I Replaced All My Liquid Foundations and Tints With One Product: Ilia’s New Blurring Complexion Stick

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Photo:

Real Simple / Madison Woiten

I’m all for makeup that does double duty and lets me skip steps in my beauty routine whenever possible. I’m over convoluted, multi-step processes that require lugging around an overstuffed bag of options when I travel. With wedding season here and a slew of spring social events popping up on my calendar, I’m learning to pair down my makeup kit, starting with Ilia’s new multi-purpose Skin Rewind Complexion Stick.

My beauty essentials are usually one of the heaviest items in my luggage, but since my husband and I will be sharing a suitcase for a few upcoming out-of-town trips, I decided to take a strategic approach to packing by packing multi-functional beauty products like Ilia's new foundation stick. The all-in-one formula delivers buildable coverage, has a lightweight texture that's creamy without being greasy, and works as foundation, concealer, and contour. After the brand sent me a free sample of its light-medium olive undertone shade, Hickory 13O, to try, I found it incredibly easy to use and so convenient to carry. The foundation is also available in 42 shades across light, medium, and dark bases with warm, cool, neutral, and olive undertones.

Ilia Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

Ilia

Buy Now $48

After the brand teased the launch of a new complexion stick, it garnered a waitlist of almost 25,000 after just a few days—not surprising considering its skincare-packed ingredients. Butterfly lavender and winged kelp extracts reduce the appearance of fine lines and brighten the skin, while Ilia’s proprietary ceramide-peptide complex supports and firms the skin barrier. Additionally, squalane adds hydration to the soft matte finish, resulting in exceptional blendability that never looks cakey, even when I layer more coverage in my problem areas.

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Its ease of use is what I like most about this foundation stick. You don't need any special techniques to achieve a seamlessly blurred look, and you can use your fingers or a sponge to apply it. I prefer to smear the stick directly on my skin and focus on areas that require more coverage, such as under my eyes or dark spots. Then, I use a dense brush to help sheer out the weightless, velvety cream, which makes my skin look smooth and matte while still looking like skin. Plus, the stick's tube has a notch for your thumb, so it's comfortable to hold and won't slip while applying.

According to Ilia, you can get up to 12 hours of wear. While I haven't made it that far, I was shocked at how good my skin still looked after 10 hours of dancing, sweating, and fighting off the southern humidity. By night's end, my T-zone was getting shiny, but the foundation didn't break up or look blotchy.

Ilia’s Skin Rewind Complexion Stick has not only simplified my beauty routine but also proven itself as an easy-to-use complexion perfector. Beat the waitlist and grab yours for $48.