I recently was travelling for two weeks and decided to bring a super minimal makeup and skincare bag. While I was thankful not to have overpacked, I was so excited to get back to my collection when I got home. These are the five products I most thankful to have back in my routine, and that I’d absolutely make room for next time! Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Prada Beauty Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – I know this is a $70 (or $55 if you only get the refill) foundation, but this foundation is honestly so fantastic. I was so excited to get back to using it above and beyond all my other makeup that I didn’t bring with me. The coverage is on the lighter end of medium but can easily be built up without looking heavy or cakey. It has a really smooth and blurred finish that looks like skin. It’s also so lightweight for how good it looks and wears throughout the day. I have so many great foundations and skin tints, but I think this is really my favorite. That said, stay tuned for an “olive skin-tone friendly foundation round up” for a bunch of recommendations that aren’t $70.
Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – I decided to bring the ELF Prime Stay Finishing Powder which I also love and is only $4, so I have no issues rebuying it if something happens to it. Plus, it’s so much easier to travel with a pressed powder than a loose one that might get everywhere. But I was so excited to be using this powder again when I got home! The Givenchy powder blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. It really does provide a soft focus blur in real life without looking like you’re overdoing it. I now have the amazing Laura Mercier Real Flawless Luminous Perfecting Pressed Powder which is giving the Givenchy a run for my favorite powder of all time and is pressed but if I had an easy way to bring the Givenchy with me, I definitely would.
Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is my favorite matte lipstick of my entire collection (and I have a ton of lipsticks). It creates a blurred look that’s matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it. I didn’t bring it because it’s so special to me (and expensive) but honestly I really missed having it with me.
Make Reverse Emulsion – I’m actually so mad at my past self for not packing some of this into a Cadence Capsule (my favorite way to carry my skincare). This is my favorite moisturizer, particularly if I’m running short of time and need something that really does the trick (like when you’re super jet lagged and don’t want to put on 6 products before you can sleep). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. I decided to bring Glossier Future Dew instead, which I also love and works amazing as a primer, but I honestly wish I had brought both since it was so dry on the East Coast.
Prequel Skin Utility Ointment – This is a multi-purpose ointment hydrates dry, cracked, chapped, and chafed skin that I use on my face but also my cuticles, lips, and sometimes even places like my elbows. This feels so much better as a last layer on my skin than an oil or something like vaseline but works so well to keep moisture in overnight. It’s not sticky or heavy at all, and I can tell a huge difference between when I’ve been home using it vs not having it with me while travelling. It somehow even works for my super dry skin to help with my moisture barrier even if I only use one moisturizer (which I almost never do but sometimes I’m just so tired). I’m so glad to have this back in my routine!
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 thankful to have gotten the latest collaboration between Kackie Reviews Beauty and Finding Ferdinand in PR. It’s called Après Ski, and I absolutely would have purchased these myself if I hadn’t received them. I loved the beige blushes (purchased by me) they came out with last year, and I’m thrilled to have these new shades that work so perfectly with my preference for pink, mauve, and purple tones. I’ll be doing a full review of the collection once Finding Ferdinand releases the hex codes for them so you can buy them, but I noticed my two favorite blushes were still in stock so wanted to share why I love them. Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Sunrise and High Noon
Sunrise is a light neutral pink that’s been my go to when I have no idea what blush I want to use. It looks so natural on me and works well with so many different eye and lip colors. I appreciate that it doesn’t lean too warm and so doesn’t turn orange or peachy on me. It’s also beigey enough to work with brown eye looks (which I find has been weirdly hard for me to match with pink blushes lately for me). It’s my no brainer, every day blush that I just know will always look great.
High Noon is a medium pink with berry undertones that works so well on my olive skin. It packs more of a punch than Sunrise and so I gravitate towards it when I want something I can throw on super quick without needing to build it up at all. This shade is also just purple enough to cool a look down when I need to. I love how it gives me that “cold girl” look without having to go all the way purple, and how it brings together a look with my brighter lipsticks.
These shades also layer together beautifully if I want to create a more dimensional effect. I’m honestly so excited to keep wearing High Noon into spring because I think it’ll work so well for warmer weather looks.
I recommend using a pretty densely packed brush like the BK Beauty 106 because it’s quite a stiff formula in the pot even though it blends out so seamlessly on the skin. The formula is super blendable (I think because there’s quite a bit of marula oil in these), easy to layer, and very buildable. They do dry down on the skin but they still have a dewy, hydrated finish that just looks really nice. These are a bit more matte than the original formula, which I’m actually really happy about because they last even longer. You can also hopefully see in the swatch photo that they’re pretty blurring despite maintaining their hydrated quality. I just find these so easy to use that I find myself gravitating towards them every day.
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.
Seeing everyone doing their Best of Beauty posts and videos made me realize that I totally didn’t do one in 2022, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget this year. It’s been really fun to look back and see what’s still a favorite from the years before that and what was newly discovered this year. Like last year, I’ll be splitting out the makeup and skincare lists so these posts don’t get too long. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for 2023 in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. Some links are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!
Primer:Make Beauty Moisturizing Reverse Emulsion – This is my favorite moisturizer (and if you’ve been to this blog before, you know I’ve tried so, so many moisturizers as I have incredibly dry skin). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. It’s like a super sophisticated version of the Glossier Future Dew and will definitely be my replacement for that (which has been my favorite primer for yeas) when I run out of all my Future Dew back ups. Because of that, it’s definitely my primer pick for the year even if I still have some Future Dew bottles to get through.
Green color corrector: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Wand in Green – This is the green color corrector I’ve reached for the most (so much I actually ran out of mine and am almost done with my new tube of it). I’m planning on doing a full green color corrector comparison post because I actually have 6 in rotation right now that I like and use for different reasons. This one is the most green of the bunch and doesn’t lean matte or dewy so it works really well with whatever primer, foundation, concealer, and powder combo I’ve used that day. Because of that quality, I can’t use it as a primer by itself like some of my other green correctors, but a lot of those require I top them up with this anyway because they’re not nearly as green. Plus, this one is only $4.99 at Target right now.
Under eye corrector: 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!
Foundation: Fenty Foundation Stick in 02 - I ended up with a ton of foundations this year, and I honestly would be happy with any of them (let me know if you want a foundations for light olive skin run down!), but I think the one I’ve leaned on the most this year and been the most excited about is the Fenty Foundation Stick. This foundation is absolutely beautiful and so easy to use. I’m so glad that I grabbed this because when I want to put on a more high coverage (for me) face of makeup, this is what I reach for. It blends out so quickly, is quite blurring, and make my skin look amazing without being too dewy or matte. It also is great for spot concealing because it builds really well, and it’s super easy to get just a little bit on a brush straight from the stick. This is definitely my choice out of all the stick foundations for dry skin, and I like it even better than the original Eaze Drop (even though I still love that foundation).
Concealer: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring 24H Hydrating + Radiant + Correcting Creamy Concealer in N95 – This concealer is as good as everyone says it is, especially for those of us over 30. It’s incredibly hydrating while still offering a really good amount of coverage because it has such a creamy texture. I love using it all over as both my foundation and concealer, and it just looks so nice. It builds up really nicely if I want more coverage in certain areas while still looking incredibly natural. It plays well with all my powders and primers, so if I’m traveling, this is the one product I’ll bring with me because I know it’ll work no matter what else I do.
Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – This was my favorite in this category in 2020 and 2021 (which is news to me how old this product is because it still works like it’s brand new). Nothing beat it out this year yet again. It is the perfect color and texture for a natural looking contour. I also love the packaging – it feels super luxe with the magnetic closure, and I really appreciate having a stick for a quick makeup look. If I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.
Cream Bronzer: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in 0.5 and Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in light/medium – I noticed that I chose these two as my favorites in 2021, and it’s also still what I would choose, especially given how much I reached for these this year. Both are cream products that give a super natural look in about 2 seconds. They are super blendable and easy to build up to the opacity I want or leave fairly sheer. I actually think the colors and formulas are pretty similar (even though the Salt New York is warmer and the Tom Ford is more neutral) so if you want to not spend way too much on the Tom Ford, I would definitely recommend getting the Salt New York paired with one of their highlighters to replicate the duo. I did really love the Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer and the Milk Makeup Bionic Bronzer, but these are the two I keep going back to.
Power Bronzer: Haus Labs Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in Light Level 2 and Gucci Poudre de Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in 01 – I also have two favorites for this category – one for summer and one for winter. The Haus Labs bronzer is my pick for spring/summer because it leans warm and the Gucci is my pick for fall/winter because it leans more rosey. Both are fantastic -they’re just so easy to throw on and blend out and looks super natural. If I don’t have time to think about what I’m doing, this is what I’m going to reach for. Neither are powdery or patchy at all, and just make my skin look great. Both of these I can reach for regardless of what other makeup I have on, they look seamless without having to spend any time blending, and are what I reach for when I can’t quite figure out what’s wrong with my makeup and need to add something.
Cream blush: I honestly have no idea how many cream blushes I have at this point, but it’s enough that choosing just one would have been impossible, so I’m doing my favorites for different color categories: beige, berry, and pink.
Beige: Finding Ferdinand Creamy Blush x Kackie Review Beauty in Latte and Au Lait – When I don’t know what blush to use, the ones I reach for are Latte (a desaturated, light beige with a touch of rose) and Au Lait (a neutral, medium beige with a hint of warmth) from Kackie’s collab with Finding Ferdinand. These colors just go with everything and always look so natural on me, so they’re perfect for no makeup makeup looks or pairing with a more colorful eyeshadow (when I choose not to just wear something brown). I do recommend using a pretty densely packed brush like the BK Beauty 106 because it’s quite a stiff formula in the pot even though it blends out so seamlessly on the skin. The formula is super blendable (I think because there’s quite a bit of marula oil in these), easy to layer, and very buildable. They do dry down on the skin but they still have a dewy, hydrated finish that just looks really nice. *I’m a little biased because I’m friends with Kackie, but I did buy these with my own money.
Berry: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Faith – This is one of the only liquid blushes I’m willing to use, and it’s because the formula is honestly just so great. This shade is in the matte formula, which I actually prefer to the dewy one because it really dries down and almost stains my cheeks. It has incredibly lasting power, and if I still want a dewy look, I have plenty of highlighters I can layer on top of it. It really is as good as everyone says it is, and I’m not surprised this blush keeps going viral. The shade Faith is a deep purple toned berry that really packs a punch, and you definitely want to use just a tiny bit at a time. This is my go to for the “cold girl” winter look or to pair with deeper brown or mauve eyeshadow looks.
Pink: About Face Cheek Freak Blush Balm in Laid –Similar to the Rare Beauty blush, this dries down to a matte finish that actually lasts such a long time for a cream blush. It starts off really balmy so it’s really easy to pick up on a brush or finger and blend into the skin, and then it stays where it is. I also love how the packaging matches the color of the blush since I have three of these – it’s always easy to find the one I want. Laid in particular is a super bright pink blush that is just the quickest way to that flushed look, especially in the summer. If I want to look really awake and hydrated, this is my go to since it’s so bright and flattering.
From left to right: MAC Glow Play Blush in Heat Index, Blush Please, So Natural, Grand, and Totally Synced
Power blush: MAC Glow Play Blush – 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, and I found myself reaching for all of them depending on my mood and the time of year. Between So Natural (golden beige), Blush Please (neutral light mauve), Heat Index (bright pink), Totally Synced (light lilac) and Grand (petal pink), I’m covered with any look I’m trying to do.
Highlight: Auric Glow Lust – I wrote about the Auric Glow Lust so many times, and I’m still in love with it. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, whether I use it as foundation, a primer, a mixer, or a highlighter. Of all of my glowy, liquid products, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch. The packaging is also amazing, especially the pump – it’s so much easier to use than something like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. It feels like much more of a luxury experience, from the packaging to the formula. I have the shades Selenite and Morganite, and I love using Selenite all over as foundation or a primer and Morganite as a true “high points of the skin” highlighter. I have a full review here if you’d like to see more comparisons between the two.
Powder: Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – If I could only pick one powder, and I weirdly have a ton for someone with dry skin, it’d be this one. Honorable mention to the ELF Prime Stay Finishing Powder which I also love but is only $4. The Givenchy powder blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. It really does provide a soft focus blur in real life. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I have so many eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes, and there’s so many that I love, but I knew right away which one I used the most and would keep if I could only keep one. It’s a sheer shimmery eyeshadow that adds a wet look to any shadow without really adding any color or changing the color of the look underneath. But somehow it still has enough of a beige-y base that you can wear it on its own. It’s incredibly reflective and glossy, doesn’t have any fallout, and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue). I can’t count how many times this year I wore a matte brown shadow with Space Cowboy on top and got a ton of compliments on my eyeshadow. I’m honestly upset I have so many other eyeshadows given how much I use this one.
Brows: 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 – the ranking post is coming, I promise!). 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, and this is so inexpensive I’m happy to deal with that issue.
Mascara: I fell out of love with all my mascaras this year and am currently on the hunt for a new one that I love. The front runner right now is the Finding Ferdinand Lashlift Mascara, which I would be perfectly happy with using as my main mascara. It’s a tubing mascara that’s lighter weight than the Thrive mascara so my lashes don’t fall as quickly, and it otherwise works exactly as I would expect a black tubing mascara to work. That said, I have 6 other mascaras to test throughout 2024, so I will report back!
Lip Liner: Thrive Causemetics Lip Filler Long-Wearing + Plumping Lip Liner in Kackie – I still love this lip liner, and it’s one I reach for all the time. I don’t know how Kackie did it, but this is the most perfect neutral brown shade for me. I can put any gloss or lipstick over top of it, and it looks great. The formula also manages to be creamy, not drying, and have great staying power. It’s the lip liner I use when I don’t want to worry about my lip look coming together, especially in the morning before I’ve had coffee and just want something I know will work. I think I started writing about this one in 2020, and I’m surprised how it continues to rise to the top of my lip liner collection.
Lip gloss/shiny lipstick: YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – I’m honestly so annoyed by how right Kackie is about this one, because she’s obsessed with it, and now I am too. If I had to choose between these and the Hourglass ones, I’d choose these every time. If you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than my other clear lip balms, so it lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear, and I’m always stopping myself from buying more of the shades.
Satin lipstick: Make Beauty Cream Supreme Lipstick in Equilibrium – This was my go to lipstick until I got the Givenchy lipstick I’m going to mention next. The formula is creamy and non-drying while still being much longer lasting than I expected. It’s a touch glossy, but not overly so, and it just looks so nice. Any time I need a “looks like I tried and will last” lipstick, I choose this one. I also love the color – Equilibrium is the perfect rosey nude that goes with any look I put together. I absolutely love the packaging and how easy the shape makes to get a precise application. I don’t need a lip liner with this, and it’s pigmented enough that I only need to swipe once. It’s also refillable so when I run out, I’ll only have to buy the refill!
Matte lipstick: Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is now my favorite matte lipstick formula because it looks blurred out and matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it.
What were your favorites this 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 happened to have a bunch of clear press on nails lying around, so I decided to do swatches of my favorite nail polish launches from this year (shimmers, flakies, reflectives and holos specifically). If you want to see my top 10 magnetics, cremes, toppers, multichromes, jellies, or some other category – let me know! I store my nail polish by finish and am just realizing I missed a ton so please leave a comment if you want to see more! I definitely bought way too much nail polish this year and would be happy to do more swatches (and even comparisons) if that would be helpful. I’m planning on doing a nail polish no-buy in 2024 so I’ll be doing more posts to get to know my collection better. Some of these links are affiliate links, but most are not. And as always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts!
Holo Taco Private Villa is a very red leaning pink jelly that has a ton of shimmer that primarily leans gold and reflective pink glitter in it. It’s so much prettier in person than what I captured in the picture above. It reminds me a ton of Holo Taco Party Punch but is so much easier to apply and remove because it’s not a chunky glitter but still is super sparkly because of all the shimmer and glitter in it. The formula is super smooth for how sparkly it is, and I got full coverage in two coats. If you have longer nails, you’ll probably need a third because of the jellly formula.
KB Shimmer Any Way You Slice It is a bright orange shimmer that also has gold, copper, and yellow tones in it. It’s beautiful in the summer and fall, and one of my favorite oranges this year. I’m honestly not big into orange one me, but somehow this one works, and looks so beautiful in the sun. This polish is a little sheer, and I find I need 3 coats, but I don’t mind because it just looks so beautiful on. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
Mooncat Tyrannosaurus Hex is my favorite green of the year regardless of finish. It’s a green polish packed with multichrome flakies and reflective glitter that dries matte. I wanted to show what it looks like under flash because it’s wild how it lights up with the reflective glitters. This is also beautiful with a glossy top coat, but I do really love it matte. This formula is super smooth despite how jam packed it is, and I got full coverage in two coats.
Holo Taco Never Tide Down is the perfect summer polish (as well as the one I’ll talk about next). It’s a turquoise jelly polish filled with iridescent flakes, holographic glitter, and crushed holo. My favorite color is teal so I’m a little biased, but I just love how much this looks like the ocean if the ocean was incredibly fun and sparkly. There’s so much going on in this polish, but it still manages to have such a smooth and easy to use formula. I get full one coat coverage with this polish, but you might need two if you have longer nails.
ILNP Blowing Bubbles is the most holographic polish I own – it blew me away with how holo it is. It’s described as a sky-blue ultra holo nail polish, but because of my undertones (and also the lighting) it leans a little teal on me. That said, regardless of which way it leans on you, it’s beautiful, especially in the sun. I ended up buying a few more ILNP ultra holos because I loved this so much. I get one coat coverage with this, and I’m not even sure you’d need a second coat if you had longer nails.
KB Shimmer Ripped Apart is a deep blue filled with reflective glitter that looks amazing in every light. It’s been my favorite nail polish to wear this winter, and I loved using it under snowflake stamps at the start of the season. I think if I had to choose my favorite 3 from this list, this would definitely be one of them (but I’m biased because I’ve been wearing it so much this December). It’s a bit on the thicker side because of all the glitter, but I find it’s still easy to work with. I get two coat coverage with this, and I feel like that’d be the case for most nail lengths. I would recommend added a glitter smoother before your top coat. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
Mooncat Midnight Rider is a midnight blue multichrome polish that shifts between black and blue and is filled with micro holographic glitter. It’s basically a midnight sky on your nails because of the micro holographic glitter, and the blue shimmer makes it even better because it basically glows. I can get full coverage with two coats (and it’s super smooth), but I also recently tried this over a coat of black polish, and it looked great, so that’s probably how I’ll wear this polish from now on so I can get my mani done in just two coats.
Cirque Colors x Kelli Marissa Venetian Sky is cool toned purpled “Shimmergraphic” that has a super intense pink shimmer and scatter holographic sparkle. The shimmer is so strong but somehow doesn’t drown out the holo, and I’m so excited to wear this one in the spring and summer to see it in the sun. I prefer wearing this one in 3 coats so I can really build up the depth in the purple base and the shimmer, but I’m confident you could get away with two on most nail lengths. You can use affiliate code LIFTBAKELOVE for 10% off this polish at Beyond Polish.
ILNP Fairy Dust was my favorite polish in the spring this year. It’s a violet jelly base with intense orange shimmer and scattered holographic sparkle. It looks amazing in the sun but also in low light. I also using this as a topper – I swear it looks good in one coat over almost anything. It’s a bit sheer, so it takes at least 3 coats, but I don’t mind for how beautiful it is. If you’re not into that, I recommend using it over a light purple creme for a faster mani.
Mooncat Gates of Hell is the deep red/purple version of Midnight Rider, so of course I also love it. It’s a red to black multichrome with a really strong shimmer and micro holographic shimmer. It’s absolutely stunning, and just like Midnight Rider, I tried this over a coat of black polish, and it looked fantastic. Otherwise, I can get full coverage in two coats, and the formula is super smooth.
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’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 (except for the bronzer and Sublimate which were gifted to me by the amazing Kackie). As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts!
Spectral Sunlight Cream Bronzer in shade 2– There’s twelve shades in this range, and I love how many options there are. I have 2 (Rosy Daybreak), which is basically the cream version of the Gucci powder bronzer in shade 01. It’s the perfect rosy beige for winter, and I love having this option amongst my other neutral and warm cream bronzers. This texture is so weird, but in a good way. It’s truly a powder/cream hybrid that’s very stiff but that means it looks natural like a cream on the skin but has the staying power of a powder. It’s slightly burring with a satin finish that also plays really well with all my powder bronzers. You do really have to firmly swirl in circular motions for a few seconds to pick up product since it’s so stiff, but it’s worth how great it looks. That said, I do find I reach for other cream bronzers like the Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer, Salt New York Sculpt + Bronze Crème Tint Pro in Light/Medium, Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Duo, and Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Bronzer because I can apply these without thinking about it at all. This bronzer was absolutely not meant to be swatched, and I can’t get a great picture of it, but rest assured the swatches on the site are accurate (unlike the blushes which some of them definitely look much different on me than I expected).
Softquill Brush – I got this to try with the Spectral Sunlight Cream Bronzer‘s honestly weird texture as described above. I’ve been using it with so many other bronzers though, including creams, liquids, and powder products. It’s a duo-fibre stippling brush that picks up and disperses product in such a natural way. It’s also just big enough that I can do my bronzer is about 5 seconds without being so big that I get bronzer everywhere. I haven’t tried using it for blush yet but now that I’m writing this, I think it would work great. I have a ton of brushes I love (if you’ve been here, you know I have and love most of the BK Beauty brushes and Sonia G brushes), but I’ve been reaching for this to put on bronzer so often. And with the current exchange rate, this brush is $13.50, which is honestly a steal for how great this brush is.
Skin Spark Blush Balm in Condensate, Ignite, Fervor, Exothermic – The Skin Spark Blush Balm formula impressed me from the first time I used it, and I already loved Simmer and Fume, so I was really excited to get some more shades to try out. Before I get into it, I don’t recommend having six cream blushes (or as many as I have which I know is more than 40), but hopefully seeing these all swatched next to each other will help you decide which one or two is right for you if you decide to grab these! This formula is one of my favorites – 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. It also still manages to be a bit blurring despite how moisturizing it is. 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 especially now that I have 6 of them and can’t tell them apart. But given the formula is so great and the colors are amazing, these are so worth it to me, especially since they’re $16 not on sale (I got most of this haul for less during Black Friday).
From Left to Right: Simmer, Fervor, Fume, Condensate, Ignite, and Exothermic
Condensate is the toasted version of Fume, which was already one of my favorite blushes in my collection. It’s a cooler toned muted dusty pink with a hint of violet that’s perfect for the winter especially if you want something that fits a no makeup vibe. Ignite is what I would describe as a very warm brown on me, which I love for when I want to do copper eyeshadow and need something that is deep enough to balance that out. It’s basically the summer version of Fume because it has some of the same tones but deeper (like how Condensate is Fume but way cooler), so I’m excited to use this when it starts to warm up again. Fervor is surprisingly my favorite of these shades (although it’s basically simmer but with a bunch of berry tones, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised). It’s a rich berry that works so well for olive skin, especially for that “cold girl” makeup look. Exothermic is the toasted version of Smolder and is described as a neutral smoky peach. On me, I’d describe it as a plummy brown that makes some of my other beigey brown blushes look pink. If I want to do a one cheek product look to stand in for blush and bronzer, this is my go to, but I think I’ll like this even more in the summer because it pulls pretty deep on me. I know I already said you don’t need all of these, but you definitely don’t need Ignite and Exothermic – they’re definitely different but they both fill that “deep brown bronzy blush” shade for me, with Ignite being more orange and Exothermic being more purple.
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!
Kackie has one of my favorite beauty channels to watch (and also one of my favorite people for so many reasons). What makes her stand out for me is that she actually reviews products rather than fawning over new releases. She covers textures, colors, formulation, packaging, etc. in depth, usually with comparisons to similar products you might already have. She has what she refers to as an encyclopedic knowledge of products, and I think that’s why I find her reviews so helpful. Kackie goes out of her way to give the most pertinent information to help viewers decide why something might or might not work for them and what they should know about the product when making a purchasing decision. For that reason, almost everything I’ve gotten because of her recommending it has become a fast favorite and something I wish I had bought sooner. I rounded up all the makeup Kackie made me buy in 2023 (and since my last “Kackie made me buy it” post last year). As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts! *Most links are affiliate links that support the blog.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring 24H Hydrating + Radiant + Correcting Creamy Concealer in N95 – This concealer is as good as everyone says it is, especially for those of us over 30. It’s incredibly hydrating while still offering a really good amount of coverage because it has such a creamy texture. I love using it all over as both my foundation and concealer, and it just looks so nice. It builds up really nicely if I want more coverage in certain areas while still looking incredibly natural. It plays well with all my powders and primers, so if I’m traveling, this is the one product I’ll bring with me because I know it’ll work no matter what else I do.
Fenty Foundation Stick in 02 – This foundation is absolutely beautiful and so easy to use. I’m so glad that I grabbed this because when I want to put on a more high coverage (for me) face of makeup, this is what I reach for. It blends out so quickly, is quite blurring, and make my skin look amazing without being too dewy or matte. It also is great for spot concealing because it builds really well, and it’s super easy to get just a little bit on a brush straight from the stick. This is definitely my choice out of all the stick foundations for dry skin, and I like it even better than the original Eaze Drop (even though I still love that foundation).
Make Beauty Skin Mimetic Microsuede Bronzer in Lunar – I love this bronzer, and I’m not a powder bronzer person (although I might be now, because I’ve gotten 3 of Kackie’s favorite powder bronzers now and I love them all). It isn’t patchy, it applies so well over cream products, and it manages to keep a satin finish with great staying power. The color is also so dialed in for my olive undertones. There’s 6 shades, and I think they did a great job with the undertones across the range (but let me know if you agree!). Like the pressed powder, I love the packaging and how luxe it feels (and that it’s a different color than the pressed powder which is so helpful since they’re the same size). Plus, this is also refillable, and the pan fits in either the powder or bronzer compact! I will say it’s quite warm relative to the Gucci bronzer I mention later in this post, which is exactly why I got the Gucci bronzer and now am using the Gucci in the winter while the Make was great in the summer.
Gucci Poudre de Beauté Éclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in 01 – If you know anything about my collection, you know I don’t need another bronzer (especially because you’ll probably have noticed I literally just wrote about a bronzer). So why did I get this one? I swatched all the ones I have, and they leaned a little yellow and warm, and Kackie mentioned how this one is on the rosier side so perfect for winter – and she’s right! It works particularly well if I’m doing a very berry leaning or pink leaning look (vs something more beigey or brown), and I didn’t have any bronzers that worked well for that before. The formula is beautiful – it’s blurring, blendable, and easy to use. I recently brought this on a trip home in a magnetic palette because you can actually pop the pan out, and I loved that I could put it in a mini palette with some eyeshadows so it didn’t take up nearly as much space.
Kaja Play Bento in Butter Up – Kackie loves the bronzer in this trio, but doesn’t care about the blush or highlighter, so I waited to get this 70% off so it was basically like I was only paying for the bronzer. That said, I actually really like all three of the products. I recently brought this as my only bronzer, blush, and highlighter travelling, and it worked out great. The formulas are all great – they go on so easily, blend out really well, and have great lasting power. And the colors all work great together since they’re designed to be used as a set. The only thing I don’t love about this is that the bronzer is quite warm for me right now – I think it’ll go great with the Make Beauty bronzer in the summer.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk – When I’m looking for something that’s matte and long wearing but not a powder, this is now what I reach for. You can dab this on directly from the applicator and blend it out in about two seconds with a finger, brush, or sponge. This shade is a perfect sheer neutral leaning cool desaturated pink that makes it go with anything. This blush reminds me of how I feel about the Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal in that it’s just so easy to use and blend when I’m running late or don’t have as much time to do a full “blush look” and is such a great “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. If I had to choose between them, I think I’d choose Petal because I just love stick products, but I’m still so happy I own the matte wand now.
Kaja Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio in Orange Blossom – This is an amazing set of shimmer shadows that you can wear alone or as toppers, but the reason I got this one is specifically for the dark brown shade that Kackie says is one of her favorite “bedroom eyes brown” colors. And it really is so perfect! I do love wearing any of them all over the lid or pairing them with my other palettes to bring in some extra sparkle, but the dark brown is my most used. The shades are super pigmented but still blendable, and there’s something really special about whatever glitter is in them. I got this on sale for $13, and I have absolutely no regrets. I do think I’ll be using the “sandy peach” and “sun-kissed tan” colors more in the spring and summer, and I’ll report back!
Hourglass Scattered Light Eye Shadow in Ray and Smoke – If I’m not using the dark brown shade in the Kaja Bento Trio, these are my next pick for a one and done shadow look. I already loved the formula (I’ve talked about Reflect over the years here), but I specifically choose these shades based on Kackie’s recommendation. They’re both incredibly sparkly and twinkly without looking like you’ve gone overboard with glitter. It’s easy to get a sheer wash of this shade or build it up to have a super glittery look, and it’s also really easy to blend out. It also doesn’t have any fallout for how sparkly it is which makes it great for someone like me that only wants to spend a few minutes doing their makeup in their morning. Kackie actually watched me put on Ray with a brush, and she was surprised at how I just whacked it on and blended in about 3 seconds, and it still looked great. Ray is medium bronzy slightly warm champagne and Smoke is a taupe that doesn’t lean too cool (and is perfect for “cold girl” looks). I feel like with both of these plus Reflect, I now have literally all I need to match whatever blush/lip combo I use.
Make Beauty Diffusion Set in Translucent Fair – This is my go to “I really need a powder that actually is a powder” vs all my other powders that just do the lightest touch of mattifying (like the Kosas Cloud set, which I also love, but it’s more a finishing powder compared to this one). Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a tiny bit of coverage (which is why it’s great it comes in different shades), which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable!
Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – I love all the powders I’ve gotten (and I think they’re all Kackie recommendations if I’m being honest), but if I had to pick only one finishing powder to keep, it’d be this one. Honestly, I think if I had to choose one powder of any kind, it’d be this one as much as I do love having the Make one I mentioned above as a pressed powder option. It blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. Kackie said it provides a soft focus blur, and it really does do that. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.
*I did swatches of both these powders, and you literally can’t see anything, so you’ll have to trust me!
YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – I’m honestly so annoyed by how right Kackie is about this one, because she’s obsessed with it, and now I am too. If you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than my other clear lip balms, so it lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear, and I’m always stopping myself from buying more of the shades.
Givenchy Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Matte Lipstick in 10 Beige Nu – This is now my favorite matte lipstick formula because it looks blurred out and matte without being too matte or drying out my lips. It’s exactly the kind of look I want when I’m not going for something glossy or shiny. It actually reminds me the Glossier Generation G formula but incredibly elevated and in way better colors. This color in particular is amazing for me (I think I watched Kackie put it on and immediately added it to my list for the next Sephora sale) – it’s my go to for “I don’t know what lip color I want to wear but I just need it to look good” because it goes with everything. If I didn’t do any kind of reviewing content and didn’t have a bigger collection to compare things, I could see myself keeping this as one of my only lipsticks and be entirely happy with it.
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm – Kackie is not a drugstore person, so when she said she really liked this, I knew I had to try it. It’s incredibly thick so it feels like it lasts for hours and hours, and it’s the one I reach for when my lips are feeling like they’re actually about to crack. I keep one of these in my jacket pocket, and I’m always so thankful to have it with me because it’s so nourishing and feels like it’s actually doing something. The only thing I don’t like about these is that it’s so thick it can be incredibly hard to get it to come out of the tube. You have to squeeze so hard I’m always afraid I’m going to break the packaging, but it’s worth it to me for how good this is and it being only $10. I know Kackie would recommend the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment over this one if she really to pick, but I’d personally go with this one. If you want to see swatches of this vs some other lip balms, check out my last post (but the clear swatches are…definitely just clear).
Hermes Shiny Lipstick in Prunoir – On the complete flip side of the Naturium lip balm is the most expensive lip product (or maybe most expensive non-palette product) I’ve ever bought for myself. Kackie got me with the Givenchy and YSL products mentioned above, and I thought “okay, those were entirely worth it, but I’m not spending $80 on a lipstick.” Cue me thinking about it and thinking about it to the point that I just couldn’t get it out of my head how perfect it would be for me, especially knowing how much Kackie loves this one and how well her other lip recommendations have worked out for me. And I absolutely love it. It’s truly the perfect lipstick when I’m doing a berry toned or mauvey toned or purple leaning look (honestly, I could be happy with this for my berry looks and Beige Nu for everything else). It’s also incredible as a way to balance out lipsticks that just need a bit of purple added to them when it feels like something is off. The formula is perfect – it’s shiny and hydrating without sliding all over the place, and it’s sheer without being patchy or not really showing up. The only thing is that it really has that luxury lip scent that’s quite strong, but I’ll put up with it for how perfect it is otherwise. Of course, the packaging is also stunning and feels like something you paid $80 for. This shade might be out of stock, but the formula is great if one of the other colors would work for you!
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’ve been planning on doing a “favorite lip products” specifically focused on helping with winter dryness, and then I realized I have all of these products sitting on my desk because they’re all so effective. So, I want to say up front that I love them all even if they’re all pretty different products. I think you can’t go wrong with any of these, and I hope it’s helpful to have choices for great hydrating lip treatments and balms in a variety of price points and tint options. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts! All links are affiliate links – thanks so much for supporting the blog if you shop through them!
This is all these products swatched in the same order as listed below – hopefully you can see how sheer almost all of them are and the slight differences in texture of the clear balms!
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Clear and Petal – I’m starting off with this one because for the price to efficacy ratio, this would absolutely be my pick. It’s incredibly thick so it feels like it lasts for hours and hours, and it’s the one I reach for when my lips are feeling like they’re actually about to crack. I keep one of these in my jacket pocket, and I’m always so thankful to have it with me because it’s so nourishing and feels like it’s actually doing something. The only thing I don’t like about these is that it’s so thick it can be incredibly hard to get it to come out of the tube. You have to squeeze so hard I’m always afraid I’m going to break the packaging, but it’s worth it to me for how good this is and it being only $10. The shade Petal is incredibly sheer – the good news is that means I can apply it without a mirror and never have to worry, but the bad news is it can’t stand in for a lipstick like some of the rest of these can. I’ve heard some of the darker shades are more pigmented, so if I get any of those, I will report back!
Make Beauty Serum Balm in Nude Nova – I continue to be so pleasantly surprised about how long lasting this is given how thin it feels. It has the same bonkers lasting power of the Naturium where it’s literally still on hours later hydrating my lips but without being nearly as thick (I’d say it’s about 20% as thick!). It’s not sticky at all because it’s so thin, and the packaging is lovely. This is definitely the most serum-y of the bunch (even including the Fitglow Night Serum mentioned later in this post), and I think would be great for someone who wants something really weightless. Nude Nova is also incredibly easy to wear – it’s a lightly pigmented (but less sheer than the Naturium) rosey brown that is so easy to throw on. I will say this isn’t nourishing enough for an overnight lip mask/treatment, but I love it during the day, whereas the rest of these I think I could definitely use as a nighttime treatment in a pinch.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment in Unscented and Jelly Bean – This feels exactly like the Naturium balm in terms of effect, but with about only 10% of the thickness. It doesn’t last quite as long because of that but, since the formula is by far the thinnest of the bunch, it feels even more weightless and is super easy to get out of its tube. The Jelly Bean shade is a super pretty pinky sparkly (but not gritty) color, but it’s very sheer. I think it’s looks really pretty alone, but shines over other lipsticks especially because of the texture and sheerness. It really glides over other products (or bare lips) in a way that the Naturium and even the Candy Glaze don’t quite do.
YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – The tinted version of this is by far the most pigmented of the bunch, so if you’re looking for something incredibly nourishing and hydrating that also works like a lipstick, this is the one for you. And if you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. This is much thicker than the Make Beauty or the Rhode but slightly less thick than the Naturium. It lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown (it’s basically a more pigmented version of Nude Nova) that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear.
Fitglow Beauty Lip Night Serum – This formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, which makes it perfect for super dry winter nights. 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. It’s quite expensive for a lip serum, but it’s totally worth it for me to not have consistently dried out, chapped, painful lips. I’ve gone through 3 or 4 of these, and I’ll definitely be sticking with it as my nighttime lip product of choice. I also have the lip serums in a ton of other shades (I might actually have at least 75% of what they offer, so let me know if you’d like swatches!) but I think this product really shines in the night serum version.
What were your favorites this 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 BloomEffects, a really great skincare brand that focused on tulips . Hopefully this will be a really great walk through of a good amount of what the brands offers – let me know if you want me to try anything else! I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them, and I’ve gotten a ton of wear time out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts! All links are affiliate links – thanks so much for supporting the blog if you shop through them!
Tulip Dew Vitamins & Mineral Sunscreen Serum SPF 50 – This was my gateway product into this brand, and I’m so glad I tried it. It’s a mineral sunscreen (I can’t wear chemical sunscreens, so I’m always on the hunt for a great mineral sunscreen) that’s slightly tinted and is a serum/oil texture that’s very similar to the Glossier Future Dew. It’s one of my favorite sunscreens because it’s incredibly moisturizing, the slight tint makes my skin look amazing, and it works well alone or under makeup. It’s also really effective (based on wearing it in the summer in NYC with no issues). That said, this is definitely not something I’d recommend for oily skin folks or if you don’t want something that makes your skin incredibly hydrated and dewy. I’ve loved it way more in the winter because my skin is so much drier, but I’ll for sure be switching back to some of my other sunscreens in the summer.
Royal Tulip Moisturizing Nectar – As much as I love all these products, this one is hands down my favorite. If I could only choose one to recommend, it would be this one, because it’s so unique. It is the most tenacious slugging product I’ve ever used – seriously, it will absolutely still be on your face the next morning, and you will notice it if you don’t wash it off. If I need extreme moisturization or know it will be particularly dry overnight, this is my go to last step. It starts out the texture of thick honey and turns into more of a serum texture as it warms up on your skin (and so doesn’t stay sticky). My skin feels so much softer and hydrated in the morning! I didn’t use it last night, and I’m feeling how much drier and tighter my skin feels this morning given its winter here, and it definitely made a huge difference that I used something else.
Royal Tulip Vitamin C Facial Oil – I’ve been looking for a new vitamin C product to replace the Skinceuticals one (which I love but it’s just so expensive). I really like this in terms of effectiveness, but wow it is truly for dry skin days. It’s obviously an oil, but it’s also an incredibly hydrating one that sticks around, so I only use it when my skin is feeling particularly dry and will soak it up. Otherwise, it makes my makeup feel like it’s going on a base that’s way too slippy. I switch between this and the Naturium Vitamin C Serum, and I’m really glad I have both. If you’re looking for an effective Vitamin C that’s incredibly hydrating, this one is fantastic, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with normal to oily skin unless you were planning on using it at night.
Tulip Dew Drops – This reminds me of both the Make Beauty Reverse Emulsion and the PSA The Most serums – they all can be used as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other products, mixed with foundations, etc. and leave a dewy but not wet or sticky finish that makes everything look better. All of them are like a super sophisticated version of the Glossier Future Dew in that they just feel super luxurious while leaving your skin looking and feeling way more hydrated than it did before. If you have any of the others, you don’t need this, but if you’re looking for a dewy finish serum that makes your skin feel great, and you don’t have one yet, this is a great one.
Royal Tulip Cleansing Jelly – The thing I like most about this is that it comes in a tube, which makes it so much more pleasant to use than having to open up a cleansing balm jar and dig product out of it. The texture of this is so nice, and it definitely works well as a first cleanse. It will definitely be my choice for travel because of the packaging and how soothing it is. That said, I still like the Farmacy Green Clean the most out of all the first cleanse products I’ve tried. It’s just so effective and so satisfying to use, and all the limited edition scents from last year that I’m still working my way through are amazing.
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 with another BK Beauty brush review – this time the newish Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Set! I wanted enough time to test out the set (though I have some of the full sizes of these already) as usual so you can get a more thorough review. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe for new posts – I have lots of product reviews coming up, like the Kackie x Finding Ferdinand blushes, the Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes Palette, Urban Decay Space Rider Palette, the Givenchy Prisme Libre Powder, the Gucci Bronzer, and so much more that I’ve ended up with over 2023 and didn’t review yet. In this post, all links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own, and I bought these myself.
The Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Pouch – I am so excited to have this for travel because I never know what to do with my brushes once I get to where I’m staying and tend either use a kitchen cup or just have them all in a bag. But because this bag stands up by itself, you can use it as a cup to hold all your brushes and has plenty of room for eyeliners, mascara, lip liners, eyebrow pencils, and anything else that stands up. There’s also a ton of slots for brushes and makeup (way more than for the 5 brushes the set comes with).
Travel 101 Contoured Foundation – This brush is the perfect shape for so many things – foundation, bronzer, blush, highlighter. Because of the angle and the shape, it works so quickly for anything I’m doing. Even though it’s quite large, I still find I can be precise with it with the added bonus of blending super quickly. This is my favorite brush for cream bronzer and blush in particular, and I find myself using it over any other brush I have so much that I’m super excited to have this travel sized version in addition to my full sized one. I also will use the top edge for cream highlighter in a pinch. The density is perfect and doesn’t “eat up” too much product. It’s one of the first brushes I would rebuy now if I lost my collection, and that’s saying so much since I have such a large collection of brushes.
Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A501 Lid Shader – The is one of the two brushes I don’t have the full size of (the other is the angled brush), and since the full size is only $16, I wish I had gotten it earlier. As a one and done eyeshadow look lover, this brush has been perfect for packing on and blending one shadow all over the lid. It works great with both mattes and shimmers, and I can totally see why they included this in the travel set. It’s definitely the brush I would choose if I could only choose one because it’s so easy to make a one shadow look with. But if I was going to add one more eyeshadow brush, it would be the next one.
Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A502 Crease Shader– The full size version of this is one of my favorite crease brushes I love how this is so small and so fluffy at the same time! I honestly can’t count the number of crease brushes I have at this point, but this one is still special. It’s perfect for actually defining the crease (vs moving shadow around). Because it’s small, I can use it for the outer corner, inner corner, under my eyes – basically anywhere I want to place and blend shadow. It’s so soft so it doesn’t scratch, and it’s just a joy to use.
Travel Angie Hot & Flashy A506 Concealer – This is hands down my favorite concealer brush of all time, and I’m so glad I have a mini version of it now. It’s designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip, and I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage. This makes it especially great for concealer under my eyes where I really want to keep the coverage but want a super seamless blend. Because of the shape, it’s also really easy to get into harder to reach spots or smaller areas so it also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it.
Travel Angie Hot & Flashy 507 Angled Blush – I have a bunch of angled brushes that I never use (I’ve reviewed a few on here before even), and this is the first one I actually have enjoyed using. I wish I had bought the full size before if I’m honest, because it’s one of my most used powder blush and bronzer brushes since I’ve gotten it. The shape and density of the bristles is just right, and I think it’s because of the doming they added (according to the website). If you’ve never gotten angled brushes to work for you, I recommend this one!
What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
As part of getting to know my collection, I want to spend more time reviewing all the products I have. Next up is everything I own from Make Beauty, which turns out to be 8 products. Hopefully this will be a really great walk through of a good amount of what the brands offers – let me know if you want me to try anything else! I wanted to thoroughly test these products to provide a more detailed review of them, and I’ve gotten a ton of wear time out of them so if you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please ask in the comments. As always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts! All links are affiliate links – thanks so much for supporting the blog if you shop through them!
Makeup:
Lipstick in Equilibrium and Serum Balm in Nude Nova
Cream Supreme Lipstick in Equilibrium – This has been my go to lipstick ever since I got it. The formula is creamy and non-drying while still being much longer lasting than I expected. It’s a touch glossy, but not overly so, and it just looks so nice. Any time I need a “looks like I tried and will last” lipstick, I choose this one. I also love the color – Equilibrium is the perfect rosey nude that goes with any look I put together. I absolutely love the packaging and how easy the shape makes to get a precise application. I don’t need a lip liner with this, and it’s pigmented enough that I only need to swipe once. It’s also refillable so when I run out, I’ll only have to buy the refill!
Serum Balm in Nude Nova – I was thinking the other day about how I have so many great glosses, liquid lip balms, regular balms, and how it would take a lot for one of them to stand out. And this one does! Even just yesterday, I was so pleasantly surprised about how long lasting it was. It was literally still on hours later hydrating my lips. This is one of the best smoothing, hydrating, moisturizing, etc. lip balms I’ve ever tried, and it just looks and feels so great. It’s not sticky at all, and like everything else in this review, the packaging is lovely. Nude Nova is also incredibly easy to wear – it’s a lightly pigmented rosey brown that is so easy to throw on. This isn’t nourishing enough for an overnight lip mask/treatment, but I love it during the day.
Concealer in 01 Fair N
Skin Mimetic Concealer in 01 Fair N – This is pretty light coverage, which you should definitely keep in mind if you want to look into this concealer. I also think that the shade I got is too light for me, but it’s sheer enough that I can make it work. It feels super nice and hydrating, and this is something I use when I’m having a particularly dry skin day and nothing seems to lay nicely on my skin. I like it better as an all over skin tint than under my eyes (because I just need higher coverage there), and it works great for that when I want a no makeup makeup look. If I had to rank all the makeup products, I think I would put this one last, but only because everything else is so perfect, and I happen to be a medium-high coverage concealer person.
Bronzer in Lunar and Pressed Powder in Fair
Skin Mimetic Microsuede Bronzer in Lunar – I love this bronzer, and I’m not a powder bronzer person. It isn’t patchy, it applies so well over cream products, and it manages to keep a satin finish even with great staying power. The color is also so dialed in for my olive undertones. There’s 6 shades, and I think they did a great job with the undertones across the range (but let me know if you agree!). Like the pressed powder, I love the packaging and how luxe it feels (and that it’s a different color than the pressed powder which is so helpful since theyr’e the same size). Plus, this is also refillable, and the pans fits in either the powder or bronzer compact!
Diffusion Set Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair – This is my go to “I really need a powder that actually is a powder” vs all my other powders that just do the lightest touch of mattifying (like the Kosas Cloud set, which I also love, but it’s more a finishing powder compared to this one). Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a tiny bit of coverage (which is why it’s great it comes in different shades), which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable!
Skincare:
Moisturizing Reverse Emulsion – This is my favorite moisturizer (and if you’ve been to this blog before, you know I’ve tried so, so many moisturizers as I have incredibly dry skin). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations – it works so well no matter what I do with it. It leaves a dewy but not wet or sticky finish and makes everything look better. It’s like a super sophisticated version of the Glossier Future Dew and will definitely be my replacement for that (which has been my favorite primer for yeas) when I run out of all my Future Dew back ups. It just feels so nice and is actually hydrating. If I could only pick one skincare product from Make that I got to keep, it would absolutely be this one.
Succulent Skin Gel Cream – I love using this as my first moisturizer in the morning right after I wash my face. It’s incredibly light weight and sinks in really quickly. You can never use too much, and it never feels sticky. It’s my go to for a really hot day where I need hydration but don’t want to feel anything on my skin. That said, this isn’t enough for me to use at night with my dry skin so between the two, the Reverse Emulsion is definitely my pick. I bet the Gel Cream would be a better fit for someone with oily skin because it’s so effective while being incredibly light weight.
Micro Ferment Rice Essence – I’m not a big essence person, so I don’t have a ton to compare this to, but I do really like it! Like the gel cream, this is incredibly light weight and sinks in super fast. It works really well layered on top of itself or under moisturizers to make them work even better. It’s the only product like this I’ve actually managed to user often, and I do find it makes a difference vs when I forget to use it. The packaging, like everything else, is super nice, and the bottle is huge – I don’t think I’m going to run out of this any time soon.
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.
Makeup and Skincare Reviews 