More Lifestyle Favorites: What I’ve Been Loving That’s Not Beauty

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on More Lifestyle Favorites: What I’ve Been Loving That’s Not Beauty

I have more fitness faves to share! I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions now that we are back in the gym and am super into fitness and health. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

A7 Belt – I can’t believe I’ve never posted about this belt before. I’ve had it for almost 2 years, and even though I actually own 3 belts for powerlifting, this is the only one I use. It looks brand new, and I’m expecting it to last for years and years. It’s definitely been worth the high price tag. The thing I love most about this belt is the offset holes at 1/2 inch increments rather than 1 inch, so I can really get it as tight as I want. It’s approved for USAPL meets, so you’ll see it on me in any of my meet recaps, and it’s the only belt I’d trust on meet day to help me lift the heaviest I can. If you have no idea why you would use a belt in powerlifting, I love this video from MegSquats.

Buff Chick Supplements Creatine – According to the website, studies have demonstrated Creatine supplementation supports strength and power output during intense resistance training. One of the only things I’ve changed in my routine recently is adding this to my Gatorade Zero every day, and I can confirm that it absolutely helped my ability to push through heavy lifts and high volume sets way better than I ever have been. It’s $25 for about 3 months worth, which ends up being $100 per year (or less depending on if you can grab it with a 10% off code or other sale). For the amount of strength and power improvements I’ve seen, that’s totally worth it to me.

Built Bars – I’m shocked at how good these are considering the macros (most bars have around 17g of protein for 130 calories!). I have the Salted Caramel, Mint Brownie, and Peanut Butter Brownie so far, but I’m excited to try more flavors. My favorite way to eat these is microwaving them for 15 seconds, and they turn into a gooey cake-like dessert that I wouldn’t know is a protein bar if it was a blinded taste test. 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, so I’m really excited to have found these.

Sour Strips – These really are as good as everyone says they are. And if you haven’t heard of them before, they are really high quality sour candy strips that are each about 30 calories. They’re actually sour, the flavors taste like what they say they are, they have really fun seasonal flavors, and are super portable. These are a great intraworkout snack, especially when I’m lifting super heavy, which is most of the time. They now have a permanent home in our gym bag. So far my favorite flavor is Rainbow, but all of them have been amazing.

Glossier Water Bottle – I know this is just a water bottle, and we all have a million of them, but I’m honestly obsessed. This one of the best $20 I’ve ever spent. If you’re a long-time reader, you know I’m awful at staying hydrated and had once posted about how I regularly have 1 cup of coffee and 1 cup of water a day. As a competitive athlete, this is not enough, and it’s been a huge issue for me. The Glossier bottle is the first bottle I’ve had that I’ve used every single day since I got it, and it’s meant that I’ve had a full 32oz of water without fail every single day. I’ve been mixing Gatorade Zero Powder and Buffchick Creatine in there too every day, and it’s worked perfectly to make sure I get in my creatine and hydration. I have the special Seattle version you can only get here that holds 32oz (the one on the website is 16oz), so if you’re near a Glossier store, I highly recommend checking it out.

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.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 13

by liftbakelove3 Comments on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 13

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. 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!

Josie Maran Skin Dope Ultra Nourishing Daily Body Wash – This definitely does what it says – it’s a non-stripping body wash that leaves your skin hydrated. That said, I felt like I ended up using too much of it, and it wasn’t as moisturizing as some other body washes I’ve tried. If you’re looking for something that’s fragrance free though, this is a great option! I’m not planning on repurchasing this, but I’m still loving the Josie Maran Body Butters post shower regardless of which body wash I’m using.

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

Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub – I got this mini as a gift with purchase, and I didn’t expect to get a lot of use out of it. It turns out that it’s the best scalp scrub I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried a lot of products like this). It works really well as a scalp scrub in that it gets out any residue or product build up that I have in my hair. What I really love about it though is that it actually hydrates as it works so I don’t have to worry about irritating my already super dry scalp. It makes my hair feel so much cleaner but without drying anything out, and it also smells amazing! I’ve already purchased the full size and am still enjoying it!

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream – It’s incredibly moisturizing while still being lightweight and sinking in super quickly. It also smells amazing, and my skin definitely can tell when I skip using this. It’s especially great for the spring and summer because it’s so lightweight and hydrating. I’ve gone through so many jars of this and already have a backup ready to go. That said, I’m currently testing the Farmacy Honey Halo moisturizer which I’m really loving and can see it replacing this at least in the winter. I will report back!

Spongelle Hand Cream – I’m trying to use up my hand creams so have them all over our apartment, and this lands in the middle of the pack in terms of both formula and scent. It’s definitely hydrating and effective and smells nice, but it doesn’t provide as long-lasting nourishment as some of the others I’m using right now. I’m not planning on repurchasing 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 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! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

My Top Product Recommendations for the Credo Beauty 20% off Sale

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on My Top Product Recommendations for the Credo Beauty 20% off Sale

Credo is having their once a year 20% off sale from Thursday, October 21st to Sunday, October 24th, so I wanted to share my recommendations! If you don’t know Credo, they’re the largest clean beauty retailer in the US. With over 130 brands to choose from, from skincare to makeup to hair and body care, they have everything you need for your good-for-you-and-for-the-planet beauty routine. It really does only happen once a year and is a great excuse to start your gift shopping early or just treat yourself to something you’ll love. 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!

Kjaer Weis Blushes – This formula has the perfect balance between blendable and long-wearing. It’s so easy to work with, create impact, and stays all day. The first time I used one of these, I was shocked to find that it was still on my cheeks after wearing makeup for over 15 hours. I love that I can just buy a refill without the extra packaging and put it in my Salt New York empty palette, and that it’s still around $30 even for a luxury product. Because I own so many cream blushes, I tried to get shades I didn’t have already and chose Sun Touched, Inner Glow, Blushing, and Blossoming. All four shades are beautifully unique, and I get a ton of use out of them.

Kjaer Weis Blushes in Suntouched, Inner Glow, Blossoming, and Blushing

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – I’ve included this in multiple favorites posts because I really do love and use it so much.  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. I stand by what I said in my 2020 favorites post: if I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.

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

Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal – Similar to the contour stick, this also continues to be a favorite of mine. Petal is the perfect “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. It’s 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.” I also continue to love the packaging, which just makes it a joy to use. I’ve written about this a few times on the blog in favorites posts because it’s been a staple product for me since I bought it.

Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil in Tahiti – This formula is not sticky at all and fairly long lasting. While it’s not as moisturizing or cushiony as similar products from FitGlow or Vesca, the color I have is beautiful and always works with anything else I have on my face. I’ve also brought this with me while traveling a couple of times to use as a quick monotone lip and cheek because this works beautifully as both a lip gloss and liquid blush, and it’s very reliable.

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder – This powder is really so amazing, and I know I posted about it super recently because I love it so much. 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. 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. Between this and the W3ll people I’ll mention later, I’m all set for smoothing and brightening powders.

Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow in Globe, Astronaut, and Supreme

Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow – This truly only takes 10 seconds to put on, and I love it for a super quick but impactful eye look. I have three shades, but Globe is by far my favorite. You have enough time to blend them (more than 10 seconds if you need it), and then they don’t budge after they dry down. They also don’t crease on me at all which creates a very different look than something like the Roen shadows (which I still love so much but they definitely have a messier vibe). One tip – these are incredibly liquidly so make sure not to turn them upside down when you’re using them.

Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer – This concealer blends out beautifully and doesn’t dry out the area under my eyes – it really does feel like a concealer & eye cream hybrid. It doesn’t lose coverage when I’m blending it out, which is super important to me with concealers since I have incredibly dark under eyes. I can use it both under my eyes and on my face and alone or with foundation. This has become a staple in my routine since I’ve bought it, like many other things in this post, because it’s just incredibly reliable and works so well.

Rituel De Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Lovesick

Rituel De Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Lovesick – I reach for this when I want to use a cream blush but want something more satin and that will last all day. This formula is much less dewy than most others I’ve tried but blends quickly and easily like any other cream blush. This shade is also a really unique cool dusty rose that I somehow can’t dupe in my giant cream blush collection. If I didn’t have so many other cream blushes, I would totally consider grabbing more of these during the sale (definitely let me know if you’d like me to review any though in the comments!).

W3ll People Superpowder Brightening Powder – This my go-to before I got the Kosas Cloud Set powder, and I still really love it. I like to use this powder as a last step before my setting spray to clean up and brighten any areas that might need it. It’s perfect for that, and I’m surprised I didn’t have something like this in my routine for so long. It’s super useful as a way to correct going too far with blush or bronzer without adding coverage or mattifying your skin. It is one of the only brightening products I’ve ever used that actually works, and I’m so glad I have it.

W3ll People Superpowder Bronzing Powder (*gifted) – One of my favorite things to do lately has been setting my cream products with powder products in a matching tone to make them last longer and add a bit of coverage in those areas. I find this creates a more satin finish which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting, especially under a mask. This bronzer works really well for that purpose because it’s so smooth and blurring and blends super easily without being patchy or sticking to any of the cream products I’ve used.

Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream – I have super dry skin, and this is highly recommended for people who really need a lot of moisture in their night time routine. This is super nourishing without feeling heavy and is much less expensive than comparable creams I’ve tried. For someone who goes through moisturizer as quickly as I do, this is such a great option to have in my routine. I recently finished this and haven’t yet repurchased because I have so many others to get through right now, which is why it wasn’t in the picture.

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

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 12

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 12

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. 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!

Glossier Skin Tint – This has been my daily go-to for that perfect “my skin but better” look. It’s super hydrating and has just enough coverage to use as a “I’m only going to be on video calls today” base. The G11 shade is a great match for me, but it’s low coverage enough that I’m confident you could go up or down a shade just fine. Even though I wouldn’t recommend using a beauty sponge with this, It applies quickly and seamlessly with fingers or a brush. I’m considering repurchasing it eventually because it was such a staple for me, but I’m trying to get more use out of my Typology Tinted Serum and Fenty Eaze Drops.

Glossier Boy Brow – This has still been my favorite choice for brow gel – 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. I’ve been using my backup already, and similar to the Skin Tint, I might repurchase this, but I have a few brow gels in my collection I want to test out and see if I like better than this first.

Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick – This has been one of my favorite highlighters of all time, and I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned it before. It honestly makes my skin look so healthy and radiant while blending so seamlessly and easily. If I didn’t have so many other highlighters right now, I would absolutely consider buying a full size. I also have a second mini of it to get through, and I’m sure there will be even more amazing highlighters that get launched by the time I finish that one.

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum – For me, this wasn’t special enough to justify the high price, especially when compared to similar serums that I’ve used and loved like PSA Skin The Most or The Inkey List Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which is only $7.99 for an ounce. So, I will not be purchasing the full size of the Glow Recipe one.

Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer – I’m still surprised by how much I love this given how incredibly lightweight it is. It’s still very moisturizing, but has the benefit of sinking into my skin so fast. I really appreciate that for a morning moisturizer because I tend to start my makeup pretty quickly after my morning skincare routine. It also layers incredibly well with my other morning skincare without causing pilling. I already bought a full size of this to use once I finish my Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream, and I can see it becoming my new HG.

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! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

STRONGER BY THE DAY WORKOUT PROGRAM REVIEW – 120 DAYS IN & USAPL Meet Recap

by liftbakelove9 Comments on STRONGER BY THE DAY WORKOUT PROGRAM REVIEW – 120 DAYS IN & USAPL Meet Recap

Update as of 6/24/2023: Stronger by the Day now has a fantastic app that the team put a ton of thought into (which I discuss in this post that I wish they had), and that makes the program even that much better! The price has also gone up a tiny bit, but the app is incredible and totally worth it if you’re looking for this kind of program.

I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions now that we are back in the gym, and the program I’ve been following for training is Stronger By The Day. It’s is a 4 day a week workout program created by MegSquats that is focused on strength and powerlifting movements. It’s $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for the in-the-gym program. It also includes a full at-home workout program, an extra workout day every week, warm ups, and access to a Facebook group with other lifters running the program. For transparency, I did win a free year of the program in 2019 but have become a paying customer since then.

Wearing all Buffbunny, my favorite activewear

I did a 90 days in review of this program in early 2020 after I had recovered from a back injury and was beginning to prep for a powerlifting competition. As happened with most things in 2020, the competition got cancelled, the gyms closed, and we had to figure out something else for the last year and a half. Luckily Stronger by the Day added a home workout program, and we also discovered the amazing home HIIT workouts from The Team Plans. Because of that, we didn’t start from zero going back into the gym in June, but I was definitely a long way off from my pre-COVID lifts (as you can see from day Day 1 numbers here).

Day 1 (lbs)Day 120 (lbs)
Squat115226
Bench75115
Deadlift135270
Total325611

The 120 days numbers are from my competition on October 2nd, which was the USA Powerlifting 2021 Washington State Championship. I placed 5th, which I was incredibly excited about given it was my first meet and there were some amazing competitors there. I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish after only four months of training, which included a few weeks off for vacations and other things, so I ended up doing exactly 50 sessions in those 4 months. I can’t believe I added over a hundred pounds to both my squat and deadlift in that time, and almost doubled my total. I was able to add almost 6 pounds to my total every single workout session. I know I can credit the Stronger by the Day program for that success, and I couldn’t have hoped for anything better given the amount of time I spent training.

KBShimmer in Better Lake than Never with my USAPL medal

Beyond the incredible strength gains, I really love that there’s a ton of variety week to week and block to block so you avoid getting bored. There’s still enough consistency to actually make progress, but it stays fun. I also love how many substitutions are offered to make it easy to work with whatever is available at the gym. And because I’m always wary of getting another back injury, I appreciate that there are core and mobility movements included in every workout, which I find help keep my back feeling great.

However, as I noted with my last review, I still struggled with peaking for my meet since it’s not personalized to you and doesn’t account for things like having a meet coming up. I had switch up some of the sessions to try and prep as best I could (which honestly still worked out just fine!). I also found that the blocks in these months focused way more on squat and deadlift progress, so I made way less progress on my bench than on those lifts. So if you’re prepping for a meet, I don’t think this is necessarily the best program for you unless you’re on a budget. Even with this issues, the program is still definitely one of the most affordable while still being very effective.

I also can’t wait for the team to launch their app which will make it so much easier to use than having to copy everything into the Strong app. I know that’s coming out as soon as they have it ready, and the sneak peaks have made it look amazing. I’m still planning on using the program to prep for my next meet in December, app or no app!

Is there any fitness gear or program you want me to test? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

September 2021 Favorites

by liftbakelove1 Comment on September 2021 Favorites

I can’t believe it’s already October, and it’s time for another round of favorites! As always, 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!

I am so happy to have discovered the Ulta Under Eye Brightener. 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!

I’ve been testing Dieux Deliverance serum since August, and it’s 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 is already looking less uneven, less dull, and less textured This serum did the trick and absolutely has my skin more even and calm and all the other improvements I was looking for. Given how much I love their Forever Eye Mask, I’m not surprised this is just as amazing.

Everything everyone has said about Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder is true – it really is that amazing! 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. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it so it sets without mattifying too much. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. The only thing I find is that it doesn’t add any coverage, unlike the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, which is still one of my favorite powders of all time, and I’m still using under my eyes because I prefer it for that.

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

So I know I’ve only had this for a few weeks, and I try not to share things in my favorites until I’ve been using them for awhile, but I just can’t not talk about the FitGlow Beauty State of Kait Edit. The kit comes with Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root. The formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, and I just can’t stop using them. The Night Lip Serum is the best night time lip treatment I’ve ever tried, and I wake up consistently to hydrated and nourished lips. The 3 colored serums are all beautiful and, between the three, I can always find one to match my look. I expect to have these in favorites posts for months to come, and I’m hoping they do some more mini sets so I can grab a few more shades!

I didn’t realize how much I need the Cupcake Polish VNL Blur #1 until I purchased it. It’s a neutralizing base coat that comes in multiple shades and is meant to reduce the number of coats of the nail polish you’re using. It works incredibly well and turns all my 3 coaters into 2 coaters and 2 coaters into 1 coaters! I never do a manicure without it now.

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.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 11

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 11

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. 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!

SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream – A ton of people I follow on YouTube and Instagram were raving about this, so when Sephora had this deluxe same for free with a $25 purchase, I had to try it. And it’s totally a fine moisturizer. I didn’t notice a huge difference after finishing it, but it definitely works to lessen skin dryness like any other moisturizer. I won’t be repurchasing it when I have so many other moisturizers I love and that I’m testing out right now, especially at almost $30 an ounce.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I’ve been using this every morning for years, and it’s been a staple in my dry skincare routine. It’s simple, effective, not too heavy or light, and plays well under makeup. I don’t have much to say about it except that it’s one of my favorite moisturizers for my dry skin – it just works really works. That said, I’ve been using the Phytosurgence Verdant Forcefield since I ran out of the Kiehl’s and have been absolutely loving it (and now have a Farmacy Honey Drop to get through as well), so it may be a long time before I repurchase this if I do.

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter – 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 I think the cranberry may be my favorite. This also mixes with any body oils super easily when I need that extra boost. I’m already on my next tub, and I have two backups that I will absolutely replace when holiday sets come out again.

Allies of Skin Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum – This serum has continued to be amazing. I didn’t have any irritation when I started using it, which has never happened before with a Vitamin C product, and I haven’t had any since. I have noticed such a big change with my skin since I started using this, particularly with helping with dullness. My skin has a glow that I’ve never seen before (since I have such dry skin), to the point that I can get away without using highlighter! I’m already using my backup of this because it’s such a key part of my morning skincare routine now and am planning on repurchasing unless I find something to test instead.

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – This continues to be the best mascara I’ve ever used. I’ve moved on to one of the four minis I have, and I still love it. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. The best part is that it washes off so easily and quickly. I still have three more minis to get through after this and will definitely repurchase until an amazing tubing formula comes out that’s better than this one.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Phytosurgence Review: Phytobrushes, Spectral Shine, Flash Florescence Cream Shadows in Bloom, and Verdant Forcefield

by liftbakelove3 Comments on Phytosurgence Review: Phytobrushes, Spectral Shine, Flash Florescence Cream Shadows in Bloom, and Verdant Forcefield

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. 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!

It took me an incredibly long time to start this paragraph because 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.

I used the Phytobrushes, Skin Spark blushes, and Spectral Shine highlight for a perfect no-makeup look

It’s so hard to describe how special Spectral Shine is and how unique the formula is. It doesn’t have glitter or shimmer, just really fine pearl pigments that blend seamlessly into the skin. It’s incredibly lightweight and feels like nothing but is super long lasting. Especially if you want something that looks like your skin but better in person (vs blinding highlights that look great on camera), this is for you. I was waiting for the right shade to come out, and then the limited edition Divine Daylight launched. It’s a peachy neutral beige shade, which is so at home on my skin.

Spectral Shine in Divine Daylight

I’ve been using the Flash Florescence Cream Shadows – In Bloom almost every day since I got them. The formula is incredibly thin and lightweight with very little fallout. I love how multidimensional the shimmers are – they’re just really special. I have two of the shades: Defiant Dahlia (described as a rich deep brown shade with violet undertones and neutral/gold shimmers scattered throughout) and Orchid Overload (described as a translucent based shade with pink, purple, and silver shimmer). Defiant Dahlia looks amazing as a one-and-done shadow, and Orchid Overload is one of my favorite toppers of all time. And these are about half of the price of the Hourglass Scattered Light eyeshadows! If you’d like me to get and review the other two shades, let me know in the comments below.

Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Orchid Overload and Defiant Dahlia

I’m always looking for new moisturizers to try because of how ridiculously dry my skin is. Verdant Forcefield is described as a skin barrier reinforcing moisturizer that hydrates, softens, moisturizes, and protects with well studied vitamins, actives, and extracts. And it does all of that! I love how quickly is sinks in so I can move on to my next step without any pilling and how much softer my skin feels now that I’ve been testing it for over 3 months (I don’t like to review skincare until I’ve really tried it). It’s also only about $11 per ounce, which is a bargain compared to some of my other faves like like the Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream at $28.4/ounce and Farmacy Honey Drop at $26.4/ounce. I still can’t get over how high quality Phytosurgence products are from the packaging to the efficacy for their prices.

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 as always for reading!

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

by liftbakelove2 Comments on MORE LIFESTYLE FAVES: WHAT I’VE BEEN LOVING THAT’S NOT BEAUTY

I have more fitness faves to share! I spend most of my time outside of work and testing beauty products training for powerlifting competitions now that we are back in the gym and am super into fitness and health. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by liftbakelove1 Comment on Matching Manis and Lipsticks for fall featuring Finding Ferdinand’s new collections

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

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

Finding Ferdinand Sip Happens and Starrily Oxytocin

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

Finding Ferdinand Grapeful and Holo Taco Purple Slushie

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

Finding Ferdinand On Cloud Nine and ILNP Dash of Cocoa

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

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

Finding Ferdinand Pumpkin Spice Latte and Holo Taco Orange Drink

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

Finding Ferdinand Autumn and Olive and June JJ

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

Finding Ferdinand Cold Brew and ILNP Chai Latte

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

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