Filed In: KOH

KOH Peace! #230 – Winter 2010 Collection

 

KOH is a Dutch luxury high end nail polish & accessories brand, with a vast array of colours and a soothing zen aesthetic. In the 1980’s, founder Margreet van Roemburg began a company of nail care products in the Netherlands, called ‘Herôme’, followed in 2002 by a luxury line simply named ‘KOH’. This is a premium line free from all harmful toxins (3-free), made with crushed topaz gems for crystal glossiness and improved hardness for the finish. The KOH philosophy states that we all need to pamper ourselves at times, in order that the outer beauty harmonizes with the inner beauty.

Purity, Balance, Energy & Harmony are the key words associated with KOH products. Ingeniously, by placing the word “KOH” vertically, it actually looks like Asian text, further adding to the essence of the brand. The polishes themselves come housed in a snap closure pouch similar to a lipstick case and in a variety of finishes from faux leather to embroidered satin….a truly lovely touch. There are also products designed specifically for men in clean & pure masculine packaging, specific treatment products for the nails, as well as manicure accessories and a myriad of bodycare products which look like exquisite works of art.

Their Winter 2010 collection consisted of 6 zen-themed shades, with names like:

  • Peace! #230 – warm tan
  • Harmony! #231 – earthy brown
  • Meditate! #232 – pale jade green
  • Spiritual! #233 – deep emerald green
  • Wisdom! #234 – serene deep blue
  • Happinez! #235 – energizing coral red

Today, I am featuring Peace! #230, an exceptionally smooth tan shade, which makes me think of melted swirls of the creamiest milk chocolate.  Direct sunlight brings out more of a butterscotch hue in this shade with slight russet undertones, while indirect light lends more of a caramel toffee appearance. The bottle is elegant and fits well in your hand, with a long tapered handle.  The brush itself is more on the thin side, but flexible and easy to use.  The formula was excellent, if a little on the thick side, but I find that it makes it easier to achieve full opacity with almost one coat that way.  Dry time was good as well and I absolutely love the high gloss shine in the finish. After wearing this shade for several days, I was very pleased to note that it showed almost no chip wear and the shine was still relatively intact. Swatches shown are with base coat, 3 coats of lacquer and Sèche Vite top coat.

 

in sunlight

in sunlight

in natural light

in natural light

Koh Peace! with quilted case

 

Amsterdam has long been on my list of places I must visit, and now I have one more reason: the KOH Experience Shop (apparently the only one in existence is there). A wonderful blogger in the Netherlands, Witoxicity, was lucky enough to visit the store and snap some drool-worthy photos — here’s just a small sampling:

 

KOH Wall of Colours

KOH shop interior

KOH packaging

 

I must say that while I expected to be impressed, I was still cautious. There is no doubt that everything about this line, from the ingredients, the lettering, formula, range of colours, packaging and accessories, not to mention the store itself, has been thought out in minute and exacting detail….and it shows. Personally, I love a line that pays attention to all the details like this…makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth and more, especially in light of the fact that these polishes do retail for €14.95 per bottle! For now, the line is available exclusively at upscale stores in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as on their website at KOH Cosmetics. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend you reward yourself with one of these beauties….after all, you’re worth it!

 

 

 

 

*Disclaimer: Product was provided for my unbiased consideration by the company.