Author: liftbakelove

The Products Under $10 at Ulta I Actually Use, Even If I Was Just Trying to Hit Free Shipping

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Products Under $10 at Ulta I Actually Use, Even If I Was Just Trying to Hit Free Shipping

A lot of affordable makeup is pretty fantastic, and I don’t spend enough time talking about it. So for May, I’m dedicating the entire month to posts about products under $20. I wanted to start with the under $10 products at Ulta that you might throw in your cart just to hit free shipping, but that I would happily buy anyway because they’re really that good. I also did a quick affordable bronzer check at the end because I tried three from Ulta (and don’t use them very often). In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner in Gone Greige ($8.49) – This color is really special. On me, it reads like a cool brown with a purple-gray undertone, which is exactly the kind of lip liner color I am always looking for and almost never find. It gives definition without looking out of place and goes so well with the lip products I tend to reach for. The formula has a little time to blend, and then it really stays put. I also love using it with lip products that run a little too warm because it helps cool everything down. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner in Gone Greige and NYX Butter Gloss in Blueberry Tart and Marshmallow

NYX Butter Gloss in Blueberry Tart and Marshmallow ($6) – The NYX Butter Gloss is one of my favorite gloss formulas and has been for years, but these two shades I’m especially excited about. They’ve been so useful for cooling down lip products that pull orange or yellow. If something is really orange, I use Blueberry Tart, and I always get the most perfect shade no matter what I’ve mixed it with. If it just needs a little help or is weirdly yellow, I use Marshmallow. Marshmallow is also so pretty with my olive skin on its own. It’s a really special cool milky muted lilac I don’t see very often. The formula isn’t sticky, feels nice on the lips, and wears better than a lot of glosses that are way more expensive. I think they actually moisturize and nourish my lips too, unlike a lot of lip glosses/oils. 

ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Ritz

ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Ritz ($7) – This is one of my all time favorite one and done eyeshadows. The sparkle, wear time, and overall effect are right in line with my more expensive shadows; I wouldn’t be able to tell that this was as inexpensive as it is. It reminds me a lot of Urban Decay Space Cowboy, just with a sheerer base color. Even with that, it has such a beautiful wet-look sparkle that I can get away with wearing this alone or layered over matte shadows as a topper. The formula is super easy to use with a finger or a brush, and I find I get less fallout than with other similar glittery shadows. I keep thinking of buying other shades since I love the formula so much, but I know I’ll reach for Ritz every time. 

NYX Buttermelt Pressed Powder Blush in Butta With Time and For The Butta and Essence Soft Touch Bouncy Blush in Roses in Berry

NYX Buttermelt Pressed Powder Blush in Butta With Time and For The Butta ($11) – I really like this formula. These are super pigmented, but they blend easily and don’t feel as difficult to work with as some other super pigmented powder blushes. That said, if you want a super subtle flush of color, I don’t think you’ll appreciate these because they really are pigmented. Butta With Time is a bright, warm (but not too warm) pink, and For The Butta is more of a rosy mauve. Now that I’ve gone back and tested them side by side again, I actually think I like Butter With Time more right now because it wakes up my face and fits with the warmer weather. For The Butter feels softer and moodier, and I can already tell it will be perfect for the fall and winter. *I know these are actually $11, but I can almost always find them on sale, so I decided to include them anyway. 

NYX Buttermelt Pressed Powder Blush in Butta With Time and For The Butta and Essence Soft Touch Bouncy Blush in Roses in Berry

Essence Soft Touch Bouncy Blush in Roses in Berry ($5.99) – This has that blurred, soft matte-satin, bouncy cushion blush formula that is my absolute favorite blush formula. If I didn’t know this was affordable, I would totally think it cost way more than it did. I do think some of my more expensive blushes have more nuanced shades, but this formula is definitely just as good. On me, this berry shade is almost a little too red, but if I use a light hand, it gives a really pretty fresh pop of color that doesn’t go orange. This is especially pretty for spring and summer, and I think I would also have loved Electric Peony. Like with the NYX blushes, these are pretty pigmented and a little goes a long way. 

Milani Baked Bronzer in Amalfi Glow, Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer in 10 Whipped Buttercup, NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in Deserve Butta

Trying affordable bronzers: Milani Baked Bronzer in Amalfi Glow ($12.99), Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer in 10 Whipped Buttercup ($5.99), and NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in Deserve Butta ($11)  – I actually like something about all three of these. Milani Baked Bronzer in Amalfi Glow and Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer in 10 Whipped Buttercup are both super easy to blend and build up, with Milani being glowier and more believable as a bronzer on me and Essence looking softer and more matte. The NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in Deserve Butta gives the prettiest sunkissed effect but is also the most pigmented and the closest to going too orange. All three still run warmer or just more yellow than my ideal bronzer tone, so this is one of those categories where the formulas are improving faster than the shades for my undertones. I might try NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in All Butta’d Up, though, because I like the formula and that shade looks rosier. Based on the swatches, the Milani and Essence shades I got are the coolest options in their ranges. I also included the Gucci Bronzing Powder in 01 for reference in the swatches.

Milani Baked Bronzer in Amalfi Glow, Essence Soft Touch Butter Bronzer in 10 Whipped Buttercup, NYX Buttermelt Bronzer in Deserve Butta, and Gucci Bronzing Powder in 01

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored. 

5 Products I’m Decluttering And What I’m Keeping Instead

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 5 Products I’m Decluttering And What I’m Keeping Instead

I was originally going to do something else this week, but I realized I had so many products sitting in my declutter drawer that I just don’t really want in my collection anymore. Most of these products are perfectly fine (and you might love them) but they got replaced by something that works much better for my skin and preferences. I never end up reaching for them, and they would be much better off with a friend. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Instead of the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick in 1.5N, I’m keeping the Rare Beauty Soft Matte Foundation in 10 – The Dior stick foundation formula is totally fine, but the shade is just a bit too warm and orange on me. I can get away with a complexion product that’s a little too warm if the formula is nice enough, but this one doesn’t play super well with any of my blue color correctors, which is normally what I do if something is too orange. The Rare Beauty Soft Matte Foundation is what I’ve been reaching for instead. Since it’s a liquid foundation, it’s not technically a one-to-one replacement for a stick foundation, but it fills the same role for me when I want that more matte satin, perfected skin kind of base. I have only had it for a little while (I got it in my Sephora sale order) and have only worn it a couple times, so this isn’t a long term review. The shade match is so much better, and it blends in without needing any color corrector. I also just like the formula better. This is one of my favorite matte foundation finishes I’ve tried in a long time because while it is matte and blurring, it’s not too drying. It really looks nice all day. I even tried it without primer or anything hydrating underneath  just to see what it would do, and even on my very dry skin, it only broke up a tiny bit. I also really like the packaging, which is a pump that locks. This makes it really easy to travel with or throw in a bag. I could not get the swatches to show up true to color no matter what lighting (indoor, outdoor, any room) I tried but I can confirm that my husband literally couldn’t even tell the Rare beauty swatch was on my arm.

Dior Forever Skin Perfect Stick in 1.5N and Rare Beauty Soft Matte Foundation in 10

Instead of the Bubble Secret Agent Color Correcting Balm Redness Fix, I’m keeping The Saem Cover Perfection Pen Concealer in Green Beige – The Bubble corrector is one I might not recommend for anyone, but if you love it, let me know in the comments. It has this weird watery texture, and when I blend it out it turns into this beigey orange that’s also green, it doesn’t do a good job of cancelling redness. I end up with a weird orangey red blotchy situation that is not what I’m looking for at all. The Saem one is so much better. It’s a perfect beigey green that actually neutralizes redness while still blending into my skin instead of sitting on top looking obvious. I also like the texture so much more. It just makes a lot more sense on my skin, and I would never use the Bubble over the Saem. 

Bubble Secret Agent Color Correcting Balm Redness Fix and The Saem Cover Perfection Pen Concealer

Instead of the ColourPop So Juicy Plumping Glossy Lip Oil, I’m keeping the NYX Jelly Job Lip Gloss in Jelly Frost – I know the ColourPop gloss/oil  is supposed to be plumping, but for me, it’s just really uncomfortable without doing any plumping. If a lip product is going to sting, it needs to also look good enough for me to work through the pain. This one doesn’t make my lips look better or nourish them, and it hurts. It doesn’t last especially well (probably because it’s more on the oil side than gloss or balm), so overall it’s just not a product I enjoy using. The NYX Jelly Job gloss is such a better drugstore option for me. It feels nourishing, lasts well for a gloss, and I really like shade Jelly Frost specifically because it has a slight blue tone to it. It’s not a pH adjusting gloss that turns bright pink, and that tiny bit of coolness is really helpful since I can use this on top of lip products that lean too warm for me. 

Milani Cheek Kiss Blush Stick in Luminouso and Lisa Eldridge Blush Balm in Cinnamon Bun

Instead of the Milani Cheek Kiss Blush Stick in Luminouso, I’m keeping the Lisa Eldridge Blush Balm in Cinnamon Bun – This one is an easy declutter for me. Obviously the shade is not right for me, but honestly the texture is just as much of a problem. It looks patchy and splotchy on my skin and never really in the way I want it to. The Lisa Eldridge Blush Balm in Cinnamon Bun is so much better on me. Caveat that I understand this is much more expensive but it’s so worth it to me. Cinnamon Bun is this perfect sunburned rusty reddish brown that looks so natural and so at home on me. It gives me that healthy, warm, I’ve been in the sun look without going Cheeto. I also love the formula. It goes on so quickly and easily and blends seamlessly with my skin. You can hopefully see how much smoother it is than the Milani. I actually love the formula so much that I now have four of the Lisa Eldridge blush balms, and I’ve been using them almost daily. 

Milani Cheek Kiss Blush Stick in Luminouso and Lisa Eldridge Blush Balm in Cinnamon Bun
One/Size Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio in Rich Betch and Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Honeymoon Suite

Instead of the One/Size Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio in Rich Betch, I’m keeping the Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Honeymoon Suite –  Since I bought the Morphe blush trio, I haven’t reached for the One/Size one once. Both of these are trios with a cream blush, a matte powder blush, and a sparkly blush, and the packaging is basically the same. There is nothing really wrong with the One/Size one, but the Morphe one definitely kicked it out of my rotation. The Morphe formula works better for me, is easier to apply and blend, and feels less high stakes. The color story of the Honeymoon Suite trio is a set of cool toned mauve blushes, which looks very at home on my skin. I think the One/Size one might be better in the summer since I do tend to like a red/brown blush (like Cinamon Bun!), but it just always looks a little off on me. The Morphe trio also happens to be half the price, so you could get a warmer and a cooler version if you wanted the option and have spent the same amount of money. 

One/Size Cheek Clapper 3D Blush Trio in Rich Betch and Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trio in Honeymoon Suite

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

I Built Another Sephora Cart, Then Shopped My Stash Instead

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on I Built Another Sephora Cart, Then Shopped My Stash Instead

I’ve been watching everyone’s Sephora sale reviews and last-minute recommendations, and I could feel myself starting to fill up another cart. The problem is I had already shopped the sale once, I ordered a bunch of Lisa Eldridge and Ravie products to test, and I also have a huge YesStyle birthday order I’m working through. So instead of placing another order, I shopped my stash. Some of these are products I hadn’t used in a bit, and some are things I just wanted to spend more time with, but all of them reminded me I already had great options at home. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Moira Love Blur Blush in 12 So Divine – Hybrid cream-powder blushes are so popular right now, and because this is probably my personal favorite blush texture, it was very easy to convince myself I needed another one. Instead, I pulled back out my this Moira blush, and I’m so glad I did. It has that bouncy cream-to-powder texture that makes this category so good, and the formula is actually really blurring. The shade is such a pretty berry flush on me without being too bright or too purple, which can be a hard balance to find. It blends out to just the right amount of pigment, lasts all day, and reminds me a lot of the Rare Beauty blushes in this formula, which I also love. Pulling this back out was exactly the reminder I needed that I did not need to buy another trendy hybrid blush just because I was watching everyone else’s sale reviews. If you want a full Moira review, I actually have a bunch of products from the brand and just haven’t found the right place to post them yet, so let me know in the comments if you’re interested! I also really like buying Moira products from HB Beauty Bar because they seem to always be having a good sale.

Moira Love Blur Blush in 12 So Divine and Prada Reveal Skin Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5

Prada Reveal Skin Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – Soft-focus, perfected base products are very tempting to me right now, but instead of buying another one, I pulled back out the Prada foundation I already own and love. This is still one of my favorite foundation formulas because it gives that really smooth, blurred finish while still looking like skin. The coverage is on the lighter end of medium, but it builds easily without getting heavy or cakey, which is a huge part of why I like it so much. This is what I reach for when I want my skin to look especially polished without feeling overdone. Pulling it back out was a very good reminder that I did not need to buy another trendy base product when I already had one of my favorites at home (did I already buy four new base products before this to test for y’all? Also yes).

Etude Fixing Tint in 14 Rose Lilac and 15 Woody Pink – I am very into the whole lip blush, blurred matte lip situation happening right now. It reminds me of when matte lips were everywhere, except the formulas we have now are so much better. You still get that soft matte, blurred look, but without the super dry, crusty feeling that used to come with it. I have honestly been testing a ridiculous number of these kinds of lip products at this point, at least fifteen, so if you want a full roundup sooner rather than later, let me know. But instead of buying yet another blurred matte lip during the sale, I pulled back out my Etude Fixing Tints in 14 Rose Lilac and 15 Woody Pink. I don’t want to speak too soon, but I’m pretty confident this is my favorite formula in this category so far. I love how flexible this formula is. You can do just a little for a soft hint of color or build it up more, and either way it stays comfortable and looks super smooth. Woody Pink is a dusty rosy neutral that works really well with the mauvey beige looks I wear all the time. Rose Lilac is deeper and moodier, more of a jammy berry-plum, and it pairs especially well with berry-toned blush. Another thing I really like about these is the tint they leave behind. Woody Pink fades into a really pretty light pink stain, while Rose Lilac leaves more of a berry tint. This is one of those categories where using what I already have has honestly just made me want to buy more of it, but these are so good that I’d rather keep reaching for them instead. These are also under $10 right now.

Etude Fixing Tint in 14 Rose Lilac and 15 Woody Pink and Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Gloss in Lavender Sorbet
A note on this swatch – I know my skin looks super off but I really wanted you to be able to see the true colors of the products.

Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Gloss in Lavender Sorbet – There are always a million glosses, lip balms, and other glassy lip products tempting me, and I definitely did not need to buy more of them during the sale. Instead, I pulled back out the Lawless Forget the Filler in Lavender Sorbet, which is already one I love. The shade is such a pretty cool-toned milky violet that adds the nicest tint on its own, but it’s also really good over other lip products when I want to cool something down a little. I also love this formula so much. It does have some tingling, but nothing painful or intense, and I really do think it makes my lips look smoother and better overall. It’s also super nourishing and hydrating and lasts pretty long for a gloss. I honestly was considering grabbing another shade, but once I put this one back on, I realized I already had the one I needed. 

Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Palette No. 1 All of Glitter
A note on this swatch – I know my skin looks super off but I really wanted you to be able to see the true colors of the shadows.

Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Palette No. 1 All of Glitter – I am always a little bit at risk of buying another glittery eyeshadow because I really do love having something sparkly on my eyelids. But I have plenty of eyeshadow palettes I’m already testing, plus another one I’m excited for later this year (if you know you know), so I absolutely did not need to add another one right now. Instead, I pulled back out the Unleashia Glitterpedia palette in No. 1 All of Glitter, and it has been perfect for adding that sparkle to every eye look. It’s a palette of nine glitter shades in a really good range of tones, and only one pulls a little too orange for me. A few of the shades are chunkier pressed glitters, so if that’s not your thing you probably won’t love this, but there are also several smoother sparkle shades that work beautifully if you don’t want to mess with pressed glitter. I would not recommend this as your only palette if you’re hoping to do a full eye look because all but one are really best used as toppers (which you can probably see in the swatches – they really look amazing over something, but not great over bare skin). If you want a dedicated sparkle palette to add that extra layer of glitter, this is a really fun one.

Have you shopped your stash lately, or is there a category you keep almost buying more of? As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

The 10 Sephora Products I’d Replace First if I had to Start Over

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The 10 Sephora Products I’d Replace First if I had to Start Over

I realized I would need to write a reallllly long post with all my Sephora favorites I’d recommend for the sale, so I decided to focus on the 10 products from Sephora I’d buy first if I had to start over and rebuild my routine. I really tried to focus on what I’d actually buy from Sephora instead of doing a full-face roundup/one from every category. You’ll notice some categories (like bronzer, contour, powder blush, and mascara) are missing because my favorites aren’t available at Sephora. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops – This is the primer that makes my skin look so much better, no matter how little sleep I got. It’s skincare and glowy primer in one, without leaving a greasy finish. It gives that fresh, bouncy finish like you just drank a gallon of water. Even though it provides a glow, it still sets down and provides a great base for makeup to sit on top of and also looks great on no-makeup days because of the finish. I’m really happy I finally grabbed the value size in the last Sephora sale.

Armani Golden Hour 24HR Lightweight Skin Tint with Hyaluronic Acid in F3 – This is such a beautiful skin tint that’s worked well with every primer and sunscreen I’ve paired it with. It’s also played well with all my powders. The shade is a bit too peachy but I don’t feel like I need to add a color corrector when I wear this which is huge for me. You can see next to the Tower 28 concealer below that it would look seamless, except that the Tower 28 is so perfectly green in comparison. It gives light coverage that lets my freckles peek through, similar to the Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Tint. You can build it up a bit to light-medium coverage, but it won’t go a real medium or even full coverage. The finish is natural (not too matte, not too dewy), and really looks just looks like skin but better. It has a slight fragrance, but nothing overpowering or lasting. It blends out incredibly easily and holds up really well throughout the day without getting patchy or breaking up. I’ve honestly been really neglecting my other base products so I can wear this instead.

Armani Golden Hour 24HR Lightweight Skin Tint with Hyaluronic Acid in F3 and Tower 28 Concealer in BW 

Tower 28 Concealer in BW – This is a newer shade that is specifically supposed to work for olive undertones, and yup, it really is green. This is one of the only concealers I’ve found that actually looks like my skin tone (on my face) instead of just sort of working well enough. I already liked this formula, so having a shade that actually matches me is awesome. It blends in beautifully and looks really natural on the skin, which is why you can’t really see anything in the swatch. It looks like they also have a medium olive shade, so I may end up grabbing that in the sale and mixing the two together because BW is about to be too light for me heading into the spring and summer. I really appreciate that BW is a true warm olive, and it matches me much better than any of the other shades I’ve tried so far.

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Setting Spray – The Danessa Myricks spray has become more of a powder step for me than a normal setting spray. Sometimes I spray it onto a brush or puff and press it into the skin and basically use it as powder. Since it’s still been super dry here and so has my skin, I’ve been reaching for it most days instead of actual powder, and I’ve been really happy with how that’s been working. 

Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder Ultra-Blur – If I really want an actual powder step to lock something in, this is the one I reach for. I love that no matter what I do, it never feels like I put too much of this on. It’s truly translucent so it doesn’t add any coverage or change the color of what I have on my face. It’s definitely only doing a tiny bit of setting and mattifying (so I wouldn’t recommend this for combo/oily skin) but I love how it’s able to do what I want a powder to do without adding any heaviness or getting cakey. It does have a tendency to hard pan, but you can easily fix that with a piece of tape.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve – This shadow has quickly become a one-and-done favorite. The mauve shade is actually a warmer brown on my skin tone but it looks so polished with very little effort – it’s the tan/brown I’ve been looking for that isn’t Cheeto orange. It applies super easily, blends out quickly, and once it sets, it stays put all day without creasing. I love using it alone, but it also works really well as a base under other powder shadows. It’s exactly what I want in a liquid matte shadow. I also love how easy it is to get just a little bit off the doefoot because the formula is a little thick, which means you don’t end up with way too much that blends out all over your face. I honestly might grab some more shades in the sale.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve and Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Believe 

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Believe – This is very far away from beige in the packaging, but on me it turns into a perfect soft muted beige flush that looks like it just belongs on my face. The brand describes it as a true mauve, and it has that desaturated cool-toned mauvey pink tone that ends up looking just right instead of orange. This is a pretty pigmented formula as you can see in the swatch where I applied directly from the doefoot in a line. You really don’t need that much, and 0.25oz will last forever. The formula is great – it blends easily, lasts all day, and sets down to a really nice skin like finish that isn’t too dewy. If your blush disappears on you, this is a really good one to grab.

Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel – I’ve tried so many brow gels, and nothing has ever really held my brows in place all day until this one. I’m honestly always shocked that my eyebrows stay put with this until I wash them off, with zero crunchiness, flaking, or stiffness. The hold is strong but flexible, and it actually looks natural. I wish it came in tinted shades, but even with the clear shade, it’s worth adding into my routine for the shaping and hold.

Eadem Lip Balms in Fig Sauce, Pain au Chocolat, Croissant au Beurre, Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, and Guava Fresca

Eadem Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm in Fig Sauce – I’ve talked about these balms so many times because they’re genuinely some of my favorite lip products ever. What I wanted to share is that Fig Sauce is such a good color. It’s a super pretty milky rosy brown that ends up being the perfect everyday shade. I usually go for deeper and more brown colors because of my high-contrast olive complexion, but this one still works so well. It’s flattering, easy, and very much a “throw it on without a mirror” situation. The formula is incredible, the scent is amazing, and I haven’t met a shade I didn’t like. I’m so happy to have another one in my collection, and I highly recommend them if you’ve been curious. I still love the shimmery ones (Pain au Chocolat and Coissant au Beurre), Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, Guava Fresca, and Butter Mochi, but Fig Sauce has definitely become one of my favorite day-to-day colors.

Every Experiment product I’ve tried so far – I’m cheating a little by making this one product but I would immediately replace all four of the Experiment products I’ve tried. I love them, I use them every day, and they are really special. The Super Saturated Barrier Support Serum gives my skin a lot more hydration, and the Molecular Mesh Moisturizer is one of the best moisturizers I’ve ever used. The Oil Buffer Jelly and Softwear Lip Treatment are very important parts of my nighttime routine and supporting my skin barrier overnight. I use both at night as my last steps, and I definitely notice when I skip them. I’m actually grabbing a new Molecular Mesh, a Support Serum, and a Softwear lip treatment in this sale because I’m about to run out of all 3.

What Sephora product would you replace first? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, 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.

Spring Lip Colors That Don’t Pull Orange on Me

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Spring Lip Colors That Don’t Pull Orange on Me

Editor’s note from Rebecca: my husband decided to edit and publish this post while our toddler was keeping me busy, so if it feels different, that’s why. Please enjoy husband commentary!

Spring lip recommendations usually don’t work well for me. I want something rosy, berry, mauve, or plum, but so many end up peach, coral, or straight-up orange. Those shades can look great on other people, and sometimes that is the look I want, but in the spring, I want shades that evoke the bright colors of blooming flowers. I want something that feels like springtime without going orange. I’ve pulled together my five best lip products that I’ve been reaching for constantly as we head into spring. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Left to right: Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Bissap Glaze, Nars Afterglow Lip Oil in Wonderous 520, Westman Atelier Hydro Balm Tinted Lipstick in Onyx, MAC Lustreglass Lipstick in Succumb to Plum, Nabla Beyond Jelly Sheer Lipstick in Nocturna

Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Bissap Glaze – This balm is definitely on the sheer side of my recommendations, but it still looks like a glossy lipstick, not like a clear lip balm. On me, it turns into the prettiest rosy-brown berry. It has just enough pink and berry in it to still look fresh and springy without going orange. I’ve written about this balm so many times because I really do love it. The formula feels nourishing, comfortable, and makes my lips look and feel better every time I put it on.

Nars Afterglow Lip Oil in Wonderous 520 – This one is shinier, sheerer, and more slippery than the EADEM, which makes sense because it is a lip oil instead of a balm. On me, this is the most natural-looking shade in the group and reads like a true cool-toned pink. It has that my-lips-but-better effect. With this oil, my lips just look smoother, fresher, and a just little more hydrated. It is not especially long-lasting or nourishing, but has a nice feel and gives the prettiest fresh pink without being too warm.

Westman Atelier Hydro Balm Tinted Lipstick in Onyx – Clinique Black Honey is often touted as the gold standard for a fancy, natural looking, cherry lipstick, but it has never worked for my olive undertones. Westman Atlelier Onyx actually delivers on this for me. This formulation gives that cool purple-brown cherry effect that I’m looking for. It is deeper and moodier than the first two, but sheer enough that it still feels appropriate for every-day casual wear. It is moisturizing, a little minty, and easy enough to apply without a mirror.

MAC Lustreglass Lipstick in Succumb to Plum – This is the most highly pigmented and matte product of my recommendations. If you want something more like a traditional lipstick, this is the product you should buy. The color is a deep, highly saturated, cool-toned plum. It is just so rich and pretty. It is definitely the boldest option in this group, but the formula still has enough slip that it feels easier and less fussy than a proper dark matte lipstick. This is not a stereotypical spring lip color, but if you want something deeper, more mysterious, and a little more interesting, this is a good choice.

Nabla Beyond Jelly Sheer Lipstick in Nocturna – If you like the idea of Succumb to Plum, but you find it just a bit too daring for spring, this is an amazing choice. Nocturna has that same cool-toned berry-plum base, but is softer and less of a statement. The formula is lightweight, moisturizing, and easy to throw on. It achieves that deeper, cool berry look without fully committing to a dark plum lip. It does have a slight mint scent, but other than that, I’ve been really happy with the formula and how easy it is to wear.

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

The Complexion Products I Keep Reaching For

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Complexion Products I Keep Reaching For

I was going to do a post about the products I’ve really been using day to day, and once I looked at the list, it was basically all complexion products. These are the ones I kept reaching for because they either work really well with my skin or help balance out products I already have that don’t quite work with my olive undertones. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Milk Hydro Grip 12H Hydrating Gel Stick Concealer in 2 – I bought this hoping it would work for my under eyes, and it absolutely does not. On me, it really does not sit well there at all and emphasizes all my texture and lines. But as a spot concealer, I’ve actually been using this a lot more than I expected. It’s close enough to my skin tone (it’s almost a perfect match on my face), it blends in really easily, and it gives me that effect where I can tap a little on something and it just disappears. This was not what I wanted it to be, but it still ended up becoming a product I use all the time. It’s what I always wanted in the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer but in a good shade for me and works on my dry skin.

Milk Hydro Grip 12H Hydrating Gel Stick Concealer in 2 and Lisa Eldridge Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil in 5.5

Lisa Eldridge Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil in 5.5 – This fills a really similar role for me to the Milk concealer, but in a more precise format. I’ve especially been using it around the outside of my lips after seeing Lisa Eldridge show that trick as a way to naturally created a “lifted lip look”, and now I do it constantly. It just cleans everything up and makes my lips stand out more. I also reach for this if I have one tiny spot or one tiny area I want to perfect. I really like both of these concealers, but this is the one I want when I need more control. I love that Lisa has so many great shades for olive undertones (can confirm this matches my face even though my arm isn’t the same color).

Tfit Translucent Set Finishing Powder in Green – I’ve mostly been avoiding powder because my skin has been so dry and textured lately, but I keep using this anyway. It’s been my go to finishing step when my makeup looks a little off. If my complexion is looking too pink, too red, or just not quite right compared to my neck, this helps pull everything together. If something is clearly too orange, I use blue (more on that next), but if it just looks wrong and I can’t fully tell why, I use this green powder. Especially for the price, I’ve been really impressed with the texture and finish too. I tried to swatch it but it blends in so well with my skin, you can’t see anything.

Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector in Blue – I still use green color corrector for redness, but blue has been the thing that helped me most with foundations and concealers that turn orange on me. I just add a tiny bit to anything that runs too warm, and it pulls it back to something that works a lot better on my skin. I also use this at the end of my complexion steps if my face is still looking too orange compared to my neck. This is one of the most useful products I added this year, and I use it almost every day.

Also, I’m working on a longer post about this, but I want to throw out there that your makeup does not have to match perfectly. It’s okay if it’s a little off, and you don’t have to spend all your time color correcting everything. But if you already have a lot of products that don’t quite work, I really like having one blue corrector I can use instead of buying even more foundations and concealers.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation in 3W before and after adding Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector in Blue

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation in 3W – This is too orange on me straight from the bottle, but the depth is right, and once I add a little blue corrector, it becomes a much better match. The formula is the reason I keep reaching for it. It sits so nicely on my skin, blends easily, and wears well all day. When I’m not actively testing something else and I just want my makeup to look good without much effort, this is the foundation I grab. I especially like it with the Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer in BW from my last post.

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Product Updates on Things You’ve Been Asking Me About

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Product Updates on Things You’ve Been Asking Me About

I’ve had a small but growing pile of products set aside for a post about products that people have been asking about (by people, I mean about 20 of you, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING!). I finally have enough thoughts on 5 of the products to create a post. Most of these are products I specifically bought because y’all asked me to test them. Some of these are just updates on products I’ve already talked about that people asked for an update about. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own

Vieve Modern Radiance Cream Bronzer in Light – This is probably the question I get most often: what bronzer do I use that does not turn orange on me? This is still the one I reached for since I first reviewed it last year. On my skin, it reads like a muted olive tan, so it’s warm enough to actually bronze but stays well out of the Cheeto zone. I really do think the slight green in it is part of why it works so well and blends in so smoothly on my skin. The formula is excellent too. It’s easy to pick up and blend and looks seamless on the skin. I have a lot of bronzers that are perfectly fine, but if I could only keep one, this would be it.

Vieve Modern Radiance Cream Bronzer in Light

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Setting Spray and Milani Make It Last Dewy Setting Spray – I’ve been asked a few times whether I’m still using the winners from my setting spray battle now that some time has passed, and yes, absolutely. I’m actually still using both of them almost every day. The Danessa Myricks has become more of a powder step for me than a normal setting spray. Sometimes I spray it onto a brush or puff and press it into the skin and basically use it as powder. Since it’s still been wintry here and my skin has been really dry, I’ve been reaching for it most days instead of actual powder, and I’ve been really happy with how that’s been working. Then I use the Milani as my actual final setting spray, and the combination has been working so well for me that I’ve been neglecting my powders altogether, except for one green one I’ve been testing that I’ll share more about in a week or two. I’m very glad I did that whole setting spray test, because both of these really did end up earning permanent spots in my routine.

Tower 28 Concealer in BW

Tower 28 Concealer in BW – A few people asked me to review this because it is specifically supposed to work for olive undertones, and yup, it really is green. This is one of the only concealers I’ve found that actually looks like my skin tone instead of just sort of working well enough. I already liked this formula, so having a shade that actually matches me is awesome. It blends in beautifully and looks really natural on the skin, which is why you can’t really see anything in the swatch. It looks like they also have a medium olive shade, so I may end up grabbing that and mixing the two together because BW is about to be too light for me heading into the spring and summer. I really appreciate that BW is a true warm olive, and it matches me much better than any of the other shades I’ve tried so far. This is definitely my go-to winter concealer.

MAC Matte Powder Blush in Blunt (please be aware this is impossible to swatch well)

MAC Matte Powder Blush in Blunt – My friend Kackie mentioned this shade in one of her videos and was so excited for me to try it, and she was right. I finally bought it, and the color is so good. On me, it reads like a muted rosy tan-brown, and it has turned out to be one of the best everyday blush shades I own. That said, the formula is a classic matte powder blush, and I’m just not as used to working with that type of formula anymore. I would personally love this exact color in a bouncy, cushiony, hybrid blush texture. That said, I’ve especially been loving it as an eyeshadow, and it has become such an easy one-and-done matte shade.

I also went looking for contour products that actually work on my warm olive skin without adding blue based on your feedback. Totally fair to not want to mix in blue every time you use a contour product!

From right to left: ABH Contour in Halftone and Greyscale, Judydoll Liquid Contour in Warm Cocoa Brown, Westman Atelier Contour Stick in Biscuit and Coco

ABH Blur Contour Stick in Greyscale – I’m so glad they came out with this shade in their shade expansion. It isn’t that much much cooler than Halftone, but just enough to not pull orange on me like Halftone did. Greyscale reads like a true cool olive-gray contour. It actually creates shadow instead of warmth, which is exactly what I wanted. If I want a sharper, more obvious contour, this is one of the products I reach for.

Judydoll Liquid Contour in Warm Cocoa Brown – The name is a little misleading if you are expecting “warm” in the usual sense, because it’s actually just their contour for warm skin. On me, it reads very similar to Greyscale but even cooler and greener. It is perfect for actually sculpting instead of just looking like a neutral bronzer. I love that this is under $15 (it’s under $10 right now) and a really great liquid formula that’s easy to work with. It’s the most “looks like a classic contour” on me product I’ve found so far.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Coco – This one is super different from the other two. It is definitely not orange, and it is much more workable on me than Biscuit, which I kept trying to force into being a contour even though it is clearly a warm bronzer on my skin. Seriously, look how orange it is next to Coco. Coco is a really interesting shade that I can’t quite describe but it’s a rusty red brown that’s almost purple grey. It somehow still works as a contour on my face in a way that looks very natural (I’m sure Kackie can and has explained the color theory behind this since she recommended this one!). It blends beautifully into bronzer and looks great in photos. When I want a softer, more natural contour, I use Coco. When I want a more obvious sculpted look, I use Grayscale or Judydoll. Honestly happy to have all 3 from in my and hopefully I can use the other contours as bronzers as it gets warmer!

What other products or categories would you like updates on? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

The Rosy-Beige Makeup Look That Actually Works on My Olive Skin

Featuredby liftbakelove1 Comment on The Rosy-Beige Makeup Look That Actually Works on My Olive Skin

I have been trying to figure out the perfect beige makeup look that works on my olive skin ever since Kackie (of Kackie Reviews Beauty) did a video on beige blushes. Most of those blushes go orange on me, and I’ve been obsessed with figuring this out. After doing a ton of testing, I think I have the right products, and I wore them all together yesterday. I got so many compliments from people in person and over work calls. I actually don’t think I have ever gotten that many compliments on a makeup look before. Caveat up front that I tried to get a more rosy-beige leaning look because I know so many of you are hoping to avoid orange, and I really do think rosy-beige looks so pretty. I’m super excited to share this set of products for this kind of look, especially for spring. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Believe – Like most of these products, this is very far away from beige in the packaging, but on me it turns into a perfect soft muted beige flush that looks like it just belongs on my face. The brand describes it as a true mauve, and it has that desaturated cool-toned mauvey pink tone that ends up looking just right instead of orange. This is a pretty pigmented formula, so you don’t need that much, and 0.25oz will last forever. The formula is great – it blends easily, lasts all day, and sets down to a really nice skin like finish that isn’t too dewy. If your blush disappears on you, this is a really good one.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Believe and Naming Fluffy Powder Blush in Taro

Naming Fluffy Powder Blush in Taro – Naming came out with a beige spectrum of blushes that goes from warm light beige to deep cool beige, and I’m so glad I picked one up. As a warm high-contrast olive, I figured the coolest deepest shade would be the best test, and I was right. Taro turns into the perfect everyday rosy-beige blush on me. I’ve actually been using it as a comparison point for other blushes while trying to find the right ones for this look. The formula is soft, blurring, and easy to work with. It is a little sheerer, so I have mostly been using it to set cream and liquid blushes instead of wearing it on its own. I especially love it over Believe because the two shades work so well together. And at least while I’m writing this, it’s only $12.

YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 200

YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 200 – I’ve written about this palette before, and it is still probably my favorite eyeshadow palette for my olive undertones. The shades stay rosy-beige without going orange on me, and they’re the right shades to use to make everything look cohesive with this type of blush look. The formula is also fantastic. The satin and matte shades are so smooth, easy to use, and very forgiving and blurring. The topper is beautiful, though it’s pretty sheer and I wouldn’t wear it on its own. It looks great over any of the other shades. I didn’t actually see this particular color story on Sephora, but it is currently 15% off at Nordstrom. If it turns out they’re discontinuing this one, I will definitely be picking up 400 next.

YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 200

Queen Musia Skincare Supercharged Tinted Balm in 1993  – My lips are pretty pigmented and pretty pink, so keep in mind that these lip shades are mixing with my natural lip color. For me, that means I do not actually want a lip product that is straight mauve. A cool-toned brown mixed with my natural lip color gets me to that neutral beige effect better. 1993 is just a perfect sheer rosy cool-toned brown. The formula is really nourishing, and it’s one of my favorite lip balm formulas. It also does not turn cheeto orange on me, which is obviously a huge plus for a brown balm.

Queen Musia Skincare Supercharged Tinted Balm in 1993 and Westman Atelier HydroBalm Sheer Tinted Lipstick with Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid in Soda

Westman Atelier HydroBalm Sheer Tinted Lipstick with Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid in Soda – This is the more pigmented version of that same idea. It is also a cool-toned brown, but with a lot more color payoff, so if you want something that is much more likely to actually show up brown on the lips, this is a really good choice. I will admit that Kackie just bought this for me for my birthday so I haven’t had it that long, but I’m SO HAPPY with how it looks. It’s definitely the vampier version of this lip look, but I love it so much. It’s also a little tingly so if that’ll bother you, I wouldn’t choose this one.

If you specifically want true mauve lip color recommendations, I have also been collecting those, so let me know in the comments!

My Dry, Textured, Eczema-Prone Skin’s Been Freaking Out: What’s Helping the Most

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on My Dry, Textured, Eczema-Prone Skin’s Been Freaking Out: What’s Helping the Most

My skin has been going through it this winter. It’s been extremely dry along with weird texture and a couple of eczema flare-ups. I know it’s probably because of lack of sleep, super cold dry weather, and did I mention lack of sleep? I have had to really baby my skin but to health, but now it’s actually looking pretty great. These are the products that have made the biggest difference. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Versed Gentle Pore Clearing Serum – I have a bunch of gentle acid toner type products, and a lot of them still end up irritating my skin just because of the state it’s in. This is one of the only ones that’s actually gentle on me. I use it a couple nights a week to lightly exfoliate and smooth texture and haven’t had any irritation. This has been my go-to chemical exfoliator when I want my skin to look less rough and textured but don’t want to risk making things worse.

Prequel Half and Half Fluid Moisturizer – I love Prequel products, and I use them constantly (I honestly think I own almost all of them). This one has been making the biggest difference for me right now in my morning routine. It’s the most lightweight and hydrating liquid moisturizers I’ve ever used. It gives a dewy, radiant skin look that actually lasts for a long time, and it doesn’t irritate my skin at all. I’ve been using it every day since it came out, and I think I’m on my third bottle. I notice a big difference in how my skin feels during the day when I skip this, and I’ll keep buying it again and again.

Prequel Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream – This is my go-to nighttime product when my skin is itchy, super dry, and eczema-prone (all of which has been happening a lot lately). It’s specifically made to help with irritation and itchiness due to dryness and eczema flare-ups, and it absolutely delivers. It really helps calm those things down. I’m on my second tube, and it’s a giant tube so I can use it on my face, on my body, everywhere. My husband has also been using it because he’s eczema-prone, and it has really helped him a lot. This is another one that I’ll keep repurchasing and might pick up the rich version to try next.

Experiment Super Saturated Serum – I’ve also fallen in love with Experiment skincare, and this is the first product of theirs I tried. I now own all of them except for the cleanser. I’m more than halfway through the serum, and I’m absolutely going to buy more. It gives my skin so much more hydration, and I notice a huge difference when I skip it in how moisturized and healthy my skin feels. I definitely feel like my skin has also been in better shape since I started using this. Plus, it’s refillable.

Experiment Molecular Mesh Moisturizer – I have so many moisturizers to work through right now, but this is easily one of the best moisturizers I’ve ever used. I’m going to run out and repurchase before I can even try some of the others because I keep going back to it. I can use it in the daytime, and I can use it at nighttime. I’ve even used it as a primer and mid-day. It makes a huge difference for my skin but it’s also lightweight enough that I can layer it with all these other products with no issue. I can really tell when I’m not using it. It just makes my skin feel so much better and more moisturized. The combination of this and the Barrier Support Serum has been doing a lot of heavy lifting for me lately.

Hint Cuticle Oils in the White Rice and Peach Boba scents – This isn’t really skincare, but I’m including it because this time of year my hands get absolutely wrecked, and I absolutely love using cuticle oils to make my nails and hands feel better. Hint just came out with their Lunar New Year oils. The packaging is so cute, but more importantly the scents are incredible. White Rice and Peach Boba are the first two full-size pens I bought because I love them so much. I usually buy the sample packs so I can compare scents and recommend them (I’m an affiliate, use greenfriend for 10% off at Hint) so grabbing full size pens is a big step for the collection I have at this point. I’ve been using these pretty religiously to keep my hands and nails healthy, and they’ve been amazing.

Byoma Bio-Collagen Radiance Facial Mask – I recently got this and I’ve only used it twice so I’m adding it in at the end. To be fair, twice is saying a lot because I’m not great at using masks. I own a bunch and a lot of them just sit around. But my skin has been so dull and dry that I wanted something that could help and give me that bouncy, glass skin look. This promises to be transformative and is under $20 so I figured it was worth a try. You leave it on for 20–30 minutes and then peel it off so I’ve been throwing it on right after I put my toddler to bed. The first time I used it, I was genuinely shocked. My skin felt softer, looked glassy, and felt more moisturized right away. I used it again the next day and my skin just felt and looked incredible. I know this has gone kind of viral lately, and it lives up to the hype for me.

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Victoria Beckham Brand Review: What’s Worth It and What I’d Skip

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Victoria Beckham Brand Review: What’s Worth It and What I’d Skip

This has been a very highly requested brand review (thank you so much for the requests – please keep them coming here or on Instagram). I’m so excited to share so many amazing products and a couple I personally would not recommend. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own. As always, I’ve prioritized getting product swatches true to color so don’t pay too much attention to whatever is going on with my skin.

Posh Lipstick in Pose – This is my favorite Victoria Beckham product and the first thing I’d rebuy if I had to start over. It stays actually cool toned on me, which is absurdly hard for me to find. It’s a mid-toned mauve that never turns even a little bit orange. It’s that perfect pinky purple mauve I’m always looking for and can basically never find. The formula is lightweight and a little nourishing and dewy without being too glossy. It’s just such an easy everyday lipstick that I would buy again and again.

Posh Lipstick in Pose, Lip Definer in 02, Posh Gloss in Martini

Lip Definer in 02 – This is one of the VB products that has stayed in my rotation the longest. I just checked and I got mine in 2021 so it’s probably time for a new one, but honestly, it still works and smells perfectly fine. It’s a firmer formula that is long-wearing, and it gives me the clean definition I need to make my lips look more polished. This shade does go a bit go too orange on me so if I grab a new one, I’ll get a different shade, probably 03. This also is definitely a drier formula so I usually need to start with a little lip prep that has time sink in first.

Posh Gloss in Poolside and Martini – I love this formula so much. It makes my lips look smoother and more hydrated, and it’s shiny without being sticky. Poolside is the one I’d rebuy next because it’s the perfect everyday shade on me and plays so nicely with my olive undertones (I actually used it up, so I don’t have it right now and cannot swatch it). Martini is a very, very sheer glittery peach topper that’s won’t change the color of whatever you’re wearing underneath, but also looks really good on bare lips. I have a bunch of shimmery glosses and balms now and this one isn’t my favorite of the bunch, but I’m glad I tried it and the formula is still fantastic.

Matte Bronzing Brick in 01 (lighter shade, darker, shade, mixed together)

Matte Bronzing Brick in 01 – I use this constantly, which is very rare for a bronzer. The packaging is beautiful, and I love that it’s refillable, so you can keep the compact and just swap in a refill if you ever finish it. The matte finish is extra blurring on the skin without being overly dry or powdery. The undertone is ever so slightly cooler and more neutral than a lot of bronzers that end up going very orange so both tones work well for my olive undertones. It’s still warm but not too much. I use the lighter shade to blend out anything that needs blending, soften harsh edges, and bridge the gap between my cheek products and concealer, or to softly fill in hollows. Then I’ll use the deeper shade as my actual bronzer, or I’ll just mix the two together depending on the season. I also use both shades as eyeshadow all the time. It’s a great year-round bronzer because you can adjust it lighter or deeper without needing a second product, and I think it would work for a wide range of complexions too.

Lid Lustre in Tea Rose – This is the sparkly Victoria Beckham eye product I’d recommend of all the different shimmery eye products (more on the palettes later). The formula is gorgeous and really easy to apply with a finger or a brush, and you can do a light layer or build it up. Tea Rose is a perfect neutral taupe brown base with a soft plummy/pinky sheen that also has sophisticated glitters that flash pink-lilac and a little champagne/gold in different lighting. It doesn’t go orange or even all that warm, and I love it pared with the Pose lipstick. It’s a more fancy sparkle when the light hits than something like a Pat McGrath special shade, so it actually works really well for everyday. One warning though – mine isn’t super hard-pressed, and I tilted it too far once and got eyeshadow everywhere. So, just be careful!

Lid Lustre in Tea Rose, Crease-Proof Eyeshadow Stick in Pecan, Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil

Crease-Proof Eyeshadow Stick in Pecan – This is one of my favorite eyeshadow sticks, and I’m actually not a huge eyeshadow stick person. The formula is truly great. I can throw it on, blend it out quickly, and it stays all day. Pecan is a really great color that actually stays brown on me, and there’s a tiny hint of green that makes it work so well with my olive undertones. It does have a hint of warmth in it, but not in a Cheeto way. This is also one of my favorite car makeup eye products because it’s so easy to throw on without a brush, and I can wear it alone or tap on a shimmer on top with my finger.

Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil – This is so good that I got rid of my other beige/white waterline pencils. The color is so good. It’s a yellow beige that brightens without looking stark or obvious, so it reads way more natural on me. I know it’s very yellow in the swatch, but it works really well actually on my waterline. The formula is also super easy to use, comfortable on the waterline, and actually stays put. When I’m tired and want to look more awake fast (which is always), this is one of my go-tos.

Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa, Bronze, and Olive – This is a great eyeliner formula if you want creamy application with really great staying power. You have enough time to smudge or soften it, and I actually do use the little smudger on the other side of the pencil because it works great with this formula. The liner does sets down and doesn’t migrate or turn into a mess on me. It’s easy, it layers well, and it works for tightlining. The Ravie liner is still my pick for someone who’s really bad at eyeliner (it’s me, I’m very bad at eyeliner) but if you’re a little more confident and can handle a more pigment, this is next on my list. Cocoa (dark matte brown) and Bronze (antique green/gold/bronze shimmer) are my everyday favorite easy natural shades on me. Olive is a shimmery deep black based green that’s clearly green but also is a great choice if you want to start playing around with green since it’s not a bright lime green.

Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa, Bronze, and Olive and Contour Stylus in Marble 

Contour Stylus in Marble – This one works, but it’s too expensive for what it is and way too warm to be a good contour for olive undertones. On the positive side, the packaging is super nice, like all Victoria Beckham products. Even though it looks like it might be a little dark at first, it blends out really well and can look natural on my high contrast complexion as a bronzer. That said, I don’t really love the super skinny precise contour stick format. The formula also feels a little dry and a little sticky on me. If you love a precise contour stick and you love the brand, you might enjoy it but this is not the one I would tell you to run out and buy. I will be doing a contour update super soon with your recommendations!

Eye Wardrobe Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Orchid (first four), Bordeaux (middle four), and Cocoa (last four)

Eye Wardrobe Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Orchid, Bordeaux, and Cocoa – These are my regret purchases, which I’m very sorry to report. The compact is super luxurious, the refill system is easy (I got one compact and 3 refills), and the formulas are genuinely fantastic. The mattes are silky, easy to blend, and not overly pigmented. The satins and shimmers are beautiful too, and I have no complaints about performance. My problem is the colors do not work for me. Orchid (supposed to be purple) goes brown-orange on me. Bordeaux is straight up orange, including the shade that should read more burgundy. Cocoa went gray-green on me, which I normally wouldn’t mind, except it’s gray-green that still goes orange, and it just doesn’t look right. The light matte in this one is also just Cheeto on me. Every time I use one of these, I have to grab another product to fix it or I end up wiping it off and trying again. If you struggle with shadows not looking like the pan on your skin, I wouldn’t recommend these. For the price, I’d personally grab a YSL Quad every time.

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