Tag Archives: Concealer

Koh Gen Do, Skincare infused makeup product reviews & swatches

Huge thanks to the wonderful team at Koh Gen Do, I was able to test these skincare infused makeup products. They sent over their famous Aqua Foundations, along with their Pressed Powder, Moisture Fit Concealer, and Makeup Color Base.

main pic

The Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation has a total of 10 shades (see below shade swatches from their website). According to their website, The coveted Aqua Foundation, known for giving skin the same youthful glow you experience right after a facial, is redesigned for increased coverage, radiance, hydration and longevity. Formulated with signature Gloss Film Powder, the light-diffusing minerals brighten and minimize pores, while resisting sweat and oiliness. This breathable serum foundation contains weightless skin-conditioning emollients that improve the hydration and health of skin for a flawless and comfortable complexion all day.

koh gen do

They sent me two shades, 013 and 113. The shade 013 appears a little too pink for my yellow/warm skin tone. The shade 113, which is their lightest warm shade, seems to be a good match for my MAC’s NC15 skin tone. Below, you can see my arm swatches comparing to the MAC’s NC25 and NC15. I have mostly normal skin, sometimes dehydrated if I don’t consume enough water.

foundation swatch

For your reference, I have listed all of my other foundation shades here:

https://luvsummeikup.com/2017/05/12/list-of-my-foundation-shades/

The first day, I applied with a Kabuki foundation brush, it gave me a medium coverage with 2 layers of applications. I used the Makeup Color Base primer they sent me; it’s in the shade Lavender Pink. As you can see from below photo that I pulled up from their website, they have 3 other shades, which are Green, Yellow, and Pearl White. It might have been a better shade if they have sent me the yellow instead, because the Lavender Pink appeared to be too pink for me, and it made my skin tone half a shade to a shade paler. However, it did give my skin a smooth canvas; the foundation went on smoothly and gave a nice natural finish. I also set with the Pressed Powder; it’s the only shade available.

primer swatch

The powder is too white for me (below, you can see the swatches of the powder), it made my skin a shade lighter than it is; with the Lavender Pink base, I was almost 2 shades lighter. However, the powder sets the foundation pretty well; it gave me a matte finish, and the bronzer and highlighter went on smoothly. If I have the right Color Base shade, I think I would like this combination, because it lasted a good 7-8 hours. At the 8 hour mark, the makeup still looked fresh; I didn’t see any creasing or separation, not greasy either.

powder 1powder 2

On the second day, I applied with a round top Kabuki foundation brush again, this time I used the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, and then used the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffuse Light to set. This combination made my skin look quite dewy, and it slightly enhanced my pores around my nose. The foundation itself provided light to (buildable) medium coverage; it covered the redness on my cheeks but not my pimples. The bronzer and highlighter went on smoothly. I actually quite liked the natural look it gave me; it didn’t exaggerate pores, but didn’t diminish either. At the 5 hour mark though, the center of my face became a little greasy, as well as some separations around my nose, and the foundation came off my chin a little bit too. Hence, this wasn’t my favorite combination.

 

On the third day, I used a BeautyBlender to apply. This time I used the SmashBox Photo Finish Primerizer; it only gave a light medium coverage with 2 layers of applications. I set my face with BECCA Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder; the bronzer and highlighter also went on smoothly. It gave my skin an extra smooth complexion, and a natural finish. My pores looked the smoothest with this combination; even my nose looked pore less. My skin still looked very fresh even after 8 hours of wear; no dry patches, no creasing, no greasiness. This is by far the best combination.

 

I also tried to wear this foundation with no primer and no powder. It gave me a light medium coverage with BeautyBlender, and medium coverage with a Kabuki foundation brush (2 layers). They both provided with natural finish; a little bit dewier using the BeautyBlender. I waited about 5 minutes before putting on bronzer and highlight; surprisingly, although it felt tacky, they blended on top of the foundation nicely. After 4 hours of wear, my skin became a little bit oily, especially around my nose area; however, there was no separation and still looked pretty good from a conversational distance.

 

According to their website, the Moisture Fit Concealer has 3 shades, which are 02, 03, and 04 (see photo below). They sent me the shade 03, which is darker than my NC15 skin tone. You can see swatches from below photo for shade comparison with the MAC foundations; so I can’t use it for my under eyes for brightening. I tried using it to cover my pimple scar, but the coverage is too light for that. However, when I used it on top of my cheeks after 1 layer of foundation, it enhanced the coverage by covering my redness on my cheeks.

concealers

Overall, I recommended the Aqua Foundation if you’re a fan of a natural finish, buildable to medium coverage foundation. I have been using this foundation since I received it 2 months ago, with the SmashBox Primerizer and BECCA Hydra-Mist; it lasts the longest with beautiful natural finish. I would use it with their Makeup Color Base too if I have the Yellow shade instead of Lavender Pink, since it does provide a nice smooth canvas.

 

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Koh Gen Do; however, all of my opinions are 100% honest and my own.

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Kerstin Florian Makeup Product Swatches & Review

Kerstin Florian Luminizing CC Cream

To see the list of other foundation shades I usually wear, please visit this link:

https://luvsummeikup.com/2017/05/12/list-of-my-foundation-shades/

Let me start off with the Luminizing CC Cream; it comes with 3 shades: Porcelain, Natural Beige, and Sand. Each tube comes with 1.7 fl oz of product, and it’s $46.00USD each. On Kerstin Florian’s website, it described as Lightweight, hydrating color corrector imparts a smooth, radiant, even-toned complexion. Plus these benefits to finish what your skincare starts • Enhances Tone & Clarity • Reduces Redness & Pigmentation • Refines Texture. Here are the shade comparison:

CC Cream

The top swatch is the MAC Studio Fix in shade NC15, which is my perfect shade. The Porcelain is a shade and a half too light for me; and the Natural Beige is about half a shade darker than my skin tone. However, since it’s a CC Cream and has sheer to light coverage, it looks fine after I blend it out. I apply two layers with my BeautyBlender for a sheer light coverage, just to cancel out my redness when I run errands during the weekend. I find this CC Cream does not really set; if I do not set it with a powder, it will transfer even after 2 hours of wear. It can add slightly more coverage if I apply it with a brush; however, it tends to slide around and leave brush marks when I apply with a brush. It does not last long, I would say up to 3 hours max if I set it with powder; however, it fades nicely on my skin, so I do not mind wearing it for errands. For everyday work, I would want at least medium coverage; so I use this as a primer to give my skin a healthy luminous base before applying foundation.

Kerstin Florian Skin Renewing Foundation

The Skin Renewing Foundation comes with 3 shades: Warm Beige, Vanilla, and Tawny. Each tube comes with 1.0 fl oz of product, and cost $48.00USD each. On Kerstin Florian’s website, it described as Long-wearing, soft-focus foundation provides smooth, buildable, skin-healthy coverage. PLUS these benefits to finish what your skincare starts • Minimizes Lines & Wrinkles • Attracts & Maintains Moisture • Boosts Firmness & Elasticity. Here are the shade comparison:

foundation.jpg

Again, the top swatch is the MAC Studio Fix in shade NC15; the lightest shade Vanilla is a shade too dark for me. However, after using a lighter shade powder, it can make it work. Same as the CC Cream, I like to apply this with my BeautyBlender; it gives a more skin-like natural look. This foundation gives a light to light-medium coverage when applying with my BeautyBlender. It can be a full-medium coverage if I apply with a brush and two layers. However, it tends to separate around my nose and forehead when I apply with a brush, right around the 3-4 hour marks. So what I have been doing is to apply the CC Cream as a primer using the BeautyBlender, then apply the Foundation using the same Blender, and set it with a powder for everyday look. It will cover my redness and even out my skin tone; this method lasts 5-6 hours without separation. But it does start to separate after 6 hours of wear; not too noticeable though, unless I look super close to the mirror. And, for days when I need even more coverage, I would apply their concealer; which I will talk about next.

Kerstin Florian Brightening Concealer

Their Brightening Concealer comes with 3 shades: Ivory, Beige, and Honey. It comes with 0.3 fl oz of product, and it’s $28.00USD each. On Kerstin Florian’s website, it described as Luminous age-defying concealer offers buildable coverage and lasting wear without settling or dehydrating. PLUS these benefits to finish what your skincare starts • Minimizes Fine Lines • Reduces Dark Circles • Combats Puffiness. Here are the shade comparison:

Concealer

Comparing to the MAC Studio Fix in shade NC15 on top, the lightest shade Ivory is about the same (if it’s not darker), so I cannot use it for brightening my under eye areas.  However, I can use it as all over face Concealer to cover redness and mild blemishes. I find it’s the best to apply with BeautyBlender as well; I tried blending it out using my concealer brush, but it gave intense brush marks on my skin. I do like the formula of this concealer though; it’s very creamy and hydrating. Just wish they would come out with lighter shade options, so that I can use it for my under eye areas.

I have been using these 3 products for the last few weeks; so far I’m enjoying it. They did not break me out, and they keep my normal but dehydrated skin hydrated all day.