MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “green grey.” It’s a muted, smoky green with a subtle, cool undertone. There’s a very fine lighter green shimmer running through it, but it is hard to see most of the time. It was fully opaque after two coats, but it was almost opaque after one. The consistency was slightly thicker. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Poison (LE, $10.00) is darker, cooler-toned. Cult Nails Grunge (P, $12.00) is lighter. MAC Fatigues (LE, $16.00) is warmer, less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “dark royal blue.” It’s a muted, medium-dark navy blue with very fine, lighter blue micro-shimmer. It was nearly opaque after one coat, but I applied two coats to be sure. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin. Again, the shimmer is ultra-fine, so it looks mostly like a cream except in very bright light. Formula X Beacon (P, $12.50) is more shimmery. Chanel Magic (LE, $27.00) is warmer, less shimmery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Mazel Tov Madness (LE, $3.99) is darker. Marc Jacobs Beauty Blue Velvet (132) (P, $18.00) is brighter, warmer. MAC Double Trouble (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker. Illamasqua Force (P, $17.00) is brighter, less shimmery. Chanel Blue Rebel (LE, $27.00) is more muted, less shimmery. Rescue Beauty Lounge Dead Calm (LE, $20.00) is darker. China Glaze Manhunt (LE, $7.50) is brighter, less shimmery. China Glaze First Mate (LE, $7.50) is darker, less shimmery. Zoya Song (P, $9.00) is brighter, more shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep charcoal.” It’s a dark, smoky gray with very fine lighter gray micro-shimmer and cool undertones. Because the shimmer is so fine, it is hard to see except under brighter lighting conditions. It was almost full coverage after one coat, but I still applied two to be sure. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too smooth, so it was easy to apply. NARS Galion (LE, $20.00) is darker, less shimmery. Chanel Steel (LE, $27.00) is darker. Deborah Lippmann Stormy Weather (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

I’ll have a review for the other three polishes up soon! As a reminder, these are from MAC’s upcoming A Novel Romance collection, which will launch online on August 14th and be in-stores on August 21st.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Before Dawn Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Ocean Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer

MAC Midnight Sky Nail Lacquer