Temptalia FAQ & Recommendations

Categories

You can browse the entire FAQ by scrolling through, or you can click on the individual topics, as listed below, if you are looking for something more specific.

About

Basics (Knowledge/Tips)

Recommendations

Founder

Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have a younger sister!

Do you wear contacts/glasses?
I do not wear contacts but wear glasses at times.

How do you maintain your brows?
I tweeze, though I have done threading a few times in the past, I have not done so in over a year. I fill them in with MAC Espresso eyeshadow using MAC’s 266 angled brush.

How do you stay organized?
I just keep a to-do list for the week and list about 5-10 things I’d like to get done each day (sometimes an item is like 4-6 posts, so I will lump them into one item on the list!). I also spend longer chunks of time doing similar tasks — e.g. I spend my weekends doing the majority of my school work, so I can work more during the week on the blog (and attend school).

How old are you?
I am 24 years old.

What do you do with makeup after you review it?
It depends on the item. I keep some for future use (often to have for potential dupes) but not all. When I don’t have a reason to keep it, I donate many products to a local organization that distributes them to victims of domestic violence and volunteers that help on behalf of those victims.

What is your ethnicity?
I’m half Vietnamese, quarter Swiss, and quarter German.

What is your skin tone?
I have a medium skin tone with warm undertones. I am NC25/NC30 in MAC foundations; Punjab in NARS foundations, #03 in Burberry foundations, Medium in Kiehl’s/Korres Tinted Moisturizers.

When is your birthday?
September 28th.

Where did you go to college? What did you major in?
I attended University of California, Irvine. I received a B.A. in Economics and second B.A. in Political Science.

Where did you go to graduate school? What program are you in?
I attended Santa Clara University. I am a candidate for a JD/MBA, which is a dual-degree program.

Who is Mellan? Where did you come up with his name? What kind of dog is he? How old is he?
Mellan is my 3 year old yellow labrador retriever. Mellan is actually short for Magellan, so he is actually named after the explorer.

Why don’t you wear eyeliner on your upper lash line?
The area between my upper lashes is very, very sensitive. I’ve tried over 30 different products and various techniques that it appears it’s simply aggravation of the area – so it’s not a specific product, but just the bristles of a brush getting between the lashes. A severe reaction would be a swollen eye with some redness and dryness. A lesser reaction would just be dryness.

Will you ever hold a blog sale?
No, I will not. I receive product samples from brands for consideration to review, and it would be unethical to sell those products. Instead, I prefer to donate to local organizations.

Images/Photos

Are lip swatches applied using a brush? With lip liner?
All lip swatches are applied out of the tube and never with a lip liner. My philosophy is that you should see the color for exactly what it is, and I think lip liner could minimize or hide whether a shade bleeds, feathers, etc.

Can I use your images?
Promotional imagery, which are photos provided by brands themselves and not photos that Temptalia has taken, are allowed to be reposted as long as there is a link back to Temptalia. Photos that Temptalia has taken require specific permission and you should use the contact us form (at the bottom of the page).

What camera do you use?
Nikon D90. I use various lenses, such as the 35mm, 50mm, 60mm, 80mm, 105mm, and my kit lens.

What video camera do you use?
I use a Canon Vixia HF S100.

Temptalia

How do you cope with negative/rude comments?
Fortunately, you just learn to and get over it. You really do toughen up. Unfortunately, you HAVE to learn to take them, forget them, and move on. The anonymity of the internet lets people say whatever they want without any consequences, which ultimately results in a lack of respect and tact.

If a reader sees you at the mall (or wherever!), what should we do? Should we say hi, wave? Not say anything?
Definitely come over and say hi! I always love to meet readers!

What advice do you have for new bloggers?
Do it because you love it. This is especially true in such a saturated niche like beauty. I’d also suggest working on your writing if you find you are not perfect out-of-the-box, because it’s important to stay true to your voice, but if you can convey it with a good grasp of the language you’re writing in, so much the better! Oh, and don’t jump the gun – be patient. Very few blogs skyrocket to success, so it’s important to remember to keep on bloggin’ and cultivate patience while you grow your readership.

When did Temptalia begin? How did Temptalia begin?
Temptalia, as a blog, first began in October 2006. It began as a way to archive my daily looks for others to refer back to. Next to come were in-depth MAC Cosmetics Collection reviews. Today, Temptalia is still well-known for its in-depth analysis and evaluations of the latest MAC collections. Eventually, the blog content grew and opened itself up to both MAC and non-MAC brands alike as well as including tutorials, how-tos, and beauty-related articles.

Who is Temptalia? What does Temptalia mean?
Temptalia was founded and continues to be written, edited, etc. by Christine Mielke, aka me. The one you see in photos, that’s me! If you see an arm, that’s me. If you see a set of nails, that’s me! Unless otherwise noted, various body parts for swatching purposes, eyes, lips, or full face photos are all of me and my beauty battle-tested body, ha! Temptalia is a made-up word (by me! when I was like sixteen!) that is supposed to mean the perfect woman–she’s smart, sexy, confident, and totally amazing.

Makeup

Do you need to set tinted moisturizer with powder?
I find it does help with the wear, so I consider it necessary!

How can I keep my makeup looking fresh all day long?
You can wear your makeup in layers, which means using a face primer, foundation, and setting powder. You may also want to go for cream or gel blush over powder. You can also use a touch-up powder like blot or pressed powder to keep your face fresher.

How can I make my eyeliner last all day long?
First, ensure you are using a quality eyeliner (which by no means has to be expensive). Some tricks are to apply it just before the outer corner, so that it doesn’t seep into the outer corners and pull away from the lid; set with a similar-colored powder; and set with products like Benefit’s She Laq or Make Up For Ever’s eye Seal.

How can I make my eyes look bigger?
Try lining your lower waterline/lashline with a nude or champagne eyeliner. Also consider lining only the outer half of your upper and/or lower lash line.

How can I wear blush if my cheeks are already pink/red?
Try wearing a peachy blush, which can help to neutralize some of the pink/red!

How do I wear eye makeup with glasses?
Put on your glasses on while you’re applying your makeup so you can see how it is looking – that way you can bring up the crease, darken, etc. as you go! Curl lashes, too!

How do you apply tinted moisturizer?
Usually, I just use my fingers to apply, similar to how you would apply your moisturizer.

How do you sanitize makeup?
You can use products like BeautySoClean or try to do it yourself. You can dip products like lipstick into rubbing alcohol to disinfect them. You can spray the top of powder products with rubbing alcohol and wipe off the top layer with a paper towel or cloth.

How often should I clean my brushes?
I recommend spot-cleaning (which is when you use a fast-drying cleanser–anything alcohol-based tends to be–and gently wipe the brush on a paper towel) very regular and more thorough cleanings at least once a week. I personally wash whatever brushes I use after I use them. If you use really pigmented shades with light or white-colored brushes, I recommend washing immediately to avoid staining. If you suffer from acne, consider washing your face brushes after each use or every other use.

What are your beauty tips for wearing makeup in warm/humid climates?
Waterproof, long-wearing, all-day are all words you want to look for. You’ll probably want to wear less rather than more, especially when it comes to foundation. Consider a tinted moisturizer, perhaps a gel/cream blush, and then everything with powder.

Products

Is there a difference between pigments and loose eyeshadows?
It just depends on the brand – they’re really the same thing, since both are, essentially, loose eyeshadow. However, some companies that market pigments do so with the intention of making them multi-tasking products — not just eyeshadow.

When do you throw away makeup?
The guidelines can be all over the place, but many brands have started to put how many months a product can be used (the clock starts ticking once you open/use) on the packaging, so you can check there. I toss out products when they smell differently (think plastic/crayon smells), change color or consistency, or otherwise seem like they’ve “turned.”

Skincare

How can I get rid of acne?
The first place to start is to evaluate what are you doing to your skin now: do you have a good skincare regimen in place? You want to make sure you use the appropriate cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliators, etc. for your skin type. One common mistake people make is over-exfoliating; exfoliating two to three times a week is usually sufficient. If your acne is troublesome, persists, or makes you uncomfortable, consider seeing a dermatologist or consulting with your primary care doctor for topical treatments like Differin.

What is a facial serum? What does it do and how does it differ from a moisturizer?
Serums are concentrated/targeted treatments. They are typically more potent than any ingredients found in a moisturizer. Serums can range from anti-aging to acne to moisturizing. Generally, you would use a serum and then apply your moisturizer over it not instead of.

What order should I apply my skincare?
Cleanse, toner, sunscreen, moisturizer, primer!

When do you apply serums?
First!

Technique

How can I get a better curl for my lashes?
Waterproof mascara seems to hold a curl better (which is more for future reference!), but you could also try heating your eyelash curler up (not a lot – a couple seconds under a blow dryer).

How do I prevent lip products from settling into lip lines?
The best would be to try a lip liner or line filler; the lip liner will give it more to adhere to, while a filler will temporarily plump up the lines in the lips to reduce them and make them less noticeable.

How do you deal with facial hair?
I use Eve Pearl’s Razor for my upper lip and the like (since I take macro photos, everything is so noticeable, so I try to do what I can), just because I need to do it often and find that a cream remover or wax removal would be too much for my skin.

How do you keep your lips in tip-top shape?
I try to exfoliate two to three times a week, which may sometimes be just sitting down and doing several lip swatches (because the removal part is enough to exfoliate if you do it a few times!), along with always putting balm on if I’m not wearing lipstick/lipgloss.

How do you paint your nails?
I did a YouTube video showing I do it!

What are good foundations, concealers, and setting powders for photographs?
You want to avoid SPF ingredients – like titanium dioxide. I like MUFE HD, Guerlain Parure Gold, and MAC Face & Body for foundation. I’ve never had issues with concealers, but I tend to use theBalm TimeBalm or Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer. For powder, MUFE HD, MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder, or Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powders have all worked for me!

What order should I apply my makeup?
It’s totally up to you! It is often better to apply eye makeup first, because any fall out can be cleaned up before you apply your face makeup. Blush typically goes on after foundation, but gel/cream blushes may be better underneath. I like to lips last, so that I can powder my face without getting powder in my lipgloss.

When do you apply concealer? Before or after foundation?
I think the rule is before, but I’ve done it both ways and haven’t found a preference yet. No harm in trying!

Why do I look washed out in my photos?
It is likely because your foundation (or moisturizer/primer) had SPF in it. Many SPF products will reflect light back, which is why you looked washed out!

Travel

What would you take with you for a week-long vacation? How do you pare your list down?
I would bring 2-3 eye brushes, blush/foundation/loose powder brushes, and then maybe one or two other ones. I would pack 1-2 palettes (or quads, or a 15-pan MAC palette), along with 3-4 lipsticks and 3-4 lipglasses. I try to plan out at least a couple of looks in advance (just a “big picture” look, nothing too specific), so I don’t pack everything!

Recommendations

Blush

What are good berry blushes?
theBalm Cabana Boy, NARS Dolce Vita

What are good coral blushes?
theBalm Hot Mama, Benefit CORALista, Bobbi Brown Nectar, Le Metier de Beaute Echo, MAC Springsheen, NARS Orgasm/Deep Throat

What are good dark pink blushes?
Benefit Bella Bamba, Illamasqua Thrust, MAC Dollymix.

What are good light/medium pink blushes?
Benefit Sugarbomb, Illamasqua Katie, MAC Well Dressed, NARS Angelika/Desire.

What are good natural/nude blushes?
MAC Blushbaby, NARS Douceur, NARS Sex Appeal

What are good orange blushes?
Illamasqua Lover, NARS Exhibit A.

What are good peach blushes?
Illamasqua Expose/Lover, MAC Peaches, NARS Amour.

What are good plum blushes?
Illamasqua Kiss, MAC Plum Foolery, NARS Oasis/Sin.

Bronzer

What are the best bronzers?
Benefit Hoola, Cargo blueray Bronzer, Chanel Tan de Soleil, Dior Matte Bronzer, Guerlain Terracotta, MAC Bronzer, NARS Bronzer (Laguna is a reader favorite).

What brushes work for bronzer?
Fluffy angled brushes like MAC 168 work well if you intend to contour. Fan brushes work well for a subtler look that dusts on the areas where the sun would naturally hit.

Concealer

What are good concealers for acne?
MAC Moisturecover is my favorite, because it is more moisturizing and liquidy, so it can cover drier spots like active or healing acne.

What are good concealers for the undereye?
Amazing Cosmetics Concealer (very creamy), theBalm Time Balm (very opaque and thick), MAC Moisturecover (very liquid), Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (very opaque).

By Eye Color

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend for someone with blue eyes?
Amber Lights, Goldmine, Antiqued, Satin Taupe, Print, Passionate, Shroom, Patina, Rule, Soft Brown, Stars ‘n Rockets

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend for someone with brown eyes?
Goldmine, Coppering, Bronze, Woodwinked, Espresso, Soft Brown, Nylon, Deep Truth, Humid, Sumptuous Olive, Stars ‘n Roockets

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend for someone with gray eyes?
Deep Truth, Humid, Shale, Pink Freeze, Tilt, Orb, Dazzlelight, Phloof!, Parfait Amour, Beautiful Iris, Vex

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend for someone with green eyes?
Vanilla, Soft Brown, Naked Lunch, Omega, Wedge, Sumptuous Olive, Moon’s Reflection, Beautiful Iris, Nylon, Satin Taupe, Smut, Print, Juxt

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend for someone with hazel eyes?
Bronze, Sumptuous Olive, Humid, Juxt, Deep Truth, Woodwinked, Plum Dressing, Antiqued, Sable, Twinks, Nylon, Goldmine

Eyeliner

What are the best gel eyeliners?
Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner, MAC Fluidline, Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream.

What color eyeliner should I use to make my eyes appear more open?
White, champagne, or nude eyeliners like Make Up For Ever #23L Aqua Eye Liner or MAC NC25/NW30 Chromagraphic Pencil.

What is the best brush for cream/gel eyeliner?
I like thin angled brushes like Sonia Kashuk’s Bent Eyeliner Brush and MAC’s 208 Brush.

What is the best eyeliner for the water line?
I prefer MAC Chromagraphic Pencils–they’re really some of the longest lasting pencils I’ve tried. I also like MAC Blacktrack fluidline.

Eyeshadow

Could you give me a mix of colors and neutrals to fill a MAC 15-pan palette?

Colors: Freshwater, Humid, Juxt, Moon’s Reflection, Stars ‘n Rockets, Da Bling, Shimmermoss; Goldmine, Neutrals: Ricepaper, Patina, Satin Taupe, Brun, Nylon, Soft Brown, Wedge

What are good neutral MAC eyeshadows?
Brun, Ricepaper, Orb, Soft Brown, Wedge

What are the best brands for matte eyeshadows?
Make Up For Ever, Sugarpill.

What are the best cream eyeshadows?
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners, Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams.

What MAC eyeshadows would you recommend (all colors!) for a 15-pan palette?
Lucky Green, Atlantic Blue, Electric Eel, Humid, Coppering, Freshwater, Shimmermoss, Stars ‘n Rockets, Winkle, Moon’s Reflection, Passionate, Vibrant Grape

Foundation

How do I know what undertone I am?
Look at the underside of your forearm; if your veins are green, you most likely have warm undertones that are yellow; if your veins are blue, then you most likely have cool undertones and have pink undertones.

What are good contouring products?
Benefit Hoola, MAC Sculpt, NYX Taupe.

What do you recommend for foundation/concealer for someone who struggles with acne?
Go for light to medium coverage on the foundation, and then use a medium coverage concealer – the idea being you only add coverage where you need it. Look for creamier products, as more matte finishes can cake on active acne or healing acne. I like MAC Moisturecover because of how emollient it is. Foundations are plentiful – NARS Sheer Glow or MUFE HD would work.

What is a good full coverage foundation?
CoverFX Total Coverage, Dermablend Cover Crème, MAC Studio Tech.

What is a good light/sheer coverage foundation?
Clinique Almost Makeup, MAC Face & Body, MAC Select Tint, Trish McEvoy Even Skin.

What is a good medium coverage foundation?
MAC Studio Fix Fluid, Make Up For Ever HD, NARS Sheer Glow/Matte,

Fragrance

What are good scents for spring?
DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom, Marc Jacob’s Daisy.

What are your favorite fragrances?
Tom Ford Oud Wood, Tom Ford Amber Absolute, Dior Addict, Burberry The Beat, Vera Wang LOOK, kenzoAMOUR.

Where should fragrances be stored?
Out of the heat and sunlight; you want to keep your fragrances in cooler, darker places, which means keep them off window sills and out of bathrooms!

Highlighters

What are good highlighters?
theBalmMary-Lou Manizer, Benefit High/Moon Beam, Benefit Sugarbomb, Dior Skin Shimmers, Guerlain Meteorites

Lipgloss

What are good berry lipglosses?
MAC Desire, NARS Bougainville, Smashbox Nonstop

What are good bright pink lipglosses?
Dior Outrageous Fuchsia, Korres Fuchsia 54, MAC Pink Poodle, YSL Golden Fuchsia

What are good coral lipglosses?
Dior Apricot Cloche, Lancome Sunbaked Coral, MAC Lychee Luxe

What are good cream lipglosses?
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss, YSL Pur Gloss

What are good long-wearing lipglosses?
Cle de Peau Lipgloss, MAC Lipglass, NARS Lipgloss

What are good non-sticky lipglosses?
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss, Korres Cherry Lipgloss, Lancome Color Fever Gloss, MAC Lipgelees, NARS Lipgloss, Shiseido Luminizing Lipgloss, Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss, YSL Pur Gloss

What are good nude lipglosses?
Korres Natural Purple, MAC Nymphette, MAC Prrr, NARS Turkish Delight

What are good opaque lipglosses?
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss, Korres Liquid Lipstick, Stila Lip Enamel

What are good orange lipglosses?
Make Up For Ever #D20

What are good pink lipglosses
LORAC Vivid, MAC Pink Poodle, MAC Cultured

What are good plum lipglosses?
Dior Black-Tie Plum, Korres Plum, Lancome On Fire, MAC Desire

What are good red lipglosses
MAC Russian Red, MAC Venetian, YSL Golden Cherry

What are good sheer lipglosses?
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss, Chanel Extrait de Gloss, MAC Lustreglass, NARS Lipgloss, YSL Golden Gloss

What are good shimmery lipglosses?
LORAC Multiplex 3D Lipgloss, MAC Dazzleglass, YSL Golden Gloss

Lipstick

How can I keep my lipstick from feathering/bleeding?
Try Cargo’s Reverse Lip Liner! You can apply it OUTSIDE! of your lips, which can help everything stay inside. You could also try concealer around the lip line to help keep things inside.

What are good berry lipsticks?
Dior Ruby Serum, MAC New York Apple, MAC Odyssey, NARS Christina, NARS Petit Monstre

What are good bright pink lipsticks?
MAC Girl About Town, Make Up For Ever #9, Make Up For Ever #36, NARS Schiap

What are good bright purple lipsticks?
Illamasqua Underworld, MAC Show Orchid, MAC Up the Amp, Make Up For Ever #14, NARS Funny Face

What are good brown lipsticks?
Guerlain Gaia, Guerlain Galante, MAC Touch, NARS Success

What are good coral lipsticks?
Dior Coral Serum, Illamasqua Brink, Korres Coral 45, MAC Crosswires, Make Up For Ever #38, NARS Niagara

What are good nude lipsticks?
Guerlain Gardenia, Guerlain Guerlinade, MAC Crème de Nude, MAC Honeylove, MAC Touch, NARS Belle de Jour, NARS Cruising

What are good orange lipsticks?
Bobbi Brown Orange, MAC Morange, MAC Neon Orange

What are good peach lipsticks?
Guerlain Gil, MAC Ravishing, NARS Barbarella

What are good pink lipsticks?
Bobbi Brown Pink, Guerlain Gentiane, Guerlain Gemma, Guerlain Giulette, Korres Peach 18, MAC Sweetie, MAC Sophisto

What are good plum lipsticks?
Bobbi Brown Raisin, Guerlain Gracia, MAC Plumful, Make Up For Ever #48

What are good red lipsticks?
Illamasqua Box, MAC Russian Red, MAC Viva Glam I, Make Up For Ever #21, NARS Afghan Red, NARS Jungle Red.

What are some long-wearing lipsticks that you’ve tried?
Guerlain Rouge G, Cle de Peau Extra Silky, Chanel Rouge Allure, MAC Amplified Cremes, Benefit Full Finish.

What is the best long-wearing lipstick for a wedding?
MAC Prolongwears work the best for me – the color stays on really well, so all you have to do is reapply the gloss every few hours. Your hubby will only get a lil’ gloss at most but no color.

Looks

What colors should I use for a pin-up look?
The idea is to contour the eye with neutral shades; you’ll want to choose a lid color that is about your skin tone and a crease color that is slightly deeper. Next, apply black liquid eyeliner on the upper lash line for make a cat eye.

Makeup Brushes

Have you tried Sigma Brushes?
Yes, I have. I have done full reviews here on the blog.

What are your must-have MAC eye brushes?
239, 217, 208, 226, 219, 266

What are your must-have MAC face brushes?
109 (liquid foundation), 116 (blush), 182 (buffing), 134 (setting powder).

What brush cleanser should I use?
I prefer MAC Brush Cleanser. It’s quick, easy, and effective. It works as a spot cleanser as well as a deeper cleanser.

What is the best brush for blush?
I like a flattened dome brush like MAC’s 116.

What is the best brush for contouring?
I like fluffy angled brushes like MAC’s 168.

What is the best brush for cream blush?
Try stippling brushes like MAC 188.

What is the best brush for cream eyeshadows?
I like flat brushes, like MAC’s 249.

What is the best brush for eyebrows?
I like thicker angled brushes like MAC’s 266.

What is the best brush for liquid foundation?
Flatter brushes with a slight dome work well, because you can apply using small circles. I prefer MAC’s 109.

What is the best brush for powder eyeshadow?
I prefer small, domed, slightly fluffy but not too fluffy eyeshadow brushes like MAC’s 239.

What is the best brush for powder foundation?
I like large, flatter brushes like MAC’s 189, because it allows you to pick up enough product and provide nice coverage once applied.

What three MAC eye brushes should I start out with?
239, 217, 208.

What three MAC face brushes should I start out with?
109 (for liquid foundation) or 189 (for powder foundation), 116 (for blush), 134 (for loose powder).

Mascara

What are good dramatic mascaras?
Chanel Inimitable Intense, Lancome Hypnose.

What are good drugstore mascaras?
Maybelline Full ‘n Soft (volumizing), CoverGirl LashBlast (general).

What are good lengthening mascaras?
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash, Dior Extase.

What are good natural mascaras?
Kiehl’s Mineral Mascara, Bobbi Brown Everyday Mascara, Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash, Maybelline Full ‘n Soft.

What are good volumizing mascaras?
Maybelline Full ‘n Soft.

Nails

What are good base coats?
My favorites is Zoya’s Anchor.

What are good fast-drying top coats?
I like Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri or Zoya’s quick-drying drops.

What are good nail polish removers?
I prefer Zoya’s Remove+ to the point where I no longer use anything else.

What are good top coats?
My favorites are Seche Vite and Zoya’s Armor.

What brands are good for cream polishes?
Essie and Zoya.

Primer

What are the best eyeshadow bases?
Reader favorites are MAC Paint Pots, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and Urban Decay’s Primer Potion. I personally prefer NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base.

What are the best face primers?
Reader favorites are Smashbox Photofinish Primer and Photofinish Light Primer. I only use silicone-free primers and my favorite is Korres’ Silicone-Free Primer

What are the best lip primers?
There is MAC Prep + Prime Lip, but I prefer lip liner.

What is a good oil-free face primer?
LORAC AquaPrime, which is water-based.

Skincare

How can I minimize/reduce my pores?
The best is to try a product that uses powder to soften the appearance of skin (and therefore pores), like Benefit’s Porefessional or MAC Prep + Prime Refined Zone.

What is the best way to remove waterproof mascara?
Oil-based makeup removers work really, really well, because for most products, oil will break them down.

What order do you apply sunscreen?
Generally speaking, most experts say to apply it first. This is particularly true with chemical sunscreens which interact with your skin, so it is better for it to be applied first. Physical sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide block instead.

Dark Skintones

What are good blushes for cool, dark skin?
MAC: Breezy, Dollymix,

NARS: Desire, Dolce Vita, Mata Hari, Outlaw

What are good blushes for warm, dark skin?
MAC: Ambering Rose, Breezy, Raizin, Sunbasque, Sweet as Cocoa

NARS: Deep Throat, Dolce Vita, Exhibit A, Taj Mahal, Taos

What are good eyeshadows for cool, dark skin?
MAC: Aquadisiac, Amber Lights, Contrast, Espresso, Freshwater, Humid,Mulch, Nocturnelle, Paradisco, Shimmermoss, Stars ‘n Rockets
NARS: April Fool’s, Brazil, Kalahari, Misfit, Portobello, South Pacific, Surabaya
Urban Decay: Asphyxia, Flipside, Hotpants, Roach, Stray Dog, Toasted, Twice Baked, Vert

What are good eyeshadows for warm, dark skin?
MAC: Antiqued, Arena, Bronze, Coppering, Deep Truth, Juxt, Mystery, Star Violet, Swimming
NARS: Alhambra, Earth Angel, Isolde, Mediteranee, Persepolis, Star Sailor, Wicked
Urban Decay: Flash, Flipside, Half Baked, Jones, Rush, Shattered, Vert

What are good lipglosses for cool, dark skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Chai, Nymphette, Viva Glam VI, NARS Lipglosses: Bad Education, Boogie Nights, Revolt, Stolen Kisses, Talitha

What are good lipglosses for warm, dark skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Beaux (Lustreglass), C-Thru, Instant Gold (Lustreglass), Love Nectar, NARS Lipglosses: Babe, Belize, Misbehave, Stella, Sunset Strip

What are good lipsticks for cool, dark skin?
MAC Lipsticks: Creme Cup, Girl About Town, Rebel, Ruby Woo, Spirit, Strength
NARS Lipsticks: Barbarella, Catfight, Funny Face, Scarlett Empress
Urban Decay Lipsticks: Confession, Gravity, Jilted, Rush, Trainwreck

What are good lipsticks for warm, dark skin?
MAC Lipsticks: High Tea, Kinda Sexy, Media, New York Apple, Siss
NARS Lipsticks: Beautiful Liar, Christina, Flamenco, Viridiana
Urban Decay Lipsticks: Gash, Indecent, Pistol, Vinyl, Voodoo

Light Skintones

What are good blushes for cool, fair skin?
MAC: Breath o’ Plum, Cubic, Peachykeen, Well-Dressed

NARS: Angelika, Copacabana (Multiple), Dolce Vita, Riviera (Multiple), Sin

What are good blushes for warm, fair skin?
MAC: Blushbaby, Dollymix, Margin, Springsheen

NARS: Deep Throat, Luster, Orgasm, Portofino (Multiple), South Beach (Multiple), Torrid

What are good eyeshadows for warm, fair skin?
MAC: All That Glitters, Amber Lights, Carbon, Da Bling, Deep Truth, Electra, Humid, Jest, Juxt, Naked Lunch, Satellite Dreams
NARS: Alhambra, Balthazar, Bohemian Gold, Hula Hula, Sea, Sex, & Sun, Star Sailor, Summertime, Wicked
Urban Decay: Baked, Blaze, Crash, Ecstasy, Eldorado, Flipside, Half Baked, Vert

What are good lipglosses for cool, fair skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Morning Glory (Lustreglass), Oyster Girl, NARS Lipglosses: Chihuahua, Belize, Striptease, Turkish Delight

What are good lipglosses for warm, fair skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Instant Gold (Lustreglass), Pinkarat (Lustreglass), Lychee Luxe, NARS Lipglosses: Frisky Summer, Greek Holiday, Orgasm, Pillow Talk

What are good lipsticks for cool, fair skin?
MAC Lipsticks: Angel, Dubonnet, High Tea, Hue, Odyssey, Sweetie, Syrup
NARS Lipsticks: Flair, Funny Face, Roman Holiday, Trans Siberian, Venice
Urban Decay Lipsticks: Buzzkill, Lovechild, Naked, Peroxide

What are good lipsticks for warm, fair skin?
MAC Lipsticks: Blankety, Crosswires, Freckletone, “O”, Viva Glam I
NARS Lipsticks: Christina, Napoli, Niagara
Urban Decay Lipsticks: 5150, Indecent, Naked, Voodoo

Medium Skintones

What are good blushes for cool, medium skin?
MAC: Cubic, Desert Rose, Dollymix, Peaches

NARS: Angelika, Copacabana (Multiple), Deep Throat, Sin

What are good blushes for warm, medium skin?
MAC: Ambering Rose, Margin, Plum Foolery, Springsheen, Sunbasque

NARS: Deep Throat, Luster, Orgasm, South Beach (Multiple), Torrid

What are good eyeshadows for cool, medium skin?
MAC: Carbon, Digit, Espresso, Satin Taupe, Seedy Pearl, Shroom, Smut, Tilt, Typographic
NARS: April Fool’s, Blade Runner, Brazil, Caravaggio, Cleo, Habanera, Jezebel, Portobello
Urban Decay: Asphyxia, Goddess, Lounge, Cherry, Roach, Sellout, Twice Baked, YDK

What are good eyeshadows for warm, medium skin?
MAC: Amber Lights, Bronze, Coppering, Expensive Pink, Gorgeous Gold, Juxt, Patina, Ricepaper, Romp, Shimmermoss, Soft Brown
NARS: Alhambra, Bohemian Gold, Cheyenne, Hula Hula, Kalahari, Sea, Sex, & Sun, Stage Beauty, Wicked
Urban Decay: Baked, Chopper, Crash, Eldorado, Flipside, Maui Wowie, Vert

What are good lipglosses for cool, medium skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Nymphette, Prrr, Russian Red, Viva Glam V
NARS Lipglosses: Belize, Boogie Nights, Tempest, Turkish Delight

What are good lipglosses for warm, medium skin?
MAC Lipglosses: Enchantress, Lychee Luxe, Nymphette, NARS Lipglosses: Babe, Frisky Summer, Greek Holiday, Misbehave, Orgasm

What are good lipsticks for cool, medium skin?
MAC Lipsticks: Angel, Dubonnet, Hue, Lustering, Up the Amp
NARS Lipsticks: Catfight, Flair, Russian Doll, Niagara
Urban Decay Lipsticks: Lovechild, Naked, Requiem, Rush, Trainwreck

What are good lipsticks for warm, medium skin?
MAC Lipsticks: Bombshell, Craving, Crosswires, Plumful, Sweetie, Velvet Teddy, Viva Glam I
NARS Lipsticks: Christina, Flamenco, Manhunt, Niagara
Urban Decay Lipsticks: 5150, Naked, Pistol, Wanted

Temptalia’s Favorites

What is your favorite blush brand?
Rock & Republic blush.

What is your favorite bronzer?
Guerlain Terracotta.

What is your favorite concealer?
Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector.

What is your favorite cream blush brand?
Make Up For Ever HD Blush.

What is your favorite cream eyeshadow brand?
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners, Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams.

What is your favorite dramatic mascara?
Chanel Inimitable Intense, Lancome Hypnose, L’Oreal Telescopic.

What is your favorite everyday blush?
Benefit Sugarbomb, Korres Natural.

What is your favorite eyelash curler?
shu uemura’s eyelash curler.

What is your favorite eyeshadow base?
NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base.

What is your favorite eyeshadow brand?
Hourglass.

What is your favorite false eyelash brand?
Urban Decay, MAC, Revlon.

What is your favorite foundation?
Guerlain Parure Gold.

What is your favorite gel eyeliner?
MAC Fluidline, Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaEyes Crème Liner.

What is your favorite highlighter brand?
Guerlain Meteorites – for something more budget friendly, NYX Highlighter Mosaic Powder.

What is your favorite lengthening mascara?
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash, Dior Extase, CoverGirl LashBlast.

What is your favorite lip balm?
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm.

What is your favorite lipgloss?
Le Metier de Beaute Lip Cremes.

What is your favorite lipstick?
Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick, Cle de Peau Extra Silky.

What is your favorite liquid eyeliner?
MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eyeliner.

What is your favorite loose eyeshadow brand?
Illamasqua Pure Pigment, Sugarpill Chromalust.

What is your favorite mascara?
Chanel Exceptionnel, MAC Plushlash, Maybelline Full ‘n Soft.

What is your favorite natural mascara?
Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara, Maybelline Full ‘n Soft.

vWhat is your favorite pencil eyeliner?
Urban Decay 24/7 Liners, Milani Liquif’Eye Liners are my top two. I also like Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes a lot.

What is your favorite setting powder?
Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder.

What is your favorite tinted moisturizer?
Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer.

What is your favorite tweezer?
Tweezerman Slanted.

What’s your favorite cleanser?
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser.

What’s your favorite exfoliator?
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate.

What’s your favorite fragrance?
Tom Ford Oud Wood, Tom Ford Amber Absolute, Dior Addict, Burberry The Beat, Vera Wang LOOK, kenzoAMOUR.

What’s your favorite makeup remover?
Lancome Bi-Facil.