If you hate the feel of a heavy foundation but still want coverage and a clean formula, THIS is the perfect foundation. It glides on like serum, gives smoothing, even coverage and feels so lightweight. Read my full review of ILIA's True Skin Serum Foundation.
I have to admit I'm not a foundation girl. I don't like the feel of a lot of makeup on my face - it feels like I have a pore-blocking mask on most of the time. I'd much rather have a bare face most days (and I can because I stay at home most days). But for days when I need a full face of makeup with good coverage, I've found the one and only true foundation that I not only will wear, but truly love. Meet ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation.
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Why You Need a Clean Foundation
Skin is the largest organ in our bodies and takes up a large surface area, and we want to protect it from harsh chemicals that can be absorbed and potentially cause harm. Since foundation is typically applied to the whole face - a large surface area - and tends to be worn more often, it's a good idea to choose a clean formula that doesn't contain potentially harmful ingredients. After all, it is small, consistent exposures that could make these ingredients problematic to health.
Conventional foundations typically include several ingredients that could cause skin irritation or pose health risks over time, including:
- Parabens - Commonly used in many personal care products and easily absorbed by the body, parabens are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)1 linked to breast cancer2, thyroid problems, obesity, reproductive problems in both males and females3, and early onset of puberty in girls.4
- Ethyl Alcohols - Ethyl alcohol is often found in skincare and foundation, but it is drying to the skin, stripping it of natural oils and causing dryness, flakiness and irritation. In addition, alcohols could actually increase skin's absorption of harmful substances.5
- Silicones - Frequently used to make products glide on more easily, these chemicals could potentially be hormone disruptors, impair fertility, and harm the nervous and immune systems at high doses.6 Since they bioaccumulate easily, this is more concerning with products you use every day.
- Fragrance - The term 'fragrance' can mean any combination of chemicals that could cause harm to health, including allergies, skin irritation, and potentially even reproductive harm.7
- BHA/BHT - Chemical preservatives commonly used in cosmetics and food that have been associated with endocrine disruption and skin reactions.8
- Mineral Oil - A petroleum-based oil that can clog pores and trap dirt and bacteria, causing breakouts.
- Talc - Commonly used as a bulking agent in foundation, talc has a risk of contamination with asbestos, and has been linked to ovarian cancer.9
Especially if you wear foundation every day, it's a good idea to seek out a foundation that is formulated with clean, non-toxic ingredient to protect your skin and reduce potentially harmful exposures. Luckily there are several brands making clean foundations that perform well. My hands-down favorite is ILIA.
THIS is the only foundation that I'll wear! The clean, weightless, breathable medium-coverage foundation with a natural finish contains active skincare ingredients for better looking skin now and over time.
Meet the Product: ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation
What It Is: A weightless, medium-coverage clean foundation with a natural finish— with active skincare ingredients including smoothing Niacinamide and soothing Allantoin.
What It Claims: "This silky, breathable formula melts in and moves with you, seamlessly blending and blurring for skin that looks like skin. Potent skincare ingredients Niacinamide and Allantoin visibly improve skin with every wear, minimizing the look of uneven tone and texture over time. Skin is left looking real and radiant—like you, just more polished." - ILIA Website
ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation: My Honest Review
Ingredients: 8/10
ILIA formulates it's products without gluten, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, BHA/BHT, propylene glycol, PEG, cyclomethicones, and chemical screens. They are also cruelty-free and certified by Leaping Bunny. Bonus points for including active skincare ingredients that actually improve skin!
Experience: 10/10
This foundation is a dream to use. It glides onto skin like a serum and can be built up for more coverage. It feels weightless and breathable, never heavy or sticky, and dries to the perfect finish. The packaging is sleek and substantial, and I don't detect any smell.
Performance: 10/10
It provides to perfect amount of coverage - enough to smooth and blur imperfections without looking cakey or fake. Skin still looks like skin - just better! My skin truly does feel healthier instead of clogged and weighed down. The coverage stays put all day, without feeling like a long-wear foundation.
Value: 9/10
I find the price to be in line with most other clean foundations. While a little pricey, a little goes a long way. I don't wear foundation often, and go through only one bottle per year since I alternate with this tinted SPF.
Overall: 9.25/10
Overall Impressions
As I stated above, I am not a foundation girl. I don't like the weight of foundation on my entire face. THIS foundation, however, is such a joy to use. I love that ILIA's True Skin Serum Foundation glides on smoothly and feels so lightweight on my skin. Instead of feeling like my pores are getting clogged with every passing minute, this foundation makes my skin feel healthier. The coverage is perfect for me. True to it's name, it covers and smooths most imperfections while still letting skin look like skin. So I still look like me, just a little better! Which is what foundation is supposed to do, right?
If you aren't the biggest fan of foundation either, I 100% recommend trying this one. You won't want to use anything else! With 30 shades to choose from, you can find one that is perfect for your skin.
Buy It: ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation
- Reviewer Stats
- Age: 30s
- Hair Type: Oily + Color Treated
- Skin Type: Oily/Combo
- Concern: Breakouts + Preventing fine lines
- Paraben Esters: Review of Recent Studies of Endocrine Toxicity, Absorption, Esterase and Human Exposure, and Discussion of Potential Human Health Risks ↩︎
- Parabens Can Enable Hallmarks and Characteristics of Cancer in Human Breast Epithelial Cells: a Review of the Literature with Reference to New Exposure Data and Regulatory Status ↩︎
- Parabens and Their Effects on the Endocrine System ↩︎
- Association of Phthalates, Parabens and Phenols Found in Personal Care Products with Pubertal Timing in Girls and Boys ↩︎
- Safety evaluation of topical applications of ethanol on the skin and inside the oral cavity ↩︎
- The Dirty Dozen: Siloxanes ↩︎
- EWG: Fragrance ↩︎
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene ↩︎
- Talc, Asbestos, and Epidemiology: Corporate Influence and Scientific Incognizance ↩︎
