Avon Matte Finish Nail Enamel - swatches

Avon Matte Nail Enamel - 12ml - $5.99 - available in 4 shades:  Black as Night, Grey Cement, Violetta and Red Velvet.  Matte polishes have been big for a while now but I have never actually used one before.  I read up on it first so I knew that I shouldn't use a base coat, definitely couldn't use a top coat and that I should avoid hand lotions or anything else that might be hard on the colour (I also took this to mean I shouldn't do any housework - I'm in!)
I quickly learnt that the application process is a lot less forgiving with matte polishes because you can't even it out later with a top coat - but this grey was my favourite of the colours, I think it has a cool edgy look!
The purple isn't showing as matte as it really was because there is a little bit of sparkle to the colour that is being reflected off the flash.

I'm still on the fence about matte polishes, I am going to have to use them some more to get my application technique down!  Any tricks or hints would be much appreciated!