Chanel Paradoxal Swatch, Review & Comparison
Coco Chanel’s iconic style was a study in contrasts. She boldly mixed black and white, masculine and feminine, classic and modern. Paying tribute to her unique vision, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, has created a makeup collection for Fall 2010 that brings bold emphasis to the eyes, and keeps lips soft and delicate.
I am the furthest thing from a style icon but I can still relate to the contrasting theme of Chanel’s Fall 2010 makeup collection. In some ways I am a walking paradox. A math and science girl like me could never have imagined a career as a blogger. As a Chemical Engineering major, I dropped out of Freshman English three times. True story! Keeping the emphasis on the eyes and nails, Peter Philips has mixed dark and stormy with sweet and feminine and the star of the show for me is Paradoxal, a grey violet shade that the wordsmiths at AOL StyleList have dubbed “griolet.” |
Paradoxal is definitely more grey than violet. It’s a deep and mysterious taupe-y grey with an undercurrent of purple shimmer that gives the color a cool sheen in natural light and a hint of sparkle in the sun. Indoors it looks much darker than it appears on camera but it was pretty bright on the day I shot this.
For me it’s a great twist on the greige look of last Fall that gave us way too many warm toned polishes and not near enough options for the cool toned girls. Consider Paradoxal to be Particulière’s violet cousin.
Sunlight
Application & Formula: The pigmentation in Paradoxal is spot on. It’s what one would expect from a Chanel lacquer. Smooth, flawless coverage in two easy coats. I had such ease of control over Paradoxal that I was able to create curves along my cuticle that are about as perfect as I can get them. No cleanup necessary.
The question that remains… does Paradoxal have a twin? Unfortunately no. I had a hunch that Dior Lemon Balm might be a winner but, even if it was, it’s LE and not a cost effective alternative. Sephora by OPI Metro Chic is a cool toned taupe but it’s much lighter than Paradoxal. In my stash there are no twins but if you already own Lemon Balm it may satiate your need.
Sunlight
Bottom line: Paradoxal is unique enough to warrant a look. It’s sure to be one of the hot colors for Fall. Considering that it lives up to the high Chanel quality standard nail fanatics have placed on the brand, you won’t be disappointed in your purchase.
Chanel Paradoxal is available now on Chanel.com and at Chanel counters nationwide. Polishes retail for $23/ea.
So what do we think? Are you on board with “griolet” as the big trend for Fall? Do you have suggestions for possible Paradoxal dupes?
Disclosure: A product sample was furnished by Chanel. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
I love this! I will definatly be adding it to my Chanel polish collection when it’s released in the UK!
It reminds me of Metallic Vamp a little, just with a touch more sparkle in it, perhaps?
I love the colour!… but I just can’t see myself spending the money on it. I have Metro Chic, it will due for me.
How about a comparison with Borghese Stellare Notte?
I don’t know if I have that. I’ll take a look and report back.
This looks so much better on your nails than it did on mine. After reading this review, I bought a bottle but I ended up returning it because it looked so bad on me. (so disappointed) I’m hoping ChG Bogie will be a better match for me.
Aww, I’m so sorry it didn’t work out for you. Such a shame. You can probably return it or at least exchange it for a color that is more flattering. Bogie is more purple than Paradoxal if that’s what you’re looking for.
I would like to see it compared to Model’s Own Purple Grey, if you have it. Thank you for your brilliant swatches.
I don’t have it but now I want it. Thanks for the suggestion.
I LOVE that color!!!!! I WANT that color!!!! I don’t WANT to spend that much money!!!!
“Will work for nail polish” maybe that will help. :p
My boyfriend picked it up for me! I think it might be my signature color for fall!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/blai_starker/iphone136.jpg
That looks fantastic on you and I love the pic. Thanks for sharing!
Hmn. I’m curious after seeing a swatch of BB Couture for Men Incognito whether they’re very close, or if it’s just the angle of the lighting on the Incognito pic. I saw it over on lextard. Incognito may be less purple, though. If possible, I’d love to see comparison swatches! They could be totally different…
I went to Saks today to try out the color in person and wasn’t impressed. I found the formula thin and watery. I admit that I don’t currently have a color like this in my collection, but I was like “ehh”. I really was looking forward to adding Paradoxyl to my collection because I luuuuuv purple shades, but it just didn’t pull me in. I am interested in seeing how it compares to Butter London’s Marrow when it eventually comes out.
How does it compare to OPI Purple with a purpose?
I was also thinking that if Revlon’s Plum Night had some pink shimmer, it might be a close darker version of Paradoxal.
just bought my bottle yesterday… the color is gorgeous! A really taupe-y purple with a little bit of shimmer.
Cool color! This reminds me of an old OPI shade that they no longer make. Phakaki phikatka plum. Ok I know I definitely spelled that wrong LoL! Does anyone else remember that oldie? I have 1 bottle I purchased last year on ebay for $30 CRAZY!
The thing I love about Chanel polishes is that Peter Phillips has made it a point to bring out one shade every season or two that behaves as a neutral (read: doesn’t clash with all your clothes) while being anything but. This began with Kaleidoscope, continued through Jade (perhaps the strangest thing about that green polish: one could wear it with at least some reds), through Particuliere, and now with Paradoxal. To coin an oxymoron, it is a statement neutral: it allows the wearer to adorn and flatter her hands without apologies or undue fuss, while maintaining an edge.
That said, I tried this stuff in the store, was outraged by the price, and I may have to throw down for it anyway. No dups I know of.
How about a comparison to butter London’s Marrow? It actually got posted for sale on the website tonight, its now available. Since they’re both supposed to be murky purple-greys, I’d love to see them side by side before I buy.
I received Paradoxal today and it remembered me of another polish. I quickly ran to my Helmers and there it was: ModelsOwn’s Purple Grey.
Purple Grey is a creme but the base color is 99,5% Paradoxal and with a layering with either CND’s Amethyst Sparkle or Violet Shimmer it should be an almost perfect dupe.
I posted bottle comparison pics a few minutes ago and I hope I can make a nail comparison as soon as possible.
How funny I should happen across this post right after I painted my nails in Paradoxal! I had never owned a Chanel polish until now, and now Im addicted! It went on so smooth and thick, but not in a bad way. With Seche Vite top coat it is so shiny and pretty, I can see how this is totally a fall trend color!
Great color – I wonder how this would compare to Essie’s Sexy Divide? I guess the Essie lacks the grey undertones, but they still seem to have the sparkly bits in common …
I never thought I would spend 23 dollars on a nail polish but after seeing your swatch I had to. This color did not disappoint I am in love although my husband thought I was crazy…
I tried to buy it yesterday at House of Fraser but they were sold out.I will have to take a trip to Selfridges and hope they have some in stock.
Nails inc in Belgravia is also very similar.
Great post,so great that you show us the colours on your nails! love chanel paradoxal.
The London Life of a Girly Girl, blog.
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I love this color! Have you compared it to Revlon’s Perplex (826)? I would love to see how these two compare!
Barry M’s Dusky Mauve is the perfect dupe. Excactly the same!
What does “It’s LE” mean?
Just a tad out of touch, A
ps I love your thoroughness. And the way you do your nails is INSPIRING. Thanks so much
LE usually means limited edition, but not reading through all these comments not sure where you pulled LE out of. Just hoping that it’s what I normally know LE to mean. Some times you see it as Ltd. – auto industry always has used LE for limited edition…never apologize for being a bit out of touch. I always adore polish, but I do have to stand back from total consumption of buying all the time due to lack of space and I don’t like to part with bottles I have very often. But now that there are wonderful blogs I am turned on to like this one, I can feed my love for polish and hopefully keep a bit more current ongoing. I think I would have stayed current all the time if I lived anywhere there were stores for me to go look in person, I had the time for that, and was not limited by not being able to transport my electric wheelchair for the past 3 years while I collect $ to get an adaptive van for it.
I did not get my by then famous Paradoxal until end of Feb 2010. I was sleeping with regard to polish for a time until Xmas and I gifted a ton of it as well as had to have every shade in the Burlesque collection. My wonderful polish vice was on attack again for knowing all the new and catching up on what I missed. I kept hearing about Paradoxal and when I got it, it did not disappoint. I don’t normally spend this $ amt. on polish but I really wanted to see what the hype was about. It’s now one of my fav go to polishes though summer sandals here now, I am pulling out a lot of spring lights and summer brights for my toes and fingers. But alas, this gal has deep in her heart a place for these “griolet” shades. I hear now there are a ton of dups for this shade, but I sure never have run into any of them – probably all gone by the time I finally got on the bandwagon. Glad I have the original. I might change my mind on my price point for polish since this Channel is far superior in formula to just anything I can think of I have used other than some CND’s I really like.