ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – Models Own Moody Grey and China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
Today’s manicure was inspired by turquoise rings I saw on Tumblr. I know I’m so late to the Tumblr party but I’m really enjoying it. Anywho, when I saw those rings I reblogged the pic stating that if crackle nail polish could create veining like what appears on those rings, I would be more into it. Now I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m on the fence when it comes to crackle. I’ve seen people use it in ways that look good, like Kellie Gonzo’s manicure using OPI Silver Shatter, but for the most part I haven’t been its biggest fan. Today while attempting to replicate a turquoise ring using Models Own Moody Grey and China Glaze Crackle Glaze in Crushed Candy I may have leaned a bit more in crackle’s favor. I wouldn’t go printing me a Team Crackle tee shirt just yet but I “could” get there. |
Formula & Application: Models Own nail polishes are not 3-Free. They contain toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor. The round glass bottles are topped with a round plastic cap that is as wide as the polish bottles. While it’s not the most comfortable cap I’ve held, it doesn’t interfere with application. The short, round brush is really soft and flexible and it sucks up a ton of polish so make sure you wipe it well before applying to avoid pooling.
I was extremely impressed with how pigmented the polish is considering how thin and smooth it is. That’s what toluene brings to the party. I know there are health risks involved with toluene but I can’t help but selfishly miss it sometimes. I barely needed two coats of this polish and it was a joy to apply, even with that big wide cap.
China Glaze Crackle Glaze is 4-Free and doesn’t contain camphor. Their crackle polish is pretty thick and goopy which means it’s not as easy to apply as the OPI Shatters. I know shaking nail polish is frowned upon but giving these a good shaking helped a bit. You can also add a bit of thinner to help with the consistency but add it slowly. Crackles thin a lot faster than regular polish.
Models Own Moody Grey is a green-based, wet cement type grey creme. It definitely has a “moody” feel with its gritty undertones. It actually reminds me a lot of RBL Stormy though Moody Grey is darker.
After seeing the image I linked to above, I came across this pic from University of Swag. Combined with the suggestion from ALU reader and licensed manicurist Cathy that she was able to attain a similar look with crackle polish, I was determined to try and find some way to mimic it.
Being that crackle breaks up in direction it is applied and the veining on the turquoise ring comes from all directions, I decided to polish in all directions. I circled my nail with China Glaze Crackle Glaze in Crushed Candy polishing from the edge to the center. While the cracks are much thicker than I would like, I’m satisfied with my effort. Though if I repeated this look I would apply Crushed Candy a lot lighter with less polish on the brush.
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Bottom Line: While Moody Grey may not be the most unique grey I’ve come across, when I went looking for a dark grey creme I couldn’t find similar colors in my stash. Plus the formula is a total win in terms of application though the ingredients might be a detractor for some. Crushed Candy may have a funky formula but I have yet to see a crackle sold in the US that looks like it.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Based on the lack of similar colors in my collection, I’m STASHing both.
Models Own Moody Grey retails for $8/ea and can be found online at ModelsOwnIt.com. ps I see they have a couple crackles now as well. China Glaze Crackle Glaze is listed as being in stock at SallyBeauty.com. The polishes retail for $5.99/ea ($4.99 with club card) for a .5oz bottle.
What do you think of my turquoise ring inspired manicure? Thoughts on the China Glaze crackles? How would you replicate this look? Are you a fan of Models Own polishes? What are your favorite colors from the brand?
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Lisa N.
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this looks really great!!
That looks so cool! I never would have thought to apply the crackle like that. Turquoise is my favorite stone so I definitely have to recreate this!
I haven’t used the crackles yet, but I love your manicure. The moody grey was a good choice to crackle over.
I like this! I’m going to try thinning my crackles out a little bit and see if it makes the application a bit more friendly.
Amazing!!!!!
Ooh! I really like the crackle effect you’ve created! V.pretty!
That crackle effect looks so good! Nice work!
Oh, I love the circle idea with the crackle! I’m not a crackle lover but I have the China Glazes in Crushed Candy, the pink, and the white. It’s easy to change up the manicure for a funky Friday look or to hide a banged-up mani :).
I love this. Truly love this. I love turquoise jewellery for the spring and summer. Semi-precious stones are my favourite type of jewellery. Awesome job. I’m so inspired to try this now. *Absolute LOVE*
That’s so cool! I’d love to see the manicure with a ton of silver rings and bangles – if it’s as good a combination as the real deal. I’d guess yes!
I love this look!
I love wearing my turquoise rings and this would really be an attention grabber.
hugs,
Gerry
*drool!* OMG Michelle I love this! I have crushed candy and absolutely love it over gold/copper colored polishes esp. glitters like Petites Color Fever nail polish in 24KT that you get at rite aid. honestly its so pretty!! A must try!
I tried to do a similar thing with Crushed Candy and OPI Suzi Loves Cowboys months ago, going for a southwest turquoise jewelry look. I guess it worked, but I wasn’t having it. Crushed Candy looks pretty cute over other bright colors, though.
I’m definitely on Team Crackle, so I’ll definitely be trying your circle technique!
I am a HUGE fan of crackle glaze. My nails are currently Silver (Sally Hansen Celeb City) with purple crackle glaze, looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself
I’ve never thought to do the turquoise look like this, but I think I’ll be trying it soon!
This came out AMAZING~! Love your inspiration pic !
Gorgeous! I am totally on the crackle wagon. Crushed Candy is my favorite crackle polish in terms of color (it’s soo close to China Glaze For Audrey, which I love for sentimental reasons because I wore it at my wedding as my “something blue”). The China Glaze crackles are a bear to apply though – it’s goop city!
Very cool manicure! I’m definitely still on the fence about crackles/shatter, but I did try it for the first time the other day and it was kind of fun– for something to play with from time to time.
Wow. I didn’t think there was anything that could make me like crackle polishes: I was wrong. This is amazing, and I desperately want to try this for myself now!
S’pose I’d better put some crackles on my wishlist now.
Nice effect! But given your dislike of the straight lines crakcling effect that most polishes have you might want to try kelier polishes!
This picture shows the difference between regular crackles and kelier http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ueasQoTF6YE/TUzTOXufozI/AAAAAAAAA8I/q7L2q64Zkbc/s1600/100_4088.JPG
It might just be what will make you fall in love with crackles!
I don’t have the Kelier polishes from Born Pretty Store but I have ones that crackle the same way from another online seller. I do like the way they crack, I just don’t have one in turquoise and haven’t found one the same color as Crushed Candy. If you come across one, let me know!
Oh wow. I like the Kelier much better, although I wouldn’t buy them either. It’s just not for me. Props to you though Michelle – you managed to class crackle up! It looks really fun on you this way.
I saw you reblog that image on tumblr and was wondering how you’d try to replicate that ring in nail art, and holy crap! I am super impressed!
Love this color combo and agree with you that a thinner coat may make this an even better combo. It definitely makes me lean towards at least trying a crackle.
wow! its to pretty its like wearing your ring on your fingertips, i really want some crackle nail polish now!
I really like the effect when applying the crackle polish like that
I am definitely gonna have to try this 
i love turquoise some may call me obsessed with it since i painted my bedroom a deep turquoise color but who cares its a gorgeous color and while i was browsing the opi website to check out the pirates collection (btw how gorgeous does mermaid tears look) they had a turquoise shatter in their shatter collection i was wondering if this turquoise would be better for doing the effect you wanted since you said the opi shatters were easier and thinner to apply?????
Michelle, teach me!! You said in this most recent post that shaking nail polish isn’t the best idea… why is that? Thanks
Haha, I’m always happy to expound what little knowledge I have. Shaking polish bottles puts air bubbles in the lacquer which will show up on your nails. You should always roll a bottle between your palms to mix it up. However, if you really need to shake, you can, but I recommend letting the polish sit for a day so the air bubbles can work their way out.
This looks fantastic, but then your nails always look amazing. Nice to see the shout out to Cathy – she is an awesome source of information and suggestions.
Thank you as well for being such an amazing online resource for swatches and information on lacquers – this is my go-to site!!
wow! this combi is amazing!!!
Ditto here…not a crackle fan – I look and look but when I try and try, it looks icky on me and usually most others I see trying to pull it off. This one with the mimic of a veined turquoise stone is interesting. I just cannot get into the thickness of how a crackle mani comes across in the end. But that said, this is one of my favs in the crackles I have seen. I really adore turquoise jewelry as well as just to have a few pieces of it in a rock grouping in the house. Sadly my fav turquoise is the robin egg blue, non veined expensive and nearly impossible to get now days as the one mine in the US (Sleeping Beauty Mine) is not taking much out and is due to close soon. So even if you find it non-veined in robin egg blue, it’s really small pieces and super expensive.
Funny thing, I was just thinking the same thoughts before I read your post – I would love it if crackle polish could create thin veining on the nail rather than creating the texture it does (which reminds me of a disco skirt torn into pieces – don’t ask me why). And after giving out a sigh that it’s not possible at the moment, I came to your blog and read your post. So, I totally agree with what you say.
As to your manicure, I agree with you: it’s really good (better than most ‘crackle jobs’ I’ve seen) but it’s not mind blowing. Like you said, would be definitely better if the cracks were thinner.
You are so creative! Love the effect and surely will try something similar next time. Thank you for the inspiration! Love the grey & turquoise colour together, beautiful combo.
Wow, you are so brilliant! I am definitely going to try this out!
I really like that color combination! Looks amazing!
This looks amazing(: I think it turned out super good. The colors look lovely on you and the ring is really pretty too. Nice Job!
Very cute manicure! I was anticrackle for a long time, but finally got Silver Shatter last weekend, and then the Sally Beauty by my work restocked their China Glaze Crackle Glaze. I have 4 crackle polishes now and I’m obsessed.
Wow, this just may be the best crackle mani I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous, really! I’m cooling off from the crackle hype, but I still like a good crackle combination.
I’m still not a convert to crackle polish but this combination looks really good!
The woman you mentioned that said she achieved a look similar to the ring, Cathy, I know her
Haha she does my hair. Her manicures always look amazing too!
Oooooo omg that looks SO good!
This looks cool, but still, crackle is not for me.
I really like the color combo – I was going to try the Crushed Candy crackle next with CG refreshmint underneath but now I’ve changed my mind!
I am on the fence about crackle – but yesterday I put on Zoya Jancyn with CG Broken Hearted (pink) crackle – in love! Its so fun and summery
This is really cool look! I’m going to try this technique with silver shatter.
I love this idea! I have Cracked Candy, and now I definitely want a nice dark grey to do something similar. I particularly like the idea of adding the crackle from the edge to the center to create a different crackle pattern.
Love this unique approach to the crackle trend!
I love this look with crackle! I love OPI’s silver shatter, but haven’t been able to get into any other crackle-type polish. I feel like crackle ends up looking unsophisticated, but not the way you pulled it off!
You might like Australian brand BYS crackle polishes, they come in a variety of great colours and the cracks are thin. You can buy them from fashionaddict.com.au and they ship internationally
Thanks for the tip. I have some thin crackling polishes from BK but they don’t make a Tiffany blue turquoise.
Owesome!!! The first crackle that I like!!!
So many combinations!
I did a Tiffany’s-inspired manicure of Crushed Candy over a gold foil and loved it! Got a lot of positive comments.
I agree, keep both!!!!
I really like this color combination and the idea that you wanted to mimic turquoise.
I used to think turquoise was cheesy…funny how our tastes can change with time, Lol.
I’d like to try this too. I don’t usually buy online. I prefer to go to a local store but I can’t find China crackle around here at Sally’s. It has sold out… I am intrigued by those Kelier polishes and I’m going to look up more about them.
I love this mani so much, I did my own version. I posted it and linked back to this post at http://digitdecor.blogspot.com/2011/06/turquoise-stone-mani.html. Thanks for the inspiration!
Looks great on you! Thanks for the link back.
I was poking aorund on ALU and just found this post…Crushed Candy is the exact same shade as For Audrey and I love both!