Sephora Ratings and Reviews
Body(1,376)
Eyes(306,618)
Face(273,364)
BB & CC Creams(4,519)
Blush(41,799)
Bronzer(12,206)
Complexion Sets(4,874)
Concealer(19,434)
Foundation(95,455)
Luminizer(14,398)
Makeup Remover(2,497)
Powder(21,995)
Primer(33,908)
Shine Control & Blotting(7,219)
Tinted Moisturizer(15,060)
Lips(129,774)
Makeup Brushes & Applicators(1,311)
Nails(38,072)
Palettes & Value Sets(10,623)
Shop Now At Sephora
Shop Foundation or
Choose a Category
Most Popular Products
Top-Rated Products
Product Reviews
Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation
For skin that glows on the go, this velvety powder foundation leaves a luminous, transparent finish while protecting skin with SPF 12. Apply dry for light coverage or damp for more complete coverage.Compact sold separately.
Average Rating:
385 reviews
5 stars
252
4 stars
75
3 stars
26
2 stars
15
1 star
17
Sort by
reviews for Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation
Review 1 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
The best!!
-05.14.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing
The best foundation! Illuminates even hides under eye circles. A little moisturizer then apply with a brush. Makes your skin look lit from within. Not sparkles not oily just like good healthy skin!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 2 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Stila illuminating powder foundation
-05.11.13
Quick Take: long wearing, blends well
This is a great powder foundation. It has a nice matte finish and keeps my usually oily skin in check. I used to use the sponge in the compact for application but it would wipe off anything I was wearing underneath (moisturizer, primer, liquid foundation, cover-up) so now I use a large brush. I prefer to apply it over Stila's oil-free sheer color tinted moisturizer. It blends in perfectly and keeps me shine-free all day.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 3 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
The ONLY powder foundation I can use!
-05.02.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, silky, luminous
I'm pretty fickle about makeup, so the fact that I've been using this product for 10 years is a testament to its quality.
I always hated liquid foundation and searched for years for a decent powder foundation. The texture and finish are impeccable- not chalky at all, with a satin-like finish. Decent coverage, too. I've used the 10 watts, 20 watts and 30 watts, but I've found that the 20 watts is the best match.
I recommend you purchase a Shiseido compact as they hold the Stila pans perfectly, and the Shiseido compacts are less expensive than the Sila compacts.
The only drawback is that the spf is 12 instead of 15, but I use a backup primer that's spf 15 underneath anyhow.
I always hated liquid foundation and searched for years for a decent powder foundation. The texture and finish are impeccable- not chalky at all, with a satin-like finish. Decent coverage, too. I've used the 10 watts, 20 watts and 30 watts, but I've found that the 20 watts is the best match.
I recommend you purchase a Shiseido compact as they hold the Stila pans perfectly, and the Shiseido compacts are less expensive than the Sila compacts.
The only drawback is that the spf is 12 instead of 15, but I use a backup primer that's spf 15 underneath anyhow.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 4 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
sallychun
overall good powder
-04.29.13
Quick Take: oil-free
matches my skin tone perfectly, very light coverage, sheer,
surprisingly doesn't leave the white powdery look most other powders leave. looks very natural, with that its because its so sheer. good for combination skin
surprisingly doesn't leave the white powdery look most other powders leave. looks very natural, with that its because its so sheer. good for combination skin
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 5 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Rachel4492
Perfect
-04.28.13
I love this compact! The color is perfect for my skin tone and it has coverage mostly all day. Don't like that you have to buy the compact separately it does keep the cost down but I like having a new compact every time.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 6 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Covers like a liquid foundation
-04.27.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, good quality, medium coverage
Bought this as just a pressed powder to touch up when my Loreal Lumi foundation starts going from dewey to messy. One day I just tried it on my bare skin as a foundation, and Lumi on the other side. Guess what, the coverage was exactly the same! So it is very comparable to a light coverage liquid foundation. I haven't tried it wet yet, because I prefer it as just a powder. But it's definitely the best powder I've tried for touch-ups as it's not a cakey, powdery look at all. Will repurchase. Beware, you have to buy the compact separately.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 7 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Review 8 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
ilovedogstoomuc
Location:Colorado Springs, CO
Skin Type:Normal
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Green
Age:over 54
FINALLY A POWDER LIGHT ENOUGH
-04.16.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage
I have very fair skin and is has been very hard finding a foundation powder light enough for me!! Not that I look odd or anything, it is as light as Nicole Kidman's. I've used Smashbox for 5 years in their "Halo" and while nice, a little too yellow for me. Clinique and all the others, even in their lightest shades, are too dark for me. I love this powder and how it illuminizes your skin.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 9 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Luminous, with decent coverage
-04.14.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, illuminating, not pore-clogging
The product does live up to its name, imparting a lovely, subtly luminous finish. It's been my go-to foundation for years, and I've received a number of compliments on my "glow." Unfortunately, it doesn't last more than a few hours, so you'll need to reapply. If you don't feel like springing the extra $$$ for the compact, just use the plastic the refills are packaged in. I wear 10 watts, which provides a tiny bit of color for my ridiculously pale complexion.
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 10 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Best Powder I've Found Yet!
-02.21.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, oil-free, matte, flawless coverage
I have excellent, olive toned skin with dark circles under the eyes. I have no issues with dry or oily skin. Very Eastern European looking, but this is the best powder I've used! I chose it randomly as my husband was pressuring me to hurry in-store and love it! I just ordered my third one after four months. Only bad thing is it needs to be reapplied after several hours and the product itself only lasts about a month and a half if used everyday. Aside from that, it gives my skin perfect matte finish and is the best I've used!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 11 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Slightly better than putting dirt on your face
-02.19.13
Quick Take: unfortunate
This is an impulse purchase that should never happen. Stay away ladies, especially the ones with oily or combination skin. Within hours, the oil will turn the powder slightly puce in color and make you look like you haven't washed your face in a week.
+3points
4out of 5found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 12 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
TheAmester
Disappointing
-01.17.13
Part of my disappointment stems from the fact that I ended up with the wrong color - 30 watts. I was shopping in the evening and with the poor lighting in the store I thought the color the saleswoman tried on me was OK. I was wrong. The color is way too dark.
The powder clung and stuck to my regular moisturizer and created this murky mess on my face. I applied it with a brush but I couldn't get a sheer or natural finish.
I'll hold onto it until the summer (maybe) to see if it will be OK when I have a tan. But, I am not hopeful. The texture doesn't seem to work at all on anything but bare, dry skin. Anything underneath this powder will make it grab and stick.
The powder clung and stuck to my regular moisturizer and created this murky mess on my face. I applied it with a brush but I couldn't get a sheer or natural finish.
I'll hold onto it until the summer (maybe) to see if it will be OK when I have a tan. But, I am not hopeful. The texture doesn't seem to work at all on anything but bare, dry skin. Anything underneath this powder will make it grab and stick.
0points
2out of 4found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 13 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Fan flipping gastric!
-12.20.12
Color is perfect for me 10 watts. Makes skin look perfect not cakey. Even hides my dark under eye circles. What more can I say? Excellent product Hohhot doesn't change color on my pale milky complexion.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 14 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Great for the VERY pale
-12.20.12
Color doesn't have pink or orange undertones so one of the few I've found that match my extremely pale skin.
Light coverage (just right if you have decent skin) but very good for a powder--and pressed means it is not messy.
Weightless on your skin and doesn't cause me to have massive breakouts. Been my go-to foundation for 4+ years.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 15 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Anonymous
Location:Asbury Park , NJ
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Hazel
Age:45-54
Everyday ease
-12.02.12
I love how this powder smooths my skin tone without showing my wrinkles more. So lightweight it I cannot feel it on my face. Compact lasts a long time, making it a good value.
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 16 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
-11.27.12
I wore this in the colour "20 watts". I always applied with a sponge. The colour was alright, what little you could see once it was on the skin. I found it to be a very sheer powder, with very light coverage. It's more of a finishing powder than a powder foundation. The "illuminating" qualities were subtle, not bad, not great. The amount of wear I'd get in a day was average-below average.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 17 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Compact
-11.04.12
I forgot to mention in my review of the Illuminating powder that you have to buy the compact and then refillables for the powder thereafter. The compact itself is just average. I normally don't have to do touch ups so I felt this was really useless for me. There's a separate compartment for a sponge applicator which I don't use as I apply the powder with a brush. One neat thing though, there are holes at the bottom to allow the sponge to air out.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 18 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
Nice finish!
-11.04.12
Quick Take: buildable coverage, oil-free
I got this Illuminating Powder in 50 watts to match my medium skin tone. This product worked very well with the Stila Stay All Day foundation. After brushing this baby on, it gives your face a nice, subtle glean to it, which is perfect as the dull winter is just around the corner.The staying power of this I would have to say is around 6 hours or so.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 19 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
gross
-10.20.12
Quick Take: oily, gross
Used with the accompanying concealer and both ended up making my skin look even oilier than it normally was. It somehow became darker and when I wiped it off at the end of the day it looked like mud.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share with friends
Review 20 for Illuminating Powder Foundation
stephiejoyjoy
My Favorite!
-10.14.12
I have been using Stila's Illuminating Powder Foundation in 40 watts for YEARS. Seriously. I have very sensitive skin and if any of my makeup has oil in it I am guaranteed a breakout. This product not only works for my skin but also works with my skin. It enhances the look of my skin giving just enough coverage to hide shine and redness but not make it look like I'm wearing any makeup at all. I highly recommend this product as I've been using it at least 9 years now and couldn't be happier with it!
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Share with friends
