In May, I wore a polish that I’ve loved for a long time: OPI DS Extravagance!

It’s one of those shades that, each time I wear it, I’m always in awe of its beauty and exceptionally smooth formula.

I have a lot of OPI DS (Designer Series) nail polishes in my collection from the original line when OPI first came out with it and they claimed to have ‘diamond dust’.

Just the other month, I was thinking about how much I love a bunch of them. I’ll need to share them on here sometime because I feel like they’re a part of nail history, and, in particular, my nail history. The OPI Designer Series nail polishes were the first pricer lacquers I ever splurged on.

I have many rare and discontinued OP DS Series nail polishes that I want to share with you.

(Sometimes bloggers feel uncomfortable showing old and hard-to-find lacquers because readers may be disappointed when they can’t track down the same colour to enjoy. However, my mindset is different. I’m not focused on showing you only things that you can buy. That’s not why I started blogging. I blog because I love to participate in the beauty community and to share opinions. Plus I enjoy seeing other bloggers share their rare polishes because it gives me a glimpse at something special and different than the current new collection that’s available. I enjoy seeing how polishes have evolved, and that involves going back to their roots. Keep your eyes peeled like a banana for upcoming posts on rare polishes!)

While many of the OPI DS polishes have been discontinued, OPI DS Extravagance is one that has stuck around over the years and is still readily available.

Since the first time I wore OPI DS Extravagance, I fell in love, and I reviewed it in 2010 when I first started blogging. (Speaking about evolution, check out that old post and compare it to today’s. You can see my roots, and I’m not embarrassed to expose my journey with you.)

However, I felt that it was time to revisit the nail polish, rekindle my flame for it, and to see how the formula has held up after all these years.

I’ve worn this polish several times since purchasing it back in the day, and I’ve even bought a new back-up of it. But instead of cracking open the new bottle, I decided to dip into my old, original bottle because that’s the ultimate test. (A brand new bottle should, technically, perform well, but sometimes an older bottle that’s been opened and used many times can dry out.)

How did it fare? There’s only one way to find out!

OPI DS Extravagance Pictures

OPI DS Extravagance Swatches

All swatches have:

• OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener (Used as a base coat)
• 2 coats of OPI DS Extravagance
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Artificial Light Photos

Natural Light Photos

Claims: TRUSTED

• Berry (Yes)
• Has a glamorous look (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI DS Extravagance
• Collection: OPI Designer Series Collection
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 oz.)
• Retail Price: $17.50 CAD
• Disclosure: I purchased this nail polish a long time ago.
• Where to Buy: NailPolishCanada & select beauty-supply stores

OPI DS Extravagance Review

Colour

Imagine that you crushed berry-toned jewels and then put them onto your nails. That’s the decadence we’re talking about with OPI Designer Series Extravagance!

This warm-toned purple is like what you’d witness if a diva raspberry went on a date with a sweet cherry and visited the jewelry shop. (At least that’s what I picture in my mind’s eye.)

On my skin tone, it pops because of the contrast, and I love how it isn’t just a flat colour.

Although when I wore it in May, I didn’t get an opportunity to capture it in the sunlight, take my word for it that when you wear it on a sunny day, you’ll see more colours than just purple shine through!

You’ll see a rainbow of colours including gold, silver, blue, and pink. The polish is like fireworks for your nails!

Finish

This scattered holo twinkles energetically in most lighting conditions, and the finish is super smooth.

The base is like a creme-jelly, which allows the holo to shine through, while still laying down enough colour.

Application & Formula

I was impressed that, even after all these years of opening the bottle and painting my nails with it on numerous occasions, the formula was still as amazing as I remember – no thinner needed!

The consistency of the nail polish is thin, yet easily controlled by the brush. It also has great coverage with just two coats.

Value

The OPI Designer Series nail polishes are more expensive than the regular ones that retail for $9.95 CAD. The OPI Designer Series lacquers retail for around $17.50 CAD, however, back in the day, I got mine for less because I found an online distributor who had a sale on it.

(In 2008, even before I started blogging, I used to place huge online nail-polish orders that had 15-20 bottles a pop! My collection grew exponentially in a matter of weeks at that rate, and I accumulated some of my most prized polishes from during that time.)

So is OPI DS Extravagance worth the higher price tag? Considering how many times I’ve worn this polish and it still has that “Wow Factor”, I think that it totally is worth the splurge.

While I don’t think I have any dead-on dupes for it, in terms of having that ‘fire from within’ holo, Zoya Aurora seems to have a similar intensity and density. Zoya Aurora is red-toned, but not as warm as OPI DS Extravagance.

Pros Beautiful warm berry purple Twinkles energetically with a rainbow of colours Scattered-holo Smooth finish Maintained a great consistency over the years without requiring a thinner Needs only 2 coats for full coverage

Cons More pricey than a regular OPI

Final Verdict: 10/10

OPI DS Extravagance is one of my all-time favourite shades from OPI, and a while ago, I heard rumours that it was going to be discontinued. I snatched up a back-up bottle quicker than you can say, “Nailphile!” Thankfully, though, it seems like that rumour was unfounded because I can still easily find the shade! 🙂 YAY! (Still am happy to have my back-up bottle, in case OPI gets crazy and phases it out.)

Would you like me to review more of the OPI Designer Series nail polishes from my collection (including rare ones)? Do you also enjoy wearing Extravagance? (I feel like so many fellow nailphiles are in love with it!)