liftbakelove

MORE LIFESTYLE FAVES: WHAT I’VE BEEN LOVING THAT’S NOT BEAUTY

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021by liftbakelove2 Comments

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 and am super 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!

Almost all of my activewear is now from Buffbunny, and I know I’ve written about them before, but I just had to share how amazing the new Jewel Joggers. They are a hybrid between joggers and leggings and made out of their Nubre fabric – the softest, most buttery fabric of all time. I was living in my first pair so much that I actually bought a second pair so I could switch between them. They have zippered pockets that hold my wallet, phone, keys, hair ties, a mask, and anything I need with me. I’m so excited to have these for upcoming flights and long car trips (but also just to wear around the apartment every day). These feel like an upgraded version of the Lululemon Align joggers and for less money – I’m so glad they made these.

Buffbunny Rosa sports bra and Jewel Joggers in Secret Garden Dark Teal

Anyone who’s known me for a long time knows how obsessed I am with Cocofloss, but I wanted to share how amazing some of their seasonal flavors are. I have been loving the pineapple flavor and the chocolate and vanilla from their S’mores set. The only reason I floss every day is because of Cocofloss, and these new flavors make it even more fun. If you’re not familiar with Cocofloss, it’s a floss made from recycled water bottles and infused with coconut oil which makes it both sustainable and very effective. I’ve honestly tried to go back to regular floss after using this, and I can tell the difference in how much better it works. I can’t wait to see what flavors they come out with for winter!

Since I’m training for competition (my next one is in a week!), I am doing some pretty intense workouts. I’ve been trying different masks to find the one that is most comfortable to wear for these long, sweaty, hard-breathing workouts. The Atoms masks are perfect for this, and I’m never going back to anything else. They are so comfortable, and almost cooling, they wick sweat so well, and I love that I can keep it on for a whole workout with no issues so I can be protected and protect others around me. I originally bought 3 and then immediately went and bought 3 more – I can’t live without them now.

In the very, very beginning of this blog, I wrote a post about how having more plants in our apartment makes us happier. And it turns out, having our own little herb garden makes us even happier! I am loving having an Aerogarden in our kitchen and watching all the herbs grow every day. It’s only been a few weeks, and we already have enough to use in our cooking, and I love not having to run to the store to grab some basil or dill. I never thought I’d need something like this, but I’m so happy we have it.

Now that we’re solidly in cold weather, I have been switching to wearing my boots more often, and forgot how uncomfortable they can get on long walks. Luckily, the folks from Walk Fulton sent me a pair of insoles to try (not sponsored or any obligation to review), and I honestly love them. I wasn’t expecting anything, but my boots are so much more comfortable, and it’s so much better for long walks now. My feet are a pretty weird shape (it’s a long story), and I was shocked how perfectly they fit – they say that the insoles mold to your feet, which I didn’t think was true, but it is! I didn’t realize how much I needed these, but now that I have them, I’m never taking them out of my boots.

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.

Matching Manis and Lipsticks for fall featuring Finding Ferdinand’s new collections

September 23, 2021March 2, 2022by liftbakelove1 Comment

If you’re a regular here, you’ll know how much I love my Finding Ferdinand products and the company, so I was super excited for their fall collections. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to showcase one of my favorite things to do – match my manicure to my lipstick! Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about these without being an affiliate. This post was not sponsored, but these were gifted to me.

First up, the Cabernet Collection, which features three sheer lipsticks with the flavor Cabernet Crush. The flavor is super bright and fruity but not in a fruit candy kind of way. It’s more a sophisticated grape flavor that really does pair well with these shades. Like all Finding Ferdinand lipstick flavors, it lasts just long enough without lingering in an annoying way.

Finding Ferdinand Sip Happens and Starrily Oxytocin

Sip Happens, which is my favorite of the collection, is a bright reddish berry that is now my go-to “red.” Because of the sheer quality of the lipstick, this is one of the only red toned lipsticks I can actually wear. It also has enough brown in it to work for me since my natural lips tend to make everything quite pink. I paired Sip Happens with Starrily Oxytocin, which is a dark red holo polish and perfectly matches the vibe of this lipstick.

Finding Ferdinand Grapeful and Holo Taco Purple Slushie

Grapeful is a cool purple shade that reminds me of Finesse but darker. I’ll be honest that this shade doesn’t look great on me on its own, but it’s a great mixer shade to cool another lipstick down without making it lighter. And because it’s a sheer formula, it mixes super well into other lipstick formulas. I paired it with Holo Taco Purple Slushie, which is a vibrant royal purple linear holo from their original rainbow collection. I love their linear holo formula, and this was such a great excuse to use the original rainbow colors again.

Finding Ferdinand On Cloud Nine and ILNP Dash of Cocoa

On Cloud Wine is a super deep red berry shade that is now the darkest lipstick I own. I’m so glad to have it in my collection to add some depth under my lighter glosses (I have a lot of pale glosses that make me look dead, but not on top of this lipstick!). It’s a bit intense for me on its own (like Grapeful) but so useful to have especially now that we’re in the colder months. I paired it with one of my new favorite nail polishes, ILNP Dash of Cocoa. This polish is a deep brown holo polish with a red-to-gold shift. It’s incredibly complex with a ton of depth and so perfect both for fall and with this lipstick shade. I’m still wearing now as I write this, and I can’t get over how beautiful it is.

The second collection is the Pumpkin Spice Collection, which also includes three sheer lipsticks but with the flavor Pumpkin Spice. The flavor is smells exactly like pumpkin pie to me in the best way possible. I’m not even a huge fan of pumpkin scents (I’m much more of an apple person), but I really love this one.

Finding Ferdinand Pumpkin Spice Latte and Holo Taco Orange Drink

Pumpkin Spice Latte is a warm orangey brown that is the exact opposite of Grapeful. I use it similarly as a mixer shade to add warmth to my cool-toned lipsticks and under cool-toned glosses. It’s much less bright than my other orange mixer shade, and I really appreciate having both. I paired it with Holo Taco Orange Drink, which is a vibrant, bright orange linear holo also from their original rainbow collection. As I mentioned above, I love their linear holo formula and loved wearing this color again.

Finding Ferdinand Autumn and Olive and June JJ

Autumn, which is my favorite shade of this collection, is a warm pinky nude shade. This is almost exactly the color of my lips, and I love pairing it with Kackie’s Thrive Lip Liner and a clear gloss. It’s a great my lips but better look for fall for me. I paired this with JJ from Olive and June, which is a rosy terracotta shade. I love this color, but I’m not a huge fan of Olive and June’s formula, so if you have suggestions for a color like this, please let me know if in the comments below!

Finding Ferdinand Cold Brew and ILNP Chai Latte

Last, but certainly not least, is Cold Brew, which is a deep neutral brown that I’ve been loving using to “fall-ify” my punchier pink lipsticks. I’m also wearing this lipstick right now, and it works so well with the deep brown eyeshadows I tend to pull out this season. I paired it with the shade Chai Latte from ILNP, which is a mocha ultra holo, and perfectly compliments the brown tones in Cold Brew. I love the cozy vibes this pair gives me since it feels like having hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold winter night under a blanket.

What do you think of these collections? Would you like to see more matching makeup and nail polish from me? What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for being here! And a big thank to Color Expression for editing these photos – all edit credit goes to him!

August 2021 Favorites

September 8, 2021February 9, 2022by liftbakelove4 Comments

I know I’m a bit late with my August favorites, but hopefully that’s okay! As usual, I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but am only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than one month. Since I took quite a long break, if there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you wanted me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And 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!

Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini – I have been loving setting my cream products with powder products in a matching tone to make them last longer and add a bit of coverage in those areas. I find this creates a more satin finish which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting, especially under a mask. This Vesca bronzer is my favorite for this purpose (and also my favorite powder bronzer in general) – it’s not too orange, feels incredibly smooth and velvety, blends beautifully, smells amazing, and is such a believable bronzer on me.

Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I own a ton of single glittery/topper type eyeshadows and love them all, but I think my absolute favorite is this one. I’ve used it on top of my eyeshadow almost every single time I’ve used my eyeshadow since I bought it, and I’m so happy with the effect it has. It’s a sheer shimmery eyeshadow that adds a wet look to any shadow without really adding any color or changing the color of the look underneath. It’s also incredibly reflective and glossy, doesn’t have any fallout, and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue).

Flower Beauty Chill Out CBD Lip Glaze – If you’re a regular reader here, you’ll know I tend towards mid-range, high-end, and luxury products, but sometimes I find a budget gem – this is one of them. These are $10 and just as beautiful and high quality as my lip glosses that are over $30. I have the shades Unwind (a beautiful pink that really brightens up my face) and Peace Out (a sheer shimmery peach that adds a luminosity and glow to any lip color I put underneath). The formula is incredibly nourishing and thick enough to stay within lip lines unlike thinner glosses. It has really great lasting power for a gloss and feels great for hours.

Flower Beauty Chill Out CBD Lip Glaze in Unwind and Peace Out

Dieux Forever Eye Mask – I have incredibly dry undereye, and these really lock in hydration and increase the effectiveness of any eye cream I put underneath. They also feel like they are doing a bit of tightening on the undereye area, which I love. They also really stay put so I can walk around and do other things with them on instead of worrying about them sliding down my face like some other eye gels. These are so incredibly worth it for $25 since they are reusable and continue to feel new no matter how many times I use them (whereas some eye patches are in the $2/use mark, these will be around $0.25 per use even if I only use them twice a week).

Allies of Skin Multi Acids & Retinoid Brightening Sleeping Facial – This is incredibly effective and strong, so I recommend only using this if you are already comfortable with retinols and acids. It contains a blend of 7% AHAs + BHA, 1% Retinoid Complex and 7 Brighteners, and it really does everything it says it does! It makes me feels like I have new skin that is brighter, clearer, less dull, and more hydrated. Because I only use this twice a week, this bottle is lasting forever (I got this in May and feel like I’ve barely made a dent in it), which makes the $88 much more reasonable. Plus, I was able to get this for 15% off which made it even more worth it, and, as always, I highly recommend also waiting for a sale to grab Allies of Skin products.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 10

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021by liftbakelove2 Comments

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.

Dr. Brandt Luminizer Primer – I got this as part of a subscription box in 2019 and finally used it up recently. I found that this was nothing special – it was a little blurring and a little luminizing and didn’t cause any irritation. For $38, I didn’t find that it did anything out of the ordinary to justify that price. I much prefer the Glossier Future Dew (my favorite primer and only $24), Auric Glow Lust, and VDL Lumilayer primer instead and won’t be repurchasing this.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Mask – I love the entire invisible oil line, and this mask in particular is magic for my hair. My hair always feels so much shinier and softer when I use it and is so much less frizzy. Plus, it smells amazing like the rest of the line. I only use the mask about once every 3 weeks, and that’s been more than enough to keep my hair feeling great. Even though it’s pretty expensive at $43, I find that it lasts me so long (almost a year) that it’s definitely worth it, especially if I can get it on sale. I’m already on my backup and have a couple of other masks I’ll try when I run out, but I’ll likely go back to this.

Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel – This is less than $4 and lasted me quite a long time. It definitely does what it says, and it was totally fine shaving gel. I decided to try the Athena Club Cloud Shave Foam when I ran out of this though because I was looking for something even more conditioning. I have extremely dry skin, and I am appreciating the extra moisture with the one from Athena Club so far. I still haven’t decided if it’s worth paying double for and will provide an update when I run out of that one! Depending on how it goes, I may or may not repurchase the Aveeno one (but please recommend your favorite in the comments if you have one!).

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.

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream – This is my HG morning moisturizer. I can’t count how many times I’ve repurchased this, and I find that when I’m trying something else, I can really tell the difference. I find that this helps much more with skin dehydration than just dryness, which is very important for my skin. I also find that it’s a really good prep step before makeup to make sure everything goes on smoothly without catching on any dry patches. I recommend getting this during Sephora’s holiday sales because there’s always set of this and a couple other Dr. Jart+ products for less than the price of just the Ceramidin cream. I’m already on my backup and will repurchase this when I run out.

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!

July 2021 Favorites

July 28, 2021December 30, 2021by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I can’t believe it’s already time to talk through my July favorites, which means we’re more than 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 future post. And 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!

Phytosurgence Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Potent Petal – I have used this shadow so many times since I got it that I feel bad for neglecting my other eyeshadows. Potent Petal is described as a a soft cherry blossom pink with a slight hint of a champagne shimmer, which is perfect for my brown eyes. The formula is the perfect mix between a matte and shimmer shadow so I can use them for a more subtle day time look or build them up to something super multidimensional and impactful. It’s just so easy! I’ve frequently added the their new Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Orchid Overload for some extra dimensional glitter, and the glitter sticks to these eyeshadows all day. I also love how much time I have to play with these to get them just where I want them on my lids, but then they dry down and stay put (even through some super intense gym sessions). I have also been loving Wild Oak (the other shade I bought), but Potent Petal is my favorite of the two.

Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balm in Simmer – I have been loving the Phytosurgence blushes I got last month, but in particular the shade Simmer. It’s a beautiful bright pink that really wakes up my whole face. It blends so seamlessly and easily into the skin, leaves an impact with such little product, and stays all day. It doesn’t need to be built up but absolutely can be layered. The finish is just glowy enough without being sticky even though it has a balmy, moisturizing texture. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s basically perfect. it’s just really special, especially considering it’s only $17. If I didn’t own so much blush, I would buy more colors (definitely let me know if you want me to review any other colors though – I will grab them if you comment below with a request!).

Glossier Ultralips – I have been loving all of the shades I got – you can see more swatches and comparisons of all of them here. 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. 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, and I have been using them so much.

Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet

Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer – I’ve been loving this in the summer because it’s incredibly lightweight but still very moisturizing. It also sinks into my skin so fast, which I really appreciate when it’s this hot and I don’t want to feel moisturizer on my face. It also layers incredibly well with my other morning skincare without causing pilling. I’m planning on picking up the Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer to try for the winter when my skin gets even drier than it is right now – let me know if you’d like a review!

NBM Cuticle Buddy – Color Expression, who does amazing nail polish reviews, totally sold me on the Cuticle Buddy. And for $35, you can get 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. I think this is just such an incredible value, especially considering how great the oil is. I got the orange (growth) formula which contains tangerine and sweet orange essential oils, and it smells amazing. I’ve been using this every night, and I definitely feel a difference in my nail health and strength. I’m so excited to have found these and am hoping to pick up some of the fun summer scents when they restock. As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10. Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about these without being an affiliate (I even wrote this before getting a code and am editing this in afterwards).

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!

My 10 most repurchased skincare and haircare items

July 25, 2021September 29, 2021by liftbakelove4 Comments

I’ve been keeping track of all of my beauty purchases and empties since 2016 in Excel. I went back through to see what are the things I finished and repurchased over and over again, and these are the things that made the top of the list. There are a couple of things I’m not including either because I wouldn’t recommend them anymore even having used them for years or because they are no longer available, but these are all the things I’ve repurchased at least 4 times that I’m still planning on getting the next time I need more. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see my most repurchased makeup items, and subscribe if you’d like to see more reviews from me!

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 four times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation and while still adding a ton of hydration. I’ve been able to continually find it on sale, so I usually spend about $40 on average for it. It’s totally worth it for me for how effective it is, and this is another product where I can really tell the difference if I switch to something else.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I’ve been using this every morning for years, and it’s a staple in my dry skincare routine. It’s simple, effective, not too heavy or light, and plays well under makeup. 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.

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – This continues to be my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve tried a few others for testing, but I always end up missing this one. It’s so hydrating, it helps my other products sink in better and faster, and it smells amazing too. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually moisturizes my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I have been through so many bottles of this and just bought two more when Ulta was doing 20% off recently. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist – 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.

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. 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.

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 or summer allergies. I try to always repurchase this when it’s 50% off, which it usually is as some point during the year, which makes continuing to repurchase this much more cost effective.

Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Overnight Damage Repair Masque – This hair mask always makes my hair feel completely revived from whatever I’ve been subjecting it to. It’s really magic for my hair. It keeps it looking shiny, soft, and frizz-free without weighing it down. Plus, it smells amazing, and I only need to use it about once every 3 weeks. I usually use it for only about half an hour instead of overnight, and that’s been more than enough to keep my hair feeling great. I love how long one of these tubs lasts for me, but I’ve repurchased it quite a few times because I’ve been using it consistently for so many years.

L’Oréal 8 Second Wonder Water – I really love this product and not just because it’s less than $10. I don’t understand what magic is in this product, but it does truly transform my hair only using it a couple times a week, 8 seconds at a time. It leaves me with silkier, shinier, healthier-looking hair without weighing my hair down. I have really dry hair that tends to look dull, so this has been a game changer for me.

Soap from The Oakley Soap Co. – This is the best bar soap I’ve ever tried. The scents and colors are so fun and the soap is very high quality – I don’t think I can ever go back to another bar or liquid soap. The soap works well without stripping my skin, and the scents are just strong enough to last a bit but not be overpowering. I’ve used so many bars at this point, and I’ll keep buying this forever as far as I can tell. I also love their shower steamers, which are so amazing for a relaxing (or energizing, depending on what scent you use) experience just by dropping one on the bottom of your shower.

What are your most repurchased items? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading LiftBakeLove!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 9

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

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.

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!

Author: liftbakelove