KBShimmer Soul Deep is a blackened blue-based purple cream that’s what an eggplant would look like playing Spin the Bottle in a dark closet. (Don’t ask how I’m privy to such knowledge! Haha!) Or it’s like the magician’s cloak on a dark and brooding evening with a thunderstorm looming.

No matter how you’d describe it, it’s dramatic, dark, and moody. But it’s just what I was craving.

I was going to go for a jet black, but this baby was part of the KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection in my pile of untried polishes, so how could I neglect it? Especially when it looked up at me with those longing puppy-dog eyes? Why, it would just be pure heartless of me to pass it by, wouldn’t it? 😉

KBShimmer Soul Deep Pictures

KBShimmer Soul Deep Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener – Maintenance version (Used as a base coat)
• 2 coats of KBShimmer Soul Deep
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Artificial Light Photos

Natural Light Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Blackened blue-purple cream (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: KBShimmer Soul Deep
• Collection: KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection
• Colours Available in the Collection: Be Scareful, Such a Vlad-Ass, I Feel Gourd-geous, Open Toad Shoes, I’ve Seen Sweater Days, Talk Qwerty to Me, Teal It To My Heart, Carpe Denim, Breaking Blues, Soul Deep, Fig-Get About It & Dark & Twisty
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• Retail Price: $10 CAD
• Disclosure: This was provided as a press sample by Harlow & Co.
• Where to Buy: KBShimmer & Harlow & Co. (Available at Harlow & Co. starting September 15)

KBShimmer Soul Deep Review

Colour

Soul Deep KBShimmer is so rich, it’s almost black, but you can see the tinge of purple. If you like vampy nail polishes and aren’t timid when it comes to sporting a dramatic colour, this will be right up your alley!

I’m fond of jet-black nail polish, and while this near-black shade is a nice variation, when I reach for a super-dark colour, I prefer to go straight for black. That being said, I still enjoyed this polish because of the incredible formula.

Finish

Wow, the creme finish is so shiny, even without a glossy top coat! When you wear it, it’s like all your nails are made out of glass – gorgeous!

Application & Formula

Soul Deep by KBShimmer has a flawless formula! It’s smooth, creamy, and very pigmented. With one coat, it provided full coverage, but I decided to apply another one, keeping with my typical minimum of two coats.

This is the type of polish that looks inky on the first coat, and when you apply the second, it’s just as dark, not noticeably darker. (You know how some polishes make you work harder to build up to the bottle colour? This one’s not like that. You get it right out of the gates, like a seasoned racehorse ready to claim victory!)

Pros Vampy near-black purple Smooth, pigmented, flawless creme finish Very glossy Full coverage with one coat Colour doesn’t turn black after two coats

Cons Near-black purple can sometimes just look straight-up black in dim lighting Available to purchase only online (as far as I know)

Final Verdict: 9.5/10

KBShimmer Soul Deep from the Fall 2015 Collection is the kind of dark shade that will take you through the fall and into the winter, that is if you follow seasonal-colour rules. (As for myself, I wear colours based on my mood, so darks in the summer and brights in the winter show up on my blog. Nail polish is too much fun to limit yourself, especially with so many colours in the rainbow to play with!)

Even though I prefer jet black over near-black shades, I gave this top marks because the formula is so smooth and pigmented!

What colour says “fall” to you? Of all the near-black shades, which ones do you find yourself sporting more? Do you reach for near-blacks or jet blacks when you want something dramatic?