This Lightweight Base Is a Best Seller in the U.S.—Here's My Honest Review

Before I properly get into this review of Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint, I want to give you some background on it. As a beauty editor, I've had this product on my radar for many, many years due to its huge popularity in the U.S. It's a best seller in Sephora's Clean category, which might not mean a whole lot to us British beauty buffs (who don't really resonate with the concept of "clean" beauty due to its ambiguity), but trust me when I say that kudos carries weight. In fact, almost every U.S.-based beauty editor I know swears by this product's natural-looking, perfecting finish.

Up until the brand's launch into Sephora UK earlier this month, Ilia had been notoriously difficult to get your hands on in the UK, much to many natural-looking-makeup lovers' dismay. But now it's here, and I, along with some of my beauty-editor pals, have finally had the opportunity to give the brand (and the Skin Tint) a proper review. 

First of all, I want to talk about the formula. While skin tints have really risen to fame this year thanks to their lightweight, skin-like finishes, there's no doubt that Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint was ahead of the trend. In fact, it was really the first product of its kind to launch, and many U.S. beauty buffs still consider it to be the best. Infused with hydrating skincare ingredients such as squalane, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, as well as an impressive SPF 30 protection (that uses mineral blocks, meaning it's great for sensitive skin), it leaves skin looking juicy, plump, glowing and naturally hydrated. And it does all of that while delivering a skin-blurring result that rivals foundation—just without any of the usual weightiness.

And I can attest to the fact it is really, really good. It provides more coverage than some of my other go-to skin tints but still leaves skin looking like skin. But it's worth mentioning here that I am somewhat of a foundation hater, so I always lean towards a very lightweight, barely there coverage. For me, Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is perfect.

But I am just one beauty editor with quite specific base requirements. Indeed, it's barely coincidence that this glow-boosting, lightweight skin tint pleases me much in the same way it pleases my L.A.-based beauty-editor friends who look for lightweight products suited to super-hot climes. So to really see if the original skin tint holds up against UK tastes and expectations, I reached out to some of my fellow London-based editors to see what they think, and I'll be honest. There were some points that are worth knowing.

For starters, let's talk about the coverage and the texture. While for me, the medium-coverage (for a tint) and super-hydrating formula is a winner, one editor I spoke with, who is open about her struggles with acne, admitted that while she adores the texture, the coverage isn't enough for her. "It doesn't feel too sticky or oily on my skin. Although, I do still have to powder," she said. As someone who prefers more intensity to her base than your average skin tint, she admitted the coverage wasn't quite enough. "It does provide more coverage than other tints, but it's still not nearly enough for me personally," she added.

Second, let's address the shade offering. With a very impressive 30 shades, it's safe to say that Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is one of the more shade-diverse skin tints out there. While other brands opt for a more restricted, "stretchable," shade offering, Ilia's plentiful shade offering rivals some top foundation brands.

However (and sadly there is a however), it's worth noting that Sephora's current shade offering is limited, with 17 of the 30 shades unavailable—and one of my beauty-editor pals struggled to find a shade that works for her olive skin tone. "I couldn't find a shade in Sephora at all. There's quite a big jump between each one in the olive-mid brown section," she said. It's also worth knowing that the formula oxidises once applied, mean it will turn darker than it first appears. "Because it oxidises, I wouldn't want to risk buying two to mix the perfect shades only for it to turn into something different," she added. And this, in my opinion, is a missed opportunity. Particularly given the fact one of my favourite bases of all time (the recently launched Summer Fridays Sheer Skint Tint) proves an exceptional match for all skin tones. 

So overall, while there's no doubt that for me, as a white, foundation-loathing beauty editor who loves a natural-looking, glowy finish, Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint is a total dream, if you typically struggle to find a foundation shade or usually opt for a full-coverage base, it might not be for you.

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