Everyone’s raving about this ‘clean’ foundation. I had to check the label myself.
The real question isn’t about the good stuff they add — it’s about the preservatives they need to keep it from going bad in your makeup bag.
It’s Ilia‘s super serum foundation. $54. They promise “skin-first” coverage that’s also “clean.” A big ask.
SPF 20
Non-nano zinc oxide — a physical sunscreen that doesn’t feel like paste.
Longwear
Supposedly 12 hours. We’ll see.
40 Shades
A genuinely good range for a ‘clean’ brand.
Photo: Andriyko Podilnyk / Unsplash
It’s packed with skincare actives. That’s the main draw. But ‘clean’ is a murky term — here, it means no silicones, which is why it feels different.
- Squalane: plumps and hydrates
- Niacinamide: helps with redness
- Mastic: a tree sap that acts as a natural film-former
- Sodium Benzoate: the necessary, less-sexy preservative
Photo: Fotógrafo Samuel Cruz / Unsplash
It’s slick. Like a serum with pigment. Absorbs in about 30 seconds, leaves a dewy — not oily — finish. Smells faintly herbal.
By week two, I noticed it never fully ‘sets’ down. My hair stuck to my face on a windy day. The dew is a commitment.
Photo: Glow Repose / Unsplash
My skin looked better bare after using it for a month. But as makeup? It faded evenly, no patchiness. The SPF is legit.
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
It’s a great skin tint with benefits. Just don’t buy it for the ‘clean’ label — buy it because it makes you look healthy.