No matter how diligent we may be with sunscreen, a few decades under the sun will yield more than a few spots.
$48.00
Having tried nearly every luxury and high-performance foundation in existence and feeling unsatisfied with both performance and ingredients, I stumbled onto a pot of gold with Ilia's Super Serum Skin Tint. I'd been using their mascara for a while and decided to take the plunge and try the serum in lieu of foundation.
For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, Ilia is a clean cosmetics brand that infuses every product with skincare. This serum is the perfect example. The formula includes a mineral-based SPF 40 to protect skin from UVA, UVB, UVC, blue light and infrared rays. Hero ingredients include hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalane (= no sharks harmed in the making of this serum), and niacinamide for skin plumping, line smoothing, and spot hiding! I don't know how they manage their magic, but after applying my face feels like I've just had a facial and appears glowing and radiant, while still looking like me. And no powdery finish, caking, or clumping.
Application tip: do allow 5-10 minutes between applying this serum and putting on any makeup. It needs time to settle in to your skin. The color you see when applying is lighter than the final one you see on your face. If you can't make it to an IRL retailer, take the brand's online quiz to determine your best shade (out of 18).
clean cred
zero-waste, 100% recyclable packaging, 1% for the Planet, vegan and cruelty-free, gluten-free, use organic, fair-trade, and non-GMO ingredients wherever possible, ban over 2700 ingredients such as talc, parabens, nanoparticles, and fragrance.
bonafides
Allure Best of Beauty 2020, Byrdie Eco Beauty Award 2020, Best Clean Foundation 2020, Allure & Glamour, Best Makeup with Clean Sunscreen 2020, Elle
