Survey Says... (And a Glimpse Into My Make-Up Collection)

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Eyeshadow colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of eyeshadow colour...

Lipstick colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of lipstick colour...



Blush colour you have too many of? I think I have too many of every kind of blush colour...


Um, how much make-up is too much make-up?

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Holy grail skincare product? I actually have a few holy grail skincare products at the moment (naturally). Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover and Bioderma's Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution for make-up removal, MAC's Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence and Softening Lotion to help even out skintone and discolouration, AmorePacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvinating Serum for intense hydration and brightness, and Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex for skin texture.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover, Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution, MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence, MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion, AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum, and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Holy grail concealer? MAC's Mineralize Concealer. I'm not someone who wears concealer everyday, but when I do, this is the one I reach for. I use it more so for evening out any redness on my cheeks, but occasionally under my eyes if I'm looking particularly tired. It has medium buildable coverage and a natural luminous finish, so it's ideal for people who want to even out skintone but not full or heavy coverage. It's hydrating and super-blendable, and doesn't cake or build-up in fine lines. Love this stuff.

MAC Mineralize Concealer
Holy grail foundation? MAC's Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I don't use liquid foundations because I don't like the feel of it all over my face, so I switched to powders. This one can be heavy or cakey when used with a sponge, but I use a flathead brush with it and it creates a very even, buffed finish while still giving me medium-full coverage. What I like most about this is that it's effortless to use; you can just slap it on and go without having to worry about fully blending it out (as you would a liquid foundation). Plus, as someone who has oily skin, I love the matte finish of this powder.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Last beauty retailer you went to? I usually buy most of my cosmetics online, so the last beauty store I actually went into with a purpose was probably Sephora, which was a few weeks ago. (I don't count, say, passing by Trade Secrets to see if they have new nail polish collections out or, like, walking through the cosmetics department at The Bay as actually going to a beauty retailer.)

Did you buy anything? Yup, see my haul post. When I decide to actually go into a Sephora store, I'm there on a mission. I'm not really someone who goes into Sephora "just to browse," unless I'm trying to kill time (or unless I'm in a different city, like New York, in which I like to peruse brands that we don't have here). I ended up spending way too much money, as usual.

If so, what did you love most? I finally splurged on a bottle of AmorePacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum, because I had read and heard amazing things about it from people with all different skin types. After using it for about two weeks now, I can safely say that I'm in love with it. It makes my skin feel hydrated and soft without feeling oily or sticky or leaving a residue. It has made a huge difference in my skin on especially cold days; I'm a smoker and spend a fair amount of time outside in negative temperatures and bitter winds. My skin is also noticeably smoother and more radiant, too. Plus, it smells really good, which is always a nice bonus.

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Last skincare product you finished? Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover. This is my holy grail make-up removing cleanser. Takes off everything like you wouldn't believe, and it's super-gentle while still foaming. I'm someone who likes a multi-tasking cleanser (I like to take off my eye and face make-up at the same time in the shower rather than use a separate eye make-up remover), and this does the trick. Phenomenal stuff.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover

Last make-up product you finished? MAC's Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara. My holy grail mascara; I go through a tube every month-and-a-half. I've tried cheaper drugstore brands and expensive higher end brands, but I still go back to this one.

MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara
Last haircare product you finished? Lush's Happy Happy Joy Joy Hair Conditioner. I originally bought it for the scent (orange flower absolute, rosewood, and grapefruit), but it didn't end up being hydrating or detangling enough for my hair. I also like thicker conditioners, and this one is so lightweight, it's almost runny. Made my hair smell good all day, though.

Lush Happy Happy Joy Joy Hair Conditioner

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Best navy blue eyeliner? I love MAC's Petrol Blue Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner for its gorgeous creamy texture and shimmery metallic finish, and MAC's Night Trail Pro Longwear Eye Liner for its longevity on the waterline.

MAC Petrol Blue Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner and Night Trail Pro Longwear Eye Liner

Best navy blue eyeshadow? MAC's Lunar Extra Dimension Eyeshadow. Love, love, love the formula of these — smooth, silky, pigmented, and lightweight — and this is the most gorgeous navy with a slight violet-blue sheen.

MAC Lunar Extra Dimension Eyeshadow
Best way to complement navy blue eye makeup? A nude lip. When I do a navy blue eye, I like to keep the rest of the face neutral. I have a ton of nude lipsticks, but a favourite has always been YSL's Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #4 Sweet Honey (I think this has been discontinued, sadly). And I use MAC's Double Happiness Cremesheen Glass on top of all my nude lipsticks because it has just the perfect amount of peachy-pink in it to keep my lips from looking too washed out.

MAC Double Happiness Cremesheen Glass and YSL #4 Sweet Honey Rouge Volupté Lipstick

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Least flattering blush on you? I find lavender blushes aren't really flattering on my skintone. They can end up looking kind of ashy and make me look a bit sickly because I have such yellow undertones... But I love them for blending into other blushes.

MAC Sakura Mineralize Blush and Full of Joy Powder Blush

Least flattering lipstick on you? Again, lavender. I love purple lipsticks in general, but lavender on its own makes me look like I'm dying. It's a very pale colour, and on my yellow-toned skin, it makes me look really sallow. But, again, I do love blending them with other lip products to create different shades.

MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 and Lavender Whip Lipsticks
Least flattering eyeshadow on you? Light blue shades aren't the most flattering on me, but I don't find them to be particularly flattering on anyone, at least on their own. They're just too '80s, in the worst way possible. However, I do find them fun to use with other shades like darker or brighter blues, purples, greens, and yellows to create a "peacock effect."

MAC Sky Blue (PRO) and Aqua Eyeshadow, and MAC Styledriven Pro Longwear Eyeshadow

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Favourite mint green polish?

Illamasqua Milf, Butter London Bossy Boots, and Butter London Fiver

Favourite forest green eyeshadow?

MAC Humid and Bottle Green (PRO)

Favourite grass green eyeliner? Believe it or not, I don't have any grass green eyeliners. I think the only one I had was MAC's Emerald Sea Powerpoint Pencil from last summer's Hey, Sailor! collection... but I don't know where mine went. 

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

Favourite pale pink beauty product?

• MAC Young Venus Extra Dimension Eyeshadow
• MAC Pink Porcelain Mineralize Skinfinish
• Butter London Teddy Girl Nail Lacquer
• MAC Creme Cup Lipstick
• Revlon Strawberry Shortcake Lip Butter
• MAC Fashion Scoop Cremesheen Glass

Favourite lavender beauty product?

• MAC Sakura Mineralize Blush
• Butter London Molly Coddled Nail Lacquer
• Butter London Muggins Nail Lacquer
• MAC Fresh Amour Mattene Lipstick
• MAC Pink Popcorn Lipstick
• MAC Japanese Spring Cremesheen Glass 
• MAC Going Casual Cremesheen Glass

Favourite peach beauty product?

• Revlon Peach Parfait Lip Butter
• MAC Flamingo Lipstick
• MAC Ever Hip Lipstick
• Chanel Rivage Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick
• MAC Hipness Powder Blush
• Tarte Charisma Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush
• MAC Warming Heart Pressed Pigment
• MAC Tweet Me Mega Metal Eyeshadow
• MAC Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass
• Dior Pretty Rose Addict Ultra-Gloss Glow

What, you thought I could only pick one favourite?

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. How often do you clean your eye makeup brushes? About one a month, with soap and water. I have a ton of eye brushes, so I always have clean ones to use. For freelance work, I clean my brushes the moment I get home with them.
3. How often do you clean your face makeup brushes? Every two weeks, but only because I tend to use powder face products. If I'm using my brushes for liquid or cream make-up, I clean them on the same day. I use Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Liquid Soap to clean my brushes, and it does a phenomenal job.
4. How often do you clean your lip brushes? I rarely use a lip brush on myself, but if I use it on someone else, I clean it right after I use it. But I tend to do this with any brush that I use on someone else.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Perfect New Year's Eve lipstick? This year, I'm thinking a pinked nude lip after all the holiday reds. My current favourite combo is MAC Faux with Double Happiness Cremesheen Glass on top.
3. Perfect New Year's Eve highlighter? NARS Miss Liberty. The peach in it softens it and keeps it from being too stark on my skintone, and it has the prettiest micro-shimmer in it that gives a beautiful glow without looking metallic.
4. Perfect New Year's Eve eyeshadow combo? A warm smoky eye, using MAC All That Glitters, Sable, and Sketch. 

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Blush that's most flattering on you? MAC's Warm Soul, Sunbasque, and Springsheen.
3. Lipstick that's most flattering on you? For red, MAC Viva Glam I. For a bright pink, MAC's Love Forever!. For a softer pink, MAC Lovelorn and Faux. For a nude, MAC Viva Glam II and Peachstock. For a vampy lip, MAC Rebel and Diva.
4. Eyeshadow combo that's most flattering on you? My go-to eyeshadow combo is MAC All That Glitters all over the lid with Quarry in the crease.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Best way to add sparkle to the eyes: If you use a shimmery eyeshadow or pigment on the lid and a matte shadow in the crease, it makes the shimmer really pop. I also love putting a light champagne shadow in the inner corners of my eyes to brighten up a look. If I'm feeling lazy, I'll use a single shade of shimmery shadow (my favourite is MAC's All That Glitters) and just sweep it all over the lid up to the crease. If I want a ton of sparkle, I'll use a really metallic or glittery shadow like MAC's Crushed Metallic Pigments (though I've heard great things about Armani's Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows and L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadows). Another easy way to add sparkle is to use a metallic or shimmery eyeliner, and the best I've used is MAC's Pearlglide Eye Liners, though Lise Watier and Urban Decay both make great ones.
3. Best way to add a glimmer to the lips: Any lip gloss with shimmer. MAC's Viva Glam VI looks good on everyone and the shimmer mimics diamond dust. It's gorgeous, and every cent goes to the MAC AIDS Fund.
4. Best way to add a glow to the cheeks/face: The easiest way, for me, is just simply to use a shimmery blush (if you want glow, you do shimmer; if you want disco ball, you do glitter). But I love using powder highlighters on my cheekbones; my favourites are NARS' Miss Liberty and MAC's Soft and Gentle. For those who prefer using creams, I would suggest MAC's Strobe Cream or Lotion for a subtle all-over face glow, and NARS The Multiple in Copacabana or MAC's Cream Colour Bases as highlighters.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Most glittery eyeshadow you own? Any of MAC's Crushed Metallic Pigments.
3. Most glittery lipstick you own? Any of MAC's Dazzle Lipsticks.
4. Most glittery blush you own? NARS Super Orgasm.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Last skin care product you finished? A travel-size tube of Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Cleansing Gel.
3. Last hair care product you finished? A full-size bottle of Lush's Rehab Shampoo.
4. Last make-up product you finished? MAC's Eyebrows in Brunette.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. What's your favorite lip colour to pair with gold eyeshadow? MAC's Viva Glam I. There's something really elegant about pairing a gold eye with a bold matte crimson lip. Huge fan of this combo for this time of year!
3. What's your favorite lip colour to pair with pink eyeshadow? If it's a light to medium pink eyeshadow, then I like MAC's Lovelorn lipstick paired with MAC's Floating Lotus Cremesheen Glass. If it's a darker or brighter pink, then I like MAC's Creme Cup or Faux lipstick paired with MAC's Double Happiness Cremesheen Glass. When I do pink, I dopink.
4. What's your favorite lip colour to pair with blue eyeshadow? I like a neutral nude lip when wearing a blue eyeshadow, something like MAC's Cherish or Viva Glam II lipstick paired with MAC's Boy Bait Cremesheen Glass.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. What's your favorite blush to pair with gold eyeshadow? MAC Blush in Sunbasque or Springsheen, NARS Blush in Orgasm or Deep Throat, or TheBalm Blush in Hot Mama!.
3. What's your favorite blush to pair with pink eyeshadow? MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty, MAC Blush in Dame, NARS Blush in Angelika, or Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful or Adored.
4. What's your favorite blush to pair with blue eyeshadow? MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, MAC Blush in Prism, NARS Blush in Luster, or Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Eyeliner you keep reaching for? MAC Liquid Eyeliner in Boot Black.
3. Blush you can't stop using? MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul.
4. Eyeshadow that always wakes up your eyes? MAC All That Glitters.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Last product you purchased?A tube of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Cleanser, a tube of Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive & Basil Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy, and three bottles of Butter London Nail Lacquer in Dodgy Barnett, Gobsmacked, and Trustafarian from their new Autumn/Winter collection.
3. Last product you returned? I rarely ever return any cosmetics. I did exchange my last bottle of Estee Lauder's Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher because it smelled weird. But I think the last time I fully returned something was two Christmases ago, and it was Philosophy's The Gingerbread Man shower gel and body lotion set because I didn't realize there was shimmer in it (I am not a fan of shimmer or glitter in my body products).
4. Last product you resisted? A few different palettes I saw at Sephora last week: Sephora + Pantone Universe's Shades of Nature Eyeshadow Palette, Urban Decay's Smoked Eyeshadow Palette, Tarina Tarantino's Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette, and Tarina Tarantino's Dollskin Cheek Palette. I may pick up one or two while I'm in New York in a few weeks, though...

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Where do you apply your make-up? In my bathroom.
3. What kind of lighting do you apply your make-up with? Incandescent light.
4. What would you change about your make-up setup? I wish I had room for a proper vanity with a nice big mirror and a seat. Preferably in natural lighting or, if not possible, halogen lights.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Do you prefer pink or beige lipstick? It depends on my mood, but I usually prefer pink. I even prefer my "beige" lipsticks with a hint of pink.
3. Do you prefer coral or plum blush?Generally, I prefer coral blush, but it's really seasonal for me.
4. Do you prefer black or brown eyeliner? Black. Always.