To be honest, I don't usually get very excited when KOH releases special seasonal collections. More often than not, they are unexciting shades, with some looking similar to those of a collection from the year before. In other words, I don't usually feel compelled to run to the store to get them when they are released, 'Limited Edition' or not.
Instead, I prefer to take my time sifting through KOH's permanent collection of 120+ polishes as there are some fantastic colours to be found there. I still have some in my stash that I haven't featured here.
On that note, I will now get on with business. In March, KOH released a set of six colours meant to be summer colours and calling the collection Mood Tones. I saw the polishes in the press release and predictably, I didn't find myself lemming any of the six colours.
Their names were: Lucious [sic] (that is one big spelling boo-boo, KOH), Optimistic, Dignified, Vivacious, Playful and Empowered.
You would think that with those names, they would be some deep, assertive colours that pack a punch, correct?
Well, no. Most of them are actually pale nudish shades with one a pale lilac and another a green. This one I'm featuring here was kindly sent to me by KOH to review and it is a medium grey called Playful.
Hmmmm.
Grey. Playful mood. Playful mood. Grey.
I'm sorry, I don't see the connection here. I would totally get it if this grey were called Indecisive but err, Playful??!
Each Mood Tone polish comes in a black box and with an accompanying "shawl" (according to KOH) in a matching colour.
Oh, I must show you the label on the "shawl":
I can't help but wonder where that idea of using the word 'heaven' came from.........
No cockiness, no sarcasm here. As always, I'm just saying it as it is. I may be mistaken with my insinuation but, let's just say I am not naïve either.
Anyway, back to the nail polish.
Playful is a medium grey shimmer. I know this won't come out sounding sophisticated but the closest I can liken the grey to is the grey of PVC plumbing pipes. Its shimmers are silvery sometimes (Playful looks almost pearlescent) but they're predominantly specks of black.
The best way I can describe it: Playful is like a medium grey shimmer polish dense with soot particles. Maybe that's where the playfulness comes in.
The formula was rather thick and goopy, so application wasn't the easiest. My experience with KOH polishes has been mixed: sometimes, they apply so easily (as was the case with
KOH Chocolate Brown and
KOH Metallic Red) and other times, they are thick and troublesome to apply.
I've worn Playful twice in the last few weeks. These photos are from the first wear. I have three coats on here. The second time, I wore two coats and had it on for six days without a top coat. It chipped slightly on the second day but unlike most nail polishes, the chipping hardly worsened in subsequent days. There was however nail tip wear as the days progressed.
In sunlight
The KOH Mood Tone polish setbox retails for €14.95, the same price as other normal KOH nail polishes.
So, what about the "shawl"? KOH did provide some suggestions on how to use it:
My opinion: Based on initial pictures of the "shawls" in the press release, I thought it was a very cool idea at first.
Until I saw it with my own eyes.
I was expecting a light, flowy scarf but in reality, it's not a shawl, it's not even a scarf. It's just a tie, a short and narrow one (just under 33" long and 2" wide).
Tying it around the ankle into a bow is not my cup of tea. It's a bit too short as a proper headband. It's not long enough as a ribbon belt. Tying it around the neck is okay. I'm not crazy about tying it to the handbag. So, I've worn it only once with a braid.
I tried some nail art on Playful and will be featuring that here soon.
More information:
My
KOH nail polishes
KOH website (the Dutch version contains more information)
