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China Glaze & Hunger Games Collection Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer

China Glaze & Hunger Games Collection: Colours from the Capitol

China Glaze Colours from the Capitol Collection is slated for March launch. It features twelve shades with each shade being named after a different district. This post features these six: Hook and Line, Luxe and Lush, Mahogany Magic, Riveting, Smoke and Ashes, and Stone Cold. Reader Kim did an excellent job explaining the names-to-district component.

  • Hook and Line is a warm gray with threads of pale silver. This shade is named after District 4 for fishing. It’s opaque in two coats, but this is a little thick, streaky, and has a ton of brush strokes. The color is a little reminiscent of Zoya Dove but it’s darker and warmer.
  • Luxe and Lush is a duochrome top coat with various sizes of flakies that reflect gold and pink with a little blue. This shade is named after District 1 for luxury. I applied two coats so you could see it on its own as well as over Smoke and Ashes. I don’t have a dupe for this shade. The closest I could think of were Zoya’s Fleck Effects.
  • Mahogany Magic is a warm brown with a yellow base. It was opaque in two coats. This shade is named for District 7 for lumber. Illamasqua Taint is a cooler-toned brown. Chanel Khaki Rose is lighter.
  • Riveting is a vibrant orange with orange-tinted gold shimmer. It was opaque in two coats. This shade is named for District 3 for technology. Zoya Tanzy is a little lighter and has more shimmer/glitter. Nubar Arencia is similar but a touch darker. Milani Metal Gear is darker and the shimmer doesn’t appear as light.
  • Smoke and Ashes is an inky blue-based black with green and blue shimmer. It was opaque in two coats. This shade is named for District 12 for mining. The base color reminded me of Zoya Cynthia a bit, but it’s blacker. Cult Nails Living Water has a similar look but the shimmer is more dominant and leans bluer.
  • Stone Cold is a soft black with silver shimmer–and it’s matte. This shade is named for District 2 for masonry. It’s similar to Nubar Midnight and MAC Butterfly. Orly Iron Butterfly should also be a dupe.

The consistency of Hook and Line was the worst; a little thick, not quite goopy but close, which all resulted in a streaky finish. I had better luck with Riveting, Smoke and Ashes, and Stone Cold, which were easy to apply and didn’t have any consistency concerns–they weren’t too thick or too thin and applied evenly without bubbling or pooling along the sides. Luxe and Lush has a thicker consistency, which actually helps the flakies distribute fairly evenly over the nail.  Mahogany Magic was on the thicker side, but it wasn’t as problematic as Hook and Line.

China Glaze & Hunger Games Collection Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)

A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
9.5
Longevity
4
Application
92%
Total

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
Hook and Line, Luxe and Lush, Mahogany Magic

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
Hook and Line, Luxe and Lush, Mahogany Magic

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
Riveting, Smoke and Ashes, Stone Cold

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
Riveting, Smoke and Ashes, Stone Cold

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Hook and Line Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Hook and Line Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Hook and Line Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Hook and Line Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Luxe and Lush Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Luxe and Lush Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Luxe and Lush Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Luxe and Lush Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Mahogany Magic Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Mahogany Magic Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Mahogany Magic Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Mahogany Magic Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Riveting Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Riveting Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Riveting Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Riveting Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Smoke and Ashes Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Smoke and Ashes Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Smoke and Ashes Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Smoke and Ashes Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Stone Cold Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Stone Cold Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Stone Cold Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Stone Cold Nail Lacquer

China Glaze Hunger Games Nail Lacquer
China Glaze Luxe and Lush over Smoke and Ashes Nail Lacquer

50 Comments

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Makaegan Avatar

Hmm. Four from the first set, four from this one. That’s six more than I intended to purchase before I saw the swatches…I have a problem 🙁

AniBEE Avatar

I really hope this collection come to my salleys as I want to get a Luxe and Lush as Zoya’s Fleck Effects is not sold in Canada and Finger Paints FX shades never made it to my Sally’s as well.

Annabelle Avatar

I have shine of the times and I doubt its anything like Luxe and Lush. Shine of the times has smaller flakes and reflects more of a rainbow effect. Unless you really think they’re similar, I think you can justify getting both 🙂

Cynthia Avatar

Thanks for the swatches, from Part 2, I really like the finish on Stone Cold, Smoke & Ashes, & Luxe and Lush combined with Smoke and Ashes! I really hope they do mini set with this collection like OPI does with theirs.

Sunny Avatar

This is wacky. I was thinking Luxe and Lush would look GREAT layered over Smoke and Ashes before I scrolled to the last picture! I really like these two, but last time I tried to wear a remotely black nail polish (OPI Lincoln Park After Dark) on my fingers it freaked me out, so I’m not sure if I want to try that again.

Kate Avatar

I love the Hunger Games! super excited for the movie 🙂 and while Smoke and Ashes is from Kat’s district, and is really pretty.. Stone Cold has to be my favorite, judging by your (always excellent!) swatches. Looks absolutely gorgeous.

Brenda Avatar

Hmm..even though the brush strokes are unfortunate they do give the impression of the fishing lines for the District!!! I really like Riveting and Stone Cold.

Maggie Avatar

Whoa! You’re so right! I didn’t even think about it like that. It’s unfortunate the formula on this one is so streaky. I think the color looks lovely otherwise–I was coveting a warm dark grey shimmer too.

Maggie Avatar

I heard that was what China Glaze originally tried to do. But for some reason, they had to change the names. From what I hear, “Dress Me Up” was originally supposed to be named for Primrose.

Kaley Avatar

I want Agro, Foie Gras, Harvest Moon, Smoke and Ashes, and Luxe and Lush. I’ve seen swatches of Essie’s Shine of the Times over blue and black nail polish and it’s definitely different enough from Luxe and Lush to justify buying both, haha.

Rachael Avatar

I now own Stone Cold and Smoke and Ashes! Currently wearing Smoke and Ashes and it’s beautiful! However I do wish that the blue and green glitter was slightly more pronounced. Hopefully going to pick up Luxe and Lush so I can layer it like you did Christine! 🙂 I really like this collection.

Andrea Avatar

Harvest Moon and Riveting absoluely glow! And Stone Cold is beautiful and really different (at least for me!), as well. Really love these three.

blahitslizz Avatar

Luxe and Lush was the very first one I wanted when the collection came out, i got it as soon as I could and I love it soo much!

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