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Mother Essentials: Tisha Thompson of LYS Beauty

Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano

“Love your self” is not only the namesake inspiration for Tisha Thompson’s company, LYS Beauty, it’s also an ethos she lives by when raising her tween sons, CJ (12) and Christian (8). The 15-year beauty veteran’s journey to launch LYS Beauty in early 2021 was a prime example of love and dedication to herself, her family, her community, and Mother Earth. And it all paid off when the company became the first and only Black-owned clean color brand in Sephora, becoming known for its affordable prices (everything is under $30) and dozens upon dozens of inclusive shades. Below, the boundary-breaking, Atlanta-based mama shares the 20 Mother Essentials that are currently getting her through her days—from clean beauty faves to her go-to Starbucks order. Enjoy!

LYS Concealer. “On most days, I try to stick to a natural, no-makeup makeup look and this concealer really hides any blemishes, darkness, or signs of exhaustion. A little bit goes a long way and it does a great job of making me appear like I have it all together.” Triple Fix Full Coverage Brightening Concealer, $18, LYS Beauty.

LYS Cream Blush. “Speaking of exhaustion, blush is literally the best pick-me-up for the complexion, so I always keep Higher Standard in the daily rotation. If I’m going for a full makeup look, I like to mix and match our shades for a custom pigment.” Higher Standard Satin Matte Blush, $16, LYS Beauty.

LYS Powder Bronzer. “I love a matte bronzer in the summer since I add radiance and dewiness with other products. When I’m in the sun, I always cover my face and neck with SPF and hats, so I like a deep bronzer to warm up my face and add dimension.” No Limits Matte Bronzer, $18, LYS Beauty.

Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo. “Sulfates are a no-no in my home, so I love turning to this sulfate-free detangling shampoo to really deep cleanse my hair in-between protective styles. It does a great job at breaking down product build-up without over drying my hair.” Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo, $12.99, Mielle Organics.

Raw Sugar Kids 2-in-1 Bubble Bath & Body Wash. “We are obsessed with Raw Sugar in our household! These natural bodycare products are great for my sweaty, active boys, and the scent is incredible. I’m a stickler about clean formulas and love the extra attention they put into their products with plant-derived, organic ingredients.” Raw Sugar Kids Bubble Bath + Body Wash, $4.99, Target.

Keep it Kind Fresh Kidz Natural Roll-On Deodorant. “Since my boys are getting older, I needed to find a safe deodorant that can really keep up with them. With all their sports activities, this formula keeps them smelling nice and it doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients that I like to avoid.” Keep it Kind Fresh Kidz Natural Roll-On Deodorant 24-Hour Protection for Kids, $6.99, Target.

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphone. “Trust me…we’re raising kids in a tech era, so having bluetooth headphones around will be a lifesaver for you.” Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $131.39, Amazon.

Ninja Air Fryer. “As a busy mom, I don’t have a lot of time to prepare meals and my air fryer often swoops in to save the day. Not only is it a healthier alternative to frying food, but it frees up my time in the evenings to power through extra admin work, or unplug with my husband. My kids love chicken and fries and this saves me from turning to fast food options out of convenience…we’ve all been there!” Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer, $129.99, Amazon.

Starbucks Pink Drink. “This is my favorite summertime treat. It’s so refreshing and it doesn’t hurt that it’s aesthetically pleasing. If you haven’t guessed, pink is my favorite color.” Starbucks.com.

Wine. “Wine is my guilty pleasure and one of my favorite ways to hit the reset button in the evenings and unwind. Right now, I’m loving Chardonnay and this one is by a Black-owned brand that I have been really enjoying.” McBride Sisters Chardonnay Central Coast, $16.99, Total Wine.

Kids Stainless Steel Cups. “These are a lifesaver for kids who are constantly spilling drinks and dirtying dishes. They are fun and get our children in the habit of eliminating single-use plastic.” Kids Stainless Steel Cups with Silicone Lids, Sleeves, and Straws (5-Pack), $21.99, Amazon.

Microban Sanitizing Spray. “I can admit—I’m a major germaphobe, so this is an everyday must-have essential. I am constantly cleaning and sanitizing everything throughout the day.” Microban 24 Hour Disinfectant Sanitizing Spray, $6.79, Target.

Nike Air Max 270’s. “I’m constantly on-the-go and these are my go-to sneakers. I have so many pairs and they are so comfortable for walks and running around.” Nike Air Max 270, $160, Nike.

Nude Barre Bralette. “These are the perfect skin-tone undergarments for women of color like me, and the comfort is next-level.” Bralette, $25, Nude Barre.

Target. “The ultimate one-stop-shop for mommies. I go at least 2-3 times a week, so it’s a bit of an obsession.” Target.com.

Sports Mom Status. “I have boys who are extremely active all year round, so I am always at a field or sitting courtside. They play baseball in the spring and summer, football in the fall, and basketball in the winter.”

Working. “I have the privilege and joy of truly loving what I do, so it never feels like ‘work’ to me. And that’s something I will never take for granted.”

Content Creation + Product Development. “These are both creative releases for me.”

Dinner + Brunch. “I’m a major foodie and trying new restaurants is one of my favorite ways to experience Atlanta and what all it has to offer. There’s always a new hot spot popping up that gets me out of the house or office.”

Traveling. “There’s just nothing like exploring new areas and making memories with your loved ones.”

For more Mother Essentials, peep our recent features on Blueland’s Sarah Paiji Yoo, Heirloom’s Sri Bodanapu, Lady Falcon Coffee Club founder Buffy Maguire, the mama-duo behind Spring & Mulberry chocolate, Dear Bella Creamery co-founder Alice Cherng, designer Becky Hui Chan, author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, ByHeart co-founder Mia Funt, Backdrop founder Natalie Ebel, Oui The People founder & CEO Karen Young, author-illustrator Grace Lin, the co-founders of ODDOBODY, Happy Family Organics’ CEO Anne Laraway, YA author J.Elle, kid-lit authors Karen Chan and Suzanne Greenlaw, the founders of EADEM, and Minimalista author Shira Gill.

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