Comparison: Chanel – Paradoxal (509) vs. Models Own – Purple Grey layered with CND – Amethyst Sparkle
Hi everyone!
It surely isn’t wrong to say that Chanel’s Paradoxal (509) nail polish from their Fall 2010 collection will be yet another hyped nail polish. Because Paradoxal is a really pretty color I would even dare to say that the hype is justified.
Chanel made beautiful nail polishes in the last time: Particulière, Nouvelle Vague and of course Jade (where I am still not over the fact that Jade wasn’t available in Germany).
However what bugs me is that not only nail polish loving customers are looking forward to the next big Chanel nail polish – no, also ebay sellers love them. And what they love the most is to buy them before the regular nail polish lover can and sell them on ebay for prices which are not only too high but also despicable.
With the help of a great fellow nail polish lover I was able to get my hands on a bottle of Paradoxal for me and my dear friend Susanne and when the envelope arrived it made my day! Paradoxal is gorgeous. It is a stunning color between gray and purple and the purple shimmer is the icing on the cake. But is it really unique?
Almost.
With Models Own’s Purple Grey there is a great alternative available and if you add a layer of a transparent nail polish with purple shimmer you will have a great and almost perfect dupe.
First let’s take a look at how Paradoxal compares to Purple Grey on its own:
Not bad, right? I don’t know where my camera picked up the darker color of Paradoxal in contrast to Purple Grey but IRL they are closer than the camera makes them appear. Paradoxal’s base color is a tad darker but not as much as the camera shows us. So if you are looking for a non-shimmery version of Paradoxal I recommend to pick up Purple Grey. 
Because there are great layering nail polishes available like for example the CND effect nail polishes you also can create an even better dupe.
Unfortunately I don’t own CND’s Violet Shimmer – which I think would be one of the best layering options over Purple Grey – but if you love sparkles more than shimmer CND’s Amethyst Sparkle is a great alternative:
The only downside of Purple Grey is that it contains Toluene but besides this it is a great and cheaper creme alternative to Chanel’s Paradoxal.
I hope you found this post helpful and thanks for looking!
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WOW!
Whooooaaaa!!! Nearly identical! I like the Models Own/CND BETTER! That “hidden shimmer” is such a tease, ya know?
Dionela: Indeed!
Yes the shimmer of Paradoxal is almost invisible if you don’t look at your nails in direct sunlight, raz.
Your version is way better. Way.
Models Own Purple Grey is one of my absolute faves and you made me love it even more!
THANK YOU! I’m so glad I discovered your blog. 
nice post with alternatives unfortunately in the us models own isn’t availible–have u tried that experiment with $opi metro chic and cnd?
Awesome!! I look forward to get it! *winkiss*
I actually like the Models Own/CND combo way, way better than Paradoxal!
aaminahs mom: Models Own does ship international as far as I know.
$OPI’s Metro Chic is much lighter than Paradoxal and Purple Grey unfortunately.
Thank you so much, Jenni!
Aww thanks, Belle! I am glad that you love Purple Grey even more now!
Thank you so much, Zara!
wow that models own is a very pretty color, and with the amethist looks amazing
btw which brand is the amethist? what does CND means?
Yours looks great! I could never pay those high ebay prices!! But obviously plenty of people are: So it’s the ebay buyers that are the real issue! And I think Chanel likes it that way.
I’m already sick of hearing Paradoxal! My pick is Chanel Fatal Rouge for AW10! The Models Own/CND version is much better, not a great shimmer fan myself, so I rather have the option of layering shimmer top coats if I want to. Good to know, great post!
CND means Creative Nail Design but since the relaunch of the brand it is mostly only called CND, Andrea.
Partly it is also the fault of ebay buyers because they are willing to pay such high prices but I do mostly blame the ebay sellers. They sometimes or even often now buy parts of the stocks before the regular customer can, jkb.
Thank you, Stylishly Yours!
The hype can get annoying, yes.
thank you for the info
Love this! So glad that you posted the pictures
I’m going to get Purple Grey. It is so pretty!
Great swatches! They’re all beautiful to me – gah!
Nice comparison! Thanks!
<3
I knew that Purple Grey would be a good dupe but I don’t have Paradoxal to compare! Thanks for confirming my suspicions and making me feel strangely triumphant! And for saving me £20! x
Love it!
Wow, Chanel’s Paradoxal lakje is prachtig!
Very nice!!!! I got paradoxal as a birthday gift. It’s nice but not amazing! The shimmer is barely noticable. This is a great mix!!!! Good job!
The Chanel is definitely more subtle and classy, but the layered mani is still GORGEOUS!
Great shimmer!!!
Wow, finally, a comparison that works and a real alternative to Paradoxal. I have searched the online shop directly but unfortunately the Models Own Onlineshop fixed a minimum order of £ 20.00 for all international orders and charges delivery rates of £ 9.95. If you just want THIS polish, it seems to be expensive for an order from germany ….
As a former beauty writer who has reviewed many nail polishes, I am sorry to say, but I don’t think Purple Grey is a dynamite dupe for Chanel’s Paradoxol. The difference IMHO is quite obvious, but then again, this is not a Chanel polish that I’m loving. Why go to the trouble of buying a dupe, then CND, and a special top coat, either splurge for the Chanel (you are worth it
, or simply go without it as they are busy getting ready to put out new colors shortly. The only Chanel shade I loved and still do and have is White Satin, it’s a clean and gorgeous polish on any nails.