The open grain of oak makes light colors problematic. Ebony is OK.

"Is a different more opaque foundation worth it vs a revamped skin care routine that fixes the blemished skin underneath the new foundation?"

WTH kind of reply is that? Other than not helpful.

Couture Vert made an analogy.

They can look great painted if you’re willing to have your painter do what needs to be done. It will be pricy. Here’s why.

Oak is tougher to work with in some respects than other woods so you will need a few extra prep steps. Cabinets have to be cleaned and sanded, then a grain filler is applied. This is followed by an oil based primer (because the latex ones will pull the grain up again). Then cabinets are finished with something like the Emerald Urethane Enamel (SW - not the Emerald latex paint). It’s a modified alkyd and it will level well and dry well and hard. It’s a durable finish but it’s also super expensive stuff, even for a pro.

Depending on how many cabinets you are painting and who you hire to do the job, you could be looking at $10 K. If you have a smaller kitchen or are brave enough to try this yourself, you’re looking at about $2-3 K in tools (like a paint sprayer) and coatings. And weeks of time. All of those coatings have to dry completely and are lightly sanded before the next coat... you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, may we see your cabinets?

I painted my 90’s oak cabinets (uppers white lowers black) and they turned out fine. You can definitely see the grain but that doesn’t bother me. From normal distance away it isn’t something I fixate on