How Does Il Makiage Foundation Shade 35 Cope On Oily Skin

The problem: finding a foundation that works, stays put and looks good for oily skin (and what shade 35 looks like)

If your skin turns oily by midday, you know the struggle – foundation that separates, melts, or makes me feel so irritated I need to wipe my face with a tissue before I even get home. I had the same concerns when I tried Il Makiage’s ‘Woke Up Like This’ foundation. Would it stay put? Would it make my skin feel heavy and greasy? And what does shade 35 look like on oily skin? I bought it to find out, and after using it for over three years, here’s my honest experience.

My article includes:

Skin prep for the best results

Before we get into how this foundation holds up, let’s talk about skin prep because it makes all the difference. If you suffer with acne, I’ve written about that too which some of the below points go into, 10 steps to help your acne.

1. cleanse properly – If your skin is oily, a gentle foaming cleanser helps remove excess oil without stripping your skin.
2. exfoliate often – exfoliating gets rid of the dead skin that can’t drop off your face because the oil won’t let it! I use The Ordinary AHA BHA and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner.
3. use a hydrating (not heavy) moisturiser – Even oily skin needs moisture to prevent overproduction of sebum. I use Malezia.
4. other skincare – I’ve found no matter how much foundation I use, my skin will still look and feel sad and grey. Skincare is key. I use Dermatica for most of my skincare: tretinoin (similar to retinol for skin turnover), vitamin C, SPF (see my Dermatica review here).
5. apply a mattifying primer – A good primer helps control shine and gives the foundation a smooth base to grip onto. I use Il Makiage primer and wouldn’t be without it. See my Il Makiage primer review here.
6. wait before applying foundation – Let your skincare sink in before applying makeup for better longevity. Leave for at least 10 minutes.

Now, let’s get into the foundation itself.

What foundation shade is right for you?

Il Makiage have a shade matching tool on their website (more on that below, it’s called powermatch) which is pretty common across beauty sites these days. I used it and it matched me to 35 which was perfect for me, but they have a really good returns policy if you get the wrong one. They have over 50 shades. Have a look on Ilmakiage.com.

Need more info on their shades? I've written about it here - Il Makiage foundation shade ranges and comparison swatches.

How does it cope with oily skin?

This foundation has a matte finish, which is a good start for controlling oil. Unlike some matte foundations that feel dry and cakey, this one dries down comfortably while still keeping shine under control.

One of the biggest reasons it works for oily skin is the hyaluronic acid in the formula. It helps regulate oil production while keeping the skin hydrated, so you don’t get that tight or clogged feeling that some foundations cause.

Does it make skin oily?

Short answer: No, it doesn’t.

• My forehead gets slightly oily by the end of the day, but nowhere near as bad as with other foundations.
• It doesn’t separate or break apart, even after 8+ hours.
• My skin doesn’t feel heavy or desperate for a cleanse at the end of the day.
• It feels weird to add primer which I’d previously assume would make my skin even oilier. This isn’t the case – it actually helps to control oil whilst keeping the foundation looking good for longer. See my Il Makiage primer review here or on Ilmakiage.com.

Does primer make a difference?

I tested this foundation with and without primer, and the difference was clear.

• with primer – The foundation stayed on longer, looked smoother, and controlled oil better.
• without primer – Still good, but the longevity wasn’t quite as impressive.

If you have oily skin, I’d recommend using a primer to help lock everything in. I tested the Il Makiage primer with it, and you can read my full review here: See my Il Makiage primer review here or on Ilmakiage.com.

Buildability & coverage

This foundation is buildable, so you can customise the coverage.

• one pump – Light to medium coverage, evens out skin tone.
• two pumps – Medium to full coverage, great for covering melasma, redness, and dark circles.
• three pumps – Full coverage, still lightweight and doesn’t feel cakey.

Even with extra layers, the foundation still doesn’t feel heavy or look too matte. If you want a more dewy finish, you can always set it with a hydrating setting spray.

In the photo above, I’ve got two pumps on, which doesn’t feel heavy on my skin. I’d use an extra pump to completely cover spots or melasma. Even with using more foundation, it still doesn’t feel heavy.

How does the foundation hold up after a workout?

Sweat and oily skin usually mean makeup disaster, but this foundation holds up impressively well.

• My skin looked dewy but not greasy after a workout.
• It didn’t separate or move into fine lines.
• My hyperpigmentation was still covered even after sweating.

How much is it and where can I buy it?

The foundation is £39. Delivery is free over a certain amount.

Get 10% off using code ‘welcome10’ using the link below:

• Here is the foundation link; https://www.ilmakiage.com/uk/212-66050-woke-up-like-this
• Here’s a link to the foundation shade matcher: https://www.ilmakiage.com/uk/powermatch-quiz
• Here’s the link to Il Makiage primer

They sometimes have offers if you take out a subscription. You can get a discount on subscriptions, plus at the time of writing, they’re giving away a free brush.

How does the shade matching work?

They have over 50 shades to choose from, and you can return it if you don’t like the colour within 30 or 60 days depending on whether you’ve used the quiz or not.

By using the POWERMATCH shade matcher you get 60 days to return the foundation if you don’t like it (normally 30 days).

Il Makiage’s Returns Policy

Il Makiage has a very impressive returns policy. If you answer the questions in their POWERMATCH shade matcher which helps you find your colour, they offer a 60-day returns policy (normally 30 days).

In general, any product purchased through our shade-matching quiz(s) is eligible for a sixty-day return period.

see their FAQs here

What else does Il Makiage sell?

They do all sorts you’d expect from a beauty brand; make up, primer, exfoliator, make up brushes. I’ve got quite a few of their products and use them all, especially their foundation makeup brush.

See my full reviews here on other Il Makiage products:

• Il Makiage ‘woke up like this’ foundation
• Il Makiage ‘fuck I’m flawless’ concealer
• Il Makiage primer
• Il Makiage foundation brush
• Il Makiage concealer brush

Is it non-comedogenic?

I checked the ingredients of Il Makiage’s most popular products, including this foundation, the ‘Fk I’m Flawless’ concealer**, and their primer. While not marketed as non-comedogenic, I personally haven’t experienced breakouts from using it. If you’re acne-prone, it might still be worth patch-testing. Check out my review where I look into the ingredients: is Il Makiage non-comedogenic?