I'd never been in a MAC store until two weeks ago, when I ventured out in search of eye shadow to send to an online friend in exchange for some black label OPIs she was looking to get out of her stash. (The one MAC polish I have I got in a swap.) I was a tiny bit indimidated by the two well-groomed young men working at the store; I think both of them were prettier than I am (and one of them might have been wearing more makeup, too). I was brave, though, and walked right in and got the shadows (I don't think I even blushed when the sales associate corrected my pronounciation of one of the shades). I of course looked at the nail polish also, but they didn't have any colors on display that really sang to me. What did sing to me on my way to my car was the Estee Lauder display in Saks Fifth Avenue, where I picked up my first polish from that brand: Surreal Violet, which is part of their Fall 2010 collection. (I did also consider the other color in the collection, Blue Dahlia, but decided that buying two $18 nail polishes on impulse was a bit much and besides I already have a navy creme I like a lot.)
Surreal Violet is more mauve than violet to my eyes; there's definitely a touch of brown to it. What sold me is the copper/amber shimmer, which, while subtle, is definitely there and adds a richness and interest. I really like this one.
Surreal Violet made me think of Essie's
Demure Vixen, another taupe-y mauve with shimmer.
Top to bottom: Demure Vixen, Surreal Violet, Demure Vixen, Surreal Violet.From some angles, Demure Vixen can look almost as dark as Surreal Violet, but in most lights, the Essie definitely shows up lighter and pinker than the Estee Lauder. Here they are in normal room light:
Top to bottom: Surreal Violet, Demure Vixen.And here they are in sunshine:
Top to bottom: Demure Vixen, Surreal Violet.I like Surreal Violet better. I do wish its shimmer were a tiny bit more visible indoors because that copper is so pretty against the base color.
Wow those are chameleons! I was ready to write them off as dupes until you changed the angle/lighting. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteI've never been in a MAC store either. I have one MAC polish I got from a cosmetic company outlet store and I was very disappointed in it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty colors.
ReplyDeleteI love this, especially the faint shimmer. I've only tried a few Estees and they were minis, but the quality was superb; I'm always happy when they get some coverage on nail blogs :)
ReplyDeletethat looks lovely on you! estee lauder is doing well with their new creative director!
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty! I've never been to a MAC store, either.
ReplyDeleteOo, nicey nicey nice. I'd be happy with just ONE of those 2.
ReplyDeleteLovely color, looks great on you :)
ReplyDeleteVery classy and elegant! I hate so many of those make-up sales people... grrr.... sometimes they are really helpful lately I have been having horrible experiences!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice color! I scored at a garage sale and got 3 mini Estee Lauders for free. I asked if she had polish, she said she had some she would give me for free in the house. :):)
ReplyDeleteLate to this party! I saw another swatch of Surreal Violet on Temptalia, and it made me want it so much I want to dupe it. Demure Vixen looks very much like a dupe in the sunlight!
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