Review: Ilia Lip Products

Ilia is a Canadian-based natural cosmetics company that began its life with a distinct focus on lip care, though it has since grown to include mascaras, highlighters, and other beauty treats. All Ilia products boast commendable ingredients lists, including up to 85% certified organic ingredients, and offer a rare compromise between high end flair and safe, natural formulas. 
I came across this brand on one of my many expeditions around the internet in search of lipsticks I could feel good about wearing, and have since purchased and thoroughly tested two shades while on the hunt for the perfect red lip. This review will focus on the lip conditioner Bang Bang, a bright, orange-based red and the lipstick shade Femme Fatale, a sultry mix of red, brown, and plum.

The Good

Formula: Both the lip conditioner and the lipstick fulfill the promises made in their product descriptions. Bang Bang definitely conditions and hydrates my lips and leaves them feeling moisturized while simultaneously offering a much more rich, pigmented colour than a tinted balm (you can see by my poor, disheveled Bang Bang looking decidedly melted thanks to its buttery texture). Femme Fatale is an even stronger, more saturated colour than its conditioning counterpart and lasts considerably longer as well. Overall, I'd say this is the sort of formula you'd expect from a department store product without all of the icky ingredients.

Packaging: Made from recycled aluminum, Ilia's packaging is sophisticated and sleek. It also gives a satisfying click when you pop the lid back on, which I consider a bonus!

Colour Selection: Unlike many natural brands, Ilia keeps its shade choices youthful and fun. Anything from bright pinks and purples to deep reds to subtle nudes can be found in their line.

Colour Descriptions: I mentioned in my last review just how important accurate online colour descriptions are to me when purchasing hard-to-find cosmetics on the web, and thankfully Ilia just seems to get it! The brand's official website describes Femme Fatale as a blend of berry and burgundy, which I would consider to be spot on for this shade.

Finish: Ilia lip conditioners have a lovely, glossy finish while their lipsticks are near matte with a slight sheen. Both are very flattering.

The Bad

Availability: Unfortunately, Ilia is a hard brand to come by in stores. While they do have a list of retailers on their site, the odds of actually living near one are slim, at least in my part of the world. This means that, like all too many natural brands, Ilia is most easily accessible via the web, which is a problem for those who like to test cosmetics before purchasing.

Swatches: Frankly, this seems to be an industry-wide epidemic in that I have yet to find a brand whose products appear the same in online swatches as they do in person. Ilia is no exception to this rule, I'm afraid, though they are still better than most.

Colour Description: I know, I know, I have this in two categories, but stay with me here! While Ilia writes impressively accurate colour descriptions when they write them, they occasionally...well...don't. Colours like Bang Bang only have cute little blurbs about the kind of women who might enjoy the shade, which is charming, but leaves you knowing as much about how the colour looks as you did when you went hunting for the description in the first place.

The Ugly

Price: Lipstick Lord have mercy! Alright, natural cosmetics are more expensive than toxic drugstore brands, I get it. And Ilia is a high end natural cosmetics brand to boot, I get that too. But at $24 bucks a pop, with anywhere between $5 and $10 worth of shipping thrown on top, these products are definitely a luxury more than a necessity, even for the most diehard lipstick fan (ahem).

The Verdict

If you can swallow the price tag, I definitely think Ilia is well worth the investment. Their lip products not only have the aesthetic appeal and quality of high end cosmetics, they also offer you the soothing benefits of a balm. Whether the lip conditioner or the lipstick is the better purchase really depends on the person. If you prefer highly opaque, bold colour, the lipstick is definitely your best bet. If you want a smooth, glossy, semi-sheer colour with balm-like benefits, the lip conditioner is for you. Either way, you'll be getting a high quality product with ingredients few could complain about.

Femme Fatale

Bang Bang

Left: Femme Fatale  Right: Bang Bang