ILIA A Fine Romance Multi-Stick ($34.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-sheer color coverage that was buildable to semi-opaque, making it one of the more pigmented shades within the range (for those needing or desiring higher coverage). The texture was lightweight, smooth, and moderately emollient but had to be warmed up slightly before really yielding color, so I preferred to apply it with fingertips.
The product was applied evenly to my cheeks and blended out easily as the more gel-like consistency ensured it spread well without lifting base products. As a lip product, it had more medium coverage–applied directly from the tube, which was the easiest way to get an even layer of development–and sat pretty well on my lips; it stayed on for two and a half hours and felt non-drying. It never thoroughly dried down, so while it lasted seven hours before starting to fade, it wasn’t transfer-proof–something to keep in mind.
FURTHER READING:
Formula Overview
for details on general performance and characteristics (like the scent).
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Formula Overview
$34.00/0.15 oz. – $226.67 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to deliver a “soft wash of color” for cheeks and lips that can be applied with “fingertips or a densely packed brush.” The product is best for someone looking primarily for a cream blush over a lip color, as the latter can work, but it is short-wearing, thin, and doesn’t always sit well on lips (tended to emphasize texture/catch on flakes). It’s not an ultra-hydrating lip balm, but it worked well as a cream blush.
These multi-tasking products can often be used in more than one way, but often, they work well for a primary function; in this case, that’s as a blush. The consistency was smooth, dense, and balm-like, which had to be warmed up slightly with fingertips or held against the cheek. The finish was dewy without overly tacky, but it never thoroughly dried down, so those who need more transfer-resistant will want to look elsewhere.
It was moderately emollient with a gel-cream feel, so it spread well over bare skin and wasn’t prone to lifting base products. It was easy to apply and diffuse for a “soft wash of color,” as described. They were somewhat buildable to medium coverage if desired. The product wore between seven and eight hours before fading visibly. They applied best from the tube as a lip product, yielding even coverage and minimizing the effect of catching on imperfections. The range varied from sheer to medium and had higher coverage when applied from the tube. They lasted two to three hours as lip products.
Browse all of our ILIA Multi-Stick swatches.
Ingredients
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Cera/Wax, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch*, Citric Acid, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), [+/-: Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Mica, Red 27 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140)]. *Organic Ingredients. Ingrédients Organiques.
This product is certified Gluten-free.
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists areas available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you’re purchasing or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
