Temptalia

Best Purple Eyeshadows: 9 MAC Eyeshadows

Christine — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:50:05 +0000

9 Must-Have Purple MAC Eyeshadows

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series

A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow is one of my all-time favorite eyeshadows–from any brand, any color family–because it is absolutely stunning. It’s a vibrant fuchsia-purple color with soft shimmer. The sheen of it is both fuchsia and purple, which makes it very much like a duochrome. Seriously, if you do not have this in your collection, move it to the TOP of your list. I don’t care what new collection is coming out next, THIS outranks it!

Plum Dressing eyeshadow is a pretty mauvey-purple color. It has a little bit of red tones to it, which makes it not just a cool-toned purple. If you find cool-tones hard to work with on your skin tone, consider mauve/red-based purples instead. Let me make a note and say that Plum Dressing and Hepcat are very similar, and you probably only need one. I prefer Plum Dressing’s texture, but I love Hepcat’s name

Hepcat eyeshadow is similar to Plum Dressing (read above!), though I’d say it runs a little redder. It’s a very pretty shade of mauve-purple with warm red tones in it. It looks awesome with Stars ‘n Rockets!

Parfait Amour eyeshadow is a medium-bright blue-purple, almost a violet shade. It’s fairly cool in tone, but it’s not overly cool. I love to wear this with golds, pinks, and silvers. It’s a well-pigmented shadow with a frost finish.

See five more must-have purple eyeshadows, plus get pairing ideas and some limited edition recommendations!

Satellite Dreams eyeshadow is a warmer medium purple shade. It has more plumminess to it, and the texture is a veluxe pearl, so the finish is smooth and the color extremely blendable.

Beautiful Iris eyeshadow is a pearly lavender-purple color. Overall, it leans on the cool side, but it’s not too cool for warmer skin tones to use without much trouble. I love the pigmentation and texture of this particular shade; it’s incredibly easy to blend.

Nocturnelle eyeshadow is deep plummy purple color with a frost finish. It’s a nice shade to darken the crease with, or use all over the lid for a really dramatic look. It also works well as liner.

Contrast eyeshadow is an absolute must, must, MUST haves when it comes to dark colors. It’s a deep purple-blue shade that reflects differently depending what it’s layered with. It’s extremely rich in color and very soft when used. If you find it’s too pigmented, try using a crease brush (like the 222, 224, 226) with it.

Crystal eyeshadow is a soft, barely-there purple shade. It’s a duochrome, which means it’s fascinating in how it plays with different lights. I think this is a great color for highlighting the inner lid or brow bone, especially with other purple shadows. Digit eyeshadow is similar to Crystal, though slightly softer but purpler at the same time. I’d recommend either or, but you don’t have to have both.

Pair these shadows with…

pinks (like Passionate), golds (like Goldmine), silvers (like Electra), teals (like Shimmermoss), grays/blacks (like Carbon)

Check your stash for a few awesome limited edition finds…

Cinders, Purple Shower, Romping, Mancatcher, Stomp, Endless Love, Fertile

What are your favorite purple eyeshadows?

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of great eyeshadows — these are shades I personally think are worth getting as a whole.

Look – Orange, Pink, and Purple for Hello Kitty Event

Christine — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:21:59 +0000

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a look, yeah? The reason behind that is I’ve really been trying to get my skin back into shape ever since it went wacko after using Smashbox Photofinish Primer. From around July or August of ’08, I had amazing, clear skin for the first time in my life. Around December, I used the primer, and then my skin went in reverse–tiny flesh-colored pimples on my cheeks accompanied by larger, painful (and more noticeable, unfortunately) ones, as well.

I saw a dermatologist at the end of January, who pretty much told me to stop doing the blog or my skin would never get better. (Among other reasons, I will not go back to see her.) She did give me two prescription products to use, but they rang up to be $400, so I said, “Let me exhaust some other alternatives!” LOL.

I’ve been using Mario Badescu products for the past three weeks now, and I can tell you that my face is on track to normal (review of amazing MB products forthcoming). I have some post-acne marks that are fading, and then just two or three (on my *entire* face) that I have to deal with. Part of the skin regimen was to avoid makeup at all costs, just because I wanted to give my skin time to breathe, heal, and recover. It will also help me assess whether anything I’m using regularly is a culprit. I expect to start doing more full looks soon, but clearer/manageable skin is priority numero uno for now. I know you all understand

For the Hello Kitty event on the 3rd, I did sport full makeup for the first time in at least two weeks, so this look is what I wore to the event! BTW, does anyone else feel really awkward and rusty after not doing any eyeshadow in *weeks*? Because I felt like a two year old with a paint brush in my hands, LOL!

You will need the following…

Eyes: Fuchsia pigment (hot pink base), Firespot eyeshadow (orange), Passionate eyeshadow (hot pink), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Contrast eyeshadow (dark purple), Hush eyeshadow (neutral beige-pink highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (dark purple), Plushlash mascara (black)

Cheeks: Petalpoint blush (pink-raspberry)

Lips: Lavender Whip lipstick (lavender-lilac), Crystal Rose lipglass (light fuchsia-purple)

Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)

Substitutes: Firespot = Melon; Petalpoint = Dollymix; Lavender Whip = no dupe; Crystal Rose = Cultured

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Fuchsia pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Firespot eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Passionate eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Contrast eyeshadow and drag into crease using the 239. Overlay Contrast with Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow using the 239. Sweep Hush underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Firespot eyeshadow on lower lash line, Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower water line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Petalpoint blush using the 129. Apply Lavender Whip lipstick to lips, and then top with Crystal Rose lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Looks – Sea & Sky Goes Bold, Deep Dark Blue

Christine — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:34:34 +0000

I’m a bit under the weather at the moment (I think it’s the flu…), so if I look a bit ragged/tired, that’s why This didn’t quite come out how I wanted it, and I really wanted to wipe it all off afterwards, lol. Don’t you hate when that happens? Hopefully tomorrow will go better! (It’s been a rough few days here over at Temptalia HQ – nothing has gone as planned!)

By the by, Deep Dark is way too orange for me. I ended up using it more as a blusher (and had to buff it a bit), so I’ll be exchanging that next week when I go pick up my Colour Forms products (18th). I do like it as a light blush, so we’ll see – I’ll keep experimenting this week before I return it.

It’s Friday, ladies! Rejoice, we’re almost to the weekend. What do you have planned for tonight/this weekend?

I used Blue pigment (LE) on lid, Sea & Sky mineralize eyeshadow (marbled side) (LE) on inner lid, Sea & Sky mineralize shadow (colored side) (LE) on lid, Contrast eyeshadow on outer crease, Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow above crease, Nylon eyeshadow on brow bone to highlight, Sea & Sky mineralize shadow (colored side) (LE) on lower lash line, Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow layered on lower lash line, Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I had Deep Dark mineralize skinfinish duo on cheeks. I wore Sandy B lipstick and Illicit lipglass (LE).

** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available — may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!

Blue = Freshwather; Sea & Sky = Tilt; Sea & Sky = Freshwater; Illicit = C-Thru

Looks – Bright, Smoky Purple Eye

Christine — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:29:16 +0000

Okay, I was trying to do this whole horizontal placement thing, and it just doesn’t work well with my eye shape, I don’t think! When the eye is open (as it most often is), it just didn’t look right, so I had to fudge it up a bit to make it more my style (this is the result). Could have used some more blending at the top, but at least the lips rocked! And the colors were bright

I used Pink Pearl pigment on lid (PRO), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on lid, Parfait Amour eyeshadow in crease, Contrast eyeshadow above crease, Thunder eyeshadow above Contrast (LE), Nylon eyeshadow on brow, Royal Wink fluidliner on upper lash line, Lovely Lily pigment on lower lash line (LE), Graphblack technakohl on lower waterline, and Plushblack plushlash mascara on lashes. I wore Don’t Be Shy blush (LE) on cheeks. I had Show Orchid (PRO) lipstick with Cult Fave lipglass (LE) on my lips.

Looks – Bright Pink, Purple, with some Royal Wink Fluidline

Christine — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:07:22 +0000

I used Soft Ochre paint pot on lid, Up-do eyeshadow on inner lid, Passionate eyeshadow on middle of lid, Parfait Amour eyeshadow on outer lid, Contrast eyeshadow lightly on outer crease, Hush eyeshadow above crease, Royal Wink fluidline on lower lash line, Feline kohl power on lower water line. I had Fleurry blush on cheeks. I wore Fun ‘n Sexy lipstick with Squeeze It lipglass on my lips.