I’m feeling encouraged by yesterday’s look post (because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to post this since it was more experimental than anything else), so I wanted to share with you a look I attempted a week or so ago. I wanted to try a color combination I hadn’t done before (it’s not always easy to think of something that is different AND could work!), and this is what I came up with. I didn’t like it at first, but as I looked at it throughout the day, I decided I really liked the eyes and thought the application was better than my usual is. I just had no idea what kind of lip color made a good pairing! Nude looked odd, too purple looked odd, and too pink doesn’t seem like it complements. I was thinking maybe a really shamelessly bold, wine/burgundy/purple lip might have rocked it (think Rebel lipstick).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), True Chartreuse pigment (chartreuse), Goldmine eyeshadow (gold), Overgrown eyeshadow (chatreuse), Fig. 1 (medium wine), Shadowy Lady eyeshadow (deep burgundy), Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow (white highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (blue-violet), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Fun Fun lipstick (light pinky-purple), Tartlette lipglass (coral)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Overgrown = Bitter; Fun Fun = Snob; Tartlette = Lychee Luxe

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply True Chartreuse pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Goldmine eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Overgrown eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Fig. 1 eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Shadowy Lady eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Fun Fun lipstick to lips, and then top with Tartlette lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Here’s a MAC Style Warrior look! I did false eyelashes again (hey, when you’ve spent four years attempting without success, and you can manage it… you keep trying!), but I used knockoff #7s instead, and they were just too long, IMO. I ended up removing them, because the length was a bit obnoxious. I did pick up some new #7s at MAC last week, so hopefully I can keep applying lashes as I need to in the future!

What’s everyone doing this weekend? It’s a ridiculously beautiful (and hot!) weekend here in California. We’ll have to find a way to do something outside to enjoy it!

P.S. — Happy birthday to my Dad! <333

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Golden Lemon pigment (yellow-gold), Bright Future eyeshadow (bright yellow), Night Maneuvers eyeshadow (gray-brown), Vibrant Grape eyeshadow (deep purple), Graphology eyeshadow (matte dark blue-purple), Soft Force eyeshadow (soft white-gold), #7 lashes (knockoffs) (false eyelashes), Blacktrack fluidline (black), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: On A Mission blush (raspberry pink), Pink Rebel lustre drops (pink highlighter)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Fierce & Fabulous lipglass (magenta pink)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Bright Future = Bright Sunshine; Night Maneuvers = Scene; Soft Force = Shroom; On A Mission = Plum Foolery; Pink Rebel = Benefit Posie; Brave New Bronze = Honeylove; Fierce & Fabulous = Star Nova

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Golden Lemon pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the lid, pack Bright Future eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Night Maneuvers eyeshadow to the outer portion of the lid. Darken crease with Vibrant Grape eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Graphology eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Soft Force eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Honey Liner on lower lash line, and Blacktrack fluidline on the upper lash line using the 209. Apply #7 lashes to upper lash line, then lightly apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with On A Mission blush using the 129, then highlight with Pink Rebel lustre drops with the 188. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Fierce & Fabulous lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Without lashes!

Without lashes!

To compensate for the site being down intermittently, here’s a Rose Romance look I did yesterday. I think it’s the first time I’ve worn eyeshadow in two weeks ore more! I just always run out of time and end up going with a minimal to no makeup face these days. I’m working on it, though!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Et Tu, Bouquet? eyeshdaow (glittery peachy-pink), Of Summer eyeshadow (lilac), Creme de Violet eyeshadow (warm purple), Shadowy Lady eyeshadow (dark burgundy-purple), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Benefit BADgal Liner (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Summer Rose beauty powder (cool pink-purple), Dior Rose Diamond skin shimmer (light pink)
• Lips: A Rose Romance lipstick (pinky-purple), Magnetique lipglass (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: Et Tu, Bouquet = Gleam; Of Summer = Beautiful Iris; Summer Rose = Well Dressed; Way to Love = Hue; Magnetique = no dupe

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base. On the inner lid, apply Et Tu, Bouquet? eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Of Summer eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Shadowy Lady eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Shadowy Lady eyeshadow using the 226, then overlay with Creme de Violet eyeshadow. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Summer Rose beauty powder using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond skin shimmer with the 188. Apply A Rose Romance lipstick to lips, and then top with Magnetique lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

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.