China Glaze Crinkled Chrome Texture Nail Polish Swatches & Review
China Glaze Crinkled Chrome
The China Glaze Crinkled Chrome collection makes me think of those 80′s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials. “You got your texture in my chrome! You got your chrome in my texture!”
Essentially, China Glaze has engaged their feather, texture and chrome finish nail polishes in a ménage à trois to create Crinkled Chrome. It’s a bit funky, a bit futuristic and unlike anything any other brand is doing in the texture game.
Formula & Application:
I don’t have an ingredient list for China Glaze Crinkled Chrome but if it’s based on the regular China Glaze formula, it’s at least 3-Free (Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP). The bottle contains a round brush that is both medium in length and firmness with enough give to allow for ease of control. The cap is slightly tapered and made of smooth plastic that is comfortable to hold.
The consistency is a bit thick but relatively smooth, considering the texture particles, and pretty easy to apply with clean line around the cuticle. Part of the reason for the thicker feel is that it’s super pigmented. Like one coat coverage pigmented. However, with two coats you get a more textured look. I used two coats below.
Word of warning, Crinkled Chrome looks really lumpy and odd when you first apply it. Just wait. It’s as if the polish melts into the background. As it dries, the smooth chrome finish takes shape at the base of the nail while the texture rises to the surface. The bar glitter and round, bead style particles create a look that is right out of Star Wars.
Like other textured nail polishes, Chrinkled Chrome is meant to be worn without top coat. You are free to add one, of course, but, unless it’s super thick, it doesn’t make much difference in the appearance since the chrome is so shiny.
China Glaze Aluminate has a brushed silver, tin foil type base. Very similar to China Glaze Millennium.
China Glaze Aluminate
China Glaze Crush, Crush, Baby has a pale lavender base color. I don’t have most of the older China Glaze chromes anymore to compare but, this one is more purple than China Glaze Devotion.
China Glaze Crush, Crush, Baby
China Glaze Don’t Be Foiled has a pale aqua base that reminds me of China Glaze Metallic Muse.
China Glaze Don’t Be Foiled
China Glaze I’m Chromantic is a rosy pink that, to my eye, is a mix of China Glaze Admire and Magical.
China Glaze I’m Chromantic
China Glaze Iron Out Details is a sky blue chrome. I can’t think of a shade quite like this as I don’t have any light blue chromes in my collection.
China Glaze Iron Out Details
China Glaze Wrinkling The Sheets is a minty chrome along the lines of China Glaze Cherish.
China Glaze Wrinkling The Sheets
China Glaze Crinkled Chrome
Bottom Line: Something about these shades make me think of space, like we’re looking at the surface of the moon. This is definitely a unique twist on texture, though it’s not necessarily my style. I’m not a big fan of chromes to begin with and adding texture that looks like metal filings creates an odd look. It won’t be for everyone, that’s for sure, and given what a fad this style of texture is, I can’t say that you need every single shade in your life.
What I do like, is that the texture particles eliminate any brush stroke madness that normally plague chromes. It’s the number one reason I rarely wear them. While I normally avoid pastels, this metallic take on soft shades feels wintry and fresh. I think if it was just the beads and not the bar glitter, I would like them more.
China Glaze Crinkled Chrome is launching soon in stores nationwide including Sally Beauty and ULTA. It is already available at SallyBeauty.com and two of my fave nail polish retailers Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com. China Glaze nail polish retails for $4.25-7.50/ea depending on the store.
Are you into the Crinkled Chrome look? Which shades do you plan to pick up? Would you like this chrome texture in darker shades?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for China Glaze. Affiliate links appear in this post. When you purchase through an affiliate link, you help support this site. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Ooh they look awesome!
I just can’t help but think of bacterial growth on a petri dish with that texture! It’s cool, but… yeah, I can’t!
LOLOL that cracked me up…and you are so right. It’s not very often that I truly dislike nail polishes but wow…these are just downright ugly.
Sorry China Glaze, I love your polishes but these… ewww! Awful!
ewww is right, these are terrible!
These are really bizarre. Reminds me of something growing in a petri dish.
Oh my glob I have never seen such horrors as these polishes. Thanks for the swatches so if I ever see these in store I can run away screaming.
Oh girl… I don’t know about this…
I LOVE your swatches. I don’t know if I could ever wear these though! Just something about the look of them bothers me.
I like the space-looking colors! The texture looks weird, but I kinda like it!
Thanks for the review!
I really am not sure what to think of these. I like the colours actually, but the textured effect seems too sparse or something. I guess I’m just wanting them to be the chrome version of the OPI liquid sands or Zoya pixie dusts, when that’s obviously not what China Glaze had in mind.
I would love to see a charcoal grey from them next. I think I’ll have to indulge in that mint green shade.
WOW i have to say when i first heard about this collection, i was like UGGO extreme! however, your swatches make them look really interesting and unique! i’ll need at least one of them to add to my stash haha.
I love textured polish, but this does not work for me. It is not the chrome finish, it is those darn bar glitters! I don’t know why I have such an aversion to them, but I do.
These actually have a very 90′s feel to them for me. That’s not a bad thing! I’m not exactly sure if I like them, but I do find them fascinating and I’d probably touch and stare at my nails all day wearing these, haha.
I’m not a fan of this finish. I like the glittery textured polishes like the Zoyas and most of the OPIs, but this just doesn’t appeal to me.
I didn’t think I’d like it, but I totally do! Love your swatches!
Hmmm…kinda strange! I think I like the silver one, though.
Your swatches are great, but since I loathe bar glitter I can’t bring myself to buy any of these.
Wow, these are unique! I wear mostly sog so not sure how much use these would get, but like Iron out the Details best . . . Would LOVE these in dark colors I think, especially given the season, haha!
How difficult is it to take off this particular polish? I love the look and colors but if they are as horrible to take off as glitter nail polish then I am out!
They’re not that bad actually. If you rub a few times, the bar glitter can get stuck to the skin but I just hold a pad with remover for 30 seconds and it wipes right off in one swipe.
Hmm, I’m not a texture fan normally, but I kind of really like these! How impossible are they to remove, though?
They’re not bad actually. The chrome base slides off easily so I let the remover soaked pad sit for like 30 seconds and then slide it off with one swipe. That takes off all the texture without leaving any rando pieces behind.
These do not appeal to me at all, sadly. They remind me of when I hastily apply a chrome nail polish and end up with those weird little bumps all over. :/ Your swatches are gorgeous as always, though.
I haven’t been into many textures outside of OPI. But I am loving how these look like tin foil almost. Definitely checking them out!
Hmm
I think you could just save money by using the polishes you own, then smushing your wet nails into carpeting or some fabric. You’d get the same look.
Pass! Your swatches are great but these polishes are fugly. I won’t even buy them when they hit clearance. I’m a big fan of textured polishes and was intrigued when I first heard about these. I’m a bit disappointed.
Meh. It just looks like a poorly-applied polish, like it was smudged while drying.
I absolutely love the colors, but not sure about the finish. I saw wheel swatches of these a few months ago, and I’m still on the fence…
I like the shade of Don’t Be Foiled but I’m not fond of the texture or finish. lol
I actually like the silver one, not sure why. Maybe because it reminds me of something mechanical and I grew up in a garage…well, not IN a garage, but my dad owned one and I was always there.
I am not a fan of all texture polishes, the only ones I truly love are the Zoya Pixie Dusts because of the great colors, ease of application and ease of removal.
I might have to try one, though!
From far away they look amazing! Close up….ehhhhhhhhh, idk. They look great on you but in general I don’t like mixing metallics with anything textured. I hate even the slightest brush stroke marks on my metallic nails.
Bought these on a whim, never seen or heard of them before when I spotted these at a local supply. I was major disappoint with 1 coat, 3 coats made a world of difference for me, so glad! I also think these look better when viewed from a distance. It really mimics the look of crinkled foil. Love Chris’ comment of the DIY! Long time reader, glad you’re back.
I’m not a huge fan of these, but I just have to say – I LOVE the new photo montage you’re doing at the end of your posts now! It’s so helpful to be able to see all the polishes together in one place, instead of having to scroll back and forth through the post to compare 2 similar shades. Thanks for all the work you do to bring us great swatches!
I’m so glad you like it! Thanks Carrie
So far the best comment I’ve seen made about this collection has been “Go home, China Glaze – you’re drunk”. I don’t know what they were thinking, because imho these are REALLY UGLY. o_O
Despite your nice swatches, I think these are really ugly, but the idea is quite original. I seldomly wear chromes as it is, so I’m confident to say that I’ll pass this collection up.
I love the unique textured look and the chrome finish! They look gorgeous in your swatches but I feel like they might look a little strange from farther away…
They’re a little strange up close or far away. It’s definitely different.
I can’t decide if these are really cool and interesting or just weird and ugly.
popcorn ceiling. thank you for the post, but no thank you to the polish.
Well, they look like ordinary chromes to me…they just trew in a bunch of sand and bar glitter. Since I do not like chromes, nor long bar glitters, nor wishy washy colours i’m going to save a lot of money one these! Thanks though, for the very nice and early swatches
I feel like textured nail polish are interesting though I have never tried them. I love the metallic look of these ones and your nails look really nice!
This collection is on part with Essie’s textured collection. !!Hideous!!
The horror! I can’t even believe that some people are on the fence! I guess to each their own!!! EWWW though.
Not quite sure about these…
I like all of these trends separately, but I’m not sure if I love them together.
The base of Iron Out Details looks a lot like Essie Blue Rhapsody!
i like the colors but not the texture. it looks like sheet marks, or mistakes. oh well, its a pass for me.
Oddly enough, seeing these up closes kind of makes me like them more… but I still think they’re a hot mess overall. Like another poster said, I feel like they actually need more texture. The way they look right now makes it looks like a mistake (as if the polish got wrinkled or sheet marks) instead of a cool texture. The chrome colors are pretty cool, though.
Hmmm, not my scene. I can often achieve a similar look by accident haha.
It took me a long time to warm up to texture polishes but this right here would turn me right back off to them. Sorry but yuck.
I tried my 1st chrome nail polish a couple of months ago and I loved it! The texture of these polishes is very interesting…
Long time passed and I am catching up! Since I use nail polishes for bead painting in jewelry, these polishes are amazing for what I will create. I found them on ebay and I’m going to have a blast. With good shiny cover, they should make very interesting beads!! Happy holidays in 2014. Love your blog.
Hi Trudy! That sounds really interesting. I’d love to see the jewelry you create.