Spring has sprung and party season — whether that means weddings, graduations or backyard BBQs — is here. We all know what that means: there will be a lot of photo opportunities. But cameras of this day and age are so high quality, they always seem to catch all the fine lines and imperfections — no matter how far I am from the lens.
While I don’t have a ton of wrinkles (thanks, mom), I do have complaints about my skin’s texture and uneven tone. I hate using filters on photos, so I would rather find a way to take care of these pesky matters without having to partake in expensive skin care treatments at the spa or dermatologist's office.
While I’ve heard tales of “blurring” creams, I’ve never found them to work well or look natural. I felt that most are cake-y and sit on top of your skin, instead of working to nourish and diminish the creases themselves. But thanks to Il Makiage, I feel differently now after trying the brand's velvety Power Redo Wrinkle Fix balm.
Il Makiage Power Redo Wrinkle Fix
- Instant results
- Fragrance-free
- How you apply is important
- Only need a small amount
Size(s): 20 ml | Key ingredients: Coffee seeds, Rosehip oil, vitamin C | Skin type: All skin types; suitable for sensitive skin
What is the Il Makiage Power Redo Wrinkle Fix?
While an app can filter your face, thanks to Il Makiage, now you can "filter" yourself IRL as well. The brand’s Power Redo Wrinkle Fix is a silky balm that claims to temporarily fill wrinkles and crow’s feet, and blur pores and fine lines to create an even texture so you look flawless in an instant. It perfectly primes skin for makeup with a delicate mattifying effect. That said, you can also wear it alone and show off your smooth, gorgeous complexion. Long term, it claims to actually soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as hydrate and nourish skin for a more youthful look.
The key ingredients
This velvety balm is packed with pretty stellar ingredients, and they’re chosen for how they can soften signs of aging and promote a more radiant look. Along with the product's patented Juvinity — which Il Makiage says is the powerhouse behind visibly smoothing wrinkles and nourishing skin — it’s packed with coffee seed, a wakeup call of energizing natural antioxidants; vitamin C for brightening and minimizing discoloration; and rosehip oil, a natural botanical oil that helps minimize the appearance of scars, wrinkles, redness and inflammation.
Dr. Farah Moustafa, Board-certified dermatologist at Derm Physicians of New England, helped me dig into this trio to understand what they bring to the table. “[Coffee seeds] have antioxidants which can combat the free radical damage from pollution and stressors our skin is exposed to daily,” she says, adding that coffee as a skin care ingredient is great for puffiness and dark under eye circles. "This is because coffee works well at temporarily shrinking the blood vessels which can reduce inflammation and swelling and result in brighter skin.”
Topical vitamin C is also one of the most powerful antioxidants used in skin care, according to Dr. Moustafa. “It can help fight the effects of aging by mopping up free radicals that dull the skin. It is also important in making collagen and can improve fine lines and wrinkles.”
Finally, Dr. Moustafa confirms rosehip oil is a great ingredient. “It’s high in linoleic acid and is great at moisturizing and hydrating the skin without being too greasy,” she says. She also adds that it contains vitamin A which can help with skin turnover and cell renewal, as well as antioxidants (vitamin E) that can help brighten skin.
My experience
More a primer than a moisturizer, this goes on after your skin care products. After washing my face and applying my serum, moisturizer and sunscreen, I applied just pea-size amount of the balm in the area that I wanted to blur. In my case it was my "11s" between my eyebrows (I haven’t had Botox in over a year), my deep forehead creases and a few pesky crow’s feet. As I gently blended onto my skin with the tip of my finger in one direction, I could already see how it was starting to blur a few of my small lines. I waited a few minutes for it to dry before applying makeup. I normally don’t wear foundation or concealer, so I just dusted on my typical setting powder to finish the look.
Why I like the Il Makiage Power Redo Wrinkle Fix
First, the texture of the formula is velvety, which I love. The balm was almost dry and powdery in how smooth it felt on my skin. It went on like a dream and was almost silky in its application.
It blurred small lines and texture instantly
True to its namesake, this absorbed into my lines and appeared to actually blur uneven texture and divots. It made my skin smooth and lovely — like magic! My skin remained soft wherever I applied the balm, too.
The cap is magnetic so the wand sticks to it
If you’ve ever lost one of the application wands that accompanies your expensive pots of skin creams, you're not alone (guilty!). So, giving bonus points to Il Makiage for making its top magnetic.
It’s fragrance-free
There’s nothing worse than loving a cream but not loving the scent. From my experience, so many thick moisturizers come with heavy scents, but this isn’t one of them. It also is free of parabens, phthalate, SLS, PEGs, alcohol and DEA.
What to consider
- Application is everything for this moisturizer. The instructions are clear that you shouldn’t apply it in a back and forth motion. To test it out, I did a circular motion and the formula pilled and rolled off my skin. I also tried patting it into my skin and that just left clumps. Instead, apply to the skin in one direction.
- Less is more. If you use too much, the product rolls off your skin. Once you commit to placement and have applied, there’s no going back. Don’t rub or add more while it’s drying or it will also roll.
- It works best on fine lines. Did it work on larger creases? Not particularly. My forehead still has my horizontal lines (presumably from raising my eyes in confusion/surprise at my teen quite frequently). But do I remember where the original fine lines were on my face after application? No. It’s all a blur post-application.
More anti-aging skin care products to shop
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body and Face Lotion
- Multitasking formula
- Non-greasy application/formula
- Some dislike scent
Size(s): 7 oz. | Key ingredients: Retinol-peptide complex, moisturizers and vitamins | Skin type: Normal; all | Fragrance-free? No; cocoa butter scent
Retinol is frequently touted as the gold standard for anti-aging. This body and face lotion uses the key ingredient to fight fine lines, wrinkles and minimize hyperpigmentation.
The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane
- Feels lightweight
- Isn't sticky, per customers
- Some experienced dryness
Size(s): 30 ml | Key ingredients: Retinol, squalane | Skin type: All | Fragrance-free? Yes
Another retinol-based product, this serum by The Ordinary is both effective and affordable.
La-Roche Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
- Absorbs quickly
- Brightens skin
- May be sticky
Size(s): 1.01 oz. | Key ingredients: Pure vitamin C | Skin type: All | Fragrance-free? Yes
Brighter skin? Yes, please! This serum utilizes vitamin C to boost radiance and minimize signs of aging.
Meet the expert
- Dr. Farah Moustafa is a board-certified dermatologist at Derm Physicians of New England and assistant professor and director at Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Cheryl Fenton is a freelance writer for Shop TODAY. She’s been a writer and editor with 25 years of experience on the lifestyle beat, and is co-host of Everything Hurts, a podcast for middle-aged women who want to laugh about getting older (menopause included).
