By 
I never thought I’d see the day where I divorced my trustworthy Bobby Brown lightweight foundation with SPF 15, perfect for everyday wear. I started using this foundation in mid-2019 and never looked back. The color match was perfect, the finish was beautiful and it was the perfect option for when I didn’t want to use my Nars foundation, which provides a medium-to-full coverage.
Three to four years ago, it was so hard to find a lightweight foundation with sunscreen for medium skin tones.
The very few available on the market didn’t really convince me, and I didn’t want to go the tinted moisturizer route. Well…I think a new lover has come into my life. If there is one makeup product that I’ll never switch, it’s foundation, but this one is too good not to pass up.
In February 2022, Kosas came out with their anticipated Revealer Foundation, which created a fuss online. I still remember when Kosas, which was founded in Los Angeles by Sheena Yaitanes, was only available in selected beauty stores across the city. I purchased a lipstick from them in 2018, way before they made their way into Sephora. Their tinted moisturizers didn’t really catch my eye, but they’ve made great strides in inclusivity and have come up with great, innovative products.
I knew that Kosas prided themselves on creating beauty products with skincare at the forefront. I tried their bronzers once at Sephora, of which I have to say, I was impressed by their pigment. When natural makeup brands started coming out, they were not necessarily celebrated for their pigment, but the beauty industry is ever-changing, now more than ever.
Their medium-to-full coverage concealer with the bright yellow cap, went viral on Tik Tok and Youtube. People praised its creamy consistency and natural finish. And on top of that, it’s formulated with skincare ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid and Pink Algae, which helps combat dark circles! Every time I went to Sephora I browsed the products in their section, but never actually tried the concealer. However, I was very enticed by the yellow packaging and clear bottles. Retail psychology 101!
Sheena Yaitanes shared with Byrdie.com:
“We received so many comments, emails, and DMs asking when the formula was going to be made into a foundation. It really was the amazing response to Revealer Concealer that led to the creation of the Revealer Foundation.”
Yaitanes also shared that getting the foundation right took a lot of trial and error. Kosas’ Revealer Foundation provides a light-to-medium coverage.
So… how would it perform? I went to Sephora and asked for an employee to color match me. I told them my Nars foundation shade (Barcelona), which is an exact match. The girl immediately picked the shade 260, a medium-tan shade with neutral/olive undertones. I proceeded to swipe a small streak on my jawbone and under my neck. The foundation instantly disappeared! If a foundation does this, it means the match is perfect.
I asked for a sample to take home and did my research on this foundation that has been the talk of the town on many popular beauty blogs since it was released in February 2022.
Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid – Keeps your skin moisturized and boosts elasticity.
Niacinamide – Reduces inflammation and helps ease redness, eczema and acne.
Peptides – Maintain texture, firmness and elasticity.
Squalane – Boosts hydration and makes the skin look more vibrant.
Vitamin B5 – Helps retain moisture
Arnica + Caffeine – Increase circulation and stimulate white blood cell production.
And most importantly, SPF 25 that is mineral and reef-safe! The overall benefits: it brightens, it soothes, plumps and protects. Note: just because a foundation has SPF, doesn’t mean you should forgo sunscreen!
When I put it on for the first time, I used my hands. I still prefer to apply my foundation with a brush because you have more control over the placement, but that’s just me. The consistency is creamy, weightless and blends into the skin seamlessly. I was pleasantly surprised. Think of it as a serum that acts as a foundation. Makeup artist Katrina Klein shared that you must not use a silicone-based primer before, because this is a water-based foundation and will cause pilling. Before applying the foundation, she preps the skin with Chanel CC Cream, which has SPF 50. With this being said, don’t over prep your skin if you’re going to use this foundation.
After I put it on for the first time, I immediately feII in love and called three different Sephoras, which were all sold out of my shade! Luckily, Sephora at The Grove had a few left, so I went there. I finally could have the full experience of applying the foundation straight from their pretty packaging. A little bit of foundation goes a LONG WAY! You only need one full pump for your entire face.
My skin is far from perfect. I have some texture on my forehead and cheeks. After I put it on, I immediately had a natural glow, not shiny, but a healthy glow. My imperfections were blurred and overall, it looked like I had new skin. Not “Oh, I’m obviously wearing foundation”, but “this is my natural skin”. In the picture below, I kept the complexion to a bare minimum: Kosas foundation, a dab of ABH’s concealer, and Rose Inc blush in the shade Azalea. I get oily on my forehead throughout the day, so I applied a little bit of setting powder.
I sent a picture to my mom and she couldn’t stop complimenting my skin! I kept telling her that it wasn’t my skin, it was the foundation. I make sure to take care of my skin everyday with great products, but that “no makeup makeup glow”? That’s the foundation!
The foundation is buildable, but if you have acne or dark spots, I recommend using a concealer for correcting.
Even after a few hours, the foundation didn’t look cakey, nor did it cling onto dry spots around my nose. The whole day I felt like I had a moisturizer on, not foundation.
Overall, I am very impressed by the Kosas Revealer Foundation, which yielded amazing results and has now become a staple in my makeup arsenal.
Visit Kosas’ website and Instagram.
Have you tried anything from Kosas?
