Temptalia's Trios | Recommended Picks for Holiday 2016
The idea behind “Temptalia’s Trios” was to recommend three specific products/shades within a theme, and each theme is broken into categories–like skin tone, budget, or undertone–to make it easier to find recommendations that may best apply to you (or your gift recipient!). I’ve specifically included a healthy mix of gift sets/limited edition holiday offerings as well as permanent picks.
Just Diving In
These are my recommendations for those who may just be getting into makeup this year and some key products from each category, plus a few I’ve pulled out that are more affordable and indulgent.
- Eyes: Anastasia x Mario Master Palette ($45), Sephora Favorites Lashstash ($45), Smashbox 24HR Eyeshadow Primer ($21)
- Lips: Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Bold Lip ($28), Smashbox Light It Up Lipstick Set ($29), Jack Black It’s the Balm Set ($25)
- Cheeks: Tarte Color Wheel Blush Palette ($44), Hourglass Luminous Light Travel Size Ambient Lighting Powder ($22), Sephora Favorites Glow For It ($30)
- On a budget: Sleek Makeup Palette ($9.99), Essence Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.49), NYX Turnt Up! Lipstick Set ($11.99)
- Limitless luxury: Urban Decay Vice Lipstick Stockpile ($325), Wayne Goss The Anniversary Brush Set ($225), Viseart Eyeshadow Palette ($80)
Everyday Blushes
You’ll find my picks for more “everyday” kind of blushes for different skin tones here, and then a few budget-friendly and luxury indulgences as well!
- Light skin tones: Surratt Beauty La Vie En Rose Artistique Blush ($32), MAC I’m a Lover Pro Longwear Blush ($28), Urban Decay Indecent Afterglow Blush ($26)
- Medium skin tones: Clinique Black Honey Pop Cheek Pop ($21), Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow Blush ($26), MAC Make You Mine Pro Longwear Blush ($28)
- Dark skin tones: NARS Impudique Blush ($30), Clinique Cola Pop Cheek Pop ($21), NARS Oasis Blush ($30)
- On a budget: Makeup Geek Loveletter ($10), Makeup Geek XOXO ($10), Sleek Pomegranate ($6.99)
- Limitless luxury: Tom Ford Love Lust Cheek Color ($55), Chanel Jersey Joues Contraste ($45), Marc Jacobs Beauty Lush & Libido Air Blush ($42)
Highlight & Shine
Like the blushes, you’ll find three recommendations by skin tone, then three options that are more budget-friendly and three that are totally indulgent.
- Lighter skin tones: MAC Soft Frost Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($30), Urban Decay Aura Afterglow Highlighter ($26), LORAC Daylight Light Source Illuminating Powder ($22)
- Medium skin tones: Laura Geller Ballerina Illuminator ($24), Laura Geller Gilded Honey Illuminator ($24), Makeup Geek Rekindle Highlighter ($20)
- Dark skin tones: Makeup Geek Firework Highlighter ($20), Becca Topaz Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38), ColourPop Sticky Sweet Super Shock Cheek ($8)
- On a budget: ColourPop Lunch Money Super Shock Cheek ($8), Essence Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.49), Catrice Stardust Highlighting Powder ($5.99)
- Limitless luxury: Laura Mercier Highlight 01 Matte Radiance ($40), Kevyn Aucoin Starlight The Celestial Powder ($44), Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo ($80)
Eyes on the Prize
It’s easy to get lost in a sea of palettes, but here are my top picks depending on the type of look you’re going for or your budget!
- Smoky: The Estee Edit Gritty & Glow Magnetic Eye & Face Palettes ($58), Viseart Chroma Theory Palette($45), Viseart Cool Mattes Palette ($80)
- Neutral: Make Up For Ever Nudes You Need Artist Palette ($44), Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette ($42), Viseart Neutral Matte Palette ($80)
- Bold: Kat Von D MetalMatte Palette ($60), Make Up For Ever Colors You Crave Artist Palette ($34), Viseart Bijoux Royal Palette ($80)
- On a budget: LORAC Pro Metal Palette ($28), Sleek Makeup Palette ($9.99), ColourPop Studio 1400 ($18)
- Limitless luxury: Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Eye Palette ($95), Urban Decay Naked Vault Vol. III ($300), Wayne Goss The Eye Set ($148)
Let’s Talk Lips
Here are some of my set and shade recommendations based on the kind of lip color you’re after, as well as some budget and luxury favorites.
- Cooler: MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Lipstick Kit ($35), Bobbi Brown Uber Rose Luxe Lip Color ($35), Bite Beauty Spritzer Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26)
- Neutral: MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lipstick Set ($35), Urban Decay Rapture Vice Lipstick ($17), Too Faced Honey Bear La Creme ($22)
- Warmer: Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite ($25), NARS Get Real Lip & Eye Set ($49), Bite Beauty Gold Creme Lip Gloss ($22)
- Bold: Bite Beauty Best Bite Redux ($25), MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Lipstick Kit ($35), Bite Beauty Kale Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26)
- On a budget: ColourPop Dopey Ultra Satin Liquid Lipstick ($6), Maybelline Touch of Spice ColorSensational Creamy Matte Lipstick ($7.49), Maybelline Shocking Coral ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick ($7.99)
- Limitless luxury: NARS Audacious Lipstick Coffret ($125), Urban Decay Vice Lipstick Stockpile ($325), Tom Ford Lip Set ($212)
Great idea, Christine! I like that you broke it down into skin tones and other categories because that helps narrow down options.
Yay! 🙂 Yes, the idea of “everyday” blush that fits one skin tone… not so much a thing, lol!
Stop the madness — the best resource online for makeup and beauty just further upped its own game. I’m printing and bookmarking this. So valuable!
Oh, I’m so glad! 🙂
I love this! Nice picks. Thanks (I think – LOL) for reminding me I still want the MAC Pink Lip Set.
Thanks, Michele! 🙂 The MAC lipstick sets are so nice! I love that they did them this year.
This is awesome post Christine! Loved how you included different skin tones as well as budget and luxury options. Thanks for all you do 🙂
Thank you, Megan! 🙂
You are slaying this, girl! What great info. So helpful.
Happy to help, Liz! 😀
YES! This is awesome… and you included my HG lipstick Touch of Spice. LOL. Thank you for doing this!
No problem, Raeanne!
Nice choices!
Thanks, Erin!
Excellent job! This will really help take the guess work out when making selections.
Thank you so much. 🙂
My pleasure, Tammy!
This is so insanely helpful! As someone who just got into makeup this year and is still learning, I appreciate it.
Happy to hear it, Monica!
Amazing post! So helpful- thanks for putting something like this together that’s easy to navigate and sectioned into categories for skin tone!
Thanks, Maddy!
I love these recommendations! It’s a nice overview and you broke them down very practically!
Thank you, Ouineque!
Fantastic!
🙂
Love this list Christine. What a fantastic idea breaking up the items into categories by theme then skin tones and budget. Makes for quick decisions. Happy shopping.
Thank you so much, Lorrie!
Great ideas ! i would like also to add a highlight set for those who love highlighters. i think that the becca shimmering skin perfector in moonstone set is a good value. it contains two travel sizes of the pressed powder and the liquid versions of moonstone.
That is a great set! 🙂
Oh my! My VIB wishlist just got a few more pretties on it, haha! I think?!? ?
Not sure whether my getting Too Faced Honey Bear would be ridiculously redundant with me already owning UD Liar Lipstick and Kinky lipgloss, though? And MAC Marque? Idk?
Also now VERY tempted to get a Viseart 6-pan! Either Chroma, because even though I love my UD Naked Smoky, it is NOT something one can knock a QUICK and EASY look out of. But I also love the very warm Viseart 6-pan, too. Not sure which would be my better spent mini-lux?
It is a tough call! I guess – which do you already feel is more replicated in your stash? Perhaps go for the road less traveled (but still traveled often enough!).
Great job Christine, as always 🙂 Thank you so much !
Thank you, Nicole!
Christine you always go the extra mile – and I am always impressed!
Aw, thanks Deborah!
Great job on this Christine!
Thanks a lot, Betty!
What a fantastic list of suggestions you have put together for us. I am going to get the Lorac Pro Metal palette, but it is not $28 here, but $60 plus shipping…..
The way that you have broken the products down into categories, including budget and luxury choices has made it much easier for us to choose. Thank you so much.
Argh! Such a huge markup 🙁
How come you manage to make us speechless every time with your posts , ideas and knowledge ???
Bomb.com / Temptalia.com
super cool Christine xoxo
Aww! 🙂
What a fun compilation, Christine! Appreciate the thought that goes into the recommendations.
P.S. I was taking advantage of a discount and decided to buy my first Guerlain lipstick. I had pulled up your intro to Guerlain to use as a guide in the store. Walked out with a vibrant fuscia in the Guerlain Kiss Kiss line. ?
Congrats on your first Guerlain, Tracey!!
This is awesome! Will definitely be referring to it. Do you have any brands you like for bronzers?
Love your picks and your blogs, I’m taking most of my makeup decision based on your reviews :-)….. my skin is light-medium with yellow undertones, I bought at the Sephora VIB event the Natasha Denona all over glow powder 01 and the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Pop. Have you try any of them? I need to return one and I can’t decide…. what do you think is better???
Thank you, Gina! 🙂 I haven’t tried the Natasha Denona powder! I have a review on Champagne Pop on the blog, though!