Illuminare • Extra Coverage Foundation/ Concealer • Crème

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tindra78 on 12/29/2012 3:30:00 PM more reviews by Tindra78

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

My skin: acne-prone, enlarged pores almost all over my face, hyperpigmentation/melasma and "irritations"/redness. As you see, I have a real problem skin...

I usually wear Everyday minerals loose matte Foundation combined with the Vichy normaderm teint foundation (the one for imperfections/acne). These two works with my skin, but I always like to try new stuff, so.... Now I've tried this foundation. My skin is NW15/NC15, and I found that the porcelain shade was the closest match (even if it is a little darker then my NW15 concealer!) Consistency: very thick. A little harder to spread in that way. Also feels a little "sticky"...

Coverage: This is more of a concealer than a foundation, its really thick and pigmented. I guess you should use it on smaller areas, otherwise it will look cakey. I've used it to conceal the undereye area, and cover some spots. In many ways this reminds of the Mary Kay concealer, that is also very, very pigmented and also very dry like this.

Price: IF you use this only as a concealer, it could be "ok" for the amount you get. Otherwise it's quite pricy... Shades: The shade porcelain is the right shade for me when it comes to the lightness, BUT it is grey!! The problem is that if you have bluish undereye circles you'd need some more pink in your undereye concealer, BUT something more yellow on the spots. In that way this shade is hard to use....and I'd need 1-2 more to mix them to the right shades, but they are too expensive...

This is similar in coverage, to the undereye concealer I use right now, Mac Pro Longwear NW 15. The Mac is thinner in consistency though.

Availability: hard to get here in Europe, very long shipping time if ordered directly from the company.

So: I won't order this again, it's just too similar to other cheaper and more available products. Even if it has good coverage.

Update 2013-01-21;
I've realized that I actually have used this little pigmented sample I have almost daily anyway! The shade porcelain is ok, and the "grayish" color does not appear gray if you use it only as a concealer. I've had really awful spots and scars that have "disappeared" with this. (Although be careful to work it in properly, cause other pigments can get "stuck" in it, for example blush - it can give an uneven look when the blush pigments settle in it...but work it in, and let dry!) Maybe will order the full size! Five lippies, it's worth it!

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jessicalynn on 2/22/2012 1:12:00 PM more reviews by jessicalynn

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I love the pure ingredients in this Illuminare foundation. I also use it under my eyes as a concealer, and it works fairly well at that also. I love the packaging. It's not as wasteful as many other brands and works very effeciently if you ask me. I apply it with a regular foundation brush rather than the applicator the Illuminare folks recommend, though.

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kfulghum on 9/11/2011 2:52:00 PM more reviews by kfulghum

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I finally decided to write a review of this product after many attempts to use it. The first two times I used it, I didn't like it. Needless to say I was very frustrated because I had seen all the wonderful reviews on it! I have oily, acne-prone, sensitive, red skin, so I thought the ultimate all day foundation would be best for me. Mistake # 1. It turned out that the extra coverage foundation/concealer was the best match for my skin. Mistake # 2 was using the wrong color. I was using the Portofino Porcelain and it was too light. I have fair skin but by the end of the day the porcelain was white and chalky in my pores. So I decided to try the extra coverage foundation/concealer for a change. I was a little afraid at first as I didn't want to look like I had stage makeup on. Which leads me to my next bit of advice: A little goes a long way! I tried the extra coverage foundation by mixing the Portofino Porcelain with the Florentine Fair and it was the perfect match for my skin! It takes time to get the foundation to look just like you want it to, but by now I've got it down to an art. You really have to blend the makeup as it is very concentrated. It leaves a beautiful finish on my skin and believe me I don't have beautiful skin. It lasts all day with a few blots in the afternoon. I also tried the foundation applicator that Illuminare sells. I didn't like it. It soaks up too much foundation and doesn't really spread it evenly. Maybe I'm using it wrong, who knows. I like to put the foundation on with a foundation brush. I'm so glad that I didn't give up on this foundation the first time I used it!! I would definitely recommend this makeup and would buy it again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* LizWords on 3/21/2011 7:02:00 PM more reviews by LizWords

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE 9/24/11: Still my HQ concealer. I no longer use it as a full face foundation, it's too thick and covering for that and doesn't look very natural all over. Best concealer ever though.

UPDATE: Best eye concealer ever. Lasts forever. LOVE IT.

UPDATE: I'm still loving this. I bumped up the color to Florentine Fair since I got a bit of a tan in the Bahamas earlier this month. The color matches great, and I have figured out how to spread it and use it all over my face on days when i want full coverage. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

I also purchased the Ultimate All Day version but it's a bit too drying for me so I have been mixing the two types at times with good results.

This is the most amazing concealer I have ever used. I have yet to try it as a full foundation, but as a concealer it's second to none. I've been using this for about a week, the porcelain is perfect for my skin type (fair with moderate yellow undertones). It covers red spots and pimples better than anything else I've ever tried in my life, and it's also a dream for my dark under eye circles. I think it has amazing staying power as well. I touched up my makeup 3xs in a 10 hour work day and only had to blot some oil and apply a bit more mineral foundation and veil and that was it, no need for additional concealer. If you're not setting this with at least a translucent powder, I could see how it may rub off, but that's how all foundations/concealers act with me if I don't set it properly.

I have combo/oily skin and this makeup is perfect for that, if you have dry skin, this probably won't work for you. It goes on very matte, and I've been wondering how to make it spread as a full face foundation. But at this rate I really don't need it for that. It covers the red parts of my face so well and blends really good. I simply give myself a dusting with my favorite mineral foundation once I've applied the concealer and my face looks nearly flawless, but still natural, glowing. This is the least amount of makeup I've worn in years, usually i put on lots of concealer, a liquid foundation, and then mineral foundation to give myself full coverage. I no longer need to do that with this makeup, and you have no idea how much this means me to me. Yes I wish it was a bit cheaper and readily available, but I'm willing to spend a couple extra bucks for a product that really really works. Besides, I've been spending 15$ on drugstore foundations that work okay for years, I'm willing to fork over the extra 12$ for a product that works freakin great.

I purchased a full .5oz tube of this off ebay for a total of 26$ uncluding shipping, but I've decided to order from their website next time and invest in a couple more samples of their products. They offer some great deals on samples on the illuminare site, I would definitely suggest most people try a sample before investing in a full tube.

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viscousbadgerjelly on 12/17/2010 5:41:00 AM more reviews by viscousbadgerjelly

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I prefer natural beauty products where possible but found mineral powder make up too drying for my skin and the act of brushing it on really aggrevated it.

I choose this liquid mineral foundation as the next best thing - more natural ingredients and less parabens than your standard foundation even though I have to ship it over from America which adds to the cost - however as I dont need to buy concealer I don't mind the extra cost. I bought my first tube a year ago and I am only just finishing it off now so it's brilliant value really.

The foundation is very concentrated - 1/2 a pea sized blob is enough to evens my skin tone beautifully - if i have a blemish I add a tiny bit more to cover.

The colour choice is quite limited - I am between the shades florentine fair and the next darkest. However because it is such a heavy coverage foundation, it can be a bit mask like if you apply too much anyway so I have found that mixing florentine fair with the same amount of liquid bronzer gives me my perfect shade (whatever the season) without loosing the coverage.

It has never broken me out either as I have experienced with other liquid foundations.

My HG foundation.

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kimbuyah on 10/23/2010 6:14:00 AM more reviews by kimbuyah

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly   Eyes: Blue    

With oily skin, I have a hard time with foundation that isn't powder. Sheer Cover is what I used for the last five years, but it quit working and we broke up a few months ago. Anyway, I am trying everything extra coverage lately and received the trial kit of Illuminare 2 weeks ago for $10 and I bought the funky leopard puff thing too. I guess they don't have trial sizes in Alabaster because that's the color I needed and can't use the darker ones but the lightest of the three ,Florentine Fair is ok. You get a lot of product for $10. All three shades are named after places in Italy and it's fitting because they are all olive skin colored. I am not but it wasnt too bad. I am learning different techniques and the first time I tried this , it gathered in and around and made my pores look like little collecting pools. It felt heavy and greasy too and again made me sigh and realize I won't be able to wear foundations other than powder. But maybe not. As I suspected, a powder prime is looking like my oily girls solution. I also read on here the other day about a flat top brush and this did the trick. I never brushed on foundation before but it's neat. You only need a little bit of product and this is quite thick. I used the back of my hand as a pallette and even spritzed it a bit with Clean & Clear oil free moisturizer spray and buffed it in. I lightly daubbed all over with a damp sea sponge and it stayed pretty flawless for a good 12 hours. I didn't even use any concealer which is unusual and it covered up as good as the government. After it had been on a really long time it did start to slide but it worked really well long enough to impress me and I would wear it again but just need to get the Alabaster shade.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dancer156 on 9/17/2010 8:55:00 PM more reviews by dancer156

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

After reading such positive reviews on this product, I was really excited to try it!! However, it just didn't work with my skin. When I applied just enough to cover my acne/acne scars, it got SUPER oily throughout the day and literally slid off! When I applied less, it did a crappy job of providing coverage (and still appeared slightly greasy). Normally my skin isn't all that oily either. :( Another MAJOR negative, is I started breaking out more after using this...it was just way too heavy. I will continue my search to find a full coverage ( and "natural" looking) foundation.
****UPDATE: *****
If you are looking for a wonderful coverage foundation that won't make you greasy or cause breakouts, I recommend Gabriel Cosmetics-- Liquid Foundation and Dual Powder! My new favorites!!!

EDIT: 10/10/12: After trying Kat Von D's new Lock-It Tattoo Foundation, I am in love!!!! PHENOMENAL coverage without oxidation/greasiness. See my review on this for more details, if you're interested. Formulated without parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, etc. :)

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kegrilovessmu on 7/22/2010 9:35:00 PM more reviews by kegrilovessmu

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Other    

I got samples of this. I knew the color I was wearing was just a *little* too light for me, but it wasn't really too noticable... Until I went into the bathroom at work... There is flourescent lights in there... Yeah, no one really looks that great under that kind of lighting... but I seriously almost started crying. I could not believe how DISGUSTING I looked. This stuff made me look like a SUPER pale, greasy mess! Back at my desk I had to check my own mirror, and everything looked fine... I just can't wear this as my foundation if I have to worry about what kind of light I'm standing in. I've worn cheaper foundations with not as much coverage, and I never looked anywhere near that bad in the bathroom mirrors! 2 overall ratings because it would be an ok foundation (doesn't help oily skin) if you were never around flourescents. $28 for a tiny tube, but it would last a long time.

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*TOP REVIEWER* briii on 5/12/2010 1:57:00 PM more reviews by briii

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

this is a nice foundation. its not my favorite, but its not a bad foundation. its coverage is nice, and it makes my skin look amazing. i gave it a 4 because its staying power is horrible. i put it on and if i get on my phone or hug someone it comes right off. i dont put that much on either, so its pretty gross. thats my only complaint about this foundation, and thats the main reason i never use it. if they fixed that problem this would be an amazing foundation. but its not bad. i say its good for people who are only going to wear it for a small amount of time. but if your looking for something with a nicer staying power, you can find something better.

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jen513 on 4/24/2010 12:49:00 AM more reviews by jen513

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I really love this foundation. It covers my acne better than any other foundation I've used in the past(clinique, mac, and so on). It doesn't seem to break me out, but I still get acne. And, it lasts forever!! Definitely worth the price.

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*TOP REVIEWER* js1624 on 3/19/2010 12:45:00 PM more reviews by js1624

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Love this stuff - bought it due to the great reviews and it live up to the hype. I use the Illuminare found first then the Extra Coverage Found where needed and it works great. At the end of the day my face still looks great, like my skin only better with a healthy glow. I love it!

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tringar4 on 12/31/2009 9:00:00 AM more reviews by tringar4

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Amazing, I can't even tell i am wearing make up. Its very natural yet covers very well all my blemishes and scars. If you have problem skin then this is for you. Make sure to blend well, I would recommend you use COVER FX primer (the one for acne prone skin, as it works as a prevention for breakouts, also their best selling product ) before the foundation. and trust me i have tried all the primers and foundations in the market and this 2 in combination are the best.

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missyjean130 on 12/16/2009 7:34:00 PM more reviews by missyjean130

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

It covers well,but at what price? I exfoliate and moisturizer well everyday and this still looked cakey and gross on my skin! The lightest shade also has too much yellow in it.Did not like.

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irish119 on 11/3/2009 1:04:00 PM more reviews by irish119

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Silver, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I had trouble with this at first; I didn't buy the little pad they recommend to apply it, but after I did that I had a much easier time. This stuff is perfect for me. I love mineral makeup, but noticed that it became less & less flattering as I got older. The powder, while it covers well, just seemed to accuenate any wrinkles and dryness I had. So I dug out the Illuminare Extra Coverage and was thrilled at how well it worked. My skin is very dry, so I do use a silicone primer. Tried them all, the Monistat everyone talks about works great. Makes a perfect, smooth canvas of my face. I use the Amalfi Alabaster shade, which is wonderful as I have very, very light skin, and most other foundations are a compromise. It may be pricey, but it goes a long, long way. Highly recommend this.

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livviilee on 10/20/2009 10:46:00 PM more reviews by livviilee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I absolutely love this foundation. For reference: I'm probably NC25-30 with lots and lots of yellow (Eurasian heritage), lucky to be born with good skin, however marked with scars around the nose and chin from my pimple busting days. Cheeks tend to get reddish with the cold but on the whole it's OK. Best shade match: Florentine Fair. I'm at work atm so I'll be brief!
- Best method of application: a newly cleaned foundation brush provided more coverage than the application pad, with the same amount of product.
- Coverage type: light to medium. I needed to use the Ultimate All Day Foundation for my scars, however it did a very good job covering up the redness. Dries to a smooth finish.
- Length of coverage - I was satisfied with the length of time it lasted on my face. Unfortunately foundation doesn't tend to last long on me, and I'm not sure what difference a primer makes, as Illuminare don't seem to sell any. On a friend's recommendation I recently bought the Giorgio Armani shaping foundation, and half an hour later it was gone from my face.
- Suitable skin type - I have combination skin which varies according to the time of month and my diet. If you have dry skin you will need to moisturise.
Overall I'm very very happy with this, as it also contains sunscreen. I'm already on to my next tube, as skinstore.com currently has a 20% off sale.

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kalliope on 7/30/2009 9:26:00 PM more reviews by kalliope

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using Illuminare for probably the past six years or or more, and it's my holy grail foundation, for sure. Every once in a while I get the urge to be more "natural" and use only powder foundations with fewer ingredients, but in the end they just don't hold a candle to my Illuminare.


I usually use a blend of both the Extra Coverage and the Flawless Finish, which works well for me because I usually am a blend between two colors, Portofino Porcelain and Florentine Fair. I agree with another reviewer who said that the corresponding FF shade is VERY SLIGHTLY darker than the EC shade. I use them on my eyelids, also (I like a mix with a lot of FF for emolliency).


These foundations taught me that a dewier look is healthier and prettier than a tortured matte one (especially as one gets older). I've gotten compliments on my skin many times throughout the years, and I think it's great that people think my skin itself is that great looking, but I can tell you, it's the makeup! It just looks really natural.


The key to liking this, I think, is that you must blend it properly. The Extra Coverage blends best over well moisturised skin, but since I blend mine with the FF, that's even less of an issue. When blended well, it fills in pores (like around my nose) and gives a very flawless, naturally glowing, healthy finish. It's very highly pigmented, so start with a little, and add more as needed. If it looks too heavy, I think you've either used too much, not blended well enough, or you're trying to put it on over a dry, mattifying cream of some sort.


I break out from chemical sunscreens, so this stuff is a godsend. After one of my powdered mineral dalliances, I realized that I tanned quite a bit over several months and my skin just looked like it had aged a bit. I know I tanned because I had to darken my standard color mix, which had been the same for years. The MM powders just weren't blocking enough sun, at least with the amount I was wearing (which seemed like a lot).

These foundations may not hit all the trendy all-natural points, but it's great for sensitive skins. There are no unnecessary ingredients, no potentially irritating plant extracts, no oils. I'm very clog prone and break out from most products, but my skin seems to love this stuff.


As for the comments in some reviews about getting some separation during the day: if it's really warm, or if I'm sweating a lot, or if I've dehydrated my skin and it responds with extra oiliness, I've had this happen -- BUT -- the magic of this makeup is that all you need to do (maybe after a quick blot if you're VERY oily) is take your fingers and blend it back into your face! I do this, and it brings back the great finish. You don't need to add more layers of gunk to your face by using mattifying powders, in my experience.


I'm gushing, I know, but I love this stuff. Except for the MM powders, which don't count, I've only bought two other foundations in over six years! This is crazy for me, because I'm a product junkie who is always looking for the "better thing." I've just transferred my PJness to other things, now (like skincare and haircare)!

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Pattigirl on 7/24/2009 10:53:00 AM more reviews by Pattigirl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This is my go-to foundation and I'll tell you why: it covers EVERYTHING. With that in mind, a tiny bit (like the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen) will go a LONG way. Anything more than that and you're going to end up with a masky looking face. I apply with a latex sponge, using a dot on my forehead, chin, each cheek and my nose, then blend blend blend. I can't stress this enough, blend! It's pretty easy to do, but if you don't do it, again, you'll end up looking masky. It's very cheap too if you consider how little you have to use. Even if the color isn't a perfect match for you, the blending will get you there, so no worries.

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tmking on 7/18/2009 10:21:00 PM more reviews by tmking

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This product is extremely pigmented, and a little on the thick side, but I don't think that I would classify it as a creme foundation. On days when I need to cover lots of stuff up, this is my go-to. It's slightly mattifying on my oily skin, but not overly so, and gives a very natural finish (I used to get tons of compliments on my "perfect skin" while wearing this). It WILL tend to look cakey if you use too much product (it takes relatively little), or if you don't apply quickly enough. As a result, I find the best method of application involves the use of a damp sponge, gives you a little more leeway, and can sheer out any spots that dried too fast.


For my drier days or if I just want a lighter coverage, I love to mix this half and half with Illuminare's Fantastic Finish formula, it's perfect! My combo-oily, semi-breakout-prone skin has no troubles with this formula, and it has excellent staying power. SPF21 physical sunblock seems to hold up pretty well for me (I like to use this and/or the FF when I go to Hawaii).

When I was about NC5 (*extremely* pale with yellowish undertones), the shade Amalfi Alabaster was one of the few foundations not only pale enough but also NOT-pink enough to suit me. It does lean slightly yellow. My skin has mysteriously darkened to about NC20, with pronounced yellow-beige undertones, and now Portofino Porcelain is an excellent match (it is more beige and less yellow than Amalfi Alabaster). In between, I mixed the shades to varying degrees. **I think the identical FF shade is slightly darker than the Extra Coverage, but maybe I'm imagining this, I'll have to check more closely sometime.

This isn't the cheapest foundation, at $27 for 15mL, but it isn't the most expensive either, and you can almost always get it for at least %20 off from various online retailers. Also, you need to use a relatively small amount--compared to traditional liquid foundations--so the small tube lasts. The packaging is okay, some people may like the fact that it's a sanitary sort of tube, but I have had two of five tubes I've used/purchased so far either crack at the neck of the tube or the neck of the cap. Very annoying. Overall though I strongly recommend this foundation, even if regular minerals don't work for you (they don't really work for me either). Have repurchased, and will again.

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acurrens on 7/18/2009 8:20:00 AM more reviews by acurrens

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

i have acne-prone skin w/ redness and this foundation does look good when first applied. however, if there are any dry spots, this product makes them look worse. after about 4 hours of wear, the product, on my skin, was no longer blended and had settled into my pores.

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lipz on 4/1/2009 5:37:00 PM more reviews by lipz

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

This took me several times to really love this product. Now I think it's all I'll ever wear. My face does not react to this at all...no breakouts! I'm using the second lightest shade and it seems to be a good match. My application method is basically how they advertise to apply it on their website. I do go over a few spots for extra concealing. I top this off with Aveda's loose powder and sometimes a touch of bronzer. I do find that I get a tad "dewy" looking throughout the day and usually just blot it away. I'm actually liking the dewy look as its not oily or greasy and this foundation feels like nothing on my skin, even after hours of wear...which by the way, it wears very well for many hours. I don't get the dehydrated feel/look as with powder mineral makeup. This is truely great stuff! If at first you don't like it, try it with different moisturizers/application methods and just play around with it, you may change your mind like I did!
EDIT 5-31-09 ~ HG foundation! I'm loving it...may try a powder foundation for days I just want to swipe something on quickly, but this is my everday work/evening/going out foundation

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