Ilia Beauty Cosmetics Review
Sophie Diego Table of Contents
About Ilia Beauty
There’s always such a hush-hush about cosmetic ingredients—and that scares me. If I’m going to put something on my face and wear it all day, I need to know what’s in it and that it’s safe.
With hundreds of cosmetic brands adamant in keeping their ingredients lists behind closed doors, Ilia Beauty was determined to be a fully transparent makeup brand. The cosmetic company sells a wide array of foundations, eye shadows, lipsticks, and tools, with a clean and sustainable approach.
Amassing 746k followers on Instagram, Ilia Beauty has been featured in numerous publications such as InStyle, Elle, Insider, and Vogue.
What’s in store for this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review? Here, I’ll take a look at their products, customer ratings, promotions, and more, to help you decide if their beauty essentials are really as clean and clear as they’re made out to be.
Overview of Ilia Beauty
Sasha Plavsic was already well-versed with sustainable and all-natural principles from her childhood. Growing up in Vancouver, she was raised in a rural, ocean-side town just a few miles outside of the city.
Parented by a mother who was a pioneer in health and wellness, her family co-founded an organic food co-op program designed for locals. As Plavsic grew older, she gained interest in design and studied typography in London and New York.
In 2016, she landed a job as a branding executive in Los Angeles within the fashion and beauty industry. After moving back home to Vancouver for a brief sabbatical, her mother suggested she read the ingredient list of her favorite lip balm.
To her surprise, there were multiple unsafe ingredients. This gave Plavsic an idea. She decided to create a beauty brand focused on producing clean and sustainable products and so, Ilia was born in 2011. This was before the clean beauty craze swept the nation, so I think it’s cool that Ilia was one of the first to pioneer the now trend.
Using carefully selected ingredients, Ilia Beauty ensures that its business practice leaves a minimal ecological footprint. I found this to be reflected by their recyclable packaging of aluminum and paper.
Ilia Beauty continues to be a contender in clean makeup as they have gained notoriety for their green company mission. Recently, famed politician Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez revealed that she uses Ilia Beauty products in her daily makeup routine. Here’s a snippet from the brand:
“We believe in skin that looks like skin—and radiance that comes naturally. With transparency as our guide and color as our vehicle, we challenge the conventions of clean beauty to create something radically new, through safe, potent formulas that protect and revive your skin.”
Before I get into this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, let’s go over some initial pros and cons of the brand.
Pros
- All Ilia cosmetics are free of harmful ingredients and environmentally friendly
- Products are gluten-free, dairy-free, and cruelty-free
- Ilia makeup has partnered up with a recycling program called TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box Platform for customers to mail used products to the company to help fight against pollution
- Female-led brand that has a ‘Between Us’ campaign all about empowering women
- Includes Afterpay as a payment option
Cons
- Pricier than other retailers
Ilia Beauty Makeup Review
I love the world of makeup, and for me, it’s quite important to know what goes into my cosmetics and subsequently, my face. It was a hard fact I had to come to terms with that most drugstore formulas contain harmful ingredients including parabens and carcinogens.
Ilia Beauty recognizes that it’s within the customer’s right to know what’s included in each makeup product they purchase. While Ilia Beauty only sources clean and safe ingredients, I was happy to learn that it doesn’t mean sacrificing pigmentation and coverage.
From burgundy berry lipstick to creamy foundations, up next in this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, I’ll feature a selection of their bestsellers.
Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Review
Sometimes, I’ve found that the best products combine two features in one. The Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 from Ilia Beauty provides maximum daily coverage while acting as a protectant for your skin.
This formula contains SPF-40 with non-nano zinc oxide to shield your complexion from harmful rays. This means you can have fun in the sun while looking your best, without stressing over sun protection.
With its house blend of hyaluronic acid, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide, I love that this specialized foundation evens out skin tone and softens harsh lines and imperfections while keeping you looking fresh.
What I really love: As the Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 dries, it reveals a natural and dewy finish. Additionally, this Ilia skin tint seals in hydration, plumps, and boosts antioxidant effectiveness. Have you ever heard of a foundation as versatile as this? I sure haven’t.
If you’re particular about your foundation like I am, you’ll be pleased to know this formula is silicone, fragrance, and oil-free. This skin tint won the 2020 award for Allure’s Best of Beauty and the 2020 Byrdie Eco Beauty Award, two nods at clean and effective nature.
The Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 has over 18 different shades to choose from with each 1 fl oz bottle retailing for $46.
Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara Review
Mascara is a must in my makeup bag. I use it a lot, so it’s something I’ve gone through quite a few different brands for in search of the perfect one.
Achieving voluminous lashes has never been so easy with the award-winning Limitless Lash Mascara that features a buildable and flake-free formula. This 99% natural Ilia mascara helps to lift, curl, and lengthen your lashes for a doll-like effect—and I’m obsessed with the ingredients.
Made from a blend of shea butter, organic bee, and carnauba wax, you get a free conditioning treatment with every swipe. The dual-sided brush helps to provide even application. The shorter side is intended to curl and create volume, and for lengthening and separation, use the longer bristles to lift the lashes up.
Blink bashfully with the Limitless Lash Mascara for just $28 for the regular version (0.27 fl oz) and $13 for a purse-friendly option (0.1 fl oz).
Ilia Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation Review
I’m an advocate for makeup integrated with skincare. If something sits on your face all day, why not opt for one that actually helps your skin?
The True Skin Serum Foundation by Ilia contains aloe leaf, jojoba, rosehip, and marula oil for further nourishment. This blended formula soothes irritations, tames redness, and plumps fine lines.
In terms of coverage, this serum foundation blurs blemishes and minimizes pores for that luminous, face-tuned complexion normally achieved by a fake filter. Now you can have it in real life.
To my delight, I saw that this Ilia Beauty foundation is also dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free, and vegan.
There are over 18 different shades to choose from to make sure you get the right fit. Get a 1 fl oz bottle of the True Skin Serum Foundation for $54.
Ilia Beauty Essential Brow Gel Review
Brow gel is one of those things I thought was silly until I tried it. What a game changer.
Life isn’t perfect but your brows can be! With that in mind, consider making the Essential Brow Gel part of your everyday makeup routine. This volumizing gel thickens and sculpts brows to help those who over-plucked during high school.
This brow gel is lightly tinted and offers a soft and flexible hold without any shine. It includes nourishing ingredients such as aloe leaf juice, organic shea butter, and sunflower seed oil that help to eliminate any flakiness.
With three available shades of brown to choose from, the brow gel also includes a dual-sided brush that grooms stray hairs into place. Elevate your brow game with the Essential Brow Gel for $26.
Ilia Beauty Multi-Stick Review
I have a love/hate relationship with blush. I love the color but since I use a powder, I have a hard time blending it naturally.
The Multi-Stick makes it easy to blend blush into a natural glow thanks to its creamy, lightweight formula. Great for both lips and cheeks, it comes in eight different rosy shades to choose from depending on your skin tone.
This power couple contains ingredients like organic shea butter, orange wax peel, and avocado oil that help to hydrate skin while adding color. Designed to be simple and compact, you can bring this blush with you in your purse for a quick touch-up on the go.
Use this Multi-Stick on your lips, cheeks, and the tip of your nose for an adorable e-girl inspired look for $34.
Ilia Beauty Color Block High Impact Lipstick Review
Lipstick is always there for me any time I want to add a pop of color to my look. The Color Block High Impact Lipstick delivers a bit of sultry red to let everyone know that you mean business.
Ranging from dark red wine to bright cherry red, this lipstick comes in 15 different shades. The fact that this richly pigmented lip color delivers full coverage in one smooth application means getting the color you want is quick and easy.
This Ilia Beauty lipstick was crafted by hand and milled with customized pigments in organic castor oil to provide a maximum color payoff. I love that it also contains apricot seed oil and mango seed butter to help keep your lips moisturized throughout the day.
If you’re after lacquered lips, top the lipstick off with an Ilia lip gloss. Finish your look with the Color Block High Impact Lipstick for just $28.
Ilia Beauty Complexion Brush Review
The right beauty brush can totally change your look. For those who aren’t keen on applying makeup with their fingers, the Complexion Brush is a handy tool to have in your makeup bag. Its soft, synthetic bristles make it easy to reach difficult areas as it buffs foundation and concealers onto your complexion seamlessly.
I think it’s great that all Ilia Beauty brushes are cruelty-free and easy to clean using warm water and soap. There are also four different brushes to choose from including models for blending, buffing, and applying eyeshadow and loose powder.
For a reliable tool that will last a long time, the Complexion Brush sells for $34.
Ilia Beauty Illuminator Review
If you’re looking for an effortless glow, it’s essential to have the right highlighter. I rely on highlighters to add dimension, applying them to the bridge of my nose, forehead, and cheekbones for glam makeup looks.
The Ilia Illuminator delivers a shiny and dewy finish. It offers a more natural look, which is a far cry from any body-glitter you coveted back in your elementary days.
Not only do you achieve a sunkissed glow, but it’s good for your skin as well. The formula includes organic shea butter, orange peel wax, and avocado oil as an added healthy factor.
There are over four highlighter shades to choose from, depending on what kind of shine you’re going for. Shine bright like a diamond with the Illuminator for $34 contained in a 0.15 oz tube.
Ilia Beauty Clean Line Liquid Liner Review
Looking to achieve that classic cat-eye look? The Clean Line Liquid Liner makes the entire application slick and easy with its quick-dry precision brush. There’s no need to sweat when it comes to smudging, feathering, or running, as this liner is formulated for all-day use.
Available in a dark charcoal black color, the finely pointed felt tip makes it easy to achieve a winged liner. I’m a fan of the fact that i’s also water-resistant if you plan on swimming on the first date or if your eyes start watering during a crisp walk outside.
To accentuate your overall look, apply the Ilia tinted lip conditioner for a subtle pop of color. For 0.01 fl oz, rock that cat-eye with the Clean Line Liquid Liner for just $28.
Ilia Beauty Cosmetics Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
While searching around for feedback for this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, I found a generally positive customer response based on its research. On their website, I saw a total of 18,932 reviews with an average of 4.3/5 stars. That’s a pretty great score, so what do customers like most about the brand?
For the True Skin Serum Foundation, customers appreciate the smooth application and that it works well with their skin tone. There are also positive reviews on the highlighters and skin tints, as most users commented that it made their complexion glow.
“I’m not much of a makeup person, but saw this on Instagram and really wanted to try it. I’ve been mixing this every day with a very light tinted foundation and my skin now has the PRETTIEST glow. I actually get compliments when I go out which is nice,” one Ilia Beauty cosmetics review reads on the website.
I headed over to Sephora next to scope out the brand. The Sephora website also shows glowing reviews across Ilia’s products. As for the True Skin Foundation, 763 customers gave it 4.3/5 stars and wrote that the formula is lightweight and looks natural when applied. I also read that it works well with sensitive skin types and the overall coverage was lighter than expected.
“New favourite! This is the first foundation that I’ve found that actually looks natural and beautiful, from the first application until the end of the day. I have combination skin, oily in the T-zone and very dry around the cheeks. This foundation stayed true throughout the entire day without clinging to dry patches,” one reviewer wrote.
Heading off of Sephora and on to Amazon, I saw that Ilia Beauty products have highly positive ratings there too. Check out how they do on this site:
- Limitless Lash Mascara: 4.4/5 stars out of 3,268 ratings
- Natural Super Serum Skin Tint: 4.3/5 stars out of 3,327 ratings
- Natural Liquid Powder Chromatic Skin Tint: 4.3/5 stars out of 295 ratings
- Organic Multi-Stick For Lips + Cheeks: 4.4/5 stars out of 556 ratings
During this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, I’ll admit that I found a few red flags and customer complaints on both their website and Sephora. There were some customers that said that the foundation didn’t offer much coverage.
Some needed to apply more or add concealer to cover up areas that were missing. Others noted that the formula dried out their skin. For other Ilia Beauty products, some buyers noted delayed deliveries.
With that said, feedback was still tilted in a favorable direction for Ilia, with thousands of shoppers in love with the brand and its hydrating, color-rich formulas. Finding a line that’s perfect for you can be a trial and error process, but from what I’ve seen so far from Ilia, its line is a must-try.
Is Ilia Beauty Cosmetics Worth It?
For products that are both friendly to your skin and the environment, I readily recommend this brand. Why? I really like the transparency, ingredients, and functional formulas. It checks a lot of boxes for me.
Not only are you getting full coverage makeup, but your skin also benefits in the process. As most consumers are becoming more educated in terms of how to shop ethically and sustainably, it’s great to know that Ilia teamed up with a recycling program too.
Ilia Beauty packaging is also pleasant to look at with a simplistic and minimalistic design. And though packaging isn’t everything, it’s something. While some customers have noted some issues in their foundations, I found that most customer reviews are highly positive.
The verdict of my Ilia Beauty cosmetics review? Try out Ilia cosmetics if you’re looking for clean makeup that won’t weigh down your conscience.
Ilia Beauty Cosmetics Promotions & Discounts
While combing through the brand’s website for this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, I saw that you can save 10% by signing up for the newsletter. There’s a Referral Program too. Give your friend $20 off an order of $75+ and you’ll get a $20 credit.
Where to Buy Ilia Beauty Cosmetics
You can shop cosmetics directly through IliaBeauty.com, or through:
- Ilia Beauty Sephora
- Credo Beauty
- Nordstrom
- Walmart
- Amazon
FAQ
Who owns Ilia Beauty?
The cosmetics company is owned by Ilia beauty founder, Sasha Plavsic.
Where is Ilia Beauty located?
While writing this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, I found that Ilia headquarters are located in Laguna Beach, California.
Is Ilia clean beauty?
Yes, I’m happy to report that the ingredients used in all products are sourced from organic farmers. They are also Leaping Bunny certified.
Is Ilia Beauty vegan?
Ilia products are all cruelty-free. You can find this certification on all of their makeup products, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re vegan. Looking for vegan products? The brand offers a range of plant-based formulas including the True Skin Foundation and Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil.
Is Ilia all natural?
According to the website, Ilia products are made with USDA certified organic ingredients. While all formulas aren’t completely natural, they boast primarily plant-fuelled ingredients with some formulas reaching up to 99% natural.
Where does Ilia ship from?
Ilia’s warehouse is located in New Jersey.
What is Ilia Beauty’s Shipping Policy?
All orders typically take 1 to 3 business days to process and ship. The standard shipping fee is free for all US orders above $50, anything below that amount is charged $6.
Standard shipping takes 4 to 8 weeks using their main couriers, DHL SmartMail and USPS. They also offer FedEx expedited shipping, FedEx 2 Business Days, and FedEx 1 Business Day.
There are different shipping rates for Canadian and international orders. Customers will receive an Ilia order tracking number once their order has been placed through email. There are some select countries that Ilia does not ship to, which you can find out by visiting their website.
What is Ilia Beauty’s Return Policy?
If you’re ever unsatisfied with your order, you can return your products within 60 days of purchase. Items must be gently used for a full refund. Final sale products and partial sets are exempt from returns and exchanges.
In order to initiate a return or exchange an item, contact the Ilia beauty customer service team.
How to Contact Ilia Beauty
If you have questions that were not addressed in this Ilia Beauty cosmetics review, you can contact the company through:
- Email: [email protected]
- Live Chat board on their website
- Direct messaging on the Ilia Beauty Instagram page
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