Ilia just slipped a new formula into its cult-favorite Super Serum Skin Tint — and early reviews are split between “glowy goddess” and “gritty disaster.”
This isn’t a minor tweak. They swapped the SPF filter, which changes everything about how it sits on skin.
$48 for 1 oz of tinted SPF that claims to smooth, hydrate, and protect in one step. I bought it because the old version was my “five-second face” go-to.
New SPF 40 Filter
Zinc oxide replaces chemical filters — better protection, but thicker texture.
Buildable Sheer Coverage
One layer is a ghost of color. Three layers look like real skin — not cake.
Dewy-but-Dry Finish
It dries down in 90 seconds. No sticky forehead by noon.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
They kept the star players but added squalane for slip. The hero? Niacinamide at 2% — actually enough to calm redness over time.
- Niacinamide: fades dark spots without irritation
- Squalane: mimics your skin’s oil — zero greasiness
- Hyaluronic Acid: plumps fine lines in 10 minutes
- Zinc Oxide: physical block that doesn’t burn eyes
Photo: Linh Ha / Unsplash
First pump felt like runny lotion — thinner than the old one. It spread like water, then set into a weirdly velvety finish. Not sticky, not matte. Just… there.
Week two hit. My T-zone stopped looking like a grease slick by 3 PM. But the shade “ST4” pulled slightly peach on my neutral skin — something no review warned about.
Photo: x ) / Unsplash
Redness faded 30% after two weeks. Pores looked smaller — no filter needed. But the glow? It’s a sheen, not a shimmer. If you want disco-ball skin, look elsewhere.
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
This reformulation is a win for texture-sensitive skin. It’s not the old one — it’s better, if you shake it right.