Koh Gen Do Foundation

Milabu Rating

  • Overall
    (3.8)
  • Performance
    (4.8)

Price Category: Luxury

  • $96.00 Retail

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Pros

  • Lightweight, breathable
  • Buildable light to medium coverage
  • Easy to apply
  • Doesn’t accentuate pores or dry spots
  • No settling into pore or fine lines
  • Hydrating
  • Doesn’t contribute to excess oiliness
  • Skincare benefits

Cons

  • Very small shade range (only 10)

Overview

Koh Gen Do Foundation provides breathable, buildable medium coverage. It doesn’t accentuate imperfections and has a solid 10+ hour wear time.

Ft. Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

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Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation Review, You Don’t Want to Miss

I’m going to be honest with you guys: the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is worth every penny of its $96 price tag. And, I know you’re probably thinking, “but why?!” There’s a million reasons why, but, for starters, the formula is absolutely stunning. It’s formulated for sensitive skin, free of artificial colors and fragrance with no parabens or mineral oil. In addition, it’s infused with exclusive signature technology that hydrates while controlling oils. And, perhaps the most important part, it performs and looks beautiful on the skin. You gonna wanna read the rest of this Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation Review – it might be the best of luxury!

Quick Rating Rundown Chart

This Product

(3.8)
Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

:Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

Price: $96.00

1.01 oz

Value

(2)

Application

(4.9)

Coverage (med)

(4.8)

Finish (natural)

(5)

Longevity

(4.3)

Shade Range

(1.5)

Extra Benefits

(4.2)

Buy now

Luxury Standard

(4.3)
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation review

:Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Price: $69.00

1.0 oz

Value

(3.2)

Application

(4.6)

Coverage (med)

(4.4)

Finish (luminous)

(4.7)

Longevity

(4.5)

Shade Range

(4.5)

Extra Benefits

(2)

Buy now

Cheaper Option

(4.4)
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

:NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

Price: $49.00

1.0 oz

Value

(4)

Application

(4.8)

Coverage (med)

(4.7)

Finish (natural)

(4.6)

Longevity

(4.5)

Shade Range

(4)

Extra Benefits

(4.2)

Buy now

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)
Best Makeup Foundations Review

:Best Foundation You Need to Try

Price: $15 – $70

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Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Coverage

(4.5+)

Finish

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Shade Range

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)
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Our Rating Criteria

Promises vs. Performance: Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation Highlights

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is said to be known for giving skin “the same youthful glow you experience right after a facial.” It features buildable, breathable, sheer to medium coverage with a natural, dewy finish. The formula contains four types of powders that work to create buildable coverage and prevent cakiness. One of these powders is Koh Gen Do’s signature Gloss Film Powder, which is light-diffusing minerals that brighten and minimize pores, while resisting sweat and oiliness. It contains other exclusive formulations like Moist Drop Powder which hydrates by absorbing humidity, and T3 oil which is a blend of jojoba oil, olive squalane, and shea butter to create supple skin.

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation Test and Review…

My favorite way to wear the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is with a blurring primer, specifically Shiseido Synchro Skin. This creates a nice grippy base for the serum foundation to adhere to. Aqua Foundation applies like a dream with a sponge or brush (I prefer a brush like the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush) and builds up to a solid medium coverage. It doesn’t accentuate any imperfections, from pores to dry patches, lines or texture. The finish of Aqua Foundation is natural with a dewy luminosity that makes skin look healthy and juicy.

With a serum foundation like this one, most complexion enhancers work well, not applying patchy or lifting the foundation underneath. Because it is a more hydrating product, I do like to set the areas where my foundation tends to wear off the quickest, like my t-zone. I like to finish off with a setting spray over my whole face to really lock the foundation in.

Most importantly…

Aqua Foundation wears beautifully. It doesn’t accentuate any sort of texture, dryness, pores, or lines throughout the day; doesn’t look dry; and doesn’t contribute to excess oiliness. On my normal to combo skin, this foundation wears for a solid 8-10 hours without breaking apart.

How It Compares: I may have found my new favorite luxury foundation.

For years and years my go-to luxury foundation has been Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. And, I do still love Luminous Silk! It too is a serum foundation that provides buildable medium coverage with a natural, luminous finish. The Armani foundation works on most skin types and has an all day, 8+ hour wear. Plus, it comes at a bit lower price tag for luxury beauty at $69.

However, after Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation test and review, it may have taken the #1 spot as my favorite luxury foundation. In my opinion, Aqua Foundation lays better on the skin than Luminous Silk does. The serum-like texture doesn’t cling to any texture or dry spots, creating a base that looks healthy and glowy. The coverage can be sheered out or built to a solid medium coverage that conceals most imperfections, from redness to acne.

Comparing Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation to other Best Review Foundations

As mentioned, Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is on the pricey side. And, per the review so far, it might be the best performing serum foundation. But there are cheaper alternatives.

Best pro-grade foundation option:

If you don’t want to sacrifice on performance, but are not willing to spend close to $100 on a makeup product there is hope. This, also, is a relatively new formulation, we are talking about NARS Light Reflecting Foundation. This medium coverage foundation feels lightweight, looks like a second-skin, and has a beautiful, all day wear. It also has a serum-like texture with buildable medium coverage. It’s also infused with skincare benefits.

Even though Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation may edge out NARS when it comes to skincare and appearance. If longevity is more important to you, NARS is the right choice.

Best clean option foundation:

Another great foundation option is HAUS LABS Foundation, Triclone Skin Tech. IMO, this is the best clean beauty option that provides buildable medium coverage with a natural finish. Further, just like with Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, lightweight coverage meets skincare benefits with HAUS LABS Foundation. Even though it look almost perfect on the skin after application, NARS and Koh Gen Do outperform Haus though a full day wear test. Ultimately, if clean is the game you are after, this is the one you should play with.

Performance Rating Chart

This Product

(4.8)
Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

:Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

Application

(5)

Coverage (med)

(4.6)

Finish (natural)

(4.5)

Longevity

(4.8)

Buy now

Similar Product

(4.7)
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

:NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

Application

(4.8)

Coverage (med)

(4.7)

Finish (natural)

(4.6)

Longevity

(4.5)

Buy now

Similar Clean Product

(4.5)
Haus Labs foundation Review

:HAUS LABS Triclone Skin Tech

Application

(4.4)

Coverage (med)

(4.5)

Finish (natural)

(4.8)

Longevity

(4.2)

Buy now

Our Rating Criteria

Advertised Product Highlights

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation


# OF SHADES: 10 shades

FORMULATION: Liquid

FINISH: Natural, dewy

COVERAGE: Buildable sheer to medium

SKIN TYPE: All skin types, including sensitive

LONGEVITY: No claims

PROTECTION: No SPF

BENEFITS: Formulated with exclusive Gloss Film Powder which diffuses light and minimizes pores; Resists sweat and oiliness; Breathable; Moist Drop Powder helps hydrate skin by absorbing humidity; Contains T3 Oil, an exclusive oil blend of jojoba, olive squalane, and shea butter

CLEAN BEAUTY CLAIMS: Cruelty free; Free of artificial colors, synthetic fragrance, mineral oil derived from petroleum, and parabens

Edited by Maddie

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