L to R: Carbonite, Number One Nemesis, Carbonite, Number One Nemesis
The shimmer in the OPI is much more complex and vibrant. It's visibly more sparkly and in my opinion, more eye-catching as well. Carbonite, while still lovely, looks more like your standard foil by comparison. The OPI is noticeably darker too. Amanda had guessed that Number One Nemesis is also warmer-toned than Carbonite and I believe she is right; Number One Nemesis has a gold shimmer to it that is absent in Carbonite. The differences between these two polishes are far more evident in real life than they come across in pictures. When I looked at these on my nails I could easily see that I was looking at two different polishes.
Both polishes have nice formulas, although Carbonite is the more opaque of the pair. This was three coats of Number One Nemesis and two of Carbonite. Other than opacity, the two are pretty comparable as far as formula goes.
Although I don't actually own Graphite, based on pictures I've seen I'd say the OPI is the closer dupe. Revlon comes close in terms of color and tone but it lacks the extra shine and the gold shimmer that Graphite has. Overall I like the look of Number One Nemesis more than Carbonite, but I like both polishes a lot.
I almost didn't get Number One Nemesis since I already have Carbonite but now I'm glad I did! They are surprisingly different! If you already own Carbonite, I'd say these two are different enough to justify owning both. If you don't have either polish, my vote is for Number One Nemesis. I like it more and right now it'll be easier to find than Carbonite too.
I just picked up Number One Nemesis, it looks great on you!
ReplyDeleteGreat comparison!! I really like Number One Nemesis!! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you! Me too. :)
DeleteThank you for the comparison! Both are really pretty colors, but Number One Nemesis really shines.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! And I agree completely.
DeleteWhat a great comparison! I think I like the OPI one better, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Me too. :)
DeleteThank you so much for the comparison! To be honest, I was nervous this post would make me the poorer, but I'm actually on team Carbonite. Personally, I gravitate more towards cooler shades but I imagine anyone with a warmer complexion (I'm practically translucent) would wear the OPI better. They both look great on you though!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! :) That's good news for your wallet that you'll be saving a couple bucks!
DeleteAha, great post. Thank you! I definitely can see myself owning both. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I like both a lot as well. OPI is the superior dupe but I think both are pretty. :)
DeleteAssume that Nemisis is on the middle and ring while carbonite is on the pointer and pinky? You did not say what finger has which on them...I only can reference via the mention in your description of "nemisis" is darker than carbonite. Helps me tons if I know what fingers I should be looking at per which color. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have all 3 of these shades. Carbonite is as you said, more like a foil and not as complex as nemisis - however carbonite has a smoother finish than nemisis does which is a bit rough when dried and needs a good couple of thick top coats to smooth it off. Graphite is different still yet to nemisis. Nemisis has more green base hue to it with the complex coloration in it. Graphite has a very definite gray/pewter base hue with the striking array of various pops of colors in it like nemisis has. One would not at all be duplicating polishes if you owned both nemisis as well as graphite. However in the same OPI collection nemisis is from - the as close to a true dupe for a Chanel Peridot as I have seen among all the attempts to dupe it. The OPI Just Spotted The Lizzard has the same green gold look with a blue shift just like Peridot has. There are some formula differences - I prefer the OPI formula over the Chanel one. The OPI JSTL has a bit more...yellow to it in the green/gold end vs. Chanel Peridot. The Chanel is softer and has more sparkle in it's depth vs. that of the OPI JSTL. I personally would not try to get Peridot now given the OPI Lizard is so close and much cheaper than you will nab a Peridot on the secondary mkt. I would certainly want to own both Chanel Graphite and OPI 'nemisis.' I would skip the Revlon carbonite altogether. The Revlon is totally not a dupe. It did not wear well on me at all.
Oops, thanks for pointing that out! I forgot to label them. XD I've never seen Graphite in person but it looks to be such a complex polish that I'm not surprised to hear you say Nemesis is not an exact match for it. I agree that Revlon is pretty far off now that I see Nemesis. I like Carbonite quite a bit on its own merits but I don't think it's close at all to Graphite.
DeleteGreat review!! Nemesis was already on my list of polishes to get even though I have Carbonite. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely would want the OPI! Great comparison!
ReplyDelete