OPI DS Indulgence

DS Indulgence was released by OPI as one of two Designer Series (thus the DS) polishes for fall 2012. Officially described by OPI as a "radiant violet-red with a shimmering golden finish," this is one of those polishes that is more than the sum of its parts. It has a medium-dark sheer purpley red base that is absolutely packed with fine golden shimmers. The golden shimmers through the translucent reddish base produce something new and unexpected, a rich shimmering gilded paprika color that morphs from sunburnt burgundy to orange depending upon lighting and the complexion of the wearer. The finish is changeable also, appearing foily, metallic, or shimmery depending upon the circumstances. Googling images of this polish will show you the range it can achieve. On me, it tends to lean to an intense blood orange shimmer in bright light and a bright cherry red foily metallic with an orange flash under dim lighting. It's a joyful, festive color with the shimmer lending it a particularly glamorous aspect.

Application was sweet. DS Indulgence has a consistency that is fairly fluid but not thin or runny, with an easy, smooth flow over the nail. Pigmentation is very good. Fully opaque even coverage is achieved with two coats, but I used three to camo my ridges and found the additional coat brought greater sparkle and richer color. Cleanup is mostly a matter of chasing down the fine gold shimmers, which disperse across the skin at the touch of acetone and stick there like little golden limpets. DS Indulgence dries naturally in average time to a glossy finish. 

Photos show three coats of DS Indulgence over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

OPI DS Indulgence

DS Indulgence has much more reddish and berry tones to it than the bottle color shows. When I opened the bottle I was quite surprised by the deep purpley fuchsia of the base even though I'd read about it beforehand. The photos show it looking very red now that I've uploaded them, and I guess you could call this shimmery spicy color a warm red or a flame red. Between its various appearance iterations it has most of the fire colors in there, even to the flying golden sparks. I think the shimmer size is what keeps this one so interesting and changeable; they are fine enough to affect the overall appearance but not so fine that they disappear into it. I love being able to see those shimmer particles on the nail!

love,
Liz