National Day of Service

Happy MLK Day!

I was just finished up  a community service project with my sorority sisters to commemorate the national day of service when I started thinking of ways to challenge makeup lovers to get involved and potentially devote themselves to a cause through a shared love of cosmetics.  

Coincidentally, one of the easiest ways is to continue to buy makeup. 

M.A.C.

Whenever you buy a MAC Viva Glam lipstick know that the proceeds are going towards funding help for men, women and children who are affected by HIV and AIDS. 

These lipsticks come in six permanent shades (Viva Glam I-VI) with a number of supplemental limited edition shades that are often endorsed by celebrities. 

The most admirable part of this program is that MAC keeps no percentage of the money spent, but that 100% of the $15 retail price goes to the cause itself through the MAC Aids Fund. 

Radiant Cosmetics

This line of makeup is meant to raise funds to stop human trafficking in developing nations. 

- Our mission is to help garner awareness for human trafficking by raising funds through cosmetics, to provide resources for those on the forefront of change, as well as victims of trafficking.

Unlike M.A.C. the proceeds from every product in the Radiant Cosmetics brand are devoted to this cause. Buy a lipstick, or a shadow, or a liner and know that your money is going  to a good cause.  

Don't just wear makeup, 

Rock it. 

Foundation Review: Revlon Nearly Naked

Revlon has released a new foundation system called 'Nearly Naked,' that includes the liquid foundation, a setting powder, and some other products new to the line. 

The foundation itself gives off a very light to light/medium coverage as well as a very dewey finish on most skin types. I almost want to compare the coverage to that of a BB cream.

 Its very much the same kind of consistancy except it lacks the beneficial anti-aging, priming and 'magical perfecting' ingredients. 

Its best for people who don't have serious blemishes but just want to even out their skin tone, at which point why not a BB cream? 

However when you add in the decently pigmented setting powder it really does add the extra needed coverage. 

All in all, very good products when used together.

Don't just wear makeup, 

Rock it. 

NYX The Curve Liquid Eyeliner

The new Curve Liquid eye lining system has been spotted in Bartell's (like CVS) and Walgreens store locations. 

This liner features a thin and precise felt tip applicator that is quite a bit longer than most other liquid lining pens that is slimmer as it towards the tip and becomes thicker as it connects to the barrel, which is meant to fit into the contours of your hand. 

The point is to make creating a seamless one-stroke like more easily achievable. 

As for the formula, it goes on wet and it very this in texture, making it more comfortable to wear on the lids in comparison to liquid liners that come with a brush built into the cap as is more alike to paint than a pen. Unlike those, this does not dry with that kind of flaky texture.  

It sets within 10 seconds and stays all day. 

It is water resistant, so it will stay on if you have oily lids and if you're prone to sweat, especially during the summer months. 

The upside is that that this not water proof, and will come off easily with soap and/or cleanser. 

When tested the Curve liner lasted a good 10 hours before I finally had to take it off. 

This retails for $15 at Bartell's, some Walgreens, and Ulta. 

Mally Beauty makes a similar product called Mally Ultimate Performance Ink liner which retails for around $23 at QVC. 

Black Beauty

Finding products for deeper skin tones can be difficult. Whether it be at the drugstore or the department store, it comes as no surprise that women of color, especially black women with much deeper complexions, are much too often overlooked. 

Brands don't seem to realize that black women come in a huge variety of shades (Africans are different from Carribbeans, are different from Americans are different from blacks of mixed heritage), and it really doesn't cut it when these brands only include one or two darker shades. 

But there is hope. 

There are a handful of black friendly brands:

IMAN
CoverGirl Queen 
Black Radiance and 
M.A.C.

IMAN

CoverGirl Queen

This is Black Radiance, not Wet 'n' Wild. 

I know, right. 

M.A.C.

Bobbi Brown in her book 'Makeup Manual' offers valuable advice about choosing the right foundation(s). Black skin tends to be darker around the perimeter and lighter in the center (the middle of the forehead, the cheeks and the bridge of the nose, the typical places we highlight). Sometimes, to accommodate the multi-tonal nature of the face you have to have a couple of shades of foundation (tinted moisturizer and/or BB cream). Start with the lighter shade, applying it in the center and blending outwards. Then apply the darker shade around the rest of the forehead the temples, the jawline and under the chin. For women who want to emphasize the luminosity of the center, apply a lighter colored bronzer with slight shimmer (LORAC tantalizer perhaps) as well as a shimmery golden shade across the lids. But if you want to emphasize the warmness of the darker tone focus on contouring with an appropriate colored bronzer and blush. 

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

For mocha, or mixed skin tones use a golden pink shimmer as a highlight if you want to bring out the golden tone in your skin.
When it comes to eyes think chocolates, toffees, coffees, deep wines, deep plums, (basically anything that sounds delicious - Yumm), navy, granite, bronze, teal, green, and golds. 
Cheeks will be berries, bronzes, dark apricots, corals and terracottas. 
Think corals, raisins, garnet reds, sheer golds, caramels, toffees, bronzes, berries and plums (similar to the colors your would pick for cheeks) for the lips. 

Deeper skin tones can get away with the bright jewel tones such as eggplant, green, metallic grays and cobalt blues, in addition to the golds, coppers, bronzes and coffees on the eyes, which means these skin tones can afford to be more adventurous with color. 
Straight up gold as a highlight. 
Dark raisin, burnt orange, fuchsia, bright reds, and magentas on the cheeks. 
For lips choose sheer and shimmer glosses, gold honey, caramel, orang, coral, plum, bronze, golden pinks. Or Blackberry, maroon, raisin and deep reds. 

Five Minute Face By Carmindy

Hope some of you found this useful. I will be sure to include similar information for everyone else. 

Remember, 
Don't just wear makeup, Rock it. 

10% off Inglot cosmetics!

Inglot Cosmetics is offering 10% off your  entire purchase when you mention 

the Temptalia blog. 

The offer does not apply to online purchases only to purchases made 

in person,

over the phone at (212)672-7124

or by emailing inglotstudionyc@inglotusa.com

This offer was posted on Temptalia's site only a few hours ago, however it is not clear as to when it expires. I encourage you to visit her site for more information. 

Here is a link to possible locations near you.

Inglot is similar in quality to MAC, with the only exceptions being Inglot shadows, at least, offer more product for almost half the price. They also offer customizable palettes in a variety of sizes. 

This is the 20 pan palette.

December Favorites

It's that time of the month (at least it was like, six days ago). I guess I'm just late. 

It's time for December Favorites!

      Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

(retails for $20 at drugstores. Since I've started using this about two months ago I've noticed that I don't look as tired as I used to. Although I haven't seen any definitive reduction in wrinkles, I like using it as a preventative measure. (You're never too young to defend against aging).

      L’Oreal Collagen Moisture Filler 

Retails fro $10 at Walmart. I mentioned this in a previous favorites post and I believe I said that it was too moisturizing, however this is perfect as a night cream during the fall and winter months.

      Real Techniques Expert Face Brush 

I'm in love with this brush because I'm pretty sure it does it all.

 It buffs in foundation flawlessly, is great for contouring and blush. I like it so much I'm seriously considering investing in another one. Because it becomes you can't buff foundation, clean thoroughly and then use it for powder products in the same session, that's just not how it works. 

      Real techniques contour brush

(I use for setting concealer with translucent powder)

      Revlon Colorstay

foundation (however currently trying out Revlon Nearly Naked and Maybelline Fit Me Foundations and am liking them both- Dewy finish)

      Eos lip balm in pomegranate

 Moisturizing without being greasy.

  Queen Helene Honey ‘n’ Oatmeal facial scrub 

Honey acts as an antibacterial agent while oatmeal moisturizes.

 Exfoliants should be use two to three times weekly depending on skin type. There is a good amount of exfoliating granuals that are extra fine and removes the dead skin with out irritating).

Beauty Resolutions for 2013

 'Tis the season for resolutions!

The key to making resolutions, especially if will power is not your strong point, is to know yourself and assess the practicality of the goals you're making.

My 2013 Beauty Resolutions are as follows:

 Expansion of make up collection-
I think it's important to make room to expand, grow and introduce yourself to new things as  long as you go about it in a smart way. I don't need to try every single new product just because someone else has it, or just because it was in a new display, or just for the sake of a review if I already have similar products. This will hopefully allow me to expand my knowledge and familiarity with different brands and products by making conscious, well-informed, and unique acquisitions that will benefit and add a well rounded quality to my collection.
However it is also important to shop your own makeup collection every once in a while to rediscover old favorites (and to prevent yourself from going broke). This also serves as a reminder  of what you have and what you don't have.

To Improve the overall health and clarity of the skin - 

Improving the overall health and clarity of the skin is not something that happens over night with a single miracle product. It happens from the inside out, and depends heavily on personal diet and lifestyle choices.

To learn, develop and master new techniques - Self explanatory

To familiarize myself with brands -
 Knowing the history behind a brand and how they got their start provides a greater appreciation for their products and allows one to have a better understanding of trends, staples, the philosophy of the brand and might provide insight about what can be expected from them in the future.

To keeping an organized makeup collection -
Keeping an organized collection is not only important for my sanity, it also prevents unconscious repeat buys and is essential for product expansion. When everything is laid out in front of you, you can see which kinds of products you have a lot of (shadows or lipsticks), and which are more sparse (primers and brow products).

This year I decided to make mini goals on a monthly basis so that achieving the main resolutions don't seem like such a daunting task. Although I might not address every single resolution every month, this method makes these goals more relevant to me and forces me to reevaluate my progress on a monthly and even weekly basis. 

• Goals for January
• Improvement of skin health and clarity
• Drink 8 glasses if water daily
• Consume more antioxidants
• Solidify and commit to performing a night time face routine (no matter how late I get home and no matter how tired I am)
•  Keeping makeup collection Organized 
• Buy storage/organization units
• Develop a system for organizing makeup
• Reorganize/Take an inventory every month
• Shop my stash
• Familiarize myself with brands
• Read beauty industry books
• Familiarize myself with, and seek out the knowledge of industry professionals and icons by studying their works  

What are some of your new Year's Resolutions?

Remember

Don't Just Wear Makeup...Rock It

Meet Matte Nude

sdfsdfsdfsdfgdfsgsfgsdf

Bonjour tout le monde!!

I truly hope you're doing well, and I hope everyone had a good new years and got to celebrate with people they care about. 

It is just past 4am U.S. Pacific time where I am right now, and to be honest I'm trying to sober up after a new years drinking game that kind of got out of hand. 

Don't judge me: Girls just wanna have fun ya'll. 

I just thought what better way to commemorate not just the new year, but a year some never thought would come, than with a blog post?

Meet Matt(e) is back!!

No! Not that Matt. 

These Matt(e)s

YUMM...

This post is devoted to the launch of the new palette that The Balm cosmetics will be releasing on January 15th of the new year as part of their spring collection. 

I cannot give a full review on this product as it has not been released yet, and I (sadly) was not chosen as one of the lucky few to have been sent a palette early to review. All I can do is give you the heads up so you can consider investing in it for yourselves. 

This palette : Meet Matt(e) Nude is like a sequel to the original Meet Matt(e) palette. 

Like its predecessor, Meet Matte(e) Nude is full of nine 100% matte shadows. The two major differences that you'll see right of the bat is 1) The shadows are more neutral in nature and 2) The shadows are much bigger than the ones in the first Meet Matt(e). 

-Don't quote me on this one but it almost looks like you'd be getting twice the product, or at least one and a half times the product, as you'd be getting with the original. According to the Balm:

 "Size does matt(e)r."  

The nine shades are:

Matt Johnson

Matt Garcia

Matt Malloy

Matt Rosen

Matt Wood 

Matt Singh

Matt Abdul

Matt Lombardi

Matt Hung

Like nearly all matte palettes, this palette is not targeted towards any one kind of person (to the contrary matte shades are not for the faint of heart) but for a range of people. Since mattes are as neutral as you can get, and they work on anyone and everyone.

 Just from looking at this palette I can tell that there is a nice mix of warm and cool shades that  will work for people who like ultra neutral looks. This would also do well to compliment any other palette filled with color and shimmer as well as single shadows. 

When considering this palette, you have to compare it to the original Meet Matt(e), the Naked Basics, and the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral because they are all similar in what they are trying to accomplish. Perhaps this is The Balm's answer to Urban Decay's Naked Basics. The only downside I can foresee is the price point. 

Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral - $19.99
Naked Basics - $27

This palette will retail for $42.