More Fitness Faves: What I’ve Been Loving That’s Not Beauty

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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. For some additional background, I primarily focus on increasing strength on the squat, deadlift, and bench, and I am using the RP Diet app to gain muscle while staying in my weight class. If you’d like a review of the RP app, let me know in the comments below! For now, here are some of my latest fitness favorites:

I’m so glad I already had the A7 Soul Go Slippers for deadlifting! They make such a huge difference in helping me really plant my feet into the ground and not slide around when I’m deadlifting. These also enable me to be as low to the ground as possible so I can lift even more. I love how thin they are so they’re super easy to bring with me even in a small gym bag. For $29.95, these are one of my favorite gym investments. They’re also IPF approved, and I cannot wait to wear them in competition.

Most “protein foods” are pretty awful, but the Quest Peanut Butter Cups really impressed me. They are almost exactly like a normal peanut butter cup, but with way better macros. I love dessert and chocolate, but am always looking to hit my protein targets for the day without going over on carbs, so these are perfect. One cup has about 5.5g of protein, 7.5g of fat, and 6.5g of carbs for 95 calories. For reference, a Reese’s peanut butter cup has 2.5g of protein, 6g of fat, and 12g of carbs for 105 calories. Getting double the protein and half the carbs and still getting to eat my chocolate is a win in my book (of course, there’s nothing wrong with eating any food and all food choices are valid!). I’m excited to keep trying more of Quest’s line!

I recently discovered powdered Gatorade Zero. I am a big Gatorade Zero fan to avoid dehydration and personally love the way they taste. I really struggle to get enough water in so this is great for me. But this is way better than buying bottles of it! I love how much less expensive per serving it is and that I can avoid a big plastic bottle every time I drink one. I also can bring them with me when I’m traveling, and they take up almost no space.

I grabbed the Strong Strong Supply Liquid Chalk about a week into lifting again because I really missed having it in my gym bag. Especially with it getting so hot here, having liquid chalk is so useful to help with gripping the barbell. It dries down so quickly so I can put a tiny bit in my hands and get right to the bar. It’s also not messy at all – I don’t get chalk everywhere and feel totally fine using this in the gym. It also cleans off super easily and quickly and doesn’t dry out my hands.

I’m back in the gym, which means I’m back on the Stronger By The Day program. It’s a 4 day a week workout program created by MegSquats that is focused on strength and powerlifting movements. It’s $10/ a month and includes an extra workout day, warm up, and a second program if you’re working out at home. I’ll be doing another 90 days in review with my lift results and how it’s been going, but I am loving it so far!

Let me know if you’d like to see more fitness related content in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

June 2021 Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on June 2021 Favorites

I can’t believe it’s already time to talk through my June favorites, which means we’re half way through 2021! I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but as usual, I only feature products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than one month. So if you don’t see something you were expecting based on how much I raved about it, you’ll likely see it in a July or August post.

I think I’ve found my new HG lip liners – the Soft Blur Velvet Lip Liners from Em Cosmetics. 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. I was heavily influenced by Jaime Paige who loves these, and she definitely was right that these are amazing.

From left to right: Em Cosmetics Lip Liners in Kitten and Mink

My lips are incredibly dry right now, and Finding Ferdinand Lip Balm has been so helpful. The formula is really moisturizing, lasts a long time, and is a great base underneath lipsticks. I keep one of these in my purse, and the packaging is very secure so I don’t have to worry about balm getting all over everything. I also have one with their summer flavor Orange Popsicle added to it, and I love this flavor so much. It actually tastes and smells like an orange popsicle and always makes me feel a little bit happier applying it.

I’m so glad I got the Salt New York Lilac and Tangerine Crème Tint Pro, which is a limited edition duo they launched for spring. At the time of writing this, these are still in stock and on sale. I love using Lilac to cool a look down and Tangerine to warm a look up. These are super useful to bring a look together if something looks just not quite right. I brought them with me on my trip in May so that I could easily through together a monochromatic orange or purple look or adjust my blush to match my eyeshadow or lip color better. These are super versatile, and as with all Salt New York products, the formula is beautiful – buildable, dewy without shimmer, and super easy to blend.

From top to bottom: Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Lilac and Tangerine

It’s been super hot and dry in our Seattle apartment, and my skin has really been feeling it. The Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator has been such a skin saver for me (and my husband, who also loves this mask!). It’s so hydrating and leaves my skin super soft and moisturized. If my face feels irritated from the heat, it helps my skin feel better immediately because it’s incredibly cooling even thought I don’t keep it in the fridge. It’s pricey but a little goes a long way, and my small jar that both my husband and I use is still going strong.

I don’t talk about nail polish here often, but I discovered a new favorite top coat and I needed to share it with all of you. The KBshimmer Clearly on Top Quick Dry top coat is incredible and only $6. It dries so fast, doesn’t cause shrinkage, and is super shiny. I can do a full manicure in less than 30 minutes and go about my day, including going the gym, with no issues. I also have way fewer chips than normal, and my nails last way longer than with other top coats. With how affordable this is, I’m so impressed and can’t imagine going back to more expensive top coats when this works even better than they do.

What was your favorite product this month? What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

Glossier Ultralip Review

by liftbakelove4 Comments on Glossier Ultralip Review

I’m a little late getting this review out because I wanted to spend a lot of time with them. I got them right on launch day and have been using them every day since then, so I feel like I’ve had them long enough that I have a better feeling for which shades are my favorite, which pair best with different lip liners I have, and what other comparable formulas are out there. If you’re looking to get them (or another Glossier product) for less than full price, they normally have a sitewide 20% sale for Black Friday and you can use this link for 10% off sitewide if you are a new Glossier customer. Links below are affiliate links.

The Ultralips are a more 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). The shades I chose all have a great level of pigmentation that’s low enough that I can swipe them on without a mirror but high enough that they make an impact. You can also build up the color without anything weird happening like pilling or patching. Glossier says that the formula is so comfortable it’s like “pulling on a buttery-soft, well-loved cashmere sweater”, and I definitely agree. This is like putting on your favorite pair of sweatpants after a long day, but for your lips.

Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet

I have the shades Villa, Portrait, Cachet, and Trench. I was very surprised by how much I like Portrait – it’s a bright pink shade that I didn’t realize I needed in my collection. It goes so well with any of my brighter blushes and really brightens up the rest of my face. Villa is my perfect lips but better shade, and Cachet and Trench are both browny nudes (Catchet leans more purple and Trench more orange) that are very much in my comfort zone. I started writing which one I would choose if I could only choose one, and it turns out, I really can’t. They all have a place in my collection, and I’m really happy with all four of them.

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Kitten Mischief, Ultralip in Villa, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Magic Hour

I wanted to compare the formulas of the Ultralips with the Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour, Rare Beauty Dewy Lip Balm, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion. The Ultralips are more moisturizing and glossier than the Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour, but it’s the closest formula that I have. I personally prefer the formula of the Ultralips particularly because I need the extra moisture, but the Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour plus a gloss works to replicate the effect.

Ultralip in Trench and Rare Beauty Dewy Lip Balm in Thankful

The formula of the Rare Beauty Lip Balm is super similar to the Ultralip formula except it’s a bit more waxy. I also personally can’t handle the smell/taste of the Rare Beauty lip balm so I’m really thrilled to have found a similar color to the one I have to use instead.

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Spirited Away, Ultralip in Cachet, and Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion in Venetian Rose

I love how hydrating and glossy the Em Cosmetics Lip Cushions are, and they definitely have a place in my routine, but I find they are so soft and emollient that I need mirror to apply them. The Ultralips are easier to use for that reason, and I don’t worry about them moving outside of my lip line in the same way.

If you want more information on the Ultralips, I highly recommend watching Hannah Louise Poston’s review on them. Her video is over a half hour just on the Ultralips, and she got a few of the shades I didn’t get. I found it really useful in not getting more shades during the recent sale because I don’t think the formula of the brighter shades would work for me. I also really try to remember Hannah’s advice that she’s given before – if you find the perfect shade in the perfect formula, don’t buy more shades, just enjoy using the one you have.

What did you think of the Ultralips? Is there something else you’d like me to review? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 7

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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.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – I’ve written about this a few times already, and it’s because it’s my HG makeup remover. I had been trying the cleansing oil for awhile, but found that the balm was more effective at removing makeup if I was wearing more of it. The cleansing oil is great for the summer and really light makeup days, but the balm is what I need (both in terms of effectiveness and hydration) in the fall/winter and whenever my skin is irritated by spring allergies. I have 2 more back-ups of this but I’ll definitely repurchase it again the next time it’s 50% off, which it usually it as some point during the year.

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment – This eye cream has a really weird texture. It was also almost too thick so it didn’t feel like it actually ever sunk in and just sat on top of my skin. Because of that, other products sat weirdly on top of it. I also didn’t see any positive differences in my eye area even after using this entire jar up. On the plus side, it is way more affordable than my HG eye cream (it’s exactly half of the price). I’m not going to repurchase this because it didn’t do anything for me, and I think there are plenty of affordable eye creams that are more effective and have a more elegant formula than this one.

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

IT Cosmetics CC Cream – I used to love the IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It was my go-to foundation because it made my skin look so dewy and even and played well with other products. It could be a combination of my skin changing as I’ve gotten older or that I just prefer different foundation styles now, but I prefer every one of my other base products over this cc cream now. It feels way too high coverage for me now, and it feels mask-like and heavy. It also emphasizes dry patches, especially if I don’t use something like Future Dew under it (I try to test everything a bunch of different ways for thorough reviews!). I’m not planning on repurchasing it especially since I have so many other foundations I love.

Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer – This is a beautiful concealer. It’s medium to full coverage without looking heavy or dry. It dries down to a super smooth and natural finish, and I love how the formula is really easy to blend. I have 6 other concealers in my rotation right now – concealer is a product category I actually really love testing to see if I can find the next best thing. Because of that, I won’t be repurchasing the Uoma concealer, but I would definitely recommend it.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? I’m planning on posting empties at least twice a month from now on – let me know if you have any feedback on that cadence or if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove in the comments! As always, thanks so much reading!

Typology Review: Tinted Serum and Hand & Nail Serum

by liftbakelove3 Comments on Typology Review: Tinted Serum and Hand & Nail Serum

I was incredibly intrigued when the Typology Tinted Serum was featured in Kackie Reviews Beauty’s video “Affordable Luxury Beauty Products” since I tend to skew much more expensive on the blog. I want to make sure I’m not always pricing folks out (and if you want more affordable finds, definitely let me know in the comments!). So, I grabbed the Tinted Serum foundation and Hand & Nail Serum to test. I also got the Nourishing Body Scrub which will be coming to a body scrub show down post in the future, both because I think that will be way more useful to see all in one post and because I haven’t gotten to test it long enough to give a thorough enough review.

The Tinted Serum really impressed me! It’s incredibly smoothing and lightweight while providing solid light to medium coverage (which is the coverage level I prefer for foundations). It is actually so smoothing that I got carded at dinner wearing it, and the person said “your skin is so smooth, there’s no way you’re not in your early 20s.” And I’m not in my 20s anymore at all! It wears incredibly well for how moisturizing it feels (as Kackie would say, it wears in without wearing off), and it plays well with every bronzer, blush, highlighter, and powder I’ve used with it. It also contains lots of great skincare ingredients, and my skin definitely feels way less dry at the end of the day than with other base products.

From left to right: Typology Tinted Serum in 001 and 002

The foundation is $29.90 for a 1oz bottle, and you can get a second shade for 50% off. This is pretty amazing if you’re in between shades or get lighter in the winter and darker in the summer. Getting both for less than $45 together feels like a steal compared to my favorite luxury foundation which is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk and is $64 for 1oz). My only issue with this product is even with two shades, I can’t make a great match because they both run a bit peachy/orange for my skin tone. I’m really excited that Salt New York came out with adjusters so I can make anything lighter and more olive to match my skin (it’s hard to see in the photo below but my skin runs a bit yellow/green/even blue in undertone in real life).

From left to right: Typology Tinted Serum in 001, Glossier Skin Tint in G11, Fenty Eaze Drop in 2, Charlotte Tibury Light Wonder in 2, Typology Tinted Serum in 002

I swatched all of my light coverage foundations/skin tint products so you can see the formula differences and color comparisons. The Typology Tinted Serum 002 swatch is the best representation of how smoothing it looks on the skin vs the 01 swatch is built up a bit for color comparison. The Tinted Serum has more coverage than the Glossier Skin Tint, is much dewier than the Fenty Eaze Drop, and is more smoothing than CT Light Wonder. It actually feels like what you’d get if you had a formula that was the perfect mix of all three of these. I think it’d easy to see how much warmer the Typology products are next to the other shades. The Fenty is by far my best shade match, and I’ve been enjoying mixing it with the Tinted Serum in 001 to tone down some of the peachiness.

The Hand & Nail Serum also really impressed me. I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but I figured it was worth trying for only $12.90. I have 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 am planning to never be without it (which is going to be pretty easy since a little goes such a long way, I doubt I’ll have to replace it any time soon).

What products have you found lately that have really impressed you? What brands or products do you want to see reviewed next? Let me know in the comments! As always, thank you so much for reading!

My Favorite Travel Containers for Beauty Products

by liftbakelove1 Comment on My Favorite Travel Containers for Beauty Products

I’m so excited that we’re able to travel again! If you’re a frequent reader, you likely already know that I recently spent a month on the East Coast. I wanted to make sure I could bring my staples and have never found containers I actually liked until now: Cadence Capsules. As usual, this is not sponsored, I bought these with my own money (although the company did send me a few extra custom labels – thank you!), and everything in this review in my unbiased opinion.

I feel like I’ve tried a dozen different travel container brands/types, and they all have been really frustrated. My number one issue is leaking – there’s always that one thing that leaks all over your suitcase or purse. I’ve started putting containers in plastic bags (sometimes double bagged) because they leak so much, and that feels so incredibly wasteful to me. I’ve also had containers that never seem to get clean enough to reuse, so I end up throwing them away rather than use them again. Plus, some of them are way too small and definitely wouldn’t fit enough for a month long trip.

That’s why I was so excited to stumble upon Cadence (yes, the Instagram ads got me)! These honestly don’t leak – ever. I’m able to throw them in a bag and not have to worry about anything leaking or spilling. Even with the most watery toner, it was 100% leak-proof. I also love that they magnetize together so I’ll never lose them in the bottom of a suitcase. These hold half an ounce, which is about the amount of foundation I use over 6 months, and they still manage to take up so little space. Because they have such a wide opening (more in the video below), these are incredibly easy to fill with products, and you don’t need a funnel, mini spatula, or spoon to do it. I’m actually still going through some of the moisturizer and foundation I brought because they hold so much, but the ones I did finish up, I’ve already cleaned, and they look brand new again. This is my favorite thing about these because I hate cleaning out those little plastic containers where you can barely get into them unless you want to spend forever with one of those straw cleaners. With these, I can wash them with a normal sponge, it takes a couple of minutes, and they are actually clean.

Because of how streamlined the design is, these are super easy to fill and clean.

Before travelling with them, I use them to use up foil samples that I get. For example, I love emptying out shampoo and conditioner samples so I can get multiple uses out of them and really try out the product. When it’s empty, these are super easy to clean and reuse. And now, with my extra labels, I can easily switch them out so I always know what kind of product is in the capsule without having to use tape or stickers.

I love how easy it is to switch out the labels!

You can get 6 capsules (including choosing your own colors and labels for each capsule) for $70 plus free shipping. I know this sounds like a lot, but I know I will end up saving a ton having to continually buy new containers that break or leak or are impossible to clean. As I mentioned, I’ve been using mine since I got them in 2020, and they’ve held up amazingly well, so I think these are totally worth the investment!

What’s your favorite thing to have when you travel? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 6

by liftbakelove2 Comments on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 6

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

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

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream – I really liked this cream – it’s super nourishing without feeling super heavy, and it does exactly what it promises to do. It’s also much more inexpensive than comparable creams I’ve tried. That said, my HG is still the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream, and I’m excited to get back to it, so I won’t be repurchasing the Acure.

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream – This eye cream was sent to me to try and review, and I thought at the time “there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with a $70 eye cream.” And now, I’ve repurchased it four times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation. 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.

Josie Maran Argan Oil – This is a nice oil – it sinks in pretty well, it moisturizes, it provides an occlusive layer, and it has never broken me out. That said, I love the Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD so much more and have switched back to that already. It absorbs so much faster, and I find that it actually improves my skin brightness and firmness whereas the organ oil is just a nice oil. I tend to get this as a gift with purchase, and I’ll use it when I do, but I won’t be repurchasing.

Biossance Squalane Oil – Similar to the Josie Maran Argan Oil, this is also really nice and does everything you’d expect it to do. I also like the Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD more than this for my face. That said, I love using this as a body oil. They make a jumbo size for $48 which you can grab during a sale for even less, and it’s amazing to either mix in with or use on top of body lotions. I have a ton of body oils that I’ve using and testing right now, but this is definitely on the list for a possible repurchase.

Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? What else would you like to see here on LiftBakeLove? I’m posting twice a week now so there’s double the opportunity for posts!

Phytosurgence Review: Skin Spark Blush Balms and Flash Florescence Cream Shadows

by liftbakelove2 Comments on Phytosurgence Review: Skin Spark Blush Balms and Flash Florescence Cream Shadows

This is yet another brand that I never would have known about until Kackie Reviews Beauty talked about them in a video. I’m so glad she did though because I’ve really enjoyed trying these products out. Phytosurgence is a small indie brand that focuses on transparent and conscious beauty, and they make high performance and affordable products. I’m about to really rave about them so I want to say upfront that this was not sponsored, and I bought the products with my own money.

I own over 30 cream blushes right now, so it takes a lot for something to become a real favorite. The Skin Spark Blush Balm formula impressed me from the first time I used it, and I find myself using them over and over again over all my other cream blushes. It blends so seamlessly and easily into the skin, leaves an impact with such little product, and stays all day. It doesn’t need to be built up but absolutely can be layered. The finish is just glowy enough without being sticky even though it has a balmy, moisturizing texture. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s basically perfect. The only complaint I have about this formula is that I’m not a huge fan of the packaging . That said, knowing they are such a small brand and with how incredible the formula is, I am super okay with having to deal with the pot format. it’s just really special, especially considering it’s only $17. If I didn’t own so much blush, I would buy more colors (definitely let me know if you want me to review any other colors though – I will grab them if you comment below with a request!).

Simmer and Fume

The colors I got were Simmer, a bright pink, and Fume, a dusty rose, and they both look right at home on my skin. I swatched Simmer next to the Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Petal Poppin, the Westman Atelier Baby Blush Stick in Petal, and the the Kajer Weis Cream Blush in Blossoming. I swatched Fume next to the Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Spice, the Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Rose Latte, and the Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Creme Pigment in Lovesick. I hope this gives you a better idea of the shades and formulas. As you can see, the Phytosurgence blushes are much more pigmented and have more of a thickness to them, which I think is what helps make them last so long. They also apply so quickly because of that. One note – the swatches above were on a cloudier day than the ones below, but I would say the colors are accurate in both, just the sheeniness is more true to life on the sunnier day below.

Simmer next to the Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Petal Poppin, the Westman Atelier Baby Blush Stick in Petal, and the the Kajer Weis Cream Blush in Blossoming
Fume next to the Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Spice, the Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Rose Latte, and the Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Creme Pigment in Lovesick

I also own a ton of cream eyeshadows that I love, and I have to admit that these haven’t beat out my beloved Roen or Vesca shadows. They do fill a gap in my collection I didn’t even know I had, and I’m so happy I got them. They are the perfect mix between a matte and shimmer shadow so I can use them for a more subtle day time look or build them up to something super multidimensional and impactful. I’ve frequently added the Bodyography glitter pigments on top for something extra (though I think Phytosurgence might be coming out with their own toppers!), and the glitter sticks to these eyeshadows all day. I also love how much time I have to play with these to get them just where I want them on my lids, but then they dry down and stay put (even through some super intense gym sessions).

Potent Petal and Wilk Oak

The colors I got, Potent Petal and Wilk Oak, are also very special and unique to my collection. Potent Petal is a much brighter pink than anything I own and really brings out my brown eyes, and Wilk Oak is a golden, neutral bronze that is such a perfect smokey but still daytime appropriate shade. I was planning on swatching them next to some other eyeshadows but realized they don’t really compare to anything I own in a way that it could be a dupe – let me know if you have any requests, and I’ll add here or post them on my Instagram stories!

Have you tried anything from Phytosurgence? Are there other products from them or other brands you’d like me to try and review? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

The 5 Makeup Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The 5 Makeup Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

Like I mentioned in my last post, I recently took a month long trip to the East Coast and brought a pared down routine. I tried really hard to bring only what I needed, and there were a bunch of things I left at home and really missed. I was so excited to be reunited with these makeup products this last week and never want to be without them in the future!

I didn’t realize how much I loved the Auric Glow Lust until I didn’t have it for a month. This product is so versatile – 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. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, which is something I can’t find with any other product. It’s a really special product that I missed having and being able to use to liven up, brighten, and blur any look that needs it.

I didn’t bring any powder blushes, but I wish I had brought just one – which would have been the the Em Cosmetics Heaven’s Glow Blush in Magic Hour. Because it gives such a soft, glowy look without being overly pigmented, it’s a really easy way product to use to brighten up a look that’s coming off a little dull or flat. This is my go-to for setting cream and liquid blushes, particularly if I know I need my makeup to last all day for video calls or running around a city. This color matches so many of my cream blushes and adds just the right hint of bright pink without changing the overall look too much. I just got this formula in the shade Venetian Rose – let me know if it’s like a review!

Swatches of the 75° Warm , 11:11, and 52° Cool Roen Quads

I bought a mini-palette that I made of single powder eyeshadows, but I so wish I had brought my Roen quads instead. I really love the Roen formula because it’s so versatile – with a finger, the shades go on incredibly pigmented and intense, but with a brush, you can create a very sophisticated wash of color. I totally could have gotten away with just one eyeshadow brush and gotten so many incredible looks with this range of shades, particularly with how many great one-and-done shades there are. I also love that these are so quick and easy to use and last all day which is super important to me when I’m travelling. If I had to pick one, I probably would have gone with the 11:11 but I would have loved to have them all.

I bought my IT Cosmetics CC Cream for foundation because I’m trying to use it up, but it ended up being too full coverage and not as long wearing as I would have liked. The Fenty Eaze Drop would have been a much better choice. The formula is almost entirely mask proof and sweat proof, and it would have been much better for me given all the walking we did outside in the hot weather. It also looks way more natural on my skin while still providing coverage. I love that is blends super quick and easily with fingers which means I wouldn’t have needed a foundation brush, and the packaging would have taken up such little space. Definitely bringing this the next time I travel!

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo in Shade 0.5

I’ve gushed about the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo so many times, and I definitely missed it when I was travelling. It has such amazing formula that blends like a dream, looks natural, and still makes an impact. I love how they are both a little sheer which makes it super easy to just throw on without having to be super precise, and it blends into the skin so seamlessly. I love that this has both a bronzer and highlighter in one and that the bronzer shade is neutral enough to be used as more of a “brontour.” I’ve been using it everyday since I got back, and I’m so happy to have it back in my life.

What are your must-haves when you travel? What do you want to see next here on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments!

The 5 Skincare Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

by liftbakelove2 Comments on The 5 Skincare Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

I recently took a month long trip to the East Coast and tried to pack as lightly as I could. This meant paring down my routine to the necessities and using up my travel sized products instead of bringing my full size HGs. Because of that, there are a bunch of things I had to leave at home, and there were some skincare products that I really missed and will make sure to take with me from now on!

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – I have no idea why I didn’t bring this with me because it is my ultimate skin saving product. Like everyone else, I hadn’t been on a plane for about a year and a half, and my skin wasn’t ready for it. My skin also reacted to the incredibly high amount of pollen on the East Coast and the change in climate. Since this product is made for irritated skin that comes from dry skin, it would have been super helpful to have it to calm down my skin. I’m definitely going to remember to bring it the next time I travel.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask – I know I’ve talked about this before, and it’s because it’s always one of go-to masks. It’s what I reach for for moisturization and calming, which as I mentioned, my skin really need. It is also so great when my skin is feeling extra dull and dehydrated because my skin feels so smooth, hydrated, less irritated, and glowy after using this. It was the first thing I used after washing my face when I got home, and it made my skin feel so much better after being in new environments, planes, and under a mask for many more hours than usual.

Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD – I’ve written about this oil in almost every empties post that included a facial oil I finished because it is my true HG and the one I always miss when I’m not using it. Most facial oils I’ve tried have been equally moisturizing and glow-giving, and they all provide an occlusive layer as my last step in my skincare routine. The thing I love most about the Josie Maran oil is that it sinks in so quickly so I don’t end up with a oil slick on my face when I’m getting into bed. I can also see a big difference in my skin’s brightness and firmness when I use this vs when I don’t. If you’re looking to get this, I highly recommend waiting for a sale on the Josie Maran site because you can buy it for way less than $78.

Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser – If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love Allies of Skin products. I didn’t bring this one because I have a bunch of travel sized cleansers to get through, but I really wish I brought this instead.  This cleanser creates such a luxurious cleansing experience – you can even use it as a quick, hydrating mask if you leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off. And while it really does clean, it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated like you used a moisturizer. This is the only cleanser I’ve used that actually helps with any extra dryness and irritation, and I really noticed the difference when I wasn’t using it.

PSA Skin the Most – I hardly ever do this, but I feel like the brand’s description is so spot on that I’m just going to paste it in here: “This nutrient-packed hydrating serum is like an island oasis for stressed out, hungover, dull, and dehydrated skin. It provides essential hydration immediately while helping skin cells better retain moisture overall for plump and supple skin.” My skin absolutely loves this serum, and I missed having something for dehydrated and dull skin, especially right after I washed my face. I’m never not bringing this with me again.

What’s your can’t be without it skincare product? Let me know in the comments, and let me know what you’d like to see here next!