Tag: affordable makeup

2025 Product Fails And What I’d Buy Instead

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2025 Product Fails And What I’d Buy Instead

I was going to do a full “worst products of 2025” post, but honestly I didn’t have enough fails to do one. It was an amazing makeup year, and I’ve had way more great products than bad ones. That said, I’ve been collecting the products that really didn’t work for me in a bin all year, and these are the five that really stood out as not working for me (and what I’d recommend instead). In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Instead of the Sephora Collection Color Shifter Strange Botanicals Palette, Try the Half Magic Eyeshadow Singles – This palette is such a cool concept. I bought it on sale because it was really inexpensive, and I thought it would be a fun way to try Sephora Collection palettes. But all of the mattes are patchy, hard to blend, and super uneven. The shimmer shade is fine, but pretty flat. It’s the kind of palette that makes you feel like you’re really bad at doing your makeup, and then you remember you own other shadows that basically apply themselves (like my beloved Byredo Bibilophilia palette).

Sephora Collection Strange Botanicals, Half Magic Blushing Lizard, Wet Pebble, and Sparkle Puff

The one topper shifter shade in the palette is actually really pretty (it’s the fifth shade in). It’s smooth, shifty, and performs well. But I think it’s better to just find your perfect shifty topper and buy that because you probably already own a bunch of mattes you love that perform way better. Specifically, I would recommend the Half Magic single shadows, especially since they have way more shades to choose from. I have Blushing Lizard, Wet Pebble, and Sparkle Puff. Look how much prettier and sparklier and smooth they are than the Sephora Collection Shades. I’d rather buy one amazing topper that can also be a gorgeous single shadow than buy a whole palette where I only reach for one pan.

Instead of the Make Beauty Heat Stroke Blush, Try the the Make Beauty Cream Stroke Blush – I wanted to love the dewy Make Beauty Heat Stroke Blush stick especially since I have dry skin. The formula ended up being more work than I want to do with a blush stick. The formula can get patchy and a little sticky, and even though the finish is nicely dewy, I don’t love how it sits on my skin. It also was really hard for me to find a shade that I thought would work well with my olive undertones, and even with Swelter being the best option I could find, it still doesn’t feel quite right on me.

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Heat Stroke Blush in Swelter, Cream Stroke Blush in Major Mauve and Hypernude

The Cream Stroke Blush sticks, though, I’m so happy with. I have Major Mauve and Hypernude, and I love this formula so much more. It’s easy to swipe on, easy to blend, and the finish is blurring without being too matte. It’s not sticky at all and lasts much longer than the Heat Stroke blush. The shades also actually look great with my olive undertones. Major Mauve is a terracotta leaning mauve (they describe it as an “Earthy Mauve”) that works perfectly with my olive undertones. Hypernude is peachy beige that definitely leans orange/warm on me but is perfect for when I want to do a warm look on purpose because it doesn’t go all the way to Cheeto orange like a lot of blushes do. I’m so glad they came out with this new blush stick formula, and I’m planning on grabbing Chroma for the summer. If you’re looking for something dewier that has a great formula, I’d recommend the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush.

Instead of the Ulta Beauty Collection Pressed Finishing Powder, Try the Canmake Abloom Face Powder – I was really excited about this one because I am always hunting for great affordable powders, and powders are my most read category on here. On my skin, the Ulta Beauty Collection finishing powder looked textured and drying without actually doing anything blurring, smoothing, or setting. It also feels a little too pigmented to work as a soft-focus finishing powder. If you’re looking for an Hourglass or Givenchy style powder, this is not the one. If you want to something similarly affordable that is actually a great finishing powder, I’ve been loving the Canmake Abloom Face Powder in shade 3. I’ve been using it just as much as my favorite luxury pressed powder from Givenchy, and it’s been working the exact same. Related, I’ll be doing a bunch of KBeauty reviews soon – let me know if there’s any products or brands you’re interested in reading about!

Ulta Beauty Collection Pressed Finishing Powder and the Canmake Abloom Face Powder

Instead of the e.l.f. Black Cherry Sheer Slick Lipstick, Try the Finding Ferdinand Delicious Balms – This one is supposedly a dupe for Clinique Black Honey, and I have worn variations of this shade family for years. Now that I understand my undertones and color theory better, I can see why it has always felt slightly off on me. I also know that it turns weirdly orange on some of you, and generally just isn’t a universal shade. Beyond the shade, I really do not like this formula. It feels a little drying, it does not apply as smoothly as I want a “sheer easy balm lipstick” to apply, it can look patchy, and it’s just not comfortable. And honestly, I didn’t love the original Clinique Black Honey formula either for the same reasons.

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e.l.f. Black Cherry, Finding Ferdinand the Black Balm and Lucky Cat

The Finding Ferdinand Delicious Balms are absolutely what I’d recommend instead (and you can use my affiliate code liftbakelove10 for a discount.)I showed the Black Balm and Lucky Cat in the swatches, but there are more shades if you’re looking for something warmer, cooler, more berry, more lavender, etc. The formula is so much better. They go on smoothly, feel comfortable, actually nourish the lips, and they smell amazing. The shades feel more dialed-in and nuanced than all the Black Honey dupes, and it’s much easier to find something that works for your undertones. I also like mixing the Black Balm and Lucky Cat to get a deeper black cherry tone that works for me.

Instead of the Ulta Beauty Collection 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palettes, Try the Colourpop 9-Pan Palettes – Ulta’s small 5-pan palettes are absolutely fine for an affordable eyeshadow palette. There’s nothing terribly wrong with the one I have, but it’s also just not amazing. And since they’re $14, and ColourPop’s 9-pan palettes are also $14, I would go with a ColourPop 9 pan every time. Not only because the formula is better, but you also get more shades. The eyeshadows are easier to use, have more consistent pigmentation, and overall just more fun to work with. Hopefully you can see how the mattes in the ColourPop shades are smoother and more pigmented and the shimmers are sparklier. Both brands go on sale often, but even at full price, I would choose ColourPop every time for the formula. If you’re willing to spend a little more for a mini palette that feels truly high quality, I love the Natasha Denona minis. I absolutely love the Mini Retro and Mini Glam palettes, and I would happily spend the extra $10 for any of those.

ColourPop Going Coconuts on the top (plus the four on the right) and Ulta Beauty on the bottom of the first five

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Testing Versed Makeup: Skin Tint, Bronzer, Blush, and Lip Serum Review

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Testing Versed Makeup: Skin Tint, Bronzer, Blush, and Lip Serum Review

I’ve been slowly working my way through some Versed products and wanted to share my thoughts now that I’ve tested them over multiple weeks. I really appreciate how accessible the brand is, both in price point and availability, even though these products didn’t fully work for me. Let me know if you’d like me to review any more brands like this or have other requests! As always, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Skin Solution Multi-Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 in shade 2N and 4W – The application is super quick and easy since the formula spreads evenly and the shade 4W is one of the best matches I’ve found in a mineral sunscreen-based tint in awhile. 2N was way too light for me, so if you’re a similar shade, I would keep that in mind. In thin layers, this gave me a really natural, lightweight finish that reminds me of the Armani Skin Tint. It’s just enough to even out my skin tone without looking like makeup. The main issue is that if I apply even a little too much, it quickly looks both oddly wet and simultaneously cakey and dry in certain spots. The Armani Skin Tint (and others I’m testing) never have this issue. It can also feel a bit drying with a heavier application. That said, when I keep it sheer, it wears impressively well throughout the day. After several full-day tests, I was honestly surprised by how fresh it still looked in the evening, as long as I hadn’t over-applied. Given how finicky this is, it’s not my first choice, but it’s definitely worth trying if you’re looking for an SPF skin tint that you can throw on in the morning in a light layer. Something like the Ciele tint (which I really love) is more than twice the price, and the Versed comes in a solid number of shades.

Warm Dimension Bronzer Stick in August – The shade I tried is very wearable for my olive undertones. I appreciate that it’s warm without leaning too orange. The formula has a decent color payoff, but I needed to build it up quite a bit to get the level of pigment I wanted. It also sets more quickly than the About Face bronzer stick I’ve been reaching for lately, which means I have to blend pretty quickly or it can start to look patchy. Once I take the time to blend it in, the finish is seamless and looks really nice. It’s not my favorite bronzer formula overall, but I think it’s a solid option if you like a cream stick that sets down and doesn’t stay overly dewy. The About Face stick is only $4 more so I’d recommend that one personally. A side note – the bronzer fell out of the tube, and I had to smush it back in which is why the container looks so messy.

Bronzer in August, Blush in Deco and Cozy, Lip Serum in Bake

Shade Swipe Blush Stick in Cozy and Deco – The blush formula glides on easily and blends out without much effort, but I do notice some patchiness depending on the base I’m wearing underneath. It can be built up or sheered out, but I find they take a little extra blending if you build them up too much. Cozy is a nice, classic winter-berry tone I normally love as we head into the fall months. That said, I actually ended up preferring the shade Deco, which is a bright pink. Even though I usually gravitate toward berry shades, Deco ends up being more flattering on me and looks a bit fresher once applied. Similar to the bronzer, this is just a little more work than I want vs some of my other favorite cream blushes, but out of the complexion products, these are definitely my favorites and what I’ve used the most. The Merit blushes are double the price, but I much prefer that formula.

Soft Gloss Tinted Lip Serum in Bake – This was the standout of everything I tried. It feels like a hybrid between a lip gloss and a balm in stick form so it’s super moisturizing with a glossy, slightly sheer finish. The shade Baked is a really flattering neutral that works for everyday wear. It looks a bit warm in the swatch but it’s sheer enough that it works really well mixed with my natural lip color. I love that I can swipe it on without a mirror, and it still looks great. It does have a light minty tingle, which I don’t mind, and I think it adds a nice freshness. The closest comparison I can make is the Hourglass Glossy Balm, but this is much more affordable while still delivering a similar feel and look.

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, 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.

New Products I’m Loving

by liftbakelove7 Comments on New Products I’m Loving

There’s some new products that I’ve recently gotten that I really wanted to share because I love them so much! It isn’t quite time for March favorites, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable including these yet as I aim to test things for at least a few weeks if not months because I deem them a favorite, so I wanted to make a separate post. You likely won’t see these again until April when I’ve had more time to thoroughly test them, but I hope these quick hits of new products is still helpful.

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 – My favorite sunscreen of all time, Krave Beauty’s The Beet Shield, is still sold out, and I’m almost out of my current sunscreen. I decided to give this a try since it’s a favorite of so many people with dry skin. They weren’t wrong – it’s both moisturizing and lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast despite being an all mineral sunscreen. I’m so excited to have a higher SPF product now that it’s finally getting nice outside. I’m even more excited to have one that doesn’t dry out my skin or have a tint that leaves my face looking a strange color like a lot of mineral sunscreens tend to do.

PSA Skin The Most – I recently wrote about how I stopped buying hyaluronic acid serums because they tend to either not do anything or are actively destructive for my skin. So when Allies of Skin sent this to me (PSA is their sister brand), I expected to hate it or at least feel indifferent about it. I was so wrong! This really made a huge difference for my skin in a way I never expected. I’ve used it with slightly damp skin right after showering with a tiny amount of moisturizer on top and been able to wait hours before using anything else. This is actually game changer for me – usually I need to really think about when I shower at night because I need to do my whole skincare routine after to avoid my skin getting dry and dehydrated. Then, I worry about what to do after taking a walk, doing yoga, or eating dinner if I’ve already done my routine – do I start all over or hope it’s fine? With this product, I can shower whenever and do the rest of my skincare routine whenever I want! And of course, even though I was gifted this, all opinions are 100% my own, and I am absolutely buying this with my own money whenever I run out.

Dew Wet Balm (left) and Finding Ferdinand Lipstick (right)

Danessa Myricks Dew Wet Balm in Rosewater – I’ve been obsessed with the idea of owning the Super Loaded Tinted Cream Highlighter from Westman Atelier for however long it has existed. But every time I thought about getting it, I just couldn’t do it – it’s $75 and apparently full of glitter which just isn’t for me. Then, I discovered the Dew Wet Balm in Rosewater for $22 and decided that this could be the perfect thing to get instead. And I was right! It’s the perfect texture that’s balmy without being sticky. It picks up from the pan so easily, blends out fast, and dries down to a gorgeous sheen that doesn’t budge. It also imparts a beautiful touch of rosiness to add to any blush I’m already using. It’s not full of glitter, it’s not $75, and I’m so happy I found it.

Finding Ferdinand Custom Lipstick – I’ve been having so much fun playing around with the custom lipstick maker on this site – you can literally make any color that has a hex code for only $30 (for comparison, Bite Lip Lab charges $60 per lipstick though you do get to meet with a consultant in-person or on Zoom). And the one that I ended up getting is a beautiful color that matches so well with my favorite lip liner in the shade Kackie. It also adds some springy brightness and sheen to any of my other lipsticks without needing to go straight to a gloss, which I’m so pleased with. This is also possibly my favorite lipstick formula – it’s somehow sheer, impactful, moisturizing, and long-lasting all at the same time. And the packaging feels so luxurious! If I am ever able to pan a few lipsticks, I know exactly where I’m going to get some new ones.

Shop Miss A Super Soft Wonder Blender – I cannot believe I was spending $20 regularly on Beauty Blenders when these were an option. They get so big once you’ve wet them, and they have an amazingly soft texture. And they are still firm enough to avoid soaking up a ton of makeup and blend products seamlessly. I have tried many Beauty Blender dupes and makeup sponges, but none of them have as great as this one. At $1.55 per sponge, I am never going back!

I do everything I can on this blog to give thorough reviews of products that I’ve tested for at least a month or two (if not years), but I couldn’t keep these five to myself! Do you want to see more early impressions of products or should I stick to reviews of products I’ve had longer to try? Let me know!