Sep 12, 2014

Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base

After I whined about how great Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture foundation is but maybe lacking 2% to become a perfect foundation for me, the team Koh Gen Do reached out and sent me a generous sample set of the Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base to try.
They suggested a sheer makeup base with subtle color correction might solve the issue without having to sacrifice other good things going on with this foundation.


Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Bases (and powder samples)


I have to say that I am quite impressed with these pre-packed sample tubes and mini powder pots that are actually easy to use.
I feel weary of receiving samples in general since I find many of them come in flimsy packagings that are messy to use or some samples are so tiny that I hardly learn anything about the products. (Recently I was most appalled by a fragrance sample which was just a tiny paper towelette moistened. The full size bottle is like $120. Do they really expect to generate actual sales by distributing these samples?)
But each Makeup Color Base sample tube contains generous 0.1 fl oz (3g) and I get good 5-6 applications from a single tube. No messy sample packet here.


Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base Swatches
Each works and corrects in different ways depending on what you are looking for, but basically these bases provide smoother surface and even out the skin tones to help the foundation to apply and stay on better. 
They also provide a basic sun protection (SPF 16) as well as possible skincare benefits from botanical ingredients.


1. Lavender Pink
Lavender Pink has a perfect balance of pink and lavender that adds a healthy tint to skin as well as counteracts a yellow undertone. 
I'm not keen on base products with pink tints but surprisingly this is my personal favorite. It generally works great with any of my foundation including the Koh Geh Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation, but I love to wear this by itself to brighten my complexion on a low-key day.
The texture seems slightly softer and more moisturizing than other three, too.

2. White
This one contains hydrolyzed silk and and micronized pearls to give a luminous finish to skin.
Although it is a nice base and helps my foundation stay a lot longer, I do not like it as much as others. I think it is a bit difficult to blend in when I am in hurry. The pearly effect is very subtle and almost invisible even by itself. Maybe it will work better if I mix it with a darker foundation for a better color match.

3. Green
This light mint green makeup base works best for me when paired with Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation
This is not overly silicone-y but evens out the surface just enough that the foundation reaches its full potentials. 
The ruddiness on my cheeks is invisible if I add a thin layer of this, so I enjoy using the Green color whenever I wear reddish berry blushes that usually make my cheeks look ruddier.
Green Color Base feels more matte and long lasting as well.

4. Yellow
Yellow is a close second to Green. It also counteracts the red tones and creates such a clean base. It is great to use with a light coverage powder foundation like Diorskin Nude Compact.


Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base Swatches


Overall, I am very pleased with these color bases.
Adding a makeup base is not a new concept, and actually these tinted ones are quite common in the Asian countries, too. I used to religiously apply a light green makeup base before powder foundation when I was in college thinking "it would protect my skin from the harmful makeup". 
Well, that was quite a misconception, but I was well reminded of the benefits of adding a sheer makeup base this time.
I feel a little torn because I love seeing the even and clean complexion that is not caked up with heavy foundation, but it is certainly debatable whether I should add a pricey makeup base to perfect my already pricey foundation or not.


Thanks for reading.
Have you tried Koh Gen Do Makeup Color Base?
What do you think about enhancing the complexion by adding a tinted makeup base?



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Join the conversation!

  1. ah, yes, your bottom line says it all - do I want to add a pricey base to my already pricey foundation? I'm not sure :/ These color-correcting things do seem to work well, though!

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    1. Lately I'm realizing the importance of the base makeup even more, but still it is a lot of money. These 4 different colors uncovered other potentials of my foundations as well, but again, it is a lot of money. ;o

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  2. Colour correcting bases do work, and for me, green and yellow work best. However, I prefer to just get the most accurate shade match in foundation so I don't have to do an extra step - all out of laziness. LOL!

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    1. I am the same way, Lily! I can't bother with many steps in base makeup since I already fuss about sunscreen, but I do find the effect from using a makeup base like this is different from just using a perfectly matched foundation, too. -> Torn ;p

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  3. That's kind of them to send you a couple of other products to try! I've tried their spa water, and I'm not too impressed either!

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    1. I've only tried the base makeup products like foundation, makeup base and loose powder, but I have been throughly impressed. At least for now, the products are quite pricey and there are not many retailers avail, so it is quite difficult make a wise decision, I guess. ;)

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  4. ooh these look tempting...not sure where they sell this brand near me but I'm tempted enough to go find out! Day-to-day, I keep things minimal so don't tend to use bases or primers. On a dress-up night out though, I take 2-3 hrs to get ready and enjoy the process of putting on as many layers as possible, so then out comes all the bases/primers that I could possibly layer on, wee!!

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    1. To be honest, I'd like to have a full sized tube as well! I can certainly relate to the ritual and the pleasure of getting ready like you said, and the finished look is quite different from using foundation only not to mention your makeup would last throughout the evening! I'd say go for it! ;)

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  5. Ohh you really make me want to put another order from sephora US!! xD
    I actually have favorited the Koh Gen Do foundation, but the one with the glass bottle packaging.. is it much different to the one inside a red tube? which one would you recommend for me?
    I recently ordered the Time Defying Foundation from Rouge Bunny Rouge and my God it is fabulous! I am working on a blog post about it ^^

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    1. I haven't tried the Aqua version, but I'm planning to! I heard so many good things about it. It is supposedly give you a skin like finish and feel so good on plus last for long - sounds perfect to me! ;)
      And I believe there are another makeup primer in glass bottle and I want to try them as well.
      Beauty.com carries them, too (and I believe they ship overseas as well?)
      Anyways, I can't wait to hear from you about the RBR foundation!!

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  6. never heard of these, but have been looking for a creamy base. so these are somewhat silicony?

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    1. The Maifanshi one is very creamy and it is not silicony at all. Basically a mineral foundation and it feels really good on.
      I did not think these bases were silicony but they do contain some if not as much as other primers. HTHS!

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  7. This is the first time I've heard of tinted makeup bases! I'm continually amazed at the wondrous beauty products that people in Asia apparently take for granted. These pastel colors actually look beautiful on their own, just as swatches, but I don't pay enough attention to the precise tint of my skintone to use a product like this. Some products seem designed to create a need rather than fulfill one...

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    1. Oh, really? It is quite a dated concept, too. It makes me laugh to think about what these makeup salespeople used to tell me when I was young - "You gotta protect your skin from the "harmful" foundation". So I would go through a green bottle at the same speed as I do my compact foundation. Good times. ;)
      But all the jokes aside, I almost forgot how great it looks after I layer this sheer primer on. Since these are quality ones, I did not feel that I was wearing too much makeup, either. And I thought wearing this alone was better than wearing those tinted moisturizers, too. Maybe my need was created after all, but I think I want one. *sigh*

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  8. You're right, with the price tag of a good foundation, do we need to add another makeup color base. I haven't tried any color base and the concept is great. Nice to receive good-sized samples that you can really use at least 5 or 6 times in order to tell whether they will work for you or not. Hate those one-time use sample from Sephora online.

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    1. I would love to have a full sized tube in Lavender PInk or in Green, to be honest. The effect is something else than just using the foundation by itself, plus my powder foundation performs so much better with this, etc. But, the price is something I have to think about. ;)
      And yes, I wholeheartedly agree about those terrible samples. In the bigger picture, I think it is a waste of money from their end!

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  9. I think the different tinted primers can do wonders for specific skin types who need that sort of colour enhancement/correction, but I don't think it's necessary for most people who have fairly decent skin. I was only addicted to expensive primers in the past while attempting to stave off oiliness, but lately it's a step that I prefer to do without.

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    1. I agree, and that's why I hadn't used tinted primer for a long time. I prefer simpler steps in makeup and the sunscreen I use and many foundations I have all contain a good deal of silicones that they kind of act like primers.
      Having said that, I still want one. LOL. It would be nice to have something like this not that I'd need this on a daily basis. ;)

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  10. These look great! But yeah, adding a colour correcting primer wouldn't help me if the colour is way off. If my redness is reduced, it still wouldn't match my neck ya' know? I don't know.

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    1. Nothing would help if the color is way off. They do seem to help me since I usually find myself in between shades or have difficult time to find a foundation with right undertones. It would be really nice if it was more affordable. :)

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  11. This looks like such a brilliant kit! I totally would love to try the pink and yellow one especially! I haven't tried any colored primers before but I would love to see how it works out on my complexion. It seems like these are subtle but they make a difference on your finished face. These are expensive however so if I try anything like these maybe from another brand first! :p

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    1. If you have an easier access to Korean brands, you would be able to find some other alternatives. The difference, however, is that Koh Gen Do bases are much sheerly pigmented and delicate. Some of the bases I used showed up a little chalky.
      You have a beautiful complexion so I doubt that this would be a must for you, but it is certainly a nice item to have. :)

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  12. I've never tried a color correcting primer before, but I do like the idea since I use correctors for my under eyes all the time. My skin is on the tanner side, so it'd be interesting to see how they'd look on.

    xx Alyson
    The Beauty Vanity

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    1. Hi Alyson :) The pink or yellow would work nicely on your skin, I think. On their website, white and green are recommended for lighter skin tones. Anyway these are very delicately pigmented so I would assume they would work naturally on any complexion.

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  13. What an awesome sample set! I could probably benefit from wearing a tinted makeup base but since I like to get my face on in less than 10 minutes on most days, it's probably something I'd have to try when I'm going out or something.

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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    1. I love the Lavender Pink for that! Set with a bit of power, you're good.
      For some reason, these work for me better than tinted moisturizer or BB cream light coverage on a low-key day. :)

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  14. The Lavender Pink looks like the Magic Cushion Pink of Etude House this brand is new to me, thank you for your excellent review.
    xx

    www.sakuranko.com

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    1. Thanks for telling me about the Magic Cushion Pink! I've been interested in cushion compact lately. I will look into it. :)

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  15. though you're right, not a new concept, i still haven't dabbled in adding a colour base under my foundation. i guess i'm scare of layering so many things onto my face and having it all clog my skin BUT i'm constantly covering up my redness with spot concealing so maybe just doing with one layer of correction would be a better move.... will consider this...

    Jenn
    A Beautiful Zen

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    1. Try them let us know how you like!
      I have so many spots and discolorations to hide but I usually just don't bother to conceal them. Adding a sheer base does make a big difference, which is surprising to me as well. ;)

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