China Glaze Crackle Collection for Spring 2011 Swatches & Review
They’reeeeee heeeerrrreeeee! I have been really excited about China Glaze Crackle ever since I first saw the promo pics. I love all the possibilities with these and the effect is just so cool.
They come in six colors, all being creme except for one which is shimmery.
- Lightning Bolt – White Crackle
- Black Mesh – Black Crackle
- Broken Hearted - Pink Crackle
- Cracked Concrete – Grey Crackle
- Fault Line – Purple Crackle
- Crushed Candy – Teal Crackle
There is no real trick to these but you do have to wait until your polish is dry before applying them. If you do a thin coat you get less cracks, and if you do a thicker coat you get more of a crack effect.
The polishes are a little thick, but not hard to work with. I found that not a lot gets on the brush initially, so it’s easy to get thinner layers, and harder to do thicker ones.
I decided to swatch all the Crackle’s over other China Glaze colors to keep everything consistent. 
Cracked Concrete over Re-Fresh Mint
Cracked Concrete is a medium grey and might be one of my favorites here. Grey looks so cool cracked over so many colors. I particularly love it over greens, blues and pinks.
Broken Hearted over Ingrid
Broken Hearted is a bright medium pink and since I love the combination pink/brown I decided to do that. I kind of like the idea of a shimmery color peeking out of the cracks of a creme one.
Fault Line over Pelican Gray
Fault Line is a royal purple and the only shimmery one in the collection. I thought I was going to really love this, but discovered I prefer the cremes better. I just think the crackle effect looks better more matte than shiny. However I do like this combination of grey/purple a lot.
Lightning Bolt over Entourage
Lightning Bolt is a white polish, not super white like White-Out, but still obviously white. This was my least favorite maybe just because the color I chose to layer it with didn’t work out. I think it would have looked better if I had put it over a darker green creme rather than kind of light shimmery one.
Black Mesh over Twenty-Four-K
Black Mesh is a jet black color. This is another one that is very versatile since black pretty much goes with everything. I love the black/gold combo, so I layered it over a shimmery gold and think it looks pretty cool!
Crushed Candy over Ruby Deer
Crushed Candy is very similar to For Audrey, it’s a teal blue/green creme and very pretty. Because I LOVE teal and red together I decided to layer it over Ruby Deer, a bright red creme. I kind love and hate the way this turned out ,I cannot decide. I like the color, but not sure of the combination, maybe a deeper red would have worked better.
Overall:
Super cool if you like this kind of thing. I think people either love or hate crackle, there isn’t much of a middle ground here. I just like it because of the options it gives me because I am not into nail art, and I don’t always want plain ‘ole polish on. This gives me a little “edge”.
Availability: Sally’s Beauty Supply and e-tailers
Pricing: $3.50-6
Ok let’s hear it, what do you think about Crackle?
-Kelly
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
I love these and cannot wait to get my hands on them! The possibilities are endless! Thanks for sharing.
Cindy´s last post…Sinful ColorsValentines Day Collection
Hey Kelly,
I think that the China Glaze Crackle isn’t working properly?!
I tested a cheap one from a german producer. (here you can see: http://jennyschreibt.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/081020101021.jpg sorry, the picture isn’t very good…) You can only get it in silver and black, but I think the crackling-effect is working much better, what do you think?
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Hi Jenny,
It’s working exactly like it should be actually.
I have Cracked Concrete, Lightning Bolt, and Crushed Candy coming on Monday (I have OPI Black Shatter already, so I passed on Black Mesh, and the others were just meh to me), and I can’t wait! From what I’ve seen, I think Cracked Concrete is going to be my favorite… China Glaze tweeted a pic of Cracked Concrete over Flip Flop Fantasy, and it looks AMAZING. Also, I actually like Lightning Bolt over Entourage… I don’t know why.
I hate them. But I also hate pretty much all nail art and decals. It just looks so messy and untidy to me.
I love these. I saw them online last night and I hope I can buy them before they’re gone. I really want Cracked Concrete, Broken Hearted, Fault Line, Black Mesh and Crushed Candy. The white doesn’t do too much for me. I like nail art as long as its simple but I’m not the best at doing most of it so these crackle are wonderful to me.
I’m really excited about these. I ordered all but the black and can’t wait to get them. BTW, I love Crushed Candy over Ruby Deer. It looks amazing.
I am on pins and needles waiting to get mine. I picked up a lot of tips and tricks playing with the OPI shatter. For example: ultra thin coats painted from cuticle to cuticle across the nail instead of the regular cuticle to edge, and the neatest one I have found is painting on the diagonal…
I can NOT WAIT to try them with different color combos. I think I will have skittled nails for a couple of weeks.
oh, and to make it look like a fingerprint, you can kind of circle it around one cuticle edge then circle it around the other…there are so many neat things you can do with it…
Just when I thought I don’t need the crackle, you convince me otherwise. Shh… If you listen closely, you can hear my wallet weeping. Haha, 3 more won’t break me! The grey, pink, and teal are on my list.
I just got these in the mail on Tuesday, haven’t had a chance to play with them yet, but such fun! Thanks for the swatches!
I am growing to like these, I think I Iike the grey, blue and pink the most. However I can’t find them online anywhere yet! I like the way the grey one crackles rather than the chunky crackle!
Hi Hannah,
Head2Toe has had them a week or more and I think they will be up on Transdesign soon also.
Victorias Nail Supply has them too.
Elizabeth aka Lacquered Lizard´s last post…Raging H&M – from the vault
i love lightning bolt!
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I love all of your crackles! I had a tough time with the purple one, does not crackle like the rest of them.
My two favorites I have done so far is the crushes candy over a brown polish and concrete over Gosh holographic.
I will admit – I am a crackle addict :0)
GingerKittyDesigns´s last post…Custom Nail Polish Necklace – pick your colors
I think they look cool, but they aren’t for me! I thought I would want to try this, but I’ll leave it to someone more adventurous. The mint and gray color combo is great though!
Jeni´s last post…Microneedle Rollers
I’m liking the grey one here. I think I’d want to wear it over pink. Most of the others don’t look like they crackle as well as that one.
I have had Barry M’s one for some time now, and it works great, but as far as I know they only have black so far.
It does seem to me that it’s trial and error to get the right amount of crackle coat on to get it to work well.
I like this MUCH better than the black ones
They seem amazing!!! Do you know a site that sales these internationally?
Alaeis´s last post…NYX Cream blush in Glow
I really like them! I played with them on a nail wheel today and then topped them with a topcoat and I liked the purple one much better!
Polish Pauper´s last post…Proud Member of the Cult!
I just ordered the three neutrals from TransDesign (I think they’re sold out now) and they came today. Can’t wait to try them out.
BMR´s last post…Zoya-Bela
Hi Kelly, I need your expertise and tips please
I got these last week and havent tried them on my finger nails yet because I had a valentines day manicure I loved and didnt want to cut short but I did do my toe nails and tried it on one of them and it didnt work so well maybe because base polish wasnt dry enough? How long did you let your polish dry before you put the crackle on? I got all of them except the black/white (because I ordered the OPI shatter and havent recvd yet and not a white nail polish person) and mine are like regular CG not thick. I saw on CG facebook that people recommend a thin coat but I put mine on kinda think. Sorry for all the questions but I want to do my nails tonight and want it to look good for the weekend. Thanks for your help, just love your website!
Hi MIcki,
Yeah you are supposed to let the polish dry completely before applying. I prefer a thinner coat just because it’s easier to work with. If your polish is totally dry, you should have no problem with the application, it’s super easy and you see the crackle effects pretty much immediately. Good luck!
I like the black and teal shades :> The grey is neat, too.
Phyrra´s last post…Third Time’s the Charm
I really wanted to like these, but I think I’m just not a crackle/shatter chick. Maybe 10 yrs ago in my 20′s, but I don’t know if I could pull it off nowadays. More power to those who can and will!
Oh man, these look so cool. I’ll be buying and trying them ASAP!
I really love these. I’ve played with them a bit but your swatches have given me new color combo ideas. I’m really loving Cracked Concrete over Re-fresh mint. So pretty!
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None for me, thanks. Not even the purple shimmer which is usually enough to make me change my mind about anything.
Just got my set today. SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!
I love the teal and red!! SOLD!!!
I’m undecided. I’ve seen some combos that are really awesome together, but for some reason I’m just not super excited about this. I might have to pick up the black and the grey but I don’t think I want to spend the money on the whole collection no matter how pretty the colors are.
Meeka´s last post…Aint No Sunshine
I really love crushed candy and the gray one.
Crushed Candy over Ruby Deer reminds me of Nacho Libre. Not that that’s a bad thing.
I got mine yesterday in the mail, loving them all! I think the China Glaze Crackle and OPI Black Shatter work about the same, I compared them both on my nails. I tend to prefer China Glaze because they don’t test on animals whereas the company that recently bought OPI does (I don’t think OPI has changed to testing on animals though). Crackle must be in because OPI is coming out with a Silver Shatter around May for their Pirates of the Carribean tie in, see link:
http://www.beautycrazed.ca/2011/02/new-brights-collection-by-opi-for.html
Yaya! I was totally thing about different colored crackle nail polish the other day and FINALLY my wish came true!! IM totally going to get some, I especially love “Cracked Concrete over Re-Fresh Mint” and “Fault Line over Pelican Gray’
Im a totally sucker for Purple and Aqua Tones with Gray
Oh and quick question is Re-Fresh Mint and Pelican Gray also from China Glaze too?
Hi Wenqi,
Yes, I mentioned in the post all the colors on here are China Glaze.
yay! i love them so much I just got Cracked Concrete and Broken Hearted
cant wait to try them out!!
I love these! Can’t wait for my shipment to arrive!
Crackle looks perfect, i’m going to buy each colour but i don’t know where can i find them : // I live St. Louis, is there any any online store where i could buy it??
Btw. my favorite is Broken Hearted over Ingrid!!!
Are all the colors available at Sally’s now?! I HAVE to have them!
Stacy´s last post…MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick and Lipglass Swatches- Review & Comparisons
Love these! It looks so cool
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I only have the Barry M. The CG don’t look right at all though. They’re just not “crackly” enough apart from the grey. And the grey looks as if it is meant to be black but isn’t. I know what I mean anyway.
I think there are way better crackle polishes than these. Surprisingly poor for CG.
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I’ll make sure to grab the purple for my niece she LOVES purple!
ya, not liking this effect at all. Too messy for me. Thanks for the swatches though!
I hate crackle….but for some reason, feel the need to own the grey, teal, and purple ones! ahahahah
Shimmer´s last post…Wet N Wild Color Icon Trio Review
They look good, but I was disappointed with Crushed Candy. The promo pictures showed a model with a gorgeous deep teal crackle which was my favourite colour, but having seen pictures of the bottle (even in the pictures that show the bottles in front of the promo image) it looks a much lighter colour.
Wow! the teal and red combination looks great! It’s certainly an eyecatcher!
XxX Renée
Renée´s last post…LOTD 3 Subtiele smokey eye
These are really cool. I just got OPI black shatter on Friday & I like these 1s because they have the variety of colors.
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These Will be great to change things up. My favorites are the grey and black ones!
I’ve got to buy this collection. Love the look and the colors.
Well, I’m 48, and I love this stuff!
I have good nails and I alwasy get compliments and people think my nails are fake and they aren’t. They didn’t have this kind of stuff when I was younger, so why not?? Black crackle over white polish (or vice versa) looks zebra-ish, which I love! Black over brown looks tiger-ish. Try it…
It’s also GREAT for pedicures if you’re shy about using it. Funky toes are cool for anyone! TRY IT!!! Age is just a #