4 min read
Applying makeup can often feel a bit formulaic: Foundation first, then concealer, contour, and blush. That was until Mary Phillips came along and flipped the script with her underpainting technique, where you apply your contour and highlighter underneath your foundation. Phillips uses this method on her celebrity clients like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz, and Kaia Gerber, who are all known for their soft-glam makeup. The look is highly referenced and constantly replicated on TikTok. But when underpainting first went viral on TikTok in 2023 for its natural, sculpted finish, Phillips didn’t even have an account on the app.
When she launched her brand, M.ph, with an underpainting palette that includes color corrector, highlighter, and contour shades, it was only a matter of time before a foundation was added to the lineup. The Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation, which launches today with 35 shades, boasts a second-skin formula and a lightweight, natural finish. “I’ve always believed that when the skin looks good, nothing else matters, and Le Skin is built around that philosophy,” Phillips tells ELLE.
Though underpainting is foundational, pun intended, to her makeup practice, achieving Phillips’s signature flawless base is all in the application technique. It all starts with a fluffy brush. “I like to warm the foundation on the back of my hand and work it into the bristles before applying,” Phillips says. “Then I use short, upward strokes for the most seamless finish.” If you’re wondering if any of your favorite celebrities have tried the foundation, the answer is yes. According to Phillips, her clients are the best test subjects for new products. “Their feedback is invaluable,” says Phillips. The ELLE beauty team agrees, and so we tested the new foundation ourselves. Below, hear from our team to get their takes on the new Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation from M.ph.
Kathleen Hou, beauty director
“A friend said to me recently, ‘Isn’t it nice to look back on 2016 and remember how crappy it was? Isn’t your life so much better now?’ as we reflected on the nostalgia trend taking over social media. I remember popcorn ceilings, ankle booties, and how spackle-like the foundations were like back then. This new one from M.ph is refreshingly modern, with a serum-like feel and finish. I like that it blends in like skin care and that it gives a pretty, refined look. My one gripe is that I don’t think it plays well with any of my sunscreens, but it’s hard to find one which can.”
Katie Berohn, beauty editor
Courtesy of Katie Berohn
“In my experience, foundation that promises skin-like coverage either a) disappears completely and offers no coverage at all or b) interprets it to mean ‘a greasy mess.’ For that reason, I had a certain amount of hesitation before I applied this one. But I also have faith in Mary Phillips. It turns out, that trust is not misplaced—this foundation covered imperfections, melted into my skin perfectly, and made me look glowy but not oily. In fact, I saw Phillips herself when I was wearing it, and the first thing she said to me is, ‘You have great skin.’ I was happy to be able to chalk it up to her foundation.”
Nerisha Penrose, beauty e-commerce editor
Courtesy of Nerisha Penrose
“I tested this foundation with primer one day, without it the next. Safe to say, I didn’t even need primer to begin with because this formula is sorcery. In my years-long experience with acne and scarring, I’ve given up on needing to conceal every dark spot and now allow my skin to breathe, even if I see a few dark marks peering through under products. However, this foundation concealed everything in one swipe of my brush, without the need for layering or spot concealing afterward. What I love most, though, is the subtle luminosity it provides. The result? A long-lasting, skin-like, radiant finish.”
Emma Aerin Becker, associate beauty e-commerce writer
Courtesy of Emma Aerin Becker
“I’m a tough critic when it comes to foundations because I have dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. However, this one is a winner in my book. It has a thin, liquidy formula that delivers an impressive amount of coverage. I was experiencing a bit of a breakout on my right cheek, and a few swipes of this product made it nearly invisible. The finish wasn’t quite as dewy as I expected given the thin formula, but a quick spritz of a radiant setting spray was all I needed. The foundation wore beautifully on the skin for hours without creasing or getting cakey around my eyes.”
Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant
Courtesy of Tasha Nicole Smith
“As someone who deals with dry skin and hyperpigmentation, I have a ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ policy when it comes to my foundations. Finding one that is lightweight, comfortable, and (bonus) has enough coverage for me to skip color-correcting is a rare feat, so I usually just stick to what I know. But I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this M.ph formula. I tend to always lean toward natural and dewy finishes and this one blended perfectly into my routine to give me that hydrated, flawless-skin look. But the color match is what really shocked me. Initially, I was nervous that the color would be too light or too gray, but the shade Tan 260 was perfect.”
