Il Makiage is one of the most popular cosmetics brands in the U.S. They sell both makeup and skincare products, and the brand describes its website as “a new way to shop online” with tutorials and influencer partnerships.
But do Il Makiage cosmetics contain ingredients proven to increase skin quality? Do they contain any potentially harmful additive ingredients? Do their products work on darker skin? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Il Makiage?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in two of Il Makiage’s most popular products: F*ck I’m Flawless (their concealer), and Power Recharge Cream (their anti-aging moisturizer). We’ll give our take on whether these products are likely to improve skin quality or if they’re a waste of money.
We’ll also provide a cost breakdown that shows which retailer has Il Makiage for the best price, and feature real, unsponsored Il Makiage user reviews.
Il Makiage Concealer Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in F*ck I’m Flawless concealer are shown above.
The good news is that rather than artificial dyes, the brand uses naturally-derived colorants.
Iron oxides are non-toxic and actually protect the skin from UV rays, according to a medical review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Titanium dioxide is another non-toxic (when used on skin) colorant that can protect skin from UV damage as we documented in our review of Il Makiage Foundation ingredients.
Unfortunately, there are also a number of questionable filler ingredients in this formulation.
Talc may be contaminated with the carcinogenic compound asbestos around 10% of the time in cosmetics, according to a 2020 clinical trial.
BHT is a synthetic preservative that was shown to be toxic to animal cells in a clinical trial published in the Environmental Research journal.
Benzyl alcohol is another synthetic preservative that has been shown to be toxic when ingested (but not necessarily when applied topically) in a 1991 clinical trial.
A YouTube creator named “All Beauty By Sarah” reviewed this concealer (along with another product), and included a live product demo and an all-day wear test. We’ve timestamped the video below to start where she starts discussing Il Makiage concealer:
Il Makiage Moisturizer Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Power Recharge Cream are shown above. This is the fragrance-free version. We always recommend avoiding fragrance in cosmetics for health reasons.
Coconut alkanes are skin-softening, and may have anti-inflammatory and skin-protective effects according to a 2019 medical review.
Apple fruit extract is another effective ingredient, having been shown in a 2019 clinical trial to improve skin elasticity and moisture content. The study authors even suggested this ingredient may have an anti-aging effect.
Aloe vera has a number of dermatological effects, including anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and even wound healing according to a 2009 meta-study.
Squalane is a plant-derived compound shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science to not only moisturize the skin but also potentially be an effective acne treatment.
Clearly there are a number of effective ingredients in this formulation, and we consider Il Makiage’s moisturizer likely to improve skin moisture content and repair the skin barrier, and potentially effective for reducing wrinkles and providing an anti-aging effect.
Phenoxyethanol is the only ingredient that health-conscious consumers may wish to avoid. As we documented in our review of JLo Beauty, this ingredient has been shown to be toxic to human cells in at least one clinical trial.
A TikTok user named Stephanie tried this cream and claims that it left a residue (and claims in the comments that she ended up returning it):
@sillinessinsouthflorida Going to assume this is what @ilmakiage means by the excess? But still liking the feel and look! 🙌🏻💥 #noninfluencer #reality #puttingmyselfoutthere #doesthiswork #ticktock #notgettinganyyounger #thisisme ♬ original sound - Stephanie
Is Il Makiage Overcharging Customers?
At the time of publishing this article, there’s a “Current Alert” on the Il Makiage Better Business Bureau (BBB) page.
The alert warns consumers of the many complaints related to Il Makiage’s billing practices: “BBB files indicate a Pattern of Complaints regarding the billing policies, technical issues and customer service practices of Il Makiage. Beginning in Jan. 2019, BBB…marked a notable increase in consumer disputes against this firm.”
The overall review rating on the BBB site is impressive at 4.63 out of 5 stars, but there have been over 1,000 complaints in the last three years, with the most recent complaint regarding a customer being charged after returning products during the free trial period:
“ordered the trial on 1/20/23 and returned the items on 2/1/23. No charge should have been applied since the items were returned before the 14 day trial period. On 2/28 I got charged for the full amount…This company is a complete [scam] and as of today 3/09 the charge has not been refunded $65.05.”
To the credit of Il Makiage, the brand has responded to 100% of customer complaints in an effort to resolve them, which is a sign of a high-quality brand. The complaint cited above was resolved.
Given this warning, and given how proactive Il Makiage is on their BBB page, we would recommend that customers experiencing billing issues submit a complaint on the BBB page, as this may fast-track a resolution.
Do Il Makiage’s Products Work on Darker Skin?
How well a cosmetic product blends into lighter or darker skin can vary. A beauty influencer named Zoie-Marie reviewed Il Makiage in a video with over 25,000 views, did a live product demo and shared her thoughts on whether the brand is a good choice for people with higher-melanin skin:
Our Research-Backed Skincare Picks
We recommend skincare products if they contain clinically-proven ingredients and are free of harmful additives.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top serum pick. It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging. Topical vitamin C is also clinically shown to improve skin hydration and reduce wrinkles.
Interested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
HydraGlow is our top moisturizer pick. It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects." In the linked trial, topical bakuchiol reduced wrinkles, improved skin elasticity and firmness, and reduced skin damage from UV rays.
Interested consumers can check out HydraGlow at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
The only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is Bulletproof Collagen Powder.
Oral collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration. The only ingredient in Bulletproof collagen is collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed animals.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
All three products recommended here are entirely free of harmful additives.
Pros and Cons of Il Makiage
Here are the pros and cons of Il Makiage as a brand in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective ingredients
- Positive customer review rating
- Backed by beauty influencers
- Reasonable prices
Cons:
- Some questionable additive ingredients
- Many complaints about billing practices from customers
- Only available for purchase on brand website
