L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer ($5.99 for 0.39 fl. oz.) is a gray-tinged, light beige with a cream finish. This was a rather streaky polish, and the best application results were with three coats–two thinner coats and then one really thick coat at the end, though drying time was quite long with that method. I applied two coats on my pinky and middle fingers, and three coats on my index and ring fingers in the swatches. I normally get a week of wear out of L’Oreal’s lacquers. Rescue Beauty Lounge Thank You (LE, $20.00) is sheerer. MAC Endless Night (LE, $16.00) is darker. Essie Sand Tropez (LE, $8.00) is darker. Cult Nails Let’s Get Dirty (P, $12.00) is darker, rubber finish. See comparison swatches.

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer ($5.99 for 0.39 fl. oz.) is a mattifying top coat. It mattifies any color you apply it over, and it does so quickly, easily, and without trouble. If you dig the matte nail trend, I highly recommend picking up a mattifying top coat, as it makes any color you already have into a matte finish, and the wear is substantially longer! Though L’Oreal’s matte nail color formula chips away within a day on me, the mattifying top coat over a L’Oreal polish lasts almost a week with minor tip wear but no chipping. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and I found one thin-to-medium coat perfect for getting a streak-free matte finish.

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal Never Lacque-ing Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer over L’Oreal The True Gold
over L’Oreal She’s So Matte (index and ring)

L’Oreal The Matte Velvet Nail Lacquer over L’Oreal The True Gold
over L’Oreal She’s So Matte (index and ring)