Ilia is one of my favorite brands for (organic?) ‘natural’ color cosmetics. I noticed I actually own their products the most. So I was so excited in early spring this year when I found out that they came out with a quite inclusive 18 shade range for their new Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30. Here’s my Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review.
A note on the name: In the US, this is called Super Serum Skin Tint SPF40. In Germany, though, it’s only possible to choose either the SPF30 or SPF50 label for sunscreen products, and consequently, Ilia chose the lower rating. Nevertheless, it’s the same product. Same ingredients, same formula, SAME.
Shade Range
I purchased it a bit late because it took awhile for the product to be available in Germany, and then I couldn’t swatch it at the store. Let me tell you it takes a lot of courage to want to get a foundation online! Choosing the color from their online site is okay, but not as good as trying it in store.
Again, I can’t ever tell if a shade is good for my skintone from the models pictured online. I mean, perfect lighting, and some photoshopping? One could never tell. A helpful tool is at sephora.com where you can find a similar shade by putting in your foundation shade.
Even so, the result for me wasn’t conclusive. I got a recommendation for ST13 Kamari or ST12 Kokkini. Ilia said to choose the darker color, so I chose Kamari. It was a good match for my summer tan, but I think it will be too dark come winter.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review: What it is
Ingredients n stuff
Aqua/Water/Eau, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid May Contain: Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)
Hover the mouse / tap over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
What it promised
Ilia says:
Ilia
A clean, light-coverage, tinted mineral SPF 40 serum that boosts skincare benefits. (…) Your tinted SPF will never be the same. This first-of-its-kind formula fuses skincare, makeup, and sun protection into one easy step: a weightless serum that leaves your skin looking like skin.
An all in all skin serum with niaciamide, hylauronic acid, and squalane. Also 1% zinc oxide for sun protection. What’s not to like?
As a sunscreen
Ilia:
Ilia
Boasts SPF 40 coverage with non-nano zinc oxide, safely shielding skin from UVA, UVB, UVC, blue light and infrared rays.
I usually wear another sunscreen underneath Ilia’s Super Serum at the moment. First, because it’s only SPF30 (let’s keep the German nomenclature on this), and second because I use only two to three drops for my whole face. That’s way below the recommended amount of sunscreen you’re supposed to use. Right now, it’s too dark and too oily for me to pile it on, but I’ll try again in winter when my skin is drier with a lighter shade from the range.
Consistency
Here you can see the Super Serum is really liquid. It feels like oily water and is very shiny on the skin. I do like the dewiness (if you don’t that’s not a product for you!), but I have to admit it’s pretty horrible with a PPE mask on its own. If you want to make it actually stay on your skin, in the meantime I found a way with setting powder and setting spray.
I guess the dewy finish comes frome the squalane and hylauronic acid. The Super Serum also has no fragrance which meant it smells a bit funky (which I prefer than adding extra fragrance to the formula).
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review: Swatches
Here it is with my other holy grail foundation shades. The Armani one is a great match for my non-tanned winter skin, Fenty Beauty 330 is a great match for my summer tan. I am very tanned at the moment of taking these pictures and you can see that Kamari is still pretty intense.
Luckily though, it is quite sheer, so when it’s blended it’s not too dark looking. But still, it’s actually still a tad dark as you can see on my half-half picture below.
It’s also quite easy to wear as a base for a more mattifying foundation like the Fenty Beauty Soft Matte (review), and good on its own as a very sheer (glowy) tint. You could add a setting powder to minimze the glow a bit as well.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint review: Verdict
- The Super Serum Skin Tint urned out to be something I easily reach for regularly.
- Nice to wear for a easy pick me up, because it makes my skin look better.
- Also it seemed to improve the skin as well, another win!
- I would have to try another color, perhaps ST12 Kokkini?
- Nice addition for a multifunctional sunscreen/serum/sheer foundation.
It’s 49€ for 30ml at amazingy, or $46 at the Ilia US site.
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