May 2009's New Beauty Products

Think Fast

Furtive romantic encounter? Microwaved brownie? Quickies can be a thrill—but the satisfaction is inevitably fleeting. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color ($5; drugstores), however, impressed us with both its efficiency and its long-term returns. A wide, flat brush lets you cover each fingernail entirely in a single stroke (well, except for the thumbs), and the polish dries to a hard, shiny finish in less than a minute. While we expected to pay for all this convenience with quick chipping, four days later we're still perfectly polished.