Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Koh Gen Do High Definition Makeup Trial Set

I've been intending to review this Koh Gen Do High Definition Makeup Trial Set ($20) for several months.  An e-mail in my inbox this morning announcing Koh Gen Do's end of year make up sale spurred me to write though I haven't used all the products in the trial set.


The tin box contained two .14 oz tubes of Maifanshi Moisture Foundation in colors 013 and 003 (additional colors available upon request); Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in Pearl White; .04 oz. container of Maifanshi Face Powder with a full-size puff; Makeup Color Base in Yellow and Green.


The kit also contained a small packet of cleansing water and three cotton pads.  Koh Gen Do developed the yellow and green color bases and the Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in Pearl White without parabens after creating this trial kit, and included paraben-free samples of those.  

A Japanese actress created Koh Gen Do as a skincare line about 25 years ago. The line has evolved since then - the Maifanshi Moisture Foundation was developed especially for high definition cameras.  It is one of my favorites, right up there with the Dolce and Gabbana Cream Foundation, and Burberry  Luminous Foundation.  Koh Gen Do describes this foundation as a "mineral makeup cream foundation that turns into liquid foundation when applied, with 60% water encapsulated into the formula to give you the superior coverage of a cream foundation and a smooth, sheer finish like a liquid foundation. The foundation was tested and created to wear beautifully for 10 hours or more with a perfect ratio of 60% water, 30% highly refined oils and 10% powder."  It does not contain sunscreens but is paraben-free.

I found that this foundation really does give a flawless finish.  Applied first with fingers then smoothed out with a foundation brush, this foundation disappeared into my skin, evening out my complexion and lessening the appearance of my pores.  Applied more  heavily, it worked well in place of a concealer under my eyes.  There were no signs of fading after 10 hours and it caused no irritation or breakouts.  A sheer application is all I need on my most of my face so the .14 oz tube will go a long way, at least 4 applications.


Color 003, included in the kit, is perfect for my NC 45 skin tone.   Maifanshi Moisture Foundation comes a broad range of colors that will suit lighter and darker skin tones.  You can see them here.

The Maifanshi Face Powder was a nice surprise.  I was bit skeptical since it is snow white in the jar, but when applied with either the puff or a powder brush it disappears completely, leaving absolutely no ashiness, or a cakey finish.  This powder takes the Moisture Foundation to an ethereal finish. 

The color bases are supposed to cover discolorations.  I only tried the yellow one and it was too sheer for me.   Besides, the foundation worked so well that they were unnecessary. 


I still haven't opened the Cleansing Spa Water sample or used used the cotton pads included in the kit, since I had already purchased the cleansing water and cleansing water cloths during a Sephora sale.

Cleansing Water 300ml
         Image from Koh Gen Do.

 The cleansing water is excellent, it works as cleansing waters are supposed to, removing virtually all traces of the water-resistant makeup and eye makeup, leaving my face feeling clean with no rinsing required.  White Birch Sap is one of the key ingredients, which Koh Gen Do claims is "harvested only three weeks in early spring, [and] contributes an abundance of minerals and xylitol as it lifts off makeup, oils and residue."  It is oil-free, alcohol-free, and are safe for contact lens wearers.  It is are infused with six essential herbs that are supposed to protect and nurture skin:
  • Rosemary Leaf Extract
  • Sage Leaf Extract
  • Lavender Extract
  • Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
  • Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
  • Ginger Root Extract
The Cleansing Spa water is $39 for 10.15 oz. - expensive to use as a daily cleanser to remove a full face of makeup including foundation, blush, and eye makeup. As I explained in this review of Vichy Cleansing Water, I use it primarily in place of toner.

    Cleansing Water Cloth
             Image from Koh Gen Do.

     The wipes, which are soaked with the cleansing water, are among the best I've used.  They are a little stiffer than most, but are thoroughly saturated with product and remove my makeup as well as the oil and milk cleansers I usually use.  They are sold in 3 packages of 10 wipes, which means the very last of your 30 wipes won't be dried out when when you reach the end.  The cleansing water and wipes do contain parabens.  At $39, they are also pricey. 

    Koh Gen Do's makeup sale lasts through January 5, 2012, 12am EST.  I'm not sure if the cleansing water and cloths are included in the sale.  The trial kit is not. 

    I bought my trial kit from the Koh Gen Do site and cleansing products from Sephora.  As far as I know Sephora only carries the line at their New York Meatpacking District store, the Forum Shops in Las Vegas and online.  The line is also available at Barneys.  To be clear, the sale is only on the Koh Gen Do online.  What have your experiences been with this line?  Do you plan to buy anything during the sale?  I'm pretty sure that at 30% off, I won't be able to resist the foundation and powder!

    Sunday, December 25, 2011


    Sequin Snowflake Blank

                                                                          Card from Cocodot.com

    Mailbox printing
    How It Works

    Our stylish, eco-friendly invitations + greetings are printed with nontoxic inks on thick, bright white cardstock. All orders come with black cocodot seals and your choice of white paper or translucent vellum envelopes.

    How Printing Works

    1. Design the front of your invitation, announcement or greeting.
      Be sure to include any pertinent event details on the card.
    2. Proof and approve your print.
    3. Provide shipping information and place your order.

    How Printing Ships

    We offer fast shipping exclusively through FedEx. Customers within the continental US can select from FedEx Ground, 2Day Air or Overnight shipping options. If you're in Alaska or Hawaii, we offer 2Day Air or Overnight shipping options. We also ship internationally.
    Please check out our FAQ for more information on shipping.

    View Pricing
    Black cocodot seals and a choice of
    white or translucent vellum envelopes are
    included with your order.
    A small cocodot logo will be printed on the back of your cards, with the exception of our wedding collections. The backs of all wedding-collection cards and invitations are blank.

    Pricing for Professional Printing

    All of our cards and invitations can be ordered in increments of five, with a minimum order of 10.
    If You Order Price per Card
    10-20 cards $2.59 each
    25-45 cards $1.99 each
    50-95 cards $1.79 each
    100-195 cards $1.59 each
    200-295 cards $1.49 each
    300+ cards $1.39 each

    Calculate your order total

    (excludes tax and shipping)

    I'm ordering cards
    My order total:

    Mailbox printing
    How It Works

    Our stylish, eco-friendly invitations + greetings are printed with nontoxic inks on thick, bright white cardstock. All orders come with black cocodot seals and your choice of white paper or translucent vellum envelopes.

    How Printing Works

    1. Design the front of your invitation, announcement or greeting.
      Be sure to include any pertinent event details on the card.
    2. Proof and approve your print.
    3. Provide shipping information and place your order.

    How Printing Ships

    We offer fast shipping exclusively through FedEx. Customers within the continental US can select from FedEx Ground, 2Day Air or Overnight shipping options. If you're in Alaska or Hawaii, we offer 2Day Air or Overnight shipping options. We also ship internationally.
    Please check out our FAQ for more information on shipping.

    View Pricing
    Black cocodot seals and a choice of
    white or translucent vellum envelopes are
    included with your order.
    A small cocodot logo will be printed on the back of your cards, with the exception of our wedding collections. The backs of all wedding-collection cards and invitations are blank.

    Pricing for Professional Printing

    All of our cards and invitations can be ordered in increments of five, with a minimum order of 10.
    If You Order Price per Card
    10-20 cards $2.59 each
    25-45 cards $1.99 each
    50-95 cards $1.79 each
    100-195 cards $1.59 each
    200-295 cards $1.49 each
    300+ cards $1.39 each

    Calculate your order total

    (excludes tax and shipping)

    I'm ordering cards
    My order total:

    Monday, December 12, 2011

    Capitol Kaleidoscope, Le Metier de Beaute




    I bought my Capitol Kaleidoscope after seeing on Best Things in Beauty.  There's a dearth of pink shadows in my collection and I can never resist purple!  The Capitol Kaleidoscope is exclusive to the Mazza Gallerie Neiman Marcus in Washington, DC.  

    From top to bottom the colors are: 


    Pink Tendre: matte pink




    Peche Or:  rose with a hint of peach 


    Taupe Satine:  taupe


    Prune Veloure: semi-matte purple


    I thought I would have little use for the matte pink, but it is much more subtle on the brow than in the swatches above.  Peche Or, which I thought was a dupe of LMdB blush Echo, is actually more pink than peach; it contains just enough peach to prevent that rabbit eye look.

    Peche Echo

    Taupe Santine, which I thought was a dupe for the one of the taupes in Le Circe is actually much warmer, a nice complement for Pink Tendre and Peche Or, adding a subtle golden sheen.  The Le Circe taupes are gray.


    Prune Veloure is warmer/redder than the purple in Le Cirque.  It is not completely matte, but doesn't have as much shimmer as that in Le Cirque or Taupe Satine. 

    Unfortunately I had to work when Erin Lockhart was in town to do makeovers, and I had little time for Michael Reinheart, Mazza NM's LMdB rep and the creator of Capitol Kaleidoscope, to apply the colors when I picked up the kaleidoscope this weekend, so I had to apply the shadows a Couche de Colours myself. The effect is a subtle, finished look that is perfect for the office.

    Le Metier had a nice gift with this purchase, a generous sample of their eye makeup remover, which is coming soon, and a trio of eye shadows.



    I believe the Capitol Kaleidoscope is sold out, but you can call Michael Reinhardt at 202-966-9700, ext. 2258, to see if there are plans to produce additional kits.



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