Aveda Jade Vine Petal Essence Eye Definer ($16.00 for 0.04 oz.) is described as a “matte, bright, grass green.” It’s a yellow-toned, medium green with a matte finish. MAC Emerald Sea is less pigmented. Make Up For Ever #16L is darker, cooler-toned. MAC Landscape Green is darker, brighter. See comparison swatches.

It had decent to good color payoff in a single pass, and it was buildable to mostly opaque color after a few passes back and forth. However, I wasn’t able to achieve this kind of payoff on the lash line, because the consistency of the pencil was rather waxy and stubborn, so it didn’t glide on easily. It tended to drag and skip, and it ended up looking rather subtle when I tried to apply it. The wear was so-so, as the eyeliner (that I managed to apply) lasted six hours well and started to smudge after that.

Aveda Jade Vine Petal Essence Eye Definer

Aveda Jade Vine Petal Essence Eye Definer

Aveda Jade Vine Petal Essence Eye Definer

Aveda Jade Vine Petal Essence Eye Definer

Aveda Eyeshadows: Papyrus (inner lid), Bare Bellis (center),
Lantana (outer lid), Cinnamon Bark (crease), Jade Vine (lash line)

Aveda Lemongrass Petal Essence Single Eye Color ($14.00 for 0.04 oz.) is described as a “satiny, light, iridescent green.” It’s a lightened, pastel green with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff, and it applied well. When I tested it, the shade lasted eight hours with some minimal fading. bareMinerals Wicked ius lighter, not as warm-toned. MAC Juxt is slightly warmer. Dior Peacock #1 is slightly darker. Dior Peacock #5 is lighter. Urban Decay Jealous #2 is darker. Aveda Papyrus is darker, less frosted. See comparisons here.

Aveda Oceanica Petal Essence Single Eye Color ($14.00 for 0.04 oz.) is described as a “satiny, bright, island blue.” It’s a medium, muted blue with a frosted sheen. It had good pigmentation and applied smoothly, but it did look noticeably faded after I wore it for eight hours. Dior Swimming Pool Turquoise is lighter. MAC Cool Heat is much darker. Guerlain Les Aquas #2 is slightly less blue. L’Oreal Endless Sea is a touch darker. MAC Parrot is bolder, slightly darker. Make Up For Ever #72 is brighter and matte. Tom Ford Emerald Lust #3 is darker, more frosted. See comparison swatches here.

Aveda Lemongrass Petal Essence Single Eye Color

Aveda Lemongrass Petal Essence Single Eye Color

Aveda Lemongrass Petal Essence Single Eye Color

Aveda Oceanica Petal Essence Single Eye Color

Aveda Oceanica Petal Essence Single Eye Color

Aveda Oceanica Petal Essence Single Eye Color

For spring/summer, Aveda Eyeshadow ($14.00 for 0.04 oz.) released several shades, and I’m reviewing four of them in this post. The Petal Essence eyeshadow formula is supposed to be “non-fading,” “flower wax-infused,” “silky,” and “both color-true and crease-resistant.”  Two of the shades I tried were powdery, while the other two were soft and smooth.  The color payoff varied between good and great, but I noticed that these had a tendency to fade after seven hours of wear (without a primer), with Cinnamon Bark being the lone shade that lasted for a full eight hours without fading or creasing.  All four shades were blendable during application.

Papyrus is described as a “satiny, budding green.” It’s a warm, chartreuse green with a satiny sheen. It had decent color payoff, but the color looked slightly faded applied. The texture was soft and a bit powdery. Dior Peacock #1 is lighter and more shimmery. Buxom Shish Tzu is darker and a cream product. Dior Garden Pastels #1 is darker and more frosted. MAC Juxt is lighter.

Bare Bellis is described as a “satiny, baby pink.” It’s a rosy beige with subtle, warm undertones and a satiny sheen. It had good color payoff, but the texture was so soft that it was also powdery. Cinderella Midnight Hour is more beige and frosty. Urban Decay Laced is matte and slightly more beige. MAC Love Spice is more frosted.

Lantana is described as a “satiny, fresh coral.” It’s a softened, peachy brown with a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff and wasn’t powdery. Chanel Eclosion is more frosted.

Cinnamon Bark is described as a “satiny, rich mahogany.” It’s a rich, burgundy red with a satiny finish and strong, warm undertones.  The texture was soft and smooth but not powdery, and the pigmentation was rich and intense. Chanel Eclosion #4 is purpler, less warm-toned. Maybelline Pomegranate Punk is more burgundy and frosted. MAC Festive Delight #4 is similar. MAC Cranberry is more frosted. Inglot #452 is more frosted as well.

Aveda Papyrus Eyeshadow

Aveda Papyrus Eyeshadow

Aveda Papyrus Eyeshadow

Aveda Bare Bellis Eyeshadow

Aveda Bare Bellis Eyeshadow

Aveda Bare Bellis Eyeshadow

Aveda Lantana Eyeshadow

Aveda Lantana Eyeshadow

Aveda Lantana Eyeshadow

Aveda Cinnamon Bark Eyeshadow

Aveda Cinnamon Bark Eyeshadow

Aveda Cinnamon Bark Eyeshadow

Aveda Eyeshadows: Papyrus (inner lid), Bare Bellis (center),
Lantana (outer lid), Cinnamon Bark (crease)

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents ($24.00 for 0.30 oz.) is described as a “nude highlighter to soft coral to bright coral.” Together, the blush swirls to create a subtly pink-tinted coral with a soft, beige-champagne shimmer-sheen finish and warm undertones. Tarte Curious is pinker. Too Faced Sweethearts is lighter and pinker. bareMinerals The Natural High has a stronger gold sheen. MAC Fleet Fast is darker. NARS Deep Throat is similar. Because this is a split-pan blush, it can be applied lighter/darker depending on how you swirl your brush. The individual shdaes consist of a deep, rich orange-red with a satin finish; light-medium rosy beige with a satin finish; and champagne beige with a champagne sheen.

This blush is easiest to use altogether or concentrating on two of the three shades, because each strip of color just isn’t wide enough to accommodate most blush brushes. It is supposed to ve scented with lavender, though I couldn’t really smell it in the pan or on. All three individual shades were very, very pigmented, so when applied together, the result is just as rich in color payoff, but the texture is very soft and smooth. It can be sheered out to a lighter color or built up for something more intense. It has a delicate satin finish, so there’s just barely enough shimmer to give cheeks a natural glow but nothing frosted or metallic, which means pores are not emphasized either. Hibiscus lasted eight and a half hours on me, and I saw signs of fading after nine hours of wear.

See more photos & swatches!

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda Hibiscus Petal Essence Face Accents

Aveda’s Art of Nature collection is inspired by nature, boasting pure pastels and vibrant colors. Janell Geason, Artistic Director Aveda Makeup, introduces a blossoming color palette — created with a conscience. Aveda makeup goes beyond minerals with natural plant ingredients that are gentle to skin — and the planet — while sheer to intense shades for eyes and lips create a romantic flush of color.

“We’re seeing a return to color in makeup with techniques that create a more lived-in, less ‘done’ look,” says Janell Geason, Artistic Director for Aveda makeup. “Our new makeup collection starts with pure pastels like the first buds of spring, and builds into lush, high-summer color.”

Petal Essence Single Eye Color ($14.00) (Limited Edition)

• Lemongrass
• Papayrus
• Cinnamon Bark
• Lantana
• Bare Bellis
• Ocaenica

Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color ($16.00) (Limited Edition)

• Cana
• Melochia Bloom

Nourish-Mint Rehydrating Lip Glaze ($18.00) (Limited Edition)

• Kukui

Nourish-Mint Lip Liner ($16.00) (Limited Edition)

• Cocoa Bean
• Barberry Bloom

Petal Essence Face Accent ($24.00) (Limited Edition)

• Hibiscus

Pearl Essence Eye Definer ($16.00) (Limited Edition)

• Jade
• Wild Indigo

Availability: The collection will be available while supplies last in Aveda salons, spas and retail locations February 2013.

See more photos!

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda Art of Nature Collection for Spring 2013

Aveda @ Richard Chai NYFW Fall 2012

AVEDA was backstage creating the look at Richard Chai this past week. Hair styled by Frank Rizzieri and Kevin Ryan for Aveda at Richard Chai autumn winter 2012 show is inspired by Matt Dillon in Drugstore Cowboy and Chet Baker – well-groomed gets a tousle. “Richard’s collection incorporates disproportionate tailoring,” says Kevin Ryan. “The hair – like the clothing – is deconstructed. The overall style starts out looking very tidy, but the finish disturbs the original styling, like you’ve pulled a sweater off over your head.”

1. Section the hair from ear to ear at the flat of the crown, securing the bottom half with a clip.
2. Spray the top section from root to midshaft with a generous amount of Aveda Volumizing Tonic.
3. Blowdry the Tonic in the top section with a fine-toothed comb or Mason Pearson brush, creating lift at the root, up and away from the face and hairline.
4. Work Aveda Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay into the hair from root to mid-length with a Mason Pearson brush. Hair should be slightly textured throughout – use Aveda Air Control Hair Spray or Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion to add texture, if needed.
5. Follow with a quarter-sized dollop of Aveda Brilliant Humectant Pomade emulsified in the hands and raked in, using fingers to comb through.
6. Comb hair back and away from face with a side-parting on the left. Secure with clips and let set while finishing makeup.
7. Using a fine-toothed comb, reverse the style by combing forward for a tousled, random finish. Saturate the hair at the sides of the face with Brilliant Spray-On Shine and comb backwards, then run fingers through for added texture over the ear.

See more photos!

Shaun, aka The Tech Guy, aka my boyfriend, was wrangled into doing his take on a “gift guide.”  He’s twenty-nine with normal-to-dry skin and suffers from no more acne (much to my envy!).  He has no dedication whatsoever to his writing duties here on Temptalia, given his absence of years (or however long it’s been) but, thankfully, is more attentive to keeping the site alive and well.

Shaun enjoys long walks on the beach, vegging out on the couch watching chick flicks, and cuddling with Mellan. Or maybe not! He handles all the behind-the-scenes action here at Temptalia, from tech support to server woes.

Holiday Gift Guide: Guy’s Guide to Gifts

The key for shopping for a dude, at least this dude, is not buying him anything he doesn’t trust or hasn’t used. He will generally make it pretty clear what he likes or dislikes. If he wants an iPad or any other Apple product, he will have mentioned his love or want for said iPad, but if he falls into the Android camp, then he most likely despises Apple and everything they stand for. We like the brands we like, and we don’t always have a good reason for liking said brand. It worked in the past, why shouldn’t it continue to work?

Aveda Men Pure-formance Dual Action Aftershave ($35.00 for 2.5 fl. oz.) | I haven’t tried a lot of aftershaves, but I really like this one. I’ve been using it for a long time, and it has never run out; that might be because I shave once a month and usually look like I emerged from a cave to check if it’s time to harvest. This has a fresh scent and goes on very smooth, and more importantly, it doesn’t burn like you stuck your face in alcohol after a shave. Another benefit is that it moisturizes so you don’t have to slather two creams on your face if you are comfortable enough with yourself to moisturize.

MACH3 Catridges (price varies depending on brand/quantity) | These are literally the most expensive things on the planet. Every time I start to feel my face being ripped off while shaving, I have to have a debate with myself about whether or not I should change the blade. Generally, due to blood loss, I will yield and switch out the cartridge only to curse myself later. These are a great buy, because we hate buying them, so if we don’t have to look at the price it’s all the better.

Amazon Kindle ($79.00) | This thing sells itself these days, and if your man is somewhat of a reader it might be time to send him into the digital age with an E-Reader. The Kindle is ridiculously cheap and most people are hooked into Amazon one way or another.

Batman: Arkham City ($59.99) and/or Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ($59.99) | Ladies, let me tell you a little secret that will probably get me in trouble with men everywhere. If you want something and your man has been putting the kibosh on it, get him one of these games. Let them get addicted, and while they are playing, ask them for the aforementioned item. He’ll be so engrossed in the game that he’ll just grunt, thus giving you the approval to go obtain said item! Then when he asks about it later, just say he agreed to it while playing the game. He won’t be able to remember and you win! These games are both incredibly solid–Batman especially–just make sure that he doesn’t already own them. You’ll be able to tell if he has been holed up in front of a computer or TV for ridiculous amounts of time recently.

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Aveda lead stylist Odile Gilbert created a sleek and elegant gilded twist using Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener, Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine, and Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray at the Jason Wu Fall/Winter 2011 show.

“The Jason Wu hair for this season is elegantly chic—like a piece of art. The ends of the hair are coated in 24-karat gold leaf and shaped like a feather, echoing the gold accents and feathers from the collection.” — Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Hair How-to

• Apply Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener to damp hair, from roots to ends, to smooth hair and add shine. Create a center part using a fine-tooth comb and blow hair dry straight. Use a flat-iron for super sleek length.
• Create a ponytail at the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic. Spray Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray generously to keep hair in place.
• Coat the hair from roots to ends with Aveda Brilliant Retexturing Gel for a lustrous, polished look.
• Divide the ponytail in half and wind the two sections together to create a twist. Secure the twist with an elastic two to three inches above the ends and mist with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for hold.
• Pull the ends of the hair up to the back of the head so the twist loops at the neck. Use bobby pins to secure the bottom of the twist to the base—so the ends of the hair fan upwards. Add a layer of Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.
• Use a fine-tooth comb to coax the ends of the hair into a feather shape and set against the head using Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray. Very gently apply gold leaf to only to the shaped ends with fingers and spray liberally with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.
• Complete the look with a generous layer of Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine for a high gloss finish.

Q&A

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?
“Jason’s Baroque-meets-American-sportswear collection this season includes muted black, whites, and nudes highlighted by shots of antique gold, so we wanted to create something simple and elegant—with a touch of luxury.” — Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?
“To adapt this style for real life, create a sleek pony with Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine and twist into a bun at the nape of the neck, with ends fanning up the back of the head. Clip with a bright metallic barrette or hair pin to add a shot of glamour. Spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for a controlled and elegant finish.” — Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?
“My collection was inspired by Robert Polidori’s gorgeous photographs of the restoration of Versailles. I loved the juxtaposition between Versailles’ rough undersurface revealed during renovation and its opulent Baroque décor, so my clothing this season is a mix of luxuriously embellished fabrics and signature American sportswear. There are over fifteen types of laces, including a delicately falling leaf motif lace that I embroidered onto day and evening pieces and a gilded lace gown with black and white ‘gear’ palettes.” — Jason Wu

See more photos!

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011

Jason Wu @ NYFW Fall/Winter 2011