Jul 23, 2014

Review, Swatch - Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation 112

I initially fell in love with this foundation but ended up sending it to my blogsale pile.
No real issue here. In fact, I feel torn about it and might retrieve it back because I still think this is an excellent foundation.
I took some swatch pictures when I first opened it, so I decided to review on it after all. It does not seem there are many swatches of Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation in shade 112, which is "a natural light ochre for yellow undertones".
Hopefully this post will help you out a little if you are planning an online purchase.


Koh Gen Do Manifanshi Moisture Foundation
Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation 112


This is a pricey one for sure. For $62 (plus tax), You only receive a 20g tube which is about 2/3 of what you'd normally get. 
I don't feel too sour about the price or the amount I get after having read about how this foundation is made and supposed to perform, especially when I concur that it lives up to most of the claims.

Ingredient list looks simple and wholesome. I do not think I see any bad guys here, not even silicones although I do not really mind them (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation Ingredients

Basically, this is a mineral foundation in a cream formulation that feels and looks great on your skin. 
Since it is supposed to give more coverage than the brand's star product, Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, I expected something heavier with more slip. Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation is anything but.
It spreads evenly on the skin providing medium coverage and feels very light yet hydrating. It melds in seamlessly and looks even better hours later. I find it controls oil fairly well, too. 
Most importantly, it feels so good on and it stays that way for a long time. You know that "I gotta take off this face" feeling at the end of the day no matter how light the foundation is? I hardly get that with Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation.

(At this point, you'd wonder, "what is your problem, girl?")


Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation 112 swatch
Even the color match is great.
If you are about NC15-20 with neutral/cool yellow undertones, you can't really go wrong with this shade.

Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation 112 swatch


Comparison swatches with my current foundation rotation

Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation 112 swatch comparison
They are all yellow based but different.
Interesting thing is that every shade works quite well on my skin looking very natural.


So here is my issue (more of a non-issue, really). 
As you see from the comparison picture, Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation is actually the closest match to my current skintone. Hence it provides the least of the color correction, which I need from a foundation to even out the ruddiness on my cheeks . Not that it does not provide sufficient coverage, but it looks too natural on my skin. (Yeah, that can be a problem, too. Sometimes.)

Now you understand my dilemma. I love how this foundation feels on not to mention it does not look half bad, but I guess I expected something, well, perfect. 
Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation is a little short of a perfection, and that is because I am being unreasonably picky in this case.


Have you tried Koh Gen Do Foundations?
I've learned that a perfect swatch does not necessarily guarantee the same on the face. Any similar experience? 




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Join the conversation!

  1. A fellow foundation junkie? Sign me up!

    I haven't heard of this foundation, though I've heard of the range! $62 is quite steep for my liking (I can't imagine how much that would cost in Canada), though I'm really curious about this brand. I think the other foundation (the one in the bottle that's available on Sephora) gets a love of raves for being super lightweight and skin-like!

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    1. LOL. You do have an extensive foundation collection and are very knowledgable! :)
      Sometimes it is hard to understand the price difference btw the US and Canada. The currency is about the same now, isn't it? ;-/
      I haven't tried the original aqua one, but the moisture foundation is definitely one of the best feeling foundation I've tried so far. :)

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  2. Aww, Im sorry to hear that it totally didn't turn out to be that 'perfect' one! It is very expensive and you don't get much!! I too agree that it's not a good thing when a foundation is so natural it doesn't look 'flawless', does that make sense?

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    1. Exactly. That is how I feel. But it is true I've experience nothing like this. It feels so natural and comfortable on. Which is why I feel so torn about it. ;-/

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  3. AnonymousJuly 24, 2014

    That's too bad! But yeah, I hear ya. My daughter tried this and really like it, but it was too dark for. I tried it, but it was too yellow for me haha. Sometimes you just can't win!

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    1. This range has more colors with fair pink undertones than any other range I've seen, so I am sure you and your daughter can find something nice. Unfortunately for me, 112 is the lightest with yellow undertone.

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  4. I've been waiting for this review! Koh Gen Do is on my sephora love list, but I still can't decide which one to get between this one and the aqua one in glass bottle.. Which one would you recommend me?
    I can totally understand about foundation being too natural, i also prefer foundation to be 'visible' because otherwise I'd rather not wearing anything!

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    1. I haven't tried the aqua, so I don't have the comparison. I'd say the aqua one is more suitable for everyday wears from what I've heard from other bloggers. But the moisture foundation is not greasy or heavy at all! I have no complaint about its wear and longevity. :)

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  5. LOL Lena. Not natural enough, just natural, too natural... life's a bitch! HAHAHA! I've heard lots of this brand, but I don't have access to it. Probably for the better given the price :-P

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    1. I know..I know.. There are still too many things to learn about cosmetics and how they perform on each one of us!
      Nowadays a Chanel foundation costs that much being inferior in quality (relatively speaking), so the price doesn't bother me so much (you get the same amount with the aqua foundation, btw). I just wish this added a little oomph to the finish. It does look better as the day goes on, which is interesting! :)

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  6. i've been curious about this and ahve been wanting to try. ..not sure about the price though..
    Jenn
    A Beautiful Zen

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    1. I think the price seems worse because of the amount you get with this. Nowadays $60-70 per oz for high-end foundation is quite standard, not that I approve of it. ;p

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  7. I'm relieved it's not perfect! :D I so know what you mean as far a "too natural" goes, a little correction (or in my case a lot) is needed and if the color is that close it just doesn't work.

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    1. I've found some foundations with light coverage work so great on me as long as the shade is right. I've recently tried some By Terry foundations. On surface, the color matches are not all that (some are extremely orange and pink), but they look flawless on me. A black magic, I'd say! ;o

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  8. Ooh this looks great, and it's the perfect shade for light, neutral-warm skin tones! If only it were available in the UK. :(

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    1. Oh, I thought the brand was available in the UK, no?
      It is one of the few great matches for light neutral-complexion. Plus it feels really nice on skin! :)

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  9. If I were ever to use foundation again, I'd want to try this one :) I got the Koh Gen Doh spa cleansing water recently and can't wait to try it out.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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    1. I think you'd like this, Rowena. Or even the aqua foundation.
      One of the few foundations that feel so good on, I actually think it is good for my skin.
      I've heard their skincare line is also great. Can't wait to hear about your thoughts on the cleansing water! :)

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  10. More and more I'm realizing that hand/arm swatches are nothing. You gotta slap it all on the face to really know.

    I think the expectation was high given the price tag, which is totally natural. But it sounds like a really good foundation, so maybe you can use this for all over as a nice natural base and just go heavier on the cheeks with another product. If I could find a foundation that was exactly the colour of my skin, I'd jump on it for sure!

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    1. I couldn't agree more. Same goes for those really heavy swatches with other kinds of makeup. They are really pretty to look at, though. ;)
      I never thought I'd complain about a good color match. LOL. Writing this review kinda made me want to give it another go. I will update if I change my opinion on this. :)

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  11. never tried this brand before...tough decisions! What about trying a green primer underneath to help with the red/ruddiness? Maybe the foundation will look better once the color is neutralized :)

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    1. I think that is a great idea! And actually, Koh Gen Do team reached out and offered me to try their primers with this foundation.
      I'm very excited to see how it works out. Will update! :)

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  12. Haha, I can totally understand! Sometimes "too" natural is just not enough, haha. It sounds really comfortable, though. I've been wanting to try this as well but I think maybe I'm good on foundation for years... T_T

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    1. It is definitely one of the best foundations I've tried. Feels so nice! Another good thing about this one is that it looks better over time.
      I will try this with a primer and update how it turns out. :)

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  13. too bad this one didn't wow you. I thought the color would be dead on match with yours. I have always wanted to try this brand and tempted to try but you're right, there are not enough color swatches online and with its price tag, I don't want to risk picking a wrong shade.

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    1. To be fair, I think I am being too picky with this. LOL. If it was any other foundation, it would have been praised endlessly. Who would have thought being too natural is not a great thing? ;p

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  14. This shade looks yellow than the foundation from Shu Uemura, very nice product but very expensive too!
    Thank you for your review~
    xx

    www.sakuranko.com

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    1. You're welcome, Raimar!
      Thanks for your comment. :)

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