I’ve been an Ilia Beauty fan for nearly 10 years. I’ve tried a handful of their products and everyday makeup essentials over the years and really enjoy the formulations. There have been a few misses here and there but for the most part I love the line. Initially the brand was predominantly a makeup only line with a heavy focus on skincare infused makeup but over the past year, they have slowly begun introducing more skincare items into their line. I’ve been interested in trying more foundation sticks because of how easy they are to work with so I ordered the Ilia Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick to test and review. The reviews and demos I watched about the complexion stick were quite varied with some people loving it and others not enjoying it. My skin has changed a lot over the past few years so my needs for foundation is much different in my mid 40’s than it was in my mid 30’s. If you have been thinking about trying a foundation stick or even this specific one, here’s an honest in depth review on the formula and how it wore on my skin.
Ilia Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick
Ilia beauty is known for creating makeup/skincare hybrid products that perform well but also have added skincare benefits in them. This Rewind Complexion Stick is no exception. It is a complexion stick designed to give medium coverage, a natural matte finish and provide a slight blurring effect to the skin. The formula is said to be long wearing and help to provide anti-aging benefits over time such as smoothing and firming the skin. My skin is a bit more normal to dry now so I wasn’t sure I would love the natural matte finish but it was creamier than I anticipated which was nice. Since it does target certain aging concerns, I felt it would be suitable for aging skin and for the most part it definitely was.
I ordered shade 3W Spruce and it was a near perfect match which I loved. It was not a love but a like for me. The creamy finish and blurring aspect was noticeable but I am anxious to try it again during the warmer months because my skin needs more moisture in the winter. But that being said, it did last for nearly 8 hours before separating a bit on my chin which was pretty normal for how foundations wear on my skin. It takes a lot of skin prep and moisture for me to blend it seamlessly so if you have dry skin it will take a bit of extra effort. Here’s a bit more information about the formula and performance:
Price Point
Ilia is priced to be more of a mid range luxury brand so the Rewind Complexion Stick pricing definitely reflects that. It is $48 for .35 oz. I do find myself using a lot more of it than other foundation sticks so I wonder if I will go through this faster as a result. Something to think about for sure.
Shade Range
There are 42 shades in the line and they have a very inclusive color range which I appreciate. Ilia has also continued to add more shades to the range to help fill in any gaps. They also offer various undertones so there is definitely a great selection to choose from.
Ingredients
Ilia positions this as a skincare infused complexion stick. The key ingredients are ceramide-peptide complex to visibly firm and strengthen the skin barrier. Additionally there is winged kelp extract which is a potent replenisher that restores luminosity, helping skin look more youthful. One of the final key ingredients is butterfly lavender extract which is a botanical powerhouse that smooths the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Longevity
They claim it is a 12-hr wear formula though I did see some separation around hour 8 but it was slight and easy to touch up. For the most part, I did find that it stayed looking flawless and in tact for most of the day.
Skin Type
It doesn’t specifically say it is designed for a certain skin type but because it has a natural matte finish, it would definitely work well for those with oily or combination skin. For those with dry or mature skin types, you need to make sure the skin is well prepped before applying or else it can pull on dry patches. I like to use something like the Rhode Glazing Milk (full details in my Rhode Skin review) before I apply this foundation stick or you can prep skin with the Base Face Milk from Ilia Beauty.
Coverage
Though it claims to be buildable medium coverage, I didn’t find it to be that buildable. It gives light/medium coverage and if you build it up it can be closer to a true medium coverage.
Packaging
This is a complexion stick so it is packaged as a traditional stick foundation and you twist up the product to apply. It does not feel heavy or luxe in packaging though I do like the simplistic branding and minimal aesthetic of the brand. But the brand has a more minimally chic vibe to me rather than a luxe one.
Finish
Though it is a natural matte finish, it still has a healthy look when on the skin and doesn’t make my face look flat or dull. The blurring aspect gives it a velvety look rather than looking too dry or powdery.
Ilia Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick Swatches
There is an extensive range of shades in the Ilia Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick and also various undertones to choose from. There is a shade guide on the Ilia site to help you determine the correct shade for you. Here’s a list of all the shades offered and quick description of each:
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Hinoki 1N – extra-light with neutral undertones
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Balsa 2C – extra light with cool undertones
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Spruce 3W – extra light with warm undertones
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Holly 4N – extra light with neutral undertones
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Pine 5C – very light with cool undertones
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Aspen 6N – very light with neutral undertones
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Poplar 7W – very light with warm undertones
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Bamboo 8W – very light with warm undertones
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Tupelo 9N – light with neutral undertones
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Ash 10C – light with cool undertones
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Willow 11W – light with warm undertones
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Sycamore 12N – light with neutral undertones
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Hickory 13O – light-medium with olive undertones
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Maple 14W – light-medium with warm undertones
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Larch 15C – light-medium with cool undertones
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Madrone 16N – light-medium with neutral undertones
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Magnolia 17O – medium with olive undertones
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Hawthorn 18N – medium with neutral undertones
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Beech 19C – medium with warm undertones
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Iroko 20N – medium with neutral undertones
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Abura 21W – medium with warm undertones
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Sugi 22C – medium with cool undertones
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Alder 23C – medium with cool undertones
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Cypress 24N – medium-deep with neutral undertones
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Elm 25N – medium-deep with neutral undertones
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Limba 26O – medium-deep with olive undertones
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Yew 27W – medium-deep with warm undertones
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Mora 28N – deep with neutral undertones
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Batai 29N – deep with neutral undertones
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Cumaru 30W – deep with warm undertones
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Cedar 31C – deep with cool undertones
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Kauri 32W – deep with warm undertones
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Palm 33N – very deep with neutral undertones
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Tineo 34N – very deep with neutral undertones
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Acacia 35W – very deep with warm undertones
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Padauk 36C – very deep with cool undertones
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Ipe 27N – very deep with neutral undertones
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Jarrah 38C – extra deep with cool undertones
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Laurel 39N – extra deep with neutral undertones
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Wenge 40C – extra deep with cool undertones
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Cocobolo 41W – extra deep with warm undertones
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Ekki 42C – extra deep with cool undertones
Ilia Beauty Before and After
As you can see from the pictures, the complexion stick does a great job at evening out the skin tone and reducing any redness on the skin. Even with a natural matte finish, it looks fresh and healthy. I am wearing shade Spruce 3W which is extra light with warm undertones and it is a near perfect match for me.
Is the Ilia Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick Worth It?
I definitely like the formula but not enough for it to be a repurchase once I finish it. There are stick foundation formulas I like a bit more and offer my skin more moisture and a creamier application/finish. For those who want an easy foundation stick that would work well on combination or oily skin, I think this is a good option though a bit pricey. The shade range is excellent which does help justify the price a bit more in my opinion.
Overall I think the formula is good but not great. The Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is a fantastic option for those with very dry or mature skin because it is a very rich and emollient formula that gives the most stunning dewy finish. For a foundation option that sits in the middle and gives a nice natural skin-like finish with medium coverage, the Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation is your best bet.
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