About me
Hi and welcome to my blog !
My name is Sonia, Spanish, based in Switzerland and in order to pay for my passion, I am an IT architect. I am lucky to work for a big luxury group, I love luxury and have a huge interest in High End make up and beauty products.
This blog and the reviews I write are based on my own experience with the products I own or I tested.
All started when I finally found a good moisturizer that allowed me to wear foundation on my very dry skin throughout the entire day, it happened 5 years ago.
This first miracle triggered my interest on High End beauty brands.
My profile : in my 40′s, I have extremely dry skin, NW20 in winter and NW25 in summer. If one product does not work for me, it might for you, since I am not a make up artist, nor a doctor, please do not consider my opinions as professional advice. That said, I have tried so many products and I have enough make up to last me a life time but the temptation to try new things is way too strong to stop ! Always in the hunt for new textures, new techniques, anything related to beauty and make up brushes.
I will try to focus my blog mainly on rare products not often reviewed and mostly makeup brushes. My favorites brands are Japanese, today I am crazy for Suqqu, RMK, Hakuhodo, Koyudo, Tanseido, just to mention a few.
I hope you will enjoy this blog, it’s written in English but English is not my main language, I hope nevertheless that the posts are clear enough and understandable.
Thanks for stopping by !
If you have any questions, please contact me at : sweetmakeuptemptations@gmail.com
Sweet Make Up Temptations
Sonia, I just found you through gossmakeupartist. I have to ask, what moisturizer did you find that worked so well for you that you mentioned in About Me. I have very dry skin also, am in my early forties and have never found a moisturizer that really works. I haven’t gone through your whole blog yet so if you have mentioned it sorry, I just haven’t gotten there yet. Also what foundation do you like best for your dry skin? Would love to hear back from you.
Thanks,
Tanya
June 15, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Hi Tanya,
Thanks ! Wayne is just simply the best
I use the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Repair Creme, the one without SPF. Not that I don’t want spf but the one with it (the Day creme) is not rich enough for my skin. I use this one night and day. I have been using it for ages and love it. We have only one counter here in Geneva that sells it and the pot I am using at the moment comes from there (instead of from the USA where I usually buy it), I don’t know why but it feels a tiny bit less moisturizing, either my skin is changing or the formula is slightly different… Since I am again running out of it, I am today ordering a new pot but from the USA, just to make sure it does not come from the formula.
I recommend you try a sample of it, it really worked like a miracle for me.
These are the foundations I use at the moment :
Tom Ford Traceless
By Terry Sheer-Expert or Light-Expert
Chantecaille Future Skin
Burberry Sheer
Mac Mineralize SPF15 or Mac Face and Body
Kevyn Aucoin SSE
Ellis Faas (S103)
I use more brands but these are the ones I reach for the most, I select the foundation depending on how my skin feels, if I feel it’s a bad day for my skin, Tom Ford or By Terry will be very appropriate since they are extremely comfortable. All of them are fantastic for my dry skin, they have a glowy finish and do not provide a heavy coverage, but when you have extremely dry skin, a heavy or mat coverage, in my opinion, is not a very good idea
I hope this helps and let me now if you have the possibility to try it and if it works for you too !
June 16, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Hi there Sonia!
I came across your blog during my endless search for the perfect blush brush. Your blog has been very helpful, just need the money now lol. Just wanted to say I had very very dry and sensitive skin also (not helped by typical Scottish weather!) and after many years and trips to the dermatologist I found a moisturizer that transformed my skin…
I use Eucerin Auqaporin Rich moisturizer. This moisturizer hydrated my skin so well! A million times better than any other product for dry sensitive skin, drugstore or high end. I also use Bourjois Healthy mix foundation which I’ve found to be best for my skin over many high end products.
I just thought I’d just share this as it’s what has helped me so much.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and reviewing products. It’s so appreciated in this increasingly expensive market!
Vicky
June 20, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Hi Vicky ! I am so glad it helped… I am waiting for some Chikuhodo at the moment, I will also post about them as soon as I get them
and Rae is sending me a replacement set… we’ll see 
I know Scottish weather very well, my boyfriend is from there and I go there often ! Funny how you know you are arrived in Scotland… often the wind reminds you where you are… , but it’s so beautiful over there and the people are so incredibly friendly and helpful !
Like you, I also went many times to the dermatologist but without success…
I will try these products for sure, a big THANK YOU for sharing that with me ! I really appreciate you leaving me this sweet comment !
Take care
Sonia
June 21, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Congratulations for this blog that allow yourself to escape in your own way and that is very well kept. I could never bring my knowledge to support this blog cause i am condemned -as a male – having to keep my “nude” appearance at all times..!!
but continues like this! kisses. (excuse my (poor) english..)
July 16, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Thank you so much Joris, you are a sweetheart and I am so happy to know you ! I sincerely hope we can meet more often ! <3
July 16, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I loved your blog.I m not much of a make up person. Simply enjoyed reading.
August 2, 2012 at 9:16 am
Thank you !!!
August 2, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Hi Sonia,
I just found your blog and happy I did. I am in my 40′s, am an American 1/2 Spanish, 1/2 Norwegian. And love love love playing with makeup! It is nice to follow a fellow lover of great makeup and within my age range! Thanks for blogging!
Sandra
October 6, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Hi Sandra, thank you for your sweet comment, you are very welcome, it’s such a pleasure to share my passion with you
October 7, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Hi Sonia, I’ve subscribed to your blog and am looking forward to browsing through your past post. Can’t wait ! Can I ask how you managedto buy brushes from Chickuhodo? Last time I looked about a year ago it was in Chinese and I was totally lost. Thanks
November 1, 2012 at 4:25 am
Thank you so much Mary for your interested and also for subscribing
Here I explain a bit about using a forwarding company, but that was complicated and really expensive. Unless you have a friend in Japan they are not so easy to get. I got most of them from Kohlindo (Sueden) I will send you Malin’s details by separate email. She is my contact and you can tell her what you are interested in, she is really helpful and friendly !
These are expensive brushes but of the best you can find.
Talk soon !
November 1, 2012 at 6:26 am
Hi Sonia – jut wondering if you have a Twitter account? Couldn’t find one.. thanks!
November 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Hi yes I do : My Sweet MT
thanks !
I forgot to say, I sent Astalift a long email with questions a few days ago, I will send it again to your address
November 26, 2012 at 3:21 pm
I found your blog while browsing for Tom Ford eyeshadow swatches and Hakuhodo brushes and pretty much all the brands that I love. I too have a weakness for luxury cosmetics. Love your blog and subscribed!
December 18, 2012 at 5:08 am
Thank you Joanne ! wishing you all the best and lots of fun here
December 18, 2012 at 9:25 am
Hello Sonia,
I just discovered your blog (via Kate from Drivel about Frivol) and I must say that I spent two days going through all your posts. My goodness, I feel like I’ve just been through a University course lol
Just wanted to say that you really do a fantastic job and I find your blog to be a wonderful resource! Paint me impressed and consider me a fan…
Cheers,
Nina (an expat Greek in London)
January 27, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Hi Nina, oh well… what can I answer to that ?? you are really sweet and I thank you so very much
welcome on board
January 27, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Hi Sonia!
I’ve been stalking your blog for awhile.
I thought I’d make an introduction, as I will be asking zillion questions about brushes.
Your posts have been feeding my brushes lemming you see
Thank you so much for providing detailed review, thorough comparison and the gorgeous fluffy brush pics!
Oh and on another irrelevant note,
I hope one day I’ll be an IT architect like you so I can afford moar brushes
haha
February 8, 2013 at 3:16 am
Hi Ellen, thank you and welcome !!
I hope that whatever career you choose that it will make you happy and allow you to get a million brushes -there are never enough you know..
February 8, 2013 at 8:37 am
Sonia, Yours is the best resource for info re high quality makeup brushes. Your comparative photos are so helpful as well as the actual reviews. Like you Ihave dry skin, prefer light medium coverage and am NW 15 or 20 . I was glad to learn about the
Laura M moisturizer- I’ll give it a try. Of the brushes reviewed I only have Hakuhodo, because the others are too difficult to get. If sources become available here in the US I’ll try other brands. I’m fascinated with Japanese cosmetics. Please review more, esp.
RMK, Lunasol, Addictive, Jill Sanders, and Esprique. I have a friend in Hong Kong who
is willing to purchase for me, but I’m concerned that the cosmetics would be counterfeit.
Do you think that would be a problem? Please let us know your opinion of the “seasonal
sets” from Japan. Sorry this is such a long post.
May 2, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Hi Felcie,
thank you for your precious support !
Thank you !
I don’t think they will be counterfeit if they are purchased at the beauty counters.
I also had one friend swapping with me and purchasing things for me in HK (Lunasol brushes) and it was perfectly fine. They have easier access to japanese brands and they usually carry them. It was a great experience.
I will try to share as much as I can
May 3, 2013 at 11:49 am
Sonia, can you recommend the service bringblingjp? Is it correct that some of the ladies have used the service and had a good experience. Just seems to be the simplest
option for acquiring Japanese brushes. I need your input as I’m ready to place order(thanks to your blog).
May 20, 2013 at 4:49 am
Hi Felcie !
yes I can recommend her since I used her services already, it worked very smoothly, no problems whatsoever
May 20, 2013 at 10:52 am
Sonia, I know you’re hard at work preparing for your trip to Japan. I hope it will be all that you hope for and more. All of us are anxiously waiting for yor posts, but please do relax and enjoy. I have a question regarding Chikuhodo brushes. On their website they use terms I’ve never heard to describe the brush materials
1 crude light peak
2 light crude peak
3 rough light peak
Can you please explain.
PS I placed and received an order from cdjapan (white mushroom & fan baby goat pink)
Lovely brushes
Waiting for my order from Tommy( a few Chikuhodos and the Houkudou stand- white foundation? Prior to following your blog I bought Hakuhodo, but I’ve become a “brush
monster. My husband’s eyes are glazed over.
May 24, 2013 at 4:29 am