Ahhh Chanel, you’ve done it again. You’ve made me a believer.
It’s not that often that I feel the *need* to purchase a Chanel nail polish. I skipped Jade. I passed over Nouvelle Vague. Too much hype, not enough payoff in my eyes. But this, THIS is worth it to me.
Paradoxal is one of the new colors for fall 2010. It’s such a “me” color, and though I hate coughing up $23.00 for a single polish, I will if the color is special enough.
The formula on this baby is what you would hope and expect from Chanel. It’s smooth and opaque in just two coats.
Paradoxal is a dusty, taupe-y, mauve-y, purple with blue and pink shimmer. She’s a BEUAT and I am smitten. I own nothing like this color whatsoever, I am happy to say. Nope, can’t do comparison swatches because I don’t have anything to compare it to in my collection. 🙂
Mmmmmmm, shimmer…
I had to show it in various “hand placement shots” so you could get the full effect. 🙂
You can find this baby online now at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Snatch it while it’s available!
Are you buying into the hype on this one?
-VV
56 comments
A huge sweetheart is actually CPing this for me , it’s to die for!! Your swatches are fab, make me love it even more haha.
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Hi Michele,
Awesome, I think you are going to love it. 🙂
I sure am!! I’m getting it from the US though, since Paradoxal won’t be available in The Netherlands till October (!) 🙂
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Hi Daph,
Yeah that’s too long to wait you need it now!
Your pics turned out great- I had a little trouble getting a good shot myself, but you can really see the shimmer in yours.
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Hi Sasha,
Thank you, I took a million pics of it 🙂
The answer to the question you posed is….YES!!!! I am sooo buying this.
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Hi Belle,
Yay!
Yep, I totally am! I got mine about 2 weeks ago, but haven’t gotten around to using it yet. 🙁 My husband asked me what was so special about it given my current (huge-ish) polish collection and then looked at it and said, “Oh, ok. That looks pretty cool.” Hehe!
Hi Stephanie,
Oooh you need to try it out soon. I love that your husband saw it’s beauty also haha.
Thanks for the swatch! Do you know of any dupes of the top of your head? Also your rings are stunning!
Hi Alicia,
As I mentioned in the post there are no dupes that I own. Thanks!
This is so gorgeous. The 23 dollar price tag is holding me back though…
Hi Serena,
Yeah $23 is steep…but it will last a long time! 😉
i was kinda on the fence, seemed like a taupey/grey in pics…full sun makes me a believer too. very very pretty i can reallly se the purple which beckons me–haha
HI aaminahs mom,
The sun really makes it pop. It does look more creme-like in low lighting.
I didn’t think I wanted this until I saw your swatches!
Hi Suji,
Glad I could help, hahaha 🙂
I’m still on the fence about it. I vowed to never buy a Chanel polish again after the disappointing application of the summer polishes. I really like this color but I’m not sure that Chanel polishes are for me.
ahh I just caved and got it from chanel.com! I wasn’t planning on it since I just bought a few RBL polishes this week.. but with chanel you never know when things sell out! 😛
Hi Suji,
That is very true!!
I caved and ordered it a coupla days ago. What’s interesting to me is how different it appears on different blogs. It’s a hard color to capture and looks totally different in different lighting. I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.
Hi GwenSA,
That’s true it looks totally different in various lighting situations also. I like it best in the sun though!
I never thought I’d pay over $20 for nail polish, but Paradoxal did me in. I’m a sucker for unique purples and the application is buttery smooth, so it’s totally worth it for me.
Hi Laura,
Glad you thought it was worth the price!
I think I have too many purples to pull the trigger on this one, and I’ve been obsessing over cremes so I think I can safely pass. I haven’t bought a Chanel color yet but I’ve been dreading the day just because of the cost! (although I’m sure I will one day!! haha)
Hi Sara,
Yeah I don’t buy every Chanel that comes out either, it must be special 🙂
Oh my, I would so much love to have this, but shipping costs at Saks Fifth Avenue are just too much (more than a polish itself). Two Chanel polishes with shipping here in Finland would have cost 75 euros, about 95 $!! I checked at ebay too but no good deals right at this moment. But maybe one of these days… 🙂
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Hi Amabile,
Ohhh man that’s not good, sorry! Hope you get it one day soon!
i la la love this on you! can’t wait to wear mine 😀 i can’t believe i haven’t worn it yet!
Hi kelliegonzo,
You NEED to get it on your fingers woman!
She is BEATUIFUL!!! I need to go get this one!!!
Hi Arlyn,
Yes you do!! 🙂
You’ve done it again Kelly:
You have shown me a polish I have to order from Chanel. Coco Chanel. “…Paradoxal is one of the new colors for fall 2010…” I thought it was hard not to get the Zoya Wonderful collection polishes that I love so much.
However, this purple formula and of course the two swatches of “I had to show it in various “hand placement shots” so you could get the full effect…” Just melted my wallet and credit cards, LOL Do woman always go ga ga over an amazing nail varnish like Paradoxal? It must be my “nail polish fanatic side of my brain,” that causes me to go “ga ga” for an awesome looking nail polish being a guy…It doesn’t mater I know sooner or later I would flip over one of your favorites.
Is it best to order directly on-line from Chanel or Overall Beauty/Sephora.com?
Nameste.
Have a great weekend everyone.
((((Love Kelly))))
Mc Huggs 🙂
Hi McHuggs,
It is gorgeous isn’t it?! Neither Sephora or Overall Beauty carry Chanel cosmetics, you would have to get it from Saks, Nordstrom or Chanel’s sites.
I got this in the mail yesterday. It’s even more gorgeous in person! I can’t wait to wear this. I might even put it on tonight.
Hi Carrie,
Awesome!
It’s gorgeous! I can’t afford it, but it’s a beauty!
Hi lacquerholic,
Yes it is 🙂
A gorgeous color. I hav enot seen to many Chanel colors I like but this one is a must have!
Hi Elysia,
I know it’s pretty unique!
Yeah, I bought it, hook, line and sinker, and I LOVE IT!
Hi Jackie S.,
Awesome!!
I’m just not digging Paradoxal…
Ahhhh, sh*&… I had to buy it online today. I am normally absolutely, completely against spending that much for a polish. But your pictures show that this is absolutely ME. And when I get it, even if it is not fall, I am wearing it proudly 🙂
I fell head over heels for this one. I’ve seen some beautiful Chanel polishes in the past, but this is the first one that I HAD to own. LOVE!!!
Ordered. First Chanel polish! Enough said….
p.s. Couldn’t find online at Nordstrom, so I ordered direct from Chanel.
oh gosh i love colours like this. something muted grey with a cloudiness that barely reveals a gorgeous shimmer. fantastic colour! thanks for posting
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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.
Your swatches are great though. I keep coming back to this site because you always accurately capture the shimmer in your macro shots.
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Just not getting the love. Let’s be honest – unless you magnify the images etc it’s just a standard dullish muted purple.
Hi Kelly,
I love the color because it is definitely unique. I can’t justify the price tag though. Enjoy yours. The color looks fab on you.
Your pics really show the bright shade and the shimmer – other pics show it to be more muddy, opaque with little shimmer. I have to admit I am in two minds over this one as well. By the time this hits our shores the hype will be so big that the few Chanel counters won’t even be taking names for a waiting list 🙁 so I don’t know if I should even bother asking for a bottle to be kept for me. I agree that it is certainly original and since my favourite shades of polish are purple and taupe, well, it would be a sin not to at least try it out, right?
Love your close up shimmer shot.
Former nail tech–love polish! Vendetta and Particuliere had a baby–it’s called Paradoxal! Love it!
Oh Chanel. Love love love the color, hate hate hate the price/formula. Same story as always. They come up with great colors, but they need to fix their formula. I probably still wouldn’t buy it, just because $23 is so much for one polish, but I’d at least maybe consider it. But that color is really delicious! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.
Woops, I just realized you were saying the formula is good on this. Haha, nevermind my rant. And yay that is so good to hear, finally!