Comparison - Claire's Paradise/OPI Can't Let Go

Well here it is!  The comparison that I promised you.  I don't do a lot of comparison posts because I really try not to buy dupes.  I have a pretty small polish collection so it's easy for me to remember what I have when I'm out shopping for polish.  Today's comparison is of the Claire's sand polish I showed you on Tuesday and one of the first OPI liquid sands.

This is Paradise which I showed you one Tuesday.  You can read the post HERE in case you missed it.  (:

The is OPI Can't Let Go which I showed in THIS POST back in December when they were first released.

Looking at those two photos I can already tell they aren't exactly the same shade of purple.  That might be due to my lighting so let's see them side-by-side.

  

Above are two bottle shots.  You can definitely see the grainy effect in both bottles.  Not one looks more dense than the other.  The glittery bits really stand out as well.  OPI Can't Let Go definitely has bigger chunks of glitter.

I used two coats of OPI Can't Let Go on the left and two coats of Claire's Paradise on the right.  Can't Let Go leans a little more to the blue side whereas Paradise leans a little more the red side.

As I said before, Can't Let Go has larger chunks of glitter.  Paradise does have two sizes of glitter, they just aren't as large as Can't Let Go.  As far as finish and texture, they both dry very matte and have the same gritty finish.  The most noticeable difference is that Paradise has a very reflective finish.  The white flash is almost blinding in the right light.  Pretty cool.

 Claire's Paradise

OPI Can't Let Go

My final consensus is that these are definitely not dupes.  They are extremely close in color however they have very different qualities.  If you are like me and try not to buy dupes, then you would be safe by only buying one of these especially since they are close in price...OPI sands sell for $9.00 and the Claire's sands sell for $7.00 (however they are BOGO 50% off).  Can I, myself, justify keeping both?  Yes!  I just can't bear to get rid of either one because I love textured polish so much.  That's the hoarder in me coming out.

Anyway I hope this was an informative yet fun comparison post.  Have a great night!  (:

Comparison - Zoya Charisma/popBeauty Violetta

Ok so this doesn't need much explanation.  I had mentioned in my last post that these two were very similar but not dupes.  Here is the proof!

Zoya Charisma - 2 coats

Sorry about the VNL. ):  You can't tell with the naked eye.

popBeauty Violetta

Sorry about the bad lighting.  I just can't win today.

And now to compare the two...

pinky and middle: Violetta; ring and pointer: Charisma

pointer and ring: Charisma; middle and pinky: Violetta

Clearly I don't need more proof than that.  With Violetta I used 2 coats and Charisma is greedy with 3 coats.  I'm not sure which I like better.  Charisma is such a gorgeous color and is a true neon fuchsia while Violetta has a fantastic formula and needed less coats.  Which to choose.

Oh yeah and no comments on my tip wear and dents and scratches on Violetta.  I wore it for a whole day before I did the comparison.  (:  So which one do you all like best?

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Comparison - Zoya Avery/Zoya Minka

I usually don't wear nude polish.  Mainly because I just love color, but I figured if I found the perfect one, it would be worth it.  I thought I had found the perfect one for me when I bought Zoya Minka, but not quite.  Don't get me wrong, Minka is beautiful, but I wasn't looking for a nude with shimmer.  So I went back on the search and found Zoya Avery...perfection!

This was the exact shade and tone I was looking for.  This is 2 coats of Avery.  I usually have a tough time when applying creams in light shades, but this one was a breeze.  It's a very cool nude which I love.  I think the warmer tones make my skin look funny.  The site describes it as a "blond-beige".  I can see that little bit of yellow.


I knew when I opened the bottle it looked a little too much like Minka.

 L: Minka R: Avery

My pinky and middle fingers are 2 coats of Minka and my ring and pointer fingers are Avery.  Now I see a huge difference.  Minka is lighter due to the pearl shimmer and also has a bit of a yellow undertone (according to the site).  Avery is exactly what I was looking for, but I will continue to use Minka in my more feminine or romantic manis.

Have a great Monday...if that's possible.

D

Comparison - Color Club Metamorphosis/Sally Hansen Emerald Express

Hey Ladies!  Just like I promised, I have a comparison of two really gorg emerald polishes.

So on the left we have Metamorphosis and on the right is Emerald Express.  In the bottles I can already tell a slight difference in color.  Emerald Express looks like it has a little more blue in it.

On my pinky and middle finger is Metamorphosis and my ring and pointer finger are Emerald Express.  So I was right.  EE is more blue and doesn't have that purple undertone that Metamorphosis has.

The difference in the finish is very easy to see as well.  Metamorphosis has a foil finish that is clearly seen in the bottle and EE is more of that pearl finish.  Another big difference in the two is opacity.  Metamorphosis required 3 coats and EE only 2.  It has that amazing wide brush so application is super easy.  I think I could have gotten away with 1 coat.  Isn't that the appeal of the Inst-dri anyway?


So yes, they are slightly different, but I don't need them both.   I still prefer Color Club Metamorphosis.  I just love that foil finish and flash of purple it has in the right light.  Goodbye Emerald Express.  Our time has been good.


Happy Wednesday!
D

NAIL MAIL!

It's Julep Maven Box time and mine has arrived!

 Once again I'm a "Classic with a Twist" girl.

 This is how cute the wrapping was and I love that it's purple and black.  I'm not sure if the products or the crinkle paper is my favorite part, but I do save it.  And it came with a Julep.com nail file.  Neat I guess.

Included in my box:  nail file, polish, and organic argan oil elixir

The two colors I received are Jennifer and Brooke.  Jennifer is a sheer polish with a hint of pink and Brooke is a sheer shimmery purple perfect for layering.

 From L to R:  Jennifer, Brooke, Brooke over Jennifer (2 coats), Brooke over black (1 coat)

And then I wanted to add a quick comparison of my newest love, OPI Sweet Memories, and Jennifer.

This is 3 coats of both, but Jennifer is slightly lighter and has less pink in it.  It still has the same squishy finish, but I'm still on OPI's side.  Sorry Jennifer.


I will be swatching these in the next few days so stay tuned.
D

Comparison - Essie Sexy Divide/Ulta I Love My Blackberry

So when I first bought these it was around the same time and I was in a really purple mood.  I didn't even realize how similar they were until I saw them next to each other.  I figured since they were the same, I would go ahead and do a comparison post and then keep the one with the best formula or finish.  Little did I know, they are nothing alike.

 This is the image that had me completely fooled.  I know they don't look exact but I didn't expect this to happen.

My pinky and middle finger are Essie Sexy Divide, and my ring and pointer finger are Ulta I Love My Blackberry.  They are absolutely different is shade but not too much in formula.

As you can see, Essie Sexy Divide is lighter and has more red whereas Ulta ILMB is way darker and more blue and black, hence the reference to the blackberry.  Essie also required 3 coats and Ulta only needed 2.  The applications of these two pretties were very easy to apply as well.

This photo is inside with flash, but you can still tell the difference in shade.  I wish you could see it in person because the contrast is so wide.  Since they are so different, lucky for me, I get to keep them both! (:


And one last note, they photographed so well and very true to color, unlike other purples.  Just a heads up.
D