28 Brilliant Beauty Hacks That Will Change the Way You Apply Makeup

Your most saturated bold nail polish is so much more than a one-coat wonder! You can transform it into a sheer shade with a clear topcoat — but avoid your superfast-drying standby. "Quick-dry formulas affect the pigment because it's drying as you paint," explains Gina Edwards. Instead, use a normal topcoat like Morgan Taylor Make It Last ($9).

Do it at home by pouring equal parts lacquer and topcoat into an empty nail polish bottle and mixing up your new formula. Then, test your blend on a piece of paper. If it's still too pigmented, add more topcoat. Too sheer? Add more polish. Getting your own custom color has never been so easy.