Ask Temptalia Session #004
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? Have a burning desire to know what my favorite color is? 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 until I mark the post as closed.)
have you ever done makeup on asian eyes? if so, do you have any tips for eyeshadow to keep it more depth? actually, in general…
also, do you use a powder to keep your skin oil free? my makeup starts to ‘melt’ becomes my skin is sooo oily. color fades… everything 🙁
Hey Plee! To be honest, not really – I did makeup on my mom once, and while her eyes are Asian, she does have somewhat of a crease (she is Vietnamese).
I really like the style of horizontal shadow placement going from dark to light on Asian eyes, personally!
My skin is fairly oil-free (it’s normal to dry, rarely oily!), so I don’t need to use powder, BUT powder does help. I usually set my foundation with MAC’s loose powder or Invisible Set. You can try the loose blot powder though!
Just “chiming in” here – what is your background, Christine? I don’t know why, but I never guessed that you were mixed!
I’m half Vietnamese, quarter German, and quarter Swiss!
Hi 🙂
going to wedding a couple of weeks…going to be in the wedding pictures…
1. what 4 colors would you put in a quad for a simple look
2. what color base
3. lip color and what finish
4. blush and what finish
5. what foundation would work for wedding pictures ..thank you
thank you <333
2) a neutral base (UDPP, Soft Ochre p/p, Bare Canvas paint, Painterly p/p)
3) a satin/matte/amplified creme finish as they last longer than your glazes and lustres
5) something without titanium oxide because apparently that’s what makes your skin look ghostly in pictures
thank you 🙂
1. Ricepaper (or your highlight of choice), Patina, Smut, and either a color like Soft Brown or maybe one of your favorite colors (I’d probably go for Goldmine, but maybe Woodwinked, Cranberry, etc.).
2. I would go for a neutral base, that way you can work anything – my favorite is Soft Ochre, especially since it’s matte!
3. Anything that’s not too over the top and flattering. Probably something coral or pinky. I’d opt for a satin/lustre/amplified finish personally (goes on creamier), though matte lipsticks have better staining power.
4. Go for something that makes you more glowy – subtler rather than over the top. Like for me, Margin gives me color and a little glow, which is borderline “too much” for the super simple look.
5. I have worn SFF in pictures and have had them come out great, but it does have SPF so it’s not really a good choice. I like Face & Body, because it gives a little bit of dewiness, but not a lot.
thank you sooooooooooo much!! <333
Where do you do most of your clothes shopping? When you pick out clothes, do you think of looks that will go with it?
Gosh, I probably shop at stores like Forever 21, Mervyns, H&M, etc. most often. I am pretty cheap when it comes to clothes!
I tend to buy a lot of basics – so tanks, t-shirts, etc. If I like the way a top looks on me, I’ll probably buy it in most of the colors available. I opt for solids over prints, too.
I shop at those stores too! All of my hard earned money goes into MAC, so I don’t have much for clothes, but clothes aren’t my passion like make-up is 🙂 Thanks for your answer!
lol, yep, that’s me, too! I just find that I prefer basics and NEVER wear pricier stuff I buy.
Me too!
I love H&M!
Who doesn’t?!
I also love Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, Garage, Aero, American Eagle, Jean Machine etc. I’m also a vintage junkie!
I love vintage clothes.
H&M is hit or miss for me, but when it’s a hit, it’s really a HIT!
Hi, I’m butting in again! I totally do that too – buy something in multiple colours if I really like it. Some think that’s weird. I don’t?
Haha! Good to know I’m not alone. If it makes me look good, then I have to snatch it up in all the colors, too.
Hi, if I am an Nw20, what color would you suggest for Mac’s mineralize foundation loose and what color powder bronzer?
I would also like to suggest a look book for Solar Bits, I would love to see what others pair them with!! Thanks : )
I bought Refined Golden and I am NC/NW 15-20
Hey Jen! You would probably be medium!
I have a look book coming up for Solar Bits, actually!
I loved the recent look that you did with Coppering eye shadow! What else can I pair with it?
It looks great with Woodwinked, Amber Lights, Bagatelle..
I love it with Antiqued, Bronze, etc. I also love it with Juiced and Goldmine!
Hi there 🙂
I have two questions:
1) What toner or skin regime would you recommend to keep away blackheads? I have pretty clear (almost dry) skin but my nose is ridiculously prone to blackheads. argh!
2) I have a hairy upper lip (ack!)… barely so, but it’s still noticable to me. What’s the best way to get rid of it? I’ve been plucking but it’s way too time consuming.
Thanks y’all!
2) Wax it! It doesn’t hurt. =)
Hey Jousy!
1) I’ve actually been using Biore’s astringent lately, and I feel like it’s done a decent job. I was using it along with the facial wash, too (I took their “two week challenge”).
2) Sally Hansen’s wax strips! You don’t have to heat them up in the microwave or anything, and it’s pretty easy. Take some Advil pre-waxing, and then just let ‘er rrriip. Seriously, do it fast, way better than slow. They also have a soothing lotion that comes with that helps afterwards.
awesome! thanks Christine 🙂
You’re welcome, Jousy! 🙂
hey! i’ve been travelling so i thought of this when i was using the hotel soap… what is it that makes soaps feel “slimy” on my skin, esp the cheap-o ones?
Hey Elle,
It’s actually something to do with hard water vs. soft water (hard water has more minerals like magnesium and calcium). Surprisingly, the slimy feel doesn’t mean you’re any less cleaner (it may mean you’re cleaner, ha!).
Did you hear about the sale of Napoleon Perdis cosmetics at Sephora? Did you buy China Doll foundation which you reviewed before and loved?
Hey Millie! Yes, I did hear about it, though I never ended up purchased anything, lol.
hey christine…why are you like the nicest person on the planet? seriously you are…why?
I think you must be joking! Me, the nicest? Hardly!
what about your physical appearance are you self conscious about?
My weight! I used to be fat, and now I am not-so-fat (though not skinny), and I’m pretty sure my body/weight will always be my issue!
how’d you do it?
I was on Atkins, and I lost 45 pounds in the first 6 months 🙂
wow! can you post a before and after pic? i need to be inspired … really.
lol, I will think about it Natasha!
Christine I understand about the weight struggles, but thought you should hear that someone thinks you look perrrfect at the weight you’re at. I would have never guessed it was an issue for you. 🙂
Aw, Kella! Thank you so much! I wish I could just get *over* it, but I think it’s one of those infested issues you just can’t ever quite fully kick, lol.
1) If I want to buy a pro product, and I don’t live near from a mac store that sells pro products…what can I do to get a pro product?
2) I got really oily skin. Do you know of something that can decrease the oil on my skin?
1) I know in the US, you can call up any PRO store and have them send you an order. I always call up SF PRO because they’re closest to me (so shipping is quickest).
2) It’s good to use the correct type of moisturizer, products, etc. so that you don’t increase the oil. I don’t know of anything offhand that really helps to eliminate oil from the get-go, only to minimize its appearance! I hope ladies who’ve had problems with oily skin will chime in and help you better!
I have been using Philosophy’s Never Let Them See You Shine Primer and it seems to help a bit. I put it on under my foundation, and it seems to help a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I still get a little oily towards the end of the day. It says you can use it over makeup, but I haven’t tried that yet.
I have a question. I’ve been debating whether or not to do liquid foundation for my wedding day. I know it’ll be hot and muggy, but I want to a really matte finished look on my skin. I want it to be totally smooth, flawless, even, clean and pretty. But I don’t want it to be too oily, shiny, etc. Nor do I want to break out or anything during or after. So…what’s the best route?
If you have pretty good skin, go powder. If you need more coverage, go liquid and set with plenty of powder!
what kind of music do you listen to?
and what video beauty tutorials (youtube?) do you like the most? 🙂
EVERYTHING! Country, rock, hip hop, you name it 🙂 I think the only type of music I don’t really listen to is punk and death metal.
I don’t watch beauty tutorials *shamed*
Hi Christine! I’m still in love with the MAC by Alexander Mc Queen collection. After purchasing ‘Haunting’ eyeshadow and ‘Otherworldly’ paint pot, I’d like to buy ‘Electro Sky’ paint pot and ‘Nile’ eyeshadow. Now my question is: I already have ‘Freshwater’ eyeshadow, which is quite similar to ‘Nile’. Do you think ‘Freshwater’ can be applied on ‘Electro Sky’ with a nice result or should I buy ‘Nile’, because the two e/s are not so similar in reality? Thanks a lot 🙂
Hey Terry! I don’t think Freshwater is at all similar to Nile, so you would get a different result — I think the result would still be quite pretty, though!
For all you girls looking for help with oily skin-
I cannot recommend Cosemedicine’s Medi-Matte enough. I work at Sephora, and during a training with Cosemedicine, we were told this moisturizer could evaporate oils. Skeptically, we watched as our trainer poured an essential oil on our hands, and rubbed the Medi-Matte on top. After letting it sit for about two minutes, we all felt our hands and lo and behold- absolutely no oils! It was amazing. The great thing about the Medi-Matte is it now comes in a tinted moisturizer and in a spray form for touch-ups. Definitley go to your local Sephora and grab a sample.
Ooooh! This sounds fantastic. Although I live in Ireland and have no Sephora 🙁 Do you know where else I can get it, by any chance? Thanks for the tip! 😀
unfortunately, sephora is the only place to buy cosemedicine. definitely check out sephora.com, though!
Hi,
Here are my questions!
1. I have a scar on the left side (corner) of my forehead. The skin on that area is 1-2 shades darker than the rest of my face. There are also little black dots on top of the darker skin color. The doctor says it is because of my pigments are not evenly distributed. I am around NW30. Anyway, I use mac’s concealer to cover it up and then apply body shop’s foundation powder on top. This covers up around 50% of the scar. My question is, can I apply cream or liquid foundation on top so it would cover more? If so, what brand do you recommend? Will it be ok if I just apply foundation to the scar area and not the entire face (I dont like foundation!). Would it look too fake or would my face color be uneven if I only use foundation on that particular area or would my face appear to be too white as I would apply foundation, concealer and use foundation powder on top of that? Or should I try using stila’s tinted moisturizer, concealer, 2 way powder? What effect will that give?
2. I am interested in purchasing red earth’s secret potion in order to add glow to my face. Which color do you recommend? What do the different colors do? Is it ok to mix the secret potion with make up forever base? (I use green and white base).
3. I am looking for a new brush set. I am weighing my options between laura mercier and the body shop. Which one do you recommend?
4. I am a big fan of facial masks. I currently own the body shop’s vitamin E moisture mask, the body shop aloe protective restoring mask, freeman’s blueberry and champagne peel off mask, neutrogena fine fairness sheet mask, origins clear improvement active charcoal mask and origins you’re getting warmer clay mask. Is it ok if I use the vitamin E moisture mask 4 times a week? Then the 3 other days would be the fine fairness sheet mask, charcoal/clay mask, peel off/ aloe mask. Is it even safe to mask everyday or would it disturb the skin too much? What do you recommend? If possible, can you please create a schedule for me, like, what masks to use in a week?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
1. I would totally recommend you to use CoverFX cream foundation. It is a extra-full coverage foundation/concealer, but it doesn’t look or feel heavy (honest- I wear it daily!) It’s so pigmented, clients with vitilago can use it. Also, there are 45 shades of this foundation, so you’ll be able to find one that is close enough to your skin color that you can blend it well and not worry about the rest of your face. Another great thing is that with the setting powder, this foundation is water resistant, which is great for summer! Dermatologists may also be able to prescribe you a heavy-duty lightener as well to help fade the scar.
3. Laura Mercier brushes are great! Sephora also just came out with an antibacterial brush set. All the brushes are super-soft and blend shades well. Plus, I’m pretty sure this kit would add up to a lot less than LM brushes.
4. It’s great that you have so many masks for every skin situation! But it is NOT good for your skin to do a mask every single night. The saying “too much of a good thing isn’t” absolutely applies. Do a mask twice a week, tops, and less if your skin is really sensitive. I do, however, recommend sleeping with a mask on any pimples every night to shorten their lifespan. However, only put the mask on the pimple, not all over.
I hope this helped!
Hi S!
1. Have you tried something thicker, like DermaBlend? It is designed to help cover scars (even things as dramatic as burn scars!). I think that might be helpful to you. You can definitely apply it to that area and then sheer it out on the rest of your face.
2. I’m not very familiar with Red Earth, unfortunately! You could definitely mix it with the Secret Potion, though.
3. I like TBS’ brushes more because I believe they’re less expensive, but the quality is still there.
4. From what I understand about masks is that they’re intensive compared to the typical topical skincare. I would probably not use one everyday – I think every other day or every two days would be a better schedule!
I dislike the body shop’s brushes for use with anything powder. The body shop’s brushes all have synthetic bristles, and I greatly prefer brushes with natural bristles for use with things such as powder blushes and eyeshadows, as I find the natural bristles do a much better job of picking up and depositing product.
Just a thought for you.
Thanks for this, Sanayhs! I admit, I’ve only felt them a few times, and I don’t own any myself!
For covering the scarring – I recommend Everyday Minerals’ POWDER CONCEALER. What I do for perfect concealing is…. use MAC’s Select cover-up, and EM’s concealer as my very last layer (over foundation, powder, etc)…. flawless! I use the Intensive Light concealer. Not sure what colour you are.
1. I’m an NW20, according to the MA at the MAC counter (we do not have any freestanding stores nearby). So I want a foundation that provides medium coverage, is more matte than dewy, and STAYS PUT on my face even when it is 95 degrees out. LOL! Which MAC foundation do you suggest I try? I’ve never used MAC foundation before…
2. I have coppery hair and green eyes (NW20 skin tone as mentioned in question 1). I am looking for an interesting eye look that would look good – I’m sort of in a rut, partially because damn MAC has just too many colors and I can’t decide!!! Do you have any suggestions for interesting colors/color pairings that might look nice on me?
Thank you for any input 🙂 🙂
Hey Jennifer! STUDIO FIX FLUID! I think that would work amazingly well for you! It is a matte finish foundation, but it isn’t drying – it’s quite smooth, velvety in the finish. It is light-to-medium coverage, and it is very buildable (without looking cakey). Have you tried maybe some golds? I think golds would look lovely on you. If not golds, greens for sure!
Hey Christine!
I was just wondering if you could suggest me some colours to use with Moon’s Reflection, I haven’t got a clue! I’m NC15, blue eyes, brown hair.
And whenever I do try to use it, it just does not come out on my lip properly! I’ve tried using different bases, mixing medium, different brushes, but nothing’s worked, any ideas?
Hope you can help! Thanks for taking the time to do this 🙂
Ohh! Try Parfait Amour, Tilt, Surreal, Shimmermoss, etc. with it. A very pretty eye with any of those colors 🙂
Have you used a blue or green base? Might look great with that!
I haven’t tried blue or green, no! I will! 😀
Oooh, that sounds like such a pretty combo.
Thank you so much!
Silly question: could you rec me an eyeshadow this colour? (And perhaps even a nail polish!)
http://guitarauction.com/pics/big/venus.gif
(someone on MUA told me newly minted matte, but for some GROSS reason, the shadow is awful! It goes on flakey and muddy, which I have never experienced before!!!)
Thanks so much 🙂
You could try “For Audrey” by China Glaze!
Hey Naomi! Maybe Tilt or Surreal, though they’re frosty, so not the same finish. Audrey by China Glaze is a perfect polish match, though!
Hi, I have a few questions.
1) I love the liquidlast liner in aqualine but it won’t come off. I really wanted to buy it so i did a few swatches on my hand when i got home i tried removing it with remover and it didn’t come off until 5 minutes of hard scrubbing & on the other swatch i tried using oil based remover, that didn’t work either …i have really sensitive eyes so i can’t scrub them..do you know of any alternatives?
2) i was wondering if you had a pro card….if so what documents did you turn in for the application
Thankyou, Stephanie
i know you said you tried and oil based remover
but you should also try (as weird as it sounds) extra virgin olive oil!
Hi Stephanie!
I use Lancome’s Bi-Facil, and it comes off just fine with that! I do not have a PRO card!
I’m going to chime in with another vote for olive oil for removing liquidlast liner. It works beautifully and requires zero scrubbing.
FINALLY!=)
I’ve been waiting for u to do this again so I could ask:
How do you know what lipgloss/lipstick and blush to use to compliment your color eyeshadow(s)?
ohh me too , I suck so bad at this. i try and try and try and im always like “hmmmm does this look right ? i dont think it does.. or maybe it does ? “
lol, it’s been a busy couple of weeks! I try to time them so I can answer relatively quickly, lol!
To be honest, it’s trial and error — it took me many, many months to learn what worked well and what didn’t. I do think I’m pretty good these days, but I do have my failed lip combos from time to time, lol!
I tend to go for…
Blues: cool pink or coral blush; cool pink, nude, or coral lips
Greens: coral or bronzy blush; coral lips
Pinks: berry or pink blush; pink, deep pink, berry lips
Blacks: cool pink or bronzy blush; nude or cool pink lips
Neutrals: peachy or bronzy blush; anything, though I gravitate towards red and coral lips
Golds: peachy, pink-red, or bronzy blush; coral, berries, red lips
Teals: cool pink or coral blush; nude or coral lips
Purples: cool pink; nude, pink, hot pink, purple lips
Hey Christine, I’m looking for a dupe of Mystical Mist from the Ornamentalism collection (Fall ’06?). I am literally scraping the pot to get the last bit of it =( I thought Satellite Dreams would be a good match, but I find it’s a lot lighter than MM. Any suggestions?
Hey Iris! Hmm, I can’t think of a great dupe for it 🙁
Hi, Christine, I just bought Baby Sparks Dazzleglass and realized it looks almost exactly like Sugartrance Lipglass, would you say the are identical?
Hey Jen! They’re different on me – Baby Sparks is much paler/lighter, and Sugartrance is more pigmented? I don’t know, I don’t get a lot of color out of Baby Sparks!
In the tube they’re nearly identical, but I’d say they’re different enough. I found the dazzleglass to be a lot “wetter” in texture, but the shine is definitely far more pronounced than the very sheer sugar trance.
Hey I’m kinda new to mac, can you recommend me a smudge free [i have deep set double eyelids) black eyeliner in both liquid and other types?
i would definitely try out blacktrack fluidline… i have super deepset eyes that everything creases on.. but this stuff is amazing!!!
Also, their liquidlast liners are TO DIE FOR! they don’t budge one bit!
Blacktrack fluidline works really well for me, otherwise Pointblack (I think that’s the name) liquidlast is great.
Hey, Miss.Rock star!
I was wondering whether you could recommend me a really, crazy fantastic eye cream. I have some serious under eye bags and some tiny granules(?) under my eyes. Thank you so much!!
Hi Claire! Gosh, isn’t this a loaded question! I like MAC’s Moisturelush Eye Cream, and I also had good success with Lierac’s eye cream products.
I’d like to know how on earth you have the time to keep up this site! I believe you mentioned before that you’re in law school? Now I have a pretty good idea of just how time consuming that is, and yet you maintain this website as if it’s something you do full-time! How do you do it?
Hey K! I think I must manage to get into another dimension of time 🙂 That’s the only way I can explain it!
Hi Cristine!!!
Have another color dupe question….. Any dupes for Barbie loves Mac Mothbrown ??????? And is the Cinders e/s still available anywhere ?????? (Sorry…new to Mac and only just started my stash !!!!!)
Hey Mona!
Gosh, Mothbrown? I think it’s kind of like Club on me (but with more brown), but I think others disagree with that dupe.
Cinders isn’t available anymore, since it was just in a holiday palette 🙁
The brown shade in the Shiseido Earth & Sky quad is really close to Moth Brown.
Would you reccommend Mineralize Foundation/loose as a good summer foundation? How about the pressed powder, how do you like it for warm weather?
Hey Arika! The Mineralize Foundation is not bad for summer – I’d prefer that over the pressed, but I’m not a huge fan of pressed foundation!
Can you give me any tips on how to make combinations out of l/l, l/s and l/g? Do you go for similar shades? I wish I could just pick any l/s and immediately know what color gloss would go with it. How do you do it?
Hey Chloe! I usually try to create the single color I’m aiming for. So if I’m opting for a coral, I’ll definitely pick either a coral lipstick or lipglass (sometimes both). I always do lipstick first, and then I’ll think about whether it needs more of ___ color (then I’ll go for a gloss that’s predominantly that color), lighter, darker, etc.
Almost forgot…what do you think about Satin Taupe on NC42? To me it appears a bit like a bruise but I guess it depends on the undertones. Do you recommend any other color that could possibly give that same effect? Thanks! =)
Satin Taupe is gorgeous! OMG, you have to love it. Try using it with a warmer color, maybe golds, so that it looks less purple on you. Otherwise, try something like Brun!
Hi Christine,
do you think Naked Space l/g and Bonus Beat from Heatherette are similar?
What about Cosmic e/s from Moonbathe, Time&Space and Warming Trend?
How similar are Femme-Fi and the upcoming Solar White?
Thank you!
They’re similar, but Bonus Beat isn’t nearly as orange nor does it have the same frost/shimmer effect, you know?
Cosmic is probably close to Time & Space, but I haven’t seen Warming Trend nor Solar White to compare!
hey , i love this site and i mean realllllly love this site its the best. i was wodering im having my prom soon and i couldnt choose out of the guides you gave me so im wearing a gold dress , ive got caramel/tan skin i was thinking of a smokey eye look but i dunno so what should i do and also what type of foundaion would be best because its quite hot , liquid or powder.
Thank you so much, Sharon! If it’s hot, try a powder or else a liquid that’s matte in finish (or even a liquid-to-powder). But if you need more coverage, try doing primer liquid + powder to set.