Candeo Colors Divi Divi

No purple today, sorry!

Instead I have another polish from the Aruba collection by Candeo Colors. It's called Divi Divi after the resort in Aruba, which in turn is named after the tropical leguminous divi divi tree. Divi divi trees on Aruba grow bent to a 90 degree in a southwesterly direction due to the continuous action of the trade winds that sweep across the island from the northeast, so they're also natural compasses. Their bark and seed pods contain large amounts of tannin and are as effective as oak for leather tanning. When the Caribbean ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao were part of the Netherlands Antilles, divi divi pods were regularly exported and used in Dutch tanneries. 

All this tannin stuff is particularly relevant because Divi Divi is a brown shimmer polish. It has a sheer medium warm caramel brown jelly base with  brown microglitters and brassy golden shimmers that throw out red and green sparks in the right light. It's a unique and unusual color, you'll never see its like.

The base is quite sheer, so the components are very overt and are responsible for most of the coverage, which takes several coats. I used four to get it as evenly opaque as possible, but three will give you good rich color. Divi Divi, like Anochi Kai, has a light loamy gel-like consistency that dries very quickly. Having polish thinner on hand while working with this polish is a must to avoid clumping, patch pulling and other naughtiness. Divi Divi dries naturally in good time to a somewhat rubbery smooth semi-matte finish.

Photos show four coats of Divi Divi over Seche Rebuild treatment and Butter London Nail Foundation basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

Candeo Colors Divi Divi

This is not a color for everyone but you can't say that it isn't interesting and complex. I showed it to Fuzzy and told her the story of the divi divi tree with its tannin-rich seed pods and leather tanning industry links and she said, Imagine having shoes in that color... and I totally could! In fact I would LOVE to have pair of leather flats or some sweet kitten heels with an almond shaped toe in this color! 

I'm not convinced that I can carry off Divi Divi on my nails but I do love it for it's unique color and composition. Polishes like this one are what makes indie polish makers so fabulous.

love,
Aunt Liz