Collonil Azalea Shoe Cream 465 – 60ml Pigmented Colour Cream for Smooth Leather

Description

Collonil Shoe Cream 465 Azalea – bright pink that stays bright

Pink shoes are wonderful right up until the moment they start to look tired, and they start to look tired sooner than any other shade. Pink pigment is fugitive in sunlight, it greys off with dust, and the toe goes first. Collonil’s shade 465 is the answer: a clean, bright azalea pink that puts the colour back rather than dulling it down.

You will see this jar labelled Azalee on some packaging, which is simply the German spelling of the same flower. It is the same shade either way – azalea pink, a warm, saturated pink with a little blue in it, which is what stops it looking like calamine lotion on the shoe.

This azalea shoe cream comes in Collonil’s 60ml jar with a metal screw lid, and the jar itself is made from recycled plastic. Sixty millilitres is generous for a colour cream; unless you are working on a lot of pink leather, one jar will last years. The pigment level is high, which is exactly what a pale, bright shade needs in order to cover.

One thing worth knowing before you start: this cream is happy on smooth synthetic leather as well as the real thing, which is not true of every colour cream. A great many pink shoes and bags are made from coated or synthetic leather, so that matters. It is not for suede or nubuck – those need a spray or a dabber instead.

Why choose this azalea shoe cream?

• High pigment for a difficult shade. Bright pinks are the hardest colours to restore because there is nowhere for a weak pigment to hide. Collonil load this cream heavily, so faded toes and scuffed edges come back to an even azalea rather than a blotchy one.
• Nourishes while it recolours. This is a care product first. The cream feeds the leather so it stays supple, which is what actually prevents the cracking that makes pink shoes look old before their time.
• Works on smooth synthetics too. Plenty of pink footwear is made from coated or synthetic leather. This cream is formulated for both, so you are not limited to full-grain leather shoes.
• A generous 60ml jar. Sixty millilitres with a metal screw lid, in a jar made from recycled plastic. It is a lot of cream for the money and the lid seals properly, so it does not dry out between uses.
• Even, natural shine. Buffed up, the finish is a soft satin rather than a hard gloss, which suits pink far better – a high shine on a bright colour tends to look artificial.
• German shoe care since 1909. Collonil have been making leather care in Berlin for well over a century, and the consistency of their colour range is why we stock so much of it.

How to use Collonil Shoe Cream

1. Brush away loose dust and dirt with a soft brush, and make sure the shoes are completely dry before you begin.
2. Clean the surface properly with a leather cleaner or lotion so the cream bonds to leather rather than to old polish.
3. Take a small amount of cream on a cloth or dauber and spread it thinly and evenly across the whole shoe, not just the faded patch.
4. Work carefully into the flex creases, along the welt and around the heel counter, where colour loss always shows first.
5. Let it dry for around ten minutes until the surface hazes over slightly.
6. Buff with a horsehair brush and finish with a soft cloth. Add a second thin coat if the pink is not yet even.

Specifications

• Volume: 60ml jar with metal screw lid
• Shade: 465 Azalea – bright pink
• Type: Pigmented colour cream / shoe cream
• Suitable for: Smooth leather and smooth synthetic leather; not suede or nubuck
• Brand: Collonil
• Price: £6.99

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this on pink synthetic leather shoes?

Yes. Unlike many pigmented creams, Collonil Shoe Cream is formulated for smooth synthetic and coated leather as well as genuine leather, which is handy because a great many pink shoes and bags are made that way. What it will not do is work on suede or nubuck – for those you want a suede spray or a dabber, which will keep the nap open.

Will one coat cover a badly faded toe?

Often, but not always. Bright shades ask more of a pigment than dark ones do, so on a toe that has gone properly pale I would plan for two thin coats with a light buff in between rather than one heavy one. Thin layers dry evenly and never transfer onto your tights or trousers, which a thick coat certainly will.

Where can I buy azalea shoe cream in the UK?

You can order Collonil Shoe Cream 465 Azalea directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy, so you can buy with complete confidence.