China Glaze Active Colour Collection - Swatches & Review

Monday 20 February 2017


It feels like ages since I have had a swatch post (that isn't a nail art related post).  Ok so it really has only been about a week and a half but still.  It's kinda nice to have another swatch post.  Today I have the new Active Colour Collection from China Glaze.  I have been hanging out for new China Glaze polishes for quite some time now when I saw the Active Colour Collection.  I wasn't too keen on these to begin with mainly because my nails don't like things with strengtheners or any of those things in them (I am very lucky to have naturally strong nails).  Anyway I was purchasing another polish collection and thought why not.  It's always nice to save a little on shipping costs, plus I do like the colours. 



Before I dive into the swatches and my thoughts on each of the polishes I should point out that these polishes are advertised as one coaters and I am guessing that because they have active ingredients they are meant to be applied to the bare nail.  I tried to the that but they were so steaky and applied horribly.  I used a base coat for all of my swatches and the polishes definitely applied a lot easier and nicer.

A Nude Awakening is a nude creme.  I quite like this one.   I think it is a nice colour and has a great formula.  My swatch shows two coats.


For Coral Support is a coral creme.  I accidentally purchased two of this polish, and noticed that both bottles have little black bits in it.  I have no clue if they are meant to be there or not.  Anyway, this is a great colour and the formula is easy to work with.  I used two coats for my swatch.


Made For Peach Other is a light peach creme.  This is a gorgeous colour.  It does apply quite unevenly, but I am guessing that is because it is such a light shade. For my swatch I used three coats.


Preserve In Pink is a really light pink.  Now this colour looks so pretty in the bottle and I was excited to use it.  Sadly, it's so sheer.  It nearly just looks like a clear polish on bare nails.  I can't stand visible nail lines so I used one coat (and a pretty thick coat too) over white.  As you can see it is sheer and applies really unevenly.



Retreat Yourself is a purple creme.  It's probably no surprise that I like this one.  It's a beautiful colour and has a great formula.  I used two coats for my swatch.


Set In Greystone is a very pale grey creme.  I quite like this one.  It's definitely a unique colour in my collection.  The formula is also easy to work with.  My swatch shows two coats.


As I mentioned earlier, I didn't use these polishes the way they are intended so I can't comment on what effects (if any) they had on my nails.  I can tell you that they definitely aren't one coaters (unless you like they slightly uneven look) and apply better with a base coat.  If you aren't using a base coat then you would most likely need more coats than what I used.  I think there are some great colours in this collection.  The only one the disappointed me and I wouldn't recommend is Preserve In Pink.

2 comments:

  1. Ooh this collection is so pretty & it's a shame that you struggled with the pink, I love that colour. The lilac is also great, it's odd they're designed to be worn without a basecoat but apply unevenly.
    Vicky xx
    @thepolishlist

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    1. It really is a pretty collection, and you are right, it's odd that they apply so unevenly without the base coat. Maybe it's just the way I apply them? I'd be interested to see what others say about this collection.

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