OPI • Designer Series - DS Royal • Polishes

*TOP REVIEWER* mudpie1964 on 12/11/2010 1:09:00 PM more reviews by mudpie1964

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

OPI's DS Royal is a shimmery, glass-fleck?, medium purple with heavy blue sparkles (not glitter but sparkles). The microglitter contains mostly blue but there are tiny, tiny chips of pink, red, silver, and teal. The application was very streaky on the first coat and it actually took me five coats to get complete coverage and bottle color. I could have stopped at four but I still had some bald patches. Other reviewers have said it takes four coats for this one and I agree with that - any less and you won't get actual bottle color. The microglitter leaves a smooth finish like other Designer Series colors. The drying time will be very slow with this many coats but if you use Seche Vite it will be rock hard in 20 to 30 minutes. Because of the darkness of this shade, I had tip wear at four days but no major chipping at six. All in all, I can forgive the sheerness of this one because it's absolutely beautiful and would definitely buy it again.

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utopiasbows on 5/4/2010 1:13:00 AM more reviews by utopiasbows

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this color but it take so long to drie i'm used to mac and sephora brand nail polish they have a good drieing time. this stuff takes forever. it also stinks like old fashon nail polish just very strong. I do love the color. the sparkles are great with blue so nice and the purple is great i use it over a solid color like purple or silver as the base as the polish is sheer but a solid color under works fine.
i would not buy again as i paid a lot for this as its LE but i'm so glad i have one as it so pretty.

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*TOP REVIEWER* niclyf on 10/20/2009 12:40:00 PM more reviews by niclyf

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I love all of the deeper Designer Series colors, and Royal doesn't disappoint. This polish is fabulous for layering and really adds an interesting dimension to a deeper purple or blue cream. I agree with others that this color, is very sheer, which is the reason that I use this only for layering. This is blue meets purple, infused with loads of micro shimmer and looks amazing applied over LPAD, Russian Navy, and looks absolutey stunning over a black cream! The microshimmer increases the wear time. This is a 5 for me despite the sheerness, because it's so incredibly unique and breathtaking!

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marykan on 8/26/2009 1:52:00 AM more reviews by marykan

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Other    

Loved this n/p. The color is incredible. I know it takes quite a few coats to get an opaque color, but it's worth it, and they dry quickly. I had this n/p on for over 2 weeks with very minimal chipping. Only changed the n/p because my nails had grown so much. Would love to get a backup bottle.

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shrdlicka23 on 7/14/2009 7:29:00 AM more reviews by shrdlicka23

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is my favorite nail polish color. It is an amethyst purple with blue sparkles. I only have to use 2 coats to make it opaque. It is so beautiful in the sunlight and tends to change color in different light settings. I love it. I'm sad though because its a little hard to find.

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*TOP REVIEWER* HauntedMoonlight on 6/7/2007 7:48:00 PM more reviews by HauntedMoonlight

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Royal is a very beautiful and unique color. It's purple with blue shimmer. It changes colors if you look at it from different angles. I don't think any other brand has a nail polish like this. Unfortunately, it is very sheer. It takes 3-4 coats to make the color show up, so it takes awhile for it to dry. It lasts about 4-5 days on my nails, which is ok because I like to change my nail polish often.

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KimmerTX on 5/22/2007 5:15:00 PM more reviews by KimmerTX

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Love this color. A gorgeous violet w/ a blue shimmer. The only part I don't like is that it requires 3 coats to be opaque. Long lasting & I get lots of compliments on the color.

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*TOP REVIEWER* violetcobra on 1/11/2007 3:35:00 AM more reviews by violetcobra

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I probably would buy again since this color has got me wanting it forever. I may use it up too since I'm using so many coats, LOL!



THE COLOR... this is the only one of the next generation (Dazzle, Royal Sensation and Perfection) of the OPI Designer Series. The first generation were known for holographic colors. This generation will be known for duotoned microglitter. This is the only "wacky" color of the lot of 4. The other 3 are pinks.



The base color is a soft violet-purple sheer, darker than violet but not as dark as purple. Yes, this color will look like crap for the first two coats and it's just very watery thin. I am sure you could probably leave the cap off a day and get the formula thicker, but I think that would mess with the dispersion of the microglitter. Just get prepared for 4 coats. (I wouldn't layer it over black, that would cheapen the gorgeous color IMHO).



The microglitter inside the vehicle is a bright pale blue, very bright and very cool. The microglitter color is just gorgeous, and not really common in nail colors. I find it to be so captivating that I really think it's worth the price to have this although I did get on sale at Transdesign. The lovely sheer violet purple really compliments this shade and I think the OPI artists knew what they were doing by pairing these two colors, even the sheerness. Not every color has to be opaque, isn't it kinda classy to have 4 thin coats (in so you get to see the progression of the color).



THE APPLICATION... was very thin. I felt the consistency was watery and streaky, but after the second coat I felt I was onto something. I think the thinness of this color adds to the luminous bits of blue shimmer. I am not complaining because at the third I could have stopped but the color wasn't as intense as I liked. Seriously I am a fan of the application even though the polish "seemed" thin. I think the designers did this on purpose, and I'm glad they did.



See my review for SH NP Garnet Lapis also, these colors share some things in common. I am very happy with this shade, I recommend it if you are pleased with the sound of this review, try getting it online and see what you think. PM me for a pic (or I'm sure there are plenty on Makeup Alley!)

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chelsae on 12/29/2006 11:28:00 PM more reviews by chelsae

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is a gorgeous purple with periwinkle sparkles.. almost the texture of a fine dust. 3 coats gave me the best color and it didn't take too long to dry. I LOVE this color and quality.

Only downside? Retail stores sell Designer Series NP for $12.50 each!! I paid it and it was worth it.. but try to get them online for like $7-8 if you can. PIC available!! Message me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* shriekingviolet on 12/3/2006 2:21:00 AM more reviews by shriekingviolet

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have mixed feelings about this nail polish, and were I allowed to give half stars, I would have marked this polish a 3.5. But since I can't, I'm giving it a 4 since I like it too much when it's on to give it a 3.

Royal is a really pretty, cool-toned purple with plenty of bright blue sparkles (not glitter! sparkles, they're too fine to be called glitter IMO) dispersed evenly throughout. At different angles and light this polish looks indigo, a true royal purple and a pinky violet. Very pretty and chic looking.

However, this polish is so sheer, it took me at least 4 coats to get the color I wanted out of it. One coat is a nearly transparent purple with blue sparkles, and I have to keep layering to get the deep color I want. This is a problem for me as I'm slightly klutzy when it comes to wet nails and application, so every extra coat I need to apply makes it more likely that I'm going to smudge one of my fingers so badly I have to start over. Plus more polish=more time needed to dry and that drives me crazy. So basically while this nail polish is pretty enough for me to want to wear daily, the required time to put it on means it's something I can only break out for special occasions. Which sucks a lot.

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RubyWitch on 11/9/2006 7:48:00 PM more reviews by RubyWitch

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

Wow! What a great color, pale orchid purple with a periwinkle blue glitter. However, while this looks great on my nails I'm really disappointed with its consistency. It's very sheer. It took me four coats over a neutral base coat to get complete coverage! That’s outrageous! I suspect that from now on I’ll wear this over another purple or blue polish to avoid all these layers and I doubt that I'll be purchasing this one again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* leysa on 8/10/2006 11:50:00 AM more reviews by leysa

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Royal is from the new set of OPI DS (Designer) Series of polishes. These are advertised as having a new 'pro-wide' salon brush and diamond particles.

Royal is probably my favorite of the new DS polishes. It's a true, bright purple base (blue-based) with tons of blue microglitter in it. It's not exactly holographic; it's more that it has an intense sparkle and shimmer to it in the light. It's got a great bright blue flash to it from the glitter. My only complaint is that this is SHEER. 3 coats are necessary for any sort of coverage, which sucks because it LOOKS dark in the bottle. Boo. But I like the color so much I'll put up with it.

I am a huge fan of the pro-wide brush - it's easy to get right upto the edge of your nail with no problems. The formula of the polish is smooth and it dries quickly. Lasting power is average, about 3-4 days.

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