Can you guess which is which? Find out after the jump!
In the bottle, it is nigh-on impossible to tell the difference between the two. No matter what kind of light I held them in, the looked almost identical.
On the nail...they are so close. SO CLOSE. The husband couldn't tell the difference, even in direct sunlight. They both dry to that weird mostly-matte finish that neons tend to have. Because of the finish, Dream On can need three coats. Dream On is also really thick, and I have to thin it every time I use it. Charisma, on the other hand, is a very thin and user-friendly polish. But it is streaky, and also needs a minimum of three coats.It is so weird how two very different formulas end up with the same end result.
It is worth mentioning that the biggest difference between these two is the formula and the brush. Dream On is a thick polish, with a wide and unruly brush. Charisma is a thinner formula with Zoya's typical easy-to-control thin brush. Depending on your preferences, you may prefer one over the other.
In slightly indirect natural light, you can sorta see a slight difference...Charisma is a bit more purple, and Dream on has a pink tinge. But you really have to be looking for a difference. To the casual observer, there is no difference.
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| Index and Middle: Charisma Ring and Pinkie: Dream On |
These polishes need gloss. The color just doesn't sing without it. But because they are neons, you might want to add more than one coat of topcoat to them.
Once they have a shiny coat, the differences are even harder to spot...if you could see them in the first place. I can still see a slight bit more depth of color in Charisma. Dream On still strikes me as more pink. But again, my husband couldn't tell the difference.
Hello, Flash!
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| Index and Middle: Charisma Ring and Pinkie: Dream On |
Both of these polishes are impossible to photograph. The "no flash" picture is probably as close as I'll ever get...but it is still is missing that snap that you get from seeing them in person.
No Flash
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| Index and Middle: Charisma Ring and Pinkie: Dream On |
Hello Warm Light
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| Index and Middle: Charisma Ring and Pinkie: Dream On |
I'm going to go head and call these dupes. You absolutely don't need both. I'd honestly suggest Charisma, because the thinner formula and less wonky brush make life a lot easier. I've also heard rumors that Sinful Colors has changed the color slightly of newer Dream On bottles. That's a bummer, because its a lovely color.
Tl;dr is pick Zoya.
Oh wauw, these really are almost impossible to tell apart! Amazing colour though :)
ReplyDeleteit was so difficult to see. The differences are terribly subtle. The color *is* fabulous!
DeleteSoooooo close ! I actually like the matte finish better, but I'm a matte obsessed weirdo. They both have that rubbery look. I just bought Dream On in the .99 sale at Walgreen's last week. I'm not looking forward to crappy formula tho
ReplyDeleteI'd add a topcoat, then a matte coat. They need a bit of smoothing, at least on my nails, because I can see the grooves even over a good base. The SC is a little awkward, but the color is so fabulous that it doesnt even bother me.
Deleteglad i saw this, i'm having a difficult time narrowing my zoya polish choices for the sale they have now. i love this color so much!! i really want charisma, but maybe i'll just try for dream on (and hope i get a bottle that has the old formula/color). i JUST finished looking at dream on pics that looked weird like creme/jelly and wondered why that was. she did mention she received the polish for christmas, so that makes sense now. darn it, i don't like that type of polish. oh well, i really don't need either since i have the american apparel version. maybe i'll be strong and hold off on getting either. :) thanks for posting.
ReplyDelete