C.O. Bigelow Highlights Italian Beauty Imports

I've always loved looking at C.O. Bigelow products but it's a bit hard to come by for someone in Texas.  Regardless, they are expanding their lines with some amazing Italian imports.  Please enjoy the following press release!  (All images courtesy of Tractenberg)

C.O. Bigelow has long been a New York Institution, known for carrying wonderful and unique products from around the globe. Their eclectic selection is one of the reasons that C.O. Bigelow has such a loyal customer base. New Yorkers-in-the-know and celebs have been flocking to C.O. Bigelow for years to pick up their fave items.

Italy has long been known for its exquisite craftsmanship and deep rooted traditions. This is the case for C.O. Bigelow’s latest Italian beauty imports, Alighiero Campostrini Season Soap Collection, Alighiero Campostrini Soap in Origano (Oregano) and Proraso Refreshing and Toning Formula Collection.

Alighiero Campostrini Season Soap Collection

§  For over a century Alighiero Campostrini in Florence, Italy has been producing luxurious, high-quality artisan soap using ancient Tuscan soap-making recipes and techniques. These coveted formulas have been used and guarded by the family since 1894, as well as the great cultural heritage of Italian soap production. True to this honored heritage, Alighiero Campostrini continues to produce soap according to these ancient traditions as it always has done, since its founding. Each unique bar is made by hand using antique bronze molds cherished by the company through the generations. 

§  Season Soap Collection is available in:

§  Bar Silk (Seta) - Vegetable Natural Bar Soap with Lettuce Extracts.

§  Linen (Lino) - Vegetable Natural Bar Soap with Marine Extracts.

§  Cotton (Cotone) - Vegetable Natural Bar Soap with Rosa Mosqueta Oil.

§  Cashmere (Cashmere) -  Extra mild vegetable bar soap.

Price: $10 each

Where to buy: Exlusively at C.O. Bigelow

 

Alighiero Campostrini Soap in Origano (Oregano)

This beautiful soap evokes a walk through warm Italian oregano-covered mountain paths bathed in sunlight. The speckles inside the soap are made with real oregano, renowned for its antiseptic and tonic properties, which give this soap a extremely gentle exfoliating property without scratching the skin. This bar produces a wonderfully creamy lather that leaves the skin feeling soft, fresh and lightly scented. Great for both men and women.

Price: $26

Where to buy: Exlusively at C.O. Bigelow

 

Proraso Refreshing and Toning Formula Collection

This refreshing and toning formula offers an immediate cooler feel after shaving. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones the skin. Menthol invigorates and revitalizes, leaving skin feeling renewed and fresh. No parabens, No silicons, No mineral oils.

Price: Pre Shave Cream ($13), Shave Foam ($9), Shaving Cream ($10), Shave Soap in Jar ($9), After Shave Lotion ($14)

Where to buy: C.O. Bigelow & www.bigelowchemists.com

Layla Magneffect Softouch Deep Violet

I had written about the new Magneffect Softouch Effect polishes coming down the line from Layla Cosmetics, but the other day I decided to take a bottle with me to work and see how easy it is to apply!  Softouch mimics a matte polish but it's not really a matte because if you add a top coat, the polish remains matte - it doesn't get all shiny and sparkly like a normal matte polish would.  For this manicure, I did not use a base or top coat, just 2 coats of Deep Violet polish.  Layla Cosmetics does not stain and actually advocate that you do not use a base or top coat with their polishes.

As with most magnetic polishes, you have to work a bit quickly.  I would polish a nail, let it dry, add a second coat and then immediately flip over the cap where a line magnet is located.  I'd hold the magnet there for about 5 seconds, then admire the nail.  If the magnet effect looked off, I just painted another coat and tried again.  Thankfully I got it down on most fingers, the first time but had issues with my thumbs.

Here in the sun, you can see that it's a lovely deep blue purple polish that is fully opaque in 2 coats.  I don't mind the bar line magnet, even though Layla did just come out with more magnets but I left them at home.

Now in the shade it almost looks like I have a bald spot in my index finger, and I wonder if the polish was a bit thin there or not.

Indirect light - nothing new to report.  I wore this polish for over a day and I didn't have any problems with chipping or staining.

Indoors with the flash - need I say anything else?

Layla Magneffect Softouch Effect is available for $15.50 a 10ml bottle.

Layla Cosmetics is distributed to the US through the Luxcon Group who has a Facebook Page to several online websites including Ninja Polish, Zappos, AVEYOU, Brigette's Boutique, Amazon, and Drugstore.  It is also available at Ulta.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

ORLY Fired Up

I first saw this collection at Cosmoprof and now it's available!  Please enjoy the following press release from ORLY!  (Images courtesy of LaForce-Stevens)

ORLY Fired Up 

Break free in fall 2012 with rich, high gloss shades

Set sprits ablaze this fall 2012 as ORLY introduces Fired Up - a dynamic collection created to showcase inner power. High gloss shades mimic the inner workings of the human body, providing a natural explosion of color. The collection ranges from fiery red and deep wine tones to bright accents of golden yellow and vibrant orange balanced by hues of pewter and chocolate brown. Lacquers in the Fired Up Collection offer a dynamite seasonal touch of color to fingers and toes.

The six lacquers in the Fired Up Collection include: 

Glow

Taupe Crème 

Flare

Pale Gold Shimmer 

Flicker

Rust Duo Chrome Shimmer

Ignite

Red Crème

Smolder

Deep Wine Shimmer

Rapture

Chocolate Brown Crème

All ORLY Nail Lacquers including the Fired Up Collection are free of DBP, Toluene and all traces of Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Resin.

The Fired Up Collection Lacquers will be available starting September 2012 for $8.50 each. ORLY Nail Lacquers and Treatment products are available at orlybeauty.com, Sally Beauty, Ulta and other purveyors of beauty throughout the U.S. and in over 100 countries worldwide. 

For more information visit us online at www.orlybeauty.com. 


Jeff Pink founded ORLY in 1975 with a simple idea: to innovate natural nail care. By creating leading-edge products and tools designed not only to beautify, but to respond to the needs of salon professionals, ORLY’s beauty experts have redefined nail care and nail fashion. ORLY’s dynamic color palette includes over 150 Lacquer shades that are completely free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene. As much a trendsetter as a nail care innovator, ORLY also introduced the first-ever iconic nail look: the Original French Manicure® and reinvented Lacquer application with the award-winning Gripper Cap™. ORLY embodies quality that beauty professionals in over 100 countries worldwide rely upon.

Sea Lore Attina

Image Courtesy of Sea Lore Facebook Page

I know I don't feature a lot of indie brands on PolishGalore but I'm trying to include more in my rotation.  Sea Lore was created by a woman in love with the sea and her first collection was named after the mermaids in The Little Mermaid.  I may not have seen the movie in almost 2 decades but I do recall the sisters in the beginning of the movie.  Today I have Attina, the oldest sister at 21 years young, who had an orange tail and seashell bra, brown hair in a up-do with a small crown.  

Image Credit: Disney Wiki

The bottles are sold in 7.5 ml and 15 ml bottles - this is the smaller bottle.  Attina is listed as a coral jelly polish with golden shimmer and golden iridescent flakies.  I thought maybe I could layer it over my LVX Ecru so the jellyness wouldn't be so sheer, but it didn't seem to be a good combination.  This is 2 coats of Attina.

After realizing that nude peach wasn't the best base, I decided to try over Sephora black, and then on its own (index finger).  Here in the sun, it looks more like gold shimmer and nothing else.

I flipped the bottle around here in the shade to try and show you more of the color.  Still a bad choice to layer it over nude - you really can't see all the color in the jelly.  However, the jelly is very sheer and not very buildable - best used as a top coat I feel.

Finally here in the indirect light you can see how well it covers in 2 coats over black but everything else just looks lost.  I'm not sure how much I'd wear this even though I love how unique the shreds of shimmer and flakies are irregular and place well on the nail - no need to fish them out.

Sea Lore [Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: sealorepolish] is sold in her shop in both 7.5 ml bottles for $5.50 and 15 ml bottles for $10.00.  She does ship internationally and offers gift certificates.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Nicole by OPI Fall 2012

Even though the nearest Target is over an hour away, I do stop in there from time to time and check out what they have in the beauty section.  Please enjoy the following from Nicole by OPI!  (All images courtesy of Harris Shepard)

Accessorize with Lacquer!

Nicole by OPI Launches Five NEW Fall Shades, Exclusively at Target

Nicole by OPI announces five new nail lacquers to be sold exclusively at Target this fall. With richly pigmented formulas in shimmering shades of deep blue, gold, purple, mauve and green, these five hues can be worn as the ultimate accessory to the season’s hottest styles, from military-inspired jackets and heavier brocades to micro floral prints and leather.

 “Nicole by OPI is excited to bring the fashion-forward Target guest new lacquers for the fall season,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Not only do the shades add the final touch to runway trends, the shimmery finish adds elegance and depth to these trendy colors.

The five new lacquers include:

For Gold Times Sake

Go on and try on this gold…

 

Iris My Case
Because this purple is amazing.
 
Just Busta Mauve
You will want to put on your dancing shoes to wear this one.
 
If the Blue Fits…
This blue fits all!

Mer-Maid for Each Other
This green is so hot it was made just for you!

  

Nicole by OPI nail lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. These new Target exclusive shades will be available August 2012 for $7.04 each at select Target locations nationwide and online at Target.com.

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!