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Koh Gen Do

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Weekend Pampering – The Extras

April 8, 2012

I’ve been to spas on a few occasions in the past and each occasion was beyond amazing (four visits to be exact, La Costa Resort and a few Four Seasons locations). However they can be extremely pricey and take up an entire day, so they are a luxury I cannot justify splurging for on a regular basis ($ or time wise). While nothing at home can replicate a resort spa, there are a few simple things I consider to be pampering extras. Bubble baths, luxurious face masks, beautiful candles and moisturizing lotions. It’s my simplified version of a DIY spa treatment. Do note I have sensitive skin so I’m careful when it comes to trying shower gels, bath soaks and facial treatments. While I’d like to do this every day, I usually have a pampering night once every other week to once a month. I do try to use the face masks more frequently. My favorites:
  • Moisturizing Face Masks – Koh Gen Do is becoming one of my top picks for skincare. Their Macro Vintage Face Mask ($110 for 6 sheets) is the best I’ve ever tried. Most face masks did not do anything for my skin. This one by Koh Gen Do (reviewed here) left my skin feeling hydrated and soft like baby’s skin. I split my pack of 6 with 3 friends to try, all confirmed that it was beyond amazing.
  • Clarifying Face MasksKoh Gen Do’s Brightening Moisture Mask ($75 for 3.53 oz. / 100g) is equally amazing. It’s called a moisturizing mask, but to me it feels more like a clarifying mask. It is a clay mask that contains “6 botanical extracts in the mask will heal your tired skin, helping your skin to calm and reduce inflammation and redness.” MAC’s Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask was one of my favorite masks for clarifying and removing impurities. I was so sad that it was limited edition. Koh Gen Do’s Brightening Face Mask is the closest thing I’ve found in terms of effect/benefits on my skin (minus the heating element on the skin). I highly recommend you visit their website to learn more. They have helpful diagrams and often have promotions/specials on their website.
  • Bubble Baths – L’Occitane makes some of my favorite bath and body products that are suitable for sensitive skin. I am currently loving the L’Occitane Shea Foaming Cream Bath ($32 for 16.8 fl.oz). The scent is very subtle and soothing. It bubbles up in a way that is very relaxing. It doesn’t dry out the skin or leave any residue. There are reviews on their website which I found useful.
  • Shower Oils – I’m new to bath oils and shower oils. I’ve tried Jo Malone in the past and love them. L’Occitane had a gift with purchase promotion recently (for those who sign up on their mailing list) to launch their new Amande Almond Line. One of the gifts was a mini Shower Oil (see the details on the full size Almond Shower Oil here). It’s a softening oil that foams up when combined with water and leaves the skin feeling smooth and moisturized without having that oily feeling. The scent is soft and subtle (but still noticeable). The effect is amazing. I’m not sure I’m 100% in love with the scent although it is extremely soothing and pleasant.
  • Hand Care – Thanks to a few of my readers who recommended I try Lush’s Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter ($14.95 for 1.5 oz). I love it. The scent is a highly citrus lemon (smells a bit horrid to me) but it does fade a bit after a while. I use this more as a once a week treatment rather than everyday and it has improved the cuticle area for my hands. (For everyday I rely on L’Occitane Hand Creams they smell great and feel nice). I’m again going to refer you to the company website – I love it when brands and stores have sections with useful customer reviews. Also check out Daly Beauty’s recent review (she sums it up perfectly!).
  • Candles – I love almost any scented candle Jo Malone, Diptyque, Henri Bendel, Tommy Bahama make my favorites. Occasionally you can get a free mini candle in gift with purchase events. A simple candle can add that extra oomph to the home or bath to make it feel more soothing.

What are your pampering extras?

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Koh Gen Do Skincare

November 17, 2011

This review has been long overdue. I’ve been using a number of things from Koh Gen Do, Le Métier de Beauté and Clé de Peau and my skin has never looked better in my adult life. I first discovered Koh Gen Do at Barneys in Beverly Hills this past April. Upon researching the brand at home I learned more about their skincare and foundation via Into The Gloss. Since April I have fallen in love with their Macro Vintage Essence Mask (makes your skin feel like a baby’s), their lipsticks, foundation and Cleansing Water (which I have also neglected to review). When I tried their foundation back in September, the artist at Barney’s prepped my skin with the Macro Vintage Royal Massage Milk. I was impressed by how it made my skin feel renewed, moisturized, and seemed to help the foundation & powder last all day. Being a bit skeptical of skincare in general I wanted to test it out more before buying. I received a tiny sample that lasted a week and fell in love with the full intention of buying it on my next trip to LA. Before I had a chance to go back, Koh Gen Do kindly sent me a sample to review along with the Gommage Spa Gel. I’ll be reviewing three items today: the Cleansing Water, the Macro Vintage Essence Mask and Macro Vintage Royal Massage Milk. Note that ingredients are listed on Koh Gen Do‘s website.

The Cleansing Water comes in two sizes: 300 ml for $39 and 480 ml for $52. At the counter I was also told the Cleansing Water Cloths are the same as the liquid just soaked into an organic cotton cloth. I purchased the 300 ml size and use it on a regular basis. It is rich in minerals, Yumura Hot Springs water and contains 6 extract herbs (Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Lavender Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Ginger Root Extract) all of which help freshen the skin while cleansing. It’s gentle yet effective. I use it in a number of ways. In the mornings when I am pressed for time, I will use this in lieu of washing my face with soap and water (very rarely though). At night, I will sometimes I will use it to remove my makeup before taking a shower. Other times I will use it after a bath or shower to remove any excess makeup that might not have been fully removed. It’s designed to remove waterproof makeup, but for mascara and waterproof liners, I prefer to use something stronger, even though the Koh Gen Do water does the trick. In the few months that I’ve been using this I’ve been very impressed. I’m not sure I can tell the difference between the Koh Gen Do and Lancome Eau Fraîche Douceur in terms of performance. I do prefer the Koh Gen Do for the feel on the skin, but I like Lancome’s packaging more.

The Soft Gommage Gel is one of the most intriguing products I’ve ever tried. It retails for $45 for 2.12 oz/60 g. For those who don’t know what gommage is, it usually comes in a cream, gel or paste formula. It’s applied in a thin layer to the skin and then is removed gently by rubbing. The gommage rolls (almost beads up) off the skin as you rub gently to exfoliate. I’m not one who has ever found a scrub I really love because I find using a washcloth to scrub is more effective while still being gentle. The Soft Gommage Gel is gentle enough for my sensitive skin and left the face feeling significantly smoother. The recommended use is to wash the face and dry with your regular cleanser. Then use a small amount and apply to a dry face and massage in a light circular motion (key note, be gentle when rubbing). After you rub, the product starts to feel like it rolls off with a slightly scrubby texture. Rinse with warm water. Recommended use is once to twice per week. I’ve been using this once every other week. I highly recommend.

The Macro Vintage Royal Massage Milk is a miracle in a bottle. I was sent the sample size for review which is currently not available for sale. The product in-store and online is $180 for 4.06 fl oz / 120 ml and it is worth every penny. This is a milky cream moisturizer with anti-aging micro-collagens that help plump and smooth the skin. At Barneys, the artist used 2 pumps to moisturize the skin. At first I thought it odd that he used this as a base moisturizer. I normally associate the word “milk” in skincare as a cleanser. After reading more about this on Koh Gen Do, I found there are a number of uses:
  • 10 Pumps As a massage cream (evening)
    • Give skin softness with the “Macro Beauty Massage,” Argireline which increases tone and improves texture with results similar to professional skin care treatments.
  • 5 Pumps Remove dead skin cells with milk (morning / evening)
    • After washing your face, use the Royal Massage Milk with cotton pads. Ingredients like lactic and malic acid gently clean off accumulated layers of dead skin cells and melanin.
  • 2-3 Pumps As a Moisturizer (morning / evening)
    • Use after Skin Lotion, massaging it lightly into the skin for moisture and protection.
I’ve only been using this as a day-time moisturizer alternating with Le Metier’s Peau Vierge Day Cream. My skin feels more refreshed, less tight, and mid-day I don’t get as oily in the T-zone (meaning less touch ups).
Overall I’ve been thoroughly impressed. I can’t emphasize enough how much my skin has improved in texture, feel and general radiance. The cleansing water helps me in the mornings when I’m rushed and at night helps make sure that every trace of foundation and concealer has been removed. The soft gommage gel is a great exfoliator for the woman who hates most facial scrubs. The macro vintage royal massage milk helps hydrate the skin in the most luxurious-feeling way without feeling too heavy. None of the products have a detectable scent to me (a huge plus for me as I typically find Chanel and Shiseido skincare items too strong in scent).

Where to buy? I’ve purchased my items instore from Barneys in Beverly Hills. The brand is also available on Barneys.com, KohGenDoCosmetics.com and Sephora.com. I would of course recommend that you see if your local Barneys has this line. If you cannot try in person, I highly recommend you order directly from Koh Gen Do. If you browsing through their website you will find they offer samples, gift with purchases and sometimes promotional discounts (their masks were 30% off earlier this year for a short period of time). They have some great trial sets.
The Royal Massage Milk and Soft Gommage Gel were provided for review without charge.
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Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Natural Lighting Powder

September 27, 2011

Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Natural Lighting Powder ($42 for 0.42 oz/12 g) comes in one shade: a light beige with a finely milled pearl finish. It’s not exactly a translucent powder but the finish is sheer and the color disappears once applied very much like a translucent powder. The pearl particles give a soft glowy look to the skin and while the shimmer is visible, it’s not over the top. The finish is not quite as glowy as Chanel’s Poudre Douce – Soft Pressed Powder, but the concept is similar. I would say this powder is most similar to Armani’s Microfil Loose Powder with the shimmer particles being the same size. This is a beautiful setting powder but the sheerness means that it won’t necessarily even out the skin, but rather set your foundation and add a subtle glow.

The Koh Gen Go powder comes with a puff but I prefer to apply with a loose fluffy brush over a creamy foundation. In the past few months, I’ve tried this with a number of foundations and tinted moisturizers and it works with  other brands including Chanel, Guerlain, Laura Mercier. I like that it doesn’t alter the color of your foundation but rather sets it. I’ve used Laura Mercier’s Translucent Powder for years and while I love it, I find sometimes it can look a bit chalky on my skin when I am very tanned.

Here is the Aqua foundation and Powder photographed together for a size comparison. I like that the container is large enough to easily fit a large fluffy powder brush in the top.

I’ve compared the Koh Gen Do powder to a few others. The color is different from others that I own but still sheer enough to work on a wide range of skintones due to the sheerness. Below is Laura Mercier’s Translucent, Armani Micro-fil #2, Chanel’s Naturel 30 Translucent 2.

Here it’s heavily swatched on my arm although they disappear when applied with a brush or puff on the face.

Overall the Koh Gen Do is a lovely loose powder. I personally prefer something with a bit more coverage when it comes to powders and I tend to prefer the pressed kind. I will even set my liquid foundations with powder foundations even though most might find it to be a bit of an overkill. I like my liquid foundations sheer to medium and my powders to be a bit heavier. To date, I think the Chanel and Armani are my two favorite loose powders still, but the limited shade selection make them difficult for many. I think the Koh Gen Do is more universally flattering for a wider range of skintones and adds a pretty glow. Will I ever repurchase? At this time I’m not sure, the tub is so large it seems like it will take quite a while for me to use up. I go through compact powders and powder foundations at least 5 times faster than I do for loose powders.

Have you tried Koh Gen Do’s powders? What are your thoughts? Any favorites?

Base Makeup

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in OC-2

September 26, 2011

In the past few months I’ve been testing out new skincare, powders and foundations from Koh Gen Do, Le Metier de Beaute, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana. Even though I’ve been getting regular use out of Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau, Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua and Chanel’s discontinued Teint Innocence, I’ve still been on the hunt for new foundations to try. I’ll be writing a review on each item in the upcoming weeks. First up is my experience with Koh Gen Do’s Aqua Foundation in OC-2 ($62) from Barneys New York.

 

I first read about Koh Gen Do’s Aqua Foundation ($62 for 1.01 fl oz.30 ml) on Into The Gloss earlier this year and noticed it was featured again on her Top Shelf series this past July. When she described it as “foundation heaven” I knew I had to try it. I’ve heard nothing but raves about Koh Gen Do and having fallen in love with their face masks, cleansing water and natural light loose powder, I had the Koh Gen Do foundation on my list of things to check out.

Back in August, I was in LA and stopped by Barneys Beverly Hills. The Koh Gen Do artists recommended that I try the Aqua Foundation for my skin type (normal, fairly clear, slightly oily in the T-zone in warm weather, but overall normal). They swatched OC-1 and OC-2 on my jawline and after seeing them side-by-side I was shocked at the difference. There’s quite a big jump in between shades. OC-1 was definitely too pale, OC-2 looked like it would be too dark but on the skin blended well with my skin. Ideally I would have liked something right in between the two colors and at $62 a bottle I wasn’t really keen on buying both to custom mix my own shade. OC-2 was a pretty good match and with the combination of the Moisture Milk, Aqua Foundation and Natural Finish Powder, my skin never looked so naturally flawless I was sold.

The Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation is a liquid formula and comes with a pump. It’s rather pricey at $62 but the finish is naturally beautiful. It evens out the skin and has a slightly dewy finish but it’s not too dewy like some tinted moisturizers. If you read the details on Koh Gen Do you will learn that they designed this with something they call “the golden ratio” which consists of 45% water, 35% emollients, and 20% powder to balance perfectly with one’s skin. The finish is sheer to medium and slightly transparent so the skin shows through. It’s not a pearly finish foundation but not completely matte either. I would say it’s somewhere in between the texture and finish of Chanel’s Teint Innocence Liquid foundation and Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer.

Here is OC-2 pumped next to Edward Bess Beige, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau 03 and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20 and B30. I was initially matched to Chanel B20 but is now clearly too light for me (will have to save for winter). I did not blend these out because I could not photograph them fast enough before the liquids dried and then darkened on my arm. Two things to take into consideration: 1) the inside of my arm is lighter than my face and 2) my skin is weird because so many different colors of foundation work on my skin (as long as it doesn’t have a pinkish base).

Here on the back of my hand (which is closer in color to my face) you can see it blends out to disappear but give a dewy finish. This was the sharpest photograph I could get while still showing the slight sheen. Clearer photos make the hand look like it’s nothing but bare skin.

I’ve been using this foundation for a month and a half now and have overall been pleased with the results.  No irritation, no break outs, no streaking or darkening. It lasts all day but I found that it works best when layered of the Macro Vintage Royal Massage Milk (see more on Kohgendocosmetics.com). I received a small sample that lasted me about 1 week of daily morning use. It’s an amazing product and made my skin look and feel like baby’s skin. I haven’t caved to purchase this since I just bought a cream from Le Metier but it is definitely on my watch list for the future.

For use right now I apply over Le Metier’s day cream and then use Cle de Peau’s concealer in Beige on areas that need more coverage. Sometimes I will finish with Koh Gen Do’s powder, other days I will finish with Chanel or D&G’s powder foundations.

My only wish is that the foundation came in more shades. Since it is a sheer formula, the colors are slightly more forgiving if you can’t find an exact match. Since I am a bit more tanned right now OC-2 works well for me, but just barely. If I become even 1/2 a shade lighter I know this will be too dark, yet OC-1 will definitely be too pale. For more information, a list of ingredients and list of shades, I highly recommend you check out Koh Gen Do’s Website. They have detailed diagrams and descriptions of each product (all of which I find extremely informative, useful and non-gimmicky).

Have you tried Koh Gen Do’s foundations? Which formula did you try and what were your thoughts?

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Fresh Pinks from Koh Gen Do, Burberry Beauty and Paul & Joe

July 5, 2011

Three fresh pink lip colors from a few harder-to-find brands I think everyone should check out:

  • Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick in Fresh Pink PK04 – a sheer fresh light pink with a soft frost ($38 can be found at Barneys.com and KohGenDoCosmetics.com)
  • Burberry Lip Mist in Fresh Pink No. 09 – a healthy semi-bright cool-pink ($30, can be found at Nordstrom.com)
  • Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer in Can-Can 06 – a cool-toned healthy pink with slight shimmer and high sheen ($20 check Paul & Joe for locations)

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipsticks have a sheer moisturizing formula. While the color is sheer, it is visible on the lips and gives healthy glowing lips like no other lipstick formula. I’ve reviewed two others Pink Beige and Pink Rose here. Fresh Pink PK04 was provided to me for review. It’s a sheer light pink. Looking at the tube, one might worry that the color would be too sheer. The color does show up on my lips, but just barely. I think those with darker skin or darker lips might find this color too pale.

Burberry Lip Mists are natural lightweight lipsticks with a unique creamy-gelled texture that makes it feel in between a lip balm and natural lipstick. I’ve reviewed a different Lip Mist, Copper, here. Feather Pink is a fresh neutral-cool pink. It goes on smoothly and doesn’t require any tweaking. There is no detectable scent. Lasting power is medium. The texture is smooth and applies evenly.

Paul & Joe’s Lip Lacquers are among my favorites for lipglosses. I’ve raved about the formula in the past, but I don’t think I’ve done very many lip swatches. These are high pigmented high shine glosses that last on the lips a long time. Unfortunately they don’t photograph well because of the shine. It looks brighter in real life than it does on the lips below. Can-Can 06 is one of my most-used lip lacquers.

For more pink loves, you can see my Spring Pinks from April here. What are your favorite pink lip items for right-now?
Koh Gen Do Fresh Pink was provided to The Beauty Look Book without charge for review.
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Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Essence Mask

May 30, 2011

I recently discovered Koh Gen Do at Barneys last month (see my review on the Maifanshi Lipsticks here) and was amazed how many raves and recommendations I received via comments and e-mails about this brand. I have taken note of all your recommendations so I know what to look for on my next trip to Barneys. I was fortunate enough to receive samples of Koh Gen Do’s Macro Vintage Series. This line of skincare products have been designed to keep your skin healthy by increasing “elasticity, vitality & moisturization” that one’s skin already possesses naturally. Although I am a minimalist when it comes to skincare, given the glowing reviews I’ve read, I was anxious to investigate further.

I received a sample of the Macro Vintage Essence Mask. This comes packaged in a metallic box with 6 individually packaged face sheets and retail for $110 for the set. Each sheet contains 0.81 fl. oz. / 24ml of product. Those interested in this brand, note that there is a 20% promotion on the Macro Vintage Series on Kohgendocosmetics.com which expires on May 31st. See their website for more details.

Product Description: The face mask comes in a sealed pouch soaked into a thick sheet which you apply directly to the face. The ingredients work to hydrate going deep into the layers of your skin. According to Koh Gen Do, these masks contain plant essence gels:

“The unique ‘Moisturizing Skin Ingredients’ increase immunity, boost regenerating and anti-oxidizing powers by calming the skin and preventing moisture from being lost …Micronetting created by nano-technology in the gel perfectly resembles the structures of the skin, allowing the moisture molecules to attach and hydrate deeper into the skin.”


Product Ingredients:

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methyl Gluceth-10, Delinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylated/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Lecithin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Glucosyl Hesperidin, PinusPinaster Bark Extract, PVP, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Algae Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Algae Extract, Fullerenes

The mask with cut outs on the sides for easy adjustment to your face size and shape:


Product Application: Recommended usage is 1-2 times per week, but I see myself using this maybe once a month.

  • Fit mask over dry face
  • Leave on for about 10 minutes
  • Remove mask and blend unabsorbed emollient into the skin
  • Apply remaining emollients in packet onto eyelids, neck or décolleté


My Product Thoughts:
I am a huge skeptic when it comes to face-sheet masks. I’ve tried a few in the past which I found irritated my skin resulting in red splotches or left my skin overly-moisturized. Most I’ve found did nothing to improve the texture or feeling of my face. Yet, I received so many raves via e-mail about the one from Koh Gen Do I was hopeful for better results.

I applied this after I had cleansed and dried my face with Clinique’s Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser. The mask seemed a bit large for my face but there were cut sections on the side which allowed for adjustment. The upside is your face is covered entirely, no spot is missed. The sheet was soaked with a heavy gel making the mask feel like it would fall off but it stayed put the entire 10 minutes I had it on my face. The scent is hard to describe, but I would call it a very light and clean refreshing scent. It covered my entire face and lids.

After ten minutes, I took the sheet off and rinsed my face with water to remove the excess and then gently dried with a towel. The results were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I have normal but sensitive skin that has recently started to look tired due to stress and neglect. (Yes, I’m not the best with my skin.) This mask gave me baby soft skin and left me feeling refreshed and moisturized yet perfectly clean. The gel left no heavy residue or sticky feeling. I’ve only had 2 spa facials before. This mask made my skin feel just as good as the Four Seasons facials. I see this as being useful for all skintypes. There was still quite a bit of excess product in the package – Koh Gen Do’s recommendation is to use this for other parts of the face and neck. I discarded the excess both times I’ve used this, but I will have to keep that in mind the next time so I don’t waste any good product.

This definitely makes the list of beauty-life-changers for me. The recommended usage is once per week. I only intended on using this once per month, but I’ve already used this mask twice since I received it. Once last week and once this evening. I can see that this might become an expensive habit.

I highly recommend you explore Kohgendocosmetics.com – there is a wealth of information on the brand history, product lines, how-to’s for skincare, links to reviews and features from various editors and bloggers – all the goodies one would want to see about a brand, right on the brand website. I have not yet ordered online yet, my experience was at Barneys NY in Beverly Hills, but there seem to be quite a few promotions that are tempting me right now.

Have you tried Koh Gen Do’s skincare before? I’d love to hear more thoughts on your experiences with this brand as I am anxious to make another run to Beverly Hills soon, maybe in the next couple months.

This product was provided to The Beauty Look Book without charge for review.
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Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick – Barneys New York

April 20, 2011
Barneys New York is always nice to browse every now and then to check out brands that are hard-to-find such as Lipstick Queen, By Terry, Serge Lutens and Eve Lom to name a few. This weekend I made a new discovery: Koh Gen Do, a Japanese brand that had its beginnings from a salon in Tokyo. I was surprised to learn 2011 marks their 25th anniversary. According to their company website, it appears they have had IMATS exhibits since 2008 and launched at Barneys Beverly Hills and Madison Avenue in 2010 – but I had never heard about this brand before.

I was drawn by their clean simple display and once I saw the Asian name, I stopped to ask if they had a makeup brush line (I found out not yet). I decided to start small with two of their Maifanshi Lipsticks in Pink Beige BE01 and Pink Rose PK01 (supposed to be their best sellers), but soon found out the prices weren’t so “small.” These come in a small sleek black tube retail for $39 each (0.12 oz. / 3.5 g) and contain no artificial colors, fragrance, petroleum-based mineral oil or paraben. I could not detect any scent. These have a sheer smooth soft glossy finish but the pigment on the lips is just incredible.

These feel amazing on the lips (think along the lines of Dior’s Serum de Rouge). I don’t think my lips have ever felt better. Compared to a few other sheer glossy lipsticks, the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipsticks have:
  • less slip than Chanel Rouge Coco Shines
  • more shine than MAC’s discontinued slimshines
  • softer texture than the new Dior Addicts
Size comparisons:

They make the lips just glow and are moisturizing yet lightweight. The packaging recommends that you do not twist up the tube too high to avoid breakage. These swatched sheer on the hand but applied flawlessly on the lips for a natural tint. There is not really any shimmer in these but if you look at the tubes closely you can see a slight hint of shimmery sheen.

Sheen, not shimmer:


Pink Beige BE01 is a sheer soft peachy beige:

Pink Rose PK01 is a lovely soft rose:

Overall these were extremely pricey but the texture just can’t be beat. However, the high price points will most likely prevent me from exploring this more in the near future. I didn’t find the colors super unique, but they do look flawless on the lips and require no extra tweaking (always a plus). Have you tried this brand before?