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Happy 3rd Blogiversary!

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Christine |


(And yes, those cupcakes were tasty!!)

Happy 3rd Blogiversary!

Three years ago, on October 3rd, 2006, the first post went live on Temptalia. In fact, 230 looks were posted on October 3rd–they span about a year’s worth of looks. Temptalia began as an archive for all of the makeup looks I was already doing previously. I would post them on the MAC Cosmetics Livejournal Community, but this way they were all in one place, easy to find and refer back to.

The very first review didn’t occur until October 21st, 2006, and it was a review on MAC’s Formal Black/Nocturnelle Collections — that’s holiday 2006, for those newer to MAC!  We have continued those reviews of the latest MAC collections to this day.

Can you believe in November 2006 we had less ten posts for the entire month? (September 2009 had 330!) It wasn’t until nearly a year later in September 2007 that the blog ramped up and started on the path that has led it to where it is today. In that same month, Temptalia published its first non-MAC review (Prescriptives’ 24 Hour Mascara), which truly marks the where the blog began to explore all brands and move beyond its original purpose.

It has evolved into a beauty lovin’ community; a place where we can share our favorites, our least favorites, and everything in between.  We discover new products together, anticipate the latest launches, and save each other from potentially disappointing purchases.  This is not just a blog to me; this is a part of me, this is my heart and my soul.  I breathe and live it and love every moment of it.

Let’s celebrate! Throughout the month of October (and likely part of November), Temptalia will be giving away over $3,500 in giveaways as our way of celebrating and saying thank you to all of you.  Stay tuned for a whole lotta fun!

To date, Temptalia has…

  • …received 180,635 Comments
  • …published 5,055 Posts
  • …written 825 Collection/Product Review-related Posts
  • …asked 731 questions under Temptalia Asks You
  • …created 697 Looks
  • …covered 150 Brands
  • …written 108 Tutorials

This is a day where I want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed and supported Temptalia.

To Readers: Every bookmark, every comment, every question, and every criticism has helped both me and the blog grow–as an individual, as a blogger, and as a blog. I started this when I was 20 and an undergraduate in college, and now I’m 23 and am a year and half away from getting my butt out of law/business school. I’m still young, but I’ve learned so much from all of you. I’ve become such a better person because of your kind words, your constructive suggestions, and your support. You all make Temptalia a dream come true; something I love to do, something that has given me a purpose.

To Family: My parents, sister, and all of my extended family — for your pride in my work, for your unwavering support in this endeavor. For pushing me when things get tough. For giddily recommending me to friends and coworkers and clients… who may not even know what lipgloss is. To my Dad who checks Temptalia to see how I’m doing. To my Mom who is always there to give me advice. To my sister who is currently working on the most tedious task to make the Temptalia archives cleaner. To my aunts and uncles and grandparents who dream even bigger dreams for me and drive me to find them.

To the Boy: For all of his knowledge and technical skills to keep Temptalia looking its best and running smoothly. There are so many things he does that are so essential to maintaining the blog that are invisible to the eye. But most of all, for all of the support he has given me. Through the tears and the smiles, the failures and the successes, he’s been there, every step of the way.

Thank you so much for all of your support throughout these past three years! It means more than I could ever tell you in words, and everyday I wake up and know that there’s this amazing community that I’m apart of and I’ve never felt happier.

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205 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Nicole Avatar
Nicole

I just want to say thank you for everything you do on your blog, the swatches you put up, the comments and just your inside look to all the products you post. You have helped me out soo much on products that I have gotten in the passed and the future to come.. you a amazing person and I love your blog, Thank you, Congrats and Best of luck xoxo

Glamcandy2

Honey Avatar
Honey

Congrats Christine! & may another three+ years to come! As always thanks for being the wonderful person you are and everything that you do! 🙂 you are apperciated! xoxo

Jessica Avatar
Jessica

Happy three years! Wooohoo! Your blog is amazing and very helpful! I don’t know what I’d do without your blog, your blog is my make-up bible, seriously! Thank you for everything, Christine! 🙂

Toni Avatar
Toni

Congratulations!!! Love your blog and appreciate all the wonderful pictures and swatches. Can’t buy anything without checking out Temptalia first. 🙂 PS. Are those Kara’s cupcakes? So yummy….!

Tara Avatar
Tara

Congrats on your 3rd year! Your site has become my encyclopedia on all things makeup. Thankyou for all the time and effort you put into this site – much appreciated by all the make up lovers around the world!

Lulee Avatar
Lulee

congratulations christine! i love this blog not only because it is insanely helpful (and bad for my wallet) but also because you seem like such a genuinely sweet person! many wishes for your site to grow and for you to have bigger and better opportunities!

Luv J Avatar
Luv J

Wooohoo!! Congrats Christine!! I wish you continued success and I do believe you have conquered the Beauty World! You deserve all the rewards of your hard work!

Luv J Avatar
Luv J

Oh and how could I forget to give “The Boy” some props! I wish you BOTH continued success! And yes, the men in our lives that make things easier for us — I just got my husband to depot a dozen mac shadows for me this weekend, equipped with ‘only’ a swiss army knife, no candles or alcohol or flat iron — much love to them! And hi Mellan!

Nadine Avatar
Nadine

Congrats on building Temptalia into such an influential force in the blogosphere! I can’t wait to enjoy the ride along with you as Temptalia grows. Honestly, I’m not a MAC fan but I easily spend hours on this site because of your clear swatches and detailed reviews of many brands.

Eunice Avatar
Eunice

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY~! i am absolutely head over heels in love with your site. i honestly don’t know what i’ll do without it 😛 i’ve become veeery dependent on it! congrats and thank you so much for creating such an amazing site!

Bettina Avatar
Bettina

Congrats and Happy Anniversary Christine! I may not have been a reader of this site for a long time, but it is easy to see what a great inspiration you are and the huge impact this site has made on many readers. You should be very proud of your accomplishments. Keep up the great work! 🙂

Daria Avatar
Daria

Congratulations Christine and Temptalia crew and supporters! You deserve all the luck for all the work you put in each day. It is such a nice break/treat to open your site each day and read all your different columns and ideas. As a loyal follower for a year, I wish you all the success in the following years. Keep it up!!!!

Nicci Avatar
Nicci

Congrats Christine! 🙂 you deserve it…keeping this blog running is so much hard work and a lot of time. You always have tons of new posts everyday. I have your page bookmarked & always check it out everday, especially during lunch time at work 🙂

Rosie Avatar
Rosie

Congratulations. Thank you for all the time and effort that you, your sister, boyfriend, helpers put into the website. You guys have a great thing here and I know I check it all the time and am grateful for your reviews and trust what you say. We all know you’re busy but still taking the time to post and share your love for makeup and experiences with products and tutorials means a lot. Your blog is awesome, keep it up :).

Nicole Avatar
Nicole

Congratulations on the success of your blog & Happy 3rd Blogiversary!!

I’m fairly new to your blog, but I love it already. I actually found out about your blog through other blogs. It’s amazing how much the blogging community is really close knit. Your site is amazing & I love your reviews. They’re really thorough & informative. Thank you very much!

I wish you much more success. 😀

XOXO

Tee Avatar
Tee

Happy Anniversary, Christine! My daily ritual goes something like this: Stumble out of bed, make coffee, plop in front of the computer, browse Temptalia when I should be working, LOL. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and enthusiasm. You inspire me with your great writing, too! Continued best wishes! 🙂

Kaleen Avatar
Kaleen

Congratulations Christine! You have such an amazing blog and so much to be proud of! I visit a couple times daily and am always excited to see all your great reviews, swatches and thoughts. You truly are a role model and I really appreciate the time and effort you put into all your work.

I wish you the best success in the upcoming years! I know there are more fantastic things to come. 🙂

Wendy Avatar
Wendy

I started reading your blog because of the great swatches you let us see and i have to say I rely on you more than sephora If that aint trust i dont know what is. Congrats and keep it coming.

jellynat Avatar
jellynat

Temptalia is my go-to beauty website when I need to know something about a new Mac product for example. You can be proud, this is a very good blog. Clean swatches, clear presentation, helpful and entertaining. There’s always something to read and I’ve discovered lots of new products on here, might it be through you or other girls’ experience. I hope you reach 5 years!

stef Avatar
stef

Congrats and happy blogiversary Christine! Thank you for creating such a wonderful and helpful blog. I discovered Temptalia a year ago and I’ve been a daily reader ever since.

Hinahon Avatar
Hinahon

Oh my god ! You’re only one year older than me !!
It’s kinda strange, to me you seemed older (but in a good way of course 😉 )
I just thought you’d be 3 / 4 years older than me 😮

Happy blog anniversary ! To many more!
Thank you for taking time to give us all those infos, just thanks for the amazing work you’re doing on this blog.

Cerydwen Avatar
Cerydwen

Congratulations Christine and thank you so much for your wonderful site – I look forward to my visit every day:)

It was heartwarming, too, to see that your family are all so involved in your endeavours – I wish you all the best for your ongoing successes!

Whitney Avatar
Whitney

Oh my gosh, happy blogiversary! CONGRATS CHRISTINE. 😀

Your website is so amazing– by far my favorite beauty blog. It’s just so well done, inspiring, informative, and just fun to look at lol. ^_^ I can’t imagine how much hard work it takes from everyone to keep this beauty up and running, so thanks to all of you! We all really appreciate it. 🙂

Christine Avatar
Christine

Hello there

THis is the first time i leave a comment but i just wanted to tell you your blog is certainly my number one resource for keepin in touch with the release of makeup collections and has been for the past 18 months now so keep up the good work . I’m French and of course as such am more interested in Guerlain and Dior 😉 Mayve you should consider developing a scent-related ( parfum) category ?
Greetings from Paris

Elle Avatar
Elle

I’m such a nerd tho I take my blackberry in with your website up. So I literally take you shopping with me. It drives regular cosmeticians nuts. However my MUAs are now asking me whats coming up and want to see the swatches or the comments. “Oh here she comes with her Blackberry again…..”

Cherie Avatar
Cherie

Congrats Christine! I read your blog every day and love, love, love it! Your swatches & reviews, along with the comments from the community you have built have helped me out so much. Thank you for everything you do and making my day brighter 🙂

Anitacska Avatar
Anitacska

Congratulations Christine, happy anniversary Temptalia! 🙂 I didn’t realise there were so many looks at the end of this blog, I never ventured that far back! How great!

Wishing you years of success to come both professionally and personally!

Anita

Nina Avatar
Nina

Congratulations for three wonderful years of blogging! Thanks for dedicating your time and effort in delighting us makeup junkies with your amazing swatches and product reviews! I wish you all the best and cheers to more years of blogging!

Roxanne Avatar
Roxanne

I feel like I’ve just finished watching The Notebook or something *sniff*

I’m so happy for you! You’re an incredibly kind and generous person. Beautiful inside and out.

Just promise me you’ll keep on doing what you do best, cupcake 🙂 Thanks to you (and to The Boy as well) for all you’ve taught me about makeup — and life in general.

xox

Summer B. Avatar
Summer B.

Christine…I absolutely ADORE you. Like…no joke. And I don’t adore very many things! LOL Seriously though, you are my GO-TO girl for everything, for swatches, for inspiration, for thoughts.
I cannot believe all that you have done, it’s just mind-boggling!!
Congratulations on all you’ve done, and Happy Birthday Temptalia!!! 🙂

Coloruza Avatar
Coloruza

Congratulations Christine! I’ve been with you since 2007 and I think I’ve looked at every post since then 🙂 You never cease to amaze me. Keep up the great work…here’s to 3 more years, and to making your blog the BEST beauty blog ever!

SarahT Avatar
SarahT

Congrats, Christine! Thanks for all that you do… I check your blog a couple of times a day and I’m so impressed with all the time and effort you put into it. Oh, and thanks for being such an enabler of my makeup addiction (my wallet is cursing you, LOL) 🙂

Killacakes Avatar
Killacakes

Oh, wow… I’m about to turn 20 and I feel like it’s going to be so long until something “great” happens. You know, like living proof of success. I’m very happy for you and the success of your blog (: You’ve inspired me. Maybe if I work hard enough I can be as successful as you in something. Hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to have it happen when I’m 23 (:

Congrats!

Christine Avatar
Christine
Light Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. View Christine Full Profile

That’s how I felt at 20, so hang on! So many great things happen to you in your 20s, and even though this is SO cheesy… going for your dreams helps 🙂

I have been very, very lucky and absolutely blessed. There are days that I can’t even believe where my life has gone!

Thank you!

Carolyn Avatar
Carolyn

Hi Christine, CONGRATULATIONS and a big thank you for running such an amazing site. You are my go-to site daily for my makeup needs. I love how informative as well as how polished your site looks! Thank you again!!!

Alexis Avatar
Alexis

YAY Happy Blogiversary! Blogs like yours keep me current with makeup colors and trends. It means a lot because I don’t always have the time or desire (surpising, i know) to go into the stores and to look at what’s new and going on with the makeup lines!

Congrats and I hope to see you around for another (plus more) 3 yrs!

Bettina Avatar
Bettina

It is funny that you know what’s comming out at the make up counters before the make up artists do. I know the girls at Sephora and at MAC and alot of times I’ll ask about something I’ve seen here and they all look at me dumbfounded LOL.

Christine I do go through your older looks alot and I get alot of ideas from them, but then my problem becomes that if I post a question in one of them, I never rememeber where I posted it so I can go check for an answer. HA ha!!

Brigitte Avatar
Brigitte

Congrats Christine!!! I’ve only been reading your blog for 10 months, but the whole time I have just come to rely and so greatly appreciate all that you do for the beauty community. What would we all do without you and this blog? An amazing three years and here’s to many more~!!! 😀

Melissa Avatar
Melissa

Your site is professional, yet accessible. Your reviews are detailed and fair and the pictures are done so well that they add immeasurable value to your postings. I consult your site before each online purchase – I’ve learned the hard way about jumping before checking your pics and opinions. Thank you for such a terrific resource and thank you for involving your readers so frequently. The recent posting about bad drugstore mascara is one such example. It’s great having that much reader input in one well-organized location. Congrats on your anniversary!!

Marcy Avatar
Marcy

Hi Christine, I have only started reading your blog a few weeks ago – but it has been fantastic and I check it every day 🙂 Congratulations on your milestone and keep up the good work!

CrystalS Avatar
CrystalS

Congratulations, Christine! Im so happy for you! Youve got such an amazing blog and put so much work into it!! I first found you through Pursebuzz, and WOW Im so glad I did. You have lovely swatches and the whole dish on whats new along with your honest opinion. What more could we ask for? I cant imagine life without Temptalia! 33

Kp7* Avatar
Kp7*

Congrats!!! I dont even remember how I came across ur website but ever since then Im hooked! 🙂 I have everyone at work hooked as well! From my sister-in-law to my friends! U do such a good job! I have to tell myself to step away from my computer or else I can be on ur site all day! In other words GREAT JOB!!!! Love it!!!

Cindy Avatar
Cindy

Congratulations!!

I wish I’d found you sooner. This is definitely one of the best – if not the best – beauty blog out there. You’re so helpful, friendly, and professional. You cover a wide range of products, do AWESOME swatches, great looks, update often, talk like an intelligent adult, and give honest, clear reviews.

Some bloggers have developed habits that have made me unsubscribe, and I’m SO happy that you haven’t fallen into that trap. You don’t act like MAC is the only brand anyone should use, never talk down to your readers, never act resentful of requests or the need to update, and never come across as gloating over your hauls or collection.

I haven’t been around your blog long enough to know if you do this full time or if it’s on top of a day job, but either way the frequent updates and wide range of topics is great. I’m sure it takes a lot of time and work to maintain a wuality site like this.

You really are fantastic. Thanks for all the hard work!

Cindy

Christine Avatar
Christine
Light Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. View Christine Full Profile

Thanks, Cindy! Your words are too much!!

You want to tell me all those bad habits so I can make sure NOT to fall into the trap?? LOL!

The job is, essentially, full-time in terms of how much time I spend on it (easily 40-60 hours), but I’m technically a full-time JD/MBA student.

Thanks again!

Rachel Avatar
Rachel

I think the beauty companies owe you a big thank you because without your site, I would not have known about or purchased so many great products! Instead of cluelessly wandering up to the mac counter, I go in with purchases in mind since reading your site! I lost interest in makeup for awhile, but after finding your site in my search for info on what the deal was with the whole Mac/Hello Kitty thing, I’ve been hooked again! this site is like a fun encyclopedia with an endless array of things to learn 🙂 Thanks for doing what you do!!

Lizet Luna Avatar
Lizet Luna

Muchas felicitaciones Cristine… espero que sea el 3o. de muchos más, aunque no hace mucho que te descubri, me he vuelto seguidora fiel tuya y sabes que lo que haces me encata, y te ves genial con la mayoria de los looks… Un abrazote y mil felicitaciones por este blog, que es de lo mejor que la web nos permite…
Desde Mexico muchos XOXOXO…
Liz.

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