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2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 9

July 23, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist – I’m honestly shocked I’ve never written about this on here before, especially because I’ve gone through so many bottles of this. I use this as a hydrating step while I’m doing my makeup every morning, especially if things are starting to feel a little drier than I want it to be, because I set everything with my Cover FX Setting Spray. I use this very much like a Mac Fix+, but Fix+ breaks me out, so I was so excited to find this. The watermelon mist is so fine, actually hydrating, and smells amazing. I love how it melts all my makeup together to look seamless without disrupting anything. I have two back-ups of this and am planning to keep repurchasing it.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I’ve been using this every morning for years, and I think there will be more of these in my empties because I ended up getting a bunch of the smaller jars in sets and am going through them pretty quickly. It’s simple, effective, not too heavy or light, and plays well under makeup. It’s really such a staple in my routine that I don’t have much to say about it except that it’s one of my favorite moisturizers for my dry skin – it just works really works, and I keep coming back to it over and over again no matter what else I try. I have another back-up to get through and am planning to repurchase unless something knocks it out of my morning moisturizer spot.

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate – I’ve been using this for years as my hydrating serum in my nighttime routine, and it definitely works really well for what it does. That said, this seems to keep going up in price (it used to be in the high 30s) and doesn’t feel worth it when there are so many great hydrating serums out there. I have a few more of these to get through because I had gotten a bunch of back-ups during a sale on Clinique’s website, but I’m planning to switch over to The Most from PSA Skin (you can read my review here) and will not be repurchasing this.

It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product – This definitely worked well for my hair as a spray-on deep conditioning treatment. It didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, and even though I’m willing to make an investment if the quality is there, I didn’t find this special enough to spend almost $40 on the full size. I’m really happy with the products I recently reviewed from the Inkey List and have a ton of deluxe sample spray leave-in conditioners to get through, so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser – If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love Allies of Skin products, and this cleanser is one of my favorites. This cleanser creates such a luxurious cleansing experience – you can even use it as a quick, hydrating mask if you leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off. And while it really does clean, it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated like you used a moisturizer. This is the only cleanser I’ve used that actually helps with any extra dryness and irritation, and I really notice a difference when I’m not using it. I have already started with the backup I had and will absolutely be repurchasing it when I finish that one.

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 not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!

Hot Weather Favorites

July 21, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakelove6 Comments

Now that we’re really in summer and I’ve experienced a historic heatwave, I wanted to share some of my hot weather favorites. This is a short list of the makeup and skincare that I’ve been relying on to ensure my makeup lasts all day and to improve summer skin issues. If you have requests for other product round-ups, let me know in the comments below! And as always, subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Fenty Eaze Drops in Shade 02 – The formula is almost entirely mask proof and sweat proof, but doesn’t look heavy at all. It has a natural finish that I can easily add dew too with something like Glossier Future Dew without effecting how long it lasts. Even walking around or working out when it’s incredibly hot, it holds up super well all day. I love that I can blend it in super quickly with my fingers, and it looks flawless – during the summer, I want things that are quick and easy, and this definitely checks all the right boxes.

Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini – I have been loving setting my cream products with powder products to make them last longer without putting setting powder everywhere. I find this creates a more satin vs matte finish, which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting. There are lots of powder bronzers that would work great for this, but I’ve been really loving using the Vesca bronzer. Since I just got this recently, I’ll be doing a full review of it soon – let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – This spray in particular is my HG setting spray that I’ve been using for years and love. It’s alcohol-free, it really does add dewiness which I can never get enough of, and it’s so much less drying than other setting sprays I’ve tried. I always use this to finish off any makeup look, but I find it’s especially important in the summer to make everything last all day.

Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder – My skin starts feeling super congested in the summer, and I need to do a bit more than my normal chemical exfoliant routine. Because my skin is generally very dry and dehydrated, I tend towards super gentle exfoliants, especially if I’m going to use a physical exfoliant. The pineapple powder is super gentle while still being very effective. My skin always feels so much better when I use this – much less congested without any irritation. It’s only $16, and this bottle will last forever. I also love that I don’t have to worry about it expiring as quickly because of its powder format.

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator – This is my favorite mask to use when it’s been really hot out. This has been such a skin saver for me (and my husband, who also loves this mask!). It’s so hydrating and leaves my skin super soft and moisturized. If my face feels irritated from the heat, it helps my skin feel better immediately because it’s so cooling. It’s even if you keep it in the fridge, and I’ve been loving using mine straight from the fridge lately. It’s pricey but a little goes a long way, and the small jar that both my husband and I use is still going strong.

What are your hot weather favs? Let me know down in the comments below!

My Favorite Nail Polishes Right Now

July 18, 2021July 18, 2021by liftbakelove4 Comments

I am an avid nail polish user and have over 100 polishes – I love trying out new brands and finishes! I’ve gotten requests to share more about my favorite polishes, so I’m going to start sharing my favorites every month! I almost always use Orly Bonder Basecoat and KBShimmer Clearly on Top Quick Dry top coat and will let you know if I needed to use black or white underneath something to make it work. If you’re interested in more nail content definitely let me know in the comments below. And as always, subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Thumb to pinky: Hydropower, Hot-wire pink, Pink Fizz, Lavender Syrup, Sparkling Water

Holo Taco is Simply Nailological’s nail polish brand, and I absolutely love their polishes. I was so excited for the new pastel collection and electric linear holo collections, and these are the 5 I choose to grab from each. The linear holo formula is reliably 2 coats for full coverage in all of the colors Holo Taco makes. Some of them I can even get by with one coat, but I like doing a second coat to ensure depth of color and even coverage. I love how strong the holo is in all of these and how unique the colors are.

Hydropower is my favorite polish from Holo Taco – it’s a vibrant aqua that feels like summer to me. Hot-wire Pink is a bright hot pink, and it’s a color I was always hoping to have in this formula. Pink Fizz is a cool toned pink that leans purple. I was hoping for something more pink when it first came out, but now that I have Hot-wire Pink, I have exactly the pink I was looking for. Lavender Syrup is a pale cool toned lavender that I find leans on the blue side. Sparkling Water is a soft blue shade that is so pretty for spring and summer.

Starrily is an indie nail polish brand based in the US, and one of my favorite brands. Starrily Pegasus is a purple metallic foil that full of micro-flake that make it incredibly reflective. It’s full coverage in 2 coats for me (though Starrily recommends using 3 coats which would be totally okay with me to get this incredible finish). It’s extremely beautiful in the sun or inside, and I think the Starrily Foil formula is incredibly underrated. Starrily polishes constantly sell out, but if you sign up to be notified when they’re back in stock, I find it pretty easy to get the shades I’ve been waiting for when they restock.

Picture Polish is an indie nail polish brand based in Australia that recently had a big sale – I took the opportunity to grab a bunch of different shades and formulas. I’ve watched Kelli Marissa talk about how amazing the brand is for a long time and was very excited to try them out. I was not at all disappointed!

Maldives is a scattered holo warm teal polish that reminds me of the beach and the ocean (check out the website for a more true to color picture – I couldn’t capture it correctly for some reason and want to make sure you get to see how gorgeous the color is!). It was fully opaque in 2 coats, and the finish is really unique for my collection. It is so perfect for summer for me and reminds me of a tropical vacation that I hopefully will be able to take one day.

Chameleon is a green/blue/purple multi chrome nail polish. Depending on the light and angle, it will show up as a different color, and I couldn’t be happier. This is by far my favorite multi chrome formula that I’ve tried – it’s fully opaque in two coats (though you migh tneed 3 if you have longer nails), and the sparkles in it make it truly unique. I also love how it doesn’t require a black base coat, which is rare in this kind of formula as most multi chrome polishes tend to need a black base coat to show up.

What are you wearing on your nails lately? I’d love to know down below in the comments!

The 5 Products I’d Use for A Quick and Easy Full Face of Makeup

July 14, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Someone suggested I write a post about what I would use for a full face if I could only choose 5 products, and I loved that idea (thank you!!). These are the 5 products I would use to do a super quick “I have a video call starting in 5 minutes that I need to get ready for” look. I have dry skin and prefer a dewy look, so you’ll see lots of cream products and no powder. If you’d like me to do this again but focusing more on something much more sweatproof/long wearing, let me know in the comments below! And if you enjoy reading, subscribe here or follow me @liftbakelove on Instagram for updates!

Glossier Stretch Concealer – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, so it would absolutely be my pick to use as both a foundation/concealer. This is one of the best ways to do a full face fast since you can dot it all over your face, blend, and be done. The Stretch Concealer is my go to for this because it 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.

Glossier Boy Brow – My eyebrows are super thick and unruly and require a brow gel (at minimum) to look okay, so there’s no way I would skip a brow product. My choice would be Boy Brow because it deposits color (but not too much), defines the brow hairs, and has great staying power without being crunchy.

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo in Shade 0.5

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate duo – This might be cheating since this is a duo, but it was one of the first things that came to mind for this. I would use it as a bronzer, highlighter, and eyeshadow. The formula is a little sheer which makes it super easy to just throw on without having to be super precise, and it blends into the skin incredibly seamlessly. The bronzer shade is neutral enough to be used as more of a “brontour,” which makes it a great shade for a one and done eyeshadow look too. I normally always use an eyeshadow primer, but I found that I could use my finger to apply this to my eyes without a primer, and it worked great. Because it’s a cream product, it’ll definitely crease a bit especially without a primer, but I’m totally okay with that for this kind of look.

From left to right: blackberry, raspberry, coral, peach – brighter shades I think would be perfect for this kind of look!

Salt New York Crème Tint Pro – Because the crème tint pro functions as both a lip and a cheek product, they make for a super easy monocrhomatic look. I’ve written about these many times because they are one of my favorite cream products. I own all of the shades they make, and I love that any of them would look great paired with the Tom Ford duo. You can also use them on the eyes if you don’t mind creasing similar to the Tom Ford, and I would totally do that if I wanted to pull the look together even more. This is a great formula for a “I’m running late and need something easy” look – they blend out quickly with a brush, sponge, or fingers and never look patchy.

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – Something always looks a bit off until I finish a look with mascara, so I knew it would have to be one of my 5 products. The only mascara I’ve been using for awhile is this one so it was an easy choice. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. As always when I mention this mascara, if there’s a tubing mascara you love and think I should try, definitely let me know in the comments!

If I could choose a 6th product, it would be the Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. There’s a lot of cream products in this list and no setting powder, and I think adding the setting spray would go a long way for longevity. This spray in particular is my HG setting spray that I’ve been using for years and love. It’s alcohol-free, it really does add dewiness which I can never get enough of, and it’s so much less drying than other setting sprays I’ve tried. It would be a great finishing touch for this almost full face of cream products.

What would your 5 products be? Let me know down in the comments below!

Brand Review: The Inkey List Haircare

July 11, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

After watching Kayley Melissa’s review on The Inkey List Haircare products, I really wanted to know if they were really as good as she said they were. Since her video was sponsored, I was a little skeptical, but 5 products for less than $60 shipped seemed like a great thing to review for all of my readers (thanks for being here!). I used the website’s “recipe builder” to get a routine recommendation and bought 5 of the recommended products. I’ve been testing these since May to make sure I can give a thorough review of their effectiveness and also took a break from using them for the last week to if there was a difference not using them (spoiler: there was!). All links are affiliate links in this post.

PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment ($12.99) – I really struggle with breakage and split ends, and this product has completely changed that for me. I use this after every shower and now have way less breakage and almost no split ends despite not getting a hair cut for a long, long time. My hair also feels much softer and less frizzy even if I only used just this product. I’m used to needing to use a couple of different products to get my hair to look and feel great, so that really impressed me! The only con for me is that I can’t stand this packaging – it’s so hard to spray the product. I even had my husband try it to see if it was just me, and he struggled with it too. I love everything else about this product so I will definitely continue to use it and likely repurchase it, but I wish they made it way easier to use.

Peptide Volumizing Hair Treatment ($9.99) – In addition to my hair being super dry and brittle, it’s also really flat. I usually need to give myself a blow out or curl my hair to get any kind of volume, and I’ve been loving that I now can get volume without doing either of those things especially since it’s been so hot here. My hair looks thicker and bouncier whenever I use this and actually has some movement to it. I notice a huge difference when I skipped this, and it’s my go-to for when my hair is looking a little lifeless.

Caffeine stimulating scalp treatment ($14.99) – This product is really unique and was the only one of these that filled an actual gap in my collection. You are supposed to see best results after using it for 3 months, which I haven’t hit yet, so these are my initial impressions. It doesn’t create any issues for my hair even using it every night, and I can definitely already see a different in how fast my hair is growing and its strength. I’ve been seeing a lot less hair coming out onto my brush and in the shower since I started using this, and I’m excited to see the effects over time!

Shea Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment ($9.99) – This is meant for dry and brittle hair (which mine is!) and feels like a serum for your hair. It’s very lightweight and instantly makes my hair look way more hydrated and healthy. It also adds so much shine without destroying any volume I have. I like it a lot better than something like the Moroccanoil Treatment or the Verb Ghost oil which both feel much heavier. Even though it’s incredibly lightweight, I still found that if I applied too much, my hair did feel weighed down and greasy. While this happens much less than with other oil-based hair treatments, I still always try to use less than I think I need to avoid that.

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Hair Treatment ($9.99) – This is another product meant to add hydration, boost shine, and reduce brittleness. Everything I said about that is true about this, and I used this interchangeably with the Shea Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment. I don’t think you need both, and this works just as well and also doesn’t add any heaviness or weigh my hair down. I found that I didn’t have the same issue when adding too much so I prefer this treatment for that reason, especially when I’m on day 2 or day 3 hair.

This whole haircare routine was less than $60, and I am so impressed by each of the products and how they work together. My three favorites are the PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment, Peptide Volumizing Hair Treatment, and the Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment because they are incredibly effective and I don’t have anything I can think of that’s remotely similar in the price range. That said, they’re all amazing, and I’m very glad I decided to try them out since I now have affordable stapes for myself and that I can recommend to you. Are there other hair products or brands you’d like a review of? Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram @liftbakelove!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 8

July 9, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Repair Mist – While my all-time favorite mist continues to be the Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator, this one is amazing in the morning and during the day, especially to help prevent any mask-ne. It’s lighter than the Josh Rosebrook, and I’ve really loved having both in my collection. That said, I feel I got through it a little too quickly given that it costs $59 for only 50ml (1.7oz). The Jose Rosebrook is double the amount for about half the price so I’ve been using it for all my misting, and it’s been great. If anyone has other mists I should try, please let me know in the comments!

Josie Maran Argan Oil – This is a nice oil – it sinks in pretty well, it moisturizes, it provides an occlusive layer, and it has never broken me out. That said, I love the Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD so much more and have switched back to that already. It absorbs so much faster, and I find that it actually improves my skin brightness and firmness whereas the argan oil is just a nice oil. I tend to get this as a gift with purchase, and I’ll use it when I do (if you’re a regular here, you’ll know I recently finished one of these a couple months ago), but I won’t be repurchasing.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil – After finishing this eyebrow pencil, I switched back to a drugstore eyebrow pencil assuming it would be the same. It absolutely wasn’t, and I found myself missing this pencil so much. It’s super easy to get a natural look without going overboard and the color blends in really well. The pigment lasts incredibly long which I’ve found is much more unique than I realized. I think the shade range is pretty great with 12 shades, and I’m glad I can find something that more closely matches my eyebrows than having to choose between a warm dark brown and black. I’m definitely repurchasing this and can’t wait to get back to it!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer – This is my HG eyeshadow primer, and I already repurchased the large size of this. My eye lids are naturally much darker than my face so I like to use a primer that’s tinted to help even everything out and get my eyelids closer to the rest of my skin in shade. Beyond being a great color for me, this also helps my eyeshadows show up way better and last longer. I always notice a huge difference when I use this versus when I don’t. I know the large size will take me forever to get through, so I’ll look around to see what else is available then. I can’t imagine anything being better than this for me so I will likely repurchase it!

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – This continues to be the best mascara I’ve ever used. This is my second mini of the four I got as a buy 3, get one free deal, 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 two more minis to get through after this and will definitely repurchase until an amazing tubing formula comes out that’s better than this one. Let me know if there’s any you think I should try!

More Fitness Faves: What I’ve Been Loving That’s Not Beauty

July 4, 2021July 4, 2021by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I have more fitness faves to share! I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions now that we are back in the gym. For some additional background, I primarily focus on increasing strength on the squat, deadlift, and bench, and I am using the RP Diet app to gain muscle while staying in my weight class. If you’d like a review of the RP app, let me know in the comments below! For now, here are some of my latest fitness favorites:

I’m so glad I already had the A7 Soul Go Slippers for deadlifting! They make such a huge difference in helping me really plant my feet into the ground and not slide around when I’m deadlifting. These also enable me to be as low to the ground as possible so I can lift even more. I love how thin they are so they’re super easy to bring with me even in a small gym bag. For $29.95, these are one of my favorite gym investments. They’re also IPF approved, and I cannot wait to wear them in competition.

Most “protein foods” are pretty awful, but the Quest Peanut Butter Cups really impressed me. They are almost exactly like a normal peanut butter cup, but with way better macros. I love dessert and chocolate, but am always looking to hit my protein targets for the day without going over on carbs, so these are perfect. One cup has about 5.5g of protein, 7.5g of fat, and 6.5g of carbs for 95 calories. For reference, a Reese’s peanut butter cup has 2.5g of protein, 6g of fat, and 12g of carbs for 105 calories. Getting double the protein and half the carbs and still getting to eat my chocolate is a win in my book (of course, there’s nothing wrong with eating any food and all food choices are valid!). I’m excited to keep trying more of Quest’s line!

I recently discovered powdered Gatorade Zero. I am a big Gatorade Zero fan to avoid dehydration and personally love the way they taste. I really struggle to get enough water in so this is great for me. But this is way better than buying bottles of it! I love how much less expensive per serving it is and that I can avoid a big plastic bottle every time I drink one. I also can bring them with me when I’m traveling, and they take up almost no space.

I grabbed the Strong Strong Supply Liquid Chalk about a week into lifting again because I really missed having it in my gym bag. Especially with it getting so hot here, having liquid chalk is so useful to help with gripping the barbell. It dries down so quickly so I can put a tiny bit in my hands and get right to the bar. It’s also not messy at all – I don’t get chalk everywhere and feel totally fine using this in the gym. It also cleans off super easily and quickly and doesn’t dry out my hands.

I’m back in the gym, which means I’m back on the Stronger By The Day program. It’s a 4 day a week workout program created by MegSquats that is focused on strength and powerlifting movements. It’s $10/ a month and includes an extra workout day, warm up, and a second program if you’re working out at home. I’ll be doing another 90 days in review with my lift results and how it’s been going, but I am loving it so far!

Let me know if you’d like to see more fitness related content in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

June 2021 Favorites

June 30, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I can’t believe it’s already time to talk through my June favorites, which means we’re half way through 2021! I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but as usual, I only feature products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than one month. So if you don’t see something you were expecting based on how much I raved about it, you’ll likely see it in a July or August post.

I think I’ve found my new HG lip liners – the Soft Blur Velvet Lip Liners from Em Cosmetics. The formula blends so easily so you can get a soft, blurred, and diffused look. I find that creates a much more natural look that still defines my lips and helps prevent any feathering of the lipstick I use on top. Even with how soft and lightweight they are, they are very long lasting. I have the shades Kitten, a neutral rose, and Mink, a cool brown, which both work really well with my lip color and the with my favorite lipsticks and glosses. I was heavily influenced by Jaime Paige who loves these, and she definitely was right that these are amazing.

From left to right: Em Cosmetics Lip Liners in Kitten and Mink

My lips are incredibly dry right now, and Finding Ferdinand Lip Balm has been so helpful. The formula is really moisturizing, lasts a long time, and is a great base underneath lipsticks. I keep one of these in my purse, and the packaging is very secure so I don’t have to worry about balm getting all over everything. I also have one with their summer flavor Orange Popsicle added to it, and I love this flavor so much. It actually tastes and smells like an orange popsicle and always makes me feel a little bit happier applying it.

I’m so glad I got the Salt New York Lilac and Tangerine Crème Tint Pro, which is a limited edition duo they launched for spring. At the time of writing this, these are still in stock and on sale. I love using Lilac to cool a look down and Tangerine to warm a look up. These are super useful to bring a look together if something looks just not quite right. I brought them with me on my trip in May so that I could easily through together a monochromatic orange or purple look or adjust my blush to match my eyeshadow or lip color better. These are super versatile, and as with all Salt New York products, the formula is beautiful – buildable, dewy without shimmer, and super easy to blend.

From top to bottom: Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Lilac and Tangerine

It’s been super hot and dry in our Seattle apartment, and my skin has really been feeling it. The Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator has been such a skin saver for me (and my husband, who also loves this mask!). It’s so hydrating and leaves my skin super soft and moisturized. If my face feels irritated from the heat, it helps my skin feel better immediately because it’s incredibly cooling even thought I don’t keep it in the fridge. It’s pricey but a little goes a long way, and my small jar that both my husband and I use is still going strong.

I don’t talk about nail polish here often, but I discovered a new favorite top coat and I needed to share it with all of you. The KBshimmer Clearly on Top Quick Dry 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.

What was your favorite product this month? What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

Glossier Ultralip Review

June 27, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakelove4 Comments

I’m a little late getting this review out because I wanted to spend a lot of time with them. I got them right on launch day and have been using them every day since then, so I feel like I’ve had them long enough that I have a better feeling for which shades are my favorite, which pair best with different lip liners I have, and what other comparable formulas are out there. If you’re looking to get them (or another Glossier product) for less than full price, they normally have a sitewide 20% sale for Black Friday and you can use this link for 10% off sitewide if you are a new Glossier customer. Links below are affiliate links.

The Ultralips are a more 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). The shades I chose all have a great level of pigmentation that’s low enough that I can swipe them on without a mirror but high enough that they make an impact. You can also build up the color without anything weird happening like pilling or patching. Glossier says that the formula is so comfortable it’s like “pulling on a buttery-soft, well-loved cashmere sweater”, and I definitely agree. This is like putting on your favorite pair of sweatpants after a long day, but for your lips.

Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet

I have the shades Villa, Portrait, Cachet, and Trench. I was very surprised by how much I like Portrait – it’s a bright pink shade that I didn’t realize I needed in my collection. It goes so well with any of my brighter blushes and really brightens up the rest of my face. Villa is my perfect lips but better shade, and Cachet and Trench are both browny nudes (Catchet leans more purple and Trench more orange) that are very much in my comfort zone. I started writing which one I would choose if I could only choose one, and it turns out, I really can’t. They all have a place in my collection, and I’m really happy with all four of them.

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Kitten Mischief, Ultralip in Villa, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Magic Hour

I wanted to compare the formulas of the Ultralips with the Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour, Rare Beauty Dewy Lip Balm, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion. The Ultralips are more moisturizing and glossier than the Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour, but it’s the closest formula that I have. I personally prefer the formula of the Ultralips particularly because I need the extra moisture, but the Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour plus a gloss works to replicate the effect.

Ultralip in Trench and Rare Beauty Dewy Lip Balm in Thankful

The formula of the Rare Beauty Lip Balm is super similar to the Ultralip formula except it’s a bit more waxy. I also personally can’t handle the smell/taste of the Rare Beauty lip balm so I’m really thrilled to have found a similar color to the one I have to use instead.

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Spirited Away, Ultralip in Cachet, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Venetian Rose

I love how hydrating and glossy the Em Cosmetics Lip Cushions are, and they definitely have a place in my routine, but I find they are so soft and emollient that I need mirror to apply them. The Ultralips are easier to use for that reason, and I don’t worry about them moving outside of my lip line in the same way.

If you want more information on the Ultralips, I highly recommend watching Hannah Louise Poston’s review on them. Her video is over a half hour just on the Ultralips, and she got a few of the shades I didn’t get. I found it really useful in not getting more shades during the recent sale because I don’t think the formula of the brighter shades would work for me. I also really try to remember Hannah’s advice that she’s given before – if you find the perfect shade in the perfect formula, don’t buy more shades, just enjoy using the one you have.

What did you think of the Ultralips? Is there something else you’d like me to review? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 7

June 25, 2021April 3, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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 but I’ll definitely repurchase it again the next time it’s 50% off, which it usually it as some point during the year.

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment – This eye cream has a really weird texture. It was also almost too thick so it didn’t feel like it actually ever sunk in and just sat on top of my skin. Because of that, other products sat weirdly on top of it. I also didn’t see any positive differences in my eye area even after using this entire jar up. On the plus side, it is way more affordable than my HG eye cream (it’s exactly half of the price). I’m not going to repurchase this because it didn’t do anything for me, and I think there are plenty of affordable eye creams that are more effective and have a more elegant formula than this one.

Glossier Future Dew – This continues to be one of my favorite products, and I already had another back-up to start using once this ran out. It’s one of the only things I consistently use every day in my makeup routine. It continues to be the most amazing glossy, hydrating base that makes me look like I drank enough water (and if you know me, you know I have never had enough water). It works beautifully with any foundation, concealer, and powder combo I put on top of it and makes them look way better on my skin – no dry patches, no clinging, no flatness. I got another back-up during Glossier’s 20% off sale recently because I know I’ll continue to go through Future Dew and want another one.

IT Cosmetics CC Cream – I used to love the IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It was my go-to foundation because it made my skin look so dewy and even and played well with other products. It could be a combination of my skin changing as I’ve gotten older or that I just prefer different foundation styles now, but I prefer every one of my other base products over this cc cream now. It feels way too high coverage for me now, and it feels mask-like and heavy. It also emphasizes dry patches, especially if I don’t use something like Future Dew under it (I try to test everything a bunch of different ways for thorough reviews!). I’m not planning on repurchasing it especially since I have so many other foundations I love.

Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer – This is a beautiful concealer. It’s medium to full coverage without looking heavy or dry. It dries down to a super smooth and natural finish, and I love how the formula is really easy to blend. I have 6 other concealers in my rotation right now – concealer is a product category I actually really love testing to see if I can find the next best thing. Because of that, I won’t be repurchasing the Uoma concealer, but I would definitely recommend it.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? I’m planning on posting empties at least twice a month from now on – let me know if you have any feedback on that cadence or if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove in the comments! As always, thanks so much reading!

Author: liftbakelove