I can’t believe July is already over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! I As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months. If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil – 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 around $8 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the four shades – Jammy (berry), Nude Nectar (brown-rose), Sunhazed (cool-toned bronze with a hint of shimmer), and Naked Peach (peach with a hint of shimmer). All of them are sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some color if I’m not wearing anything else. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it.
Salt New York Lilac and Tangerine Crème Tint Pro – These were a limited-edition duo launched last year, and I have been loving using them now that we’re really in the heart of summer. I have been doing a ton of monochromatic mauve/purple looks with Lilac and bright orange, bronzy looks with Tangerine and having so much fun. Even though these are bolder colors than I usually reach for, they are a bit sheer which makes it easy to not go overboard (hopefully you can see in the swatches below). 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
ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)– This powder really surprised me. It’s less than $5 and performs honestly even better than some of my high-end powders. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it, so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. I even recommended this to my friend to use on her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and wanted something that would stay all day), and her makeup held up through the ceremony and all the dancing at the reception well past midnight. I am continually incredibly impressed by how well this powder works!
Persona Dreamstick Cream Blush in Bubble – This formula is incredibly thin and creamy which makes them super easy to work with. They blend out so quickly with fingers, a brush, or a sponge. The color Bubble looks super bright in the package and in a thick swatch but it’s just the perfect “I’m awake and healthy and hydrated” color for me without having to think about it. I also love using this to brighten up a look that’s gotten too warm. These aren’t sticky but don’t dry down completely matte – a very skin-like finish.
DS&Durga Rose Atlantic – I am absolutely terrible at describing scents so I’m going to copy in exactly what the website says: This scent isn’t just a rose. It has the ocean, delicate petals, the green stem, the waxy leaves, and the fresh idyllic powder of summertime. It is an everyday perfume. I completely agree – this is my new favorite every day perfume. It’s perfectly ocean-y with sea salt spray and a summer breeze (my favorite) with just a hint of floral to make it unique. I’m so happy I bought the Discovery Set because otherwise I would have just gotten Debaser and never known how amazing Rose Atlantic is.
What were your favorites this month? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
I recently visited family for over a week, and this is everything I brought! It actually all fit into a very small travel bag, so even though it looks like a lot, it didn’t feel like too much to me. That said, I do talk about which ones I wouldn’t have brought below because this is clearly overdoing it on eyeshadow, blush, and lip products. 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.
Roen 75° Warm Quad – If I could pack this again, I would have only brought the 11:11 quad, but I threw this one in just in case because I love these palettes so much. 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.
Roen 11:11 Quad – This is my favorite Roen quad of the three that I own, and it’s definitely my most used. Each shade is a perfect one-and-done on it’s own, and they are so easy and quick to use. The shade swatched farthest to the right below is my go to for adding a high impact sparkle to any eye look, whether it’s on top of the other shades in the 11:11 palette or any other eyeshadow I’ve used. It just seems to finish off any look, particularly in a world where I want people to see my eyes through a screen. They last all day on me with an eyeshadow primer, and I don’t have any issues with flaking or fall out. I definitely used this one way more than the other quad.
Glow-All Super Powder Face Palette – I really struggle with powder products because they tend to stamp on vs deposit color and blend out so it’s super easy for me to overdo. I don’t have that issue with this palette at all. 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. The formula is also incredibly creamy and blurring as you can hopefully see in the swatches below. I’m so happy to have this for travel and for quick and easy looks at home. I brought it with me when we visited family for Thanksgiving, and it was great to have everything in one palette, including such different blush colors., which makes it great for travel. You can still get a pretty big brush in the pans, which I really appreciate.
Highlighter, Bronzer, and Blushes from the face palette
In my Salt New York palette I had: Salt New York Sculpt + Bronze Crème Tint Pro in Light/Medium –It blends out incredibly easily and seamlessly, feels like nothing on the skin, and looks so natural on me. It’s my favorite formula for when I need a “I’m running late and need something easy” look, which is every day right now. It blends out so quickly with a brush, sponge, or fingers and never looks patchy which is great when I’m behind on washing my brushes. This honestly might end up being the first cream color cosmetic product I hit pan on ever, and I wouldn’t be surprised.
Salt New York Crème Tint Pro Highlighter in Beige – 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 favorite though of all of them, if I really had to choose, would be beige. It’s just my perfect, my skin but better highlight, and it always looks absolutely amazing.
Salt New York bronzer in Light/Medium, highlighter in Beige
Kjaer Weis Blush in Blossoming – 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. I’ve been loving the shade Blossoming, and I think it could be my one and only blush super easily with how flattering it is for me. It’s a beautiful rosy, warm pink that is a great match with the pink and brown looks I tend to gravitate towards.
Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Tangerine – This was part of a limited edition duo they launched for spring in 2021, and I’m so happy I grabbed it. I love using Tangerine to warm a look up when something doesn’t quite look right. I can use this to easily put together a monochromatic orange, bronzy look or adjust my blush to match my eyeshadow or lip color better. Like all Salt New York products, it’s buildable, dewy without shimmer, and super easy to blend.
Viseart Petite Pro 4 – I got this during a sale at the end of 2019, and I still reach for it all the time even with all the other eyeshadows I own now. I’m so happy I decided to get it and that I have it in my collection. It’s the perfect mix of neutrals, and I’ve loved how small and compact this is for travel so I can easily throw it into my bag and get a ton of variety. Like all Viseart shadows, these blend seamlessly with little fallout and aren’t overly glittery, so I can put together a look for work super quickly too. I love using the mattes to blend out another look that might need it, so it’s a great pairing for the Roen quads.
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold – Like the Roen quad, I wouldn’t bring this if I could do it again because I just didn’t reach for it over all the other eyeshadow I brought. That said, I brought this because it’s just so easy to use. It’s super easy to blend and stays all day. Since it’s so small, it’s not a huge deal to have it in my beauty bag, and I pretty much always tend to add it just in case since it’s compact and I can swipe it on and quickly blend with my finger.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Brynn – No surprises here – this is my go to mascara. 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 so I don’t have to bring a separate makeup remover for my mascara (which I need with some of my other ones).
Rephr Lash Curler – I’ve tired so many lash curlers over this years, but this one is by far my favorite. It feels my eye shape really well without pinching. It gets all of my lashes including the corners and my lashes actually curl. Right now, you can buy this for $17, and it’s so worth it especially at that price.
Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation in Melrose – I honestly think this might be my favorite foundation of all time. The formula is so incredibly smoothing and glowy. It makes my skin look both perfected and hydrated while feeling super comfortable on the skin. I can put it on with a brush, sponge, or fingers, and it looks great. The wear time is amazing considering how lightweight it is, and it absolutely wears in instead of off. It’s super easy to apply with my hands, which is one of the reasons I love using it when I travel.
Ulta Under Eye Brightener – I have super dark undereye and can’t get away without a corrector, and I’m so happy to have discovered this one. It’s about $10 and a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot, especially when traveling!
Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer in Arrowroot – I have been loving this concealer ever since I got it. It has a very hydrating feel and finish without being too glossy or dewy. It’s light to medium coverage which matches with the coverage level I prefer for my foundations. Despite being so hydrating, it’s long-wearing and non-creasing throughout the day. It’s also incredibly blendable and easy to work with. I can use it under my eyes, for spot concealing, or all over as a light coverage foundation, which makes it a great option to have in my travel bag.
Glossier Future Dew – This continues to be one of my favorite products, and is one of the only things I consistently use every day in my makeup routine. It provides such an 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.
Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – Honestly, this isn’t my favorite anymore, but I have this mini, and I’d love to finish it. It’s still a great option for keeping my makeup looking great all day without drying out my skin. It’s alcohol-free and doesn’t dry out my skin. Mostly, I brought this one because it’s in such a small container. Similarly, the Cover FX mini powder I have is a totally fine powder, and it’s just the one I bring because I have it and it’s so small.
Rose Inc Brow Renew in Clear – I have giant, thick brows that look overdone super quickly, and I honestly didn’t realize how much a clear brow gel could make them look put together and “done” without overwhelming my face. It doesn’t feel crunchy or sticky but has great staying power like the rest of these products. Because of my big brows, the applicator is also perfect for me vs the usual tiny brow applicators. It makes applying this so fast and easy to get my brows into shape, and this travel size is perfect for not taking up too much space.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil – Because of a sparse area I have in one of my brows, I never skip this step, so I had to include both this and a brow gel in my travel bag. 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.
Fitglow Beauty Lip Colour Serums in Halo, Dahlia, Juice, and Nudie – I know I write about these all the time, but it’s because I truly love them, and I’m so happy I have so many of them. I use them almost every day and couldn’t choose just one to bring with me. The formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, and I just reach for them so often especially because they work so well as toppers for more matte lipsticks or lip liners. I brought four of the minis I have to give me as much variety as I would want without taking up barely any space. This gave me an amazing range of colors and brightness levels to choose from.
Fitglow Beauty Lip Night Serum – This formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, which makes it perfect for my only lip balm or clear lip gloss I bring. It’s honestly the best nighttime lip treatment I’ve ever tried, and I wake up consistently to hydrated and nourished lips, which I’ve never had happen in the winter before using this product. I now always have one of these with me wherever I go.
Glossier Ultralip in Villa and Trench – 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. Villa is such an at home shade for me that makes it super easy to throw on, and Trench is such a great browny nude for me that has enough yellow to balance out all the pink in my lips. If I had to pack again, I’d probably just bring the Fitglow Lip Serums but I do really love these too.
Futurelipstick Luxe Shine in Nothing Nude– This formula is really high shine and super smoothing, and I find myself reaching for it so much more than my other lipsticks. It’s surprisingly nourishing and hydrating for such a pigmented lipstick – it has the finish of a lipstick and the formula of a hydrating lip balm. I have the shade Nothing Nude which is a cool rosy brown. This is one of my go-tos, and it’s so small, I figured I would bring it. I definitely didn’t need all these lip products but I ended up wearing this one quite often.
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Wherever Walnut – I actually have so many different lip liners, and this is still the only one I use when I’m traveling. The formula is creamy without being slippery and helps define my lips without drying them out. I particularly like this color because it adds depth to my lighter colors and helps retain the shape for darker colors. It’s super neutral and so it doesn’t conflict with almost any look I want to do, which makes it great if I only want to bring one. This mini is also tiny, so it doesn’t take up really any space.
MAC Glow Play Blush in Totally Synced– This formula has been my go-to for finishing off my cheek looks because it has a really incredible blurring quality that really pulls together any look I’ve done. Because the texture feels like a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. I own 5 of these, but I brought Totally Synced, which is a pastel lilac shade. I find that it really helps balance a too-warm look or a too-dark look. I probably didn’t need to bring this given the other blushes, but I find having a bright cool shade like this really helpful.
What are your go-tos while traveling? Do you also end up bringing too much but because it fits into a small bag it feels okay? 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.
Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator (repeat empty) – 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 will definitely grab more when the next Credo/Ulta sale comes around. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine.
Fitglow Beauty Eye C Firm Eye Cream (sample) – I am testing so many eye creams right now that they’re all starting to blend together a bit. That said, this one didn’t cause milia, worked really well under makeup in the morning, and was very moisturizing. I didn’t have enough of it to see if it held up to its claims to naturally reduce the look of lines, dark circles, and puffiness but I would absolutely consider repurchasing the full size during a sale next time I need more eye cream.
Flamingo Foaming Shave Gel (repeat empty) – This was really great while I used it, but the 1oz size that comes with the starter set lasts such a short period of time that it’s really more of a trial size. It does everything you’d expect from a shave gel and otherwise was pretty unremarkable. I’m now testing out the Honey Mango Shave Cream from Trader Joe’s because it has such great reviews, and so far, I’m really liking it! I’m hoping that will pan out for my new favorite, but I will update here.
Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer (repeat empty) – This is the best moisturizer I’ve tried for my super dry skin. It’s incredibly thick but still absorbs super quickly and plays well with my other night time skincare products. Usually by this time of year, my skin starts to get flaky and itchy because it’s so dry, but I’ve had no issues since I’ve been using this. It’s honestly been saving my dry skin from totally losing all its hydration overnight. I have a few backups of the jumbo version, so I won’t be buying this gain for a long time, but I will absolutely repurchase again when I’m out.
Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer (repeat empty) – 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 am working through my back up of this and will likely keep repurchasing it.
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.
As part of getting to know my collection, I want to spend more time reviewing all the products I have. Next up is everything I own from BK Beauty, which happens to be eight of their brushes. I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them. I’ve gotten a ton of use out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts! All links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own, and I bought these myself.
101 Contoured Foundation – This brush is the perfect shape for so many things – foundation, bronzer, blush, highlighter. Because of the angle and the shape, it works so quickly for anything I’m doing. Even though it’s quite large, I still find I can be precise with it with the added bonus of blending super quickly. This is my favorite brush for cream bronzer and blush in particular, and I find myself using it over any other brush I have so much that I honestly want a second one. I also will use the top edge for cream highlighter in a pinch. The density is perfect and doesn’t “eat up” too much product. It’s one of the first brushes I would rebuy now if I lost my collection, and that’s saying so much since I have such a large collection of brushes.
106 Round Foundation – I love using this for cream blush when the 101 is drying from cleaning or if I just haven’t cleaned it yet. It also does work great for foundation if my other foundation brushes are out of rotation for the moment. The size makes it perfect for a more precise application vs the 101 or 107 if I want to be more specific with placement for foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter, etc. I love how dense it is and quickly is blends products out.
105 Large Buffer – I love how big and fluffy this brush is. It’s one of my favorites for powder bronzer when I really want to look sunkissed and want to put on a lot of bronzer really quickly. I also use it to powder all over if I know I need my makeup to really last so having a dense brush for powder application makes sense. If you’re a person who puts highlighter on your body, this would also be the perfect brush for that. Of all these brushes, it’s the one I use the least but I’m still happy I have it.
107 Flat Blush – I use this the most for foundation even though it’s technically not made for it. I can do a full face of foundation is less than 10 seconds because it blends so well and so quickly. The flatter shape is so helpful to get around the contours of my face and areas like the sides of my nose. It’s kept it shape so well even though I’ve washed it a ton now (like all the brushes), which is great since that’s one of the things that makes this brush so great.
204 Smudge It – This is the most perfect smudger brush, and I’ve been on the hunt for one for years. The shape and density allows you to pick up shadow and use it eyeliner so easily. Because it’s a bit bigger than other similar brushes, you can actually see the liner you’ve applied instead of the tiny brushes that you can barely notice what they did. This is also perfect for smudging out eyeliners or blending them into the other shadows and cream products on the eyes.
205 Contoured Shader – This is my second least used brush of the ones I have. Like all the other brushes, it’s high quality, super soft, and the perfect density to use with eyeshadow. It’s just not a shape I find myself reaching for very often. But if you are a person who wants the perfect brow bone highlight, this is for you.
Angie Hot & Flashy A502 Crease Shader– I love how this is so small and so fluffy at the same time! I honestly can’t count the number of crease brushes I have at this point, but this one is still special. It’s perfect for actually defining the crease (vs moving shadow around). Because it’s small, I can use it for the outer corner, inner corner, under my eyes – basically anywhere I want to place and blend shadow. It’s so soft so it doesn’t scratch, and it’s just a joy to use.
Angie Hot & Flashy A506 Concealer – I know I’ve written about so many concealer brushes at this point, but I think this one is my favorite of all of them. This has really densely packed bristles which I really appreciate for applying products under my eyes. It’s also designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip, and I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage. Because of the shape, it’s also super easy to get into harder to reach spots. I’ve been using it every day with my undereye corrector, and it helps so much when I’m attempting to correct my dark circles. It also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it.
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection, and part of that is doing more in-depth reviews of products I already have. This helps me spend more time playing with them and learning about why I like (or don’t like) certain products. For this series, I’m planning on doing a full review on each one of my palettes, and now that I’ve finished all my Pat McGrath palettes, I’m going to go through some drugstore options. I’m starting with Jungle Lights from Flower Beauty, which is usually around $18 though I’m fairly confident it’ll continue to go on sale once in a while. 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.
This palette has six super metallic and creamy (but still powder) shades. The formula is the same for all six shades, and they all perform equally well. They are extremely glittery, flaky, and shiny. Because they are highly pigmented and a bit chunky, the shadows can be a little difficult to blend – but I don’t mind because of how impactful they are. I primarily use this palette as six one-and-done shades or to pair with matte shadows from other palettes. Since all six shades are the same formula, I’ll just be going through the colors of each shade in the rest of this post.
Shades are listed in order below from left to right as seen in swatches here.
Amazon is a super warm golden shimmer. On me, it’s a bit darker than I would want for a gold shadow for every day but it’s beautiful for a more statement gold look. It can pull almost orange because of its warmth. This makes it really great for the summer months for bronzy looks but I find I never reach for this shadow in the fall or winter.
Anaconda is a forest green with gold shimmer. I don’t go super bold and colorful with my eyeshadow, so I’ve only used this as a liner. It works great for that though and goes really well with my brown eyes.
Tiger Lily is my favorite shadow in the palette and the one I use the most. It’s listed as a metallic copper shimmer but it pulls more pink than copper on me. I have been really into pink looks for the last few months, and this shadow works great for pairing with pink lipstick and blush without being too monochromatic.
Paradise is a sparkling champagne shimmer that, like Amazon, leans quite warm. This is the only shadow I’ve used a topper or inner corner highlight, and I love it for that. It’s quite light so it’s harder for me to use as a one-and-done but I find it works so well to lighten up a look that’s gotten too dark – especially with some of the other shadows in this palette.
Jaguar is a deep, rich purple with pink shimmer. Like Anaconda I don’t use this much because it’s so dark and pigmented, but I love playing with it when I’m just messing around with my eyeshadows. It’s super pretty, and I know I’ll figure out a time and place for it.
Wild is my other most used shadow in the palette. It’s a beautiful light mauve with silver shimmer and what I use when I don’t want something as intense as Tiger Lily. I was really inspired by this Hannah Louise Poston video where she uses it as the centerpiece for a silvery pink glossy eye look, and I’ve been drawn to it ever since.
What other palettes would you like to see an in-depth review of? 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.
Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps – I used to love this so much I even had a giant bottle of it, but it just doesn’t hold a candle to my favorite body lotions anymore. My current favorite is the Josie Maran Intensive Daily Repair Body Butter which feels so much more nourishing and hydrating. It also lasts way longer on the skin than the Kiehl’s does. That said, I have a bunch of these minis floating around, and I will definitely use them up because it works just fine as a body lotion – I just won’t be buying more.
Glossier Future Dew (repeat empty) – This continues to be one of my favorite products, and I already had another back-up to start using once this ran out. It’s one of the only things I consistently use every day in my makeup routine. It continues to be the most amazing glossy, hydrating base that makes me look like I drank enough water (and if you know me, you know I have never had enough water). It works beautifully with any foundation, concealer, and powder combo I put on top of it and makes them look way better on my skin – no dry patches, no clinging, no flatness. I got another back-up during Glossier’s 20% off sale recently because I know I’ll continue to go through Future Dew and want another one.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask – I know everyone loves this hair mask, but I just find it so unremarkable. It doesn’t really seem to do anything for my hair vs some other hair masks I love. It might do a tiny bit of moisturizing, and the good news is that it doesn’t weigh my hair down or cause any problems. I get this as a free sample all the time, and I’ll keep using them, but I wouldn’t buy this with my own money especially because it’s pretty expensive.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream (repeat empty) – This eye cream was sent to me to try and review, and I thought at the time “there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with a $70 eye cream.” And now, I’ve repurchased it at least five or six times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation. I’ve been able to continually find it on sale, which is awesome, so I usually spend about $40 on average for it. I already have another one going, and I will keep repurchasing this until something even better comes along.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Brynn (repeat empty) – 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 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 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.
I’m so excited to share my fitness and lifestyle favorites now already more than a week into July. 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 Crops – I work out in a commercial gym that doesn’t allow chalk, so you’ll always find me wearing a bar grip shirt. I’ve written about the A7 Bar Grip shirts and tanks before, but I specifically have been loving the women’s crops. A7 Bar Grips have a silicone grip on the back that is designed to help with slippery commercial benches and bars, including helping you stick to the bench during bench press and anchoring the barbell to your back when squatting. Now that it’s getting much hotter, the crops have been amazing. They fit so well (I wear a small) and are the perfect length. I appreciate that they also come in lots of fun patterns and colors!
Buff Chick Supplements Intra – I have been working out so hard now that I’m prepping for the WA States Powerlifting Competition, and this has made such a huge difference. This basically super levels up the water I drink during a workout and helps with recovery on my days off. Both flavors are delicious, but I prefer the fruit punch. I’m so glad I picked this up! More info on Intra from the Buff Chick site: “12 grams of BCAAs (2:1:1 of 6g leucine : 3 g isoleucine : 3g valine), our formula supports muscle building while reducing the perception of fatigue and exercise-induced muscle soreness. Our combination of electrolytes and ElevATP® supports strength and power output while promoting optimal electrolyte balance.”
Wearing the Black Bossy Legacy Shorts
Buffbunny Legacy Shorts – I honestly can’t imagine wearing any other 4″ shorts except for these. They’re made with Nubre fabric – the softest, most buttery fabric of all time (really). They don’t roll or move while I’m working out, and the mediums (a size up from my BuffBunny legging size) are perfect for me. Every time I wear other shorts, I miss how I feel in the Legacy Shorts. The back has a cool butterfly seam detail that is such a nice touch. Unlike most of BuffBunny’s items, there are still plenty of colors left in these shorts if you’re interested in grabbing a pair!
Caramel Brownie Built Bars – I’m still shocked at how good these are considering the macros (these have 17g of protein for 130 calories!). II have been loving 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. Even though I own a ton of flavors now, these have been my favorite lately because they are so close to a “real” brownie. 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.
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.
I can’t believe June is already over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! I’m sorry I’m about a week late – life got a little busy, but hopefully this is still useful. As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months. If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
BK Beauty x Angie Hot flashy Concealer Brush – This has really densely packed bristles which I really appreciate for applying products under my eyes. It’s also designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip, and I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage. Because of the shape, it’s also super easy to get into harder to reach spots. I’ve been using it every day with my undereye corrector, and it helps so much when I’m attempting to correct my dark circles. It also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it.
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in 1990 – I know everyone has been talking about these, but it’s for a good reason! The formula is just amazing – it’s semi-sheer but buildable without settling into any lip lines. It’s a satin matte finish that doesn’t slide around and wander onto my face like other formulas that are popular right now tend to do. Despite the finish, it’s still very comfortable and nourishing. 1990 is a neutral deep brown that is actually fairly unique to my collection, and I love using it to balance out super pink eye/cheek looks or over the top bronzy looks.
NYX Thick It Stick It Brow Mascara – It’s so quick and easy to fill in and shape my brows with this – I’ve been reaching for it over my other brow gels (which I oddly have a ton of – let me know if you want a ranking post!). Unlike some other fiber containing brow products, this really lasts all day and actually keeps my brows in place. The only thing about this that I don’t love is that the wand is bigger than I’m used to so I tend to get some of the brow gel on my skin. The good news is that it’s very easy to clean up before it dries.
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, and I’ve been using all of them a ton this month now that it’s getting truly into summer.
Beauty Pie Awesome Bronze Gradual Tan Drops – I’m still a bit terrified of actual self-tanning products, so this has been a great way to tan my body without having to worry about going overboard. I’ve been mixing it in with my body lotion and love how my arms and legs look – you can no longer tell I haven’t seen the sun in months and months, but it still looks like my skin. This doesn’t have any kind of scent and doesn’t stain clothes or sheets. It’s also only $14 if you’re a member for quite a large bottle that I know will last me all summer.
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.
As part of getting to know my collection, I want to spend more time reviewing all the products I have. Next up is everything I own from Milk Makeup, which happens to be their three Bionic liquid products. 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. 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!
Bionic Liquid Bronzer (Time Travel) – This is my favorite liquid bronzer I’ve ever tried. This builds up beautifully because it’s a bit sheer (I bit it up quite a bit in the swatch below) and looks so natural on me even if I accidentally build it up too much. Even though it’s sheer, the formula has some heft to it, which makes it much easier to control than I’m used to with liquid products. I love how I can get a precise application that still looks so healthy and skin-like.
The only other liquid bronzer I still have in my collection is the Daniel Sandler Watercolor Liquid Cheek Color in Sun Glow which is much thinner. The Daniel Sandler also has a good amount of shimmer in it whereas the Milk Bionic Liquid Bronzer is shimmer-free. I find the Milk bronzer way easier to use because it’s not watery at all, but it still blends so easily.
Bionic Liquid Blush (Infinity) – I’m surprised by how much I love this since liquid blushes aren’t usually my thing. It’s much gel like than any other liquid blush I’ve owned which makes it easy to blend without it going absolutely everywhere. It’s also fairly sheer so I never have to worry about overdoing it (which I do sometimes with my Rare Beauty liquid blush). It dries down in a way that feels like absolutely nothing is on my skin and has great staying power. The shade is also beautiful dusty rose that works really well for the kinds of looks I like to do.
My beloved Natasha Denona Puff Paint in Darya is more pink and more saturated, but the formulas are so similar once they’re on the skin (even though the Milk is a bit more gel-like and stays dewier). Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Bliss is the most pigmented of the three and is the most peachy-pink. It also dries down the least dewy of the three. That said, formula wise, these are all very similar to me, and I love having all three to have the shade variety.
Bionic Glow Illuminating Liquid Highlighter (Virtual) – This is a beautiful product that I can’t really explain because it just looks so nice. It dries down but still looks wet and glowy. My favorite way to use it is actually under any powder highlighters I want to use. It’s incredibly smoothing and blurring and just makes my skin look nice and hydrated. I like using it under powders because it totally gets rid of any texture and primes the cheek so well for any powder products to go on top smoothly. I’ve also used it a few times as my only makeup product, and I loved how it made my skin look. An important note – it’s quite pink and a bit dark, so keep that in mind if you are looking for a much more champagne highlighter.
It’s much less “highlightery” than the Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow, Auric Glow Lust, and the Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand. If you’re looking for the most natural of all the glowy liquids, I would definitely go with the Milk Makeup. The Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Wand is the most impactful and bright. The Auric Glow Lust is by far the most glowy, beautiful, “I have the most hydrated skin” of the three and can be used so many ways. Compared to the other three, I actually don’t think the Lisa Eldridge really stands out, but I do think it’s one of the better ones of the bunch for mature or super dry skin because of its skincare ingredients. If I could only choose one, I think it’d still be the Glow Lust because it’s so versatile, but the Milk Makeup is just so pretty, especially for a no-makeup day.
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (previous empty)– 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 1 more back-ups of this as well as many other so not going to rebuy any time soon.
KBShimmer Hand & Body Sugar Scrub in Warm Apple Cider – Using this body scrub was such a joy! It smells exactly like fresh apple pie and cider in the fall welcoming into a cozy evening. It’s just super comforting to me, and it also works really well. It’s incredibly moisturizing while also being an effective scrub – I usually don’t even need body lotion when I use this since. This particular scent was limited edition for September, but they have tons of other scents on their site which I’m sure are equally amazing. It is heavily fragranced so keep that in mind if that’s something that will bother you, but I absolutely love how this smells and how well it sticks around for my whole shower. I will absolutely
I normally wouldn’t do this as I have always reviewed each product separately, but the other three have nothing that is standing out to me to make it worth it, especially because they’re all pretty expensive. I have so many other hair masks, concealers, and brow gels that I like better. The Verb Hydrating Mask is totally fine but unremarkable (and $20?!), same with the Clinique Concealer (which is $27?!) and same with the Hourglass Brow Gel (which is $29?!?!). I won’t be repurchasing any of these and happy to answer any actual questions about these in the comments!
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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