Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 review

I believe that every great makeup routine begins with the proper skincare (ahem—moisturizer and sunscreen) and a stellar foundation. Sure, you can skip the complexion-evening step and go straight in with concealer to brighten the under-eyes or cover dark spots, but I find that a foundation ties everything together and creates a great base for any cream or powder face products you apply on top.

The problem? It can be a challenge to find a foundation that works with your skin type (normal, dry, oily, combination) and achieves the coverage level, finish, and longevity you desire. As Reviewed’s beauty editor, I’m always willing to lend my face for testing purposes whenever there's a makeup challenge, which is what I did with the new Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25.

What is the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25?

A follow-up launch to the Kosas’ popular Revealer Concealer, the Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 claims to give a natural, medium-coverage finish to the skin that lasts all day.

The foundation also claims to improve your complexion as you wear it with several skincare ingredients: hyaluronic acid and peptides to hydrate and plump; arnica, provitamin B5, and olive-derived squalane to soothe; niacinamide and caffeine to brighten and smooth; and zinc oxide and artemisia flower extract to protect against UV rays. Kosas purports that the foundation will make texture look smoother and pores minimized, too.

Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation comes in 36 shades ranging from very light to deep in neutral, cool, and warm undertones. Kosa's shade finder quiz can help you choose the best one for your skin tone.

How did I test the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25?

Over a few weeks, I tried the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 in the shade “Very Light Neutral 100” several times, mixing up the makeup I used with it to see how its performance might change.

I tried wearing the foundation on top of the matte EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 and over the dewy Supergoop Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40—despite the foundation’s formula containing sun protection, makeup with SPF is not enough to truly protect skin unless you apply so much that it appears mask-like.

To see how the Kosas foundation worked with other face makeup, I also applied cream products on top of it on some days (such as Merit’s Flush Balm Cream Blush in the shade “Bevery Hills”) and powder on others (like Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheek To Chic Blush in “Ecstasy”). The makeup product that I always used in conjunction with the foundation was the Kosas Revealer Concealer in the shade “01N,” which I enjoy for its creamy, easy-to-apply formula.

What I like about the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25

It’s easy to apply

This foundation feels like a cross between a liquid foundation and a tinted moisturizer because of its creamy-yet-runny consistency. Its glass, pump-bottle packaging made it easy to dispense a dime-sized amount onto the back of my hand. I used my fingers to dot the formula onto my face and then picked up my dampened BeautyBlender makeup sponge to blend it into my skin. In just a few seconds, the formula spread out and provided an even layer of medium coverage. For areas I wanted extra coverage, I dispensed a tiny amount of formula from the pump and layered it onto my skin using the sponge with zero trouble.

Initially, it makes my skin look smooth

Once blended out, the foundation gives my skin a smooth appearance. I think my pores appear less noticeable without any makeup, but as far as foundations go, this one doesn’t emphasize pores or texture any more than others do. Many foundations cling to my dry patches or texture or cause my skin to appear powdery, something this foundation doesn’t do—at least, not at first (more on that coming).

When paired with a glow-producing product, like the Supergoop Glowscreen or the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter—two of my favorites—the foundation gives a healthy-looking sheen with both cream and powder products atop it.

What I dislike about the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25

It looks dry after a few hours of wear

Even on days I used the Glowscreen underneath it, I noticed the foundation looking dry and patchy my skin after about eight hours of wear. It almost appears as if my skin sucked in any moisture the foundation provided—something I’ve noticed from some other foundations I’ve tried, too. If you also have normal or dry skin, you may see a similar effect from the Kosas product after a few hours of wear.

Should you try the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25?

Yes, unless you have dry skin

Many foundations immediately cause my skin to look dry or textured, so I’m impressed at how beautiful this looks on my normal-to-dry skin right after application. If the story ended there, I wouldn’t have any complaints at all, but the change in texture after several hours of wear makes me hesitate recommending it to anyone with skin like mine or drier. Because I live in Boston and tested this in the cool spring temps, I plan to keep trying it as the weather gets warmer to see if the initial glowy finish may last for the entire day.

If dryness is a problem for you, too, you might prefer my favorite Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation or the affordable Wet N Wild Tinted Hydrator—neither of which do this. But if lack of moisture isn’t an issue for you, I say give it a try!

Get the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25 from Kosas for $42

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.