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K-Beauty is known for its game-changing innovation, and one of its standout products continues to be the cushion foundation. Sleek and compact, with the ability to give your skin an airbrushed, filter IRL finish, it's everything you want in a foundation—if you can find your shade.
For many Black and brown followers of K-beauty, cushion compacts have continued to be the one item that is just out of reach. Most brands will offer a range of three shades, max, often not deeper than a milky, light brown. That's what Grace Okafor learned when she arrived in Seoul in the late summer of 2015 and quickly ran out of the makeup she had packed from her home in Nigeria.
Okafor went to South Korea to study the language while pursuing a master's degree in international trade in business. “Back home in Nigeria, we had a lot of cosmetics that were made in China, but nothing related to Korean beauty or skin care,” she says. “I wanted to bridge the gap between Korean and African beauty.”
One of the complaints she constantly came across was the lack of deeper shades available for the cushion foundations on the market. “That is the first product that a lot of Black women living in Korea wanted," says Okafor. So she set out to develop a line that was grounded in K-beauty's philosophy of innovative science that would also be inclusive of dark skin tones.
The first product to launch from Okafor's cruelty-free brand, Dr. Gio Cosmetics, was the long awaited Ultra 7 Brightening Foundation Cushion. Available in six shades, the formula contains shea butter, centella asiatica (which is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties), and vitamin C. Together they deliver dewy, buildable coverage that hydrates and brightens your skin over time. There's also tea tree oil in the mix, which targets bacteria that can build up from excessive mask wearing, as well as ample sun protection with SPF 50+.
Okafor is in the process of developing additional makeup under the brand, but for now she's focusing on the foundation and continuing to expand the selection of shades. Eager to see how it works on melanated skin, we had four of our editors put the Ultra 7 foundation to the test. Here are our honest reviews.
Michella Oré, Beauty Assistant
I've been patiently waiting for a cushion foundation that would match my skin tone for years. Being a fan of K-beauty and no-makeup makeup, I love how cushion applicators melt foundation into my skin with just a few pats, creating an even base with a natural, dewy glow. Not to mention the packaging of cushion foundations—the pillowy applicator, the product, the compact mirror all built in—not only looks incredibly chic; it's also practical. So when I heard about Dr. Gio Cosmetics, I had high hopes. Finally I too could harness the power of the cushion.
And this foundation did not disappoint. Because I'm between shades (thanks to winter), I used Ijeoma as my base and dabbed Ella on in a few places to get a perfect match for my skin tone. I immediately noticed how hydrating and richly pigmented the formula was. It's medium-coverage and easy to blend and layer on top. While the cushion made the initial application a breeze, I did find that patting the foundation in with my fingers helped it really melt in.
I have combination skin that also faces dehydration, so I do tend to pause at formulas that dry down semimatte, but that wasn't an issue with this one. My face didn't feel like a desert, nor did I have to worry about transferring makeup all over my mask. I simply spritzed setting spray on once I was done and was good to go. I definitely plan to keep using this foundation for days when I'm in the mood for some coverage and an instant glow-up.
Brionna Jimerson, Social Media Manager
I haven't used a cushion foundation in years, and was a bit skeptical about it—would I have enough coverage? I was pleasantly surprised by this foundation and immediately struck by the buttery formula. It moves so easily across your skin and buffs in like a dream. I'm able to dot a bit on and gently move it around with a brush (I prefer it over the sponge) until I have even, subtle coverage.
I highly recommend it for a super-hydrated but not oily-looking glow, especially if you prefer a formula that's buildable. It's probably going to replace my concealer, TBH. It's very moisturizing, so I'd recommend starting off light and patting on more where you need it.
Khaliha Hawkins, Producer
The Dr. Gio Cushion Foundation was the first time I ever tried a K-beauty product and a cushion foundation—and it didn’t disappoint. I chose shade 3, Ella, based on the images posted to its Instagram account, and I was able to shade-match myself pretty well. I thought I would have to use a lot of bronzer or powder to even things out. But delightfully, the shade matched so well I didn't even need it.
The foundation comes with an angled puff that I didn’t like. It picked up a lot of product, but I didn’t quite feel like I was getting any on my face. So I switched over to my BeautyBlender and dabbed the cushion once to cover my whole face. The coverage was light to medium and very easy to blend out. I have combination-oily skin, so powder is a must for me, even if I’m staying inside all day. This foundation worked well with my other products and didn’t leave me an oily mess by the end of the day. Overall, it's great, and I’m happy to see there are three more shades deeper than mine available.
Ruhama Wolle, Associate Editor
Dr. Gio was a big hit for me. This creamy, light formula smoothed over my skin while providing both moisture and coverage. Although it feels like a medium-coverage foundation, it's entirely buildable, so it still works for those who want the full coverage.
I stumbled a little trying to figure out which shade would be a true match, though. I combined both DG-03 (Ella) and DG-04 (Funmi), and even then, I had to go light on the application because Ella was too light and Funmi felt too dark. And the cool tones in the deeper shade (Funmi) felt off-balance with my warmer skin tones. In addition to more shades, I'd love to see more variety in the undertones.
But overall the foundation packaging was one of my favorites. I loved the built-in compact mirror and the detachable sponge puff applicator. Its pointed edge made for easy applications in tight corners and under my eyes. And since the foundation blends smoothly, the formula is easy to use no matter if you use your hands or a brush.
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