This was 1 USD at Walgreens. It’s a simple black creme. I know, I know — it’s probably the same formula as “Black Pearl” (swatched below this post) — but I like to keep extra basic black polish around for nail art and layering.

I used two coats. The formula is smooth and generally easy to apply. I have noticed that it thickens in very hot, humid weather ( = summertime down south), but a little polish thinner does the trick. When dry it has a nice shine, though a top coat really helps.

(My ego would like to add that my nails aren’t actually wildly uneven, as the photo seems to show. The angle of my fingers just makes it look uneven…sorry!)

I got this Halloween-themed polish way back in 2009, on sale in November at CVS! I think it was 1 USD originally. Isn’t the bottle cute? The headstone handle does make applying the polish a little more challenging.

“Black Pearl” is a plain black creme that always makes me think about the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie when I wear it. Arrr! Application is smooth and the finish is shiny. I wear just two coats for perfect coverage.

This is probably the same formula as Wet n Wild’s normal black polish (“Black Creme”), but I enjoy wearing this one more…because of the cute bottle. Packaging really does influence my polishing experience sometimes!

“White Lights Glitter” is 0.94 USD at Targets in my area. I bought this in fall 2009, though I’d eyed speculatively it for several years. It’s a very sheer white polish with iridescent blue, green, and yellow glitter.

I’m wearing three coats for the purpose of photographing the glitter. But be assured that this is so sheer, it adds just the faintest pale tint to the nail bed. The glitter is brighter in person than in the photo above, but also has subtle properties. Sometimes indoors and in indirect light, the glitter seems to disappear, leaving just clear polish. That means, I can wear a coat or two to work! (Yes, this is definitely a cause for celebration — I love pushing the boundaries of conservative polish.)

The formula is smooth, dries fast, and is easy to control. I have worn “White Lights Glitter” over white and blue polishes before, and it looked great both times. So whether worn alone or as a topcoat, it’s a good, inexpensive option.

I found “Purple Diamond” at a Rite Aid on clearance for 50 cents in July 2010. It’s a very sheer lavender with a ton of lavender and iridescent shimmer. Perfect for a princess.

The photo above shows three coats. Since the base is so sheer, it’s difficult to obscure the nail line. Sometimes when my nails are extra squeaky clean, I just wear one coat for a hint of shimmer. The formula is great: smooth, even, and dries fairly fast. It also works well over other polishes — I’ve used “Purple Diamond” over blacks and purples before with great success.

This interesting little brand is from Japan. I found it in a grocery store called Beisie, and it cost 220 yen. The entire Princess Happy selection I saw comprised of solid bases filled with glitter. I chose the black with rainbow glitter.

I am wearing two coats in the photo above. The first coat is slightly sheer, but the second coat matches the nail to the bottle color.

The formula is smooth, but on the thick side, despite the slightly sheer base. The polish sets quickly, but it can take twenty minutes or so to fully dry. The main problem with the formula is that the polish dulls the glitter. Even though the glitter gleams like a rainbow in the bottle, on the nail it mostly looks like a dull silver, because the black base dries over it.

I love the glossy, ultra-dark “Carnivale Grape.” It’s not precisely a violet-red, since there is definitely a lot of brown in the pigment. But it’s certainly evocative of an extremely dark wine.

The formula is satisfactory. It has a nice consistency and dries quickly, though it does streak a little. I’m wearing three thin coats, though a fourth coat is best for perfect coverage. The reddish base of the polish is apparent in the streaks and patches near the tips and cuticles of the nails.

Also, “Carnivale Grape” will stain skin and nails a reddish color, so use a good base coat and clean up carefully.

Overall, I like the romantic feel of this color. I usually wear it with longer nails for a more elegant effect.

I found “Sandalwood Frost” in a set of 10 polishes for $4.99 at CVS in January 2009.

This polish looks very different indoors and in direct sunlight. Indoors, it’s a very frosty rose. Outside, it is molten pink awesomeness (best witnessed in person; my camera did not quite capture the depth of the color). It’s impressive how eye-catching and glorious this polish becomes in the sunlight — because it is so very dull indoors!

I used three coats. The formula is generally good, flowing smoothly and drying quickly, but the first coat yielded a few streaks. The second coat fixed the streaks, and the third coat deepened the intensity of the pigmentation.

“Sandalwood Frost” is a pretty option for bright, sunny days. However, I probably wouldn’t wear it for any other occasion.