Wondering if Il Makiage ‘Woke Up Like This’ foundation is right for you? If you’re like me and have purchased dozens of foundations online, only to find out they were the wrong shade and end up on eBay, or give you spots, I hope my review helps you!
Il Makiage has over 450k 5* reviews, but I wasn’t initially sold. I’d never heard of them before I saw them on Instagram. I was sceptical, especially after always using the very popular brand Estee Lauder.
I’ve used Estee Lauder’s Double Wear for years. It’s a fantastic foundation but I wanted to try foundation that’s cruelty-free.
I eventually took the plunge (after a lot of research) and used the shade matcher on the website. It asks several questions about skin type to match your colour. The foundation is buildable, has a matte finish and is good for oily skin. So I put it to the test.
My article contains:
What skin type is it for?
It doesn’t mention what is the best skin type on the product page, but does mention that it’s oil-free. Here are what some customers say (reviews taken from the Il Makiage foundation product page). Some reviewers mention it hasn’t made their oily skin worse (like me) and some say it works well with dry skin:
I like how lightweight and full coverage. It lasts all day. I like how it helps with oil control.
Judy E 9/7/23
Previous foundations have always worn off during the day or night – even the 24 hour types and I have normal skin – not greasy, not dry. Il Makiage is so light, I feel like I’m not wearing make up, but it stays on – all day through work (14 hours).
Bev H 2/14/15
I have oily skin and always struggle to find a foundation that wont separate. This lasts me a good 11-12 hours at least. Yes my oil still comes through, BUT it doesnt separate on my skin and I can just remove it with a blotting paper.
Brittany E 2/13/23
At first I didn’t think this was the foundation that I was looking for as some parts of my skin was flaky and dry. I then wanted to give another chance as I realised I was actually not preparing my skin correctly as I realised this was happening moth other foundations.
Sabir Y 4/28/25
I have always used full coverage foundation but it’s never been perfect. It’s either not the right match or level of coverage I truly need with my skin being very dry. I gave this foundation a try and my husband said it’s the best matching and natural foundation I’ve used. After 5 minutes it sets and it really blends perfectly to my skin.
Dana F 1/20/25
What about combination skin?
I have an oily forehead & chin and dry bits around my nose. I prep my skin with moisturiser, SPF and primer to give the foundation the best chance of staying on all day without it worsening the oil.
Even after wearing it for 8+ hrs, it doesn’t make my skin feel horrid and the foundation stays on well and in place, even after a rainy walk.
Is using a primer okay for oily skin?
Primer doesn’t make skin oily which is a common misconception. I use (and love) the Il Makiage primer. It’s very smooth and fills my blackhead holes/fine lines which makes foundation look even better. It helps to prep the skin, rather than make it oily, and helps keep the foundation on for longer. If I want my foundation to last all day, I never forget to prep with primer.
I use a pea-sized amount and leave it 10 minutes to sink in before starting my makeup.
Is it a dewy or matte finish?
The foundation applies easily, melts into the skin and has a matte finish. It isn’t thick, so I can move it around my skin quickly and easily without pulling it.
You can easily add a dewy look with a setting spray.
How do you apply the foundation?
It doesn’t say on the Il Makiage website how they’d recommend applying the foundation, but they promote the foundation brush on the page so I’m guessing that’s what they recommend! I’ve got their foundation brush and it works really nicely with the foundation. The brush is dense so you can target places easily, but very smooth and soft.
I use a brush if I want a quick application but mostly use a damp beauty sponge to get a smoother look. I created a YT video on me doing just that if you’re interested.
I bought a pack of 4 sponges from Amazon for £5. Don’t forget to dampen the sponge first for the best coverage. The Il Makiage foundation brush, 100, is £38, so pretty steep as an upfront cost, but it’s showing no signs of wear & tear and I’ve had it for years. It’s gone through sometimes multiple weekly cleans, too.
What’s the coverage like? How much product do I need?
It contains vitamin E, which can help repair the skin and prepare it against ‘free radicals, ‘ which are environmental factors like pollution. Vitamin E also helps to moisturise the skin, which helps it smooth on better. It stops my dry bits from becoming flaky throughout the day (although using a primer also stops this).
I’m not dying to take it off at the end of the day like usual.
I like a light foundation coverage. Too much makes my fine lines look worse. ‘Woke up like this’ is buildable, so you can add more in places. I put slightly more on my forehead which needs more to cover my melasma.
One pump gives a light coverage
One pump, below, is what I use over my whole face when I want light coverage:
One pump gives light coverage – not everything is covered, as you can see, but it’s made my skin glow and look more even.
Even with one pump, the redness on either side of my nose and spots on my forehead have been reduced. The foundation also covers small acne scars and uneven skin colouring on my cheeks and forehead.
It doesn’t cover everything but this is enough for me when I’m working from home. If I were to go to work or go out for the day, I would increase one pump to two or three, depending on what my skin is like on the day (acne etc). I would also use primer to keep the foundation looking better for longer, but that’s another story!
2 pumps for a medium finish
As you can see from the photo on the right, the makeup has pretty much stayed in place. My forehead is looking a little shiny, but all in all it’s still giving good coverage.
I have two pumps on here – plus blush. The redness around my nose has been mostly hidden. My skin tone looks even but it doesn’t look like I’ve got a lot of makeup on, which is the look I go for. It also doesn’t feel heavy which is really important to me.
Post-workout – did the foundation stay on?
I worked out and got sweaty. I don’t know about you but my skin looks better. Dewy but not greasy. The foundation didn’t go clumpy, separate, melt or anything else.
I want a foundation that:
- doesn’t make my oily/dry skin worse
- I can wear all day (8hr+)
- stays on after a workout or if I get sweaty/rained on
- doesn’t break me out in spots
Il Makiage lives up to that above. I’m pleased (for once) that I was targeted on Instagram. I would recommend this foundation. It works well on my skin.
I also wanted a cruelty-free and vegan brand, which I got. Il Makiage products are all cruelty-free and some are vegan – this foundation is one of their vegan products (check out their FAQs).
I’m not dying to take my makeup off by the end of the day because it doesn’t worsen my oily skin. After wearing it for 10+ hours, my skin still looks fresh with uneven skin tone & imperfections still covered – not as good as the morning but still impressive.
How much is it? Where can I buy?
It’s £39. Get 10% off using code ‘welcome10’ using the link below.
- Buy from their website, https://www.ilmakiage.com
If you buy a monthly subscription you get 10% off, 20% off future deliveries and a free foundation brush (worth £38 which I’ve bought and use!).
Discounts – get 10% off
As mentioned above, use welcome10 for 10% off from their website Il Makiage. If you’re going to buy the foundation, I’d recommend buying either the brush or primer to go with it (this takes you over the free delivery threshold). I’ve used both for a while and would honestly recommend them.
The foundation shade matcher
The shade matcher tool “power match” accurately determines the best shade for you. I got 35 the first time I tried it, which is perfect for me.
The shade matcher asks you several questions about skin tone and colour, and then at the end (once you’ve sacrificed your email!) you get your shade match.
It takes a few minutes.
If the shade doesn’t match, you can return it. If you go through the shade matcher, you get even longer to return the product! This was one of the biggest green flags for me.
Il Makiage vs Estee Lauder
When I compare the shade I got with my current Estee Lauder, I think you can agree that the new shade is bob on and a much better colour for me. This is no shade (ha!) to Estee Lauder because I chose the colour myself without help.
Estee Lauder’s is far too yellow for me. Il Makiage’s is more neutral which suits my skin tone.
Skin prep tip – a must to keep foundation looking its best
I’d recommend dermaplaning your skin to smooth it out as much as possible.
I do this once every few weeks and it makes SUCH a difference. ‘Dermaplaning’ is a fancy way of saying you ‘shave your face’ but it also removes the dead skin cells making your skin super-smooth. I can confirm after years of doing this, hair does NOT return thicker or darker. See my blog on how easy it is to dermaplane.
Leave time after moisturising
Make sure to give time (at least 10 mins) for your moisturiser/SPF/primer to sink in before putting on make-up. This lets your skin soak up the moisturiser instead of the make-up. I alternate between using Il Makiage Primer and Embryolisse (Amazon). More info below on primer.
I still prefer to wear light coverage, as I work from home most days and have hyperpigmentation to cover – you can see it on my forehead in the middle, and to the sides of my cheeks. I’m working on getting rid of it using my Dermatica melasma subscription but until then, I’m covering it.
I’ve dabbled in using my fingers to transfer and smooth foundation into my skin, but nowadays I tend to use a damp beauty sponge. Here’s a link to the cheap but really good sponges I use from Amazon (remember to use them damp) https://amzn.to/3K4mdai). I still have my Il Makiage foundation brush I use if I’m in a rush.
Primer is recommended for an extended time period and for aging skin
Before foundation, I moisturise and use SPF. After a few minutes I add primer. I leave this to set for 10 minutes before putting make-up on to allow it to dry. Primer goes everywhere on your face, and it’s exceptionally good at filling in blackhead holes and fine lines.
This is why make-up goes on and looks better with primer – it primes your face by filling in anything rough.
I previously used Revolution Ultra Face Primer which is a cheap alternative, but now I’m using Il Makiage’s Primer as I wanted to use the same brand as the foundation.
Here’s my Il Makiage Primer review on Il Makiage’s Primer – I’ve recently tried it after repurchasing the foundation. It’s brilliant and they work well together – as you’d expect.
Other Il Makiage products I’ve tried
So far I’ve tried the foundation, F*ck I’m Flawless concealer and No Filter Poreless Base primer and several brushes. I’m very impressed with the make-up and would recommend them (especially the concealer; it’s so thick and glides on but doesn’t stick in my fine lines). As I mentioned in the primer post, I don’t normally use primer but on those 10hr+ days, I’ve started to use it to keep my foundation looking good for as long as possible.
I’ve used a few of their brushes, including the foundation and concealer brush. I like them both. The Il Makiage foundation ‘100’ brush is dense but very soft, really allowing you to smooth the foundation deep into the skin without being harsh or making your skin red. The Il Makiage concealer ‘140’ brush is thick and doesn’t pull skin, which makes putting undereye concealer on a treat (especially as my skin is thinning around this area).
Is Il Makiage cruelty-free?
Never. We never test products or ingredients on animals, nor do we allow suppliers or affiliates to conduct testing on our behalf. Animals > Everything. Not 100% of our products are vegan, but most are, including our foundation. Contact us for a complete list of our vegan products.
As per their FAQs https://www.ilmakiage.com/uk/faq
Il Makiage products – are they non-comedogenic? I’ve recently looked at the ingredients of Il Makiage’s most popular products – the foundation ‘woke up like this’, the ‘f**k I’m flawless concealer and the Il Makiage primer. Check out the results here.
Is Il Makiage trustworthy?
I think so personally. I’ve been using it for a while, their foundation doesn’t break me out and sits well on my skin. I’ve contacted their customer service a few times and always had polite, helpful replies. The products I’ve tried I’ve been happy with; I haven’t been disappointed with any of the products I’ve tried, including the brushes.
Is Il Makiage good for mature skin?
I’m 35 and like using it. It doesn’t sit in my fine lines or wrinkles. It contains Vitamin E which is good for skin, and hyaluronic acid which hydrates skin by plumping it up. It doesn’t dry out my skin at all.
Update Apr 2021: I repurchased the foundation! I’m still using the same shade, 35.
Update Oct 2022: Finally bought a new foundation bottle. Just shows how little I now wear foundation when working from home!
Update Apr 2022: I didn’t see this at the time of buying, but they offer ‘try it for 60 days’ after using POWERMATCH, see the promo below. I’ve never known a makeup company that offers returns! This will help if you get the wrong shade, as you can return it.
Link here for their foundation POWERMATCH quiz.
Update May 2023:
Il Makiage has added a subscription option. If you buy and subscribe to one foundation every 4 months, you get 10% off plus 20% off future deliveries + free delivery. You also get a free foundation brush. I’ve got the ‘100’ brush and it’s fantastic. See the info on the Il Makiage website here.
Have you decided to try it?
It’s £39 + delivery £3.95. Delivery is free over £50.
Get 10% off using code ‘welcome10’ using the link below.
Buy from their website, https://www.ilmakiage.com.
Thank you for reading my article. I wrote it in March 2021 and last updated it in May 2025. It's tagged with the category Beauty Products Make up if you'd like to read more.
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