I own so many brushes from collecting them over the year (and having been lucky enough to get some brushes in PR too!), and I really thought I’d found all the best ones already. But when I realized how great this brush is, I decided to write a blog post right way just to share. 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 for new posts. If you choose to shop through my links, some may be affiliate links that support the blog – thank you!
I can’t describe how surprised I was when I first used the new Rephr B05 brush. I own so many concealer brushes and had all but given up on having great looking under eyes. This brush blended in my concealer without taking away any coverage and made my undereye look perfectly smooth (which never happens!). The shape is perfect and somehow even better than all the traditional “kitten paw” brushes I’ve used in the past. It’s almost that exact shape but slightly smaller and more sloped, which does a better job of patting in coverage for me without making my concealer look heavy. Rephr actually says they made it 40% smaller and with an intensified slope based on feedback, and I absolutely agree with those choices.
The bristles are just as soft as my brushes from BK Beauty, Sonia G, Smith, Beauty Pie, etc. and the density is similar to all the other concealer brushes I have. I also love that the bristles are black so it’s much less likely to be forever stained from my concealers. Right now, you can get this brush in a bundle with the foundation brush version (which is also amazing) for $30. I honestly might grab a backup because I’d absolutely pay $30 for this brush alone!
Do you want to see more of these single product “micro-reviews”? Let me know in the comments!
Now that we’re half way through the year, I wanted to share the five products I tried this year and fell in love with (although I have a bunch more to talk about so I might do another round of this!). 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 for new posts. If you choose to shop through my links, some may be affiliate links that support the blog – thank you!
Exa Jump Start Smoothing Primer – I’ve been really struggling with my makeup completely breaking apart by the end of the day no matter what I use or how I prep my skin. I have super dry skin so haven’t typically thought to use a mattifying or pore-filling primer, but I figured it was worth a shot because the one is described as a semi-matte full of skincare ingredients. I am so happy to report back that not only does this not dry out the skin, it blurs, smooths, and locks down makeup exactly how I wanted. I’ve also tried this mixed with Glossier Future Dew on especially dry skin days, and that works better than I expected. I can see this becoming a staple I repurchase again and again.
Prada Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – I somehow ended up with 11 foundations in my collection at the moment, and I honestly love all of them (let me know if you want a review of all 11!). But if I had to choose just one to keep and use every day, it would absolutely be this one. I know it’s super expensive, but if you’re not going to travel with it or care about it having a lid, you could totally get away with buying just the refill. During the upcoming Sephora sale, depending on your discount, it’ll end up being around the same price as other foundations from brands like Nars, Estee Lauder, Haus Labs, Ilia, Makeup by Mario, etc., and it’s so much better than anything else I’ve tried. It doesn’t matter what I do with the rest of my face, this looks great all day. It’s somehow blurring and skin-perfecting without being too high coverage or drying. It’s described as a skincare foundation that refines the skin in three dimensions including tone, luminosity, and texture to reveal soft-filtered skin in real life, and that’s honestly exactly what it is. It’s basically magic in a bottle, and I don’t understand the wizardry of this foundation. I’m just so glad I picked it up and tried it!
Merit Beauty Solo Shadow in Studio and Mid-Century – I needed a new one and done matte shadow after my Mac Paint Pots finally expired, and these seemed like the ones to try. I’m so glad I picked these up. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because of the way these set down. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. It also works great as a base for shimmer toppers or powder shadows. I’ve applied it with fingers and brushes, and it works great either way. I know this formula has a lot of hype around it, but it’s absolutely as good as people are saying it is. Studio is a cool taupe and Mid-Century is a warm brown, so between the two I have options for cool and warm toned looks. It’s also now one of my favorite shadows to bring when I’m travelling because the shades I have go with everything, and it’s just so quick and easy to throw on.
Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Self Made – This is a beautiful matte powder blush formula in such a good shade for me. I’m shocked it’s as inexpensive as it is (especially if you grab it when Sephora Collection is 30% off). This is the blush I’ve been going to when I just need something to throw on without thinking or having to worry about how it’ll look. This is on par with the Pat McGrath blush formula for me, which is really high praise given how much I love that blush. Self-Made is described as a muted light pink, and it’s a perfect pinky beigey goes with everything kind of shade. I also love this for travel because it’s so thin and easy to sneak into my makeup bag. I actually might buy more shades during the upcoming Sephora sale.
ELF Glow Reviver Lip Oil in Jam Session and Honey Talks
ELF Glow Reviver Lip Oil – If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I tend to lean towards high end products, especially for lip products (I still am loving my Hermes and Givenchy lipsticks). That’s why I was so surprised to love these as much as I do – I honestly would love to have them in every shade. They’re just pigmented enough and sheer enough to use in a variety of ways, whether that’s alone, on top of a lip liner, or on top of another lip product. The formula is surprisingly hydrating for a lip oil and is now one of my go-tos when my lips are feeling particularly dry. It’s not sticky and has a glassy shine. These don’t last very long, but for how nourishing they are and for $8, I’m willing to reapply.
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.
I wrote the post “My Favorite Travel Containers for Beauty Products” over 3 years ago, and I’m still absolutely in love with these containers. I wanted to do an update though because Cadence redesigned the capsules, and they’re even better now. Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
My current collection of the new capsules (I still love and use the old ones too!)
If you’re not familiar with Cadence Capsules, let me explain why I love them so much. I feel like I’ve tried a dozen different travel container brands/types, and they all have been really frustrated. My number one issue is leaking – there’s always that one thing that leaks all over your suitcase or purse. I’ve started putting containers in plastic bags (sometimes double bagged) because they leak so much, and that feels so incredibly wasteful to me. I’ve also had containers that never seem to get clean enough to reuse, so I end up throwing them away rather than use them again. Plus, some of them are way too small and definitely wouldn’t fit enough for a month long trip.
These honestly don’t leak – ever. I’m able to throw them in a bag and not have to worry about anything leaking or spilling. Even with the most watery toner, it was 100% leak-proof. I also love that they magnetize together so I’ll never lose them in the bottom of a suitcase. Because they have such a wide opening (more in the video below), these are incredibly easy to fill with products, and you don’t need a funnel, mini spatula, or spoon to do it. Over the years, I’ve washed and reused these containers so many times, and they look brand new. This is my favorite thing about these because I hate cleaning out those little plastic containers where you can barely get into them unless you want to spend forever with one of those straw cleaners. With these, I can wash them with a normal sponge, it takes a couple of minutes, and they are actually clean.
The labels are super easy to pop in and mix and match (as you can see here) or you can leave them unlabeled. The old labels work with these because they’re all magnetic which makes them even more flexible if you have a bunch of old labels lying around like I do.
But the new design is even better because the new containers come in different sizes that you can easily swap in and out with the extenders. The small is 0.56 ounces, which is honestly more than what I need for most trips most of the time. This is now my most purchased sized because I love how I can fit so many of them into my travel bag and not have to give up any of my skincare products on a trip. Keep in mind that a standard foundation bottle (you know the ones that take at least a year to use up even if you use them every day) are an ounce so a half ounce of product is more than you think!
4 smalls compared to a Glossier Ultralip so you can see just how compact they are
The medium is 1.32 ounces, which I would use for body lotion and oil. If I was to go on a longer trip and need shampoo and conditioner, I’d definitely reach for these. Because I typically reached for the smalls, I actually only have one medium and otherwise I got the extenders so I can turn my smalls into mediums only when I need them. The extender adds 1.43 ounces to the other sizes, and I’d much rather add an extender than be stuck with a capsule that’s too big. I love that the extenders are so easy to use, and they’re still entirely leakproof. I don’t own any larges (which is a medium plus an extender) but if you did need a 2.75 ounce container for a long trip, it’s a great option.
A small with the extender vs a medium – the medium is a bit smaller but I love the flexibility of the extender!
You can also easily swap the tiles to change the labels on the capsules. I also will use the old labels with the new capsules, and that works totally fine for me even though they’re not technically made for each other. I also love how many colors they come in so if I don’t have a specific label already, I can usually just remember which color goes with which product. You can buy the labels (called tiles) separately if you want to and sometimes they run promotions where you can write whatever you want on the labels.
What’s your favorite thing to have when you travel? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!
I’ve gotten my powder collection down to my five favorites (I recently organized my collection and got rid of a few) and decided I wanted to rank them from based on “which one would I buy again first if I lost my makeup collection?”. I love all five of these and think they’re all amazing especially if you also have very dry skin. But some of them definitely have risen to the top of my collection! Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Talc-Free Waterproof Translucent Pressed Setting Powder– If I could choose only one powder to keep, it’d be this one. It is hands down the best pressed powder I’ve ever tried, and since I got it, I haven’t touched any of my other pressed powders. I love that no matter what I do, it never feels like I put too much of this on. It’s truly translucent so it doesn’t add any coverage or change the color of what I have on my face. It’s definitely only doing a tiny bit of setting and mattifying (so I wouldn’t’ recommend this for combo/oily skin) but I love how it’s able to do what I want a powder to do without adding any heaviness or getting cakey. It does have a tendency to hard pan, but you can easily fix that with a piece of tape.
Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – This is my favorite loose powder by far, and you’ll see it’s the only one I’ve kept out of all the ones I’ve tried over the years. The Laura Mercier beat this one out because pressed will always be more convenient and easy to use, but if I could get a second one after that, it’d be the Givenchy no questions asked. It blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder – If it wasn’t for the Laura Mercier powder, this would’ve been my pick for best pressed powder. And if you’re looking to spend less, I would go with this one since they’re very similar. I have it in the shade Airy, but because of how sheer it is, I’m sure Breezy or Feathery could have worked for me as well. Unlike the Laura Mercier, it does add a tiny bit of coverage, so I tend to use this one when I’m looking for that specifically. It also has a tiny bit of luminosity to it so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness.
ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)– This powder really surprised me. It’s less than $5 and performs honestly even better than some of my high-end powders. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it, so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. I even recommended this to my friend to use on her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and wanted something that would stay all day), and her makeup held up through the ceremony and all the dancing at the reception well past midnight. I am continually incredibly impressed by how well this powder works!
Make Beauty Diffusion Set Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair – This is my go to “I really need a powder that actually is a powder” vs all my other powders that just do the lightest touch of mattifying. Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a the most coverage of all the powders on this list, which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover vs just trying to mattify or set makeup all over my face. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable, and I can pop out the pan if I want to put it in a travel makeup palette.
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 recently was travelling for two weeks and decided to bring a super minimal makeup and skincare bag. While I was thankful not to have overpacked, I was so excited to get back to my collection when I got home. These are the five products I most thankful to have back in my routine, and that I’d absolutely make room for next time! Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Prada Beauty Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – I know this is a $70 (or $55 if you only get the refill) foundation, but this foundation is honestly so fantastic. I was so excited to get back to using it above and beyond all my other makeup that I didn’t bring with me. The coverage is on the lighter end of medium but can easily be built up without looking heavy or cakey. It has a really smooth and blurred finish that looks like skin. It’s also so lightweight for how good it looks and wears throughout the day. I have so many great foundations and skin tints, but I think this is really my favorite. That said, stay tuned for an “olive skin-tone friendly foundation round up” for a bunch of recommendations that aren’t $70.
Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – I decided to bring the ELF Prime Stay Finishing Powder which I also love and is only $4, so I have no issues rebuying it if something happens to it. Plus, it’s so much easier to travel with a pressed powder than a loose one that might get everywhere. But I was so excited to be using this powder again when I got home! The Givenchy powder blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. It really does provide a soft focus blur in real life without looking like you’re overdoing it. I now have the amazing Laura Mercier Real Flawless Luminous Perfecting Pressed Powder which is giving the Givenchy a run for my favorite powder of all time and is pressed but if I had an easy way to bring the Givenchy with me, I definitely would.
Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is my favorite matte lipstick of my entire collection (and I have a ton of lipsticks). It creates a blurred look that’s matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it. I didn’t bring it because it’s so special to me (and expensive) but honestly I really missed having it with me.
Make Reverse Emulsion – I’m actually so mad at my past self for not packing some of this into a Cadence Capsule (my favorite way to carry my skincare). This is my favorite moisturizer, particularly if I’m running short of time and need something that really does the trick (like when you’re super jet lagged and don’t want to put on 6 products before you can sleep). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. I decided to bring Glossier Future Dew instead, which I also love and works amazing as a primer, but I honestly wish I had brought both since it was so dry on the East Coast.
Prequel Skin Utility Ointment – This is a multi-purpose ointment hydrates dry, cracked, chapped, and chafed skin that I use on my face but also my cuticles, lips, and sometimes even places like my elbows. This feels so much better as a last layer on my skin than an oil or something like vaseline but works so well to keep moisture in overnight. It’s not sticky or heavy at all, and I can tell a huge difference between when I’ve been home using it vs not having it with me while travelling. It somehow even works for my super dry skin to help with my moisture barrier even if I only use one moisturizer (which I almost never do but sometimes I’m just so tired). I’m so glad to have this back in my routine!
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 thankful to have gotten the latest collaboration between Kackie Reviews Beauty and Finding Ferdinand in PR. It’s called Après Ski, and I absolutely would have purchased these myself if I hadn’t received them. I loved the beige blushes (purchased by me) they came out with last year, and I’m thrilled to have these new shades that work so perfectly with my preference for pink, mauve, and purple tones. I’ll be doing a full review of the collection once Finding Ferdinand releases the hex codes for them so you can buy them, but I noticed my two favorite blushes were still in stock so wanted to share why I love them. Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Sunrise and High Noon
Sunrise is a light neutral pink that’s been my go to when I have no idea what blush I want to use. It looks so natural on me and works well with so many different eye and lip colors. I appreciate that it doesn’t lean too warm and so doesn’t turn orange or peachy on me. It’s also beigey enough to work with brown eye looks (which I find has been weirdly hard for me to match with pink blushes lately for me). It’s my no brainer, every day blush that I just know will always look great.
High Noon is a medium pink with berry undertones that works so well on my olive skin. It packs more of a punch than Sunrise and so I gravitate towards it when I want something I can throw on super quick without needing to build it up at all. This shade is also just purple enough to cool a look down when I need to. I love how it gives me that “cold girl” look without having to go all the way purple, and how it brings together a look with my brighter lipsticks.
These shades also layer together beautifully if I want to create a more dimensional effect. I’m honestly so excited to keep wearing High Noon into spring because I think it’ll work so well for warmer weather looks.
I recommend using a pretty densely packed brush like the BK Beauty 106 because it’s quite a stiff formula in the pot even though it blends out so seamlessly on the skin. The formula is super blendable (I think because there’s quite a bit of marula oil in these), easy to layer, and very buildable. They do dry down on the skin but they still have a dewy, hydrated finish that just looks really nice. These are a bit more matte than the original formula, which I’m actually really happy about because they last even longer. You can also hopefully see in the swatch photo that they’re pretty blurring despite maintaining their hydrated quality. I just find these so easy to use that I find myself gravitating towards them every day.
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.
Seeing everyone doing their Best of Beauty posts and videos made me realize that I totally didn’t do one in 2022, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget this year. It’s been really fun to look back and see what’s still a favorite from the years before that and what was newly discovered this year. Like last year, I’ll be splitting out the makeup and skincare lists so these posts don’t get too long. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for 2023 in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. Some links are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Primer:Make Beauty Moisturizing Reverse Emulsion – This is my favorite moisturizer (and if you’ve been to this blog before, you know I’ve tried so, so many moisturizers as I have incredibly dry skin). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. It’s like a super sophisticated version of the Glossier Future Dew and will definitely be my replacement for that (which has been my favorite primer for yeas) when I run out of all my Future Dew back ups. Because of that, it’s definitely my primer pick for the year even if I still have some Future Dew bottles to get through.
Green color corrector: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Wand in Green – This is the green color corrector I’ve reached for the most (so much I actually ran out of mine and am almost done with my new tube of it). I’m planning on doing a full green color corrector comparison post because I actually have 6 in rotation right now that I like and use for different reasons. This one is the most green of the bunch and doesn’t lean matte or dewy so it works really well with whatever primer, foundation, concealer, and powder combo I’ve used that day. Because of that quality, I can’t use it as a primer by itself like some of my other green correctors, but a lot of those require I top them up with this anyway because they’re not nearly as green. Plus, this one is only $4.99 at Target right now.
Under eye corrector: Ulta Under Eye Brightener – I have super dark undereye and can’t get away without a corrector, and I’m so happy to have discovered this one. It’s about $10 and a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot!
Foundation: Fenty Foundation Stick in 02 - I ended up with a ton of foundations this year, and I honestly would be happy with any of them (let me know if you want a foundations for light olive skin run down!), but I think the one I’ve leaned on the most this year and been the most excited about is the Fenty Foundation Stick. This foundation is absolutely beautiful and so easy to use. I’m so glad that I grabbed this because when I want to put on a more high coverage (for me) face of makeup, this is what I reach for. It blends out so quickly, is quite blurring, and make my skin look amazing without being too dewy or matte. It also is great for spot concealing because it builds really well, and it’s super easy to get just a little bit on a brush straight from the stick. This is definitely my choice out of all the stick foundations for dry skin, and I like it even better than the original Eaze Drop (even though I still love that foundation).
Concealer: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring 24H Hydrating + Radiant + Correcting Creamy Concealer in N95 – This concealer is as good as everyone says it is, especially for those of us over 30. It’s incredibly hydrating while still offering a really good amount of coverage because it has such a creamy texture. I love using it all over as both my foundation and concealer, and it just looks so nice. It builds up really nicely if I want more coverage in certain areas while still looking incredibly natural. It plays well with all my powders and primers, so if I’m traveling, this is the one product I’ll bring with me because I know it’ll work no matter what else I do.
Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – This was my favorite in this category in 2020 and 2021 (which is news to me how old this product is because it still works like it’s brand new). Nothing beat it out this year yet again. It is the perfect color and texture for a natural looking contour. I also love the packaging – it feels super luxe with the magnetic closure, and I really appreciate having a stick for a quick makeup look. If I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.
Cream Bronzer: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in 0.5 and Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in light/medium – I noticed that I chose these two as my favorites in 2021, and it’s also still what I would choose, especially given how much I reached for these this year. Both are cream products that give a super natural look in about 2 seconds. They are super blendable and easy to build up to the opacity I want or leave fairly sheer. I actually think the colors and formulas are pretty similar (even though the Salt New York is warmer and the Tom Ford is more neutral) so if you want to not spend way too much on the Tom Ford, I would definitely recommend getting the Salt New York paired with one of their highlighters to replicate the duo. I did really love the Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer and the Milk Makeup Bionic Bronzer, but these are the two I keep going back to.
Power Bronzer: Haus Labs Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in Light Level 2 and Gucci Poudre de Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in 01 – I also have two favorites for this category – one for summer and one for winter. The Haus Labs bronzer is my pick for spring/summer because it leans warm and the Gucci is my pick for fall/winter because it leans more rosey. Both are fantastic -they’re just so easy to throw on and blend out and looks super natural. If I don’t have time to think about what I’m doing, this is what I’m going to reach for. Neither are powdery or patchy at all, and just make my skin look great. Both of these I can reach for regardless of what other makeup I have on, they look seamless without having to spend any time blending, and are what I reach for when I can’t quite figure out what’s wrong with my makeup and need to add something.
Cream blush: I honestly have no idea how many cream blushes I have at this point, but it’s enough that choosing just one would have been impossible, so I’m doing my favorites for different color categories: beige, berry, and pink.
Beige: Finding Ferdinand Creamy Blush x Kackie Review Beauty in Latte and Au Lait – When I don’t know what blush to use, the ones I reach for are Latte (a desaturated, light beige with a touch of rose) and Au Lait (a neutral, medium beige with a hint of warmth) from Kackie’s collab with Finding Ferdinand. These colors just go with everything and always look so natural on me, so they’re perfect for no makeup makeup looks or pairing with a more colorful eyeshadow (when I choose not to just wear something brown). I do recommend using a pretty densely packed brush like the BK Beauty 106 because it’s quite a stiff formula in the pot even though it blends out so seamlessly on the skin. The formula is super blendable (I think because there’s quite a bit of marula oil in these), easy to layer, and very buildable. They do dry down on the skin but they still have a dewy, hydrated finish that just looks really nice. *I’m a little biased because I’m friends with Kackie, but I did buy these with my own money.
Berry: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Faith – This is one of the only liquid blushes I’m willing to use, and it’s because the formula is honestly just so great. This shade is in the matte formula, which I actually prefer to the dewy one because it really dries down and almost stains my cheeks. It has incredibly lasting power, and if I still want a dewy look, I have plenty of highlighters I can layer on top of it. It really is as good as everyone says it is, and I’m not surprised this blush keeps going viral. The shade Faith is a deep purple toned berry that really packs a punch, and you definitely want to use just a tiny bit at a time. This is my go to for the “cold girl” winter look or to pair with deeper brown or mauve eyeshadow looks.
Pink: About Face Cheek Freak Blush Balm in Laid –Similar to the Rare Beauty blush, this dries down to a matte finish that actually lasts such a long time for a cream blush. It starts off really balmy so it’s really easy to pick up on a brush or finger and blend into the skin, and then it stays where it is. I also love how the packaging matches the color of the blush since I have three of these – it’s always easy to find the one I want. Laid in particular is a super bright pink blush that is just the quickest way to that flushed look, especially in the summer. If I want to look really awake and hydrated, this is my go to since it’s so bright and flattering.
From left to right: MAC Glow Play Blush in Heat Index, Blush Please, So Natural, Grand, and Totally Synced
Power blush: MAC Glow Play Blush – This formula has been my go-to for finishing off my cheek looks because it has a really incredible blurring quality that really pulls together any look I’ve done. Because the texture feels like a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. I own 5 of these, and I found myself reaching for all of them depending on my mood and the time of year. Between So Natural (golden beige), Blush Please (neutral light mauve), Heat Index (bright pink), Totally Synced (light lilac) and Grand (petal pink), I’m covered with any look I’m trying to do.
Highlight: Auric Glow Lust – I wrote about the Auric Glow Lust so many times, and I’m still in love with it. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, whether I use it as foundation, a primer, a mixer, or a highlighter. Of all of my glowy, liquid products, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch. The packaging is also amazing, especially the pump – it’s so much easier to use than something like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. It feels like much more of a luxury experience, from the packaging to the formula. I have the shades Selenite and Morganite, and I love using Selenite all over as foundation or a primer and Morganite as a true “high points of the skin” highlighter. I have a full review here if you’d like to see more comparisons between the two.
Powder: Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – If I could only pick one powder, and I weirdly have a ton for someone with dry skin, it’d be this one. Honorable mention to the ELF Prime Stay Finishing Powder which I also love but is only $4. The Givenchy powder blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. It really does provide a soft focus blur in real life. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I have so many eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes, and there’s so many that I love, but I knew right away which one I used the most and would keep if I could only keep one. 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. But somehow it still has enough of a beige-y base that you can wear it on its own. It’s 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). I can’t count how many times this year I wore a matte brown shadow with Space Cowboy on top and got a ton of compliments on my eyeshadow. I’m honestly upset I have so many other eyeshadows given how much I use this one.
Brows: NYX Thick It Stick It Brow Mascara – It’s so quick and easy to fill in and shape my brows with this – I’ve been reaching for it over my other brow gels (which I oddly have a ton of – the ranking post is coming, I promise!). Unlike some other fiber containing brow products, this really lasts all day and actually keeps my brows in place. The only thing about this that I don’t love is that the wand is bigger than I’m used to so I tend to get some of the brow gel on my skin. The good news is that it’s very easy to clean up before it dries, and this is so inexpensive I’m happy to deal with that issue.
Mascara: I fell out of love with all my mascaras this year and am currently on the hunt for a new one that I love. The front runner right now is the Finding Ferdinand Lashlift Mascara, which I would be perfectly happy with using as my main mascara. It’s a tubing mascara that’s lighter weight than the Thrive mascara so my lashes don’t fall as quickly, and it otherwise works exactly as I would expect a black tubing mascara to work. That said, I have 6 other mascaras to test throughout 2024, so I will report back!
Lip Liner: Thrive Causemetics Lip Filler Long-Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner in Kackie – I still love this lip liner, and it’s one I reach for all the time. I don’t know how Kackie did it, but this is the most perfect neutral brown shade for me. I can put any gloss or lipstick over top of it, and it looks great. The formula also manages to be creamy, not drying, and have great staying power. It’s the lip liner I use when I don’t want to worry about my lip look coming together, especially in the morning before I’ve had coffee and just want something I know will work. I think I started writing about this one in 2020, and I’m surprised how it continues to rise to the top of my lip liner collection.
Lip gloss/shiny lipstick: YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – I’m honestly so annoyed by how right Kackie is about this one, because she’s obsessed with it, and now I am too. If I had to choose between these and the Hourglass ones, I’d choose these every time. If you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than my other clear lip balms, so it lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear, and I’m always stopping myself from buying more of the shades.
Satin lipstick: Make Beauty Cream Supreme Lipstick in Equilibrium – This was my go to lipstick until I got the Givenchy lipstick I’m going to mention next. The formula is creamy and non-drying while still being much longer lasting than I expected. It’s a touch glossy, but not overly so, and it just looks so nice. Any time I need a “looks like I tried and will last” lipstick, I choose this one. I also love the color – Equilibrium is the perfect rosey nude that goes with any look I put together. I absolutely love the packaging and how easy the shape makes to get a precise application. I don’t need a lip liner with this, and it’s pigmented enough that I only need to swipe once. It’s also refillable so when I run out, I’ll only have to buy the refill!
Matte lipstick: Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is now my favorite matte lipstick formula because it looks blurred out and matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it.
What were your favorites this 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 happened to have a bunch of clear press on nails lying around, so I decided to do swatches of my favorite nail polish launches from this year (shimmers, flakies, reflectives and holos specifically). If you want to see my top 10 magnetics, cremes, toppers, multichromes, jellies, or some other category – let me know! I store my nail polish by finish and am just realizing I missed a ton so please leave a comment if you want to see more! I definitely bought way too much nail polish this year and would be happy to do more swatches (and even comparisons) if that would be helpful. I’m planning on doing a nail polish no-buy in 2024 so I’ll be doing more posts to get to know my collection better. Some of these links are affiliate links, but most are not. And as always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts!
Holo Taco Private Villa is a very red leaning pink jelly that has a ton of shimmer that primarily leans gold and reflective pink glitter in it. It’s so much prettier in person than what I captured in the picture above. It reminds me a ton of Holo Taco Party Punch but is so much easier to apply and remove because it’s not a chunky glitter but still is super sparkly because of all the shimmer and glitter in it. The formula is super smooth for how sparkly it is, and I got full coverage in two coats. If you have longer nails, you’ll probably need a third because of the jellly formula.
KB Shimmer Any Way You Slice It is a bright orange shimmer that also has gold, copper, and yellow tones in it. It’s beautiful in the summer and fall, and one of my favorite oranges this year. I’m honestly not big into orange one me, but somehow this one works, and looks so beautiful in the sun. This polish is a little sheer, and I find I need 3 coats, but I don’t mind because it just looks so beautiful on. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
Mooncat Tyrannosaurus Hex is my favorite green of the year regardless of finish. It’s a green polish packed with multichrome flakies and reflective glitter that dries matte. I wanted to show what it looks like under flash because it’s wild how it lights up with the reflective glitters. This is also beautiful with a glossy top coat, but I do really love it matte. This formula is super smooth despite how jam packed it is, and I got full coverage in two coats.
Holo Taco Never Tide Down is the perfect summer polish (as well as the one I’ll talk about next). It’s a turquoise jelly polish filled with iridescent flakes, holographic glitter, and crushed holo. My favorite color is teal so I’m a little biased, but I just love how much this looks like the ocean if the ocean was incredibly fun and sparkly. There’s so much going on in this polish, but it still manages to have such a smooth and easy to use formula. I get full one coat coverage with this polish, but you might need two if you have longer nails.
ILNP Blowing Bubbles is the most holographic polish I own – it blew me away with how holo it is. It’s described as a sky-blue ultra holo nail polish, but because of my undertones (and also the lighting) it leans a little teal on me. That said, regardless of which way it leans on you, it’s beautiful, especially in the sun. I ended up buying a few more ILNP ultra holos because I loved this so much. I get one coat coverage with this, and I’m not even sure you’d need a second coat if you had longer nails.
KB Shimmer Ripped Apart is a deep blue filled with reflective glitter that looks amazing in every light. It’s been my favorite nail polish to wear this winter, and I loved using it under snowflake stamps at the start of the season. I think if I had to choose my favorite 3 from this list, this would definitely be one of them (but I’m biased because I’ve been wearing it so much this December). It’s a bit on the thicker side because of all the glitter, but I find it’s still easy to work with. I get two coat coverage with this, and I feel like that’d be the case for most nail lengths. I would recommend added a glitter smoother before your top coat. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
Mooncat Midnight Rider is a midnight blue multichrome polish that shifts between black and blue and is filled with micro holographic glitter. It’s basically a midnight sky on your nails because of the micro holographic glitter, and the blue shimmer makes it even better because it basically glows. I can get full coverage with two coats (and it’s super smooth), but I also recently tried this over a coat of black polish, and it looked great, so that’s probably how I’ll wear this polish from now on so I can get my mani done in just two coats.
Cirque Colors x Kelli Marissa Venetian Sky is cool toned purpled “Shimmergraphic” that has a super intense pink shimmer and scatter holographic sparkle. The shimmer is so strong but somehow doesn’t drown out the holo, and I’m so excited to wear this one in the spring and summer to see it in the sun. I prefer wearing this one in 3 coats so I can really build up the depth in the purple base and the shimmer, but I’m confident you could get away with two on most nail lengths. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
ILNP Fairy Dust was my favorite polish in the spring this year. It’s a violet jelly base with intense orange shimmer and scattered holographic sparkle. It looks amazing in the sun but also in low light. I also using this as a topper – I swear it looks good in one coat over almost anything. It’s a bit sheer, so it takes at least 3 coats, but I don’t mind for how beautiful it is. If you’re not into that, I recommend using it over a light purple creme for a faster mani.
Mooncat Gates of Hell is the deep red/purple version of Midnight Rider, so of course I also love it. It’s a red to black multichrome with a really strong shimmer and micro holographic shimmer. It’s absolutely stunning, and just like Midnight Rider, I tried this over a coat of black polish, and it looked fantastic. Otherwise, I can get full coverage in two coats, and the formula is super smooth.
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 waiting to do another Phytosurgence review until I had enough products to do a full post with only buying things I thought I would love. And now I almost have too much for one post because they keep launching amazing things! If you haven’t heard of Phytosurgence before, they are a very small indie brand that focuses on transparent and conscious beauty. They make high performance and affordable products that absolutely rival luxury brands. As with my last Phytosurgence review, I’m about to really rave about the products so I want to say upfront that this was not sponsored, and I bought the products with my own money (except for the bronzer and Sublimate which were gifted to me by the amazing Kackie). As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts!
Spectral Sunlight Cream Bronzer in shade 2– There’s twelve shades in this range, and I love how many options there are. I have 2 (Rosy Daybreak), which is basically the cream version of the Gucci powder bronzer in shade 01. It’s the perfect rosy beige for winter, and I love having this option amongst my other neutral and warm cream bronzers. This texture is so weird, but in a good way. It’s truly a powder/cream hybrid that’s very stiff but that means it looks natural like a cream on the skin but has the staying power of a powder. It’s slightly burring with a satin finish that also plays really well with all my powder bronzers. You do really have to firmly swirl in circular motions for a few seconds to pick up product since it’s so stiff, but it’s worth how great it looks. That said, I do find I reach for other cream bronzers like the Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer, Salt New York Sculpt + Bronze Crème Tint Pro in Light/Medium, Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Duo, and Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer because I can apply these without thinking about it at all. This bronzer was absolutely not meant to be swatched, and I can’t get a great picture of it, but rest assured the swatches on the site are accurate (unlike the blushes which some of them definitely look much different on me than I expected).
Softquill Brush – I got this to try with the Spectral Sunlight Cream Bronzer‘s honestly weird texture as described above. I’ve been using it with so many other bronzers though, including creams, liquids, and powder products. It’s a duo-fibre stippling brush that picks up and disperses product in such a natural way. It’s also just big enough that I can do my bronzer is about 5 seconds without being so big that I get bronzer everywhere. I haven’t tried using it for blush yet but now that I’m writing this, I think it would work great. I have a ton of brushes I love (if you’ve been here, you know I have and love most of the BK Beauty brushes and Sonia G brushes), but I’ve been reaching for this to put on bronzer so often. And with the current exchange rate, this brush is $13.50, which is honestly a steal for how great this brush is.
Skin Spark Blush Balm in Condensate, Ignite, Fervor, Exothermic – The Skin Spark Blush Balm formula impressed me from the first time I used it, and I already loved Simmer and Fume, so I was really excited to get some more shades to try out. Before I get into it, I don’t recommend having six cream blushes (or as many as I have which I know is more than 40), but hopefully seeing these all swatched next to each other will help you decide which one or two is right for you if you decide to grab these! This formula is one of my favorites – 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. It also still manages to be a bit blurring despite how moisturizing it is. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s basically perfect. The only complaint I have about this formula is that I’m not a huge fan of the packaging especially now that I have 6 of them and can’t tell them apart. But given the formula is so great and the colors are amazing, these are so worth it to me, especially since they’re $16 not on sale (I got most of this haul for less during Black Friday).
From Left to Right: Simmer, Fervor, Fume, Condensate, Ignite, and Exothermic
Condensate is the toasted version of Fume, which was already one of my favorite blushes in my collection. It’s a cooler toned muted dusty pink with a hint of violet that’s perfect for the winter especially if you want something that fits a no makeup vibe. Ignite is what I would describe as a very warm brown on me, which I love for when I want to do copper eyeshadow and need something that is deep enough to balance that out. It’s basically the summer version of Fume because it has some of the same tones but deeper (like how Condensate is Fume but way cooler), so I’m excited to use this when it starts to warm up again. Fervor is surprisingly my favorite of these shades (although it’s basically simmer but with a bunch of berry tones, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised). It’s a rich berry that works so well for olive skin, especially for that “cold girl” makeup look. Exothermic is the toasted version of Smolder and is described as a neutral smoky peach. On me, I’d describe it as a plummy brown that makes some of my other beigey brown blushes look pink. If I want to do a one cheek product look to stand in for blush and bronzer, this is my go to, but I think I’ll like this even more in the summer because it pulls pretty deep on me. I know I already said you don’t need all of these, but you definitely don’t need Ignite and Exothermic – they’re definitely different but they both fill that “deep brown bronzy blush” shade for me, with Ignite being more orange and Exothermic being more purple.
Have you tried anything from Phytosurgence? Are there other products from them or other brands you’d like me to try and review? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!
Kackie has one of my favorite beauty channels to watch (and also one of my favorite people for so many reasons). What makes her stand out for me is that she actually reviews products rather than fawning over new releases. She covers textures, colors, formulation, packaging, etc. in depth, usually with comparisons to similar products you might already have. She has what she refers to as an encyclopedic knowledge of products, and I think that’s why I find her reviews so helpful. Kackie goes out of her way to give the most pertinent information to help viewers decide why something might or might not work for them and what they should know about the product when making a purchasing decision. For that reason, almost everything I’ve gotten because of her recommending it has become a fast favorite and something I wish I had bought sooner. I rounded up all the makeup Kackie made me buy in 2023 (and since my last “Kackie made me buy it” post last year). As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts! *Most links are affiliate links that support the blog.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring 24H Hydrating + Radiant + Correcting Creamy Concealer in N95 – This concealer is as good as everyone says it is, especially for those of us over 30. It’s incredibly hydrating while still offering a really good amount of coverage because it has such a creamy texture. I love using it all over as both my foundation and concealer, and it just looks so nice. It builds up really nicely if I want more coverage in certain areas while still looking incredibly natural. It plays well with all my powders and primers, so if I’m traveling, this is the one product I’ll bring with me because I know it’ll work no matter what else I do.
Fenty Foundation Stick in 02 – This foundation is absolutely beautiful and so easy to use. I’m so glad that I grabbed this because when I want to put on a more high coverage (for me) face of makeup, this is what I reach for. It blends out so quickly, is quite blurring, and make my skin look amazing without being too dewy or matte. It also is great for spot concealing because it builds really well, and it’s super easy to get just a little bit on a brush straight from the stick. This is definitely my choice out of all the stick foundations for dry skin, and I like it even better than the original Eaze Drop (even though I still love that foundation).
Make Beauty Skin Mimetic Microsuede Bronzer in Lunar – I love this bronzer, and I’m not a powder bronzer person (although I might be now, because I’ve gotten 3 of Kackie’s favorite powder bronzers now and I love them all). It isn’t patchy, it applies so well over cream products, and it manages to keep a satin finish with great staying power. The color is also so dialed in for my olive undertones. There’s 6 shades, and I think they did a great job with the undertones across the range (but let me know if you agree!). Like the pressed powder, I love the packaging and how luxe it feels (and that it’s a different color than the pressed powder which is so helpful since they’re the same size). Plus, this is also refillable, and the pan fits in either the powder or bronzer compact! I will say it’s quite warm relative to the Gucci bronzer I mention later in this post, which is exactly why I got the Gucci bronzer and now am using the Gucci in the winter while the Make was great in the summer.
Gucci Poudre de Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in 01 – If you know anything about my collection, you know I don’t need another bronzer (especially because you’ll probably have noticed I literally just wrote about a bronzer). So why did I get this one? I swatched all the ones I have, and they leaned a little yellow and warm, and Kackie mentioned how this one is on the rosier side so perfect for winter – and she’s right! It works particularly well if I’m doing a very berry leaning or pink leaning look (vs something more beigey or brown), and I didn’t have any bronzers that worked well for that before. The formula is beautiful – it’s blurring, blendable, and easy to use. I recently brought this on a trip home in a magnetic palette because you can actually pop the pan out, and I loved that I could put it in a mini palette with some eyeshadows so it didn’t take up nearly as much space.
Kaja Play Bento in Butter Up – Kackie loves the bronzer in this trio, but doesn’t care about the blush or highlighter, so I waited to get this 70% off so it was basically like I was only paying for the bronzer. That said, I actually really like all three of the products. I recently brought this as my only bronzer, blush, and highlighter travelling, and it worked out great. The formulas are all great – they go on so easily, blend out really well, and have great lasting power. And the colors all work great together since they’re designed to be used as a set. The only thing I don’t love about this is that the bronzer is quite warm for me right now – I think it’ll go great with the Make Beauty bronzer in the summer.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk – When I’m looking for something that’s matte and long wearing but not a powder, this is now what I reach for. You can dab this on directly from the applicator and blend it out in about two seconds with a finger, brush, or sponge. This shade is a perfect sheer neutral leaning cool desaturated pink that makes it go with anything. This blush reminds me of how I feel about the Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal in that it’s just so easy to use and blend when I’m running late or don’t have as much time to do a full “blush look” and is such a great “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. If I had to choose between them, I think I’d choose Petal because I just love stick products, but I’m still so happy I own the matte wand now.
Kaja Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio in Orange Blossom – This is an amazing set of shimmer shadows that you can wear alone or as toppers, but the reason I got this one is specifically for the dark brown shade that Kackie says is one of her favorite “bedroom eyes brown” colors. And it really is so perfect! I do love wearing any of them all over the lid or pairing them with my other palettes to bring in some extra sparkle, but the dark brown is my most used. The shades are super pigmented but still blendable, and there’s something really special about whatever glitter is in them. I got this on sale for $13, and I have absolutely no regrets. I do think I’ll be using the “sandy peach” and “sun-kissed tan” colors more in the spring and summer, and I’ll report back!
Hourglass Scattered Light Eye Shadow in Ray and Smoke – If I’m not using the dark brown shade in the Kaja Bento Trio, these are my next pick for a one and done shadow look. I already loved the formula (I’ve talked about Reflect over the years here), but I specifically choose these shades based on Kackie’s recommendation. They’re both incredibly sparkly and twinkly without looking like you’ve gone overboard with glitter. It’s easy to get a sheer wash of this shade or build it up to have a super glittery look, and it’s also really easy to blend out. It also doesn’t have any fallout for how sparkly it is which makes it great for someone like me that only wants to spend a few minutes doing their makeup in their morning. Kackie actually watched me put on Ray with a brush, and she was surprised at how I just whacked it on and blended in about 3 seconds, and it still looked great. Ray is medium bronzy slightly warm champagne and Smoke is a taupe that doesn’t lean too cool (and is perfect for “cold girl” looks). I feel like with both of these plus Reflect, I now have literally all I need to match whatever blush/lip combo I use.
Make Beauty Diffusion Set in Translucent Fair – This is my go to “I really need a powder that actually is a powder” vs all my other powders that just do the lightest touch of mattifying (like the Kosas Cloud set, which I also love, but it’s more a finishing powder compared to this one). Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a tiny bit of coverage (which is why it’s great it comes in different shades), which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable!
Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – I love all the powders I’ve gotten (and I think they’re all Kackie recommendations if I’m being honest), but if I had to pick only one finishing powder to keep, it’d be this one. Honestly, I think if I had to choose one powder of any kind, it’d be this one as much as I do love having the Make one I mentioned above as a pressed powder option. It blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. Kackie said it provides a soft focus blur, and it really does do that. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
*I did swatches of both these powders, and you literally can’t see anything, so you’ll have to trust me!
YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – I’m honestly so annoyed by how right Kackie is about this one, because she’s obsessed with it, and now I am too. If you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than my other clear lip balms, so it lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear, and I’m always stopping myself from buying more of the shades.
Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is now my favorite matte lipstick formula because it looks blurred out and matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me (I think I watched Kackie put it on and immediately added it to my list for the next Sephora sale) – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it.
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm – Kackie is not a drugstore person, so when she said she really liked this, I knew I had to try it. It’s incredibly thick so it feels like it lasts for hours and hours, and it’s the one I reach for when my lips are feeling like they’re actually about to crack. I keep one of these in my jacket pocket, and I’m always so thankful to have it with me because it’s so nourishing and feels like it’s actually doing something. The only thing I don’t like about these is that it’s so thick it can be incredibly hard to get it to come out of the tube. You have to squeeze so hard I’m always afraid I’m going to break the packaging, but it’s worth it to me for how good this is and it being only $10. I know Kackie would recommend the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment over this one if she really to pick, but I’d personally go with this one. If you want to see swatches of this vs some other lip balms, check out my last post (but the clear swatches are…definitely just clear).
Hermes Shiny Lipstick in Prunoir – On the complete flip side of the Naturium lip balm is the most expensive lip product (or maybe most expensive non-palette product) I’ve ever bought for myself. Kackie got me with the Givenchy and YSL products mentioned above, and I thought “okay, those were entirely worth it, but I’m not spending $80 on a lipstick.” Cue me thinking about it and thinking about it to the point that I just couldn’t get it out of my head how perfect it would be for me, especially knowing how much Kackie loves this one and how well her other lip recommendations have worked out for me. And I absolutely love it. It’s truly the perfect lipstick when I’m doing a berry toned or mauvey toned or purple leaning look (honestly, I could be happy with this for my berry looks and Beige Nu for everything else). It’s also incredible as a way to balance out lipsticks that just need a bit of purple added to them when it feels like something is off. The formula is perfect – it’s shiny and hydrating without sliding all over the place, and it’s sheer without being patchy or not really showing up. The only thing is that it really has that luxury lip scent that’s quite strong, but I’ll put up with it for how perfect it is otherwise. Of course, the packaging is also stunning and feels like something you paid $80 for. This shade might be out of stock, but the formula is great if one of the other colors would work for you!
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 