As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection and starting a “favorite products under $X series” to help me in that process. I’ll be doing posts every month for different dollar amounts, and I’m so excited to dive into my collection in this way. This time, I’m writing about my favorite products under $40. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for under $40 beauty products in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
MAC Glow Play Blush ($31) – This formula has been my go-to for finishing off my cheek looks because it has a really incredible blurring quality that really pulls together any look I’ve done. Because the texture feels like a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. I own So Natural (golden beige), Blush Please (neutral light mauve), Heat Index (bright pink), and Grand (petal pink) and get a ton of use out of all of them. My favorites are Blush Please and So Natural because they are both fairly neutral and pair so well with so many different eyeshadow, lip product, and blush combinations. I love the pinkier tones too, especially as we head into spring.
Em Cosmetics Heaven’s Glow Radiant Veil Blush ($34) – This is my other favorite blush to use on top of cream blush. It provides a soft, glowy look without being overly pigmented and is such an easy way to brighten up a look. I also use this to set cream and liquid blushes if I know I’ll be on video calls for 12 hours, and the colors I have cover a wide enough range to match with almost any look I’m doing. There’s a bit of a sheen to them, so they’re great if I’m in a hurry because I can use these without needing a highlighter. My favorite shade right now is Baroque, a beautiful bronzy beige, but I use Magic Hour (peachy-pink) and Venetian Rose (vintage rose) all the time. These are definitely my most used powder blushes (since the Glow Play are more of a hybrid).
Lisa Eldridge Velvet Matte Lipsticks ($36) – This formula is the most comfortable matte lipstick I’ve tried – they’re not drying at all, have the staying power I expect from a matte lipstick, and looks velvety smooth on the lips. They’re highly pigmented and blurring and cover the lips in one swipe. I have the shades Velvet Fawn, Velvet Muse, Velvet Petal, Velvet Affair, Velvet Midnight, and Velvet Dragon. My most used are definitely the first four lighter shades, but I love dabbing on Velvet Midnight or Velvet Dragon as more of a stain. These are definitely worth it in my opinion, even though they’re some of my most expensive lipsticks.
Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator ($35) – This continues to be my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve tried a few others for testing, but I always end up missing this one. It’s so hydrating, it helps my other products sink in better and faster, and it smells amazing too. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually moisturizes my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine, and it’s totally worth the price to me (though I try to always get it on sale).
Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 ($34)– This has been my sunscreen of choice for a couple years now since I first tried it. It’s both moisturizing and lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast despite being an all mineral sunscreen. I love that the formula doesn’t dry out my skin or have a tint that leaves my face looking a strange color like a lot of mineral sunscreens tend to do. It doesn’t pill, it great under makeup, and also smells amazing – every time I put it on, it just cheers me up and helps me get ready to face the day.
Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask ($38) – This mask warms up as you massage it into your skin, so not only does it work to deeply moisturize and calm my skin, it’s also a really great relaxing experience. It is the perfect mask to use after an exfoliating treatment or when your skin is feeling extra dry. It really is the best face mask of all time and is just so soothing and comforting. It’s my go to for when my skin is feeling stressed, irritated, overly dry, or anything else that requires help. It always comes to the rescue, and my skin feels so cared for after I use this. My 1.7oz jar has lasted forever so it was totally worth the investment.
Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser – This is my favorite cleanser, and it was first cleanser I’ve ever used that doesn’t require putting on moisturizer immediately afterwards. It creates such a luxurious cleansing experience, like you are cleaning your skin with silk. And while it really does clean, it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated. I’ve also used it as a quick mask by leaving it on for a few minutes before washing it off, and I love it that way. It really helps with any extra dryness, and I love that I don’t need to use a separate mask.
What are your favorite products under $40? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
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