Deborah Lippmann Harem Silks From Bombay

Let's kick things off with a little PSA: If you were expecting a Twinsie Tuesday post today, we've actually decided to go on a brief hiatus of the holidays, because we all know life gets kinda insane this time of year. But we're working on coming up with at least one "holiday special" for you all before we return to our regular schedule in January!

So with that bit of business out of the way, let's talk polish. The somewhat awkwardly named Deborah Lippmann Harem Silks From Bombay is boysenberry shade with what DL calls a "matteen" finish, which is very similar to a satin or suede.

Its intended finish is sort of a dud for me. I'm not a fan of near-blacks, plus this doesn't have as much of a sheen to it as the other Lippmann matteens I've tried, Pseudo Silk Kimono and Red Silk Boxers, so it just comes across kinda flat. But slap on some topcoat and you get a beautifully dark, edgy purple shimmer!

While it may not look as good without topcoat as the other two matteens I've worn, the darker color of Harem Silks does make it easier to apply. With the previous shades, I had to be careful of brushstrokes, but Harem Silks is so dark that visible brushstrokes are a non-issue. Overall, it has a very nice formula that reaches opacity in two coats.