The Cosmic Watchdog

After her comeback on Dancing on Ice, everyone’s been eager to discover secret behind Holly Willoughby’s youthful and radiant skin. Her makeup artist, Patsy O’Neill, has finally revealed the products she used for Holly’s opening night look, including the foundation.

In an Instagram post, Patsy disclosed that she used Ilia Skin Rewind Complexion Stick on Holly’s skin and this foundation is known for its potent anti-ageing ingredients and skin-blurring effects. Shoppers can get it for £48 at Ilia online and Sephora.

The Ilia stick foundation “melts into skin with a natural skin-like finish” and that’s thanks to the butterfly lavender extract, which smooths out fine lines and wrinkles.

It also includes a ceramide-peptide complex which strengthens your skin barrier, while winged kelp extract restores brightness for a more youthful look, reports the Mirror.

It offers up to 12 hours of seamless wear, with buildable medium coverage that blurs pores, masks redness and texture, and provides a natural-looking matte finish. Patsy revealed that Holly was wearing shade 4N, aptly named Holly, but there are 42 different shades available to suit all skin tones.

The Ilia Skin Blurring Foundation has received rave reviews from shoppers, boasting a 4.5 star rating from over 1,500 reviews. One satisfied customer shared: “I really like this foundation stick because it’s practical to carry in my purse and the colour matches my skin perfectly. It’s the first foundation that I like how it leaves my skin. I have acne scars and I don’t like to put makeup on because I see that they become more noticeable, but with Ilia makeup, my skin looks soft and smooth.”

Another enthused: “It goes on smoothly. It erases those signs of ageing like fine lines. It’s buildable. The product blends well with other products so you can create the look you’re going for. It’s also convenient to travel with or carry in your purse! Also, make sure your skin is hydrated before use, or it might look chalky, and it’ll settle into fine lines and wrinkles.”

However, some pointed out that it wasn’t always the best match for dry skin, with one noting: “Not sure I got the right shade. It seems a bit drying.”

Another said the foundation stick has become her new go-to: “The Ilia Skin Rewind Complexion Stick literally gives you flawless looking skin. It is creamy applying to skin and blends in so smoothly. A little product goes a long way, but it is also buildable for those wanting even more coverage. My new go-to.”

Elsewhere, Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Skin Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick, £35, is ideal for beauty fans who want to achieve the “ring light effect” without the extra steps of contouring. The formula includes skin-loving ingredients like Collageneer, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. The shades are not as well-covered as Ilia but it has 20 based on Fair, Medium, Tan and Deep.

Nadine Baggott mentioned on This Morning recently that foundation sticks will be the beauty trend of 2025 and she recommended the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Multi-use Foundation Stick, £48. She said: “This one has taken TikTok by crazy, stick foundation is normally thick but the Dior one is absolutely beautiful, it’s incredibly light and almost like a serum.”

In Patsy’s beauty preparation for Holly, she ensured to apply a hydrating primer before the foundation to provide the best base for application and blending. Patsy chose Tatcha’s Liquid Silk Canvas, which is available for £25 for a 10g bottle or £51 for a 30g bottle.