OPI Katy Perry Collection Black Shatter

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $5.99 on sale (regular price is $8.50)

THE SKINNY: My 11 year old daughter is all about nail polish (which, considering she bites her nails to the quick, is kinda ironic). In fact, for her birthday I turned her loose at Ulta with a shopping basket and told her to have at it. The item she was most excited about was the OPI Black Shatter. Since I am all about research in the name of Beauty Test Dummies, I felt obligated to try it out for you.

I left the safety of my break a hip crowd and veered over to the young and hip crowd. Here’s how it works — you paint a base color (in my case, orange, as that was the one to give the most contrast for the picture — and once that is dry, go over with the Black Shatter. The first coat of polish (an OPI color as well) went on smoothly and dried quickly. I wish I could say the same about the Shatter. It was so thick it felt reminiscent of painting my nails with White Out (speaking theoretically here — not that I did that). The viscosity was very off-putting and difficult to work with.

It did what it said it would — it shattered. The shatter chunks were indeed chunks. Instead of looking artfully crackled, I looked like my manicure was cracked. The Shatter is extremely matte as well and needs a clear top coat in order to bring any shine to it (I didn’t apply top coat, as I didn’t want to make it any harder to get the Tony the Tiger looking color combination off).

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Even if you like to look young and hip and shattered, get a professional manicure. My ladies charge $12 for a full manicure and that includes the hand and shoulder massage. Plus, there is no way you’d use the whole bottle of Black Shatter before it solidifies into a solid mass. I think I’m going to stick with my OPI standard, “Give Me Moor.”

CHECK IT OUT: Check out the full Shatter line, which features the names of several celebrities. Want to venture out and buy it? Drugstore.com has OPI Katy Perry Collection Black Shatter on sale for $5.99!

-- Tested by Laura