Darling Diva The Arcanist

The Arcanist was recently released by indie polish maker Darling Diva Polish as part of the WitchEE collection for fall 2014. Loosely based on the television series Witches of East End that premiered last fall, this is a well nigh irresistible collection of holographic polishes in rich colors. Carrie, the owner and creative force behind Darling Diva, describes The Arcanist as a "rich cinnamon red color" and writes, "Every once in a while I make a polish that makes me say 'WOW!' and this was one of them." I have to say, The Arcanist deserves every "WOW!" it gets. 

It's a medium-dark spicy carmine with a healthy dose of violet in it that is enhanced by an amazing, seemingly boundless holographic display, giving  the polish an indeterminately rich, complex "in between" coloring that I've seen variously described as brick and brownish red. That may be due to the abundance of golden metallic particle shimmers in this polish, which read as rusty red and give it an opulent coppery flash that lights up the polish beneath the prismatic flair. In low light, these gorgeous shimmers twinkle like tiny red stars from within the sultry russet depths. Beautiful!

Application was wonderful. The consistency of The Arcanist is fluid, creamy and dense. It's a "thick in a good way" polish that is easily manipulated by Darling Diva's flexible flattened brush and applies with an even, self-leveling flow over the nail. Pigmentation is outstanding. The Arcanist was very nearly opaque in one coat, but I used two for this manicure. With a polish this well-pigmented, cleaning up takes a little extra care so as not to drag wisps of pigment onto the skin with the cleanup brush, but a second pass removes all traces with no hint of staining left behind. The Arcanist dries naturally in good time to slightly flat finish that is enhanced by the addition of a glossy topcoat, which in no way adversely affects the holographic properties.

Photos show two coats of The Arcanist over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

Darling Diva The Arcanist

To me, there's nothing bricky or brownish about this puppy, but perhaps it leans differently on a warmer-toned complexion. It has a deep red-violet look on me, and its complex, dynamic and rich appearance reminds me of a luxurious brocade, with a similar tactile interplay with light that produces such delicious, subtle nuances in the base color. Eat it WITH A SPOON! It's just a gloriously opulent shade, perfect for the chillier days and longer nights of fall and winter. 

WOW, indeed!

love,
Liz