NOTD: Cracking Up (+ Swatches!)

Hey guys! If any of of you guys are on Twitter, you should definitely follow @ChinaGlaze if you aren't already. The reason I say this, is because I am now in possession of their six new metallic crackles... I won them in a random sample giveaway through Twitter last week! (Woot!) Lots of companies are doing giveaways and discounts via Twitter and FB these days and that's one bandwagon I'm glad to be on, lol. I initially thought by winning a "sample" it would be one, singular bottle. Imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox and found this:


Now, that's a pretty big box for one little polish and then it was heavy... I had got all SIX of them! I was stoked to say the least... so enough chit chat and on to the polishes!


There are six shades, from left to right: Cracked Medallion, Oxidized Aqua, Haute Metal, Platinum Pieces, Tarnished Gold, and Latticed Lilac. I really like all of them, especially on darker base colors. Here are some swatches of each color on black, white, and some random color choices I made. I picked the colors based on the color family of each crackle... orange and copper, gray and silver, teal and aqua, et cetra. I figured it something a little different than the standard quot.

I also tried out painting the strokes of the crackles in different directions to see how much difference it made. I filmed the process and I'm contemplating posting the video but I'm, uh, how to put it... a little bashful and self-conscious about my voice/accent. I'll just say that if I grow a pair, I'll share it. lol


I really had a lot of fun playing around with these so I decided to take my water decals off and switch to one of the crackles. I went with the Platinum Pieces over Essence Movie Star which is a nice, deep gray. I love the whole look of this! ♥



I also shortened my gel tips. I left them on to protect my natural nails while they grow out but the length had to go. I seriously thought I was used to the long nails but a load of laundry and a sink full of dishes later, I realized that was a negative, lol.


Another thing I like about this mani, is that it matches my outfit perfectly today... metallic belt, metallic cardigan, metallic nails... (I like to be matchy-matchy, I don't care what the fashion-experts say! ;o)

So much shiny!

So thanks for reading and until next time!
- Kim