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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 versus Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 .

Published on August 25, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both foundations. They have a total of 17 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Foundation Brand
Foundation Japanese Brand Japan

Foundation

A liquid, cream, or powder to help create an even complexion or cover blemishes.

Foundation

A liquid, cream, or powder to help create an even complexion or cover blemishes.

Price

Shop

Buy Skin Foundation SPF 15

Starts at $45.34
Shop

Buy Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
15
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (4)
Ceramides
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (6)
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 3.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 3.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Isononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.

As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.

Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.

Learn more about Isononyl Isononanoate

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 6.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 8.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 8.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 10.

We don't have a description for Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 10.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 7.

7
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Talc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.

Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.

If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.

Learn more about Talc

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 11.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 31.

8
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 14.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 27.

9
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 16.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 25.

10
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Aluminum Dimyristate.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 18.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 29.

11
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 19.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 32.

12
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 21.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 23.

13
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a form of Vitamin C and is an antioxidant. It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.

MAP is created by combining ascorbic acid with magnesium salt. While MAP more gentle on the skin than ascorbic acid, it is thought to be less easily-absorbed into the skin.

Due to MAP's stability up to a pH level of 7, it is more stable to air and sunlight exposure than ascorbic acid. The best pH range for MAP is between 5 and 6.

Like other forms of Vitamin C, MAP has been shown to help reduce hyperpigmentation and simulate collagen production.

As an antioxidant, it helps protect your skin against the signs of aging.

Learn more about Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 22.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 43.

14
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 23.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 22.

15
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 27.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 26.

16
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Disliked

Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.

It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.

Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.

Learn more about CI 77891

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 28.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 55.

17
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Mixed

Ci 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.

Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.

Synthetically created Ci 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Learn more about CI 77492

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Cool Espresso C116 contains this as ingredient number 29.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Liquid Foundation Neutral Warm 303 contains this as ingredient number 53.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

21% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
52% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
19% have mixed ratings
35% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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