Look:  Neutral Eyes + Vampy Lip

And the third look I did to test out MAC’s new Pro Longwear eyeshadows!  I don’t know what’s going on this week, but I’m already exhausted!  Can you believe it’s already Wednesday?

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Primer (primer),  MAC Carefree Eyeshadow (white gold), MAC Legendary Black Eyeshadow (black brown), MAC Make Your Mark Eyeshadow (medium-dark brown), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara
• Face:  MAC Matchmaster Foundation (03), Korres #15 Natural Blush (nude brown), Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (03), Guerlain Parure de Nuit Pressed Powder & Blush (illuminator)
• Lips:  MAC Soulfully Rich Pro Longwear Lipcreme (deep wine berry)

For eyes, start by laying down your eyeshadow primer all over the lid and until the brow.  Apply Carefree eyeshadow on the lower two-thirds of the lid with the 239.  In the crease, gently brush Legendary Black eyeshadow with the 222 and diffuse above the crease.  Apply Make Your Mark eyeshadow in the outer corner and lid to add warmth with the 239.  Use Black Black eyeliner on the lower lash lin, then soften with Carefree eyeshadow.  Finish lashes with Film Noir mascara.

For face, apply Matchmaster all over face with the 193.  Add color to the cheeks by gently dusting Natural blush near apples and blended out towards temples with the 116.  Lightly dust on illuminator with the 165 or 188 on cheek bones.  Set with Les Violettes with the 134.

For lips, apply Soulfully Rich onto lips.

Check out more photos!

Black Eyeliner Comparisons

Are there shades of black? Indeed there are! Not every black eyeliner is the same. There are soft blacks, medium blacks, and deep blacks (and of course, variations within those categories). To try and make some sense of it all, I’m going to assign numerical ratings based on how black each liner is, with 10 being deep, dark black, 1 meaning so light that it’s almost no longer black, and 5 meaning a medium black.

• Shiseido Black Noir (BK 901) Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil has an amazing creaminess to it, and it is almost a true, deep black. (Review) 9
• MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil some creaminess but has some hardness (but not in a bad way–it’s not rough on eyes at all), and it is a true dark black — leans on the warm side. (Review) 10
• MAC Feline Kohl Power is a rich, deep dark black that’s easy to smudge. It is a limited edition product, so it’s not currently available but is often repromoted. (Review) 10
• Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Liner is a rich, deep dark black–creamy without being runny. (Review) 10
• Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner is a softened, medium black. It is a slightly warmer black on me. (Review) 4
• MAC Engraved Powerpoint Eye Pencil is a darkened medium black. 6
• MAC Smolder Eye Kohl is a dark black with cool leanings. 8
• MAC Graphblack Technakohl is a medium black. 5
• Milani Black Liquif’Eye Liner is a dark black with a cool pull. (Review) 8
• Stila Stingray Smudge Stick is a dark black with neutral to cool undertones. (Review) 8
• YSL #1 Eye Pencil is a rich black, almost ultra black, with a very matte finish.  (Review) 9
• Bobbi Brown Black Kohl Eye Liner is a rich, glossy black. The glossiness makes it look less inky, though. (Review) 8
• Benefit BADgal Liner is a creamy, dark black with warm leanings. (Review) 8

I included review links when I had them to share, but I had some wear issues with YSL’s #1 Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown’s Black Kohl Eyeliner, and Benefit’s BADgal.

The darkest: MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil, MAC Feline Kohl Power, Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Liner

Dark: Shiseido Black Noir Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil, YSL #1 Eye Pencil

Medium-dark: MAC Smolder Eye Kohl, Milani Black Liquif’Eye Liner, Stila Stingray Smudge Stick, Bobbi Brown Black Kohl Eye Liner, Benefit BADgal Liner

Medium: MAC Engraved Powerpoint Eye Pencil, MAC Graphblack Technakohl

The lightest: Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner

See more photos!

Row 1: Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion, Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved
Row 2: MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black, Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion,
Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved, MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black,
Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

Shiseido Black Noir, MAC Black Black, MAC Feline, Urban Decay Perversion, Urban Decay Zero, MAC Engraved

MAC Engraved, MAC Smolder, MAC Graphblack, Milani Black, Stila Stingray

Milani Black, Stila Stingray, YSL #1, Bobbi Brown Black, Benefit BADgal

Video Makeup Tutorial: Peach, Copper, & Bronze Eye

As promised, here’s the video tutorial for today’s look! Full details and product list for this look can be found here.

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE!! to the Temptalia channel!

Oh, and there is also a MAC Marine Life Giveaway for our YouTube subscribers only!

Summer Makeup: Molten Lava Goes To the Beach, v. 2

I had a few tutorial requests for a coppery look I did last week, so I decided to modify it a bit so it used only permanent products on the eyes rather than limited edition ones.  This is the modified version, and the tutorial should be up on YouTube shortly   I layered Free to Be and Coppering to get pretty close to Firecracker–though you could certainly use one or the other and still get something quite pretty out of it!  I was also all out of the NARS base I had used in the original look, so I used UDPP instead.

By the by, theBalm will be featured on MTV’s Hired tomorrow at 6:30pm!  I’m kind of excited, because it would be fun to see the inner-workings of a beauty brand.  theBalm will be looking at three final applicants to fill the role of their office assistant.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Free Love Eyeshadow (melon-peach), MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow (coral), MAC Coppering Eyeshadow (reddish copper), MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow (copper), MAC Bronze Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Rich Ground Fluidline (copper), Urban Decay Lucky 24/7 Liner (copper), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Get-Away Bronze Blush (reddish bronze)
• Lips: MAC Thrills Lipstick (rosy copper), MAC Flurry of Fun Lipglass (sheer tangerine with teal reflects)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Firecracker = Paradisco; Get-Away Bronze = = Format; Thrills = La Prairie Rose Bronze; Easy Lounger = Prr

For eyes, start by applying Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Free Love eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid and blend upwards into the tearduct. Lightly blend Free to Be eyeshadow on the middle of the lid with the 239, then layer Coppering eyeshadow on top to darken. With the 239, apply Amber Lights eyeshadow into the lower crease and then blended towards the outer corner and lid.Next, apply Bronze eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone.  Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lucky eyeliner on the lower lash line and Black Black pencil on the lower waterline. Line the upper lash line with Rich Ground fluidline applied with the 208; then pat Goldmine eyeshadow on top to lighten. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Flurry of Fun lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Summer Makeup: Molten Lava Goes To the Beach

Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope everyone’s been having a fantastic week — almost to the weekend (a long one, if you’re in the U.S., too!).  I totally went to my comfort zone with this look — metallic, bronzy, coppery shades.  I can’t remember if I’ve done a look like this recently, but I don’t think I’ve done it usually mostly permanent eyeshadows!  I snuck some To the Beach products in there, in honor of the official launch.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Free Love Eyeshadow (melon-peach), MAC Firecracker Eyeshadow (reddish coral), MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow (copper), MAC Bronze Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Rich Ground Fluidline (copper), Urban Decay Lucky 24/7 Liner (copper), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Get-Away Bronze Blush (reddish bronze)
• Lips: MAC Thrills Lipstick (rosy copper), MAC Easy Lounger Lipglass (sheer pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Firecracker = Paradisco; Get-Away Bronze = = Format; Thrills = La Prairie Rose Bronze; Easy Lounger = Prr

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Free Love eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid, then lightly layer with Goldmine eyeshadow and blend upwards into the tearduct. Lightly blend Firecracker eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Bronze eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Amber Lights eyeshadow into the lower crease and then blended towards the outer corner and lid. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lucky eyeliner on the lower lash line and Black Black pencil on the lower waterline.  Line the upper lash line with Rich Ground fluidline applied with the 208; then pat Goldmine eyeshadow on top to lighten.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Easy Lounger lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Five Minute Looks: Green & Greener

I was in a rush yesterday, but I wanted to play with some new makeup–I was desperate to do a look with YSL’s Slate Green. The nearest to it was MAC’s Sweet & Punchy and my new Make Up Forever Aqua Creams… and thus, this look was created! Lashes are a lil’ funky, because I applied Barelash mascara on ‘em about an hour prior.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Make Up For Ever #13 Aqua Cream (warm beige base), MAC Sweet & Punchy Eyeshadow (chartreuse), YSL #5 Slate Green Eyeshadow (dark forest green), MAC Grain Eyeshadow (highlight), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Make Up For Ever #5 Aqua Cream (peachy-pink)
• Lips: Make Up For Ever #5 Aqua Cream (peachy-pink), Dior Satin Peach Ultra Gloss (peach)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 130  (dense stippling brush)
• Substitutes: Sweet & Punchy = Sour Lemon

For eyes, start by applying #13 aqua cream as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply #5 Slate Green eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and onto the outer lid. Blend Grain eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Black Black pencil on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.

For cheeks, apply #5 aqua cream to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 130.

For lips, apply #5 aqua cream first, and then layer Satin Peach ultra gloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!