The Chanel Fall 2010 collection is trickling in stores and finally arrived at a Neimans near me. Among the things I picked up, the most anticipated item for me was the new Paradoxal 509 Nail Polish. I saw it featured by Jen at Beauty Moogle and fellow Chanel fan Leslieal sent me pics of it swatched on her. It’s an odd shade because it looks so different depending on what lighting your fingers are in making it a bit difficult to tell what it really looks like. If you’ve seen the photos on the web you may be wondering, “so which photo is the most accurate?” My answer is: they all seem to be accurate, it just depends on what light you’re in.In the bottle Paradoxal is a greyed mauve plum with visible purple shimmer. On the nails, the shimmer disappears, much like Vendetta (Spring 2009) and Jade Rose (featured here) which has been repromoted with the fall collection. In the sunlight there is a subtle sheen to the polish but from arm’s length, it appears to be a flat-cream finish. The formula and finish on this shade is pretty good. I was able to get a full color application with 2 coats. While I would have liked the shimmer to be more visible, I did like that it applied smoothly without streaks. I took a number of photos in different lighting:
Swatches all applied with 2 coats, no topcoat:
Photo with high flash:
Photographed in artificial light:
This is what the color looks like in natural light:
Compared to NARS Tokaïdo Express & Chanel Vendetta 483:
Artificial light (shimmer is not as visible):
With high flash (shimmers visible here):
Outdoors, natural light:
I found the collection at Neimans, but I’ve also heard reports that it’s available at Macy’s. My Nordstrom and Macy’s both said they weren’t expecting the shipment until right before July 4th. So those still trying to hunt the collection down – it will most likely be in store near you within the next week.
Oh my gosh, I have been stalking my Nordstrom for this color!!
Can't wait to get my hands on it. It looks so gorgeous on you!!!
I love the color! Is there any good dupes???
Hi Andi – you and me both. It's embarrassing but I've been calling stores nonstop. I'm so excited to get it 🙂
Anonymous – I knew someone was going to ask me that! LOL, not that I know of, at least not in my stash. I feel like I've seen something similar before, I just can't put my finger on it. If I find any I will surely post them.
Its a beautiful color. thanks for taking the tym to clik so many pics and giving us accurate idea…thats hard work! Highly Appreciated….:)
Gorgeous! Thanks for posting? Did you get to see the blushes and quad? If so do you recall if the blushes were powdery or baked? Thanks:)
It's beautiful and unique enough for me! My Bloomingdales should be receiving it shortly. Thanks for sharing :))
omg this color is so so so gorgeous! i can't wait to get my own! <3
Lovely colour although I think I like the Nars better – gorgeous shades for winter
Hi Resham – Glad they helped 🙂
Cristina – I did check out the blushes and quad. The quad at Neimans has the squares (not baked). The blushes however, this year, are baked like the Euro formulas 🙁 I really hope they keep the US formulas.
RMcandlelight – You're welcome. Hope it arrives at Bloomies soon!
SimMichikO – I like it too. It will be nice for fall. I want to wear it now though, lol.
Stefanie – the NARS is pretty too, just different.
Hey Sabrina! Lovely pictures, they really bring out the differnt looks of this shade… Off the top of my head I feel that Revlon's "No Shrinking Violet" might be a good dupe for this, I dodn't own it myself but I have seen pictures of it. But still the Chanel is more unique in my opinion…
I didn't realize that the blushes were baked this time.. I love the US finish and don't own any Euro/Asia Chanel products, which do you like better?
Thanks Sabrina for letting me know! I really don't like the Euro formula:( did you like any of the blushes and or the quad?
Wow this shade is so complex. I think it's also much better than Particuliere! Have popped it into my wish list 😛
is it comparable to opi metro chic minus the shimmer
I think its a bit special and will definitely be trying to get this!
this is such a gorgeous color! I'm so tempted… will be perfect for fall!
shimmering2light.blogspot.com
I love this shade, so pretty, it's kinda muted purple color. I have to keep bugging the Nordie's by me to see if they got the fall collection yet. I'll be posting the colors of the lipglosses in a few minutes. =)
It looks like it is a rival for Butter London's new Fall 2010 color Marrow that was especially formulated for the Vena Cava runway show. Marrow is a greyed plum but with multicolored glitter. Paradoxal lloks great. I can't wait to see a comparison of both somewhere.
thanks for posting this! so helpful!
This is the one item that I have been truly excited over. Ironically it is a nail polish and I thought I would never purchase a Chanel polish. But I don't think this a shade that I could dupe!
Chanel polishes tend to chip on me but I think I may need to get that beauty, guess I just need to find a good topcoat 🙂
oh i love that color a lot! it's like a muddy purple, what a nice surprise with the purple opulecent shimmer 🙂
great swatches as always xo
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.