The invention relates to a nail varnish composition comprising: a) an embossed effect pigment comprising a metallic substrate in platelet form with embossed structure having a periodic pattern with diffractive elements, said substrate having been produced by PVD methods, and optionally at least one coating applied to the substrate, wherein the substrate has an elemental metal content of 80% to 100% by weight, based on the substrate, and wherein the effect pigment has been treated with a leafing additive for surface modification, b) at least one hydrocarbon resin as binder, c) at least one solvent or solvent mixture and d) optionally further auxiliaries. The invention further relates to a process for producing the nail varnish composition.