I love getting an inside look at female founded brands, and a few weeks ago we joined in on a Zoom that Sephora hosted for Ilia Beauty with founder Sasha Plavsic and her mom Karyn. Seeing two women close in age to my mother and myself a few days before International Women’s Day was such a fun way to spend a Friday evening. We learned about the story behind the name, Ilia (it’s named after Sasha’s great grandfather, a Serbian shoe designer) and more about when she first decided to found the brand after returning home to Vancouver.
With the initial product that was a balm-meets-lipstick, Sasha grew her clean beauty brand to include a variety of products for eyes, lips, and skin with a mission to both protect and revive skin to a natural healthy glow.
During the Zoom, Sasha and Karyn shared their typical beauty routine and providing tips and tricks along the way. In today’s post I will be sharing about all of the products that used during their routine, along with my thoughts on a few of the products that I’ve tried from Ilia so far.
Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask
This Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask is the newest products released from Ilia in 2021. Both Sasha and Karyn use this Hydrating Mask before beginning their makeup routine to get all of the benefits from this hydrating mask (including the exfoliating aspect for getting rid of any dry flaking skin) leaving their lips hydrated and smooth before adding lipstick or gloss later in the routine.
Since I’ve always been a mouth breather (which has often led to dry lips) having a hydrating mask that I can pop on my lips just before bed has been one of my nighttime essentials. The mask has a lavender/chamomile scent which as two of the natural scents that I’m able to tolerate with my fragrance allergies, and I definitely recommend adding this product to your skincare routine!
True Skin Serum Concealer
While Karyn prefers to use concealer prior to using the skin tint, there’s not an absolute rule on which product that you need to use first. Like Karyn I always prefer to put on my concealer first and then add my liquid skin tint or liquid foundation.
This product can be blended in with your finger tips or a brush, depending on your preference, and any excess can be used on your eyelids (but remember a little goes a long way and you don’t want to cause any extra lines in your eyelids from adding too much product!
To create more dimension to your look, Sasha recommends using two shades.
Super Serum Skin Tint with SPF40
One of the things to love about the Super Serum Skin Tint is that it’s now available in 30 shades make this product inclusive to more skin colors. I wear the Super Serum Skin Tint in Rendezvous (which is perfect for my especially fair skin) and I highly recommend taking the ‘Find Your Shade’ quiz to get the perfect shade for you.
This product which goes on sheer and provides a light coverage, is easy to apply. After shaking up the product first (a recommendation from Karyn and Sasha) Add a few drops to the palm of your hand and apply where needed.
In about 60 seconds the product will adjust to the True Tone of your skin, and with ingredients like SPF40, Squalane, and Hyaluronic acid (which will sooth skin when used over time) it’s not surprising that the Super Serum Skin Tint is Ilia’s #1 product. It gives your skin and overall glow and doesn’t emphasize lines, which is a win/win in my book!
Time to add a little color back into those cheeks. There are two options you can go for. The Multi-Stick which can also be used on your eyelids and lips if you prefer a buildable stick formula, or if you prefer to go with a cream, Color Haze is the other option that can also be used on your eyelids and lips!
Multi-Stick
The soft, buttery texture that instantly melts into your skin upon contact and flatters a variety of skin tones. Just apply the desired amount of product and then work quickly with your brush or beauty blender to achieve the natural glow that gives you the perfect makeup-no-makeup look. Karyn’s preferred shade of the Multi-Stick is Lady Bird (a neutral rose pink with brown undertones) which worked perfectly on her olive toned skin. (I personally love it in the shade, At Last.)
Color Haze
This creamy pigment is a multi-use product that can be used on both lip and cheek, and I love how you can either build it up for a more intense look, or my preference of blending out for a more natural looking flush. Like with all blushes it’s important to remember to apply to the apples of your cheeks and blend up/outwards towards your hairline for a more natural look. Color Haze is available in 5 shades, and I went with ‘Before Today’ which is a rosey-mauve with cool undertones for a perfect everyday look.
NightLite Bronzer Powder
If using a bronzer is part of your daily routine, you can accomplish two different looks with the NightLite Bronzer Powder. For a more natural, sun kissed look, just blend in wherever the sun would naturally hit, or for a more defined look, apply under cheekbones, along the sides of the nose, and around the borders of the face (hairline, temples, and jawline).
As with the blush options, Sasha and Karyn shared their preferences for highlighters. If you like a cream option, the Liquid Light Serum that Karyn prefers is for you (or) if you prefer a powder Sasha’s preference is the DayLite Powder.
Liquid Light Serum Highlighter
I’ve previously avoided using a highlight on my skin, but I’m intrigued by the idea of a serum highlighter. Karyn prefers to using the serum highlighter from Ilia for a soft highlight to give you just a nice bit of glow where the light would natural hit your face. The gel based formula of the Luquid Light gives your skin a natural dewy finish and is definitely one of the next Ilia products on my must try list.
The formula is Vegan is is made from a blend of organic and natural botanicals that will melt in our skin and offers blue light protection for those of us who spend most of our time in front of a computer screen.
Daylite Highlighter
If you prefer a powder highlighter like brand founder, Sasha, the Daylite Highlighter will give you a golden glow. The buttery texture of the highlighter can be used to either create a subtle shimmer wherever the light naturally hits your face (cheeks, bridge of nose and temples) or to create dramatic highlights, apply to the inner corner of your eyes and under your brown bone.
Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint
I have been a fan of liquid eyeshadows for years. They’re easier to apply and you don’t have to deal with a powder that can settle into creases and emphasize lines. This product is unique in the fact that it glides on like a cream but dries like a powder without creasing! Sasha used the color Dim for her look, while I opted for Gleam which I blend out for just a nice hint of shimmer on my lids.
Clean Line Gel Liner
I’ve always been intimidated by eye liners. Too much and you look like a raccoon (or a 80’s rocker) and I always end up messing up the line mid way through and it’s just not pretty!
The Clean Line Gel Liner is meant to be smudged, doesn’t need to be applied in a straight line and you can even apply it to the bottom outer edge of your eye to really make your eyes pop. Just a little reminder that you only have 30-60 seconds to work with the product, so you have to move fast. Once it’s set, it stays put.
Brow Gel
Add a bit of tint to your brows, lift and define your eyes with the brow gel from Ilia. Sasha shared about how she fell ‘victim’ to the thin eyebrows of the 90’s so this Brow Gel gives her a fuller brow and unlike some brow gels the cream formula doesn’t stiffen or flake.
Limitless Lash Mascara
When searching for mascara I’m always looking for one that does three things: lift, curl and lengthen. This mascara promises to do all three, and with an added benefit of no smudging. I don’t know about you but the #1 one thing that has be tossing my mascara in the trash is smudging!
The applicator on the mascara is ideal for preventing any clumping, but if you do find your lashes sticking together, just use the tip to separate.
As with all products used on or around your eyes, it’s important to replace your mascara every six months.
Color Block High Impact Lipstick
Many lipsticks can be drying leaving you reaching for your favorite balm to apply before putting on your favorite shade of lipstick. Both Sasha and Karyn shared their thoughts on the hydrating benefits of the Color Block High Impact Lipstick from Ilia Beauty. Karyn applied hers directly to her lips for a more bold look in her preferred shade of Cinnabar and Sasha decided to go for more of a lip stain look by dabbing her finger onto the lipstick and smudging it across her lips for a more natural understated look the mauve-y nude shade Marsala.
Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil
If like me you prefer to go with a gloss over a lipstick, you can use this tinted lip oil (with plumping properties from Hyaluronic Acid) as your lip color for the day (or) if you’re using one of the lipsticks from Ilia, to give your lips a rounder fuller look, just pop a little of the lip oil on your cupids bow.
One of the things I’m starting to love about lip oils versus standard lip glosses is that you get the shine that you want with a gloss but none of the stickiness that is a common hallmark of most glosses. No need to worry about the old ‘getting your hair stuck in your lipgloss’ issues.
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All images in this post (with the exception of the featured image) are via Ilia Beauty. I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase any products via these links. Thanks for supporting The Avid Pen and the brands that I love.
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