Father’s Day is June 15, 2008 — have you picked up your perfect gift for that father figure in your life?  (Or maybe the father-to-be?)  I’m still at a total and utter loss as to what to pick up for my dad as he is a no-fragrance-no-frills kind of guy, so anything beauty related is completely out of the question (sigh!).  I’ll probably try to find some doodad or gadget in my budget that he doesn’t have!  What are you planning to get (or already get) for your Dad this year?

Here are some product suggestions for the father who is not nearly so adverse to a few male-care items in his toiletry bag…

L’Occitane CADE products are designed for men to strengthen and keep skin lookings its best despite working hard and playing hard. Wild Juniper is called “CADE,” which means that the scent of these products is an earthy, masculine, slightly woody fragrance. It’s definitely not a scent that they’d balk at and call too feminine. You can pick up their Shaving Set ($42.00), which includes Cade Juniper Scrub (4.4oz) and Shaving Cream (5.2oz), or you can build your own gift set with various other Cade products. The scrub helps exfoliates skin so they can get that ultra close, smooth shave us women adore. The cream also helps make that perfect shave just mere moments away! www.loccitane.com

Every Man Jack’s The Perfect Shave ($20.00) is a pack of essentials that is bound to please your darling dad, without breaking the bank, too.  I love Every Man Jack products because they’re effective, utilitarian, and guys are far more receptive to its clean, masculine packaging.  The Perfect Shave kit includes their face wash, face scrub, shave gel/shave cream, and face lotion.  Even my boy, who is pretty hard to persuade to use skincare products–even when designed for men–loved their body wash.  www.everymanjack.com

Liz Earle Men’s Essentials ($70.00) kit contains a face and body wash (200ml), Sensitive Shave Cream (100ml), After-Shaving Moisturizer (50ml), a towelling cloth, and handy dandy traveling case.  Liz Earle is a brand I consider for those who want to focus on more natural products, and at the same time, groom up the men in their lives without handing them bottles of sweet-scented facial lotions or pink-packaged products.  I’ve had great success with Liz Earle’s suncare line (adore their After Sun products!), and I imagine that their men’s skincare range is just as fabulous for the man in your life.  www.lizearle.com

Kiehl’s “The Jesse James Dopp Kit” ($66.00) was inspired by Jesse James (West Coast Choppers).  It contains Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, “White Eagle” Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap, Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment, and a deluxe sample of Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.  I know Kiehl’s is often the go-to brand when it comes to buying a man something for his skin and what better way to do it than with a Jesse James-inspired kit?  www.kiehls.com

LUSH has packaged three fun father-loving products into a cute pre-wrapped gift. “DAD” ($29.95) consists of Happy Hippy shower gel, Ice Blue soap, and a new shampoo bar. All easy-to-use and nothing girly in the slightest!

Lush has also hand-picked the Marathon Bar ($5.25), which aids in relaxation and has a spicy, cinnamony scent.

Plus, Wiccy Magic Muscles ($8.95), which contains aduki beans and helps to relieve tension and knots, as great gifts for dads, too. www.lush.com

Before Swimming / After Swimming

Waterproof Your Makeup:  The Temptalia Experiment

It’s nearly summer, and temperatures are heating up everywhere.  It’s becoming time to shed those pants, pop on a swimsuit, and head out to the pool/lake/beach.  Or maybe it’s time to sweat a whole lot while doing something outdoor-sy.  And if you live in Florida, maybe just going from your house to your mailbox. (Ha!)  So, here at Temptalia, I tried to think of how would I make my makeup withstand moderate amounts of water and summer-related-abuse.

So what’s the verdict? Read the rest of this entry »

Still shopping for Mother’s Day? Here are a few more ideas!

LUSH’s Mum Gift is an adorable box that will tickle your mom’s nose the minute she opens it up! It contains The Comforter bubble bar, Sakura bath bomb, Lily Savon soap, Each Peach massage bar (mini), Celestial moisturizer (sample size), and Dream Cream! If you have a tub, bath bombs are divine, and massage bars? Your dad just might thank you later! Dream Cream is also a staple in my beauty closet! (And I totally have the Mum gift for myself, too!) Get yours at www.lushusa.com or in-store.

Kiehl’s Gardenia Hand and Body Lotion ($19.50), Gardenia Liquid Body Cleanser ($15.50), and Gardenia Candle ($28) will be a wonderfully fragrant favorite for “just-for-her” pampering. If you happen to live near a Kiehl’s freestanding store, you can do this nifty thing where you customize the package by putting it inside a certain gift box. I’m all about making gift baskets and the like! Available at www.kiehls.com.

Misikko is having a Mother’s Day sale, and Misikko is where Temptalia goes when she is need of a hair styling tool. I mean, hello, a T3 Evolution for only $189.99 (on sale, obviously!)

Temptalia’s Guide to Everything Summer | Wedding Makeup, Sunscreen, Suncare, Tanning, Self-tanner, Bronzers, Earth Day, Mother’s Day, and Prom 2008

Bridal & Wedding Makeup:

• Basic Makeup Tips & Advice
• All About the Skin
• All About the Skin - Product Recommendations
• All About the Eyes
• All About the Eyes - Product Recommendations
• All About the Lips
• All About the Lips - Product Recommendations
• All About the Body & Nails
• All About the Body & Nails - Product Recommendations

Sunscreen 101 Series:

• Introduction to Sunscreen, UVA/UVB
• Spray On SPF
• Water Resistant SPF 30+
• SPF 30 & Higher
• SPF 30 & Higher with Moisturizer
• Fitzpatrick Classification

Tanning 101 Series

• Preparation
• Application
• Maintenance

Bronzers 101 Series

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Earth Day 2008

• Eco-Friendly Beauty for 2008

Mother’s Day 2008

• Gift Giving Ideas Pt. I
• Gift Giving Ideas Pt. II

Prom 2008

• Prom Makeup for Teal & Purple Dresses
• Prom Makeup for Peach and Gold Dresses
• Prom Makeup for Yellow Dresses
• Prom Makeup for White Dresses
• Prom Makeup for Red Dresses

Hope you enjoy these guides!  (We have a few more guides and focused posts to write as summer really revvs up, so periodically check this post for updates!)

I love this shimmering white dress, because it’s not so white that it looks plain.  I think the length is adorable, and it is a nice option for those who have some killer legs or don’t want to wear a full-length prom gown.  White is as flexible a color as black, so the three looks shown are merely starting points.  I love soft pinks whenever I wear anything very light in color, because it gives some color without being overwhelming.  I think a very soft neutral eye with a smoky twist and pop of gray-black works well as an option to enhance eyes that aren’t overly dramatic.  A great combo for this dress is a dramatic black cat eye (third look pictured) with glossy red lips (or pink if you’re not a red lip kind of gal!).

Check out suggested looks: one, two, & three. Dress is available at Nordstrom.com for $159.

I adore red dresses, especially these deep, elegant ruby red dresses.  They’re completely royal and classic, rather than in-your-face kind of red.  My favorite choice would be something in line with the second look pictured, because golds complement reds so well, and yet there’s a touch of Cranberry eyeshadow to tie everything together.  I feel like it’s an excellent choice for both depth, color, and overall style.  But of course, with a dress in such a bold shade, going completely neutral on the eye is never a bad choice!  I also like a soft smoky eye, something with a little bit of gold and a brown-gray, not so much straight black.  Pink lips, nude lips, coral lips… anything goes.  Even red lips could work with the appropriate eye (and the right shade of red).  For a dress like this, I would concentrate on perfecting the skin and using a subtle blush to bring out my natural flush.

Check out suggested looks: one, two, & three. Dress is available at Nordstrom.com for $98.

One of my favorite colors, especially on deeper skintones, is this shade of pale yellow; it’s not too sallow nor too bright.  It has just enough oomph to bring out your natural glow, while still being quite spring/summery.  If you want to go big, try an eye that has primary yellow on the lid–you can match this with oranges, pinks, and even greens.  For some coordinating, but much more subtle, try a pale yellow eye with colors like Nylon, Going Bananas, Goldmine, etc.  Go for a pale yellow lid with a darker gray or black in the crease for a subtle smoky eye.  I like coral lips for this look, or maybe pale peach lips, too.  Keep cheeks in line with your look–avoid bright corals if your eyes are dolled up.  Love peachy and coral-toned blushes like Margin and Springsheen.

Check out suggested looks: one, two, & three. Dress is available at Nordstrom.com for $340.

• Laura Mercier French Vanilla Honey Bath ($40.00)
• Korres Basil Lemon Showergel ($13.00)
• Bliss Serious Seaweed Cellulite Soap ($14.00)
• Shea Terra Organics Bourbon Vanilla Salt Scrub ($18.00)
• Bliss Carrot + Sesame Body Buff Set ($48.00)**
• Dior Bikini Scrub ($29.00)
• Lancome Resurface Microdermabrasion Body Polishing Treatment ($46.00)**

Moisturizers

• Kings & Queens Shimmering Body Milk ($11.00)
• Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Hand Creme ($15.00)
• Shiseido Body Creator Aromatic Sculpting Concentrate ($63.00)
• Bliss Vanilla + Bergamot Body Butter ($12.00)**
• Lippman Steppin’ Out Foot Cream ($38.00)
• Clinique Deep Comfort Body Cream ($23.50)

See more product recommendations and suggestions… Read the rest of this entry »

The Body

Lose Weight, Feel Great? If you’re desperate to drop weight because your big day looms in the distance, do your best to start your weightloss plan as early as you can. I am not a nutritionist or dietician, but I recommend you see one or both so that you can choose a system that will work for you that won’t kill you later. Make sure you set realistic weightloss goals, and remember that the person you’re marrying already loves you at the size you are–they’re not expecting you to suddenly become half the size you are.

Getting the Glow! Highlight shoulders, collarbone, and decolletage with a subtle dusting of shimmer. You can try a loose shimmer like MAC’s loose beauty powders, or you can mix loose shimmer into your favorite moisturizer. I also like shimmer moisturizers for shoulders, too - even something like Jergen’s Shimmer Glow works.

To Tan or Not to Tan? Do not tan the night before your wedding. If you intend to self-tan, be sure you take the time to practice well in advance of the event. There are also spray-tans that are just as safe as self-tanning at home or at a salon available, which may make more sense for you, depending on your level of comfort, budget, etc. You should spot-test tanners, especially if you’re fair, so that you can see whether it’ll turn you the dreaded orange color. Not all self-tanners will, but it can be a trial and error thing (so save your receipts so you can return what doesn’t work!). If you’re planning to self-tan, make sure you read our guide to self-tanners:

• Part 1: Preparation
• Part 2: Application
• Part 3: Maintaining

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  Get healthy, glowing skin merely by treating it well!  This means regular body exfoliation/scrubs 2-3 times a week as well as daily (or twice daily for scalier legs) with a good moisturizer.  Just like your face, if your legs are naturally dry, opt for a thicker, creamier moisturizer (look for shea butter, butter creams, or whipped products) whereas those with more normalized skin can go for lighter weight moisturizers.

The Nails

Who & Where?  For your big day, I think it’s a great idea to pamper yourself the day before by getting a manicure and pedicure done by your local salon. You can check for reviews for local salons at www.yelp.com.  It really is well worth the cost (and you can usually find a place that isn’t too expensive), because you’ll have picture perfect nails. It’ll also give you a reason to sit down, relax, and take a few breaths amongst all of the pre-wedding jitters and stress.

Color? I think nails is the one area where you can get away with more color than others, regardless of the type of wedding. There is the more traditional French manicure (which I like, at least, in moderation), as well as lovely pastel-tipped nails in pinks, corals, or peaches. If your accent color to your dress or wedding decor is emerald green, I could see emerald green working as a nail color, too.

Wedding Makeup for the Eyes:  Product recommendations & suggestions for your bridal makeup or special occasional makeup.  A product marked with a * means it is Temptalia tried, tested, and approved.  A product marked with ** means that is Temptalia’s Top Pick.

Prep & Prime

• MAC Paint Pot ($16.50)**
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place ShadowStick ($17.50)
• MAC Paint ($16.50)*
• Lancome Aquatique Waterproof EyeColour Base ($23.00)
• Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17.00)

Mascara

• MAC Prep + Prime Lash ($13.50)*
• Bare Escentuals Weather Everything Waterproof Mascara ($15.00)
• Clinique Lash Power Long-Wearing Formula ($14.00)**
• Shu Uemura Precise Volume Waterproof Mascara ($23.00)
• Prescriptives Here To Stay Mascara ($14.00)*
• DiorShow Waterproof ($24.00)

Eyeshadow

• Prescriptives Colorscope Palette ($52.00)*
• Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow ($15.00)**
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow ($22.00)
• MAC Eye Shadow ($14.00)**
• Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo ($17.50)*
• NARS Duo Eyeshadow ($32.00)*

See more recommendations and suggestions… Read the rest of this entry »