Chanel Paradoxal: My Love Affair

*Please excuse the sloppy paint job! I didn't have time to clean it up before the sun went down but I did manage to capture the versatility of the color.

Chanel Paradoxal is one of the two varnishes released in the Fall of 2010.

Color and Finish: I gave this post the title "My Love Affair" because my favorite color to wear on my fingernails is gold. I'm not one to cheat on gold and wear a dark color consistently but Paradoxal has been my go-to shade since I've purchased it. Indoors and away from the windows, it's a rich and creamy, graphite-tinged, ultra-cool purple. It's nowhere near as dramatic as black but has more edge than your average purple. In the sunlight, however, Paradoxal transforms. I catch myself staring at my nails in front of the window just to peek again at the mesmerizing effect of Paradoxal's burgundy and violet shimmers. The purple base color of the varnish also changes to a more vibrant and red-based. This varnish's color is heavily dependent on the lighting!

Application: Paradoxal applies similarly to Particuliere, so I recommend two thin layers or one heavy coat. I've tested both methods numerous times now but I prefer the latter to avoid brush strokes. Also, this varnish sets fairly quickly. I prefer rapidly drying nail varnishes because it allows for fewer opportunities to dent-or ruin completely-my nails!

Dupe: This shade has no dupe. Yes, a few may be somewhat similar but duality of the varnish is what makes Paradoxal truly unique! No other shade I own [or have seen] looks so creamy in the shade and under fluorescent lights but so shimmery in under the sun's rays. And unlike with Mistral, the shimmer particles are quite apparent!

Verdict: Cool purples are hard for me to wear because the grey tones can make my hands look ashy. Paradoxal, however, is a success! I have seen it look a bit muddy on some women who have a bit of ruddiness to their skin but thankfully, my hands are much more yellow than my face so Paradoxal suits my hands well.

RAEview's Rating: A