but I prefer a little more coverage. However, come the summer, I will be picking this back up.

Hanitra’s ILIA Skin Tint review

Skin type: Oily and acne-prone

Skin tone: Medium

The product: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £48.00 in Dominica

Hanitra's Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review | Space NK

Skin tints and tinted moisturisers that provide medium coverage are my favourite kind of bases. I like a formula that will hide my hyperpigmentation but won’t clog my pores and cause blemishes and breakouts. I had seen the ILIA Skin Tint all over my social media feeds, so I was really excited to try it out.

The texture runnier than I was expecting and I wasn’t a fan of the pipette. However, I did like how it went on as it was easy to blend in and looked fairly natural. The coverage was at the sheerer end of light and my hyperpigmentation showed through more than I would have liked. I wouldn’t wear the ILIA Skin Tint on its own without a heavy-duty concealer.

Hanitra's before and after Ilia Skin Tint | Space NK
Hanitra before and after using ILIA Skin Tint in Dominica

I used a dense brush to apply the Skin Tint and then blended it out with my BeautyBlender for a seamless finish. While I was really happy with the initial finish, I was less impressed with how quickly it lasted. My skin looked very different at the end of the day which was disappointing.

This isn’t a base for me as I like a formula that provides more coverage. I wouldn’t rule it out for summer when my skin is usually clearer and I just want to even out my skin tone.

Victoria ILIA Skin Tint review

Skin type: Oily and acne-prone

Skin tone: Medium

The product: Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £48.00 in Formosa

Victoria's Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review | Space NK

Low key and minimal is my approach to makeup, especially my base. In general, I'll use a concealer to lift dark circles and disguise redness and blemishes before applying a cream blush, brow gel and eyeliner. If it's a special occasion I will use a tinted moisturiser or light to medium coverage base. There has been a lot of hype around the lightness and finish of ILIA's Skin Tint so I was interested to see if it would encourage me to wear more base makeup.

I found the texture to be thicker than previous skin tints I've tried - it's similar to double cream. Like everyone else, I found it super quick and easy to blend in, and I just used my fingers. In terms of coverage, it's definitely on the sheer to light side and while I didn't use concealer in the before and after photos below, I did apply some before I left the house. For me, the darkness under my eyes wasn't as camouflaged as I like it to be.

Victoria's before and after Ilia Skin Tint | Space NK
Victoria before and after using ILIA Skin Tint in Formosa

I would point out that the healthy glow the ILIA Skin Tint left hasn't translated well in the 'after' photo and in real life it does leave skin with a subtle radiance. At the time of reviewing this, my skin was feeling drier than usual due to the weather but the formula didn't highlight this or leave my skin looking dry and crepey by the end of the day. I'm not sure I felt the hydration benefits, but the weather sapped any moisture out of my skin and I think during the spring and summer I would feel these more.

Overall, I'm not sure if this product has convinced me to wear base makeup every day. Although I did appreciate the healthy glow it left, so if I was going to wear a base, it would absolutely be ILIA's Super Serum Skin Tint moving forwards.

The Verdict: Is ILIA Skin Tint Worth It?

If you prefer a minimal makeup look, the Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, £48.00 is definitely worth trying. The addition of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide make it a great option for almost all skin types, including dry, oily and acne-prone as shown by our reviewers. It is worth noting that the coverage is light, so if you prefer a fuller coverage you will need to use a concealer on some areas.

“I think ILIA’s Skin Tint is for those who sit in the middle of makeup and want something in between the ‘no makeup’ makeup look and full glam,” says Vanessa. “Get your shade right and you’ll be glowing!”

More From ILIA

If you’re looking for more coverage, ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation might be a better fit for you. Still light in texture, this formula provides medium coverage that can be layered up and with 30 shades, it caters to all skin tones.

Two other ILIA bestsellers not to be missed are the Limitless Mascara and the Multi-stick. Both formulas are packed full of nourishing skin ingredients and provide a natural finish on first application but can be layered up for a more dramatic look.

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Posted: Tuesday, 30 April 2024

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