Chanel Paradoxal Rant!

Last week my poll question was "How much are you willing to spend on a bottle of nail polish?"

Here were the results...
under $5: 20%
$5-$10: 61%
$10-$20: 19%
20+: 0%

If you're new to my blog you may not know, but on this blog I won't review anything over $10. That's just my nail polish philosophy. The reason I love nail polish so much as a hobby is because you don't need to spend a lot to enjoy great nail polish. As we all know there are star polishes from even the cheapest of brands. One reason I started this blog was to show others who want to save money how they can find or create affordable nail products.

I'd have to say the most I'm willing to spend on a nail polish is exactly $10, but that is a rarity. I may do that few times a year. I have 3 BB Couture polishes I spent around $9 on. That's the most I personally spent. On average I usually won't spend more than $4 on nail polish. If it's more than $4 I usually cringe and will only buy if I have some sort of coupon.

I have to admit I had a bit of a reason for posting that poll question this week. I wanted to test the waters before I made a bit of rant over the hype of Chanel Paradoxal. Since no one voted they'd spend more than 20+ I feel a bit more comfortable about being a little more opinionated.

Note: These are purely my opinions. If you want to buy something go for it! I just want to throw out there how I feel about something. I don't want to cause division or conflict in the nail community, but when I have a strong opinion on something I feel I should share.

I don't get the hype around Chanel Paradoxal (Photos from All Lacquered Up). This nail polish is $23! There are some great polishes out there that really speak to me that are over $10. I love many Nfu-Oh flakies and Lippmann heavily packed crazy shaped glitters. I can justify people wanting to spend the extra $$$ for those.

My main complaint with Paradoxal is that sure it looks like unique color with some shimmer, but that does not look like something that you couldn't easily franken or find a similar color of for cheaper. Nfu-Oh flakies or the glitter Lippmanns would be impossible to find dupes of and very difficult to franken with those unique glitters.

$23 is a lot of money especially to me as college student, but even if I had that to spare I'd want to spend on more than 1 bottle of polish especially in Paradoxal's case. It makes me wonder if Paradoxal being the same exact color that it is would have the same amount of hype if it were a Wet n Wild polish or Revlon polish? I wonder if the hype is around the brand name "Chanel" itself. I've heard a few nail blogger comment that quality of the polish isn't that great either? I just don't know if the hype about it is clouded some peoples judgment where they feel the NEED this polish rather than it being some they genuinely want and like.

I honestly don't get it. If this polish speaks to you and you want to spend money on it go for it. I don't want anyone to think I think badly of you because of that or anything. Like, I said I am also tempted by some more expensive brands. I really just don't understand it with Paradoxal. It's like when you're around a group of people and everyone is in on some inside joke and you're the one sitting outside really confused. That's how I feel is there something I'm completely missing that everyone else is getting? I just hope I'm not the only one out there who feels this way! :P

So, in exchange for my whining about this I'm going to take on mission. I don't think it's fair for me to complain and rant about this with out actually testing out my theory. I'm going take on the mission to make a franken as close to Chanel Paradoxal as possible for under $10 OR find a near dupe alternative. It may not be an exact dupe, but I will try to make it so it would be equally as appealing as this Chanel. I will have this mission completed in the next few weeks. Be on the look out for it!

How much is the most you'd spend on a bottle of nail polish? What are your thoughts on Chanel Paradoxal?

All opinions are welcome just because I don't care for something shouldn't make you feel like you can't express your opinions. I want to hear all sides of the story! I also want to make known that I'm not saying polishes that are at a higher cost are not worth purchasing. I just personally don't think Paradoxal is one of those in my opinion.

Sorry I didn't have any pretty pictures today :(

Happy Monday!

July 4th Franken Mani

Happy July 4th out there to my USA friends!

I want to thank you all for your kind comments yesterday regarding my tooth. This weekend has turned out to be pretty awful. There have been some other family things go on this weekend that made things more difficult. Between that and my tooth stuff this weekend has been pretty well....crappy. Bleh. I don't mean to be a downer really, but I can't pretend to be all happy and cheerful when that isn't really how I'm feeling. Everything will be fine though just stressful. No worries :D Nail polish cheers me up.

Anyways here is my July 4th Franken Mani!

I used my red holographic glitter franken called "Firecracker" (1/2 bottle of Pure Ice Siren & 1/2 a bottle of CoverGirl City Lights), my Essie Starry Starry Night franken, China Glaze Sexagon, & Nailene stickers.

It's a bit messy, but oh well. I'm not the greatest at nail art! :P

I used to LOVE 4th of July. It was my favorite holiday. Our family had friends growing up who always threw a great 4th of July party. They always had TONS of awesome toys they gave out to the kids, fireworks, and a great pool to swim in. It was tons of fun. I think that is the only reason it was my favorite holiday was because of those parties! Those people eventually stopped throwing those parties which really bummed me out big time! I guess they ran out of money to buy all those cool toys? Oh well! :P

Happy 4th of July!

China Glaze Purple Panic

Today I'm going to show you China Glaze Purple Panic. I think this is very fitting for today because I am in a bit of a panic! I was chewing on something yesterday and then my tooth started to KILL me. I'm a afraid I may of cracked my tooth or lost a filling. Blah! Bad thing it's a holiday weekend and I'm literally going to have to grin and bear it until Monday. Second thing, I hate going to the dentist. It's one of those irrational fears. I'm the person who needs the laughing gas. I am royal panicking mess at the dentist. Oy...I'm not looking forward to the next few days. So, please forgive me if my posts aren't my usual cheerful self! :P

Also if you are in the Orlando area can you recommend me a dentist? My only dentist is the one I go back home to in Texas. I'm desperate! Thank you!

Purple Panic I'd say is more of a fucshia. It's a bright neon purple/fuchsia with a silvery shimmer. It's a great color! I actually like it way more than I thought I would.

Well, I wish I had more to say, but I'm definitely in panic mode!

Happy Saturday!

Milani Flash Collection

Milani is at it again with another collection this summer. It seems as though they're really throwing them out there this season.

Here is the display..

I'm not 100% sure how to describe these. They go along with the same trend as the Zoya Sparkle & SH HD colors. They look to be glass fleck/duochrome/shimmer goodness

The colors...
In a Flash- magenta glass fleck
Hot Flash- red-burnt orange glass fleck duochrome
Photo Flash- cool toned berry red glass fleck
Flash Light- orange glass fleck duochrome

I only picked up Hot Flash & In A Flash. These are nice, but with so many colors out this season with similar finishes I don't find them to be must haves. In fact, I find these to be somewhat similar to the Intense Metals collection Milani released earlier. I'll show you comparison in a bit.

Hot Flash

Hot Flash I'd say is a red-orange or burnt orange with orange/gold glass fleck shimmer and in certain angels you can see a yellow-golden duochrome. It's very sparkly and I don't have many deep orange shades.

In A Flash

In a Flash is a bright fuchsia/magenta glass fleck shimmer. There are hints of pink and violet sparkle in here as well.

Here is my comparison to Intense Metals. Here I am comparing Flash Collection "In a Flash" (index & ring finger) to Intense Metals "Melt Down" (middle & pinky finger)

I'm not so much comparing the color as I am the finish. I find these very similar almost too similar. They're not dupes, but they're close. I'd say they're close enough that if you have similar shades like this whether from another brand or the Intense Metals you really don't need to run out and get these shades. The major difference I notice is that the Flash collection has more sparkle and sheerer base while the Intense metals has a more opaque base.

I don't hate this collection. I just don't really see it as a very innovative one. I would of rather seen some bright cremes or something completely different from their recent Intense Metals collection. It's as if these were supposed to be part of that collection and didn't make it in on time. All the colors also seem very similar to each other. Yawn. If you're looking for shades or finishes like this and you don't already have some similar in your collection I'd recommend getting these, otherwise I think you're fine without them unless one of them really sticks out. Overall, I'm pretty "meh" over these. Been there done that. I love Milani, but this just didn't do it for me.

Do you have any polishes from Flash collection? What are your thoughts?

Happy Friday!

Sinful Colors- Serena & Chloe

I must say I am big fan of Sinful Colors. They have an amazing selection of colors and finishes. They are not your average standard colors either. They have some great colors that are equally as innovative and unique as some more expensive brands. The big plus with Sinful is their price $2 a bottle at Walgreens. However, according The Recessionista @ Nouveau Cheap there is coupon out now in there circular where you can purchase Sinful Colors for 99 cents each (limit 3) until July 3rd IN SOME STORES! I know where I'll be going when I finish this post!

UPDATE: According to Nouveau Cheap this sale is only going in certain stores. I'd go to your Walgreens and see if is taking place in store because it's a great offer!

On that note I figured I'd share with you one of my favorite Sinfuls!

Serena & Chloe

Serena & Chloe is pumpkin orange jelly with gold and orange glass fleck glitter. This is an amazing color. I love this one because I think it's very reminiscent of the popular glass fleck glittery colors this summer. It also is just an amazing color all around! This is one of those colors that looks better on the nail than in the bottle. I thought it OK when I purchased it, but when I put it on my nails I was pleasantly surprised!

Now, as much as I love Sinful Colors I do have one issue with them that is totally unrelated to anything really. I don't get the names of their polishes. They are so random and make no sense. Serena & Chloe I must admit makes think of one of the gentleman's clubs I've driven by on the shady side of town. At this point I'm hoping no one reading this blog is named Serena or Chloe! No offense towards those names! I like those names it's just the combo makes it sound a little well..I hope you get what I mean! Besides that which really isn't an issue I love Sinful Colors. They can name their colors Stupid Face and I'd still love it if they continue to knock out the great selection and colors they have!

Now I'm off to go to Walgreens and hope my store has that sale!

What do you think of Sinful Colors? What are some of your Sinful faves?

Happy Thursday!


P.S. Kimberly commented yesterday that I must not have pets since none of them seem to think they belong in my previous collection pictures! I do have one kitty I've mentioned earlier. My cat is named Chara. She is Princess of the household, but has no interest in my nail polish!