Il Makiage. It's the brand that is absolutely dominating my social media feeds right now — and has been for a few years. For every ad of its foundation that I come across, I'm promised the perfect shade match and amazing coverage with every single swipe. The before-and-after images always make me do a double-take, and the videos make it seem like I'm watching makeup magic happen before my very eyes. And every time, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking: 'Does this actually work?'. I always answered myself the same way: 'It's too good to be true.'
That is, until recently, when my editor told me to give it a try and finally put that theory to the test. Would this foundation actually perform a miracle on my skin? Or would I become victim to a social media hoax? (Spoiler alert: I ended up loving it, and it's now a 2025 Beauty Award winner!
Why I tried Il Makiage
Although I've become better at loving my skin, there's no denying that it's seen better days. My struggle with adult acne is never ending and I have the texture and hyperpigmentation to prove it. So, I rely on good foundation to even my skin tone and cover up spots when I feel like it. I'm always on the hunt for a buildable formula that offers solid coverage and, most importantly, long staying power. I cannot tell you how much I hate doing touchups. (Plus, if I can find a new beauty staple that beats my absolute favorites, all the better for me!).
How to find your shade
Take the quiz!
Il Makiage's foundation comes in a wide range of shades, so many that I had no clue which one to pick. I'm the type of girl that has to see and swatch a new product before committing, and even then I sometimes get it wrong once I see it fully applied to my face. So, when I saw the brand offered a quiz to help make my decision a little easier, I didn't have much hope that it would go well, if I'm being honest. But in the interest of an in-depth review, I took it. Here's what you should expect to see:
- Make sure you have an idea of what your skin type is. Is it dry? Oily? A combination of both?
- What kind of coverage do you want?
- Do you want a matte, luminous or natural finish?
You should also prepare to look at quite a few pictures of different models with varying skin tones and undertones. You'll be asked to choose the one that best suits you in a series of rounds, until you're left with what the brand believes is your perfect shade.
Is it accurate?
That really depends on who you ask (and how thoughtfully you took your quiz!). A few other members of the Shop TODAY team went through the process and weren't pleased with the outcome upon receiving their selected shade. I, on the other had, thought my given shade was about 90% accurate — only because my skin was still giving that end-of-summer tan. Once it hits the dead of winter and my complexion barely sees sunlight, I'm pretty sure this foundation will be the perfect color.
Why I like Il Makiage
It's not cakey
As someone who prefers a full-coverage base, there's nothing worse than prepping your face for makeup, only to apply it and see severe patchiness, uneven spots or emphasized fine lines looking back at you in the mirror. Fortunately, this foundation beautifully lays on the skin and dries down smooth. Even when applied over acne or raised bumps, it doesn't emphasize those imperfections. It just provides the coverage I need to feel confident.
The formula also plays well with other products (at least the ones I've used on top of it). I usually use a spot concealer for extra coverage on dark spots with a touch of powder before applying a full foundation base, and I found that the Il Makiage formula didn't move the product or have a negative reaction to it. It also paired nicely with my brightening concealer and cream blushes.
It's buildable
The way I apply this foundation is by pumping a few drops onto my hand, warm it up with my fingertips and then spot it onto my face. From there, I blend it in with a brush. The first layer offers medium coverage, perfect for anyone who just wants to even out redness. I'll usually dot on a few more drops of product where I think I need more coverage, and the blend is pretty seamless.
Pro tip: This dries faster than most formulas I've tried, so I recommend not waiting too long to blend or add more product to ensure the smoothest results.
It lasts for hours
As someone who commutes from New Jersey to New York City a few days a week for their 9-to-5 — and sometimes a few post-work events here and there — I need foundation formulas to last. I hate doing touchups (remember?), but my base practically never looks the same when I have to, which makes me want to avoid it even more. I'm happy to report that I can go hours with my skin looking rather flawless with this foundation. By the end of the day, I might see a few cracks near my nose or smile lines, but other than that, it's pretty impressive everywhere else.
What to consider
The formula finish matters
The foundation comes in two finishes: natural matte (Series CL) and radiant glow (Series GL). I opted for the matte version because my combination skin doesn't need any more help with getting shiny, and I was afraid a more radiant finish would push my semi-oily skin over the edge. Not only was I right, but this formula exceeded expectations on this front. It dries down exactly as it promises (looking very natural), but what shocked me most was that I didn't need to apply powder. There was zero slickness or post-application shine — I just let it dry and I was good to walk out the door. I have never experienced that with any other foundation.
That being said, I think anyone with naturally dry skin will have the exact opposite reaction with this finish.
This foundation doesn't work for everyone
Just because I've become a big Il Makiage fan, doesn't mean it's at the top of everyone's favorites list. In fact, a few other Shop TODAY team members gave the foundation a shot and didn't have the most successful experiences.
Associate editors Shannon Garlin and Kamari Stewart struggled most with the online shade matching. "I struggle to find the right shade of foundation online all the time and I was hoping that Il Makiage would be different after taking the quiz," says Stewart. "Unfortunately, the shade was way too light for me." However, she did say that she like the coverage and smooth application during the brief time she wore the product. Garlin had the exact opposite shade experience, and was given a color much too dark for her skin tone. "I found that unless you’re actually well-versed in the different tones of your skin, it's hard to match with the correct shade [on the quiz]," she says.
Editorial assistant Madison San Miguel says she leans more towards glowing formulas, but wanted to try a more matte look. Sadly, it was too drying for her skin. "This isn’t the foundation's fault since my skin feels and looks too tight and peel-y with nearly every matte foundation. It just wasn’t a match for my skin type, but might be for others!" she says.
More Il Makiage products to shop
If you love the foundation, you can pair the bestselling foundation with the brand's concealer. According to the brand, it has a medium to full coverage finish and hydrating ingredients.
Garlin has had success with this concealer. "I love the way it applies; it's smooth and offers great coverage."
Finish off your "flawless" foundation with this setting spray, which claims to be anti-cracking and anti-fading, per the brand.
This lip oil contains peptides and peppermint oil to "plump" your lips and have them feeling moisturized.
Containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and caffeine, this eye cream can help reduce puffiness, target dark circles and more.
"First, the texture of the formula is velvety, which I love. The balm was almost dry and powdery in how smooth it felt on my skin. It went on like a dream and was almost silky in its application," wrote one Shop TODAY writer in a review article.
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Why trust Shop TODAY
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She’s been writing for the team since 2021, covering everything from fashion and beauty to product reviews and sales content.
