The devil works hard, but Il Makiage works harder. The makeup brand’s targeted ads for the Woke Up Like This Foundation have been all over my FYP for the last three years. (Yep, three full years.) At first I just scrolled past, but after hearing my fellow beauty editors and trusted makeup artists rave about the formula, I started to heavily research the mega-viral formula.
The videos are almost too good to believe: Does this full-coverage foundation really go on like butter and leave your face looking poreless and perfected? Are all of those five-star reviews real? And—most importantly—is this foundation worth it? Well, Cosmo editors had to put it to the test to find out, of course!
Three of us with a mix of skin types and tones tested out the Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation for weeks, and we have thoughts. Keep reading for our complete unfiltered review.
Pros
- Full coverage without feeling heavy
- Power Match Quiz helps you find your shade online
- Lasted for 10+ hours through serious heat and humidity
Cons
- Although it doesn't *feel* thick, the consistency is a bit rich, which threw us off
- Was a bit difficult to find the right undertone to match us
About Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation:
Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation has a whopping 748,000 five-star reviews. The liquid formula has a thin yet rich consistency that feels lightweight on your face and has a natural, matte finish. The coverage is meant to be buildable, from medium to full depending on how you apply it (see below for our tips). As for the formula, it’s filled with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to keep your skin hydrated. Plus, it comes in a pump, which makes it v easy to dispense the perfect amount of product (one to two pumps is enough to cover your entire face). But let's get into the good stuff...
Our reviews:
Beth Gillette, beauty editor
- Skin type: Oily, acne-prone, textured with hyperpigmentation
- Usual foundation woes: I want to look like a glowing goddess angel who just stepped off her private jet from her Maldivian holiday, but my oily skin is basically like a human slip and slide for any formula that isn't loaded with mattifiers, which unfortunately also make me look dry and cakey.
- How I used the product: I pretty much exclusively blended this on with a dense foundation brush, going back and forth between the Il Makiage Foundation Blending Brush and the Real Techniques Glow Round Base Brush.
Confession: I actually tested this foundation years ago and loved it thanks to how smooth and opaque the formula looked on my acne-prone skin. That said, my skin has changed and I have entirely different foundation preferences now. I'm older with fewer active zits on my face but far more leftover acne scars to show for it. I also lean toward more soft, natural finishes and remembered this being slightly heavy (it was the vibe at the time!!).
But! As I brushed this onto my face, I immediately remembered why I loved this formula so much: It looks and feels exactly like my natural skin texture, just perfected and smooth as hell. It blends seamlessly onto my face and mimics real skin—so much so that it practically looks like I don't have anything on at all. The finish is soft and cloud-like, but not so matte that it looks heavy or flat. I can easily add cream blush and bronzer to bring dimension and dewiness to my cheeks without disturbing the formula. And it keeps the shine at bay in the areas where I tend to get greasy (ahem, like my nose, cupid's bow, and forehead).
Olivia Truffaut-Wong, editor
- Skin type: Combination, acne-prone
- Usual foundation woes: My combo skin can make it really hard to find a good foundation because mattifying formulas often cling to my dry spots, but hydrating ones don’t stay on as long as I’d like.
- How I used the product: I tried the Il Makiage foundation with both a sponge and a brush. I worried that using a brush would make the foundation stick to my dry spots, but it actually went on smoothly, probably thanks to the Il Makiage primer I prepped with. I finished off the look with some bronzer, blush, a light layer of powder, and setting spray.
I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical of the color-match quiz, mainly because of the lack of swatch photos and models on the website. When I first tested the foundation on the back of my hand, I thought—for sure—the color wouldn’t be a match, but it actually looked pretty great on my face. My only complaint shade-wise is that it runs a little pink on me, which I think accentuates my redness, but it’s nothing a little extra color corrector can’t fix.
As for the foundation itself, the full-coverage formula is deceptively thick, so it looks like it’s going to be heavier than it actually is. I applied it two ways: Once with a sponge and once with a brush, and with both I found that it blended into a light layer that evened out my skin tone without looking cakey. But the brush definitely gave me a bit more coverage (see below for proof).
I wore this foundation on two 90-degree days in NYC, so believe me when I say that I put it to the test. I can comfortably say that this stuff stays ON. I wore it for 12+ hours, no touch-ups, and I still had coverage at the end of the day. I wear glasses to work, so I’m used to my foundation wearing off where the nose pads hit. But this foundation did not move. If any foundation rubbed off on my glasses, I couldn’t see it. I can’t wait to see how it holds up when my skin gets drier in the winter.
Jasmine Hyman, assistant shopping editor
- Skin type: Combination with some dry spots
- Usual foundation woes: Pilling or flaking, fully covering my acne without exacerbating it
- How I used the product: I used the foundation with the Il Makiage foundation brush, and it blended seamlessly with moisturizer and primer underneath.
Okay, I was a little skeptical about Il Makiage before trying it out. I honestly had so many ads in my feed, and the before-and-afters looked too good to be true. I also prefer light coverage, and this seemed like a heavier formula, but to my surprise, I was actually pleased with the results! While the coverage was def a little heavier than what I'd usually go for, it felt light enough on my skin and didn't crack throughout the day (I have normal to dry skin so that was a win).
Do I think this is the best foundation for those who want a hint of coverage? No. Do I think it's great for those who prefer a full glam look and those with mature skin? 100 percent. Overall, I was impressed with the formula. Maybe we can believe some things we see on the internet!
Final Verdict
For those who love full coverage, long-lasting glam, there are few foundations that perform as well as Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation. It’s no wonder makeup artists swear by it for bridal looks and red carpet events. This seamlessly withstood the hottest NYC days, and kept our complexions looking perfect and poreless. While you can’t believe everything on the internet, the Il Makiage ads are certifiably true...and we’re hooked!
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.