This spring, Formula X (for Sephora) launched Liquid Crystals Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) in fourteen shades. The new finish is described as a “brilliant, light-reflecting nail lacquer made from crushed micro-crystalline and pigmented mica.” Now, these really need some clarity on just how pigmented they’re supposed to be. The individual shade descriptions all imply that there’s some hue of glitter in a sheer color base, then the formula is described as a “buildable formula that intensifies with each coat.” The press release elaborated a bit more and said, “Apply one coat for a sheer crystalline look, or layer for a full stained-glass effect.” So, it sounds like most other polish–one coat will be sheer, two will not be, and that is what I looked for with these.

Fluorescent was the only shade that I’d really describe as sheer, and it was only semi-opaque after three coats–it wasn’t that buildable. Borealis was very pigmented and fully opaque after two coats, and Wavelength was nearly opaque after two and just had subtle nail line only visible if I held my nails at certain angles where enough light was coming underneath the nail. So, the pigmentation is a mixed bag, but in general, if you were seeking opaque color, most seem to be there. If you were looking for really sheer top coats, I felt like some were too pigmented to let a base color come through. The drying time on all of these was faster than average; not so fast that you can’t work with the formula. They all dried down to a shiny, reflective finish that wasn’t really glossy but smooth and shiny. I typically get over a week of wear with Formula X with little tip wear.

Wavelength Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “pink micro-glitter in sheer purple pink.” It’s a cool-toned, fuchsia-pink with pink sparkle. It was semi-opaque in a single coat, mostly opaque after two; only if I held my nails at certain angles could I see any visible nail line. Zoya Bobbi (P, $9.00) is darker, less cool-toned. China Glaze Love’s a Beach (LE, $7.50) is brighter, less shimmery. China Glaze Endurance (LE, $7.50) is darker. See comparison swatches.

Borealis Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “gold micro-glitter in sheer olive green.” It’s a murky, yellow and brown-tinged green with golden olive and olive green shimmer and flecks of sparkle. It was nearly opaque in a single coat, and it was fully opaque after two. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ripley (P, $10.00) is less yellow-toned with finer shimmer. SpaRitual Lithophonic (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker. Rescue Beauty Lounge Turn It Around (LE, $20.00) has coppery shimmer, lighter. China Glaze Zombie Zest (LE, $7.50) is cooler-toned, has a duo-chrome. See comparison swatches.

Fluorescent Nail Lacquer ($12.50 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “lime micro-glitter in sheer lime.” It’s a mix of gold and chartreuse-hued sparkle and shimmer suspended in a sheer, green-ish base color. Two coats, it was still sheer, and three coats, it was semi-sheer (see ring finger). The consistency of this shade felt a little watery, and the shimmer and sparkle didn’t spread as evenly across the nail.  This one had more of a duochrome effect, which was really noticeable over black (I applied one coat over one coat of black in the swatches).  Butter London Dosh (P, $15.00) is much darker and opaque. NYX Lime (P, $4.00) is darker, brighter, less yellow. See comparison swatches.

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Wavelength Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Borealis Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer

Formula X Fluorescent Nail Lacquer