liftbakelove

BK Beauty Brushes Review – Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Set TA101, TA501, TA502, TA506, TA507

December 3, 2023March 30, 2025by liftbakelove1 Comment

Back with another BK Beauty brush review – this time the newish Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Set! I wanted enough time to test out the set (though I have some of the full sizes of these already) as usual so you can get a more thorough review. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe for new posts – I have lots of product reviews coming up, like the Kackie x Finding Ferdinand blushes, the Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes Palette, Urban Decay Space Rider Palette, the Givenchy Prisme Libre Powder, the Gucci Bronzer, and so much more that I’ve ended up with over 2023 and didn’t review yet. In this post, all links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own, and I bought these myself.

The Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Pouch – I am so excited to have this for travel because I never know what to do with my brushes once I get to where I’m staying and tend either use a kitchen cup or just have them all in a bag. But because this bag stands up by itself, you can use it as a cup to hold all your brushes and has plenty of room for eyeliners, mascara, lip liners, eyebrow pencils, and anything else that stands up. There’s also a ton of slots for brushes and makeup (way more than for the 5 brushes the set comes with).

Travel 101 Contoured Foundation – This brush is the perfect shape for so many things – foundation, bronzer, blush, highlighter. Because of the angle and the shape, it works so quickly for anything I’m doing. Even though it’s quite large, I still find I can be precise with it with the added bonus of blending super quickly. This is my favorite brush for cream bronzer and blush in particular, and I find myself using it over any other brush I have so much that I’m super excited to have this travel sized version in addition to my full sized one. I also will use the top edge for cream highlighter in a pinch. The density is perfect and doesn’t “eat up” too much product. It’s one of the first brushes I would rebuy now if I lost my collection, and that’s saying so much since I have such a large collection of brushes.

Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A501 Lid Shader – The is one of the two brushes I don’t have the full size of (the other is the angled brush), and since the full size is only $16, I wish I had gotten it earlier. As a one and done eyeshadow look lover, this brush has been perfect for packing on and blending one shadow all over the lid. It works great with both mattes and shimmers, and I can totally see why they included this in the travel set. It’s definitely the brush I would choose if I could only choose one because it’s so easy to make a one shadow look with. But if I was going to add one more eyeshadow brush, it would be the next one.

Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A502 Crease Shader– The full size version of this is one of my favorite crease brushes I love how this is so small and so fluffy at the same time! I honestly can’t count the number of crease brushes I have at this point, but this one is still special. It’s perfect for actually defining the crease (vs moving shadow around). Because it’s small, I can use it for the outer corner, inner corner, under my eyes – basically anywhere I want to place and blend shadow. It’s so soft so it doesn’t scratch, and it’s just a joy to use.

Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A506 Concealer – This is hands down my favorite concealer brush of all time, and I’m so glad I have a mini version of it now. It’s designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip, and I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage. This makes it especially great for concealer under my eyes where I really want to keep the coverage but want a super seamless blend. Because of the shape, it’s also really easy to get into harder to reach spots or smaller areas so it also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it.

Travel Angie Hot & Flashy 507 Angled Blush – I have a bunch of angled brushes that I never use (I’ve reviewed a few on here before even), and this is the first one I actually have enjoyed using. I wish I had bought the full size before if I’m honest, because it’s one of my most used powder blush and bronzer brushes since I’ve gotten it. The shape and density of the bristles is just right, and I think it’s because of the doming they added (according to the website). If you’ve never gotten angled brushes to work for you, I recommend this one!

What other products would you like me to review? 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.

Make Beauty Brand Review – Cream Supreme Lipstick, Serum Balm, Skin Mimetic Concealer, Diffusion Set, Skim Mimetic Bronzer, Reverse Emulsion, Succulent Skin Gel Cream, Micro Ferment Rice Essence

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023by liftbakelove2 Comments

As part of getting to know my collection, I want to spend more time reviewing all the products I have. Next up is everything I own from Make Beauty, which turns out to be 8 products. Hopefully this will be a really great walk through of a good amount of what the brands offers – let me know if you want me to try anything else! I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them, and I’ve gotten a ton of wear time out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments. 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! All links are affiliate links – thanks so much for supporting the blog if you shop through them!

Makeup:

Lipstick in Equilibrium and Serum Balm in Nude Nova

Cream Supreme Lipstick in Equilibrium – This has been my go to lipstick ever since I got it. 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!

Serum Balm in Nude Nova – I was thinking the other day about how I have so many great glosses, liquid lip balms, regular balms, and how it would take a lot for one of them to stand out. And this one does! Even just yesterday, I was so pleasantly surprised about how long lasting it was. It was literally still on hours later hydrating my lips. This is one of the best smoothing, hydrating, moisturizing, etc. lip balms I’ve ever tried, and it just looks and feels so great. It’s not sticky at all, and like everything else in this review, the packaging is lovely. Nude Nova is also incredibly easy to wear – it’s a lightly pigmented rosey brown that is so easy to throw on. This isn’t nourishing enough for an overnight lip mask/treatment, but I love it during the day.

Concealer in 01 Fair N

Skin Mimetic Concealer in 01 Fair N – This is pretty light coverage, which you should definitely keep in mind if you want to look into this concealer. I also think that the shade I got is too light for me, but it’s sheer enough that I can make it work. It feels super nice and hydrating, and this is something I use when I’m having a particularly dry skin day and nothing seems to lay nicely on my skin. I like it better as an all over skin tint than under my eyes (because I just need higher coverage there), and it works great for that when I want a no makeup makeup look. If I had to rank all the makeup products, I think I would put this one last, but only because everything else is so perfect, and I happen to be a medium-high coverage concealer person.

Bronzer in Lunar and Pressed Powder in Fair

Skin Mimetic Microsuede Bronzer in Lunar – I love this bronzer, and I’m not a powder bronzer person. It isn’t patchy, it applies so well over cream products, and it manages to keep a satin finish even 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 theyr’e the same size). Plus, this is also refillable, and the pans fits in either the powder or bronzer compact!

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 (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!

Skincare:

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. It just feels so nice and is actually hydrating. If I could only pick one skincare product from Make that I got to keep, it would absolutely be this one.

Succulent Skin Gel Cream – I love using this as my first moisturizer in the morning right after I wash my face. It’s incredibly light weight and sinks in really quickly. You can never use too much, and it never feels sticky. It’s my go to for a really hot day where I need hydration but don’t want to feel anything on my skin. That said, this isn’t enough for me to use at night with my dry skin so between the two, the Reverse Emulsion is definitely my pick. I bet the Gel Cream would be a better fit for someone with oily skin because it’s so effective while being incredibly light weight.

Micro Ferment Rice Essence – I’m not a big essence person, so I don’t have a ton to compare this to, but I do really like it! Like the gel cream, this is incredibly light weight and sinks in super fast. It works really well layered on top of itself or under moisturizers to make them work even better. It’s the only product like this I’ve actually managed to user often, and I do find it makes a difference vs when I forget to use it. The packaging, like everything else, is super nice, and the bottle is huge – I don’t think I’m going to run out of this any time soon.

A Few 2023 Favorites So Far

June 24, 2023March 30, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I’m back with some favorites from the first half of the year, and as always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months. If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts. If you choose to shop through my links, some may be affiliate links that support the blog – thank you!

Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow in Ray – I’ve been reaching for this a ton for a super easy but still dimensional and pretty eye look. It’s such a perfect one and done shade, especially now that we have warmer weather, and I’m looking for more bronzy looks. It is 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.

BK Beauty 110 Large Concealer Brush (I purchased myself, and then was gifted a second) – This is far and away my favorite brush from their core line extension. My favorite way to use this brush is to set under my eyes and any spot concealing with powder. It really does function like the perfect mix between a brush and a sponge, and it makes any powder look better than it would’ve. It’s the perfect shape specifically for the undereye area, and it just feels really nice to use. Now that I have a second of these, I’ve also tried it to apply cream products like concealer under my eyes and targeted cream bronzer and blush application, and I love it for that too! I now have a non affiliate code with BKBeauty so you can save 10% using LIFTBAKELOVE10 – I don’t make anything from the code, it’s just for you to get to enjoy these brushes as much as I have!

Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil – This is the best body oil I’ve ever tried, and even though it’s expensive, it’s so worth it. It’s thick and hydrating without being sticky or greasy. It sinks in so quickly and feels so nice on the skin. It also smells amazing – it’s what I would call a sophisticated citrus. I can definitely tell a difference when I use this vs other oils or a body moisturizer alone. A little bit also goes such a long way – I had the mini bottle, and it lasted me 6 months. The one pictured above is my almost brand new full size because I knew I needed to get the full size this time!

Make Beauty Cream Supreme High Impact Lipstick in Equilibrium paired with the BK Beauty lip liner in Warm Spice (*gifted) – This is my favorite lip combo lately, and I’ve been wearing it so much. It’s such a great color combo that is neutral and brown with just enough pink to be the perfect color for my complexion (light olive). Both these products are long wearing while not being drying and have great packaging that is super easy to use. You can see in the swatch how creamy and hydrating the Make Beauty lipstick is, but it’s till super long wearing, especially when I pair it with the more matte BK Beauty lip liner. If you asked me right now to only keep two non-glossy lip products, it would absolutely be these over all my other lip products.

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. I was definitely influenced by Kackie Reviews Beauty, and I recommend checking out her channel if you want to see this concealer in action.

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.

BK BEAUTY BRUSHES REVIEW: Core Line Extension (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 209, 210, 211, 212)

February 5, 2023March 30, 2025by liftbakelove3 Comments

As part of getting to know my collection (I’m doing an un-announced 2023 no buy!), I want to spend more time reviewing all the products I have. Next up is all the newer brushes I own from BK Beauty that I got over the holidays. I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them which is why I waited to long, but I’ve gotten a ton of use out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments! 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! All links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own, and I bought these myself.

109 Mini Contoured Foundation – This is a mini version of one of my favorite BK Brushes, the 101 Contoured Foundation brush. Like its larger counterpart, this brush is the perfect shape for so many things – concealer, bronzer, blush, highlighter, etc. Because of the angle and the shape, I can be precise with it but still blend super quickly. This is one of my favorite brushes for cream bronzer and blush in particular, and I love using the top edge for cream highlighter. The density is perfect and doesn’t “eat up” too much product. I still love the regular sized 101 brush, but this is a great counterpart for when I want something more precise of the same shape.

110 Large Concealer – This is far and away my favorite brush from the core line extension. I’m honestly considering buying an extra one day so I can keep one in rotation while the other one is drying after I clean it or so I can use one for cream products and one for powder. My favorite way to use this brush (since I only have one) is to set under my eyes and any spot concealing with powder. It really does function like the perfect mix between a brush and a sponge, and it makes any powder look better than it would’ve. It’s the perfect shape specifically for the undereye area, and it just feels really nice to use. If you only got one of these brushes, I’d pick this one (although some of the others are a very close second).

111 Dense Bronzer – This is such a perfect bronzer brush when you want something a bit smaller than some of the bigger BK brushes, like the 102, but that is still big enough to quickly apply bronzer everywhere on your face. Its tapered shape is so helpful for getting both precise application and seamless blending that looks natural. I love that this size helps me not go overboard (which I definitely can do with bronzer) while still actually imparting color. This brush also is a great blush and powder blush if you want something that covers a bit more surface area than something like the 112 (which I’ll cover next).

112 Small Angled Face Brush – While I have no regrets getting the whole extension set, this is my least used brush of the 9. Like all these brushes, it’s soft, high quality, and very effective at what it does. I just tend to use other brushes more than this one because this brush lends itself really well to a precise contour application, which is a step I frequently skip. It’s also great for powder highlighter whereas I tend to use cream highlighters more often. It also can be used for powdering under the eyes or around the nose in a pinch, but I like the 110 and 113 better for that. If you’ve been looking for a small angled brush though, this one is great for what it is.

113 Small Flat Powder Brush – Similar to the 110, this is such a great brush for pressing in powder. It’s the perfect size for precise powder placement, and the flat side really presses in powder products so well. The top and other side of the brush work really well for powder blush and highlighter, which makes it a little more versatile than the 110. I think it’s a bit too small for bronzer, but it does work really well for precise contour placement. I still have used the 110 more often, but I do love how I can use the 113 for a variety of blending in powders on my whole face.

209 Mini Shader Brush – I love how small yet effective this brush is. It’s the perfect size to get a precise placement in the outer or inner corner of the eye. Its dense, firm bristles are perfect for packing on color and laying down eyeshadow so you get the impact you want. It’s also perfect for lining the bottom lash line or even the top lash line because the top is tapered. Between the 209 and 210, I find this one more versatile even though I love them both.

210 Mini Pencil Brush – This does everything the 209 brush can do but even more precise since it’s even smaller. I find that because it covers less surface area, I don’t use it as much, but it’s still a super effective eye shadow brush. It’s a bit flat on one side, which makes it more versatile than other pencil brushes I have since I can use it for super precise placement of pigment as well as for smudging shadow.

211 Detail Blender Brush – This is a really great crease brush. It’s dense enough to lay down color but fluffy enough to blend out that color seamlessly. It’s a great size for precise crease blending for my eye shape because I can avoid getting shadow everywhere and really keep it where I want it. Although the 212 is more effective for me for one and done looks, this brush can do that as well, especially if I want a really subtle wash of color.

212 Medium Blender – I have been loving this brush for one and done shadow looks. The description says “the 212 brush is designed for a one size fits all to use as the first brush to lay your transition shade into the crease, and its rounded tip allows for a soft, airbrushed blending.” It does exactly this and does such a good job at it. I love how fast it makes doing a one shadow look that still looks like I put in effort. This is the eye brush I’ve gotten the most use out of in this extension, but I do love them all.

What I actually Used for a 5 Minute Full Face with only 6 products

December 20, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove3 Comments

The other day, I really only had 5 minutes to get my makeup on before kicking off a call for something. I’ve done a post like this one before but it was back in February, and I used a completely different set of products this time and about half the products. This also made me really appreciate how I already have everything I need to do my makeup and how little I need to use to feel put together. Are there any other topics you’d like to see me experiment with and report back on? Let me know 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 or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Fitglow Beauty Redness Rescue Cream – This primer has just enough of a desaturated green tone to counteract any redness and make my skin look even without additional foundation. I found that this (plus the under eye corrector I’m about to write about) was enough for me and didn’t need foundation or concealer on top. I also hadn’t used any skincare yet and love how this is so extremely moisturizing and has so many great skincare ingredients that it’s really an all-in-one for me.

Smashbox X Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector – I have super dark undereyes and can’t get away without a corrector, and this one works super well. I recently finished my HG undereye connector from the Ulta Beauty Brand so I switched back to using this corrector I had been working through already. Because it’s so brightening and hydrating, I actually found that I didn’t need additional concealer especially because the green primer really helped even out my skin already.

Haus Labs Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in Light Level 2 – I got this recently as a present (as well as the SuperBlush in Bubble and mascara I’m writing about today), and I’m so happy I have it. It’s definitely my favorite powder bronzer of all the ones I own. It’s 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. It isn’t powdery or patchy at all either, so while I’d normally reach for a cream product, this looks just as seamless without having to spend any time blending.

Persona SuperBlush Blush in Bubble – This blush is just as good as everyone says it is. I’ve been using this as a topper for almost every look since I got this since it just brightens everything up so well. This formula is sheer enough that I don’t have to worry about overdoing it but it’s super buildable if you want it to be a really intense, bright pink. It’s incredibly blendable and easy to put on without being patchy. I’m just so happy with this one, and it was super easy to throw on as a way to quickly brighten my face in seconds.

Tower 28 Make Waves Mascara – I’m currently still testing out this mascara, and I’m still on the fence of if it’s really as good as everyone is saying it is. It’s definitely lengthening and lightweight enough that my lashes don’t fall as quickly. That said, it doesn’t give as much impact as the Thrive mascara. It worked great for throwing something on quickly, especially since I wasn’t wearing any eyeshadow. It also washes off just as easily as a tubing mascara, which is a huge plus for me. More coming soon on this mascara!

Fitglow Lip Serum in Beach Glow – Beach Glow is a sheer coppery bronze that is so much subtler than it looks in the tube. It’s so easy to slap on with any of my usual makeup looks and is the perfect amount of pigmented for me. It matched really well with the super minimal vibe I had going since it just added a little bit of color and shine. Aside from how well the color fit with this look, FitGlow is always a go-to for me when I’m not sure what I want to wear because of the nourishing, thick, hydrating, long-lasting formula.

What do you use for a fast face of makeup? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 18

December 1, 2022by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer – I really liked this eyeshadow primer for a long time, but for some reason, it just totally stopped working for me. I felt like eyeshadow lasted less well when I was using it, and the color started to feel off too. I switched back to using my Mac Paint Pots, and I’m so much happier with them. I won’t be repurchasing this and am glad I already had a better option in my collection.

Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD (repeat empty) – I’ve written about this oil in almost every empties post that included a facial oil I finished because it is my true HG and the one I always miss when I’m not using it. Most facial oils I’ve tried have been equally moisturizing and glow-giving, and they all provide an occlusive layer as my last step in my skincare routine. The thing I love most about the Josie Maran oil is that it sinks in so quickly so I don’t end up with a oil slick on my face when I’m getting into bed. I can also see a big difference in my skin’s brightness and firmness when I use this vs when I don’t. That said, I have a few oils I’m working through right now, so I haven’t repurchased this yet.

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

NBM Cuticle Buddy – My nails have never been healthier or stronger since I starting using these (someone actually thought my nails were fake at the gym because they looked so nice!). I don’t freak out about nail breaks anymore because they grow back so fast now that I’m using this. They also all smell amazing! This was the Sweet Orange and Tangerine scent, and it’s still one of my favorites. I will definitely get more once I get through some of my many, many cuticle buddies. As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10.

Clarins SOS Primer – I know it’s a lot, but I used this on top of the Glossier Future Dew as an extra primer step. I have super dry skin, so I appreciated the extra moisture and the color correction this provides. It makes it so I can use just a touch of concealer vs covering my face with foundation and makes my skin look really even and healthy. I actually already had a backup that a family member had gifted to me that I’m enjoying using, but I am planning on switching to the green version after I finish that one since that really helps bring my skin closer to the tone of my neck.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and I’ll be sharing empties posts every other Friday all year. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

My 2022 No-Buy is Almost Over – What’s the Most Important Thing I Learned?

November 5, 2022by liftbakelove8 Comments

If you’re a long-time reader here (and if you’re not, welcome!), you’ll know that I decided to go on a no-buy for most of 2022, until Black Friday. Because of that, I haven’t had as many new products to review and had a ton of trouble thinking about new content. The good news is we’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming soon! The even better news is I stumbled upon an awesome way to stop myself from buying things I don’t need during my no-buy, and I’d love to share with all of you.

Before you buy something, ask yourself: “Would I rather use this over what I already have”? I used to just imagine using the new thing, like how pretty a new blush or lipstick would look. Now, I think about if I’m willing to use that new blush or lipstick instead of the blushes or lipsticks I already own. There’s only 365 days in a year, and we each only have one face. If I own 20 blushes and wear them all evenly, I get to wear each of them about 18 times a year. One more, and now I only get to wear each 17 times. I know this sounds very obvious, but it’s saved me from being tempted so many times this year. Especially because it’s wild to me to to buy something that’s over $20 to wear it less than 20 times in an entire year.

To illustrate this, I really wanted to buy one of the Kaja Eye Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trios during the Sephora Sale. My no-buy is almost over anyway, and it’s 20% off what’s already a pretty inexpensive products. Then I thought about all the eyeshadow I already own that I wouldn’t be able to wear because I was wearing the new Kaja shadows. Would I really give up using my Divine Rose or Bronze Seduction Palette? My Roen quads? The Lisa Eldridge liquid shadows? I’d have to wear all of my other eyeshadows less because of getting the Kaja shadows. And this made the decision super easy – obviously, I don’t need new eyeshadow.

I’ve been doing this for every beauty purchase I might make recently, and it’s made my no-buy a breeze since I started thinking this way. I’ve even been able to avoid buying a ton of nail polish (a huge weakness of mine). Even though I had an exception for limited edition products, which many nail polish launches are, I’ve been able to pass them up because I’d rather get to enjoy what I already own. And this means I’ve missed out less on wearing my favorite shades just to wear the newest ones.

I hope this is helpful – it’s made a huge difference for me! I’ll be posting a ton of empties content coming up and some favorites content, but as always, please let me know if you have requests or suggestions for posts you want to see – I’d love to continue to make this a useful place for you to visit! As always, thank you so much for being here and supporting me.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 17

October 15, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Dieux Instant Angel Skin Restoring Moisturizer – The product page says that “this nourishing face cream supports and repairs skin while giving an ethereal glow,” and that is incredibly accurate. This has helped me get rid of any dry, flaky patches on my skin, and it really has makes a huge difference in hydrating my skin closer to normal. It’s also gentle enough that I can use it on my currently dry, flaky eyelids with no issues, and it soothes and moisturizing them so well and so fast. It also sits perfectly under makeup because of how fast it melts into the skin and because it imparts a bit of a glow. I definitely miss having tis even though it’s a little lightweight since my skin just needs all the moisture it can get (a theme you’ll see in all these empties).

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream (repeat empty) – 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 as you can usually get them super on sale (like 50% off). I’ve noticed my skin feeling dryer without this, so I will likely pick some up when sales come around this year.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser – This cleanser is totally fine for dry skin, and I have no issues with it. It’s also incredibly non-stripping and hydrating while still being effective at cleansing. It’s my go-to when I’m travelling and need to grab something from a store like Ulta because it’s fairly cost effective and I know won’t do any damage. That said, I have a bunch of cleansers I’m testing right now that I need to get through before deciding which one I’ll buy when I finally run through them all. Will maybe repurchase but will likely be one of the others (I’m testing some really good ones right now)!

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter (repeat empty) – I have yet to find another body butter I like more than this one. It is incredibly moisturizing while still being fast absorbing and super lightweight. I love all the scents, but this unscented one is my favorite to mix with any body oils so there’s no competing fragrances. I’ve been using this a ton now that we’re really into winter, and my skin is drier than ever. It’s been so helpful to keep my skin from getting to that “so dry it’s unbearable and itchy” state. I am currently on a backup of this and then have a bunch of other body lotion to get through, but I’m planning on repurchasing this when those all run out.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream – My friend Vera recommended this to me when I was looking to replace the reformulated Clinique Moisture Surge (which I had used for ten years!). I’m so happy she did because it’s been a staple of mine ever since I started using it. It’s incredibly moisturizing without being oily or heavy, and it smells amazing. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I stop using this to try other moisturizers, and I’ve found that this and the Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer make my perfect dry skin nighttime dream team. I definitely need to grab more of this during sales this winter.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 16

September 16, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove4 Comments

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream (repeat empty) – This eye cream was sent to me to try and review, and I thought at the time “there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with a $70 eye cream.” And now, I’ve repurchased it at least five or six times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation. I’ve been able to continually find it on sale, which is awesome, so I usually spend about $40 on average for it. I already have another one going, and I will keep repurchasing this until something even better comes along.

Alterna My Hair My Canvas New Beginnings Exfoliating Cleanser – I was pleasantly surprised that this works just like a scalp scrub in that it gets out any residue or product build up that I have in my hair. It doesn’t have anything is it that is actually scrubby so it doesn’t irritate my already super dry scalp while still doing its job. It’s also pretty hydrating so it makes my hair feel so much cleaner but without drying anything out. Once I get through my other hair scrubs/exfoliators/similar products, this is definitely one I’m considering repurchasing.

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, especially when traveling! I already have a backup of this, and I will definitely keep repurchasing this instead of the more expensive versions.

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner (repeat backup) – This toner was my favorite skincare discovery of 2019, and I’ve been using it every single morning ever since. It has continued to make my skin clearer, brighter, and less dry. This is probably the only product I’ve been using nonstop for almost 3 years, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s also $14 for a huge bottle, and it’s my most cost-effective skincare product in my routine. My husband loves it too, and it’s one of the only skincare products he consistently uses. I have a ton of backup bottles so I won’t be repurchasing this any time soon, but I absolutely will when I run out.

Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Remove + Nail Polish Remover – I love how effective yet gentle this is for removing nail polish. It’s really important to me to keep my cuticles, nails, and hands healthy and hydrated because they get really dry and crack super easily. This has been so non-irritating compared to other nail polish removers. Plus, I love the way it dispenses onto a cotton round instead of having to tip the bottle over so I found this lasted way longer than other bottles of nail polish remover I’ve had. I already bought a replacement for this and will likely continue to use this one over any other nail polish remover.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 15

September 10, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 (repeat empty) – This has been my sunscreen of choice for a couple years now since I first tried it. It’s both moisturizing and lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast despite being an all-mineral sunscreen. I love that the formula doesn’t dry out my skin or have a tint that leaves my face looking a strange color like a lot of mineral sunscreens tend to do. It doesn’t pill, it great under makeup, and also smells amazing – every time I put it on, it just cheers me up and helps me get ready to face the day. This was a mini I used while travelling, and luckily, I already have another one that I can throw in my travel bag.

Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream (sample) – I am testing so many eye creams right now that they’re all starting to blend together a bit. That said, this one didn’t cause milia, worked really well under makeup in the morning, and was very moisturizing. I didn’t have enough of it to see if it held up to its claims to naturally reduce the look of lines, dark circles, and puffiness and it’s expensive enough that it didn’t do enough to make me want to invest in a full size.

Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator (repeat empty) – This is a “totally fine but nothing special” product. I have tried so many other leave in conditioner/pre-styling treatments (let me know if you’d like a rundown of them), and compared to those, this feels like it does nothing. Somehow I ended up with 3 or 4 of these minis, so if you see it in my empties again, it’s because I don’t want them to go to waste so will still use them. I don’t think it’s anything you need to run out and get, and I will not be buying more of it.

PSA Skin the Most – I hardly ever do this, but I feel like the brand’s description is so spot on that I’m just going to paste it in here: “This nutrient-packed hydrating serum is like an island oasis for stressed out, hungover, dull, and dehydrated skin. It provides essential hydration immediately while helping skin cells better retain moisture overall for plump and supple skin.” My skin absolutely loves this serum, and I’m already on my backup. It’s amazing for dehydrated and dull skin, and I will probably buy it again once I get through all my other serums that I have lying around.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer – This is so much more effective and unique than the Miracle Creator mentioned above. This whole line, including the primer, are magic for my hair. It keeps my hair looking shiny, soft, and frizz-free without weighing it down. Plus, it smells amazing and compliments all the perfumes I own vs overpowering them (like DryBar products can do). Once I get through all of my heat protectants/leave-in conditioners, this is likely the one I’ll repurchase.

Author: liftbakelove