IL MAKIAGE Woke Up Like This Foundation Review

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Quick verdict:

It's very easy to find your perfect colour match in this flawless and mattifying foundation.

What we liked

• Accurate and easy-to-use colour match system
• Beautiful packaging
• 100% cruelty-free

What we didn't like

• High price tag
• No stockists

Since its US launch in 2018, tech-forward beauty brand IL MAKIAGE has been making waves in the makeup industry.

Formulating a unique PowerMatch algorithm to help online shoppers find their perfect foundation shade, this brand is truly unlike anything I've seen before. And, thankfully, it's now available to Australian shoppers – meaning I jumped at the chance to give it a red-hot go.

While the brand offers a range of face, eye, brow and lip products, the stand-out pick is by far the Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation. Here's exactly what I thought of it.

What does it do?

The IL MAKIAGE Woke Up Like This Foundation promises a smooth and streak-free application, with a flawless and natural matte finish. The foundation offers buildable and blendable colour, with medium-to-high coverage.

It's formulated with hyaluronic acid to keep the skin feeling hydrated and maintain an ultra-fluid texture. It also contains a unique blend of corrective and light-diffusing powders which work together to blur fine lines, reduce redness and hide blemishes.

There's a whopping 50 shades to choose from, covering all sorts of skin tones from light to deep. Luckily, the PowerMatch algorithm helps you find your perfect colour match.

IL MAKIAGE offers shoppers the chance to complete a 90-second algorithm-based questionnaire that uses AI technology to find your perfect match. I found the process super easy, especially since you don't need to share any photos of your face or skin tone. And according to the brand, there's an accuracy rate of over 90%.

The best part? If for whatever reason you don't get a perfect match, IL MAKIAGE offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Does it work?

The Woke Up Like This Foundation arrives in a simple black and white box, while the product itself is poured into a sleek, frosted glass bottle.

As mentioned, there's a huge range of foundation shades to choose from, so the PowerMatch algorithm was definitely a big help – and I can confirm, the colour match was absolutely perfect!

I tried the foundation with different moisturisers, sunscreens and primers layered underneath, and I also used different applicators. My favourite way to use this foundation was with no primer underneath, applied with a damp makeup sponge.

IL MAKIAGE promises a natural matte finish and I think that's 100% accurate. The foundation sits nicely on my skin (it's matte without looking too dry), and offers buildable coverage. My skin looks poreless, flawless and smooth – and what more could you ask for from a foundation?

To be honest, I wasn't used to the matte foundation and I can't see myself using this every day. But I do think this foundation is great for long-wear, if you're going on a night out, or you're taking lots of photos. I appreciate the fact that I didn't have to worry about powdering my whole face, only in the spots that I tend to crease in.

In the images below, you'll be able to see what the foundation looks like on my skin with nothing else, and with a finished face of makeup.

Image: Marina Tatas/Finder

Should you buy it?

Overall, I give the IL MAKIAGE Woke Up Like This Foundation 4 out of 5 stars. The unique PowerMatch algorithm is a serious game changer in the beauty industry and I feel everyone needs to try it for themselves.

The formulation is super easy to work with and feels great on the skin. I love how flawless yet natural my face looks when I wear this foundation. I also adore the packaging – the sleek, frosted glass bottle looks gorgeous in my makeup collection.

It did lose a star for the fact that it's only available direct from the website and the price tag is pretty high. In saying that, I do think the price is slightly justified by the formulation and beautiful packaging. Plus, you wouldn't be able to achieve the perfect PowerMatch system from stockists.

If you are looking for an affordable option and are willing to gamble on the perfect shade match, you can check out our guide to the best foundations.

Pricing and availability

How did we test this product?

The members of our editorial team review hundreds of beauty products. They reflect on their own personal experiences when testing each one. To test the IL MAKIAGE Woke Up Like This Foundation, our reviewer used it multiple times and documented the process with diary notes and photos.

Why you can trust us

I used the IL MAKIAGE Woke Up Like This Foundation multiple times in different weather conditions and with a variety of complexion products (i.e. moisturiser, sunscreen, primer, powder).