Ask Temptalia Session #003
This is your chance to ask any questions you may have that you want me to answer! I will try to answer whatever you may ask, and if I don’t have an answer, I’ll at least do my best to point you in the right direction. I’d love to answer your beauty-related questions, but I will take non-beauty questions, too. As always, if you have a question you’d like to ask that’s private, just drop me an email!
So, not sure whether you should get Rollickin’ paint pot when you already have Aquadisiac eyeshadow? Need to know where to buy a product? Ask anything, and ask away! (And feel free to chime in with answers to other readers’ questions–the more the merrier!)
(I will periodically do posts like these where I will take as many questions as I get to answer.)
light skin with red undertones, quite pigmented lips and wants dazzleglass(es). any suggestions for what colors to choose? (lives in the middle of nowhere – absolutely zero swatch possibilites)
(procrastinating over reading student essays – thanks for keeping me busy ;))
I’m fair skinned (NW20) and I got Date Night Dazzleglass and I love it! It’s a plum sort of color that looks great alone or on top of other lipsticks.
Hey Lingping!
I saw that you were lemming a few… I think you’d be gorgeous in Money Honey for sure. I’ve been seeing lighter skinned folks ROCK both Miss Fizz and Funtabulous, though if you are on a budget, either one would suffice. They’re similar (Miss Fizz is more fuchsia, Funtabulous is more fuchsia-purple). I think Like Venus may be a great sheerer color for your pigmented lips that’ll give you this awesome sheen, too.
thanks, Liz and Christine 🙂
I’m going to do my best to get to try out as many of your suggestions as possible 😉
How do I give myself a french manicure without it looking cheap?
Thanks!
Oh, also… do you know of any opaque gold pearl nail polish colors?
I know… that’s two questions :p
OPI’s new line (the one with the India inspired colors) has a great shade, not sure of the name
Hi Mary,
I know of two techniques, and I’ve done both with decent success. One is using tape (like masking tape, I believe) so that you can do the “white part” on the tips. The second technique is to free hand it and either practice enough where you’re pretty good at it or have a small paint brush ready to dip in acetone to perfect everything.
I don’t know any colors offhand, mostly because while I love nail polish, I don’t have much memorized! Usually l’ll just go to the drugstore if I need a particular color and look!
My fav drugstore nail polish brand is Rimmel; it doesn’t streak and I’ve had certain colours for years (I’m talking like 4-5 years), and they’re still fine to use. For a french manicure, I do a basecoat of clear, free-hand the white tips, top it with a translucent pink/white/peach, then a last coat of clear. The thing I’ve found is if you build up the layers (like I explained) it looks more professional. Rimmel has all the ones you’d need for a french mani. As for opaque gold, I’m not sure. OPI would definitely have one, if you want to pay less, I’m sure Sally Hansen would have one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Rimmel had one too.
What is your opinion on false eyelashes?
What are some good ones to try? I bought a pair once but they peeled off 1/2 way through the day.
Thanks!
Hey AmyLou! I love them! I really like MAC #7s. They can look dramatic, but they can look really natural. I wore them to a PR dinner in NYC, and everybody thought they were real! I was like nooo way!
Make sure you let the glue dry before you apply – it doesn’t need to dry 100%, but you have to wait until it’s tacky, then it should stay on all day.
I usually only get to apply lipstick once a day because once it wears off my lips feel pealy and too dry to put it on again. :[ I used lip balm every chance I get when I don’t have lipstick on and use vasaline at night but this still happens. What should I do? I’m thinking about trying MAC lip conditioner but I’m not sure which one, if any, would solve this. What about Kiehl’s lip balm? I just need something that will actually help my lips and not just feel good while it’s on.
Also, do you think it’s too much to wear a neutral eye with Joyous bpb, See Sheer l/s, and Big Kiss l/g? I’m trying to find a look that is really fun and summery without bright eye make-up but I don’t want this to be too much.
I have MAC’s lip conditioner and it’s amazing.
Hey Brandi!
Have you tried exfoliating your lips every other day or so? That might do a lot of good for you! Like a sugar scrub to exfoliate and help your lips shed dead skin. I have had good luck with Kiehl’s lip balm, as well as MAC’s TLCs. I do love Elizabeth Arden’s 8 hour lip stick though.
I don’t think that’s too much at all, Brandi! The lips sound like watermelon, and the blush coordinates. You can always go lighter on the blush if you need to.
Hi Temptalia,
where can I buy inexpensive but good makeup-/skincare brands? I am from Germany spending my holiday in NYC this summer and as a hopeless beautyaddict I will spend all my budget on Makeup and maybe some clothes instead of food, etc.
I plan MAC Pro, Macy´s, Bloomies and Sephora for expensive brands, but I need the name of a good drugstore to search the internet for the adress. Is Duane Read something I should look for? First time I read this, I thought it is about a writer called Mr.Duane who will read some pages out of his new book;)
Greetings from Germany!
Hi Maren,
Rite Aid, CVS, Longs, Eckerds… to be honest, most drugstores are pretty equal! I have not heard of Duane Read, lol!
Have fun in NYC!
Thank you very, very much!!
It was so helpful. With the names it was easy to find the adresses! Oh my, I am soo excited about this trip!!
Keep on with your great work!! Your page is really having that “extra” that makes me return every day!
All the best, Maren
Aww, thanks Maren!! Have so much fun on your trip 😀
i’ve been waxing my sideburns with nads for a few months now. i just looked the other day and it looks like the hair is growing back thicker and longer!!! and rite after i wax them i get this huge spot on the side of my face that looks lighter than the rest of my face. does anyone have suggestions on how i can do it better and if i should not be using nads?
Never ever wax your face. The skin is far too sensitive and can be damaged very easily. Threading works best for removing facial hair – if that doesn’t work out for you, try laser hair removal.
Hi,
Is the Nads that you are using designed for your face? It may be too harsh for that area if it is made for the body. You may want to try Sally Hansen hair removal cream or wax instead. I imagine that it is lighter because the hair has covered it from the sun moreso than the rest of your face.
yes, it is for the body actually. i just tried some nads strips made for the face and it is so much better. thank u!
So good to hear that the face stuff works better 😀
Hi 🙂
My question on creme blushes:
1. What brush should I use with them?
2. If I’m wearing loose foundation (powder) …how can I go about wearing the creme foundation??(should I spritz my face with fix+/charge water before applying the blush??)
3. What highlighter would I use with a creme blush?? (strobe cream?)
thank you <3333
sorry one more question about the creme blushes:
4. I have a palette full creme blushes…and wondering what can I do about the blushes touching the top of the inside of the palette…it’s seems messy
5. Do I have to store at certain temp??…because they seem soooo creamy and messy?
thanks
1) check out mac’s 191 or 192
3) try pearl cream colour base
4) a layer of wax or parchment paper in your palette
thank you nikki 🙂
You could put a layer of wax paper, which will help reduce any residue on the blush palette itself. They should be kept in cool areas (not like the fridge necessarily), and not places where they’d melt like a bathroom.
Hi Lala,
The 188 is really great for the creme blushes, actually. It’s a smaller stippling brush than the 187, so it gives you more control and you can be more precise.
You should apply your foundation, then a layer of the creme blush, then set your creme blush with a powder brush or a little bit of foundation, so it’s like a sandwich 🙂
I love Strobe Cream, but CCBs are also fantastic like Luna and Shell.
Do you get a majority of your products for free? Or do you just have an endless cosmetics budget? I’m just wondering, nothing bad. I love all the reviews and they’ve really helped me. But I’m always astounded how my favorite beauty bloggers could afford all this!
I would say I get at least half sent for testing/consideration, and the other half I purchase. I spend between $200-300 a month on cosmetics. There are plenty of times where I go to a store to test and then come home with a review, too 🙂
If I have Goldmine e/s, do I need Gorgeous Gold? Also, my “green collection” consists of Juxt, Swimming, Humid and Greensmoke. My “blue collection” is Moon’s Reflection, Freshwater, Aquadisiac and Shimmermoss. Are there any shades that are “must haves” to add to this? Mom’s Day is tomorrow and I’m hoping to hit the MAC counter!
electric eel looks stunning with shimmermoss 🙂
Thanks! I’m gonna check it out!
I prefer Goldmine over Gorgeous Gold… They’re kind of similar depending what you use them with but Gorgeous Gold is definitely more greeny, where Goldmine is just a nice, warm, pretty gold.
I appreciate it, thanks!
IMO goldmine and gorgeous gold are 2 completely different colours. the former is a yellow gold and is a warmer tone and GG is more a green gold and is cooler.
i would recommend flashtrack or contrast for a darker blue option. both are gorgeous with MR and FW.
Hey Liz!
If you do a lot of green, blue, or teal looks, then yes, you need Gorgeous Gold! I love it – I use both Goldmine and Gorgeous Gold so often. I love Gorgeous Gold with blue, teal, or greens because it has green undertones to it. Sumptuous Olive is a gorgeous green! I adore Deep Truth as a blue 🙂
Thanks so much!!
Hi Christine,
I just want to say that I read and enjoy Temptalia so, so much! I am so incredibly impressed with your knowledge of and talent with makeup =) I am a newbie to MAC, and would love any and all recs:
1. I can only wear lip gelees due to allergies: is there a cool pink or bubblegum, pink color? Slicked Pink looks coral, and cellopink (the swatch at least) seems quite bright. I really like super-girly light pinks, even though my lips are very pigmented. (or other brands too like Urban Decay, Too Faced etc)
2. Do you (or anyone!) have any e/s recs for someone with chestnut eyes, chestnut hair and fair-ivory coloring? I like wearing pink, but for a neutral look should I be using a champagne color instead? And I never know if black e/l is too harsh for day…I guess I am still super-clueless with eye makeup.
Thank you so much everyone for any and all advice – I really appreciate it!
Hi Chelsea! I have the same coloring as you, but my skin’s a little darker than “fair-ivory,” haha. I also really like wearing pink eyeshadow, whether it be iridescent, or raspberry-ish pink. However, when I wear natural looks, I use brown eyeliner (I like MAC Technakohl in Brownborder) instead of black, though. You could also try a dark, black-brown color, too (I use Wet n Wild Kohl Brow/Eyeliner in Mink Brown). I also use grey eyeliner, too! It’s less obvious than black, but is totally high impact. I hope my opinion helps!
Christine, thank you for the previous feedback about Royal Wink! I’ve been looking for a blue shade like that for the longest time, haha. I’m an NC30, and could you please suggest a few eyeshadow shades that are similiar to the Royal Wink shade, or maybe a couple mid-tone, royal blue/bright blue eyeshadows? Thank you!
Minty746 thank you so much for the recs! I went straight from no e/l to liquid black and that didn’t work out too well :/ (I wanted to do Bilson-like look) but I will definitely check out Brownborder or a black-brown at MAC or elsewhere. Actually though, I *really* like your gray eyeliner suggestion – I think that will be first on my list. Thanks again! =)
You’re welcome, Chelsea! I’m glad I helped.
I really like the Bilson look! I love how the eyeliner and the bubblegum pink lips play up her eyes.
I know this sounds kind of weird, but if you want to get the eyeliner to subtly fake a thicker lashline, you can smush the eyeliner into the top lashline by brushing eyeliner on to a small, skinny, short-bristled brush and using it to apply the eyeliner. It’s kind of like using gel eyeliner, but you could just buy the tiny brush that is used with gel eyeliner.
Hi Minty746,
I don’t think there is a similar color to Royal Wink in MAC’s line of eyeshadows really… They have nice bright blues, like Freshwater and Electric Eel, and Parfait Amour and Satellite Dreams are pretty purples. Just no royal blues or colors like Royal Wink!
Hi Christine!
Hmm…that’s too bad! I will look around more at the other counters, then. I’m sure I can find something.
Thank you!
Hi Chelsea! Welcome to the MAC world 😀
1) I think Lilacrush or maybe Mega would work for a cool pink, and Glosspitality or Jelly Babe for a pinker color. I know these are all available ont he MAC site.
2) Black eyeliner is definitely not too harsh for the day! I wear it all the time, LOL. If you go heavy, it might be too dramatic, but a fine line is perfectly okay. If you feel like it’s too much, try a dark brown instead. As far as eyeshadow recommendations… anything goes! You can definitely use pinks if that’s what you’re liking on yourself, but other colors like champagne as you mentioned are good, too. Some of my favorite neutrals are Ricepaper, Grain, Soft Brown, Mulch, Espresso, and Bronze.
Christine,
You’re the best! Thanks so much for the recommendations. I’m about to buy lilacrush and glosspitality right now online, and I think I’ll try a few of the e/s shades you suggested.
Thanks again and keep up the beautiful site!
My pleasure, Chelsea, hope they work out!
can you do a tutorial on different toned lip colors???? please!!!! thanks much either way! love your blog!
Hi Cua,
What do you mean a tutorial on it? What would you want to know?
Hi, Christine! What’s your all time favorite lipstick? Is it Maraschino? How about lipgloss?
Mari-sheeno 😀
Lipgloss? Moonstone, probably. I don’t really have a favorite gloss, I think, but I used to wear Moonstone all of the time. I also really liked Dejarose 🙂
Hi Christine ! This is my first time posting, and I just want to say how much I LOVE your blog. It’s pretty amazing ! =]
So, my question… I’ve lived in a relatively dry, un-humid area all my life, but this summer, I will be going on a trip to a VERY humid place, and the place where I start college at next year is also humid. What are you suggestions for keeping my makeup ON my face and not having it melt right off of me ? Right now, I usually wear a moisturizer, select cover-up, and a loose blot powder.
Sorry this is so long ! Thanks in advance. =]
Hey Ruehl! Thanks for commenting!
You know, you will probably be OK with your current routine. In humid climates, you need to be really good about layering your makeup and setting your makeup. Select Cover Up isn’t too heavy, and I think it will settle into your skin, and with the loose blot powder over it, it should help combat the environmental factors!
Hi! I have just recently found this site and it’s amazing! Keep it up!:) My question is…I have never used MAC face products – e.g. foundations, powders, etc. I have only one eyeshadow, so I’m not a real MAC girl YET! I have pretty dry skin but I’m also prone to blemishes. What face makeup would be the best to make my skin look dewy and not dry and show my fine lines?
Thanks Kelsey!
Try MAC Satinfinish foundation if you’d like a liquid – it has a dewy finish, and since your skin is on the dry side, it’ll look great on you (it made my normal skin look like an oil field). You could also use MAC Prep & Prime face as a base to help minimize fine lines and settling of foundation into them.
Thanks! I will try both of those…I love that the Prime and Prep has SPF in it.
Hey Cristine,
Ok i never thought i wud ask u any q’s,coz i know u so well dear but now have a strong feeling to ask u.Thats y im going with some unique ones!
1 How many days in a week u wear makeup?
2 about the looks which u post u also wear them outside i mean like reddish,oranges?
3 In swimming pool or sea how many laps u wud take?
4 R u sporty?
5 Apart from makeup wot else u like to shop?
6 Do u like to buy Expensive phones?
7 Which car u have?and which one is ur dream car?
8 Where is ur dream island?name?Which country u really
go?
9 Howz Magellan?long time no c?
I hope im not asking tooo much,and im sorry if it sounds personal. 🙂
Zzainy..
*Which country u really like to go?
Hey Zainy!
1) I wear makeup maybe 3-4 days a week. I try to wear it so I can show you guys some looks, but I do go bare faced a lot!
2) I wear ANYTHING out, unless maybe I say it’s an experiment or avant garde or something, then I wouldn’t. But red, orange, I’d wear it out!
3) I’m not very athletic, so I probably couldn’t do too many laps. Maybe 4 or so in the pool!
4) Nope, not at all. I’m so uncoordinated!
5) I love shoes! I also like storage, scrapbooking materials, and office supplies.
6) I have a Blackberry Curve, but I like it for its practical features. So I guess while my phone isn’t cheap, I’m not so into expensive phones (like the iPhone).
7) I currently drive a 2007 Mustang, but I hate it now, LOL. I miss my old car (Cadillac Escalade). My dream car is an Aston Martin 🙂
8) My dream island? Gosh, no clue! I always wanted to own my own island, though 😀 I really want to visit Italy!
9) He is good. Maybe he’ll make a post after he gets made over today at his grooming session!!
Keep ’em coming, Zainy! I don’t mind 😀
Hi Christine!
I love playing around with makeup and i have a lot of different eyeshadows that arent MAC (most are from Europe like Gosh and Bourjois). Anyway i wanted to buy some MAC but i dont know what i should invest in. i love bright colors, if that helps.
Thanks!
By the way, i have olive skin, dark hair, and dark eyes
Hey Shabnam!
Have you taken a look at this? http://www.temptalia.com/mac-cosmetics-guide-for-the-newly-addicted
It should help you!
Hi!
I just got the MAC Beautymarked e/s. How do I use it?! Doesn’t seem blendable at all 🙁
I use Beautymarked when I do a smokey eye. Here’s what I do:
Constuctivist paint pot on lid
Satin Taupe on lid and in crease
Beautymarked (or Signed and Sealed) in the outer crease
Vanilla to highlight
You can also use the Beautymarked as an eyeliner on the bottom and Fluidline on the lid.
I also use the Beautymarked if I do a purple eye and what a little more definition in the crease. Hope this helps!
Lightly, and you may want to use a brush like the 224 to swish it around, too!
I find I just use this color mostly in my crease.
I was wondering if you knew what were the major differences between a MAC freelancer and a regular employee? I’ve always wondered if they have less responsibilites, such as not having to do face charts.
They get a different discount, one is more like a consultant and gets called in to fill in for missing employees or extra hands on event days… I don’t know much mroe though!
Okay, so based on recommendations, I went out and picked up Sumptuous Olive and Gorgeous Gold e/s. How did I manage to miss these? They are gorgeous!! Thanks for the advice!
So glad to hear they worked out for you, Liz!! 🙂
I love this sight and have viewed all the looks and I’m inspired by so many looks but i wondered if I might ask,
Where can I view looks for African American Skin inspired by Mac products etc?
do you have looks on this sight?
thanks so much
Thank you so much!
Unfortunately, we don’t have too many looks on AA skin–you can try going through the guest looks, there are a few there!
I absolutely adore this blog, and always use it for inspiration. I have my brother’s wedding in two weeks and I still can’t figure out what colors to use in my makeup. I have medium/olive skin and brown hair and brown eyes. This is a picture of my dress I have no clue if I should go neutral, pinks, or smokey eyed. Please help!
Thank you so much, Michelle! I’m glad you like the blog. Have you thought about doing a neutral eye with a berry lip? That’d be really great from your brother’s wedding!
Oops I guess the picture didn’t show up. Well my dress is a medium berry/pink shade with an ivory sash.
Hey, Christine, I know you have this somewhere on your site but, what is the website for the Mac Cosmetics Canadian site? Thanks so much.
I think you have to go to the maccosmetics.com site and switch your country on the site itself!
Hey Christine,
Have you ever heard of Gosh Cosmetics? Have you ever tried any of their stuff? I saw some in the drug store today, and the colours are really vibrant.
http://www.goshcosmetics.com
Hey Nicole! I have not tried them, as far as I knew, they weren’t available in the states–are they now?
Hi Christine,
They are now. http://www.goshamericas.com/home.html You can order the stuff online. It was being sold at my local Shopper’s Drug Mart (kind of like a Rite Aid) and the stuff looks pretty good. They have this waterproof liquid eyeliner, and the colours are so vibrant. The lipgloss lasts quite a while as well.
Thanks for the heads up, Nicole! I’ll see what I can do! I know we have some posts about Gosh on the Temptalia Forums, too!
Hey, I’ve just been catching up as I haven’t been on this site for a while! I saw your huge mac collection with lots of unused MAC and remember reading that you get sent a lot of products to test, how did you go about it doing this? Like are you affiliated with mac or something?
btw I think your makeup is so pretty!
Hey Alyssia! 95% of the MAC I own I purchased myself, actually 🙂 But I do talk to different PR firms and get products sent to me from time to time as well. It’s part of beauty blogging, I guess? so that’s how it all got started!
Thanks!
hi 🙂
i realy want to get a new MAC lipstick and youve done a post where you had a long line of pictures with your many different lipsticks on and i cant find it, any idea how? :/
thanks
Here is the first one: http://www.temptalia.com/lip-comboscombinations-megapost
And the second one: http://www.temptalia.com/lip-combos-and-combinations-megapost-part-2
Hi Christine :]
I’m a new subscriber to your site and to MAC cosmetics. I’ve been slowly building my collection :]. I just wanted to say that this is an AMAZING site and I’ve been visiting several times a day since I found it =D. You have an amazing talent in blogging and makeup!
The question I have is this: I’m dark skinned, but not really dark, more like…maybe caramel colored? I was wondering what lip color range would be good for my skintone?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Alicia! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site 🙂
Berries would look great on you, for sure!
I want a pink undertoned bronzer, but all of them are soo glittery or so light, what would you recommend to me?
Have you looked into something like Laura Gellar’s baked line? I think it’s called Blush N Brighten maybe…
I loved the N3 that you reviewed in here, but unfortunately I miss a chance to buy it, so which shade can be a substitution for that because most people say “Hug me” is the nearest color. I can’t make up my mind can you show a picture of this comparison?
Hey Amelia! Hug Me is a decent dupe! I don’t own Hug Me, though, so I can’t make a comparison photo.
Hi! This blog is gorgeous and the content is excellent. TheVogueCity(dot com) would love to do a link exchange for our respective blogrolls. Please *e-mail me* if you’d like to do this. Thanks so much, and stay beautiful.
– Jessica Rae
Hi Jessica Rae! I only saw a link page, but no blogroll…