Hello friends.

After two long years of sweatpants, and Zoom calls, N95s. Of bouts of depression, crazy grow-out, excessive wine and Little Debbies consumption. And being teased with lifting mask mandates and dipping our toes into “regular”, only to have everything come back full force. IT IS TIME. It is time to don a little makeup again. So last weekend I dusted off the ol’ brushes and cried silent tears as I tossed bottle after bottle of expired product into the trash can. Goodbye Naked palette circa 2011. Au revoir Elf camo concealer I used twice pre-pandemic. C’est la vie good friends.

And while hemorrhaging SEVERAL old blush palettes, goopy lip glosses and dried out liquid eyeshadows was a bit depressing, welcoming new and exciting products into the lineup most certainly was not.

It also didn’t hurt that I have accumulated a small arsenal of Sephora gift cards after not wearing much makeup for the last couple of years. I decided to start at the most natural place: foundation. I started scouring TikTok for the latest foundation reviews and was met with so many choices! Should I go drugstore and try the True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum, the Elf Camo CC Cream, or the Physicians Formula Butter Believe It? Or luxury – with Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation or Armani Luminous Silk?

I marched into Sephora with my mind made up – I wanted to try the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation! I was color-matched and surprised to discover that I was shade 3N. But then, true to covid fashion – they were sold out of my shade. Online too.

Back home I begrudgingly went. Later that night, I hopped on YouTube and decided to search up one of my all-time favorite, albeit forgotten YouTubers, Wayne Goss. I quickly happened upon this video where he reviews the LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation. As soon as he applied it to his face, I knew I needed it. Dewy, medium coverage, very natural looking and best of all, great for aging skin. I selected the shade MN3 per the site recommendation and then went looking for a concealer. I referred back to Wayne’s channel, scoured around for a newish concealer, and bingo – found the Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream. I went with the shade 02W and also selected a deluxe sample of the Dior Forever Foundation in shade 2N as my freebie.

A few days later, the products came in and within 2-3 days of testing, I knew it was love.

The packaging is gorgeous, especially for a $22 foundation. It comes in a glass bottle with a rose gold lid and has a pump. I found the shade MN3 to be a tad dark for me, but I decided to try it out anyway and possibly exchange for a lighter color if need be.

The concealer was kinda spendy for me ($28) but I figured I would just return it if I was not wowed. SPOILER: I was wowed. The color is perfect and it has a nice flat, doe-foot wand.

Here I am before foundation and concealer, skincare only. DISCLAIMER: I know I look a little worse for the wear. The lovely bruise under my eye came from Clara’s excitement as she sang “Let it Go” and thrust her head backward as I was holding her. The bruise on my forehead I will save for another post. I have no excuses for why my eyebrows are brushed downwards and for that I am ashamed.

And here is the after!

This was one pump and one layer. I opted not to add a second layer to my bruises. I appreciate how incredibly radiant my skin looks and how it doesn’t cover everything perfectly as I am NOT a full-coverage queen. I also think the shade does look a tad dark but I am also kinda living for it. Tell me what you think in the comments.

As for the concealer, HOLY SMOKES is it moisturizing! It almost appears wet, like you’ve smeared Vaseline under the eye, but as a bone-dry babe – give me alllll the moisture! I love looking dewy and hydrated. I did end up setting the under eye area ever so slightly with the Mac x Patrick Starr loose powder and it is just sheer perfection. This concealer does not crease on me and did not dry out on me either.

Overall, I am just floored. I am enjoying these products so much that I have worn makeup several days in a row now. Look at me go! Also, I just saw that LYS Beauty dropped a full-coverage, brightening concealer at Sephora which I might have to order. Am I turning into a makeup junkie again or what?!