Beauty Care: ILIA Dreamer Multi-Stick Review & Swatches

Dreamer

ILIA Dreamer Multi-Stick ($34.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium-dark coral with moderate, warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had sheer coverage that was buildable to medium pigmentation if desired. The texture was very easy to work with as it had moderate slip, good glide, and spread well over bare skin as well as over foundation as it did not lift it up.

It was easiest to work with using fingertips, which added some warmth to the product. The balm was more solid in the tube but yielded readily as soon as it came into contact with my skin (from the warmth). It wore nicely for seven and a half hours as a cheek product, but as a lip product, it was so-so; it stayed on decently for two and a half hours but had a thinner consistency that wasn’t as flattering on my lips as it was on my cheeks.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

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Pretty Vulgar Sweet Revenge (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
NARS Make You Mine (LE, $30.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
MAC Just a Pinch (P, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Scintillate (Shade) (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
NARS Torrid (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Kosas Velvet Melon (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
NARS Bowery (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Tower 28 Power Hour (P, $20.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Megeve (Blush) (LE, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
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View Swatches

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 who is looking primarily for a cream blush over a lip color, as the latter can work but it is short-wearing, thin, and didn't always sit well on lips (tended to emphasize texture/catch on flakes). It's by no means an ultra-hydrating lip balm, but it worked well as a cream blush.

These types of multi-tasking products often can be used in more than one way, but so often, they work well for a primary function; in this case, that's as a blush. The consistency was smooth, dense, and balm-like that had to be warmed up slightly with fingertips or held against the cheek. The finish was dewy without being overly tacky, but it never fully dried down, so those who need something 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 up 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.

As a lip product, they applied best from the tube, as this yielded more even coverage and minimized the product catching on imperfections. The coverage 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 are as 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.