Based on the ingredients included, "Koh Gen Do - Moisture Color Base" works well for moisturizing the skin. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Koh Gen Do - Moisture Color Base ticks this box. Biosaccharide gum-1, cyclomethicone, glycerin, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Cyclomethicone, dimethicone, methicone and cyclopentasiloxane in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.

Ingredient callouts

As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (glucosyl ceramide 0.65% - 0.95%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: titanium dioxide and stearic acid

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

About the brand

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Koh Gen Do" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.

Price

The product retails for 81.00$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

What can the product work for?

Does not work for

Anti-aging
Evens skin tone

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Moisture Color Base

Source: From product name

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: biosaccharide gum-1, cyclomethicone.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, methicone.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: glucosyl ceramide

polymethylsilsesquioxane 0.35% - 0.6%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss

cyclomethicone 2.6% - 3.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer

biosaccharide gum-1 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin

Anti-blemish

This product might be able to help reduce blemishes and clogged pores because it contains chitosan.

chitosan 0.45% - 0.7%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Inhibits acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Can help to reduce inflammation caused by bacteria. Helps neutralize free radicals in skin. Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin

Anti-oxidation

This product contains antioxidants (chitosan) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.

chitosan 0.45% - 0.7%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

leontopodium alpinum callus culture extract 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A plant stem cell extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in skin

rosa roxburghii fruit extract 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A fruit extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but evidence of effectiveness is missing

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Soft-focus powders and light-diffusing pigments help to minimize the appearance of fine lines, visible pores and imperfections for an even, refined makeup base.

Source: Lookfantastic US

This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.

This ingredient chitosan might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.

magnesium ascorbyl phosphate 0.7% - 1.05%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

A derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high

Evens skin tone

What does the product description say?

Choose from the following shades Yellow Brightens skin and minimizes dark spots and discoloration. For fair to medium skin tones.

Source: Skinstore

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low

magnesium ascorbyl phosphate 0.7% - 1.05%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

chitosan 0.45% - 0.7%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-blemish, Antibacterial, Anti-oxidation, Moisturizing

cyclopentasiloxane 26% - 32%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Mattifying, Moisturizing

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

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Potential irritants

mitracarpus scaber extract 0.55% - 0.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Antibacterial

Used for its fragrance. Has some anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating

peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone 1.6% - 1.9%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Cleansing

A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together

Comodogenic ingredients

algin 0.45% - 0.7%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Works for: Moisturizing

Used to thicken product formulation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin

All ingredients

cyclopentasiloxane 26% - 32%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Mattifying, Moisturizing

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

water 12% - 14%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

zinc oxide 5.5% - 6.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

Ingredient list view

Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc oxide, Butylene glycol, Cyclomethicone, Dipropylene glycol, Caprylyl methicone, Peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 triisostearate, Dimethicone, Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, Disteardimonium hectorite, Polyglyceryl-2 diisostearate, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, Glucosyl ceramide, Coix lacryma-jobi ma-yuen seed extract, Rehmannia glutinosa root extract, Morus alba root extract, Mitracarpus scaber extract, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf extract, Hydrolyzed silk, Alpha-glucan, Leontopodium alpinum callus culture extract, Cysteine/oligomeric proanthocyanidin, Glycerylamidoethyl methacrylate/stearyl methacrylate copolymer, Sodium hyaluronate, Rosa roxburghii fruit extract, Nylon-12, Peg-9 dimethicone, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Stearic acid, Magnesium sulfate, Isostearic acid, Hydrogen dimethicone, Sodium citrate, Pentasodium pentetate, Citric acid, Glycerin, Biosaccharide gum-1, Alumina, Hydroxyapatite, Pvp, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Algin, Xanthan gum, Chitosan, Cetearyl glucoside, Sodium polygamma-glutamate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium dioxide, Talc, Tin oxide, Methicone, Chromium oxide greens, Ultramarines, Mica, Silica, Iron oxides, Aluminum hydroxide

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		52%	49%	45%	44%	43%	37%	34%	34%	31%	31%
Key ingredients	glucosyl ceramide chitosan +11 more	Common: glucosyl ceramide dimethicone +3 more Other: camellia sinensis leaf extract hydrolyzed collagen +5 more	Common: glucosyl ceramide glycerin +1 more Other: betaine glycosphingolipids +1 more	Common: glucosyl ceramide dimethicone +2 more Other: hydrolyzed collagen hydrolyzed yeast extract +4 more	Common: glucosyl ceramide glycerin +1 more Other: allantoin hydrolyzed collagen	Common: glucosyl ceramide dimethicone +2 more Other: tocopherol	Common: glucosyl ceramide glycerin +1 more Other: simmondsia chinensis seed oil trehalose	Common: glucosyl ceramide glycerin +1 more Other: ceramide ap phytosterols +4 more	Common: glucosyl ceramide glycerin +1 more Other:	Common: cyclopentasiloxane dimethicone +4 more Other: arginine diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate +4 more	Common: cyclopentasiloxane dimethicone +2 more Other: panthenol beta-glucan +6 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY HIGH	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	mitracarpus scaber extract Has skin benefit? cetearyl glucoside Has skin benefit? +8 more	chlorphenesin Has skin benefit? disodium edta Has skin benefit? +5 more	glyceryl oleate Has skin benefit?	chamomilla recutita extract Has skin benefit? caprylic/capric triglyceride Has skin benefit? +7 more	citrus junos fruit extract Has skin benefit? chamomilla recutita flower extract Has skin benefit? +2 more	parfum Has skin benefit? propylene glycol Has skin benefit? +3 more	propylene glycol Has skin benefit? polyglyceryl-10 laurate Has skin benefit? +3 more	rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil Has skin benefit? citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil Has skin benefit? +11 more	parfum Has skin benefit? chamomilla recutita flower extract Has skin benefit? +3 more	alcohol Has skin benefit? ci 73360 Has skin benefit? +4 more	epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +1 more
All ingredients	cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +60 more	water Has skin benefit? hydroxyethyl urea Has skin benefit? +24 more	water Has skin benefit? butylene glycol Has skin benefit? +19 more	water Has skin benefit? cetyl ethylhexanoate Has skin benefit? +36 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +19 more	water Has skin benefit? glycol Has skin benefit? +19 more	water Has skin benefit? propylene glycol Has skin benefit? +18 more	water Has skin benefit? squalane Has skin benefit? +33 more	water Has skin benefit? butylene glycol Has skin benefit? +18 more	cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +32 more	water Has skin benefit? cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? +24 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Koh Gen Do Moisture Color Base

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Ingredient callouts

Irritation risk

About the brand

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Anti-blemish

Anti-oxidation

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Evens skin tone

What does the product description say?

Honesty check

How honest is this product?

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Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

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