China Glaze

China Glaze is an American nail-lacquer brand headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was established in 1998 and acquired in 2005 by American International Industries, the personal-care group that remains its parent company [1]. The brand built its identity around coloured nail lacquer, and its catalogue now runs to more than 300 shades.

The name points to the material at the heart of the product. China Glaze lacquers contain China Clay as a nail hardener — the same clay that gives porcelain its hard, glossy surface — and the brand says the name was inspired by the sturdiness and durability of china and porcelain [1]. The brand remains active, with an online store and ongoing seasonal collections.

China Glaze was founded in 1998 by another manufacturer and was initially conceived as a professional-only brand, sold through the channels used by nail salons and technicians [1]. Demand from consumers led the company to expand into direct retail sales. The founders of the original venture are not documented in available sources.

In 2005 the brand was acquired by American International Industries (AII), a Los Angeles personal-care company that owns more than 60 brands [2]. AII's portfolio places China Glaze alongside sister labels including Ardell, Andrea, Clubman, Surgi, Clean + Easy and Gena.

Nail lacquer is the core of the range, organised by colour family and sold under the tagline "Live in Colour" [1]. Beyond lacquer, the brand offers nail care such as base and top coats, and a tools line marketed as Flowery covering files, buffers and kits.

The defining technical feature is China Clay, which the company presents as a nail hardener that produces a harder feel as the colour is applied and a more resilient finish [1]. New shades are introduced twice a year, with the company citing inspiration from nature, social media and everyday observation. According to trade coverage, the brand frames itself as a one-stop shop for nail enthusiasts across all demographics, with particular appeal to younger consumers interested in nail art [1].

China Glaze is distributed through multiple retail channels in the United States, including Ulta Beauty, CVS, Rite Aid and Sally Beauty, as well as the drug channel [1]. Its products are also sold internationally.

The brand markets a line called Eco Glaze, which it describes as an eco-conscious, plant-based nail-colour range. Product copy for the collection states that the shades are "vegan and plant-based" and "cruelty-free" [3]. These claims are made for the Eco Glaze line specifically; China Glaze does not list third-party certifications such as Leaping Bunny on the sources reviewed.

China Glaze is an active brand. Its e-commerce site carries a 2025 copyright and more than 300 lacquer shades, and trade press in late 2024 reported plans to focus on new collections through 2025 [1]. The brand operates across multiple regions, and its parent company, American International Industries, continues to operate.