Wow...just wow...that's all I have to say about this color. It's funny, I had been visiting Chanel Paradoxal at Nordstrom for about 2 months. Every time I went by the Chanel counter, I'd stop at look at Paradoxal. You see, I just wasn't sure I needed it, especially when I had Dior's Lemon Balm from last fall. But a few weeks ago, after realizing that I was doing this *every* time I walked through Nordstrom (in my defense, the Chanel nail polish does face right out to the mail aisle to get to the rest of the mall), I finally sprang for it. And couldn't wait to get home and put in on my nails. I love it. I do. I love love love love it. The next day, I called one of my fellow nail junkies to coo about Paradoxal...yes, it's that bad. And she agreed about the gorgeousness because she borrowed it when we got pedis together a few days later.
Of late, I had stopped buying Chanel polish, because I wasn't loving anything enough to pay the price for it. I thought Pariculiere was a fab color, but OPI's YDKJ was enough taupe for me. And I wasn't feeling any of the summer colors. And I finally realized that much as I like Blue Satin, OPI's Light My Sapphire is a better navy for me - less bright, more gray. And I heard reports of chipping issues with Jade... And... And... And... For me to spend that much on a polish it has to be pretty spectacular.
This one is. To start, Chanel polishes usually show on the nail a bit different than in the bottle - most often, it's that there is less sparkle on the nail than in the bottle. With Paradoxal, if I had known what it would look like on my nails, I would have gotten it sooner. In the bottle there is a very bright purple iridescent quality to it. But on the nail, the color morphs a bit darker, with subtle sheen in the sunlight.
How would I describe the color? Hmmmmm. It's just a gorgeous bit of smoky violet-taupe mysterious goodness. Application is fantastic. Even without my fave OPI wide brush, it applies like a dream. Not too thick, but not too thin. 2 coats really is all you need. It's funny as I post this, because I just put it on my fingers again last night.
Closest comparisons with my polish collection, with notes because, as I said, Paradoxal definitely presents as much deeper on the nail than in the bottle.
Sephora OPI Metro Chic: Paradoxal is definitely deeper/darker.
OPI You Don't Know Jacques: Paradoxal is more purple, less brown/gray.
Dior Lemon Balm: Paradoxal doesn't have as much shimmer - and it's deeper.
Bottom line - HIGHLY recommend this one, if you've been feeling the urge. It's still available online at Chanel.com, and my local Nordstrom had several bottles left in the case - so your local store may have it as well.
