We went so long without comically long names, but Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation makes two this month.

This is foundation I mentioned in my New and Noteworthy at Sephora post last month – the one that I was super excited to try? I wanted it, and in fact almost ordered it when I ordered my Silk’n Flash & Go Freedom – but being unsure of my coloring, I decided not to (yes, I know I can return/exchange it – but if I can also make a little effort before buying to see if its the right color, I’d like to. I don’t want stores to have to trash products because I was lazy. Don’t be that guy, that guy sucks).

During my most-recent Sephora trip I mentioned, before they used ColorIQ to, “match,” me, I mentioned that I was interested in the new Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation and lamented its online-only status. One of the bubbly SA’s chimed in that they carried it.

What?! Are you sure?!

She was sure. Her friendly team-mates were sure.

Okay, they carry it. That is fantastic…and probably definitely meant I’d be making an unplanned (for that trip, anyway) purchase. ColorIQ matched me to 16 – Linen, which was comically inappropriate for my ghastly-for-me complexion. I had a friend with me and she was highly amused by the, “Oh, no – no no no,” face I made when I tried to blend it out. It probably matches the skin I’m in when I’m, you know, not in winter hibernation mode…but not now. I shook the tester for 12 – Ecru, and dispensed a single drop onto the back of my hand. Like all the other serum foundations out there (YSL Fusion Ink [costs 2.5x as much], Perricone No Foundation-Foundation Serum [more than 2x as much], bareMinerals BareSkin [$5 more, so-so reviews]), it has a very thin consistency. But don’t be dissuaded – one drop went so. damn. far. just on the back of my hand.

Insert whatever choir of angels audio springs to your mind by default. Yeah, I bought it. Is that a question?

The next morning I actually got up and had enough time to properly do foundation instead of hastily smearing on the Ponds product I’ve been using, so I got out the trusty Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki. I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to go about this process, so after violently shaking the Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation, I dispensed three drops straight onto the bristles of the brush. This is uncharted territory. My world is changing.

I started from the center of my face as the product suggested and worked outwards rather than, you know, wherever the hell I felt like. As I went, I added 3-4 more drops to the brush just to balance my skin out. Finished up, immediately loved it. The way I applied it resulted in a light coverage but you could easily use less and get a really sheer finish, or more and get to medium without a struggle. I really do feel that it looks like skin.

Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish Foundation is an extremely lightweight product – friends who accidentally get heavy handed with foundation? You want this. You will seriously have to be trying to make it look cakey or otherwise screwy. I feel nothing on my skin. If you read my review of NARS Sheer Matte, you’ll know that I hate heavy-feeling foundations. In comparison to that, Urban Decay Naked foundation is barely there. But in comparison to Naked Skin? This is truly weightless. Looking in the mirror threw me off because I’m like, “I look like I should feel something, anything,” but…no, not a damn thing. And it was glorious.

I checked it three hours in. Great! Five hours in. Still great. End of the workday (approximately ten hours after initial application) – still REALLY good – though let it be known that I didn’t bother to prime, I didn’t set with powder or spray. I wanted to see how this sucker wore entirely on its own. Ten hours after a relatively hasty, half-conscious application without any prep or setting? Out of a $24 foundation? Absolutely yes.

That week, I tried it a few other ways and loved it every single time. I prefer to use it with a flat-top buffer, but it is fine with a sponge. The sponge may, “eat,” more of it than cream foundation formulas because it is so thin, so I recommend dotting it on your face and then using the sponge rather than applying directly to the sponge itself.

My only criticism of the Sephora Teint Infusion Ethereal Natural Finish foundation so far is that it features a damn dropper instead of a pump. Pumps are my preferred dispensing method when it comes to foundation, period – but especially with this product which absolutely must be thoroughly shaken before each use, it’s a pain. The product in the bottle blends together, but what’s left in the dropper doesn’t move much, so you end up having to shake it like a polaroid picture, then uncap, squeeze what remains of the product back into the bottle, reinsert dropper, reshake, pick up new product with the dropper, and apply. The product is good enough that I’m willing to overlook it, but I desperately hope future iterations come with a pump instead.

Have you tried any of the serum foundations on the market?