Layla Softouch 3 - Stone

Press Sample

One of my favorite things about Layla is the long brushes inside the glass bottles. I didn't think I'd like the long brush but it's actually easy to hold and handle.  This is "3" which is also called Stone in their catalog.

I didn't use a base coat (as Layla says not to) and two coats of polish. The Softouch line looks like a matte but it doesn't get glossy with a top coat, so I didn't add a top coat either. It's this lovely dusty purple gray. I kind of wish that it would turn glossy to see those shimmers but hey, I'll live.

Here it is in the sun. This is two coats of polish and you can see how it's soft, matte, and pretty at the same time.

Meanwhile in some indirect light, it looks more grey. Even without a base and top coat, this polish did well. It wore well on me without tip wear or chipping for four days. Also, it didn't stain my nails which was great. 

The price on these polishes do vary - the current price I've found is $9.95 but sometimes you can find them on sale at Ulta.

Layla Cosmetics [Website | Facebook | Twitter] 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.

Crabtree & Evelyn Conditioning Hand Wash - Lavender

Press Sample

Today, I am writing about hand soap. Hand soap? Yes. The best freaking hand soap you'll ever see in your life.

I'm not really a fancy person. I have certain MUST HAVES including Charmin Ultra Strong toilet paper and lavender scents when all possible. Normally my hand soap is the 5 for $25 at Bath and Body Works in a range of scents. However, when I got a pitch for Crabtree & Evelyn's new Conditioning Hand Wash Collection that launched this past June, I had to see what made it so special.

So there are 8 different scents and them come in pretty jewel tones. The bottle is 8.8 oz/250 mL and claim to be luxuriously lathering and pH balanced to be gentle on hands.  Each Hand Wash is formulated without parabens, propylene glycol, phthalate or mineral oil.

The Lavender was listed as "A delicious way to enjoy the classic scent of Lavender every day. Embrace the scent of fresh lavender enhanced with violet, tonka bean, lemon leaf and soft musk." 

I immediately took it to work where I wash my hands the most, and put it in the bathroom I share with my coworker. Normally we have Softsoap liquid soap or lately it's been the Dial foam soap - both which create bubbles which my inner child loves.

The Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Hand Wash however doesn't produce bubbles but does feel quite luxurious. The directions (yes directions) say to wet your hands first, then add the hand wash and yes, it does make a difference. The hand wash is thick like honey so when you add it to dry hands, it's hard to distribute it on your hands.

The hand wash comes off cleanly but leaves your hands feeling soft and smelling like lavender. I LOVE lavender so I was caught more than once smelling my hands but I'm not ashamed.

My coworkers however do not enjoy the smell of lavender and like their bubbles so I brought it home to be in my guest bathroom which is decorated in lavender towels and shower curtain. (And will be painted lavender when I get the chance.) 

Now at $18 a bottle, this isn't something I want my son to waste (he's 6) but I will definitely buy for my guest bathroom each time. I'm also wanting to try the Rosewater for my own bathroom. A local pharmacy downtown actually carries this brand so I'm heading over there this week to see what they have. It's a small luxury but if you're washing your hands twice a day (at minimum), then this will last you awhile. Plus it's pretty and smells amazing.

Crabtree & Evelyn [Website] can be purchased online or in stores. Check their Store Locator for both domestic and international locations.  You can like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Holy cow and they have nail polish now too.

Photo Credit: Instagram

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

LVX Celeste

 Press Sample

Continuing with the LVX Summer 2013 collection, this is my personal favorite, LVX Celeste, a sky blue creme. I had this as my Twitter picture for a few months because it was just such a pretty color - and I'm not one to say that about blues normally.  I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and a top of Cult Nails Wicked Fast. Make sure that you use thin coats and let the polish dry fully before adding your second coat or it may drag across the nail like my middle finger did. Thanks middle finger. 

Tada, sun! You can see how it looks a little chalky on my middle finger - total user error. Also I hadn't buffed my nails in quite some time so you can see all the ridges.

Meanwhile in the shade, you can see lots of squishy goodness but it's definitely a creme - not a jelly.

I miss taking indoor shots like this with the sun streaming in through my storm door. My storm door met its demise last month at the hands of a weed eater. Boo.

If I had to pick any color from the Summer 2013 collection that was a MUST HAVE, it was definitely this one. If you weren't able to pick it up during the Gloss48 sale, you can still always pick it up on the LVX website.

LVX [Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram] is available on their website. It is 10-free to include Toluene and Camphor, vegan and cruelty free. Use promo code POLISHGALORE for 20% off your purchase!

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

LVX Deco

Press Sample

The other day, I saw someone complain that it's cold outside. Well, it may be getting to be fall (what?) in some parts of the country but it's been triple digits here all summer long and my a/c has been doing triple duty trying to keep me cool.  Speaking of cool, let's check out LVX Deco, alright? It's this awesome peachy creme that leans pink. Salmon, maybe.

I used Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and a top of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.  Opaque, check. Well formulated, check. 

Sunshine, here she comes. This doesn't give me true mannequin hands (thank you spell check) but it does do some pretty things for my skin tone. It also provides me a fantastic base for nail art.  

PolishGalore and nail art? Oh yes, it's coming. Why? Because I'm a Nail Art Society Guru (seriously. More on that another day). 

Back to the polish.  So the shade didn't want to cooperate with my camera. Fine shade, be shady.

So indirect sun will have to do. Speaking of, I have to buy a new storm door. While I was on vacation, it was smashed into tiny little pieces thanks to a weed eater. I am sad but am excited to pick out a new glass door with screen. Yes, things like this make you excited when you're old.

And I'm getting old.

What's not old is this timeless peach. Deco is definitely a good staple if you're looking to have that sort of thing. And I like that sort of thing.

LVX [Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram] is available on their website. It is 10-free to include Toluene and Camphor, vegan and cruelty free. Use promo code POLISHGALORE for 20% off your purchase!

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

Announcing: Season 3 of Nail Files!

While I was at Cosmoprof North America - Las Vegas in last month, I got to sit down with Katie Cazorla and some of my favorite bloggers to talk about all things Katie.  She introduced the Color Flash System (review coming soon) and gave us all little Mini Nail Pods & two colors (which is FANTASTIC because I already purchased the full sized lamp & 4 colors so now I have 6!).  It was such an awesome dinner... I was seated between Karie Frost, Beauty Director for NAILPRO & Nail It! Magazine and Beth Livesay, Senior Editor at NAILS Magazine & author of Salon Fanatic. Can we say ultimate fan girl dinner?

Then she told us what's coming down the pipeline for her - not one, not two but THREE TV shows!  First off, the news I've been waiting for!

SEASON THREE OF NAIL FILES!

If you've been following her Instagram, she posted this bittersweet photo in April

"Thanks for a great 4 years TPN! On to a new look and new location! WOW! Long ASS day, not gonna lie! But very excited for tomorrow! #onward #bittersweet #innovate #nails4life" @ThePaintedNail

So what does this mean for Nail Files? Well you should know by now that Katie doesn't stand still. This fall, she will be opening a "nail lounge" inside the W Hotel in Hollywood!

It's OFFICIAL!! My new Nail Lounge is going into the W Hotel in Hollywood! Let the planning begin! Fall 2013 #nails #nailart #nailsalon #nailfashion #colorflash #cocktails @ThePaintedNail

I'm super excited because the W Hotel is a part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts line, and I LIVE for the Westin and the aloft hotels in my limited but fabulous travels.  (Oh man, if I could get a Katie Cazorla Nail Lounge inside the Westin La Cantera in San Antonio... I'd probably move up there and beg to work there - not even remotely kidding.)

Other cool things to be looking for - Katie has a segment on beauty on The Real talk show on FOX - Looks like something else to go into my DVR!  The other is in production right now - think salon help from a gentler side. Until I'm allowed to say more, that's about all you're getting from me!

Catch up on previous seasons of Nail Files on Hulu here. Purchase the Color Flash system on Katie's website here. Don't forget to like Katie's Facebook Page here, the Painted Nail Facebook Page here, and then you can follow Katie on Twitter and Instagram as well!