I’ve heard so many rave reviews about the Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation that I just had to try it out for myself and see if it was worth all the hype and buzz it’s been getting. This foundation was honestly really hard to get a hold of because it’s always sold out, but I was able to pick it up a few months ago and have been testing it for a while now.

The Good |
- Lightweight
- Comes with a pump
- Easy to blend
- Sheer to medium coverage
- Doesn’t get cakey
- Natural satin finish
The Bad |
- Limited shade range
- Oxidizes
- Hella pricey ($62)
Foundation is such a personal choice. Some of you may want something extremely full coverage, while some may want something matte, and some will want light and dewy. On top of that, everyone’s skin type/tone is different and everyone’s concerns are different, which is why I truly believe everyone should get a sample of a foundation they’re interested in before purchasing just so you can make sure it’s what you’re looking for.
That being said, I have combination skin with a medium/ olive and yellow toned complexion (MAC NC35). My biggest concern is evening out my skin tone, and I like medium coverage with a more natural/dewy finish.
I picked up the darkest shade available in the line, 143, which looks really dark when looking at it on Sephora.com, but it’s not as dark on the skin, and matches me pretty well. It does oxidize on the skin so be wary of that when trying to find a shade that matches you.

The coverage. It is pretty light, but it’s buildable to a medium opacity. It’s good at evening out the complexion, but you will have to apply a second layer and maybe some concealer depending on how much coverage you may need or prefer. If you have dry skin, you will want to make sure you properly moisturize and prime because this didn’t completely smooth over the couple dry spots on my face, but it also didn’t accentuate them to the max.
The formula. It’s lightweight, and pretty liquidy, so it blends out easily and feels lightweight. I used both a Beauty Blender and a buffing brush and although it blended out nicely with both, I like using the Beauty Blender a bit more just because it really makes the skin look more dewy and natural.
The longevity. It lasts on my face sans primer for a good 5 hours before starting to fade around the cheeks and chin, which is where my foundation tends to fade the most and the fastest.

The Verdict |
Overall, this foundation is really nice, and I can see why it’s gotten so much love, but I also think it’s really pricey for what it does, which is why I do think it’s over hyped. Is it bad? Not at all! But, I personally still prefer my It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination because it’s a lot less pricey at $38, gives me more coverage and is more illuminating.
Would this work for oily skin? Yes because it sets nicely on the skin and doesn’t move around. Plus, it isn’t so dewy that it would make your skin look oilier. It’s a very natural and subtle, luminous glow.
Would this work for dry skin? Depends on how dry your skin is. If you have lots of dry patches then I would probably skip on this, but if you have a trusty moisturizer and primer that help keep the dry patches at bay then this could work for you.
Would this work for combo skin? Yes!
Have you tried this foundation? Or anything from the brand? Let me know in the comments below!
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