chanel paradoxal (fall 2010)

what is left to say about chanel paradoxal, that haven't been said already? it was released as the only polish in their autumn 2010 collection, and it is still one of the best known chanel polishes,  together with particuilere that was released one year earlier. at that moment, both of these polishes were truly unique, with nothing even close to being a dupe.

the color is now well known mushroomy taupe-grey with purple undertone and shimmer that is really visible only under direct sunlight, and absolutely impossible to capture. for years, i have been searching for ways to photograph it, to no luck.

it applis beautifully and pigmentation is great. i managed to get a couple of rays of sun, enough to wake the shimmer up, but i really like how it looks in shade too, it has some sort of mystery around it and i am convinced that those colors look good on everyone.

picture polish sisters (collaboration shade)

sisters goes back to 2016 batch of picture polish collaboration shades. it was made in collab with nail polish society

this polish is quite unique, even in this world where it feels like we've seen it all. it is described as  "purple-brown holographic nail polish with holo flakes that glimmer in direct sunlight".

it is not an easy shade to describe. it is an interesting mixture of grey, purple and brown, with added picture polish's signature holo flakies. it's an earthy neutral, and even though it gives sweater weather vibes, it is for all seasons.

natural light:

ysl beige gallery (fall and winter 2013)

i'm sure i made it clear that i could buy any ysl polish without even looking at it, and still be blown away by it. beige gallery is no exception.

i was really anxious about getting the ysl fall-winter trio. beige gallery may not be the most unique shade in the world, but it cemented my decision that any creme polish that i buy will be from them (unless they don't have anything similar).

the colour is a bit difficult to describe, but my photos are really faithful. the shade is not completely taupe, not completely beige and not completely brown, but somewhere inbetween. i find it to be gorgeous, and it matches one of my sweaters perfectly.

formula is flawless, and ysl brush is my favourite.

natural light:

chanel rose fusion (vamp attitude)

rose fusion, from chanel's  2015 holiday collection called vamp attitude, is one of the polishes that always surprises me. i keep forgetting how pretty it is.

i would have probably overlooked this one. the botlle can fool you to think that this is a dull polish, while in reality, it is one of the most complex. the amount of colours and finishes in one bottle is crazy. on  a cloudy day, it is a gorgeous purple to taupe duochrome, while at sun it becomes a more bronzy metallic polish with awesome silvery shimmer.

it is really unique and magnificent, as if you are wearing a different polish every time you look at your nails. the formula is a bit brushstrokey, but it's really fine. i have a lots of pictures, because i couldn't resist.

cloudy day:

china glaze ingrid (vintage vixen)

i'm still in a vintage world,  and my choice is ingrid from china glaze's perfect vintage vixen collection for autumn 2010.

just look at all of the gems in this collection! only  other i have foxy, but if i had to start my collection from scratch, i would start from vintage vixen. ingrid is just perfect. base color is amazing light brown leaning to taupe, almost like molten chocolate with just the right amount of golden shimmer. i'm looking at this pictures and i want to wear it again!

i really love this polish, everything is perfect about it, including formula and application, and it's the best dupe for dior exquis that i also own and love.

natural light:

a england virgin queen (elizabeth and mary)

it's time for another a england beauty, this time it's virgin queen from elizabeth and mary collection.

virgin queen is one of the hardest polishes to describe. the colour is is at the same time taupe, silver, gold, bronze, even olive. pewter is maybe the one that sums it up the best. even at a england they had to resort to using quite a few words: "pewter prismatic hue with pink undertones and a complex grey/olive/copper cast, soft but visible scattered holographic effect"

at the same time, it is slightly metallic and duochrome, but definitely a scattered holo. formula is, as always, impeccable. 

natural light:

illamasqua facet (sacred hour)

i don't have a lot of illamasqua's, but the ones i have are amazing. and facet, from the sacred hour collection for autumn 2013,  may be my star.

facet is a perfect taupe, leaning more towards brown in sunlight and grey in the shade. it's real beauty lies in the amazing maching with the dense coppery and golden fleckish type of shimmer. i would say its really unique.

one down side, although the formula and application are good, is the opacity. it is on the sheer side, and it takes either two really thick or three thin coats for perfect coverage.

natural light:

collistar grafite lacca (carisma)

collistar's grafite lacca, from their carisma collection for autumn 2011, is one of my favourite polishes ever. i got it as a present and simply love it!

this is the only collistar polish i own, and the one my friends used to borrow a bit too often. it has a brush similar to opi's, so it works awesome for me. the shade is the most perfect muddy of all times, just the right mixture of beige, taupe, grey with a dash of blue. 

formula is awesome, because everything abut this polish is awesome. i think i will never ever get to it's last drop (and i am approaching that stage) but i will continue preserving it and looking at it for the whole eternity.