My First Impression Was “Absolutely Not.”
Okay, let’s get this part out of the way. I was THIS close to returning it. Honestly. The box it came in looked like it had been used for a soccer match. A little dented, whatever, I can move past packaging. But the real fun started when I opened it.
The pump. Oh, the pump. It wouldn’t work. I’m pressing down, and nothing’s happening. I’m shaking the bottle, pressing again, and suddenly a huge, uninvited glob of thick, beige goo shoots out and lands right on my favorite white T-shirt. I was stress-eating kettle-corn chips when this happened, so now I had orange dust AND foundation on me. Not a vibe. My first thought? This is a $30 mess. Literally.
And the smell? It’s not terrible, but it’s there. It’s this faint, chemical-ish, “I’m definitely a makeup product” scent. Not the luxurious, skincare-infused whiff I was hoping for. It faded after a minute, but still. Not the best start.
The “Wow, This Looks Awful” Phase
So I finally get some foundation on my hand. It felt thick. The description said “lightweight texture, thin and transparent like air.” My immediate reaction was to laugh. Out loud. Alone in my bathroom. This did not feel like air. It felt like it had potential to be cakey. I put it on my face with a damp sponge anyway, bracing for the worst.
It dried down FAST. Like, really fast. I was trying to blend out my right cheek and my left cheek was already setting into a matte finish. Panic blending ensued. The result? It looked… dry. And a bit mask-like. I have combination skin, and it seemed to cling to every little dry patch I didn’t even know I had. My forehead looked like a topographical map. I was staring in the mirror thinking, “24-hour long-lasting wear? Great. I’m going to be stuck looking like this all day.” I genuinely started looking up the return policy.
But I had a Zoom call in 10 minutes. I was out of time. I had to roll with it.
The Turning Point (A Literal Heat Wave)
Fast forward four hours. My Zoom call was long over. I’d made tea, answered emails, and honestly forgotten about my face. My apartment gets crazy afternoon sun, and it was hot. I was getting a little shiny—my standard T-zone situation. I finally caught my reflection in the dark screen of my monitor. I braced myself for a melted, separated disaster.
But it wasn’t.
That’s the moment everything shifted. My face wasn’t an oil slick. The foundation hadn’t moved. At all. The weird, dry-mask feeling from the morning was gone. It had… melted into my skin? But not in a greasy way. In a soft, velvety, my-skin-but-better way. The coverage was still totally there, hiding the redness from a stress pimple I’d been fighting. But the texture was suddenly flawless. I honestly don’t know why it needs that awkward 20-minute “settling” period, but it does.
Why I Actually Started to Like It (Hate to Admit It)
I gave it another shot the next day. And the next. I learned its quirks. You can’t treat it like a light, serum-y foundation. This stuff means business. I started applying it in smaller sections—forehead first, blend immediately, then right cheek, blend, then left. I used a denser, slightly damp brush instead of the sponge. And I made sure my skin was really, really moisturized beforehand.
The results are kind of insane. The “24H long-wearing” claim? I put this on at 7 AM for a full day that included a sweaty, humid trip to the grocery store, cooking over a steamy stove, and a 9 PM video chat with my sister. My blush had faded a bit, but the foundation looked exactly the same. No separating around my nose. No creasing in my smile lines. My skin just looked smooth and even. All. Day. Long.
Related reading: My Honest Take: Is the LBLS 3-in-1 Black Hair Dye Shampoo Actually a Game-Changer for Gray Coverage?.
And the oil control? It’s the real deal. I usually have to blot by noon. With this, I’m good until like, 4 PM. And even then, it’s not gross oiliness, it’s more of a healthy glow that actually looks pretty good. The matte finish doesn’t feel tight or suffocating once it settles. It’s just… locked in.
But here’s my one tiny life detail that has nothing to do with the product: I was trying to peel a stubborn sticker off a vintage picture frame I was upcycling when I absentmindedly rubbed my face with the back of my hand. A full eight hours after application. I expected a stripe of foundation to be gone. The sticker left residue. My foundation did not budge. Waterproof? I believe it.
The Final, Grudging Verdict
So, would I repurchase this LBLS foundation? Yes. But with caveats.
This is not a beginner-friendly, slap-it-on-and-go product. It has a learning curve. It demands good skincare prep. If you have very dry skin, you’ll probably hate it unless you drench your face in moisturizer first. It’s a full coverage, long-wearing, bulletproof foundation for when you need your makeup to survive a demanding day. A wedding, a long work shift, a hot and humid outing. It’s not for the “no-makeup makeup” lazy Sunday.
I started this journey fully prepared to write a scathing one-star review. Now? I’m reaching for this bottle on days I know my regular foundation won’t cut it. It went from my nemesis to my secret weapon. It’s not perfect, but once you figure it out, it’s incredibly effective.
And I still hate that stupid pump.
If you want to try it yourself, here’s where I got mine.
James Rodriguez, Esthetician
Licensed esthetician specializing in corrective skincare since 2015.
