Thanks for all the questions! Keep sending them in to temptalia@gmail.com. If you have a time-sensitive question, please let me know so I can try and answer it on time. If you didn’t see your question, check for it in the next Ask Temptalia post. Keep on sending them in!Q: When I try to use the paint pots (in Rubenesque), it looks caky and uneven when I apply, even without a primer. Do you have any suggestions on how I can fix this problem?A: Are you applying too much product? What do you apply it with? I find applying it with a firm, flat brush (249) works wonders, and I only use a sheer layer, not a lot of product.Q: I have really small eyes, how can I make them pop and open them up?A: Using a good mascara paired with a good eyelash curler can really open up eyes. Lashes should have decent length and a touch of thickness to really do the job. By curling the lashes, you accentuate height and open up the eye. You can also try lining either the upper lash line, lower lash line, or even both – it depends on your preference and natural eye shape. Many will argue that upper lash lining does wonders for enlarging the eye. You can make eyes pop or be more defined by accentuating the depth of your crease. Continue reading →
Beauty Tips
Q: Can you recommend a good MAC lipstick that would give me a nice nude lip? Whenever I try to do a nude lip, it always ends up a little too white, like a zombie or something. I’m looking for a pretty nude lip that will pair well with smokey eyes, but nothing too ghost-like.
A: With nude lips, sometimes the easiest way is to take any nude lipstick but use a lipglass with a bit more pink or peach to pump up the color to the right shade for you. Brew is a great nude to start off with!
Q: Can you tell me how to do that beauty queen/pornstar (lol) eye-makeup where they have a dark color in the crease and their eyes look really defined but still natural? It always looks so pretty and natural on them, but whenever I try to do it, I end up with just a smokey eye. It may be because I don’t have a deep crease. I’m not sure.
A: It might be that they have a deeper crease than you, or they may even fake the depth of their crease by also darkening right above it. Try using a very small brush to create an ultra-defined crease like the 219 and go very slowly. It probably ends up looking more like a smoky eye because it ends up getting too blended. You really won’t want to do much blending if you want it very defined!
Q: Can you recommend a MAC eyeshadow in their permanent line similar in color to coral and one similar in color to Jardin Aires?
A: Oh, wow, I know Goldbit is a great dupe, but that was limited edition as well. A permanent color that might be similar is harder to find, but I would suggest checking out these permanent alternatives: Honesty, Mythology, or Paradisco.
Q: I can’t afford every Mac brush you have for all the looks, can you list a set of eye brushes that I can use with everything ranging from smokey to natural looks?
A: I recommend the 239 for applying shadow for the most part – it is very much like my Philosophy shadow brush that I use for nearly everything. It is a good idea to get at least one firmer, flat brush like the 249 or 252 to apply cream products like paints, paint pots, your base, etc. You can always purchase less expensive brushes like Sonia Kashuk brushes (available at Target) or paint brushes from a craft store.
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how to depot a mac eye shadow? I swear I saw it on your site before but I may be mistaken. I can’t seem to find it now. Someone said its possible to do with a flat iron and its easier? Would you be so kind as to send me the link to the page of the depot tutorial or let me know how to do it?
A: I don’t have any tutorials or detailed info about depotting on my website, but these are some excellent resources to check out: MartyGreen’s Depotting FAQ and Sara(m)’s Depotting Tutorials.
Q: How can you tell the fake MAC from the real thing?
A: A lot obviously fake MAC products are eyeshadows that open up like a compact and have a sponge-tip applicator and/or mirror – those are totally fake! In terms of fake MAC pigments, they tend to be extremely fine milled and almost chalky in texture, rather than shimmery or simply matte. Be wary of unusual looking labels at the bottom of products, sometimes the font/text will be abnormally large or in a different type.
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Q: Where can I find discounted MAC? I can’t afford MAC at retail price.
A: My favorite place to find discounted MAC is at Makeup.com. They always carry various MAC products at slight discounts. Right now, though, there is a code for 50% off MAC orders of $50 or more, if you use code SAVE50 at checkout. This is such a great deal, and it is not as if MAC goes on sale at the actual MAC stores
For brick & mortar shoppers, check for a Cosmetics Company Outlet store near you, which carries slightly discounted MAC and other Estee Lauder brands.
Q: What do you use the most, Pigments or the regular eyeshadow? (If it’s eyeshadow, do you use the shiny eyeshadow or velvet? what kind) And do you know how to make eyes look smaller?
A: I use both regularly – I generally use a pigment for nearly every look I do, but I also use several eyeshadows, too! I love all textures in eyeshadows. My favorite would be veluxe pearls, though. I know one trick that tends to make eyes look smaller is liner on both the upper and lower lash line. For some this opens up eyes, but on others it closes them quite a bit.
Q: Do you find that your craft brushes are the best for applying your eyeshadow? I bought a new eyeshadow brush from the Body Shop yesterday and it’s pretty stiff. My less expensive brush is a lot softer, but I don’t know if that’s worse to apply eyeshadow with. What do you suggest?
A: I apply my eyeshadow with a makeup brush, actually, but I have no problems with craft brushes. I would only recommend ensuring that it is extremely soft for shadow applications! Sometimes a brush will soften a bit after some use, though. I definitely suggest using whichever one works the best for you – so maybe try them both and return the one that doesn’t work so well!
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Q: I was wondering if you could tell me what sort of colours & looks would suit my colouring? I’m very pale skinned, sort of coldly, & I have very dark brown hair and eyes. I find it hard to get the right eye shadow colours, looks often look weird on me I don’t really know why.
A: I really am a firm believer in that everyone can work any color they want to – it is just a matter of pairing it with the right complimenting colors or using various hues and concentrations of it. Because you mentioned that you feel like you are cooler toned, you would most likely look lovely in forest greens and deep browns. I imagine even purple tones paired with warm golden hues would help to add warmth to your complexion, as well. Your best bet is to start off experimenting with neutral colors, and then figuring out which types of neutral colors work best – then applying that saturation/hue to colors. If coffee browns are great on you, try a deep green with just a touch of the warmth that coffee brown has.
Q: I’m very much interested in mac eyeshadows. Can you recommend shades that suit all occasions and the must haves of mac products? How good are mac lipglosses?
A: Some great shades that I find myself always returning to are: Ricepaper (great highlight/neutral), Amber Lights (excellent deep brown), Carbon (awesome matte black), Goldmine (gorgeous gold), and Sumptuous Olive (dark olive green). In terms of must-have MAC products, I definitely suggest checking out pigments if you can; they’re great multi-purpose loose colors in jars. I adore MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation for a gorgeous matte complexion. I personally like their lipglasses and glosses, but I couldn’t tell you for sure if they’re oh-so-much better than any other brand’s glosses. I do love their variety, though. They have a wide range of gloss types, from sticky to non-sticky; pigmented to sheer.
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Q: I love love love MAC paints as eyeshadow bases, but my tubes always gush like crazy and i lose ALOT of product! Is there anything I can do? I squirted one into a screw top container like others do with pigment samples and it dried out! HELP
A: Here’s a tip I know has worked for a ton of people: unroll the bottom part! This should help minimize the gushing! Let me know if it does help.
Q: I like to apply a beige e/s over the entire lid, and then just a brown line in the upper and lower lash line for a very classic, understated look, but after 30 minutes my eyes look gray, tired, awful! SOS, which one do you recommend for this not to happen? I’m NC 25-30, yellow undertones, hazel eyes.
A: Perhaps try using a similar colored eyeshadow like Grain or Yogurt eyeshadows to help set the shadestick. Alternatively, you could invest in Untitled or Architecture paint and try it that way!
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