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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 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 Don’t Be Foiled has a pale aqua base that reminds me of China Glaze Metallic Muse.

China Glaze I’m Chromantic is a rosy pink that, to my eye, is a mix of China Glaze Admire and Magical.

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 Wrinkling The Sheets is a minty chrome along the lines of China Glaze Cherish.

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.