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10 Random Facts of Beauty About Temptalia You Might Not Have Known

10 Random Facts of Beauty About Temptalia You Might Not Have Known

I didn’t fall in love with makeup until I was 18! I had just started my freshman year of college at University of California, Irvine, and I bought some MAC Pigment samples off of eBay (thinking back, I don’t think they *were* really MAC)… but it was over from there. I was totally smitten! Surprisingly, this love affair has endured for five years now (almost 6, am I really turning 24 this year? sigh!), though I don’t usually obsess over something for so long.

I am in desperate need of a hair cut at the moment. I haven’t had my hair cut since December 2008. Yes, 2008, that was not a typo! I keep meaning to set an appointment somewhere, but then I get distracted or forget for a month. I’m fortunate that since I don’t do very much with my hair (very, very little heat or styling) that it’s so forgiving. The good news is at least it’s nice and long again with no split ends!

I make silly faces in all my makeup! It’s something I started doing whenever I had the thought, “Is this too much? I feel ridiculous!” But I seem to make silly faces a lot in general 🙂 I like making the faces because it reminds me not to be so serious, but it also makes sure I haven’t shallacked my face and can still move it around!

I only wear China Glaze For Audrey Nail Lacquer on my toes during the summer! I love, love the way the color looks in the summer particularly, but it looks so pretty underwater, too.

Wearing makeup has helped me stop rubbing my eyes and licking my lips (both bad habits!). I remember when I first started wearing eye makeup, I would always forget and then rub my eye… and then remember once half of my eyeshadow was on my hand! LOL! Wearing lipstick and lipgloss at once really helped me combat any licking/tugging of my lips that I used to do, too.

I did not have a skincare regimen until I was 19! If you have kids, I hope you’re educating them on the merits and MUSTS of sunscreen, because that is the one thing I wish someone had told me about twenty years ago! I didn’t wash my face with digilence or regularity, and even when I was 19, I used Cetaphil until I was 20 (which is a good cleanser, but it doesn’t remove all your makeup). Bad, bad, bad! I don’t even think I got into the habit of wearing SPF everyday until I was 20 or 21. 🙁

I suffer from serious makeup COLLECT ‘EM ALL SYNDROME. If I fall in love with a particular formula or product and say I own 5 of 8 shades… then I have to own all 8, even if I’m not in love with the other shades! It’s like I need to complete my set. I’m just lucky that I manage to resist the urge to complete much larger sets (e.g. my MAC permanent eyeshadows or lipsticks) that would really break the bank!

I always match my makeup to my clothes. Whether it’s a faux pas or not, I do it. I like it, so I do it! It doesn’t mean that I always have to be an exact match or I won’t do a neutral paired with a color. Oh, and I love wearing black with a very bold lip or eye — I find it really makes the look pop!

I desperately yearn for a makeup room to call my own. I want one huge room where I keep and store all my makeup, shoes, and clothes! Apartment living really cramps my style, I tell ya 🙂

The only thing I am more obsessed over than beauty/makeup is my dog, Magellan aka Mellan. He’s a two-year old yellow lab that long ago stole my heart with his big puppy eyes and come-love-me face. I take way too many photos of him (and he is sooo not photogenic!), love him way too much, and inject him into conversations like an obsessive dog-lady. At least I only dress him up on holidays…

What are some nifty random facts of beauty about you?  Share ’em with me!

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Kim Avatar

I didn’t start obsessing over makeup until I was 18 and in college too! My parents forbade makeup, painting my nails, and anything else girly, so it wasn’t until I moved into the dorms and had a private space of my own to go buck wild with makeup!

Kim Avatar

I used to sneak makeup to middle/high school in my backpack and put it on there and remove it promptly when I got home before my parents got home. However, I didn’t have much makeup because I didn’t have a private space to hide it (they would go through my room). But once I moved out… whoooo wheee!!!

Jessie Avatar

— I didn’t really start getting into makeup until I was 21. I was really overweight and I thought that makeup wouldn’t matter because of no one would see it and nothing could make me pretty. But then I had that gastric bypass surgery and lost some of the weight and began feeling better :] and thus the obsession began.

— As I get older, I am less like a Poke`mon master. I don’t hafta have them all (haha yes, I’m a dork for that lol) I’m relatively picky as to what i get from MAC collections and I assess if I can use it or not or WILL use it enough to warrent buying it.

— I let my boyfriend do my makeup a couple times because he likes being involved. He does an awesome job, actually. He let me do his, too haha.

Thanks for sharing with us, Christine! Mellan is awesome :]

Christine Avatar

I’m so glad you lost the weight, Jessie — I used to (well, I still do) struggle with my weight *really* badly, and I went on Atkins and lost a lot of weight. Been there, done that, so I know how you feel 🙂

That’s so cool of your boyfriend! I always tell mine he can do mine… but he refuses!

Kaylynrenee Avatar

Atkins! How I love thee. My diet of choice through college. Just started again on Monday! I had a baby girl 8 months ago. It’s been 8 months so that excuse is losing validity. Lol.

Enjoying a bowl of sugar free strawberry Jell-o with a dallop of Cool Whip as I type this!

Mora Avatar

this is why i love your blog!
you are a little bit crazy and you don’t take this so serious like others do.

we have a few things in common: i’m an obssesive collector too. i really have to stop my self otherwise i would just buy every item of every MAC Collection. Or every color of Rouge COCO or just every lipglass shade of MAC.

but i didn’t had a skincare routine until i was 25. everybody told me on my 25th birthday that now its time for some skincar otherwise i would get many crinkles. that scared me. *LOL*.

Alexis Avatar

You are too cute!

Some of my stats:

I was obsessed with makeup from the age of 5 – blame my mother waking me up early in the morning so someone could keep her company as she was getting ready for work.

I never really buy perfumes – I can last on perfume samples for months almost years. I can commit to a lipgloss for months – I wish I could say the same for perfumes.

I think you know this already about me but the one important thing about my face are my eyebrows – I had really sparse light ones growing up and when you are dark skinned the lack of brows show and can make you pretty self-conscious. I was made fun of this in the 9th grade by a guy (no-less) with hella bushy brows. So what do I do? The cardinal sin of brows – filled them in with the Maybelline liner/brow pencil in BLACK! That’s how I know how young I am in old pics by the darkness of my brows hahahaha!

My next obsession – my lips. For some reason, MAC just does a number on them. If I wear a lipstick/gloss for a few days straight my lips will feel raw, peel, peel and peel like no one’s business. It’s sad because I have a good collection, love their colors and it’s inexpensive! So if I find a gloss/lipstick that works well for me – irritation free I obsess over them. HELLO DIOR Creme de gloss and Chanel lipglosses and sometimes NARS!

The first thing I notice in an editorial – actress or model is always the makeup and how can I recreate it.

I don’t always match my clothes to my makeup but I try to work in the same color family or just use neutral colors.

I still have fantasies of becoming a makeup artist. I wouldn’t want my own line of makeup I would just want to play with it on people as a living!

Christine Avatar

Aww, that’s so cute, though! I wish my mom knew more about makeup, but nope, she knows zip!

I remember a period of time where I used Carbon to fill in my brows myself, lol!

What lipsticks have you tried that have failed to work out for you? I feel like recommending you something if I can!

Maybe you should pursue the fantasy 🙂

Alexis Avatar

HA HA – Carbon – LOVE IT!

yes I’m planning to take a few MAC technique classes and try to build up a portfolio so I can start freelance work on the weekends.

Kaylynrenee Avatar

This is probably a dumb question but, as a freelance artist, do you have to have all shades of foundations and things like that? I mean, how do you start out in something like that??

MakeupGalore--Abbie Avatar

Me too!! I could not wear makeup either. Then I got a job at Macy’s. I spent most of my money on makeup and clothes. Now, I spend most of it on Makeup and shoes.. I obsess over MAC. I feel you can’t beat the quality or price. I LOOOve my Lab Murphy, he’s so adorable!!!! I have hundreds of pictures too..

Amber Avatar

OMG this is so cool! I love learning about people, especially little quirks and random facts, it makes life more interesting! Since I visit your site so often, it’s only fair to share some info on me:

I have been in love with makeup since the age of 14, when I got into my mother’s makeup vanity and became fascinated with all the colors and textures.

I only started wearing blush around the age of 20! I have some redness in my skin and was afraid that blush would make it look worse. Now I have learned that using the right skincare and colors make a huge difference.

I have naturally curly red hair, extremely fair skin and blue green eyes. Although I get many compliments on my curls/eye color, I often wish I could have straight hair and pretty brown eyes, so I could change my haircut more often and wear all the gorgeous eye colors brown eyed gals can wear!

I have been using anti-aging skincare products and been serious about taking care of my skin only since I turned 20 (i’m 28) and since I had a few serious sun burns as a child, I go to a dermatoligist to get checked out every 2 years and stay in the shade whenever possible. I love how the sun feels, but so much damage has already been done – I can only hope my efforts to repair past damage aren’t for nothing.

I am a total LIP GLOSS JUNKIE!!!!!! I have more than I can count and just keep buying them – I cant stop! I love doing lip combos and playing with different combinations. Some long-time fave brands are Lancome, Bare Escentuals and Chanel. But I am now adding Milani and Dior to that list!

I think I look at my makeup too much during the day sometimes – if i am in love with my eye shadow or lip gloss, I can’t stop looking at it sometimes! Nail polish too! I’m wearing Milani 3-D in Hi-Tech today and it is simply so cool, I’m obsessed!

I simply adore cats! I can’t have any right now(roomates allergic), but my close friend and neighbor Lisa has 4 cats and I love them all – I take pics of them with my phone and talk about them all the time – they all have different personalities and are just super cute!I also talk to them like they are people – unless you are a pet lover, you might find me a little weird!

I love horror films, and constantly am looking for the classics on DVD or cult-faves in different versions to add to my collection.

Christine Avatar

Did your mom show you how to use makeup when you got into her vanity? 🙂

The grass is always greener, because I used to wish I was paler so colors would show up more vibrantly on me, lol!

I am a lipstick junkie, you’re not alone 😀 I just bought some of the new Dior glosses at the Sephora sale – have you tried those?

I’m terrible allergic to cats myself, but hopefully you get a roommate who isn’t soon so you can have your own to obsess over!

Amber Avatar

Unfortunately, my mom had passed away and I found a travel makeup vanity of hers soon after that.

That is exactly how I look at it now – when others are complaining about pigmentation, I never have a problem!

I just purchased 2 of them – I cannot wait to try them! I absolutely love many of the same springy shades you do, so thanks to your Spring Season series, I have added some lipsticks to my lemming list!

I am hoping too – someday I’ll have my own to fawn all over!

Amber Avatar

I picked up #236 Satin Peach and #436 Apricot Cloche. 2 variations on one of my fave lippie shades! I can’t wait to see how they look on and try some lip combos. I really hope they are super moisturizing because my lips are perma-dry.
What colors did you get?

Emily Avatar

Out of curiosity, why did you decide to name your dog Magellan? Did you just like the name or does it have a significance?

Anyway, random fact about me: Since I work 40 hours a week and go to school for my Master’s I have NO free time what-so-ever. The time I spend putting on make-up or playing with it (as well as this blog) is the only me-time or free-time I get! I guess this is how I justify spending a ridiculous amount of money on make-up! =) Speaking of that…I just got my tax return in! Just in time for MACs next release! Yeah!

cass Avatar

Well, I was interested in makeup when I was in 7th grade, but my mom didn’t let me wear it, or rather, frowned upon it. But the only reason I wanted to wear it was for skin purposes, since I had bad skin. I’ve never really known how to take care of my skin, until only recently, and I still don’t have much of a clue. It didn’t help that I was somewhat enabled to pick at my face, a nasty habit that I still have, but not as bad like a few years ago. I also have started to wash my face with cetaphil and to use that lotion since I feel like I’ve used every product under the sun, and apparently thats gentle for the face. However, only within the past four years have I started to really get into some more expensive make up. Of course it all started when I went to college and was massively broke! Hahaha. But, I do have a question, seeing as you’ve tested quite a few things, could you recommend a good cleanser for someone with oily skin? And a good moisturizer? I talked to the lady at sephora yesterday and was told I need to moisturize better, but like I said I’ve used so many products…

Ah I feel like I’ve written a novel. Sorry Christine! lol

Christine Avatar

Hey Cass!

I try to go by Renee Rouleau’s rule — if you can squeeze it (for white heads) in three tries or less, OK, but no picking! It’s tough, but it’s been working out for me 🙂

You might like Philosophy’s Purity Foaming Cleanser for oily skin! For a moisturizer, I like Olay for affordability or Kate Somerville Oil Free for a little pricier.

cass Avatar

That’s seems like a great rule to go by, I’ll def have to start that! :] And thank you so much for the suggestions, I’m looking them up right now, thanks again!!

cass Avatar

Another quick thing, about the olay, I’m looking it up now and there are soo many different types of lotion to choose from! I’m only 22, and I’m not sure if I need to start using products that boast anti aging benefits…but if it’s the best route to go, so be it :]

kaprice Avatar

im oily too, and i love the clinique super defense with spf. the clinique acne skin care system is super good… ive been using it for over a year now and i rarely break out anymore.

Kitty Kris Avatar

I am exactly like you Christine. I’ve always enjoyed makeup but only started obsessing about it around 3 or 4 years ago. I am 37 and only paid attention to night and eye creams and using Cetaphil 18 months ago. I am very lucky to have great genes and still look 20’s. I also love wearing black when I have bold makeup on. And finally, am also obsessed with KT, my labrador X who is now 12 years old and still a puppy, health wise.

Amy Avatar

With my husband in medical school, and i’m the support for the two of us, my beauty budget is tiny. So every little thing I buy is planned in advance, and carefully thought through. I can’t wait for the day I don’t have to do that!

Christine Shen Avatar

I was obsessed with makeup till I was about 20, but back then I don’t have $ to support my bad habits. But now 10 years later, I have a successful business of my own, Let the bad habits begin!!! haahaha

dolce aria Avatar

Heh. You aren’t the crazy dog lady until you refer to your dog publicly as your “child”. My boyfriend STILL teases me because I did that in front of his family. Mind you, he’s tactful enough to comment that its the only child I CAN have. LOL. Thank goodness for small favors.

I think the late blooming makeup lovers are more common than you’d think! I didn’t start it till around then either. But my mom hated it. The one girly thing she “approved” of was the post-war pedicures. Her biggest vanity thing she allowed was INSISTING that after we were all done screaming at each other, we give each other pedicures. SOOOOOOO humiliating and submissive, and the LAST thing you want when you are STILL furious at someone, even if you can’t “continue” the fight. I used to sabotage it by deliberately clipping her toenails short and at angles so they’d infect, subtly digging my nails in when handling her feet, making her hold them in uncomfortable angles, and then pretending I “didn’t know” her calves were getting sore, or feet hurt, or whatnot. by the time I moved out, she’d still insist on the GESTURE, but she’d developed a Pavlovian twitch in her feet even when I DIDN”T play any tricks! Is it wrong that I’m still a little proud of that? You can tell we DONT get along.

Mora Avatar

i call myself mommy for my 3 cats and my boyfriend is daddy.

luckily my sister is as crazy as me, because when she visits me she always says: come here kitteh, your aunty is here and gives you “goodie”.

so, you both see, it’s all normal!

dolce aria Avatar

See, I referred to my parents as “grandpa” and “grandma” just to annoy them. Then my dad started asking, if that’s what my CHILD looks like—what was the father, anyways? And since I didn’t want to particularly carry joking with that line of questioning too much since he’s my DAD…. I kind of dropped it. That was a ways back though, when we still talked.

But yeah-the animals are alternately “fuzzy dumplings” “kitty tortellini”(when the cat curls up, LOL you can tell I went to culinary school), puppily, child, baby, ki-ki, little ones(anytime I find mice, or other critters, they’re “little brother), bratlings and weirdlings(those two were my dads favorite nicknames for his kids).

Also, sometimes the boy makes an “oh bo bo bo” fishy face noise at the dog to get him to kiss his face. And he frequently hugs me and makes the SAME noise. And i tease him for it.

But yeah. his family stared at me when I started looking for my “child” and then sashayed back in carrying the doggy. I still heave a sigh of relief that the man had a little too much tact to comment “she does that because she can’t have kids”. Awkward.

Side note-I just saw the comment that Mellan was the #1 most disliked post? I gasp in horror! How can that BE?! Give him a hug for me. Dogs are better in person anyways. That reminds me that mine is desperately in neeed of a brushing. I’m done with my grooming for the day, so its off to play with him! Im SURE he can’t wait.

Tricia Avatar

Love this post! I enjoy getting to know the woman behind this awesome website 😀

You’ve really amassed quite a makeup collection in the span of 6 years! Just curious, what made you decide to try the MAC Pigment samples? (and what colors were they, even if they probably weren’t real MAC? lol)

Christine Avatar

I could not tell you why at all, but something inside of me must have been like, “OH PRETTY!” There were like 30 different shades… all sorts of colors. I know they’re fake since some of those textures never existed, LOL! Like one was a powdery darkened sky blue… not a real color!

Arianna Avatar

I think that COLLECT ‘EM ALL SYNDROME is very diffused among young girls recently! xD I am a victim too!!
Nice post! You’ve given me a smile in this boring day =)

xx

kfm Avatar

this is fun! i always like finding out little quirks about others. some of mine:

my mother used to let me play with her make-up when i was younger, but i didn’t start wearing any on a regular basis until i was in university. even then, i wore very little- mascara, lipstick, a little foundation.

up until about 5 years ago, i was super-conservative about what colours i would wear. i’d have a few options, but there was very little variation. then i was at mac one day and the ma persuaded me to try on a very bright coral lipstick (vegas volt). once i saw that other colours could work, the floodgates kind of opened…

like you, i’m an obsessive collector. this is particularly difficult with mac and their le collections, because i start to feel like if i buy a couple of things, i have to get everything.

i’m 37 and i’ve always been completely inconsistent in skin care. i basically got over that a couple of years ago when i started working for a skin care company. even sunscreen, which is absolutely necessary for pale folk like me, was something i often forgot until i was in my 20s. i’m lucky enough to have inherited some good genes, because my face should look like a saddle by now. (decide for yourself if it does… there’s a very recent picture of me on my blog at morelikespace.blogspot.com)

mac consultants always told me i was NC20, 25 or even 30. i went with the NC20 generally, although i always felt it looked a little odd. it was only when my current bf told me “you’re wearing the wrong foundation- it’s too dark and it makes you look yellowish” that i went through all the colours myself. nw15 is a near-perfect match for my skin.

Christine Avatar

I’m so glad you found color, KFM! It’s really such a huge world once you get into it, and it’s always good to expand the horizons.

That is insane that you were matched as high as NC30 when you’re more like NW15… wow! At least you finally got the right shade 🙂

What was your fave MAC collection of all time?

kfm Avatar

to be fair, it was only one person who pushed me towards NC30, but it does seem strange. I like the fact that now, I look like I’m wearing less make-up then when the colour was off.

Fave collection? The Spring Colour Forecast really thrilled me just in terms of the breadth of colours available. I find I’ve been using them regularly.

But I would have to say that my absolute favourite would be Cult of Cherry. I didn’t even manage to get all that much from it, because I was in the middle of changing homes and jobs at the time, but I just adore the dark lips and dramatic eyes… If I could find it, I swear I’d buy the whole collection now! And your favourite?

Andrea Avatar

I only started make up ‘regularly’ when I’m 15/16. We weren’t allowed to wear make up at school so I never really bothered about make up.

I love how different make up makes you feel and how it enhances your features.

I LOVE red lipsticks, it is just so timeless and classic. Every time I wear it I feel so glamorous, confident and unique.

I guess my skincare routine (regular cleansing and moisturising) developed really early on as a side effect of my acne prone skin.

I still haven’t really picked up on the whole sunscreen routine yet apart my SPF 15 moisturiser cause I spend most of my time in England and I do want a bit of colour when I return to the tropics.

I always do daft things with my brows, they are naturally really dark and heavy, a bit like the early Audrey Hepburn brows. But I always feel obliged to fill them in and I end up looking ridiculous.

I own much more make up than my friends but I feel absolutely comfortable going barefaced whereas some of them can’t leave without their eyeliner and mascara.

I’m still finding a foundation that can stand hot and humid weather! Having foundation slipping off your face is definitely not a good look.

Andrea Avatar

Unfortunately I wear my red lipsticks more often at home than anything else! The range of social events is quite limited when you’re a student. Same thing with clothes! I keep wanting to buy dresses but I don’t have that kind of events to go to!

Brows are definitely the trickiest bit of my make up routine, I never quite know what to do with them 🙁

Andrea Avatar

PS. I don’t think it is a faux pas to match your make up with what you’re wearing! While they aren’t the exact same colours, it really bugs me when my nail polish clashes with what I’m wearing (there is a weird colour co-ordinating freak in me). It is just a way to make you look more polished.

Starla Avatar

I also recently just got serious with makeup. When we were kids the makeup was pretty much crap from what I can tell, and big blue eyelids got you laughed out of the dance. I remember (as pasty white as I am) trying to pull off white eyeliner. Thank God we know a little more now. OMG now you have me thinking back to high school. Anyhow, you look great!

ocelot1 Avatar

this is why your so awesome Christine! i love learning random stuff about people 🙂 i think my obsession was always somewhat dormant, but once i found a certain website it was all down hill from there! haha. in middle and high school i prided myself on not wearing fdtn or because i had nearly perfect skin (i was the kid in the back of the classroom with a little bottle of toner and cotton balls cleaning my skin. what a freak huh?) while my friends powdered and foundationed their acne away…while i told them heavy mu wasnt going to make their situation better!

kcrystal Avatar

I didn’t really get into makeup until i was 28. Prior to that, I dabbled in some such as .. one cream eyeshadow that i would use consistently for 5 years. I am naturally pretty and get attention without makeup so it never occured to me to dabble in it. To be honest, the only reason why i got into makeup was because i couldn’t think of any mindless hobby i could stick to and makeup seemed fun without thinking too hard about it. LOL.

I have now slowly made a nice collection. Not too big, nor too small. In truth, I only use 5% of makeup. I only use 2 shadows, concealer, powder and mascaras.
I will say one thing – I have learned techniques, colors, theory, application that i would never have learned if i never dabbled into makeup. With all the practice of makeup, I have now perfected the flawless, natural look. When I used to walk into Sephora – I used to get sold stuff .. and since perfecting my look – I get asked by the makeup SA how i get my skin so lovely. LOL – i rarely get asked what im wearing on my face and not what foundation I have on. That is the highest compliment ever.

I have to say – I don’t go out with makeup everyday because it literally looks like i have stepped out of a magazine. Even though I don’t touch 95% of the makeup i have regularly – I do use the makeup for costume/ theatrical use and i would never have believed myself that the makeup i own can truly transform anyone natural or costume design.

dolce aria Avatar

Umm, for some reason there’s not a reply to comment button. Is that a permanent thing now?

At any rate, yeah I feel a little evil admitting to the post-war pedicure, but that is really NOT terribly out of the ordinary for that household. They’re VERY manipulative, and emotionally abusive and after a decade of that cycle making me into someone I didn’t like, I just said “SCREW THIS”, changed my name, phone, address, and disowned myself from them completely. Because yeah-when that type of warfare is NORMAL, its really scary thinking of all the directions it goes from there! I just don’t see the point in fighting the same battles over again and setting myself up for more abuse. It REALLY makes me into someone I don’t like, and have no respect for.

Ah well. Mellan sounds like a sweetie! I was worried that between apartment living, and me having a lot of joint issues, I wouldn’t b e able to handle a big dog. So I have a little pappillon, and(more recently) a tabby cat. My boyfriend being the voice of reason is the only reason I don’t have MORE animals. He really does think that its just me projecting a desire for kids I can’t have onto animals. Either way, I’ve been begging him for us to adopt a big dog, like a lab, or a husky. I know he’s right, and we CAN”T limit our living options iwth three animals, at least until we own, instead of rent, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stop baby talking everyone elses pets. LOL.

Christine Avatar

We have had server issues for the past two days, so we have reduced functionality on the site in order to keep it running – otherwise you wouldn’t be able to see the site at all 🙁

It’s great that you’ve been able to move on and UP with your life since then – it is really admirable to see someone make their life better with their own hard work and determination 🙂

I’ve never had a big dog… or even been around big dogs, but I’m so in love with them now! Well, I think I am just in love with labs, period. We just have one here, and sometimes we get the urge to get Mellan a little sister… but we try to tell ourselves that 800 sq ft is not conducive to two big dogs!

rashmi Avatar

i got married in 2002 i was 24 then and loved to collect makeup n not use them only black eyeliner n few lipstick … i came to USA in 2007 and had baby in 2008 n when he was 1 yr ,that is when i really got addicted to makeup … i still rem. i was searching this DIOR backstage pink n thought m gonna buy it on my 7th marr annv. that was my first expensive lipstick i bought n that happened to be so LUCKYYYY to me that after that no looking back n above all seriouslly its U CHRISTINE my sweetie i really wanna thank u in best possible way to make my makeup collection so so so very unique n desirable…
it was ONLY ur suggestions my honey that had inspired me (n made my hubby pocket cry hahhahaha) to buy everything from eyeshadows to lipsticks to eyeliners to lipgloss , TM everything …
had u not been there my collection wouldnt be as good as it is now

infact i think i told earlier also , my hubby use to say lets go for some good dinner n i use to say no rather make an online makeup purcahse hahah

LOADS N LOADS of thanks to u …my dear angel

Dao Avatar

I want a makeup room, too! I’m also obsessed over a cat (Mr. Belly) and he has his own column at my blog. I guess that’s a little too much but he has better fan base than I do 🙂

Natalia Avatar

I haven’t been to my hairdresser since last year… It’s lame but this post makes me feel better ’cause at least I’m not alone 🙂

dolce aria Avatar

Oh NOES! Not server issues! That sucks! Hopefully they weren’t too much of a headache to limp through? I’m glad its not just me though. I was worried it was something with my browser!

Somewhat less depressing random beauty facts abotu me though.

When I was 13, I mistook my moms Nair for shower gel. Thankfully htere was only a LITTLE on my hands when I washed my face. IT still burned off JUST the back half of my eyebrows. You know the little tufts of color that Dobermans have for eyebrows? Yeah. That was me.

Sometimes I put on lipstick for bed, just to try layering colors, or remind myself what a color i haven’t touched in a while looks like.

Before i was photographing looks, I’d just do each eye totally different, to save my skin from repeated makeup removings, when I watned to experiment. Now, I don’t want to since I want a nice full face shot. But i can’t do it as often because it makes my skin break out and sensitive.

Christine Avatar

It’s been more like a migraine, LOL! I’m surprised you didn’t notice the severe slow down and time outs yesterday, but that eases my conscience a little 🙂 We’re still not fixed at all, but reducing the plugins seems to have at least allowed the server to keep the site *up* and you can at least kind of use the site!

AHHHHHHHH! At least you didn’t use it as a shampoo!!

Do you ever wind up with lipstick on your bed/sheet? I’ve only worn lip stains to bed to test staying power (without interrupting with eating/drinking).

LOL. OMG, when I am testing stuff, my face looks like a 2 year old made it up. Blue on one eye, two different mascaras, a blush on one cheek… bronzer on the other! Aye!

virion_butterfly Avatar

I always match my makeup to my clothes too!I know you’re not supposed to but I like when things match! Also I feel your pain about college/apartment living….I want my own bathroom with a vanity to do my makeup in when I finish my degree and buy my own house! Awful beauty confession: I don’t remove my makeup before or after going to the gym! I take it all off before bed only….AWFUL!!

Dusty Avatar

Haha! Oh no! I can’t believe he was voted #1 most disliked! Awww! 🙁 LOL! I have this problem with my dogs too… I’ve had one of them for about 5 years now and even STILL I find him cute and adorable. It’s embarassing and bothers even me when someone is over at the house and I’m constantly saying things like, “Oh! Look! He’s sitting down now!” Haha 🙂 I can’t help it (and the other dog is even CUTER!). LOL!

Love the photos btw 🙂 Especially the third one. It would be FABULOUS if you actually used silly faces in your posts for lip swatches and eyeshadow looks – I would pee myself with laughter (which makes me thing that you might not want to…). 😉

Christine Avatar

Oh, man, the love affair totally hasn’t worn off. It’s been two years, and I’m like, “OMG YOU ARE THE CUTEST THING EVER I WANT TO EAT YOU.” My boyfriend is, of course, beyond tired of hearing about Mellan. He’s like, “Yes, he’s curled up again, I have seen this a zillion times!” and I’ just like, “BUT HE’S CUTEEEE!”

LOL, I might just have to do a mock post some day… just for you;)

Mia Avatar

– Ever since I was little I’ve had long periods of time when I obsessed over one thing and I had to get more of it. I was obsessed with Polly Pockets, Bionics (yes those boy machine toy things… don’t ask haha), these glass figure things, and MANY MORE OBSESSIONS. Now that I think back to it my parents must have been pretty frustrated at me for always wanting to go to the toy shop… i know spoiled much? Anyways I started exploring makeup at the age of 13 and I did fell in love. I’m kind of an artist kind of person, so I LOVED applying it more than the look (haha I know weird?). Now I can’t get enough of it, and instead of my parents spending the big bucks, ya now I have to and it’s breakin the bank! Hah whatever… it’s only money pssh *eye twitch*

– Just like you Christine I’m OBSESSED/LOVE my dog Sugar :). She is a teacup maltese (even though she is WAAAYYY overweight… haha she loves to eat what can I say 😉 ) and she is the love of my life. I don’t know what I would do without her. And right now I’m on vacation and I miss her very much 🙁 and I’m excited to see her in a bit!

Christine Avatar

OMG, Polly Pockets! I remember those! 🙂 I used to have some!

LOL, it is amazing once you have to start paying your own bills after your parents take care of you for so long. Total shell shock!

Aww, I bet she is adorable! It’s so funny – we work so hard to get Mellan to lose weight (he is 67 pounds!), even though he’s never been overweight. I watch what he eats way better than watching what I eat, haha!

Mia Avatar

Haha I had like a city of Polly Pockets like literally around the rug of my bedroom… it was a very very big obsession of mine hahah.

Haha I kno my dog literally eats EVERYTHING that I eat. She eats lasagna, pancakes, ramen noodles (gotta love them noodles haha), but she doesn’t ALWAYS eat those stuff becuz I dont. I only have those kind of things once in a blue moon. Usually she eats chicken and rice (her favorite!). Oh and sweet potatoes and lettuce are her favorite veggies :). But the thing is she likes to eat A LOT of it, and thats why she is overweight, but I’m trying to cut down her portions but it’s just soo hard! She gives me this face and I can’t resist to give her more food. What can I say, I love my dog way too much haha 🙂

Diana G Avatar

I started with makeup in high school, I think sophomore year, and skin care wasn’t until my late 20’s…I know crazy. I used moisturizer but I never “took care of my skin.”

I am currently obsessed with MAC right now. If its marked MAC I buy it. I will get out my pad of paper and get on your site looking at the swatches trying to decide what to get. Then I’ll add it up and head down there after work. I even have a regular MA that helps me every time I go there.

My other obsession is my two cats Mosley and Lucy. I will go out of my way for them. I get them the expensive cat food and toys and scratching trees….I blush when I say this but, I frequently catch myself talking to them way too much. Recently I had to stop and ask myself am I a crazy cat person? Oh man I need to get out of this apartment more!

dolce aria Avatar

Yeah! I think I just had a residue on my hands when I was rinsing off my face, and that light sweep is why there was this sharp LINE of hair/COMPLETELY GONE.

As for the lipstick on the pillow-Thats what i have animals for! The moment I lay down, the dog licks it off, the cat nuzzles it all over my face, or I lay against the boyfriend and HE ends up with stains on his shoulder. So I have a stain when I wake up, but its not terribly concentrated. Besides that, the man picked out dark sheets so stains REALLY don’t show up. Which is smart given teh appearance of my mint green facial rag that has gotten stained with years of makeup residue.

Christine Avatar

LOL! Gotcha!

I wish the dog could sleep with us, but that’s a big NO NO with the boyfriend. Plus, he is a little huge (67 pounds!), so perhaps it’s better that way… lol. My mom dognaps him occasionally, and he always gets to sleep in her bed. She said one more she woke up, and he had his big nose and face staring up at her, “FEED ME!”

Thimbler Avatar

Awwwww!! My best friend had a Golden Retriever and whenever I overslept, she would sleep with me, I would wrap my arms around her and we both fell asleep… in the morning I would wake up to her curled up on my feet… how I miss her!!

Brenda Avatar

I started a make-up course about 6 months ago (I’m 33), only for myself (to learn how to cover spots…) and since then I became more and more obsessed by make-up and also suffering the “collect ‘em all syndrome”! Your site gives me so much inspiration, thanks!

LNU Avatar

I also didn’t fall in love with makeup till the day I found your blog, no joke (I was 17 at the time). I wore it, but just to cover imperfections, not for fun.

OMG. I HAVEN’T CUT MY HAIR SINCE OCTOBER 2007, YES YOU HEARD ME, ITS UP TO THE MIDDLE OF MY BOTTOM, AND ITS A NATURAL DARK RED WITH DARK BROWN HIGHLIGHTS! LOL.

I wore the same color purple nailpolish for 6 years. I broke the habit on Wednesday, I grabbed a green for my pedicure like the Milani metallic ones you reviewed!

Wearing makeup has stopped me from rubbing my eyes, but the licking my lips habit I am still having trouble with.

I also didn’t have a skincare regimen till my freshmen year in college, which was 08!

I also always match my makeup to my clothes, lol. Lately I’m all about a neutral lid and then an eyeliner that matches! (Yay for UD 24/7)

I have collectors syndrome as well, but I’m not sure if its a good or bad thing I can’t afford to complete sets! I have to compile them for a long time, I’m just a broke student ya know!

AND the makeup room thing I totally agree. I live at home, I’m still an undergrad, so nowhere in my house is really my own space to keep all my makeup, clothes, or shoes. 🙁

LNU Avatar

Yes! I’m loving it the green its so pretty when the sunlight hit its! And next month I’m changing it to teal to match this outfit for a wedding!

Also for the same wedding I’m gonna get my hair cut and styled (finally)!!!

Sigh, I live with my parents, share a closet with three people, my shoes are lined up under my bed, and my makeup is all over the place, in the bathroom, in my nightstand, in my purse, in a travel case, and on this stand with my hair stuff! You should see me in the mornings running around finding things I don’t use everyday!

Vermaak Avatar

I love how personal your blog is, it makes it feel like I’m chatting with a friend instead of reading textbooks or the like (blah.. exams) I also love reading about Mellan, I can’t believe he was the #1 least favorite! My dog at home just died and its giving me serious dog cravings, I want a dog soooooooo badly, but I just don’t know how to work it out with school, any suggestions on that front?
Random beauty facts about me? I’m probably the only person I know who actually likes it, nobody in my family wears makeup, none of my friends. I’m a swimmer and a waterpolo player, so I don’t wear it very often, I’m just as happy walking around with none, but it is just so much fun to put on and to have! Its also fun to see peoples reactions when I’m made up, double takes, “WOW, you clean up nicely!” which i suppose could be mildly insulting. Anyhow, thanks so much for the effort you put in Christine! You’re so beautiful and talented!

Christine Avatar

Aw, thanks Verma! 🙂 I’m glad you think so! The blog is definitely personal for me, so it’s great that it translates over on your side, too!

One of my family dogs just passed away, so I know how you feel and am sorry about your loss! Losing a pet is so hard 🙁

To be honest, I really, really wanted a dog when I was in undergrad, and I’m glad I didn’t have one. It’s HARD in so many ways. I’m still in school, but I’m a lot closer to my family and live with my boyfriend (who works at home), so it’s so much easier in terms of managing Mellan when I’m gone for the day. But when I was going to undergrad, I didn’t know that many people and had no family around, so if I went home to see my family or had school for 5-6 hours, it definitely would have been hard. My only advice is take a look at your life/schedule/school and see if you’d be able to take care of the dog between classes and all that. If you have friends/family nearby (or extra money for doggy daycare!), it’s so much easier 🙂

Better to take it as a compliment, ha!

Thanks, Verma! 🙂

Ali Avatar

ok, this is crazy!!!! i JUST got into makeup about a year ago (sophmore year) and i’m at UCI! crazzzzyyy. i didn’t have a skincare regimen either until just recently and i never wore sunscreen so now i have freckles/sunspots 🙁

and i love “for audrey” on my toes too! this is just too crazy hahaha. i love your blog 😀

Carrie Avatar

I started wearing makeup when I was in junior high. Not that much, though, and not all the time. I think it was because my mom used Clinique products and they always have those gift w/ purchase events where you get full-sized lipsticks and cute little eyeshadows. Clinique was probably the first makeup I ever wore…I don’t think there’s anything wrong w/ matching your makeup to your outfit. In fact, I think it’s smart, especially if it’s subtle. I mean, you wouldn’t want to wear purple lipstick w/ an orange top.

Andrea Avatar

I remember getting LOADS of little clinque lipsticks! I still have a couple lying around. But man, waiting for your Mom to be finished at the make up counter when you’re not into make up is pretty horrrible.

Rosanna Avatar

I’m a late bloomer too – which is surprising because my mom has a lot of makeup (a good mixture of drugstore, high-end, korean&japanese, and MAC). I like to go through her stuff out of curiosity and wonder, lol! I was taught to have a skin care routine when I was 12 but was never consistent till now thanks to the influence of beauty gurus on youtube and here!

I remember buying my first makeup at 15. My aunt took me to MAC and I used my New Years’ money to pay for 4 MAC eyeshadows with a quad and a lipgloss. Then we went to a drugstore to get brushes and mascara. I didn’t really use it much (like 2-3 times a year?)

17 was when I started truly getting interested in makeup because of my Chanel makeovers for prom and grad pictures (She INSISTED on Chanel because she said they did more natural looks). My mom loves Chanel, particularly their lip liners, lipglosses and eyeshadow. Haha, that year, I loved getting those makeovers from Chanel because it meant my mom would pay for the Chanel make-up when I normally wouldn’t be able to afford! I only regret that I didn’t get the foundation because I was feeling guilty about the total cost (I don’t think she minded, I swear she wanted to everything that was on my face). Also, I got more obsessed thanks to youtube (the first makeup video I watched was a makeup collection video, I had no idea people could be so obsessed!)

18 (present), I wear makeup more often because I don’t have to wake up so early now! And while I’m a poor student and can’t always afford makeup, Temptalia fills the void and saves me money thanks to your reviews.

Christine Avatar

I’m so happy you’re consistent with your routine now! 🙂 Once you really get into it, you’re like, “This isn’t so bad!” At first, you’re like, “I need to spend how long doing what to my face?!”

Your Mom and I would definitely get along with our love for Chanel to bond us, lol!

It’s nice having more time to get ready in the morning — I’m finding I don’t have the energy to do so when I have class at 8 🙁

Thank you, Rosanna!

Laurz Avatar

Lol..I do the crazy dog lady things all of the time! I liked makeup in highschool but I didn’t start having more than one of something and following the collections until I lived in Toronto. I was looking for a bright blue liner, and went into Holt Renfrew. I was ignored by many of the SA’s, but the one at the POUT counter was really nice and helped me. She showed me all of their bright colours, and it was love at first sight! From then on I booked a makeover once a week!

Carolanne Avatar

I’m currently 19 (freshman in college), and really JUST became obsessed with makeup when I was 18 (last semester of senior year of high school). As you can see, I’m a recently converted beauty-junkie! =] No one else in my family understands the fun of makeup, so whenever I buy some, I also bring along my “shopping” bag (aka, my BIG bag) so I can stuff my goodies in there before entering the house!

hahaha LOVE your blog! Thanks for all the hard work you must put into this blog! Especially great for someone like me who is really just getting started.

Carolanne Avatar

I love it! I’m going to CSU Long Beach, and I really really love it! Not far from where you went (UCI). And no, I’m not dorming. I live literally 15 minutes from school, so there’s really no point to, haha.

Annie Avatar

I only recently became obsessed with make-up, about 9 months ago. I used to wear make-up before that, but believe me… it was not so pretty :3

And now that we’re talking about random facts: recently I’ve become fascinated with watching my mom put her make-up on in the morning. To me, it’s the ultimate form of feminine glamour – from the way she pouts in the mirror to seeing her tilt her head back and study her eyes to see if her eye pencil is even.

By the by: I didn’t mean boys can’t wear make-up, I do love seeing that! But watching my mom putting her make-up on is just instant connection with girlishness to me, haha.

Kathryn Avatar

I really like that you did this post! I was actualy so curious about your age but I didn’t know if it was rude or not to ask! lol. I am 22, and I honestly thought you were younger than me!

Sophie Avatar

I make silly faces and match my make-up to my clothes as well 😀 my random beauty fact is that I point out what I like or would change about actors’ make-up when watching movies. it drives my friends crazy.

hrbiaggi Avatar

I love make up since I was a little girl (AROUND 3) and my mom let me use her beautiful red lipstick (I don’t with my children, though). For some weird reason, I was able to apply it so well, that people thought it was my mom who put the lipstick on me. Since those times, I have been an avid reader of every beauty magazine under the sun – before I learned to read, I obsessed over the pictures! Practice makes perfect, and maybe that’s why I see make up application as second nature to my personality. Although I am not a MUp Artist, people ask me all the time where I learned all I know about make up,tips, tricks and ‘how to do that look’… and I find this to be a great compliment!

As for skincare, I have been religiously trained since I was 12. My first moisturizer (it was in the 70’s!) was one called Revlon Milk Plus 6. I remember being at that beauty counter with my mom, as if it was yesterday. My mom got the whole skincare line for me, and since then I am addicted to skincare regimens as well. I am not obsessed with any brand…I try them all, although I have been hooked on a few brands for a while (Clinique while at college, Lancome when I started working, etc.)

Now my obsession is looking for beauty advice over the internet. That’s how I found you! I must admit I am addicted to make up artists opinions/guidance/tips, etc. I will not buy any product unless I have made my research on it. It has been very helpful when I meet with sales people at beauty counters, MAC, Ulta or Sephora stores. I have even introduced products to those people, even of their own brand!

Lastly, I also try to combine my make up with my wardrobe. It is like an innate instinct, and I have no intention of changing that!

Christine Avatar

You are SO ahead of the curve — I love it! (And totally wish I was like you!) What skincare regimen are you onto now?

I love blogs and the internet, because it is really is fantastic to be able to get instant recommendations or a ton of information about whatever product you want to try. It just makes shopping so much easier!

Kelly Avatar

I started wearing makeup in 7th grade…I always knew about it because my mom ALWAYS had her face done, every day (the same way I am now) and I remember she always wore Maybelline Great Lash mascara in the green and pink tube…but once I got to 7th grade and we were allowed to wear it in school, I thought it would be my big chance to rock it…I remember buying this Maybelline combination eyeshadow/liner (like a big pencil type thing) in SILVER (silver!) and wearing it EVERY DAY. I don’t think I even wore anything else, mascara, blush, anything. A few years later I upgraded and had a few other colors. One was a copper color and I got made fun of for wearing “orange” eyeshadow (IT WAS NOT ORANGE!) but ever since then I haven’t really cared what anyone else thinks about what I look like! I have a makeup obsession now and I love it. I check this blog like 87 times a day. You rock Christine!

Kelly Avatar

I just feel better when I wear makeup- I also love putting it on! It’s fun and it’s the time of day that is for ME ONLY, which is kind of nice 🙂 And Temptalia has helped me beyond belief! I’m so disappointed that I didn’t discover it sooner!

Shivani Avatar

I finally managed to convince my parents to let me wear make-up in high school. I did my jr high in india went to private school and i couldnt even wear nail-polish to school and had to have my hair pulled back. So yeah, I kind of exploited my freedom and wore bright blue eyeshadow all over my lid. Fun times.
However, I really started loving make-up when I worked for Clinique one summer and realized that there is no such thing as having too much make-up in your stash. Oh, I am going to be done college in 5 days – which scares the shit out of me, but a part of me is also excited 🙂

Laura Avatar

Got ya beat…it was 5 years ago when I really started getting into makeup and buying it all the time. Yeah, I was 24! I wore it all the time in high school and washed/took care of my face religiously then. But, when I got into college then got preganant, all that went out the window. I started thinking one day that I want my daughter to have a good ‘mom’ role model so I thougth it best to get back into all the things that make us girls women. So, I started back with the intense skin care, lost all my baby weight, got a new wardrobe, about 80 new pair of shoes, and taught myself makeup. Now, I have created a monster in my 6 year old that now loves to play MUA, beauty parlor, shoe & clothing shop, and such! LOL…so funny! Her bday party (her choice) is a “beauty spend the night” party starring MOM & her makeup skills. LOL!

Joy Avatar

That’s eerie that you mentioned that you only wear China Glaze’s For Audrey on your toes! I actually was thinking to myself earlier today that I needed to change my current toe nail color (currently CG’s Custom Kicks) and was already planning on wearing CG’s For Audrey! 😉

I wanted to ask for some advice in regards to skin care– do you have any blog entries or advice in general on sunscreen? It’s really hard for me to be consistent with a lot of things that I know are good for me (i.e. going to the gym, taking my vitamins, etc.). I don’t think I’ve ever really found a sunscreen which has a texture that I don’t hate and doesn’t smell off-putting in some manner :/ I’m not super sensitive to smells normally, but I guess when it comes to sunscreen, all bets are off! 😉

I’m also thinking of changing facial cleansers since I want one that removes makeup better, if you have any advice on that matter. I have very normal skin, not prone to breakouts, no blemishes, no nothing (I’m one of those really annoying individuals who has naturally good skin– my friends sometimes say I don’t have pores so I must be a vampire. It’s kind of funny, though the Twilight allusion is not appreciated ha), if that helps. And I guess while I’m at it, I’m also looking to buy a good moisturizer w/ SPF.

Basically, I’m overhauling everything! Sorry if you’ve answered this/have a post on it or don’t really know (after all, skin care is different than cosmetics!) Thanks; I love your blog!

Christine Avatar

That’s cause For Audrey is AMAZING! 🙂

Have you considered a higher end sunscreen? The higher you go, the often more un-sunscreen-like it is. Or you just might like a sunscreen that’s a moisturizer + SPF, so it’s not just a sunscreen. I like Shiseido, but I tend to only use it when I’m going to be out all day.

What cleanser are you using now? I actually like using a separate makeup removing product (e.g. Lancome Bi-Facil) for heavier eye/lip makeup, then I use a facial cleanser for my face makeup. I use shu uemura’s cleansing oil, just ’cause it really does a good job at removing pretty much everything. I find it gets even heavy makeup off pretty well!

But if your skin is PERFECT, what makes you want to change up the routine? If you like your cleanser, maybe you could get a toner (I like NARS Hydrating Lotion, which is not a lotion but a toner!) — it’ll pick up anything your cleanser misses!

Sally Avatar

Despite being introduced to MAC makeup at 16 (I’m 25 now!) I didn’t become obsessed with it until I started reading this blog.

My husband helps me depot my eyeshadows (He’s the love of my life, and that just solidifies it! Hehe!)

I am also wearing China Glaze’s For Audrey on my toes and since I live in Florida, I go to the beach almost every weekend, so I have something in common with you Christine!

I totally look like I’m going to swallow flies when I apply my makeup! Just something about an gaping mouth the makes applying it easier!

I almost always take my makeup to work with me and apply it there. I relish my sleep and often would prefer to get an extra 10 or 20 minutes and apply my makeup at work.

I have perfected the art of eyelash curling, even in moving vehicles!

Sally Avatar

I’ve lived here all my life, but until I moved closer to the water (aka, not 30 minutes away, but 15 minutes away) I go much more! Coat myself with the sunscreen!

Got lucky with learning the eyelash curling. Fortunately, since its Florida, the ground is flat as a pancake, so no beat up/heaved up roads. Now if I lived in New York, with all the damage from the snow on the roads, I wouldn’t even chance it!

Angela Avatar

oh my gosh you went to UCI?! I go to the high school right next to it if you know which one im talking about (; I’m really hoping to go to UCI in 2 years!

Christine Avatar

Yep, I’m pretty sure I do! It’s literally RIGHT by it, yeah? Oh, man, I’m blanking on the street it’s on, it’s a major road in Irvine and I’m blanking. Whatev. All I remember is Campus Drive, Alton, Irvine Center Drive…

My sister goes there now!

CeeBee Avatar

The makeup item that started my obsession was the Dior Mystic Jade quint – it was so unusual and I had never seen an eyeshadow that looked like two different colours at once – I was smitten! I was 18 and it cost $108NZD. I still have it.

As much as I love high end makeup and have drawers full of it, I cannot resist dollar store bargains! Jordana lipsticks and blush and my most recent finds and they are super awesome!

I have 14 Dior eye quints, all 4 Skin Shimmers but only 1 blush (Vintage Pink), 1 bronzer, three eye pencils and one lone Dior lipstick. I obviously like Dior eyeshadow the most!
Ooooh lies, actually I have three lip palettes as well but I hardly ever use them -I don’t know why because they are gorgeous!

Makeup in NZ is RIDICULOUSLY expensive ($52 for a Chanel Glossimer or Lancome lipstick!) but yet I still buy it. A lot of it…(at least the mortgage and bills are paid first, LOL!) and I don’t feel the slightest bit guilty about it either!

My fiancee is 8 years younger then me, we’ve been together nearly 5 years (since he was 18) and he was the one who chased me! (I didn’t run away very fast, LOL!)

I have turned both my mother and best friend into makeup junkies, especially high end stuff. My mother likes to borrow my stuff every now and then – I bought her Guerlain Meteorites for her birthday one year and she cried.

Christine Avatar

Isn’t it amazing how one item can really just push you over and make you fall in love? I love that you still have it, too 🙂 I tossed those “MAC” pigments long ago… once I realized they weren’t MAC at all, lol!

It’s so refreshing and nice to hear from people who enjoy their purchases and don’t let themselves feel guilty for doing so!

When’s the wedding? Do you know what makeup you’re going to wear? 😉

My mom is a fiend for Creme de la Mer. Go figure!

CeeBee Avatar

Wedding date is currently set for 10th of November 2012,which is late spring here.
Not sure what makeup I’m going to wear, probably just something pretty classic (neutral eye, peachy pink blush and coral or pink lips) – knowing me, I’ll make it up on the day!
I’m not wearing white though, the dress is going to be this beautiful buttery champagne gold silk (I’ve bought the fabric and some matching Swarovski crystals already and will be getting it custom made) so maybe I’ll be leaning towards soft gold on the eyes and a bright coral lip – maybe Gems! (if I haven’t used it all up by then, ha!)
I need to get that Crush Glow quint and put it down as a wedding expense, bwahahahaha!

Linh Pham Avatar

Guess I’m not the only late bloomer here 😀 I’m only into makeup recently, and I’m 22! I don’t feel comfortable wearing foundation – it still feel too heavy on me; but I do love concealer! lol So up until now, I can only have a layer of powder on my face.

I get hooked easily and get tired of things just as quick… The only things that will never make me lose interest are things relate to art. So I’m hoping makeup will be one of those. Cuz I sure spent alot on it already.

I’m a sucker for completing sets too, but this is where I have my boyfriend to thank. He keeps me in check. But he won’t be able to stop me when it’s a limited edition!

Christine, if we can ever meet someday, you can talk to me about Mellan allllll you want! Cuz I LOVE dogs! And lab is No.1 in my 5-dogs-I-will-have-in-the-future list! So there’s lab, shiba, husky, german shepherd, and beagle!
(>_________<)*love*

Christine Avatar

There are lots of us! 🙂

It took me a good year, if not more like two, before I started wearing foundation – I definitely loved the way it pulled everything together, though.

Those are some big dogs, Linh! I love the way huskies look – so pretty! And Shibas and German Shepherds are also cute. Beagles are super cute, but I can’t handle the howl! I dog-sat for a hound once, and I nearly went insane!

BeckBeck Avatar

You think 18-19 is old to get into makeup? Try 25. That’s how old I was. 🙂 And now I’m ADDICTED. I just bought a Guerlain lipstick for no reason today.

Evelyn Avatar

A few random (and sometimes odd facts): I didn’t really get into makeup until the last few years actually and now my storage case is bursting! I loathe coral & peach colors even though they work with my complexion (go figure!). Must have anything rose scented, I’ll make a beeline in the store for it…and jasmine too. I keep buying the same shade of lipstick too, always something that leans towards a rosy color. Lastly, I think a lot of perfumes smell like candy or dessert, I don’t want to walk around smelling like cake. 🙂

Oh and my high school only allowed juniors & seniors to wear lipstick and nail polish (and only religious medals & school ring). You’d be able to pick us out from the crowd even now because we all wear the least makeup & jewelry compared to other women.

Samantha Avatar

This should be saved for an Ask Temptalia session but I’ve always wondered Christine, I know you love make-up, but do you have any favourite television shows??

Melissa Avatar

I actually didn’t start REALLY getting into makeup until a couple of years ago, at 25. However, I really feel I’ve found my calling and am now working toward a career in makeup special effects!

imeldita Avatar

i wasn’t too obsessed with makeup … at least not til I found ur website. and oh, mine started with MAC pigments too ! my friend bought them on ebay and of course I didn’t know what they were and she started applying them on me. Then I started looking things up online, then i stumbled upon this site. and oh, i am also obsessive about my dog. i stalk ur website a lot. and learned a lot too! keep up the good work !

Nic Avatar

“Collect ’em all syndrome” Haha! I’m the same way. Fortunately, I can usually manage to resist.

I also match my makeup to my clothes. 🙂

Diane Avatar

I like you, Christina. You are SO much like a younger version of me!
=)
I have been dying to ask you a question, but I have had no success on your website. How do you get your nail polish to look so perfect? Do you have a trick or tip that you can share? You have that perfect space going around your cuticles that I just adore!

Aleksis Avatar

I liked this! It’s fun to learn something about your fav website owners! =) I do have one obsession greater than makeup and that’s decorating..I guess I just like adorning things lol

Mindy Avatar

I only wore the same 2 or 3 drugstore quads (l’oreal I think) through out high school and maybe coloured liner so I didn’t really get into different colours until I was maybe 21 and then full blown colour addict by 22ish I think, from watching youtube videos. Then I googled different looks and discovered indie makeup companies and my paycheques have been gone ever since 🙂 I just love that I can get such bright and unique shades for like $4-$8 instead of getting a whole quad for 1 shade I “might” like or a $17 MAC shadow. I feel like shopping now hahaha

Mindy Avatar

My first super bright (bright for me at the time anyway:) was NYX Kiwi and Lime Juice, but my first uber pigmented brights were from Fyrinnae, I think 1.22 Gigawatts and Cheshire Cat Grin were the brightest in that order I placed. And it’s partly thanks to them that I fell in total lust with loose pigments 😀

Pes Avatar

Yay Anteaters!!!! Are you class of ’08 as well? Love it! I started my skincare regime this year actually…and that’s because I started getting random break outs. I really enjoy reading your blog. The most detailed!

SiaM Avatar

I just returned from taking and exam and your site absolutely helps me relax =) I had so much fun reading this post thanks for sharing =)
A bit about me:

I have been a consistent Temptalia reader since November 2009 and it has definitely helped improve my knowledge about brands, tips and makeup….AFTER TEMPTALIA MY COLLECTION HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY… It catalyzes my addiction

Have been obsessed with nail polish (thanks to my older sister and mom) since I was 6. Nail polish and lip balms were my first “makeup items” and still are a must in my kit. My sister also introduced me to skin care when I was in my early teens my first department store skin care brand was Clarin’s (her favorite brand) but now I use different items from different brands.

I bought my first MAC Lipstick “FROU” (1st, I guess, high end lipstick i would say) when I was about 14-15 years old (really frosty formula and I would really think it twice before I wear it now…definitely would not wear it alone…) My combo for going out when I was 15, was that lipstick and black liner in my waterline (OH GOD!!!! 0_0)

I started searching through the web looking for makeup tips around May 2009, because Sephora was going to open its first store in PR(I was so excited after all the years looking forward to buy some things, BUT NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING!!!!, FINALLY during the SUMMER OF 2009 I EXPERIENCED GOING TO A STORE THAT SELLS SO MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF MAKEUP AND ALLOWS YOU TO TRY DIFFERENT FORMULAS AND PERFUMES AND AND AND) (Before Sephora we only had drugstores and department stores that sold makeup)

Last year I bought my first foundation at Sephora, I also use tinted moisturizer (Korres) and started playing more with eyeshadow colors and using blush and bronzer.

Description: I am golden-medium skin 20yr old girl, with slight olive undertones, dark brown almost black eyes, wavy hair, who loves to wear opaque nude, taupe, beige,coral lipsticks (Did I mention I am lipstick obsessed?) and looks forward to experiment with new colors. My first language is Spanish (just saying because I can make a lot of errors while writing in English ^_~).

Phew!! Didn’t thought I could write this much!!!lol

elan Avatar

not sure why we care about these facts…but what’s so shocking about having tried makeup at 18? is 18 supposed to be considered “older” as in sophisticated or something? you’re still a child in your teens so it makes sense to be caught up with makeup. its actually more absurd to think you should be a makeup floozie at any age UNDER 18. thats just creepy.

Christine Avatar

From my experience, especially growing up, many start using makeup during their early teenage years — 18 isn’t old by any means, but compared to my peers, I was most definitely a late bloomer. I don’t think wearing makeup under 18 would make you a makeup floozie…

If you’re not interested in this post, just skip over it 🙂

Grace Avatar

wow! I got into make up once I started UCI too! I don’t know why but theres something about school and the work they give out that makes me want to shop for makeup hahaha… really love your blog (I sometimes go on it in class so bad of me haha)

ladydi Avatar

I didn’t really do much with real make up until I was 25 (26 now). In highschool I had terrible acne and a few bad experiences with foundation so I stayed mainly away from anything but eyeliner or glitter. I work in a department store, and for two years managed to elude that MAC counter, which is all of 10 feet away from my area. Then Hello Kitty MAC was born, and I could resist no longer. The addiction had begun. It all started out with Transparent Teal glitter. Things really got ugly with Style Black. By then I was reading makeup blogs religiously, like this one =D. I’m almost more familiar with the products before the girls at the counter are. I think its the collective appeal that makeup has. So many limited editions..anything that is different. Purple and sparkly stuff is my main obsession. I’m still pretty slow at applying it because I haven’t gotten into the habit of it yet. I’m greatful for greaspaint sticks, they are so easy to use! Care for my face is still lacking..But I am starting to get better and thinking past the sparkle and looking into products that will make my skin better. You blog and those of the like are filled with knowledge of just about everything..and for that I thank you!

Diane Avatar

OOOOpppssss!! Sorry.. you can tell who the “old lady” is in the bunch! LOL! I just saw that you sent a reply to my other request! I’ll get the hang of this… someday! =D

Danielle Sharkey Avatar

OMG Christine we have so much in common! My bedroom is my make up room – literally! I too am ocd about collection the entire sets of collections – but in my case I used to do it with perm mac e/s but now I do it with MUFE e/s! And I am all about my beagle Barney – He’s a stinky little dog that farts a lot but I love him soo much and I take soo many pics of him as well! I’m also ocd about how I store my make up collection – I out grew my vanity years ago – I then bought a malm ikea dresser – out grew that – moved to a desk with a ton of those steralite mini 3 drawer containers – that didn’t work for me and now I have a new desk with 10 drawers from ikea that seems to be working well!

Dreamerchan Avatar

What a small world! I’m going to the University of California, Irvine right now 🙂 I just started getting into makeup when I was 18.

karen Avatar

I actually just got back into makeup around last September when I discovered your website and got up my nerve to finally go into the MAC store at my mall.

I actually started wearing makeup in 10th grade, but it wasn’t all the time. When I did, it was usually just a shimmery white or pink eyeshadow with mascara and a Lip Smackers. To this day I am still wearing the Pink Lemonade and Dr. Pepper ones. Later on high school I started wearing foundation, I still remember it; it was Cover Girl pressed powder (which made my face look flaky), so I moved on to the liquid foundation of theirs. But I was never able to find the right shade and ended up with that terrible line at the jaw because I was never told to blend out.

I tried to teach myself makeup at that time, because my mom has never been into makeup so I never had anyone to give me tips growing up. I remember I bought her a little makeup compact when I was in first grade for Christmas and she never used it saying makeup wasn’t her thing.

Like I said earlier, I never wore makeup all the time mainly because I never had time in the morning before school. Then I went to college and couldn’t be bothered except for lip balm or gloss. My first job after college was working night shift and I again couldn’t be bothered.

I love lip gloss and that’s primarily what I own. With me, if I find something I like I immediately go out and buy extras. Which has helped because my favorite MLBB gloss was discontinued and I’m glad I have an extra.

Oh and For Audrey is my favorite nailpolish, that one I’ve got two backups of!

karen Avatar

Well my favorite one that was just discontinued was the Neutrogena Moistureshine lipgloss in Chic. I don’t like their newer line, they are thinner product wise and you can’t get much out at a time.

I also really like Stila’s lipglazes and Victoria Secret’s Beauty Rush glosses, my favorite is Cupquake and of course that’s also discontinued. 🙁

caitlyn Avatar

What a fun post, Christine!
I just discovered your blog recently (while googling makeup stuff) and am so glad I stumbled across it! I am 31 and just got into makeup about two months ago. I am having lots of fun learning about different techniques, brands, and products.
Your MAC Guide for the Newly Addicted, along with your MAC brush reviews, have been super helpful for me. Thank you so much for posting them!

Catherine Avatar

Hehehe, I enjoyed reading this! But really you should feel lucky!! I didn’t start wearing mascara until I was 20 and I didn’t find a proper lash curler for my eye shape until I was 21!

Maria Avatar

Great Post!
I fell in love with makeup when I was 12yrs.
My 1st eyeliner was a black wet n wild and my 1st lipstick was the flea market ones the ones that came on clear but changed color with the sun, they were like 2 for a dollar lol. Anyone remember those :o). My mom didnt let me wear make up til I was 15yrs (my mom NEVER wore makeup)so for about 3 years I put it on at school then took it off before I got home, until I got caught one day and came home with racoon eyes, I was about 14 1/2yrs. My 1st Mac E/S were Humid, Swimming, then I became a MAC Eye shadow junky, I now own about 200 eyeshadows YIKES!!!! and I don’t say it to show off, I say it to show the severity of the addiction 🙂 I have been trying to stop for like a year but then I found Temptalia…and if Christine does a “MUST HAVE” well that’s all it takes for me to hit a MAC store lol, and it all goes down hill from there 🙂 Thank You Christine for taking the time to do swatches and reviews.

Kylie Avatar

You are wonderful, Christine! and this made me laugh so hard! I’m only 18, but was blessed with perfect skin (we’re talking sleeping with makeup on multiple days in a row, glowy, pale, not to dry or oily), up until about a year ago when my skin decided to put all those years of perfection down the garbage can. I now have a super regimented skin care routine and suffer horribly from “collect them all” and for that reason my collection is growing exponentially.

Your blog is a daily part of my life, and has been for a very long time, so thank you for everything that you do. I don;t know how you do it, I started a blog and the work to put one together is infinite. Although, I see why you love it, it is wonderful.

so thank you again!

much love, kylie

Kim L Avatar

My mother was a diplomat and she had to go to many evening soirees. She couldn’t see to put on her makeup, so at 11 – I was doing it. I blame her for this crazy money-hogging obsession ($1500 in one weekend is my record)
However, at 12 we moved back to a country that had no decent makeup available except Avon and Revlon- So the obsession didn’t flourish until I moved her at 23.
Skin care….hmmmmmm….. became better at 31 or so, but 34-it’s still not perfect – hence a few fine lines on my forehead! (Arrggggh)

Space Avatar

I got my first make-up palette from my dad when i was 6, and i’ve been toying around with make-up ever since (i’m 22 now). I have tons of pictures of me as a kid dressed up wearing red lipstick 🙂 My favourtite lipstick is a classic red by helena rubinstein.. People often ask me to do their make-up if they go out, i love it 🙂

Btw, I think it’s really nice of you to reply to most comments, most people are too lazy to do so..

shuz4ever Avatar

Boy, was i a late bloomer when it came to make-up! In college i owned just ONE lipstick…ashamed to admit that it was a rather hideous shade of frosty pink…*shudder* wore it with every outfit…then 3 years ago my world changed…i stumbled across Temptalia…fell in love with make-up and everything MAC…even started using foundation for the first time…and now my MAC collect-it-all addiction is rivalled only by my shoe collection;-) Thanks christine…u make it so much fun.

Lorna Avatar

I make silly faces in all of my makeup, too! I don’t know why, I but I seem to think I look incredibly cool when I do it…But heck, I look stupid! It’s okay, because I only do it secretly in the bathroom when I’m alone. :p

Ally_D Avatar

I think I might be the latest bloomer of all – 31! I really only got into makeup in December 2009. Before that I’d only wear it on “special” occasions – once a month, if that.

Suddenly this Christmas I had the realisation that I had products that I just wasn’t using and in my effort to not waste them by wearing them regularly, I was actually wasting them by having them just sat in a bag in my room.

I have/had problem skin so just after Christmas I decided that I was going to establish a proper routine in an effort to slow down ageing and tackle my spots. I just used whatever products were on offer in the supermarket, didn’t moisturise every day and paid no attention to preventing blemishes. Really quite shocking now I think about it. I went to Clinique and got their 3-step skincare system and ever since then I’ve been religious about using it. I know some people don’t like it but having stuck with it I’m now totally blemish free with just some discolouration from some bad spots left to fade.

Changing my skincare though really did unleash something in me. Having decided that I was going to start using the makeup that I owned, and in an effort to not screw up all the work I was doing for my skin, I got a new foundation, then powder, then concealer etc etc

It was about this time that I discovered You Tube beauty gurus and blogs and that just quenched my desire for more knowledge. So much so that I am now a regular at MAC and all the girls there know me (is that a good or bad thing?). I give myself an allowance each month to spend on makeup (excluding skin care) and I like to spread it out by buying one thing per week. Every Monday afternoon I visit MAC – hahahaha

Of course having all these new products is sending me in to overdrive in terms of organisation. I am a total freak about each thing having its place so had to buy draw units to store it all in. Each product has its own draw and I have been known to spend an hour reorganising it, seeing how I could fit more in or grouping similar colours together. Having a 15-pan pallette is very dangerous for me because I currently only have 6 shadows and I feel the urge to fill it all up as fast as possible (although I’m currently managing to resist).

Random facts about me – I speak German, French, Italian (and English), I work full time and study business and economics part-time (distance learning), I’m a photographer and a black-belt martial artist.

I have loved reading all the comments on this post – we’re all so different but we have one thing in common. We’re from all over the world too. How amazing.

AgnesONutter Avatar

I started wearing make-up at 22, and taking care of my skin at 20 so you are really not a late bloomer at all. I do know a lot of my classmates started in their early teens around 12-13 but really, I don’t call what they did taking care of their skin nor wearing make-up. It was desperately fighting pimples with harsh chemicals and making matters worse with bad, cheap cosmetics caked on. 😉 As for sunscreen, I’ve never been one to tan at all, and if I go outside I’ve always worn hats…works too. 😀 Like you, I dream of that perfect walk-in closet with space for my make-up, all the shoes and clothes I want…but first, I wish to win the lottery.

Douatchi Avatar

LOL i suffer from “COLLECT ‘EM ALL SYNDROME.” too….but i dont think as much as you do… =D I love what you do here..you information is so helpful!!!

Carmen Avatar

I have loved makeup since I was in my early teens, and that was a long time ago. In fact, when I traveled alot all over the world, I would go into stores, and the first place I headed to was the makeup/cosmetic counters! I can tell you the best makeup counters in dept. stores in Europe and Asia. I don’t have a huge stash, but I love makeup more now than before, and I try to keep up with what’s current and wearable for me.

Ayla Avatar

I’d be the same way if I had a real job! The only thing I spend more money on than make up, is books! I’m obsessed, so I guess its a good thing I’m going to be a librarian! Also, I love your photos of Mellan! He looks like my black lab Desi (except for being yellow of course!) who passed away a year and a half ago. Labs are the best dogs! 🙂

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