Temptalia

Sponsored: Fenty Beauty Fenty Fam Sale September 2023 | Editor's Recommendations

Christine — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:30:00 +0000

The Fenty Beauty’s Fenty Fam Sale is here! Temptalia readers get early access to the sale today, September 20th through September 21st, plus it’ll be the biggest discount of the event if you shop during early access.

Get early access and 30% off with code TEMPTALIA30 — if you’re shopping the sale, make sure to do it while this code is active, as the public sale will only be 25% off (which goes from September 22nd through September 25th). On September 22nd only, you can also get 20% off Fenty’s Eau de Parfum, which is the only time it’ll be available at a discount during the sale.

You can get even more savings when you shop the brand’s pre-made bundles and sets, which are already discounted to reflect a bundled price. The 30% off also applies to products already on sale. The only exclusions are: CLF products, gift cards, Fenty Faves, and Eau de Parfum.” The sale includes Fenty Skin products, too, which recently released fragrance-free options.

Come Correct Skin Perfecting Bundle ($67, $81 value)
Soft Matte Complexions Essentials ($86, $110 value)
Fenty Skin Start’rs Full-Size Bundle ($86, $101 value)
Fenty Skin Body Start’rs Bundle ($78, $92 value)

Have you ever wondered what the brand’s bestsellers were? Here’s a list!

Editor’s Recommended

Below, you’ll find my favorite Fenty Beauty products from products I’ve reviewed in the past and gave an “Editor’s Recommended” nod to when the review was originally published! I also shared a few of my favorite formulas, generally.

Fenty Beauty RiRi

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Fenty Beauty RiRi Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer ($21.00 for 0.3 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and fine, barely-there... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Riri

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Fenty Beauty Riri Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium-dark, pinky-mauve with subtle, warm undertones and cooler,... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Strawberry Sangria

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Fenty Beauty Strawberry Sangria Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, medium red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Wine (9)

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Fenty Beauty Wine (9) Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette ($25.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a new, limited edition release that includes three matte... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Retro Rose

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Fenty Beauty Retro Rose Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.098 oz.) is a light-medium coral with moderate, warm undertones and fine,... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Vamps Who Brunch

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Fenty Beauty Vamps Who Brunch Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.098 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with subtle, cool undertones and... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Scholar Sista

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Fenty Beauty Scholar Sista Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.134 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with moderate, warm yellow undertones and a satin... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Cool Berry

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Fenty Beauty Cool Berry Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with cool undertones and a warmer, golden... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny

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Fenty Beauty Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo ($34.00 for 0.24 oz.) contains highlighters in soft, peach-brown and... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Chocolate

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Fenty Beauty Chocolate Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer ($32.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a rich, deeper brown with muted, warm yellow undertones and a satin... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin'

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Fenty Beauty Petal Poppin' Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium pink with moderate, warm undertones and fine, golden... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Fuego Flush

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Fenty Beauty Fuego Flush Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, tangerine orange with strong, warm yellow undertones and... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Strawberry Drip

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Fenty Beauty Strawberry Drip Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral with moderate, warm... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Toffee Tease

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Fenty Beauty Toffee Tease Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($32.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a deep brown with muted, cool undertones and a natural finish. It... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Fu$$y

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Fu$$y is a muted, medium pink with warmer undertones and a luminous finish with fine pearl and a high-shine. The texture felt lightweight, smooth,... Read full review.

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Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (Universal)

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Fenty Glow (Universal) is a muted, medium coral with strong, warm orange undertones and a pearly finish paired that was very shiny and glossy. The... Read full review.

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Favorite Formulas

Below, you’ll find my favorite formulas from Fenty Beauty and some of the top-rated shades within each formula. It should come as no surprise that the Cheeks Out Cream Blushes top my list–really a category that I’ve been waiting for a brand to fill with something fantastic, and Fenty did it!

I also keep a few of Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Highlighters (duos or singles) in my drawer of go-tos. Afternoon Snack/Mo’ Hunny and Wattabratt are two I’ll use for something quick ‘n’ easy for review photos, and they’ve been in my vanity drawer since they launched (you can read more about them in my Must-Haves from 2020).

I’ve repurchased the original Fenty Gloss Bomb a few times at this point, and it’s been a favorite for awhile (see Must-Haves That Stayed Favorites from 2018!). I keep one in my bag as well as in my vanity for easy, on-the-go application that’s shiny, comfortable, and has a bit of dimension (but goes with any look).

Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain

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The formula is supposed to have a glossy finish that leaves a "soft tint" behind while being hydrating, feather-resistant, and offers "sheer-to-medium coverage." It has a a thinner, more watery texture initially, which developed to something smoother and plusher without being too tacky. This helped the product stay in place and be bleed/feather-resistant while having longer-wear, but it was still comfortable to wear. Read more...

Top Rated Shades

Mai Type

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Strawberry Sangria

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Zesty Bestie

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Berry Banger

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Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush

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The formula is supposed to give a "fresh wash of color" that is "effortless" to blend with a "natural-looking" finish. The coverage is designed to be "sheer, buildable" with a "sweat- and water-resistant formula." The brand recommends to apply with fingertips or their 125 brush (which is a fairly dense, angled brush). Read more...

Top Rated Shades

Drama Class

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Riri

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Crush on Cupid

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Strawberry Drip

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Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer

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The formula is supposed to have "long-wear" that is "transfer-resistant," "easy to blend, and "light-as-air" with buildable coverage that "is hard to overdo." The pigmentation was more medium to semi-opaque with some shades being nearly opaque in a single layer. For truly buildable pigmentation, I would recommend using a light hand initially or a less-dense brush to pick up and to apply the product. Read more...

Top Rated Shades

Coco Naughty

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Shady Biz

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I$land Ting

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Bajan Gyal

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Fenty Beauty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick

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The formula is supposed to have "sheer" coverage that is "ultra comfortable" that "lock[s] in moisture." It's designed to be something you can apply without a mirror (which just really make it clear that it is a sheerer product), but it does say "buildable" with multiple layers. The consistency was moderately dense in the tube but melted subtly as I applied it to my lips, and it felt more emollient after a few seconds of wear. They felt lightweight without being tacky, and it had more of a light-medium level of slip, so it didn't seem to slide around a lot during wear. It definitely has a balmy feel on the lips but has some staying power (but less than say, an opaque, satin lipstick). Read more...

Top Rated Shades

Retro Rose

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Cookies and Cocoa

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Bubblerum

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Goji Gang

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Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer

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The formula is supposed to have a “peach-vanilla” scent (I’d agree–sweet, lightly fruity) and be “conditioning.” It was designed to be worn alone or layered over other lip products. The consistency was very smooth, light-to-medium in weight, non-sticky, and comfortable to wear. It had a plusher consistency that helped it stay out of most of my lip lines. The shimmer was moderate but noticeable, and it distributed evenly across the lips. They last about three hours on my lips but are hydrating.

Top Rated Shades

RiRi

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Fu$$y

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Diamond Milk

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Sweet Mouth

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Sponsored: Fenty Beauty Fenty Fam Sale September 2023 | Editor's Recommendations

Fostering Saves More than One Life

Christine — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 23:16:33 +0000

I’ve found renewed purpose in life by volunteering my time with my local animal rescue, and it is something that I’ve really invested myself into in a way that I don’t think I’ve done in anything in years and years. As I wrote in my open letter last month, volunteering helped me tremendously to work my way out of a very difficult period in my life to something more manageable, a place where I could feel and find joy again. I could not have anticipated the profound impact it has had in brightening my life and giving me something to be passionate about again.

Whether working with a local animal rescue appeals to you or not, I definitely wanted to write about my experiences volunteering and encourage readers to consider ways to volunteer within their communities for nonprofits and organizations that to do resonate them. There are often numerous ways to volunteer for an organization that make opportunities accessible for many–in rescue, it could be helping coordinate events, transporting animals, making decor for an event at home, or helping with laundry, in addition to more typical ways to volunteer.

The ADORABLE models for the ColourPop x Best Friends photoshoot are my fosters from the Liqueurs’ litter! They are going to be adoptable beginning September 16th at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ. If you’re interested in meeting one of the 11 Liqueur pups, you can make an appointment to see them in advance.

I have been fostering and volunteering on-site primarily for Almost There Rescue (ATR), which is a non-profit mom and pups rescue in Phoenix, Arizona, since July 2022. They focus on taking in orphaned puppies, pregnant and nursing moms with puppies, and are truly dedicated to their mamas and ensuring they find their forever homes. I had someone mention them to me once, and they popped up again when I looked through the Best Friends Animal Society network partners. This is a great starting point for readers who might be interested in finding a local organization to volunteer for as they have programs across the US but an extensive number of network partners.

I know of Best Friends as a result of the long-time collaboration between ColourPop and Best Friends Animal Society, where they’ve released a product annually that donates all net profits to Best Friends, which is what the Liqueur pups have posed with (hello, beauty tie-in! this post is now beauty-related!). The Best Friends organization works with communities to provide support and/or resources with a goal of making every shelter and community no-kill by 2025. One critical component of achieving this goal is by increasing the number of fosters available in communities, especially now when so many shelters and county facilities are overflowing with pets.

When you foster, you free up a kennel space for a dog or cat, and then you can be part of that animal’s journey to adoption, which might include teaching them to trust a human or simply giving them a softer place to decompress for a bit. Many rescues provide all of the resources you need to foster (from crates to food to medical care), while you provide them a temporary home and lots of love!

Bamba

My first fostering experience was a two-week stint with Bamba and Ozzie (same litter but wildly different outcomes!), and it was… a lot. It didn’t help that I ended up breaking my hand early on in that two-week period, so poor hubby had to step up and help a lot more than he anticipated. The silver lining was that while my hand was healing, I ended up doing orientation to volunteer on-site, which is kind of a big thing for me because I am a homebody by choice. I’m so thankful that the folks at ATR have been so welcoming, helpful, and passionate about what they were doing, because they created an environment that always made me comfortable about being there, asking questions, and coming back.

Ozzie

I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered almost every morning! Visiting with puppies early in the morning just smoothed out every harsh edge I had. They’re so young and exuberant, and they’re endlessly optimistic and happy-go-lucky. There were moments where I would sit on the floor with a lap full of puppies and just feel all the stress leave my body. They made it easy to keep my attention and focus on them, which ensured I was actively in the moment rather than worrying about something ahead or what things I needed to do that day.

Maleficent + Prince Philip

In late October 2022, I managed to persuade my husband to try fostering again, and this time we took on Maleficent and Prince Philip for three weeks. It went a lot better–they were younger than our first two fosters–but we were definitely exhausted by the end of the three weeks and ready to return them I continued to volunteer on-site but when ATR put out an emergency call for bottle baby fosters right before New Year’s Eve, I signed up and took on my first bottle baby fosters, which were one-day old cleft palate puppies. Unfortunately, Lorax and Max did not make it despite all the love and care they could ask for; there were five cleft palate puppies in that litter and only one survived (and was adopted by her foster).

This is really what turned the corner on fostering for me, because I realized that working with newborn puppies called to me in a way that the “older” puppies did not. Even though my first bottle babies did not make it, I knew it was something I wanted to do again. It led to me fostering a pregnant mama, Brisket, and her eventual nine puppies, aka the Steaklets. I witnessed the birth of every single pup! I assisted! I ensured each one took their first breath, was cleaned up, and was warm. I got so lucky with Mama Brisket, because she was pulled from the county shelter and we didn’t really know anything about her behavior–she was incredibly friendly, sweet, and even potty-trained.

Steaklets

It was also during the fostering of the Steaklets that we ended up using a spare room as the “mutternity suite.” This made fostering so, so much easier for hubby and I, since we work from home. It allowed us to walk around the main areas without disturbing the puppies and also minimized any noise when one of us was trying to work. I spent hours watching the Steaklets, and I loved getting to be there for their milestones: eyes opening, hearing for the first time, wobbly first steps, and all the delightful newborn puppy sounds and smells. I learned so much about dog pregnancy, newborns, and puppy raising!

The Steaklets (and Mama Brisket) stayed with me until the pups were six weeks old, and then they all went to their next fosters as ATR adopts out their puppies at 10-weeks (and after they’ve been spayed/neutered). Shortly after the Steaklets, I fostered four of the Yoga Poses pups, which were five-day old bottle babies. They’re still some of the most special pups I’ve fostered–the hardest to let go for sure–and I had to let them go at eight-weeks old for fear we might fail!

Yoga Poses

In fact, I was so worried we’d fail, I ended up getting three new foster pups the day after the Yogis went to their new fosters to fill the void! They were the Fabulous Ones, named after Queer icons, who were with us for a few weeks before being adoptable. I wish I could say that I gave my poor hubby the break he very much wanted, but next thing you know, I brought home eight, six- or seven- week old cattle dog puppies, which some might know as the Bluey pups. They were absolutely chaotic!! Thankfully, I only committed to a week to help another rescue have more time to figure out long-term fosters for them. I don’t think I would have made it another week!

Freddie (Fabulous Ones)

That leads me to my current fosters, which are the Liqueur pups (photographed in the slideshow at the beginning of the post)! (How cute are they with their Best Friends and ColourPop gear? They’re gonna be famous models now!) Despite my husband saying “never again” to a mama and her pups, we brought home Bailey and her 11 (!!) pups when they were five days old. I kept all 11 pups for six weeks, and then I’ve gradually downsized my group to five as of this past week, and hopefully, they’ll be sweet babies so I can enjoy them until their adoption date, September 16th. It is so rewarding to watch them blossom, gain confidence, and know that they’re going to find their forever homes in just a couple of weeks.

It is always sad to see them go, but it is a happier moment to know that they’ve been given a good head start to their lives and ready to become amazing dogs to their lucky families. People always ask how I don’t keep them all, but the reality is that I can’t keep them all, even if I wanted to Ultimately, I focus on being able to do more good for more dogs by being a regular foster, and that is infinitely easier when I don’t have lots of my own pets at home. Besides, Winnie has enough energy for five dogs!

Sambuca (Liqueurs)

I’ve fostered 40 puppies/dogs in 2023 alone, and there’s still time to foster a few more before the year is up! I hope what I’ve shared might encourage even one person to sign up for volunteer orientation or fill out a fostering application. For me, it has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but I’ve also learned a lot about a topic/area I didn’t know as much about, meet and make friends (as an adult who works from home, this is a huge win), and grow so much as an individual.

The ADORABLE models for the ColourPop x Best Friends photoshoot are my fosters from the Liqueurs’ litter! They are going to be adoptable beginning September 16th at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ. If you’re interested in meeting one of the 11 Liqueur pups, you can make an appointment to see them in advance.

Amarula (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Campari (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Fireball (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Pimms (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Sambuca (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Amarula (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Campari (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Fireball (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Pimms (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Sambuca (Liqueurs) - Adoptable 9/16 at Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

An Open Letter to Old Friends and a New Chapter

Christine — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:09:42 +0000

There are not enough words to convey how thankful I am to have had so many dear readers frequent Temptalia over the last 17 years. There have been times where all of you have kept me going and moments where even just the kind words of a single reader was enough to make my whole day. I have to send a special shoutout to the readers of Temptalia’s Discord who have been there for me over and over again in an extra special way. The trajectory of my life is the result of all of your support and continued readership; I cannot overstate how much my life has been enriched by Temptalia on the whole nor how much this endeavor has positively impacted my family and extended family.

I do not know where I would be without Temptalia. It gave me a job that I never imagined but found deeply fulfilling for almost 13 years, when not enough people get the opportunity to love the job that they do. It is what has made so many achievements in my life possible. I’m so proud of what I’ve done on Temptalia and how it has shaped the person I am today. I am a better person because of all of you. I am forever thankful for having the support of so many people in the community from readers to brands to my family that have made it as successful as it has been.

It is time for me to confess that for the last four years, I have struggled mentally, and this year is really the first where I’ve started to feel closer to normal. I lost a lot of my passion for Temptalia in late 2019, and when you’re entire life revolves around one thing that you love and you no longer love it… that really does a number on your mental health. It took me awhile to even realize that falling out of love with Temptalia and not having another outlet that really brought joy was the source of destruction of my mental state.

I worked 80+ hours a week on Temptalia without fail, but it often did not feel like work. I felt like I had a dream job, loved what I did, felt fulfilled by it, while it all supported my family. I’ve always been someone who tends to have only a few interests, and I’m still that way (0/10, do not recommend) despite trying to discover or cultivate other interests. The reality is that those 80+ hours a week that used to bring me joy started to bring me misery because I didn’t enjoy it any more, and it worsened as I pushed through and did everything I always did, just without the joy.

For awhile, the feeling that I would let readers down by taking a step back sustained me and kept me going enough to get it all done, and I felt like the love would be rekindled eventually, so I’d push through. It’s not like every single day for the last 17 years was the Best Day Ever, but even during times where I had more on my plate between the blog and personal life, I could get through tough weeks or months.

By early 2020, I spent most days on the verge of a nervous breakdown; I felt like I was ready to burst into tears all of the time, and I wasn’t managing my emotions well. There were other things going on in my personal life, too, that contributed to a heightened level of anxiety, and they were things that I needed to get through but couldn’t really “change” or offset. It was at this point that I started recognizing that I couldn’t live with that much anxiety, and I did reach out and start taking anti-anxiety medication, which was a massive help to manage that anxiety and get “through” the rest of the year. It gave me clarity at just how far I had let my mental health get away from me.

Magellan

Then, Magellan passed away, which has been the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me (which does make me pretty fortunate, all things considered). It was my first real, intimate loss and experience with grief. I actually felt like I had so much closure that I was sad about his passing but I had no regrets; Mellan was just such a huge part of our lives that his lack of presence was still something that took a long time to process and work through. Do you know how inconvenient it is to be someone who tests eye makeup but tears up 10 times during the day?!

Winston

When Winnie entered our lives a few months after, he helped me center my attention and brought out feelings of joy again. He was a new hobby, allowing me to pour energy into him as I trained him, watched him grow up, and bonded with him. He was NOT an easy puppy to raise (turns out, Mellan was basically a perfect puppy and Winnie was more like 7/10 difficulty-level puppy), but he is the most affectionate and cuddly dog I’ve ever been around, so he always made it (and still makes it) worth it

In early 2022, with Winnie being able-bodied and youthful, I begged my husband to let me try fostering puppies for a local rescue. I’ve always wanted to foster, but so many dogs always tried to attack Mellan (even though he was dog-friendly!) that I did not feel comfortable doing so. My husband relented, and I had my first pair of foster puppies and promptly broke my hand within 24 hours of having them–of course, I didn’t realize it was broken until a few weeks after I did so. Obviously, this meant no fostering, so I started volunteering on-site at the rescue for the next several months. I’d go almost every morning for an hour or two. My heart felt lighter, my mood was higher, and I realized just how much I was missing from the last couple of years.

Between having limited mobility in my left hand (and my right hand was already in a state of chronic pain from overuse) and realizing what fulfillment felt like again, I decided to make some changes on Temptalia that would help minimize the stress on my hands as well as reduce some of the time spent on getting things done on the blog. These were changes like bullet-style lists (which readers actually loved) rather than trying to write the same sentence over and over again in slightly different ways, allowing me to enter dupes as I could rather than pushing beyond my pain thresholds, and reducing the number of images I took and had to edit.

It was also in this period of time that I recognized that I had been in some stage of burnout, just in general, for years and so I knew that I had to allow myself to make bigger changes, even if it would upset some readers, in an effort to try to move forward without breaking myself down in the process. Those changes have helped tremendously, as I used to be in a constant state of pain and soreness with my hand and now only have that after a particularly long photographing/editing session. One day of pain in a week instead of all seven days with little to no reprieve was well worth making changes!

As you might expect from someone capable of living in a perpetual state of burnout for four years, it is difficult to make changes, and I have always found it difficult to do them on the sly. I find I have to say it loudly so I actually hold myself accountable to those changes, which is why I will be officially transitioning away from working on Temptalia full-time to part-time over the next few months. I need to make it official so I’ll actually do it, which will give me time and space to figure out what that looks and feels like. After going at full-speed for almost 17 years, it will be an adjustment to navigate what easing off actually means.

Freddie can’t believe I’m going to work less on purpose (he was one of my fosters)

You might not see any immediate changes as I have about six weeks of content already written but likely by Temptalia’s 17th birthday (October 2023), changes will be felt. I’m currently going to see how many posts per day makes more sense and how I want to approach the mix of brands/products I review. I’m hoping to have more time to just play with some of the makeup I have. That being said, if there are particular aspects of the site that you would be loathe to lose, I’d love to hear it as we consider archiving certain aspects of the site that we feel are non-essential and/or underutilized to help button things up and streamline parts of the site overall. This is not the end, it’s just me turning the page to the next chapter

I’m hopeful that I can rekindle my love for what I do here while giving myself more time to embrace and seek out the paths that currently bring me joy. Those paths include volunteering more, continuing to foster, and spending more time with my family. Fostering and volunteering with my local rescue has felt like it has saved me from the gaping chasms that felt like they were going to swallow me whole, and it has made it clear that in life, acts of service for others brings me the greatest sense of joy and fulfillment. It wasn’t a love for makeup but a love for helping readers love their purchases more that fulfilled me for so many years in the past. Now, I am going to embrace what has given me a sense of purpose in life and see where that path takes me.

The Yoga Poses (bottle baby fosters)

Finally, I am incredibly privileged to have a partner in life, my husband Shaun, who has been a pillar of support for over two decades, and is truly everything that I could have ever asked for in partner. Without him, I would not have even had a chance of getting through the last few years (especially because no one else would put up with, nor appreciate, my grim humor). It is also thanks to his genius that we have built successful sites outside of Temptalia over the last decade (I help to manage those), which have given me the luxury of choosing a different path forward. He is the best, and I love him to the end of the universe!

Thank you for letting me share what’s been weighing on me these last few years as I finally feel like I’m in the right place to be vulnerable, share that vulnerability, and move forward in a meaningful way. I’m looking forward to make these changes and opening myself up to what is ahead!

Love & Lipgloss, Christine

Adoptle: Guess the adoptable pet's name in six guesses or less!

Christine — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 23:56:18 +0000

Start of the game!

I’m excited to introduce something that I’ve been working on with the Temptalia team to bring this concept to life! We just launched Adoptle, which is a quick game where you have six guesses to figure out the name of that day’s adoptable pet. Each day, at 9PM PT/midnight ET, a new, adoptable pet will be featured and you can play again to see if you can guess their name in six guesses or less. You can head over to play Adoptle here or keep reading to learn more about it.

If you’ve played Wordle, or any of its many variations, it should look somewhat familiar. Adoptle features a flexible grid, so the answers range from four to eight letters, and we’ve made it so you can guess shorter words than the answer’s length, if desired. So if you want to use ADIEU as your starting word, you still can, even if the answer is longer than five letters!

How to play

You have six guesses to figure out the correct answer, which will the name of the adoptable dog or cat of the day. The name could be a regular word, say Biscuit, or it could more commonly used as a name, like Martin. When you get a letter in the correct position, it will highlight with teal. When you get a letter that is in the answer, but not in the correct position, it will highlight olive. Any letters that are not in the answer will go gray. There is also a dark mode available for those who prefer that display setting.

Example of adoptable pet (not today’s answer!)

Whether you get it wrong or right, after you’ve made your six guesses, you’ll see the day’s adoptable pet. Noodle, above, was one of our test doggos that we used during development, but you can view his adoption page!

We’re currently highlighting animals from shelters around the United States, nearer to major cities (like Phoenix, Los Angeles, etc.). In my dream world, we’ll be able to later fill an archive of Adoptles that have been adopted. We are also looking to work with specific shelters and rescues that are doing particularly good work in the space and to highlight animals that are special needs, seniors, or have just been waiting for their fur-ever home for a very long time.

Try Hard Guides is hubby’s third gaming website (the other two were acquired), and it’s something that I’ve been working on part-time as well, which has been new and exciting for me to be part of the start of the journey (Temptalia is a well-oiled machine at this point, it’s old hat!). It’s also been interesting working more closely with Shaun, my husband, on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes we joke that we’ve been together a lot longer than 17 years since we have been in each other’s pockets for almost 15 of those years (living together, working from home, working together, etc.).

I’ve always loved word puzzles and games–I used to burn through logic puzzle grids, word searches, and unscrambling games (I miss you Yahoo! Word Racer). Hubby and I even met playing a game of unscrambling words and sentences in a chat room over 20 years ago. Even now, I enjoy games that don’t require a lot of commitment or time, where you don’t have to grind through levels or spend 20 hours to beat the game. I hope you’ll indulge me when I do some cross-promotion from time to time as this has been a fun and creative outlet for me.

Concludle: Come concludle your noodle!

Christine — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 19:49:54 +0000

You’ve probably heard of Wordle by now, and you’ve probably come across at least one variation on it as well… and hubby and I have been pondering about some sort of easy-to-play, guessing-style game, which we have now launched! We call it Concludle.

It’s a blend of trivia, guessing, and quickplay; each day, you’ll have up to six clues to guess the day’s answer. For example, the category for today’s answer is Food, and the first clue is “the name of this food item is 12 letters in length and one word.” You can enter a guess or get the next clue, and hopefully, you can figure out the day’s answer by the sixth clue! We hope you find it fun and different enough from the fun and popular Wordle to come back daily to see if you can keep up a winning streak.

And why yes, yes, I go around the house sing-songing “concludle your noodle but don’t ask your poodle!”

Play Concludle!

Concludle: Come concludle your noodle!

Temptalia

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Swatches

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Bad Bride

Chromewrecker

Moon Dunez

Cute Ting

Lady Lagoon

Grillz

Puppy Eyez

She a Problem

Purple Stuff

Bank Tank

Cherry Punk

Sea About It

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Navy or Die

In Big Truffle

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Cuz I'm Black

Space Cookie

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Makeout Break

Goji Gang

Tang Thang

Bubblerum

Retro Rose

Cookies and Cocoa

Vamps Who Brunch

Glazed

Adoptle: Guess the adoptable pet's name in six guesses or less!

Concludle: Come concludle your noodle!