Saturday, January 5th, 2008

Temptalia Asks You

Is there a such thing as too young for makeup? Can someone start getting into makeup at too young of an age?

Personally, yes, I think so. I feel like as long as we can prolong childhood… we should. Growing up and becoming an adult, or even a teenager, is not always enjoyable. I would like girls to enjoy being naturally beautiful, loving themselves for who they are, before they start playing with makeup. Makeup is all good and fun, but sometimes younger minds get sucked into the concept of standardized beauty and having to look a certain way or not being pretty without makeup – that’s when I think there’s a such thing as too young!

Friday, January 4th, 2008

Temptalia Asks You

Do you buy products you know don’t work for you? For example, is a product’s pretty packaging something that might get you to buy something or a color you know just won’t be right for you?

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

If you were using MAC Real Desire lipglass, what look would you create with it? What shadows would you use? What would you use on cheeks? Anything added to the lips?

Create a look using whatever you want, as long as you include Real Desire! Feel free to share links to photos of your look(s) using it in the comments.

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Temptalia Asks You

What kind of makeup do you wear to work/school? Do you have any rules or restrictions?  Do you break the rules or follow them?

At school, there are no restrictions or anything, BUT since very few around me wear much noticeable makeup, and I often do not have the time (or simply do not want to wake up to make the time, ha!) to do a full face, I’m usually found in minimal makeup at school.

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

Temptalia Asks You

Why do you love makeup? What is it that draws you, keeps you there, and always wanting more?

I love makeup because it gave me a way to regain some confidence and feel beautiful again. Of course, in the past, I felt a bit more reliant on it than I do these days, but it was a great way to boost my self-esteem. I love playing with the different colors and textures, trying to see what I can come up with. It’s just good fun that feels utterly indulgent and luxurious.

Tuesday, January 1st, 2008

With the new year, it is only fitting for us to reflect back on the posts from Temptalia in the past year.  In this special year-end “best of” post, you will find a few favorites from both readers and myself.  If you had a favorite post that you remember, feel free to share it!

Features

One of the new additions to Temptalia has been “Temptalia Asks You,” which stemmed off of “Ask Temptalia.”  Some of the best questions (rather, the best answers) have given:  a slew of eyeliner tips, your very first makeup buys, five products you use everyday, your strange beauty habits, how others view your makeup addiction, great skincare tips, and makeup tips for beginners.  Plus, you answered and we compiled to give you the First Annual Temptalia Beauty Awards!

Tutorials are a popular favorite around these parts, but these few have been particularly well-received this year:  cateye eyeliner tips and tricks, achieving flawless skin (complete with contouring, blush, and highlighting!), bold, bright, and totally teal, how-to get perfect red lips, my top ten makeup tips, learn the parts to the eye, Temptalia’s signature black smoky eye, how-to for blending, and duplicate Barbie Loves MAC face chart.

Sometimes the looks on Temptalia are like peacocks, even a bit wacky, experiments with Metal-X, and reminiscent of fall.

Celebrity look breakdowns only began late this year, but while it is a hate-it-or-love-it kind of column for many, Arielle Kebbel dazzles with icy blue shadow, while Keira Knightley has an awfully plump pout, but still looks gorgeous.

So many opportunities happened in 2007, including many, many interviews with fabulous people.  MAC let us interview Viva Glam spokseperson Dita Von Teese, which was one amazing experience, but there were some great home-grown interviews with makeup artists from all walks, including founder of Face Time, Linsey Snyder.

It is always fab to have Temptalia readers submit to the site, and how can we forget Skyler’s enviable pigment storage solution?  Skyler, tell Doug I desperately want one, too!  (But here’s my storage solution… for now.)  Check out the readers’ pick for winner of the Halloween mask contest, as well as the judges’ pickKris shared this awesome teal look with us, while Janis goes smoky eyed.

MAC

We are already anticipating for Spring 2008 here in the beauty world, but MAC’s collaboration with Heatherette and Fafi have everyone in a tizzy, excited for February and March to roll around already!  While the unsung hero of the year will have to be Sculpt & Shape, only because it gave me the perfect contouring color, and The Originals turned out much better than expected.  Although Antiquitease and Holiday 2007 offerings overwhelmed us a bit, I loved the look of the Antiquitease crackled nails enough to try it myself.  MAC put out a lovely collection of smoky blues in Blue Storm, but we still wish MAC would make Temptalia’s Color Story.  Many loved, and some hated, but C-Shock was a shock to the sensible with its bright and bold hues.  Don’t forget how everyone ran, not walked, to get Barbie Loves MAC (which I liked, but didn’t love).

Reviews

YSL teaches us a lesson in truly luxury beauty and makes us fall in love with their cream blush, while our experience with Chanel Glossimers hasn’t yet converted us to the dark side!

Skin discoveries were abound this year, and Osmotics Cream Extreme saved me from a fate worse than death.   I can’t go a day without Estee Lauder’s DayWear Plus–it is the perfect morning cream.  What else could be love at first sight?  Oh, Renee Rouleau’s AHA/BHA cleanser!  Even though I shared my skincare routine with you this year, I think 2008 will require an updated version as I have found all new light o’ loves.

Also, as a reminder, don’t forget about submitting your Reader Feedback Survey nor participating in our New You with New Beauty contest!