Live It, Love It, Green It: New Love! - Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Shell Shock & Arabian Knights Review

A few months back, my amazingly wonderful boyfriend bought me not one, but TWO Ilia lip conditioners from Fresh Faced. As a known balm and gloss addict, I thought these would be a great transition into the world of lipstick. These tinted lip conditioners come in several beautiful shades and are a fantastic combination of balm, gloss, and lipstick. Beautiful shades you say? Oh yes lovely readers, beautiful shades!

Ilia was created by a Canadian (Vancouver) born, Sasha Plavsic. Sasha started in the design world and from there, developed a love for Branding and Marketing. Having had the opportunity to work alongside different fashion brands, she quickly learned how to grow a brand and decided to start her own. It wasn't until she returned home and went through her makeup bag, that she "discover[ed] that organic makeup needed its own “re-branding”, new contemporary colours, better packaging and product performance." Her mother played a huge part in this as well because of her belief in the power of clean, natural, and organic products and food.

Sasha Plavsic - What a knockout eh? - Image from Ilia

Description: ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner combines organic ingredients to soothe and condition the lips. Each shade carries a sheer touch of color that increases in intensity when applied liberally. Mix with other ILIA colors to create your own personalized shade.

swatches at the very bottom

Arabian Knights offers a fantasy of mystery and seduction. The deep tones of violet, and burgundy melt together forming a beautiful berry stain. An ideal shade, easily carried from day to night.

This is hands down my favourite colour EVER, of any lip product (natural or chemical filled), that I've ever used. Bold statement, but it's true. I love how nourishing it is to my lips while still providing fantastic colour payoff. It can be applied sheer for a beautiful just bitten berry lip or built up for a bolder berry. I like to wear mine with a little gloss over top just because the gloss addict inside tells me to. This shade is well loved and it's one I think everyone should have in their collection.

Arabian Knights

A soft, bright pop of color to the lips with Shell Shock! This warm weather favorite is a great introductory shade to those who may shy away from our bolder brights. Pairs beautifully when layered with Dizzy.

I can totally see how this would be a warm weather favourite! It's a beautiful light, sheer coral shade that goes with any look. The colour is by no means intense, so if you want to get into corals but unsure of how it may look on you, this would be a great shade to start with. I like wearing mine with a little gloss over top (surprising huh?) or mixing it with my Honeybee Gardens lipstick in Valentine. I do find the formula of this shade a bit different than AK. It doesn't apply as smoothly and almost balls up, it's weird. I have to actually pat my lips, after applying, to smooth it out. I'm not sure if that's just this particular shade or the batch that I got, but it's something to keep in mind.

Shell Shock

Out of these two, Arabian Knights is definitely my favourite and one that I would repurchase. Both shades wear fairly well, especially when layered with a gloss over top, but they're not lipsticks or stains so don't expect all day wear. They're easy to apply and because they're sheer, they're ideal for the on the go when no mirror is available. The packaging is chic and elegant, a perfect example of less being more. I'm really impressed with the quality of this brand and already have my eye on a few other items. What I love most about Ilia's lip products is that they have on trend shades. No more settling for an "it's alright" or frosted lip colour, ladies!

Retails for $24 CAN. For retailers, check out Ilia.

What's your favourite Ilia Lipstick or Tinted Lip Conditioner shade? Which would you most like to try?

Top: Shell Shock, Bottom: Arabian Knights

Ingredients Arabian Knights: (85% ORGANIC): Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Organic Sesamum Indicum (Seasame) Seed Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Extract, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Ducil (Orange) Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dixoide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140.

Ingredients Shell Shock: (85% ORGANIC): Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Organic Sesamum Indicum (Seasame) Seed Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Extract, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Ducil (Orange) Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dixoide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140.