Why ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint Isn’t For Me

ILIA Beauty is one of my favorite brands in the mindful beauty scene. They produce high-quality, high-performance products that are a delight to use. Their mascara, liquid eye liner, and highlighter are tops in my book and will have a permanent place on my repurchase list. I’m disappointed to share that I don’t feel the same way about their newest launch, the Super Serum Skin Tint. #unpopularopinion. Details below.

Performance

I should start this review by addressing the state of my skin. I struggle with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). I have large pores on my cheeks. I also have discoloration around my mouth and dark circles under my eyes. I like quick and simple routines and products that provide substantial coverage. That’s the long and short of it. So how does ILIA Beauty’s Super Serum Skin Tint fare?

Coverage

The finish is light, skin-like, and doesn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Unfortunately, this product doesn’t provide enough coverage for me. The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint provides less coverage than the Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation. If you’re looking for light coverage (akin to a tinted moisturizer), this may work for you.

Shade Match

Upon initial application, Shade 11/Matira was far too light for me. Shade 13/Kamari was a close match but oxidized a shade or two very quickly. That said, a combo of these two shades seem to be the best match for me. Even with an SPF of 40, I see no ghostly cast or residue after application.

Texture

I really like the texture of this product. It’s ultra light and feels weightless on the skin. It feels lighter than the Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation. It doesn’t seem to play well with primer (pilling), and unfortunately, it leaves my combo-oily skin a little too dewy for my liking. Like a slip n’ slide. Insert frown here.

With that said, I’ve managed to make this product work: I use 3 drops of the Super Serum Skin Tint on bare skin (no moisturizer or primer) and then spot conceal with a fuller coverage concealer. Finally, I set with a loose powder. This combination seems to work, but truthfully, I’m too lazy to do all of these steps on a daily basis.

Scent Profile

I can’t place the scent, but it reminds me of bread starter. Perhaps I’m just hungry.

Packaging

This product comes in cardboard outer packaging and a plastic bottle with dropper. I imagine this would be difficult to recycle, so I appreciate that Ilia offers a recycling program.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 12.0%

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/Peut Contenir (±): CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide). 

From the ingredients above, it looks like this product is free of coconut oil/coconut oil derivatives. That’s a plus for me, as I find coconut oil comedogenic. If you have this similar issue, this product may work for you!

Price

$46.00 USD

While this product didn’t work for my skin type and skin sins, I know a number of people who LOVE it. With that in mind, if you have a chance to sample it, I would recommend that. Everyone’s skin type is different, and while it didn’t work for me, it may work for you.

FTC: This is not a sponsored post. These products were gifted by ILIA. There are affiliate links in this post.