If you're reading this, I'm willing to bet you've been targeted by ads touting the magic that is . Once a brand used mostly by makeup artists, Il Makiage has now gone mega-viral among the masses for its that, apparently, goes on like butter and leaves your face looking poreless and perfected. But we've all started to wonder: Is Il Makiage *actually* worth it? Are those Il Makiage foundation reviews even real? editors (AKA real people with a mix of skin textures, tones, and types) put the buzzy foundation to the test.
About the foundation: has a whopping 634,376 five-star reviews. The liquid formula has a thin consistency that feels lightweight on your face and has a natural, matte finish. The coverage is meant to be buildable, from medium to full coverage depending on how you apply it (see below for our tips).
The formula is filled with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to keep your skin hydrated. Plus, it comes in a pump, which makes it v easy to dispense all the product you need (one to two pumps to cover your entire face). But let's get into the good stuff.
.. Our reviews: Beth Gillette, beauty editor Confession: I'd actually tested this foundation years ago and loved it thanks to how smooth and opaque the formula looked on my acne-prone skin.
That said, my skin has changed and I have entirely different foundation preferences now. I'm older with fewer active zits on my face but far more leftover to show for it. I also lean toward more soft, natural finishes and remembered this being slightly heavy (it was the vibe at the time!!).
But! As I brushed this onto my face, I immediately remembered why I love this formula so much: It looks and feels exactly like my natural skin texture, just perfected and smooth and hell. —so much so that it practically looks like I don't have anything on at all. The finish is soft and cloud-like, but not so matte that it looks heavy or flat.
I can easily add and to bring dimension and dewiness to my cheeks without disturbing the formula. And it keeps the shine at bay in the areas that I tend to get greasy (ahem, like my nose, cupid's bow, and forehead). Olivia Truffaut-Wong, editor I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical of the , mainly because of the lack of swatch photos and models on the website.
When I first tested the foundation on the back of my hand, I thought—for sure—the color wouldn’t be a match, but it actually looked pretty great on my face. My only complaint shade-wise is that it runs a little pink on me, which I think accentuates my redness, but it’s nothing a little extra color corrector can’t fix. As for the foundation itself, the full-coverage formula is deceptively thick, so it looks like it’s going to be heavier than it actually is.
I applied it two ways: once with a sponge and once with a brush, and with both I found that it blended into a light layer that evened out my skin tone without looking cakey. But the brush definitely gave me a bit more coverage (see below for proof). I wore this foundation on two 90-degree days in NYC, so believe me when I say that I put it to the test.
I can comfortably say that this stuff stays . I wear glasses to work, so I’m used to my foundation wearing off where the nose pads hit. But this foundation did not move.
If any foundation rubbed off on my glasses, I couldn’t see it. I’ll definitely be using this throughout the heat waves ahead, and I can’t wait to see how it holds up when my skin gets drier in the winter. Jasmine Hyman, assistant shopping editor Okay, I was a little skeptical about Il Makiage before trying it out.
.. I honestly had so many ads in my feed for them and the before-and-afters looked too good to be true.
I also prefer light coverage, and this seemed like a heavier formula, but to my surprise, I was actually pleased with the results! While the coverage was def a little heavier than what I'll usually go for, especially in the summertime, (I have normal to dry skin so that was a win). Do I think this is the best foundation for those who want a hint of coverage? Probably not. Do I think it's great for those who prefer a full glam look and those with mature skin? 100 percent.
Overall, I was impressed with the formula. Maybe we can believe some things we see on the internet! Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at , where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try.
" Prior to , she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at for four years. Follow her on for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months..
