Shout to my friend who suggested a post all about the things that help me stop and appreciate something small and comforting. I had a great time thinking through all the things I use that help me destress and take a moment to relax, and these are some of my favorites! As always, 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!
Necessaire The Body Wash in Eucalyptus and Sandalwood– I love the eucalyptus for when I need a mood boost (like a morning shower or a “I hype myself up for the rest of the day after the gym” shower). It’s such a fresh, awakening scent, and it’s just strong enough. The sandalwood is great for creating a sense of calm and a very spa like experience. The packaging definitely also enhances the experience because it’s easy to squeeze out just what I need. The formula is perfect for my dry skin even in the winter – it’s super nourishing and a joy to use.
NBM Cuticle Buddy in Cashmere Sweater and Lavender – My nails have never been healthier or stronger since I starting using these, and I don’t freak out about nail breaks anymore because they grow back so fast now. The Lavender Cuticle Buddy has been a very important part of my nighttime routine since it’s such a calming scent paired with the relaxing routine of oiling my nails. Since I ran out of that scent, I’ve been using the Cashmere Sweater scent (which is retiring soon but coming back again in the winter!). It’s also great for winding down at night, with notes of vanilla and rich amber and hints of smoky cedarwood. I can’t wait to see what spring launch comes out that will take up the spot as my nighttime calming cuticle buddy! As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10.
Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask – 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.
KBShimmer Hand & Body Sugar Scrub in Warm Apple Cider – Using this body scrub in such a joy! It smells exactly like fresh apple pie and cider in the fall welcoming into a cozy evening. It’s just super comforting to me, and it also works really well. It’s incredibly moisturizing while also being an effective scrub – I usually don’t even need body lotion when I use this since. This particular scent was limited edition for September, but they have tons of other scents on their site which I’m sure are equally amazing. It is heavily fragranced so keep that in mind if that’s something that will bother you, but I absolutely love how this smells and how well it sticks around for my whole shower.
Oakley Soap Co Shower Steamers – These are my favorite shower steamers, which I use when I’m taking a shower to create a super spa-like experience. Depending on which scent you use, you can have a very relaxing or energizing shower – Keep Calm is a calming lavender scent, Morning Sun is an energizing citrus blend, and Just Breathe is an even more awakening blend of eucalyptus and peppermint. I love all the scents and highly recommend the variety pack to try them all out!
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.
Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Brynn (rich black)– This continues to be the best mascara I’ve ever used. I’ve moved on to one of the four minis I have, and I still love it. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. The best part is that it washes off so easily and quickly. I still have more minis to get through after this and will definitely repurchase until an amazing tubing formula comes out that’s better than this one.
Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist – I’m not a huge fan of the packaging (who wants to spray oil everywhere and try to handle a glass bottle with oily hands?), but the oil in here is the most moisturizing body oil I’ve tried. It also smells great and absorbs incredibly fast so moisturizing my whole body with this is super fast. I find I actually use this more often because it’s so quick so I’ve had way less dry areas since I got it. I have a back-up I’m planning to start once I get through some other things and will probably repurchase it when I’m totally out of it and the rest of my body oils.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – I have to imagine that I would love this if I had normal to oily skin, but as someone with very dry skin, it didn’t do enough for me. It smells amazing and sinks in so quickly. It definitely is moisturizing and makes my skin feel hydrated and glowy in the morning. That said, I find that I have to layer on at least 2 other moisturizers with this, and I would love something that’s a heavier hitter than this. So, I won’t be repurchasing this.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – I’ve written about this a few times already, and it’s because it’s my HG makeup remover. I had been trying the cleansing oil for awhile, but found that the balm was more effective at removing makeup if I was wearing more of it. The cleansing oil is great for the summer and really light makeup days, but the balm is what I need (both in terms of effectiveness and hydration) in the fall/winter and whenever my skin is irritated by spring allergies. I have 2 more back-ups of this in the full size so not going to rebuy any time soon.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve – I’m trying to use up my hand creams so have them all over our apartment, and this lands in the middle of the pack in terms of formula and is scent free. It’s definitely hydrating and effective but it doesn’t provide as long-lasting nourishment as some of the others I’m using right now, so I’m not planning on repurchasing this.
I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and I’ll be sharing empties posts every other Friday all year. 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.
As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection, and thought I’d look at my favorite products from my most purchased from brands. These are the brands I own the most of from a quantity perspective vs retail value. I also decided to exclude nail polish brands for this one because we’d end up with a list of my favorite polishes, but I’d be happy to do that soon – let me know in the comments if you’d like to see that! As always, 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!
Jumbo Base brush from Sonia G – I own 25 Sonia G brushes and honestly love and use them all constantly. But my favorite is definitely this one! It’s one of my most used and most versatile. I love using it most for bronzer, blush, and highlighter even though it’s meant for foundation (though it works great for that too). It blends out bronzer so fast, and then I use the tip of the brush to seamlessly add highlighter. I can then use the center of the brush to pop on some blush, and I’m good to go. It also washes out beautifully and feels good as new even though I’ve had it for almost a year.
Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer – Not only is this my favorite product from Farmacy, this is also just the best moisturizer I’ve tried for my super dry skin. It’s incredibly thick but still absorbs super quickly and plays well with my other night time skincare products. Usually by this time of year, my skin starts to get flaky and itchy because it’s so dry, but I’ve had no issues since I’ve been using this. I’m so glad they have the jumbo version now because I know this is going to be a staple for me for a long time, and it’s honestly been saving my dry skin from totally losing all its hydration overnight.
Custom Bite Beauty Lipstick
Custom Bite Beauty Lipstick – I still have a lot of Bite agave lip masks and lipsticks from before the brand reformulated and am really enjoying still having them around to use. My favorite thing from the brand though has to be one my custom lipsticks. I went to the Bite Lip Lab for my bachelorette party years and made my perfect red, my wedding lip color, and a dupe of my favorite but now discontinued lipstick. I then got a sheer version of that dupe, and it’s still one of my favorite lipsticks ever. Even though it looks pretty non-unique, it’s really one of my perfect lip colors, and it has so much nuance in person. I’m still so happy I have it.
Salt New York Crème Tint Pro Highlighter in Beige
Salt New York Crème Tint Pro Highlighter in Beige – I’ve written about my love for Salt New York’s products so many times, and it’s because it continues to be one of my favorite cream formulas that I go back to over and over again. All the Crème Tint Pros I have (and I have 21) blend out incredibly easily and seamlessly, are super lightweight, and look so at home on my skin. This is my favorite formula for when I need a “I’m running late and need something easy” look – they blend out so quickly with a brush, sponge, or fingers and never look patchy. My favorite though of all of them, if I really had to choose, would be beige. It’s just my perfect, my skin but better highlight, and it always looks absolutely amazing.
FitGlow Lip Serums in Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root (some of my other favorites)
Fitglow Beauty Lip Night Serum – I love all of the Fitglow Lip Serums so much, but my absolutely favorite is the night serum. This formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, which makes it perfect for super dry winter nights. It’s honestly the best night time lip treatment I’ve ever tried, and I wake up consistently to hydrated and nourished lips, which I’ve never had happen in the winter before using this product. It’s quite expensive for a lip balm, but it’s really so much more than that and totally worth it for me to not have consistently dried out, chapped, painful lips.
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.
I used to love watching “what’s in my bag” videos to see what people kept on hand and with them all the time. I think it shows what people actually use day in and day out. Because I hardly ever leave my apartment anymore (except to go to the gym of course), I wanted to do my own version on “what’s on my desk” instead. These are all the products I keep within arm’s reach on my desk separated into 3 categories: lips, hand and body, and nails. As always, 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!
Lips: I keep a bunch of lip products on my desk to apply throughout the day since I’m in tons of video calls, and I use my lip products super often between them wearing off and needing to moisturize my lips.
Glossier Ultralip in Villa – The Ultralips are a pretty pigmented tinted lip balm that has a touch more glossiness than your average balm. I love how moisturizing it is and how long lasting it is (for a lip balm texture). You can also build up the color without anything weird happening like pilling or patching. Villa is such an at home shade for me that makes it super easy to throw on, so I love using these during the day on work calls when I want something quick and easy while still taking advantage of how moisturizing these are.
Glow Recipe Glow Lip Pop Lip Balm in Watermelon Glow and Blueberry Bounce – When my lips are incredibly dry, I always reach for these because of how incredibly moisturizing they are. I got a set of two for $22 and then 20% off, which made these much more reasonable in terms of price. They are slightly exfoliating, which I find really helps with any flaking or super dry spots. They also smell amazing and the color is just enough to make it look like I did something without being too much.
Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Magic Hour and Venetian Rose
Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Magic Hour and Venetian Rose – I’m honestly surprised I haven’t panned one of these yet. I keep them at my desk to have an easy, full pigment lip color that’s incredibly easy to swipe on without a mirror. The formula is incredibly moisturizing and has enough thickness to not disappear right away even if I’m talking a lot. Either color completely brightens up my face, and I love having both a brighter pink and dusty rose shade at hand.
Famarcy Honey Butter Lip Balm – When I want something truly foolproof and clear, I reach for this. It’s amazingly hydrating and moisturizing and doesn’t have a weird taste or scent. Because it’s in a stick (unlike something like the Glossier Balm Dotcom), it’s super quick to apply if I only have a second in between meetings.
Hand and body: I have incredibly dry skin and need to have lotions and oils nearby, but there’s only a few I keep on my desk to have on hand all day.
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm – This is the most amazing smelling product I own, hands down. If I need a pick me up, this is always what I reach for first, because it smells like fresh squeeze citrus and is so bright and fresh. It always makes me so happy. I got this on sale for $82, and while it is expensive, you do get 17 oz which I have found is lasting forever even if I use it all over (seriously, I’ve owned this over a year and use it all the time since it sits on my desk, and there’s still so much left).
The Lavender Cuticle Buddy is also one of my faves
NBM Cuticle Buddy – My nails have never been healthier or stronger since I starting using these (someone actually thought my nails were fake at the gym because they looked so nice!). I don’t freak out about nail breaks anymore because they grow back so fast now that I’m using this. I originally got a kit that comes with a great travel nail file, the cuticle buddy, and a full 1oz of nail oil to refill your cuticle buddy with and fell in love with the product. I keep 4 of them on my desk: Hot Chocolate, Tea Tree & Eucalyptus, Lemon & Ylang Ylang, and Carmel Iced Coffee. These are my favorite day time and afternoon scents, so I love having them available all day. As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10.
Nails: I keep all of my most used nail products on my desk (where I paint my nails), so I don’t have to pull them out and put them back every time I do a manicure.
It’s great having a top coat that makes sure everything looks smooth when working with one coat polishes like this one from Starrily
KBShimmer Fillin’ Groovy Ridge Filling Nail Polish Base Coat – I really struggle with nail polish lasting on me, and every base coat I’ve tried so far has led to nail polish that peels off completely after about 3 days. And if not, there is always a ton of chipping no matter what polishes and top coat I use. All that changed when I started using this base coat from KBShimmer that I happened to have gotten as a gift with purchase with an order in 2021. My manicures can last almost 2 weeks now (although I usually end up changing them up for fun before then). Beyond the amazing longevity this provides, it creates smoother base because it’s ridge filling. It’s also not completely clear, which I found has helped me use less coats of polishes on top for full coverage. The best part is that it’s only $6.50, and I’m so glad to have settled on the perfect base coat for me.
A good quick dry top coat is so helpful when using decals and stickers like these
KBshimmer Clearly on Top Quick Dry – This top coat is incredible and only $6. It dries so fast, doesn’t cause shrinkage, and is super shiny. I can do a full manicure in less than 30 minutes and go about my day, including going the gym, with no issues. I also have way fewer chips than normal, and my nails last way longer than with other top coats. With how affordable this is, I’m so impressed and can’t imagine going back to more expensive top coats when this works even better than they do.
I was very glad to have good clean up brush for this design!
Holo Taco Nail Polish Clean Up Brush – I don’t talk about it often here, but I love painting my nails and do so at least a couple times a week. A clean up brush is a must have tool for me to ensure my manicure looks great. I just dip it in some acetone and use it to clean up any nail polish that got onto my cuticle or skin. The Holo Taco clean up brush has a much smaller head than my others and more tapered which makes it super easy to get into small areas without accidentally taking off polish from my nail. It’s such a worthwhile investment for $10.
A recent water marble manicure that required protective peel
Holo Taco Protective Peel – I use liquid latex when I do most nail art like gradients and stamping. Most liquid latex takes forever to dry and has a big brush that makes it hard to apply. The Holo Taco one is so easy to use and dries so much quicker than all the other ones I’ve tried. Even with the high quality, it’s still less than $15, and this tube has lasted me through many manicures already.
NBM nail files – These are my favorite glass nail files. They make super quick work of filing my nails before a manicure without being harsh. They also still feel good as new even though I’ve been using them for so long. They also work great to easily file down super specific spots since they are quite small, but they still can file down a whole nail fast. As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10.
What products do you keep on your desk or in your bag? I’d love to 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.
I’ve been wanting to try Victoria Beckham Beauty products ever since the brand launched, and I finally picked up a few things during a sale in 2021. I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them. I’ve gotten a ton of wear time out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments! Victoria Beckham Beauty is a luxury beauty brand that focuses on being clean but also high performance and was founded by Victoria Beckam. As always, 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!
Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa and Bronze – I hate most eyeliners because I have incredibly watery eyes. Especially when it comes to tightlining, most eyeliners break down, running into and smudging beneath my eyes for the remainder of my day. That hasn’t happened to me once with these – once they set, they stay put. They are incredibly creamy and blendable so it’s shocking how well they dry down. They don’t smudge all over, they don’t run into my eyes, and they don’t move. I love that even though they set so well, there’s still enough time to play with them to get the look I want. Because of all of this, they are totally worth the price to me. And they’re less expensive than I would have expected! If you purchase these without the sharpener, they are $26, which is much more reasonable than I expected for a luxury brand. For comparison, Urban Decay’s eye liners (which have 0.04oz compared to Victoria Beckham’s 0.042oz) are $22. And during a sale, you can get them for even less (even just with the welcome10 code, they’re around $23). Obviously, it’s still over $20 for an eyeliner which I know is a lot of money, so I would love to know your recommendations for drugstore eyeliners that actually don’t smudge or run.
Bronze is a golden brown with a slight shimmer that I love using as a subtle liner for every day. It pairs really well with the eyeshadow looks I tend to use, and the shimmer is just enough to add some brightness without going overboard. Cocoa is my perfect deep matte brown that I love using for tightlining or to create definition for a smokier look. Normally I would compare these to other similar products I own, but I actually got so frustrated with all my previous eyeliners over the years that I have decluttered all of them.
Lip Definer in 02 – The formula is really stiff but is still relatively easy to work with as long as your lips aren’t incredibly dry. Because it’s so stiff, it dries down immediately and lasts an incredibly long time, so if you’re looking for something that really will stay put, this formula is great. Despite it’s dry texture, It’s quite agreeable, especially if you use lip balm ahead of time. That said, I find I don’t reach for it as much right now because it’s so dry here and it feels like I’m tugging on my lips in an uncomfortable way. I’m excited to get more use out of it in the summer.
02 is described as a neutral beige brown for light to medium lip tones, but I think it has much more pink than brown, as you can hopefully see from the above swatches. Both Kackie from Thrive and Mink from Em Cosmetics are truer beigey brown tones. In my collection, 02 is closest to Kitten from Em Cosmetics which is described as a rose nude. Both the Victoria Beckham and the Make Up For Ever pencils require sharpening, whereas the Thrive Causmetics and Em Cosmetics liners are twist ups. It’s no surprise then that the formula is closest to the Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil – the least creamy and emollient of the bunch but also the longest lasting. When I have really dry lips, I reach for the Em Cosmetics and Thrive Causemetics formulas over the Victoria Beckham or Make Up For Ever (or when I just don’t feel like using a sharpener). These are similarly priced to the eyeliners at $24 with no sharpener (less if on sale), which is in the same range as the rest of these (Thrive Causemetics is $20, Make Up Forever is $20, Em Cosmetics is $19). The formula is less special than the eyeliners, so while those are worth the splurge, I honestly think you don’t need this one if you already have lip liners you love.
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.
I’m so excited to share my fitness and lifestyle favorites to kick off March (how is it already March?!), and that I loved especially during February. I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions (see my last competition recap here) and am very into fitness and health. As always, 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!
A7 Bar Grip Hoodie – This hoodie is so incredibly comfortable that I never want to take it off. The site says it’s made with an ultra-soft cotton/polyester fleece blend, and it truly is ultra-soft. I have it in an XS but there’s still plenty of room given the relaxed fit. I love that it has the bar grip material on the back so I can use it for bench and low bar squats (it helps you stick to the bench or a bar stick to you) or just look super cool while I’m walking around. The material is lightweight enough that I can workout in it but warm enough that I’ve been able to wear it as my only top layer in 40 degree weather. Even though it’s $60, the quality, fit, and comfort are absolutely worth the price to me.
A7 Defy Joggers – I’ve been trying really hard to mix up the brands that I include in these favorites posts, but I really need to share about these joggers. In full transparency, A7 gifted these to me in the same order as the sweatshirt, but as always, these are my unbiased opinions. I also had already purchased a pair for my husband, and he loves them so much – now I understand why. These fit so well in a way that is comfy and oversized but doesn’t look baggy, which is shocking considering they’re unisex. The fabric is lightweight but still warm enough for these winter to spring transition months and is so soft and comfortable. The zippered pockets are deep enough for all my stuff, and there’s no weird back pockets to content with. I’ve been wearing these for days on end and might buy myself another pair for my upcoming birthday.
Juggernaut AI Powerlifting program– I started using Juggernaut in December, and I’ve been thrilled with my progress training for my next competition in April. My 1RMs are already over 100lbs over my competition total in October, and I still have over 2 months left to train, and I’m still only doing 4 days a week. I love that the app is super easy to use, the program is 100% personalized to me down to adjusting after every set based on how I said it felt. I’ll be doing a full review after my meet but I wanted to share because I’ve just been loving it. As always, you can use my affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE with Juggernaut to get 10% off. Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about this program without being an affiliate (I even wrote this before getting a code and am editing this in afterwards).
Strawberry Built Bars – I’m still shocked at how good these are considering the macros (most bars have around 17g of protein for 130 or 140 calories!) and keep trying new flavors. My most recent favorite are the strawberry bars which I can tell have actual dried strawberries in them. They were the perfect “I want chocolate covered strawberries but also protein” bar all February. There’s almost always a 20% off code going around and free shipping which helps with how expensive they are. That said, at about $1.8 a bar, they’re still less expensive than other bars like Quest ($2.25 a bar plus shipping from their website) and taste way better to me, and I’ve kept loving them since the first bar I tried last year.
Ember Mug – I know this mug is incredibly expensive, but it’s so worth it for me. It takes me forever to drink coffee in the morning, so I’ve really appreciated having coffee that stays hot for hours. It also means that I can add cold milk and the coffee heats back up to a great temperature without me having to do anything. And if I have other things right after the coffee’s done, it’s so nice to be able to step away and come back to coffee that hasn’t gotten any colder. It’s held up super well over the years I’ve had it and charges fairly quickly so I can use it again for tea in the afternoon. I’ve been really appreciating this mug lately, and it’s definitely one of my favorite things.
What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for being here! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
I can’t believe February is already almost over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months (I have some products I received during the holidays that I’m loving but not ready to talk about just yet!). If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! 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.
Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer in LX010 – This formula is incredibly high coverage – definitely the most pigmented of all my base products. A tiny amount goes so far, and because of that, it doesn’t look heavy or cakey. I have the shade LX010 (the lightest in range), and I’ve found it to be super helpful to mix with my foundations to lighten them because I haven’t seen sun in so long and everything is a bit too dark. It dries down on its own to a satin finish that doesn’t need to be powdered, but it plays well with all my powders. I think I’ll like it even better in the summer because it’s a touch drying on my super dry winter skin, but I’ve found that mixing it in with Glossier Future Dew or Auric Glow Lust has made it the perfect texture.
Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush in Venetian Rose – This formula is so incredibly soft and creamy (like the name implies), and that makes it so easy and quick to apply. It blends so seamlessly into the skin without disappearing, and it’s one of the longest wearing cream blushes I own. I’ve been using the one I have in Venetian Rose so often the last few months since I got this. This color is a beautiful purply/pink rosy tone that is so at home on my skin. It also matches the Lip Cushion in Venetian Rose, which is one of my favorite lip products, and the Heaven’s Glow Blush in Venetian Rose, which is one of my favorite powder blushes. Having all of them makes it so easy to put a look together that I know will be cohesive.
Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil in Nude Nectar – This lip oil reminds me so much of the Dior Lip Oil but is so much more nourishing and a fraction of the price (the Beauty Pie is $8.21 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the shade Nude Nectar which is sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some “my lips but better” color if I’m not wearing anything. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it. It’s been a struggle to not pick up a ton more shades but between my no-buy and all my FitGlow Lip Serums (which is also very similar to this), I definitely don’t need more right now.
Beauty Pie lip oil in Nude Nectar
KBShimmer Fillin’ Groovy Ridge Filling Nail Polish Base Coat – I really struggle with nail polish lasting on me, and every base coat I’ve tried so far has led to nail polish that peels off completely after about 3 days. And if not, there is always a ton of chipping no matter what polishes and top coat I use. All that changed when I started using this base coat from KBShimmer that I happened to have gotten as a gift with purchase with an order in 2021. My manicures can last almost 2 weeks now (although I usually end up changing them up for fun before then). Beyond the amazing longevity this provides, it creates smoother base because it’s ridge filling. It’s also not completely clear, which I found has helped me use less coats of polishes on top for full coverage. The best part is that it’s only $6.50, and I’m so glad to have settled on the perfect base coat for me.
What were your favorites this month? 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.
Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again.
Glossier Boy Brow – This been my favorite choice for brow gel for years because it just does exactly what I want a brow gel to do. It deposits color, but not too much, defines the brow hairs, but not too much, and has staying power, but not too much. Now that I’m through all my backups, I’ve been testing out other brow gels like the Rose Inc Brow Renew in Clear and Kosas AirBrow. I actually like them both better than Boy Brow, and I’m excited to not have any brow gel backups so I can keep testing out new formulas and find the one that really works best for me.
Glossier Stretch Concealer in G11 – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, which is one of the reasons I actually finished the whole pot. I can just dot it all over my face, blend, and be done without needing both a concealer and foundation step. The Stretch Concealer looks incredibly skin like, lasts all day, and provides just the right amount of coverage for me (which is light). I find the light coverage makes it blend seamlessly and wear well even without powder since it’s harder to tell where it’s worn off than with a fuller coverage product. It also feels very light weight, and everything I put on top of it looks great. Because I love it so much, I already had another one, and I likely will repurchase it again unless something similar comes into my life that I like even more.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream – This eye cream was sent to me to try and review, and I thought at the time “there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with a $70 eye cream.” And now, I’ve repurchased it at least five or six times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation. I’ve been able to continually find it on sale, which is awesome, so I usually spend about $40 on average for it. I already have another one going and a backup ready to go, and I will keep repurchasing this until something even better comes along.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum – I got sent this to try for review, and it’s a totally fine serum. It hydrates and made my skin feel great. It promises to do a bunch of other “anti-aging” things, and I didn’t notice a huge difference from when I started it to when I finished this mini size. This serum is so expensive that I’m not going to be buying a full size because I’d rather invest in other things that really work for my skin.
Allies of Skin 1A™ Retinal + Peptides Overnight Mask – This continues to be my HG retinol product, and I’m already using my backup and will repurchase this when I run out. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all, is very hydrating, and still actually does all the things retinol does (smooths the appearance of wrinkles, fades scars, and brightens skin). I love that if I’m really exhausted, I can use this as my all-in-one nighttime product without waking up to incredibly dry, blotchy skin, which is what used to happen with other retinol products. It’s pretty expensive, like the rest of this brand, but it works so well, and now I can’t imagine going back to something that isn’t as effective as this.
I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and I’ll be sharing empties posts every other Friday all year. 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.
I’m on a no-buy for most of 2022 and using these monthly updates to keep me accountable. For these updates, I’ve decided to answer the same set of questions every month. Feel free to follow along in the comments with your own no-buy or low-buy updates. As always, 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!
What’s one thing that helped this month go easier? Keeping a wishlist has continued to be incredibly helpful in this process. There have even been a few things I added to my wishlist that I removed only a few weeks later. It’s such a great reminder that there’s so many things I want to buy purely because they’re new and exciting rather than because I need them. And because I’m spending so much more time just getting to know my collection, it’s way easier for me to realize that I’d be essentially duping what I already have (like these products I wrote about earlier this month). I think even after my no-buy ends, I’m going to continue the policy of putting things on a wishlist and letting them sit there for a bit before I buy them. It’s a great way to make sure I’m only buying what I truly want.
What was one thing I wanted to buy but didn’t and why? I really wanted to get new Glossier After Baume moisturizer that is specifically designed for very dry and/or sensitive skin like mine. I don’t have anything that thick and occlusive, so it feels like a gap in my collection. My skin has also just been feeling super dry lately, and it seemed like the perfect thing to help with that. But I own 26 serums and moisturizers, and I know between them all, I can make a mixture that will work for me. It’s also permanent so it’s still going on the wishlist for Black Friday, but I really need to get through some of my moisturizers (many of which are minis I got as gifts with purchase) before I add any more to my collection.
A recent manicure I did trying to really appreciate what I already have!
Did I buy anything this month? I caved and bought three Starrily polishes (Aphrodite, Catnip, and The Cat’s Meow). One of my rules is that I can buy limited edition products as long as I don’t go over my budget for that category, and Starrily polishes tend to come back into stock very rarely. There have been polishes from them I had to wait at least 6 months to a year for, so in my head these were “limited edition,” That said, for full transparency, I did break one of my rules, and I wanted to share because it’s important that we don’t only talk about being perfect on the internet. I’m excited to 100% stick to it in March, especially knowing I really have everything I already need.
From left to right: Vesca Lyra, Bodyography Off the Hook, Mac Groundwork, Laura Mercier Rose Gold, Hourglass Reflect, Chantecaille Cheetah
What’s a product I rediscovered by having to shop my stash? One of my favorite rediscoveries is the Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadow in Groundwork. I had honestly totally forgotten about it and how great it is as an eyeshadow base or matte one and down shadow. It’s a neutral taupe that goes with any blush and lip color I’ve chosen. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because it’s a hybrid primer shadow. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. While I love using it alone, I’ve been using it again specifically as base for cream glitters and shimmer shadows. I have so many pretty, sparkly shadows that look off without a base like this, so it’s been perfect for that. You can see above how it compares to some of my other favorite one and done shadows (more details about them here).
If you’re doing a no-buy, how did your February go? If not, what amazing thing did you buy this month? I’d love to 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 part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection, and thought I’d look back at my 2019 Makeup Favorites and see which products are still mainstays in my collection. I was surprised at how many weren’t favorites anymore, and it really made me realize both that I need to stop buying backups because new and better formulas are coming out all that time and that these products are truly favorites of mine. As always, 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!
Natasha Denona Biba Palette – The Biba Palette is still one of my favorite palettes of all time, regardless of how much new eyeshadow I’ve gotten over the years. It is the perfect mix of warm, neutral, and cool tones with the right number of shimmers. The formula is amazing and has been a great stand-by for me. The formula has held really well even though I’ve had it for quite a long time now, and it’s still my go-to if I just want something quick and easy. The amount of shadow you get in the palette is also so much – it looks I’ve barely touched some of the colors even though I’ve used them over and over again.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – I’ve talked about this in my favorites many times, and I still use it almost every day. It’s such a great for dry skin, and the full size really lasts forever. It looks like I’ve barely used it even though I bought it in 2019 and use it super consistently. If you don’t want to splurge for the full size and don’t use a lot of powder, you can totally get away with using the travel size for over a year in my experience. Even though I love the Kosas Cloud Set Powder, I still find myself reaching for this all the time, especially for under my eyes.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream– My friend Vera recommended this to me when I was looking to replace the reformulated Clinique Moisture Surge (which I had used for ten years!). I’m so happy she did because it’s been a staple of mine ever since I started using it. It’s incredibly moisturizing without being oily or heavy, and it smells amazing. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I stop using this to try other moisturizers, and I’ve found that this and the Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer make my perfect dry skin nighttime dream team.
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner – This toner was my favorite skincare discovery of 2019, and I’ve been using it every single morning ever since. It has continued to make my skin clearer, brighter, and less dry. This is probably the only product I’ve been using nonstop for almost 3 years, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s also $14 for a huge bottle, and it’s my most cost-effective skincare product in my routine. My husband loves it too, and it’s one of the only skincare products he consistently uses. I see this being a staple for me for a very long time.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer and the While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque – This primer and the mask are still magic for my hair. Together, they keep it looking shiny, soft, and frizz-free without weighing it down. Plus, they smell amazing and compliments all the perfumes I own vs overpowering them like other hair products can do. I only use the mask about once every 3 weeks, and that’s been more than enough to keep my hair feeling great. I’m honestly not surprised that haircare is one of the places where I have so many staples because it’s easy to just rebuy these when I run out.
What are some of your long time favorites? 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.
Makeup and Skincare Reviews 