Since we looked at pewter last week, I thought that we should focus on taupe this week, because it’s an equally complex and interesting color. I love how it can run warm and cool-toned (or even nearly neutral), so it’s a very versatile shade to work with. Check back tomorrow for my top five picks on cool taupes as well! 🙂 I’d love to hear about your personal favorites in the commments–always looking for suggestions!
- MAC Tailor Grey — a subtly warm-toned, gray-taupe in cream form
- theBalm #19 — a light-medium, golden taupe
- Makeup Geek Moondust — a dark, bronzy taupe
- Giorgio Armani #09 — a brightened, medium-dark golden taupe
- Edward Bess Dusk — a deepened, warm taupe
>> See side-by-side swatches! <<
We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!
Next up, here are five blushes to consider if you have a medium skin tone. I tried to include different price points, finishes, and undertones, but there are so many blushes available, there are many more worth trying. I’m a firm believer that we can wear whatever we desire, whether or not it is supposedly “suitable” on us or not–there’s no harm in trying 🙂 Please share any suggestions in the comments!
- theBalm Cabana Boy — a medium-dark, cool-toned plum with a satin finish
- Kevyn Aucoin Neolita — a rich, berry-red with a satin finish
- Makeup Geek Summer Fling — bright pop of orange with a matte finish
- Clinique Peach Pop — a pink-coral with warm undertones and a luminous sheen
- Tom Ford Love Lust — a brightened, coral with a frosted finish
>> See side-by-side swatches! <<
We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!
theBalm Read My Lips Lipgloss
Read My Lips lip glosses feature a wide range of shades that make a statement without saying a word. “Smart-mouthed” takes on a new meaning with this unique formula fortified with ginseng, a powerful antioxidant known for its mentally stimulating properties. Features: Read My Lips have a non-tacky, medium to high pay off. They contain Ginseng and Green Tea extracts, known for their energizing properties. They are also formulated with Aloe, a powerful moisture-binding humectant.
Read My Lips Lipgloss ($15.00)
- Boom!
- Va Va Voom!
- Ka-Bang!
- Snap!
- Pop!
- Bam!
- Grrr!
- Zaap!
- Pow!
- Hubba Hubba!
- Wow!
Availability: Now at theBalm
Do you go bolder or subtler during the summer for your blush? I find it just depends on whether I’ve reached for brighter lip colors or not; if I go bright on the lips, I usually go quite light on the cheeks and vice versa. Here are some of my current recommendations if you’re in the market for a fun, pink-hued blush this summer:
- YSL Fuchsia Desinvolte (01) — a fuchsia pink that can be applied as a light stain or as a deep blush (bonus: works well on lips, too!0)
- theBalm Down Boy — a cool-toned, light-medium pink with a mostly matte finish
- Clinique Berry Pop (03) — cool-toned, raspberry pink with a luminous finish
- MAC Lovecloud — a light-medium, warm-toned pink
- Milani Bella Rosa (11) — a vibrant, pink-red with a matte finish
>> See them all side-by-side! <<
What are your favorites?
theBalm Eyeshadow Pans
If there’s anything to be learned from reviewing 44 eyeshadows individually, it is that even a “single” formula can vary! I wish theBalm Eyeshadows performed more consistently and consistently better, as when all the ratings were averaged, the overall rating was a B. I feel like the brand’s eyeshadows are better than that, particularly in some of their past palettes as well as the Shady Lady singles. There were certainly high quality, high performing shades in the range, but there were far too many Cs and below. Due to the very limited distribution (you can only purchase through their boutique, so while anyone can place an order via phone, it’s hard to test for yourself), it’s a real bummer that they weren’t better overall. The majority of the range has a softer, more muted vibe to the colors–nothing really too bright or bold or rich–and a few of those more contrasting, richer shades would have been much welcomed. There were far too many variations on gold and beige that were just marginally different, so there was room for shades with bolder qualities.
By Rating:
- As: #4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 17, 18, 21, 24, 30, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42
- Bs: #1, #3, 11, 12, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 35, 39, 44
- Cs: #13, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 43
- Ds: #8
- Fs: #2, 15
theBalm has said that some of the shades are ones that have been released in palettes, but there’s no list of which number lines up with which shade, so here’s a list of the new singles and their closest matches within theBalm family (including a few within the 44 shades that are very similar)…
Coverage
