Ever since I first laid eyes on OPI DS Lapis, one of the newest shades to be added to the OPI Designer Series line, I knew I had to wear it ASAP.

In fact, just after a few hours of receiving the generous package from OPI’s PR team, I was painting my nails with it!

In the official press release and promo pictures, I had an inkling that it would resemble a starry night sky. My suspicions were confirmed – it does have that effect! (You may remember seeing the Quick Look post I did not long ago, which gave you a first glimpse into how luxe this polish is!)

As part of OPI DS Raw Granite, this continues with the textured-nail trend we’ve been seeing a lot of lately. But, for those who aren’t as big of a fan of it as I am, don’t write this baby off so quickly! Why? Read my review to see how this textured polish isn’t like the average ones on the market.

OPI DS Lapis Pictures

 

OPI DS Lapis Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
• 2 coats of OPI DS Lapis
• No top coat!

Sunlight Photos

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claims: TRUSTED

• Deep sapphire blue (Yes)
• Textured matte finish (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI DS Lapis
• Collection: OPI Designer Series Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the official OPI press release about DS Lapis and DS Pewter
• Quick Look: Click here to see my first peek at OPI DS Lapis and DS Pewter
• 2 New Shades in the OPI Designer Series Collection: DS Lapis & DS Pewter
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty-supply stores, spas & salons (Available in September)

OPI DS Lapis Review

Colour

I was really excited to wear DS Lapis by OPI, and judging from comments I received from many readers, it sounded like you were anxious to see this one in detail. So, I pushed it to the front of my blogging queue!

This is the type of dark-denim blue that I predict most nailphiles will love because it’s a saturated sapphire that definitely looks blue in most lighting conditions. It won’t appear blackened. It’s the kind of blue that reminds me of a night sky, and the glitter adds to that fantastical theme.

The glitter in this is silver, but I kept seeing blue as well, depending on the angle. It’s possible that the silver reflected the base colour to make it appear blue.

Whether you look at it in the bottle or on your nails, it definitely gives off that oh-my-gosh-I’m-drooling-all-over starry-night effect! *Wipes mouth* *Cleans keyboard*

So, yeah, I think you’ll kind of, sorta, maybe just a little bit like this nail polish. 😉

Finish

This has the trendy textured finish we’re seeing a lot of. Now, I know that not everyone is on board the trend, but I adore it so much because it dries so quickly, and it saves you even more time because it doesn’t require a top coat.

What I particularly enjoy about DS Lapis by OPI is that while the blue base is matter, the fine glitter sparkle like crazy, which helps the overall look from appearing too one-dimensional.

In my introduction, I mentioned how this textured nail polish isn’t your ordinary garden variety. Why? Yes, it’s textured, but I found it to be pretty smooth. You still get noticeable texture, but I wouldn’t describe the finish as being gritty like most textured polishes on the market.

For this reason, I think that those who aren’t a fan of textured polishes may tip-toe over to the ‘dark side’. 😉 Come on over! We have cookies and nail polish! 

You can still add a shiny top coat over it to enhance the glitter, but, as with all textured polishes, I much rather wear them as intended. Although gorgeous with a top coat, I think it takes away the novelty and makes them look like any other (beautiful) glitter polish.

(If you’re curious to see what it looks like with a top coat, please refer to my Quick Look post on OPI DS Lapis and OPI DS Pewter.)

When I removed OPI DS Lapis, I found that while it wasn’t as difficult to remove as a typical glitter polish, I did have to scrub just a little bit more than I’m used to with textured polishes. The extra effort was worth it for a polish this spectacular!

Application & Formula

After wearing this for a few days, I can vouch for the durable formula! Nail polish tends to last on me well, and this was no exception. I didn’t get any chipping, and I have a job where I’m on the computer all day.

With just one coat, you get full coverage, but I wanted to enhance the depth and saturation, so I added a second coat.

The polish was pigmented, but it wasn’t really thick. I was able to apply my usual medium-thick coats and control it very easily.

As with any textured polish, my tip is to try to work relatively fast. Since the formula tends to dry quicker than regular polish, that means you have less time to go over the same area more times.

Pros Starry-night sky effect Beautiful blue that looks blue, not black Gorgeous fine glitter makes nails come alive Very pigmented (1-coater!) Easy to control the polish Dries quickly Much smoother than most textured nail polishes (But the texture has still be a Con for some.)

Cons Has texture (Can be a Pro for some.) OPI Designer Series nail polishes are more expensive than regular OPIs

Final Verdict: 10/10

You could probably see this perfect score coming from a mile away, right?

From the colour and the glitter to the excellent formula and smoother-than-usual textured finish, I consider OPI DS Lapis to be a winner in this nailphile’s book!

It’s absolutely stunning to wear, and I found myself looking at my nails a lot like a vain polish peacock.

Do you have a go-to shade for when you want to sport a starry-night-sky manicure? What’s your top pick from the entire OPI Designer Series line? If you’re not a fan of textured polishes, would you still consider coming to the ‘dark side’ with OPI DS Lapis? 😉

Edit: Yay! Langton PR retweeted this blog post to their Twitter followers – appreciate the support! 🙂