The Il Makiage foundation is my Roman Empire. Although my day job includes reviewing dozens of new foundation formulations, somehow, I always find my way back to this best-selling formula. And I’m not the only one. Since its grand release in 2020, the iconic Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation has garnered 590,807 five-star ratings (and counting) as well as a staggering 11.1 million views on the “Il Makiage Foundation” hashtag on TikTok.
No surprises there: The brand’s remote shade-matching technology, which takes into account your skin type as well as your preferred finish, is continuing to impress the beauty community even four years post-launch. Of course, the star of the show is definitely the formula, which claims to instantly reduce the appearance of shadows and pores to even out the skin tone—all the while promising a streak-free application and buildable coverage.
But how does it compare to other foundations on the market and does it genuinely live up to the hype? I took it upon myself to review this formula over the past year while putting it to the test in different surroundings, be it for my regular nine-to-five in the office, at the gym, on a night out, or at my friend’s wedding. Enter: your BS-free, honest review of what is probably one of the most viral foundations out there. Thank me later.
SKIP TO: Packaging | Product Deep-Dive | Shade Matching | GLAMOUR Road Test | Final Thoughts
The Il Makiage foundation, at a glance
- Pros: Impressive coverage, features 50 shades, not patchy, lovely skin-like finish
- Cons: On the more expensive side
- Price: $45
- Our verdict: Overall, I found that it was surprisingly long-lasting and hydrating and felt super lightweight throughout the day. For everyday wear, one pump gave me more than enough coverage to carry me through a full day without sliding off or separating. Plus, the online quiz paired me with the most perfect shade match. Not to be dramatic, but it might just be my new staple.
Meet the reviewer
I’m Denise, and I’m a die-hard makeup obsessive. Having tested tons of products for the countless articles that I’ve written for Glamour, I believe I know a thing or two about what makes a foundation good.
On a normal day I tend to finish my makeup by around 7 a.m. before heading to the office—after which point my makeup has to withstand a lot: running when changing platforms on my commute; the windy weather that’s so typical for London, where I live; reformer Pilates classes; press events; and countless Glamour meetings. As such, my quest for a foundation that can hold its own through all of the above has, until this point, been an ongoing one. Here are a few more nuggets of information about me that might come in handy:
- My skin type: Dry
- My skin tone: Fair
- My undertone: Neutral
- My Il Makiage foundation shade: 020
The first impression
Believe it or not, packaging can make all the difference when it comes to whether or not you’ll find me enthusing about a foundation formula. I can’t even begin to describe how many times my foundation has spilled while traveling, so ensuring that the product in question has a sturdy lid that can close firmly is paramount for me.
Luckily, the Woke Up Like This foundation features exactly that. My only complaint is that you have to put a bit of force into it to make sure that it’s fully closed, which probably makes it less accessible.
Otherwise, the packaging definitely echoed its luxurious price tag: Everything from the matte glass-like bottle to the standout sleek design made me want to proudly display it on my vanity table. I’d say that the size, which contains 30 ml of foundation, is standard for a foundation bottle. It can easily fit inside most makeup bags, and it’s small enough to store in your makeup drawer.
The formula, consistency, and ingredients
Full disclosure: I stan for complexion products that have a lightweight feel yet deliver just enough coverage to mask the redness on my cheeks, and that’s exactly what the Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation promises to achieve. But before I spill everything about my experience, let’s break down the formula.
First thing to note is that it’s water-based and oil-free, meaning it won’t clog your pores. A little tip: Make sure that you’re using a water-based primer or a moisturizer, otherwise the product might separate. It also features optically corrective powders, aimed to blur fine lines, redness, and blemishes. As for the ingredients, the 100% cruelty-free formula is enriched with high-grade skin care components, including vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, both of which will keep your skin nice and hydrated throughout the day (and as a dry-skinned gal, this is music to my ears).
I found that, upon application, the Il Makiage foundation feels incredibly weightless and non-cakey. Seriously, not the slightest sign of caking whatsoever. The consistency is somewhere in between a liquid and a cream, which is definitely a win in my book. But most of all, I appreciated the buildable coverage: I love when I have the room to experiment, and having the option to go for a lighter base versus full glam is a must. Personally, I found that one pump is more than enough for everyday wear, and if I was going for an out-out look, I would add a few extra pumps.
To be completely honest, going into this review I was a teeny bit skeptical about the matte finish. As someone who has dry skin, I normally opt for foundations with a dewy and radiant finish so as to avoid getting those dreadful dry patches. But against all odds, I was impressed. Yes, it’s a bit more on the matte side, but it also helps your skin look super natural and not appear dry at all. If anything, it genuinely has that “your-skin-but-better” effect.
Shade matching
It wouldn’t exactly be an Il Makiage foundation review without discussing the virtual PowerMatch shade-matching quiz, now would it? In case you’re unfamiliar, it starts by asking you what your skin type is (dry, combination, oily, and so on) and what sort of coverage and finish you’re looking for. The foundation match quiz then gets you to select pictures of your nearest skin tone.
Next, it will help you figure out your undertone by asking you to determine the color of the veins on your wrist before asking whether you burn or tan easily, how you prep your skin, and how often you wear makeup, and it asks you to select the brand of foundation you’re currently using before asking you to select any skin concerns that you may have. After all that (phew), the color match quiz finally shows you the perfect shade to purchase. See? I told you it was thorough.
To be honest, my initial reaction was also “Ugh, seriously? This is so unnecessary; just let me eyeball it!” Not to worry, it actually only took a couple of minutes (if even). Although I wasn’t sure about the results, my mind was absolutely and wholeheartedly blown once I tried to swatch the product for the very first time. Speaking from experience, when it comes to complexion products, online shopping almost never results in a perfect match—always a few shades darker/lighter or more yellow/pink-ish than you’d prefer. Considering that the quiz only took a fraction of my time, the final result was so worth it.
Speaking of shades, I was beyond impressed to discover that this foundation also comes in 50 shades, which is one of the most inclusive shade collections that I’ve seen. So rest assured, there’s definitely one that fits you.
Our road test
Prior to applying, I made sure to prep my skin with my favorite moisturizer (Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, IYKYK), gave it a minute or so to absorb, and then went right in with my trusty foundation brush (in my case, I was using the Clinique Buff Brush).
Right off the bat, the application was supersmooth and even and streak-free. Normally, I would go over the base with my beauty blender to get rid of any brush stroke traces, but this time I didn’t end up using one. Almost immediately, the poreless finish was to my taste: a perfect match, my freckles were still showing, and my natural glow was peeking through beautifully.
I always say that you can tell a lot about a foundation based on how well it works with your other makeup products. Some tend to separate and become patchy, but I didn’t really experience anything like this with the Il Makiage foundation. My cream blush and bronzer melted right in, resulting in a seamless blend. It also worked well with my setting powder (though I’d like to note that I tend to only set my undereyes).
To put the product’s longevity to the test thoroughly, I decided to document my experience on a typical working day. On the day that I was testing the product, I had a particularly busy schedule that ended with a late press event, meaning I got back home around 9:30 p.m. I did a final makeup check-in around an hour later and noticed that although it definitely looked “fresh,” my base was still very much intact. The only complaint I had? By the end of the day, my T-zone had turned a little bit oily, but honestly, not enough to bother me. Considering that this was the result that I got without using a setting spray, it’s safe to say that I was pretty pleased.
Final thoughts
All in all, I can confidently say that I was genuinely impressed with how well this foundation worked for me. From the shade-matching process to the packaging, the application, and the wear, it seemed as though this product managed to exceed all of my expectations. It’s worth noting that this foundation is considerably pricier than other options on the market, and since makeup is extremely subjective, you should keep in mind that just because it turned out great for me and my go-to makeup look, your experience may be different.
Looking for more beauty products that are worth the hype? Be sure to check out our guides on the best foundations, best concealers, best liquid eyeliners, best mascaras, and the best highlighters.
