Makeup and Skincare Reviews

Victoria Beckham Beauty Review – Satin Kajal Liner in Bronze and Cocoa and Lip Definer in 02

March 4, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove4 Comments

I’ve been wanting to try Victoria Beckham Beauty products ever since the brand launched, and I finally picked up a few things during a sale in 2021. I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them. I’ve gotten a ton of wear time out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments! Victoria Beckham Beauty is a luxury beauty brand that focuses on being clean but also high performance and was founded by Victoria Beckam. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa and Bronze – I hate most eyeliners because I have incredibly watery eyes. Especially when it comes to tightlining, most eyeliners break down, running into and smudging beneath my eyes for the remainder of my day. That hasn’t happened to me once with these – once they set, they stay put. They are incredibly creamy and blendable so it’s shocking how well they dry down. They don’t smudge all over, they don’t run into my eyes, and they don’t move. I love that even though they set so well, there’s still enough time to play with them to get the look I want. Because of all of this, they are totally worth the price to me. And they’re less expensive than I would have expected! If you purchase these without the sharpener, they are $26, which is much more reasonable than I expected for a luxury brand. For comparison, Urban Decay’s eye liners (which have 0.04oz compared to Victoria Beckham’s 0.042oz) are $22. And during a sale, you can get them for even less (even just with the welcome10 code, they’re around $23). Obviously, it’s still over $20 for an eyeliner which I know is a lot of money, so I would love to know your recommendations for drugstore eyeliners that actually don’t smudge or run.

Bronze is a golden brown with a slight shimmer that I love using as a subtle liner for every day. It pairs really well with the eyeshadow looks I tend to use, and the shimmer is just enough to add some brightness without going overboard. Cocoa is my perfect deep matte brown that I love using for tightlining or to create definition for a smokier look. Normally I would compare these to other similar products I own, but I actually got so frustrated with all my previous eyeliners over the years that I have decluttered all of them.

Lip Definer in 02 – The formula is really stiff but is still relatively easy to work with as long as your lips aren’t incredibly dry. Because it’s so stiff, it dries down immediately and lasts an incredibly long time, so if you’re looking for something that really will stay put, this formula is great. Despite it’s dry texture, It’s quite agreeable, especially if you use lip balm ahead of time. That said, I find I don’t reach for it as much right now because it’s so dry here and it feels like I’m tugging on my lips in an uncomfortable way. I’m excited to get more use out of it in the summer.

Lip Definer in 02, Thrive Causemetics Lip Liner in Kackie, Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil in Wherever Walnut, Em Cosmetics Lip Liner in Kitten and Mink

02 is described as a neutral beige brown for light to medium lip tones, but I think it has much more pink than brown, as you can hopefully see from the above swatches. Both Kackie from Thrive and Mink from Em Cosmetics are truer beigey brown tones. In my collection, 02 is closest to Kitten from Em Cosmetics which is described as a rose nude. Both the Victoria Beckham and the Make Up For Ever pencils require sharpening, whereas the Thrive Causmetics and Em Cosmetics liners are twist ups. It’s no surprise then that the formula is closest to the Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil – the least creamy and emollient of the bunch but also the longest lasting. When I have really dry lips, I reach for the Em Cosmetics and Thrive Causemetics formulas over the Victoria Beckham or Make Up For Ever (or when I just don’t feel like using a sharpener). These are similarly priced to the eyeliners at $24 with no sharpener (less if on sale), which is in the same range as the rest of these (Thrive Causemetics is $20, Make Up Forever is $20, Em Cosmetics is $19). The formula is less special than the eyeliners, so while those are worth the splurge, I honestly think you don’t need this one if you already have lip liners you love.

Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

February 2022 Fitness & Lifestyle Favorites (includes mini Juggernaut AI Review)

March 2, 2022April 23, 2022by liftbakelove2 Comments

I’m so excited to share my fitness and lifestyle favorites to kick off March (how is it already March?!), and that I loved especially during February. I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions (see my last competition recap here) and am very into fitness and health. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

A7 Bar Grip Hoodie – This hoodie is so incredibly comfortable that I never want to take it off. The site says it’s made with an ultra-soft cotton/polyester fleece blend, and it truly is ultra-soft. I have it in an XS but there’s still plenty of room given the relaxed fit. I love that it has the bar grip material on the back so I can use it for bench and low bar squats (it helps you stick to the bench or a bar stick to you) or just look super cool while I’m walking around. The material is lightweight enough that I can workout in it but warm enough that I’ve been able to wear it as my only top layer in 40 degree weather. Even though it’s $60, the quality, fit, and comfort are absolutely worth the price to me.

A7 Defy Joggers – I’ve been trying really hard to mix up the brands that I include in these favorites posts, but I really need to share about these joggers. In full transparency, A7 gifted these to me in the same order as the sweatshirt, but as always, these are my unbiased opinions. I also had already purchased a pair for my husband, and he loves them so much – now I understand why. These fit so well in a way that is comfy and oversized but doesn’t look baggy, which is shocking considering they’re unisex. The fabric is lightweight but still warm enough for these winter to spring transition months and is so soft and comfortable. The zippered pockets are deep enough for all my stuff, and there’s no weird back pockets to content with. I’ve been wearing these for days on end and might buy myself another pair for my upcoming birthday.

Juggernaut AI Powerlifting program – I started using Juggernaut in December, and I’ve been thrilled with my progress training for my next competition in April. My 1RMs are already over 100lbs over my competition total in October, and I still have over 2 months left to train, and I’m still only doing 4 days a week. I love that the app is super easy to use, the program is 100% personalized to me down to adjusting after every set based on how I said it felt. I’ll be doing a full review after my meet but I wanted to share because I’ve just been loving it. As always, you can use my affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE with Juggernaut to get 10% off. Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about this program without being an affiliate (I even wrote this before getting a code and am editing this in afterwards).

Strawberry Built Bars – I’m still shocked at how good these are considering the macros (most bars have around 17g of protein for 130 or 140 calories!) and keep trying new flavors. My most recent favorite are the strawberry bars which I can tell have actual dried strawberries in them. They were the perfect “I want chocolate covered strawberries but also protein” bar all February. There’s almost always a 20% off code going around and free shipping which helps with how expensive they are. That said, at about $1.8 a bar, they’re still less expensive than other bars like Quest ($2.25 a bar plus shipping from their website) and taste way better to me, and I’ve kept loving them since the first bar I tried last year.

Ember Mug – I know this mug is incredibly expensive, but it’s so worth it for me. It takes me forever to drink coffee in the morning, so I’ve really appreciated having coffee that stays hot for hours. It also means that I can add cold milk and the coffee heats back up to a great temperature without me having to do anything. And if I have other things right after the coffee’s done, it’s so nice to be able to step away and come back to coffee that hasn’t gotten any colder. It’s held up super well over the years I’ve had it and charges fairly quickly so I can use it again for tea in the afternoon. I’ve been really appreciating this mug lately, and it’s definitely one of my favorite things.

What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for being here! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

February 2022 Favorites

February 27, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove3 Comments

I can’t believe February is already almost over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months (I have some products I received during the holidays that I’m loving but not ready to talk about just yet!). If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer in LX010 – This formula is incredibly high coverage – definitely the most pigmented of all my base products. A tiny amount goes so far, and because of that, it doesn’t look heavy or cakey. I have the shade LX010 (the lightest in range), and I’ve found it to be super helpful to mix with my foundations to lighten them because I haven’t seen sun in so long and everything is a bit too dark. It dries down on its own to a satin finish that doesn’t need to be powdered, but it plays well with all my powders. I think I’ll like it even better in the summer because it’s a touch drying on my super dry winter skin, but I’ve found that mixing it in with Glossier Future Dew or Auric Glow Lust has made it the perfect texture.

Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush in Venetian Rose – This formula is so incredibly soft and creamy (like the name implies), and that makes it so easy and quick to apply. It blends so seamlessly into the skin without disappearing, and it’s one of the longest wearing cream blushes I own. I’ve been using the one I have in Venetian Rose so often the last few months since I got this. This color is a beautiful purply/pink rosy tone that is so at home on my skin. It also matches the Lip Cushion in Venetian Rose, which is one of my favorite lip products, and the Heaven’s Glow Blush in Venetian Rose, which is one of my favorite powder blushes. Having all of them makes it so easy to put a look together that I know will be cohesive.

Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush, Lip Cushion, and Heaven’s Glow Blush in Venetian Rose

Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil in Nude Nectar – This lip oil reminds me so much of the Dior Lip Oil but is so much more nourishing and a fraction of the price (the Beauty Pie is $8.21 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the shade Nude Nectar which is sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some “my lips but better” color if I’m not wearing anything. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it. It’s been a struggle to not pick up a ton more shades but between my no-buy and all my FitGlow Lip Serums (which is also very similar to this), I definitely don’t need more right now.

KBShimmer Fillin’ Groovy Ridge Filling Nail Polish Base Coat – I really struggle with nail polish lasting on me, and every base coat I’ve tried so far has led to nail polish that peels off completely after about 3 days. And if not, there is always a ton of chipping no matter what polishes and top coat I use. All that changed when I started using this base coat from KBShimmer that I happened to have gotten as a gift with purchase with an order in 2021. My manicures can last almost 2 weeks now (although I usually end up changing them up for fun before then). Beyond the amazing longevity this provides, it creates smoother base because it’s ridge filling. It’s also not completely clear, which I found has helped me use less coats of polishes on top for full coverage. The best part is that it’s only $6.50, and I’m so glad to have settled on the perfect base coat for me.

What were your favorites this month? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 4

February 25, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again.

Glossier Boy Brow – This been my favorite choice for brow gel for years because it just does exactly what I want a brow gel to do. It deposits color, but not too much, defines the brow hairs, but not too much, and has staying power, but not too much. Now that I’m through all my backups, I’ve been testing out other brow gels like the Rose Inc Brow Renew in Clear and Kosas AirBrow. I actually like them both better than Boy Brow, and I’m excited to not have any brow gel backups so I can keep testing out new formulas and find the one that really works best for me.

Glossier Stretch Concealer in G11 – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, which is one of the reasons I actually finished the whole pot. I can just dot it all over my face, blend, and be done without needing both a concealer and foundation step. The Stretch Concealer looks incredibly skin like, lasts all day, and provides just the right amount of coverage for me (which is light). I find the light coverage makes it blend seamlessly and wear well even without powder since it’s harder to tell where it’s worn off than with a fuller coverage product. It also feels very light weight, and everything I put on top of it looks great. Because I love it so much, I already had another one, and I likely will repurchase it again unless something similar comes into my life that I like even more.

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

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum – I got sent this to try for review, and it’s a totally fine serum. It hydrates and made my skin feel great. It promises to do a bunch of other “anti-aging” things, and I didn’t notice a huge difference from when I started it to when I finished this mini size. This serum is so expensive that I’m not going to be buying a full size because I’d rather invest in other things that really work for my skin.

Allies of Skin 1A™ Retinal + Peptides Overnight Mask – This continues to be my HG retinol product, and I’m already using my backup and will repurchase this when I run out. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all, is very hydrating, and still actually does all the things retinol does (smooths the appearance of wrinkles, fades scars, and brightens skin). I love that if I’m really exhausted, I can use this as my all-in-one nighttime product without waking up to incredibly dry, blotchy skin, which is what used to happen with other retinol products. It’s pretty expensive, like the rest of this brand, but it works so well, and now I can’t imagine going back to something that isn’t as effective as this.

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

February 2022 No-Buy Update

February 23, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove3 Comments

I’m on a no-buy for most of 2022 and using these monthly updates to keep me accountable. For these updates, I’ve decided to answer the same set of questions every month. Feel free to follow along in the comments with your own no-buy or low-buy updates. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

What’s one thing that helped this month go easier?
Keeping a wishlist has continued to be incredibly helpful in this process. There have even been a few things I added to my wishlist that I removed only a few weeks later. It’s such a great reminder that there’s so many things I want to buy purely because they’re new and exciting rather than because I need them. And because I’m spending so much more time just getting to know my collection, it’s way easier for me to realize that I’d be essentially duping what I already have (like these products I wrote about earlier this month). I think even after my no-buy ends, I’m going to continue the policy of putting things on a wishlist and letting them sit there for a bit before I buy them. It’s a great way to make sure I’m only buying what I truly want.

What was one thing I wanted to buy but didn’t and why?
I really wanted to get new Glossier After Baume moisturizer that is specifically designed for very dry and/or sensitive skin like mine. I don’t have anything that thick and occlusive, so it feels like a gap in my collection. My skin has also just been feeling super dry lately, and it seemed like the perfect thing to help with that. But I own 26 serums and moisturizers, and I know between them all, I can make a mixture that will work for me. It’s also permanent so it’s still going on the wishlist for Black Friday, but I really need to get through some of my moisturizers (many of which are minis I got as gifts with purchase) before I add any more to my collection.

A recent manicure I did trying to really appreciate what I already have!

Did I buy anything this month?
I caved and bought three Starrily polishes (Aphrodite, Catnip, and The Cat’s Meow). One of my rules is that I can buy limited edition products as long as I don’t go over my budget for that category, and Starrily polishes tend to come back into stock very rarely. There have been polishes from them I had to wait at least 6 months to a year for, so in my head these were “limited edition,” That said, for full transparency, I did break one of my rules, and I wanted to share because it’s important that we don’t only talk about being perfect on the internet. I’m excited to 100% stick to it in March, especially knowing I really have everything I already need.

From left to right: Vesca Lyra, Bodyography Off the Hook, Mac Groundwork, Laura Mercier Rose Gold, Hourglass Reflect, Chantecaille Cheetah

What’s a product I rediscovered by having to shop my stash?
One of my favorite rediscoveries is the Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadow in Groundwork. I had honestly totally forgotten about it and how great it is as an eyeshadow base or matte one and down shadow. It’s a neutral taupe that goes with any blush and lip color I’ve chosen. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because it’s a hybrid primer shadow. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. While I love using it alone, I’ve been using it again specifically as base for cream glitters and shimmer shadows. I have so many pretty, sparkly shadows that look off without a base like this, so it’s been perfect for that. You can see above how it compares to some of my other favorite one and done shadows (more details about them here).

If you’re doing a no-buy, how did your February go? If not, what amazing thing did you buy this month? I’d love to know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!

The Products from my 2019 Favorites I Still Use and Love

February 20, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection, and thought I’d look back at my 2019 Makeup Favorites and see which products are still mainstays in my collection. I was surprised at how many weren’t favorites anymore, and it really made me realize both that I need to stop buying backups because new and better formulas are coming out all that time and that these products are truly favorites of mine. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

Natasha Denona Biba Palette – The Biba Palette is still one of my favorite palettes of all time, regardless of how much new eyeshadow I’ve gotten over the years. It is the perfect mix of warm, neutral, and cool tones with the right number of shimmers. The formula is amazing and has been a great stand-by for me. The formula has held really well even though I’ve had it for quite a long time now, and it’s still my go-to if I just want something quick and easy. The amount of shadow you get in the palette is also so much – it looks I’ve barely touched some of the colors even though I’ve used them over and over again.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – I’ve talked about this in my favorites many times, and I still use it almost every day. It’s such a great for dry skin, and the full size really lasts forever. It looks like I’ve barely used it even though I bought it in 2019 and use it super consistently. If you don’t want to splurge for the full size and don’t use a lot of powder, you can totally get away with using the travel size for over a year in my experience. Even though I love the Kosas Cloud Set Powder, I still find myself reaching for this all the time, especially for under my eyes.

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

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner – This toner was my favorite skincare discovery of 2019, and I’ve been using it every single morning ever since. It has continued to make my skin clearer, brighter, and less dry. This is probably the only product I’ve been using nonstop for almost 3 years, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s also $14 for a huge bottle, and it’s my most cost-effective skincare product in my routine. My husband loves it too, and it’s one of the only skincare products he consistently uses. I see this being a staple for me for a very long time.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer and the While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque – This primer and the mask are still magic for my hair. Together, they keep it looking shiny, soft, and frizz-free without weighing it down. Plus, they smell amazing and compliments all the perfumes I own vs overpowering them like other hair products can do. I only use the mask about once every 3 weeks, and that’s been more than enough to keep my hair feeling great. I’m honestly not surprised that haircare is one of the places where I have so many staples because it’s easy to just rebuy these when I run out.

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

What I Actually Used for a 5 Minute Full Face

February 18, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove1 Comment

The other day, I really only had 5 minutes to get my makeup on before heading out the door for something. I’ve done a few “what I would use for a 5-minute face of makeup” posts before, so I thought it would be fun to report back on what I actually reached for when I had to do it for real. This also made me really appreciate how I already have everything I need to do my makeup. 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.

Glossier Future Dew mixed with Rose Inc Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer – My base routine is usually what takes the longest because I use primer, corrector, foundation, and concealer, so I tried to think really quickly about how I could merge those together. My solution was to mix together Future Dew with the Rose Inc concealer, which resulted in something hydrating, dewy, and medium coverage. I quickly applied with my hands, and then blended out with my sponge – it looked great in one step. The shade LX10 is a bit light for me to use all over, so if I did this again, I’d mix in some liquid bronzer, and I think it’d be perfect. I also think my under eyes could have used my usual corrector but I’m sure no one but me noticed.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – This is one of my go-tos when I’m short on time and just need to add some color to my face without having to do a lot of work or blending. I own so many cream bronzer products, and always come back to this one as my “I just don’t want to think about it and need something that works” product.

Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal – Similar to the contour stick, this is just so easy to use and blend, and it’s my go to for when I’m running late or don’t have as much time to do a full “blush look.” Petal is the perfect “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. This and the contour stick make a perfect pair for me, and the stick format and formula make them both so incredibly easy to slap on and blend.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit and Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal

Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand – This blends so easily and quickly and creates a sophisticated glow without glitter. It’s a perfect wash of light-catching pigment and is also blurring. It looks great as a finishing touch to any look I’ve used it in, and I love that it looks great on the cheeks, brow bone, inner corner, or anywhere else I want it to go. I applied it straight from the wand and blended – a process that took about 10 seconds. Because of the packaging, it’s the highlighter I reach for when I need something super quick.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil – Because of a sparse area I have in one of my brows, I never skip this step. I love this pencil because it goes on so quickly and naturally and the size makes it perfect to fill areas in fast but not overdo it. And unlike other pencils, it stays all day, so I don’t end up with a hole in my brow by the end of the day.

Rose Inc Brow Renew in Clear – Because this is clear, it was super easy to throw it on my brows in less than 10 seconds without having to worry about making my brows look too big or dark. And because of my big brows, the applicator is also perfect for me vs the usual tiny brow applicators, especially when I want to apply brow gel super quickly.

Lisa Eldridge Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow in Angelica – I’m not surprised my first thought for eyeshadow was this one. Angelica is a rosy bronze that is the absolute perfect shade for me, and I can pair it with almost any blush and lip color. The formula also doesn’t need a primer and still lasts all day. It’s so quick and easy to apply and looks amazingly impactful. I applied directly from the doe foot and blended out with a brush – it was so fast and looked like I spent a long time doing an “eye look.”

Glow-All Super Powder Face Palette – Because I didn’t set anything with powder and did everything so quickly, I wanted to add a finishing touch of powder products to blend the look together. I immediately reached for this palette because it has blush, bronzer, and highlighter all in one and because the formula is amazing. The formula is so easy to work with and you don’t have to think about what you’re doing because it’s so hard to overdo it – super important when I’m trying to work really quickly. It’s exactly what I wanted for a “set without getting rid of all the dewiness” product, and these shades match the cream products I used so they melded together super well.

Fitglow Lip Serum in Gospel – Gospel is described as a warm berry, and it’s super in my comfort zone. It’s so easy to slap on with any of my usual makeup looks and is the perfect amount of pigmented for me. 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. While I reached for Gospel, any of the shades I have (like Root or Beach Glow) would have worked great too.

FitGlow Lip Serums in Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – Something always looks a bit off until I finish a look with mascara, so I finished off the look with my trusted Thrive mascara. This is the only mascara I use so it was an easy choice. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. It also builds super quickly, so I only have to do one coat. As always when I mention this mascara, if there’s a tubing mascara you love and think I should try, definitely let me know in the comments!

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.

MY 8 FAVORITE PRODUCTS UNDER $20

February 16, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove4 Comments

As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection and starting a “favorite products under $X series” to help me in that process. I’ll be doing posts every month for different dollar amounts, and I’m so excited to dive into my collection in this way. This time, I’m writing about my favorite products under $20. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for under $20 beauty products 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.

Glossier Stretch Concealer – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, and I’ve been using it a ton this way lately. I’ve been super tired lately with how dark it’s getting, and this has been so great to use to get my makeup done super quickly. I can just dot it all over my face, blend, and be done without needing both a concealer and foundation step. The Stretch Concealer looks incredibly skin like, lasts all day, and provides just the right amount of coverage for me (which is light). I find the light coverage makes it blend seamlessly and wear well even without powder since it’s harder to tell where it’s worn off than with a fuller coverage product. It also feels very light weight, and everything I put on top of it looks great.

Salt New York Crème Tint Pro Bronzer, Blush, and Highlighter – I’ve written about my love for Salt New York’s products so many times, and it’s because it continues to be one of my favorite cream formulas that I go back to over and over again. All the Crème Tint Pros I have (and I have 21) blend out incredibly easily and seamlessly, are super lightweight, and look so at home on my skin. This is my favorite formula for when I need a “I’m running late and need something easy” look – they blend out so quickly with a brush, sponge, or fingers and never look patchy. My most used shades over the years has been the bronzer in Light/Medium, highlighter in Beige, and blush in Rose, and I’ve really been loving Cocoa and Plum recently. They are all $16, but they have sales all the time, so I technically based on what I paid for most of them, these could have been in the under $10 post.

Salt New York bronzer in Light/Medium, highlighter in Beige, blushes in Rose, Cocoa, and Plum

Blush Divine Radiant Cheek & Lip in Ophelia, Foxglove, and Azalea– This formula is incredibly pigmented, opaque, and thick (like a balm), which I actually appreciate. It doesn’t need to be built up because it’s so pigmented but can still be layered with other cream blushes because it blends so easily. Because of its thickness, it has great staying power and even manages to keep its dewy (but not shiny) finish for hours. I love that you can just buy the refills for about half the price, and they pop into a magnetic palette super easily. I have the shades Ophelia (“true pink”), Foxglove (“warm terracotta”), and Azalea (“berry”). Ophelia is my most used because I’ve really been into a pink looks lately, but I find all the shades work well for me. All that said, if you’re not a fan of that super thick, on the edge of sticky cream blush, you might not like this formula, but I love it so much.

Flower Beauty Desert Lights and Jungle Lights Eyeshadow Palettes – For being under $20, I’m still shocked at how comparable these shadows are to my high-end palettes from brands like Pat McGrath and Natasha Denona. The formula is incredible – it’s super pigmented, smooth, and sparkly. All the shades blend easily and last super well all day with a primer. They have enough dimension to use them all as one shadow looks and blend together well enough to make a more complex look with multiple shadows. They’re just incredibly creamy and easy to use in the same way my much more expensive shadows are. If you wanted the look of the Roen shadows without the cream texture and creasing, this might be a really good option. If I had to choose one, I’d go with the Desert Lights Palette because I use it much more often and am really into pinky rose golds right now, but the quality is amazing in both palettes.

Flower Beauty Desert Lights and Jungle Lights Eyeshadow Swatches

Em Cosmetics Soft Blur Velvet Lip Liners in Kitten and Mink – Out of all my lip liners, I definitely reached for these the most often. The formula blends so easily so you can get a soft, blurred, and diffused look. I find that creates a much more natural look that still defines my lips and helps prevent any feathering of the lipstick I use on top. Even with how soft and lightweight they are, they are very long lasting. I have the shades Kitten, a neutral rose, and Mink, a cool brown, which both work really well with my lip color and the with my favorite lipsticks and glosses.

Em Cosmetics Lip Liners in Kitten and Mink

Glossier Ultralip in Villa, Trench, Cachet, and Portrait – The Ultralips are a pretty pigmented tinted lip balm that has a touch more glossiness than your average balm. I love how moisturizing it is and how long lasting it is (for a lip balm texture). You can also build up the color without anything weird happening like pilling or patching. I love using these during the day on work calls when I want more color like a traditional lipstick, don’t mind having to reapply, and can take advantage of how moisturizing these are.

Glossier Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet

Phytosurgence Phytobrushes – I’m still in shock about how good the Phytobrushes are, especially for both being under $15. I purchased both the Skybuff and Skyfluff brushes, and I’m in love with both of them. If you’re a regular reader here, you know how much I invest in fude brushes (from Sonia G., Chikuhodo, Wayne Goss, etc.), and these fit right in my collection because of how high quality they are. They suggest using the Skybuff for their Spectral Shine and Skyfluff for their Skin Spark blushes, but I actually love using them the opposite way. They blend out the products so seamlessly and quickly so that the products really look like they’re naturally part of your face – exactly the kind of look I love.

The Inkey List PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment – I really struggle with breakage and split ends, and this product has completely changed that for me. I use this after every shower and now have way less breakage and almost no split ends despite not getting a hair cut for a long, long time. My hair also feels much softer and less frizzy even if I only used just this product. I’m used to needing to use a couple of different products to get my hair to look and feel great, so that has really impressed me! The only con for me is that I can’t stand this packaging – it’s so hard to spray the product, and I ended up having to pour this into a different container to keep using it. For $12.99, it’s absolutely worth dealing with though.

What are your favorite products under $20? 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.

This or That? Answering your “which should I choose” makeup dilemmas!

February 13, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove4 Comments

I asked my followers on Instagram for their makeup dilemmas, inspired by this video from Kackie Reviews Beauty, and these were the most common ones! Before I get into it, I love all of these products, and this is just for fun – if you want a more specific recommendation for your particular needs, don’t’ hesitate to ask in the comments or on Instagram DMs. 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!

Auric Glow Lust vs Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter – I have a longer review comparing these, but the TLDR of that post is Auric Glow Lust all the way. The packaging is way better, and I like the formula more. I love the packaging so much more and it’s way more versatile since I can use it by itself in lieu of foundation, as a primer, mixed in with my foundation, as a highlighter, and any combination of those methods. I also think the Charlotte Tilbury was breaking me out so I ended up decluttering it because of that and because I found I never reached for it over the Auric Glow Lust or the Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter.

Glow Lust in Selenite and Hollywood Flawless Filter in 2

Fit Glow Lip Serum or Finding Ferdinand Custom Lipstick (if you’re buying yourself a gift) – For this one, I would go with the Finding Ferdinand custom lipstick. There’s something so special about getting exactly the color you want (the team at Finding Ferdinand will help you choose if you’re stuck) and being able to choose formula and the scent. I love my custom Finding Ferdinand shades and would happily give or get them as a gift. I also love the Fit Glow Lip Serums (they were in my 2021 Makeup Favorites and I talked about them a bunch last year), but they aren’t the same gift experience as Finding Ferdinand.

Finding Ferdinand Custom Shade and FitGlow Lip Serum in Root

Salt New Y ork vs Phytosurgence highlighters – Even though both of these products are amazing, I would choose the Salt New York highlighter. The Phytosurgence Spectral Shine is gorgeous, but the formula does take a bit of effort to work with. You really have to run your finger or brush over the product many times to get it to pick up. The Salt New York highlighter is so easy to use with a brush or finger and goes on so quickly and easily. It adds a beautiful sheen that isn’t glittery every time and blends easily with other products. I find myself reaching for the Salt New York over my Spectral Shine almost every time because I usually have very little time to get my makeup on in the morning. That said, if you have oily or normal skin (vs my desert skin) or need your makeup to be locked in all day, you might prefer the matte dry down of the Spectral Shine over the dewiness of the Salt New York.

Salt New York in Beige and Phytosurgence in Divine Daylight

Salt New York vs Phytosurgence blushes – I feel similarly about these as I do the highlighters. Both are amazing in their own way and it’s honestly so hard to choose, but I generally reach for the Salt New York Creme Tints. They are so much sheerer and easier to mix and build that I can mindlessly use them and create whatever shade I’m feeling that day. The Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balms are richly pigmented, which is amazing when I want something impactful that still blends beautifully into the skin. But usually, I’m doing my makeup half asleep before I even have coffee and can easily end up overdoing it, which never happens with the Salt New York Creme Tints. I also usually end up sticking to just one shade vs the mixing I love to do. All that said, you can’t go wrong with either!

Salt New York in Raspberry and Phytosurgence in Simmer

Phytosurgence vs Vesca Eyeshadows – I love both of these so much, but from a versatility standpoint, Phytosurgence has a much better range of formulas and shades. Vesca’s liquid shadow in Lyra is one of my all time HGs but there’s only four shades and that one formula from the brand. Plus, the Phytosurgence shadows also provide a different effect depending on how you apply them (finger vs brush vs which kind of brush) whereas the Vesca looks the same regardless. From Phytosurgence, I love both the cream and glitter formulas, and they have four shades in each formula. They’re also (I think) coming out with more of the cream shadows soon! Like all of these, you can’t go wrong with either, but my guess is you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for from Phytosurgence unless you’re specifically looking for the kind of liquid shadow formula the Vesca is.

Vesca in Lyra and Phytosurgence in Potent Petal and Orchid Overload

What other products would be helpful to see compared? Let me know in the comments below! And 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 3

February 11, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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

Dieux Deliverance – This is truly a game changing product. My skin had been looking a bit dull and overly dry in the summer, and even though I love the other products I use, I needed something more. This serum is supposed to address skin issues like irritation, uneven tone, texture, lack of firmness, among others, and it definitely does everything it says it does. My skin definitely looks more even, less dull, and less textured since I’ve been using this, and I could tell a big difference when I didn’t have it with me at home for Thanksgiving. Given how much I love their Forever Eye Mask, I’m not surprised this is just as amazing. I already bought 2 backup bottles in 2021, and I’ll definitely keep repurchasing this as I run out.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – It has been so incredibly dry here recently, and I’ve been experiencing way more dry, flaky patches on my skin. I tried a ton of different products, and this was the only one that truly made a difference in hydrating my skin closer to normal. It says on its product page that it’s made for visibly irritated areas associated with dry skin, and I can confirm it really does help with that. It’s even gentle enough that I can use it on my currently dry, flaky eyelids with no issues. I also love that it’s under $15 too, and this tube lasted me forever! While I do want to repurchase this eventually, I have a few other similar dry skin saving balms I’d like to try out first and then decide which is best.

Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator – 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.

Typology Hand & Nail Serum – I have suffered from incredibly weak nails that break seemingly for no reason and have never found anything that really improves them. I also have such dry hands that they itch and crack regardless of what time of year it is. While hand creams help, they don’t do enough for my hands to feel normal. I’ve been using this serum about once a day since I’ve gotten it, and my nails have literally never looked this good or grown so long without breaking. I had to actually file my nails down because they don’t even break at the gym while I’m lifting! My hands also look and feel normal even if I forget to use hand cream, which I’ve never experienced before. I’m honestly so thankful I found this product and will be buying more once I get through some of my other favorite nail treatment – NBM Cuticle Buddies. Between these two oil products, my nails have never been better.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!

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