Let’s face it. We’re living in a time where “a little treat” does some heavy lifting when it comes to soothing the aches and pains of modern life. And these days especially, when plenty of people are cutting out excess spending where possible, it’s more important than ever to have a few little goth treats that won’t break the bank.

Nail polish is a tried-and-true affordable little treat in the realm of fashion. It’s versatile, it bumps up an outfit, and it coordinates well with jewelry. The cost versus worth ratio is pretty good, too. It takes a long time to get through just one bottle of nail polish. And unlike other beauty products, it can last two years or more after opening with proper storage.

While mooncat isn’t necessarily the cheapest brand out there, it’s still our favorite. We’ll take a brief look at mooncat as a company, delve into five of our favorite shades that would suit any elegantly gothic wardrobe, and look at easy tips to maximize wear time.

What is mooncat?

This company ticks a lot of boxes for us, personally. It’s a POC-owned, woman-owned and operated small business, with an estimated 20 employees. It has a 5 star rating on Google reviews. A quick Google search reveals plenty of fans already gushing about the quality, color and durability of mooncat’s nail polishes.

Mooncat (which does stylize its name in all lowercase) markets itself as wearable art and caters to the outcasts, the weirdos and those who do life just a little bit differently. Plenty of their collections reflect that, with a gravitation toward dark, dystopian themes.

Of course, it’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the fact that a portion of every sale goes toward the very important mission of finding shelter cats forever homes. The price tag ranges from $15 to $18, making it a higher-end brand for sure. But supporting small, POC and women-owned businesses that also support cats in turn and have a beautiful product is totally worth to us.

1: Port 6666

(Welcome to Paradise Collection – $18)

This collection’s theme focuses on a cyber-dystopian future. It’s filled with eye-catching, bright colors and plenty of sparkle and shine. Port 6666, a best seller from the collection, is a striking multichrome magnetic lacquer with magenta and purple sparkles on a black-navy base. It’s a must-have for purple lovers.

2: Clair De Lune

(Danse Macabre Collection – $18)

The Danse Macabre collection centers around eerie, dark elegance, like Swan Lake’s Odile. There are plenty of pinks and purples in the collection, but Clair De Lune is our personal favorite. It’s described as a light purple magnetic lacquer with a dusty mauve base. We find it enchantingly pastel. It’s another great one for the purple lovers out there, but of a lighter variety than Port 6666, which is very stark and deep.

3: Nocturne

(The Fallen Collection – $18)

This collection focuses on renewal, growth and reflection. Nocturne is described as a dusky, dark teal green magnetic lacquer with bronze flakies. To us, it definitely looks more like a black base with orange metallic flakes in it; i.e. the perfect combination for Halloween. We love using it as a topper on plain black nail polish, but three coats on its own creates an opaque look, too.

4: Queen of the Dead

(The Seasons of Persephone Collection – $18)

The Seasons of Persephone set was designed as an ode to love in all of its forms and facets, beautiful and tragic alike. Queen of the Dead is a thermal lacquer that shifts from dark wine red when cold to bright raspberry red when hot. The dark color is nearly black, so it’s a perfect pick for those who love that classic black and red look.

5: Access Denied

(The Glitch in the Matrix Collection – $16)

Do you want more than a plain black polish? Are you tired of layering sheer glitters over the top of their black polish to make something new? Access Denied is a black base with a beautiful green shimmer which stands out in natural light, but otherwise just shows in little flashes and glimmers. It’s perfect if you want a black that isn’t boring.

Lengthening the Lifespan of Your Goth Nail Polish

Mooncat’s nail polish already lasts a while on its own, even if you’re like this writer and don’t put much effort into doing everything “right”. Waiting for polish to dry is already a hassle, so who wants to add extra steps?

Well, what if those steps didn’t actually add too much time to your overall process? Here are three tips for getting the most out of your goth polish per wear. Best yet, you can do it all without adding more than a few extra minutes to the process.

Tip 1: Apply a base coat

Seems simple, but plenty of people skip this important prep step. Base coats prevent chipping by creating a smooth and uniform surface for the polish to stick to. It also strengthens your nail against breakage and keeps any particularly deep or staining pigments from saturating into the nail itself.

Tip 2: Paint the edge of your nails

You don’t have to apply the nail polish to the entirety of the nail’s underside. However, you should try to extend the polish over the edge of the nail instead of stopping right before it. This slows down the rate that chips first start appearing. The end result? You get more time with your sweet, goth nails.

Tip 3: Use a top coat

Mooncat’s speed demon top coat is a true lifesaver to the longevity of your nails. Not only will it create a protective layer over the lacquer itself, but it dries down and hardens in less than a minute. Do you forget you’re waiting for your nails to dry and dent your manicure before it even sets? If so, this is a must have.

Add Goth Glamour to your Look, Keep Money in your Pocket

The “lipstick index“, reportedly coined by Leonard Lauder of Estée Lauder fame, refers the increase in small scale luxury purchases in periods of economic strife. Basically, when finances are shaky, you probably aren’t buying expensive dinners, designer clothing, or major trips. On the flip side, you’ll likely buy more items that only cost a few dollars, like lipstick, while waiting to save for bigger things like wardrobe overhauls.

Nail polish is one of those little luxury items that people tend to enjoy treating themselves with when they have even a little bit of wiggle room in the budget for it. And if you’re going to shell out a little for a treat, why not support a company like mooncat?

They have 11 pages of products to browse, currently, though not everything is in stock. With a slant toward catering to those who walk a bit off the beaten path, you’re sure to find a bottle or two that speaks to you and suits your style beautifully.