beauty – Page 5 – Makeup and Skincare Reviews

Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin: My 5 Top Picks from Make Beauty, Rephr, Farmacy, Prequel, and Bloomeffects

I’m now 36 weeks into pregnancy and couldn’t be more excited, but my skin even drier and itchier than when I posted at 30 weeks. I have a bunch of friends who are going through super dry skin issues (pregnant or otherwise) so I wanted to put together this list of what’s been working really well for me for my face. As far as I know, these are all pregnancy-safe as well! 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!

Make Beauty Moisturizing Reverse Emulsion – This is still my favorite hydrating serum (and if you’ve been to this blog before, you know I’ve tried so, so many serums and moisturizers as I have incredibly dry skin). I’ve used this as a moisturizer and primer, mixed with other primers, mixed with foundations, after a shower, during my nighttime routine – 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 if I’m using it before makeup. It just feels so nice and is actually hydrating. I also have a bottle of this in the fridge, and it feels so great to throw on when I’m overheated and my skin is getting super dry and itchy.

Rephr Light Hydration Cream – I was grabbing a bunch of Rephr brushes to try out and review (coming soon!), and this moisturizer was added as a free gift. I didn’t know anything about it, but I figured I’d try it out because the ingredients looked great. I’m now obsessed with this moisturizer – I already bought another tube and bought the intense version to try. It’s so hydrating while being incredibly lightweight so I can use it any time of day. It really calms down my skin when it’s feeling particularly irritated (thank you pregnancy skin issues!). When I’m feeling extremely tired and want just one thing to use, I’ll almost always grab this especially because I can just squeeze it out of the tube and don’t have to fuss with a jar (I know that sounds silly, but it makes a difference to me). At the time of writing this, it’s on sale for $9 but even at the usual $28 price point, I would happily repurchase this over and over again.

Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer – This is the one of the best moisturizers 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. I find that I need so little of this that it lasts me way longer than I expect, which is good because it’s one of the moisturizers I don’t want to be without in my routine. The only thing I don’t love about this is that it’s hard to get the last bits out of the jar, but I will definitely put up with that for how well this works for my skin.

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).

Royal Tulip Moisturizing Nectar – As much as I love all these products, this one is hands down my favorite (although I do really love having both this and the Prequel Ointment to switch between). This 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!

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.

5 Makeup Essentials for Busy Mornings That I Forgot I Loved

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I took a look at the products I’ve been reaching for again that I just haven’t in a while, and these 5 really stood out to me! They are so easy to use, especially now that I’m 36 weeks pregnant and don’t have very much energy to do much of anything. I’m also so excited to have these front and center for quick makeup looks moving forward! 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!

Bionic Liquid Bronzer in Time Travel – I totally forgot how much I love this bronzer. It builds up beautifully because it’s a bit sheer, which also means that I don’t have to worry about putting on too much right away when I’m half asleep getting ready in the morning. It looks so natural on me even if I accidentally build it up too much too. 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 and am so glad I decided to revisit this one.

Make Beauty Diffusion Set Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair – I’ve been using so many lightweight powders that I forgot how good this was for when I really need a powder that actually is a powder. 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 the most coverage of all the powders on this list, which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover vs just trying to mattify or set makeup all over my face. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable, and I can pop out the pan if I want to put it in a travel makeup palette. I’ve actually been using it so much lately I’ve hit pan! I took a swatch photo of this but it blends so seamlessly that you can’t see anything – you’ll just have to trust me.

About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Capulets – I’ve been using the Merit Solo Shadows so much as one and dones or as a base that I totally forgot I had this About Face liquid eyeshadow. I decided to try it again, and I’m so happy I did. It’s so easy and fast to throw on and blend out with a finger or a brush. It dries fast enough that I can easily put other things on top of it but not too fast that it gets stuck where I don’t want it. Capulets is a perfect light brown that doesn’t go orange on me (as someone with an olive undertone, that tends to happen a ton with browns). It also has great lasting power so I love to throw this on when I only have 2 seconds and then can add other things on top of it later in the day, and it’ll still look just as good.

About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Capulets and Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy

Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I’m back on the Space Cowboy train! I have been trying so many eyeshadows and palettes lately and really trying to rotate through my collection, but this is really the best eyeshadow for me. It’s perfect to top off the About Face liquid eyeshadow for a super quick look (how I’ve been doing my eyeshadow the past few days). It also works on top of just about anything else or alone, and I’m a little sad I’ve pulled it back out because I’m not really using anything else now. It’s just so easy and pretty as well as being incredibly reflective and glossy. It doesn’t have any fallout and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue).

Queen Musia Lipstick in Becky Sharp (*PR) – The formula is extremely lightweight and super comfortable for a matte lipstick. I will say it’s not quite as matte as some of my favorite matte lipsticks, but I’m so glad I have it for when my lips aren’t feeling up for a true matte (which is currently all the time). I’d call this a creamy matte, and I actually wish that more matte lipsticks leaned in this direction. This color is one of the best “my lips but better” shades I’ve found in awhile especially as someone with olive undertones. This color goes with everything and just looks so natural on me. I’m so glad I pulled it back out especially now that I’m in my third trimester and am way too tired to think about what lipstick will look good on me.

What are your tried and true easy to throw on makeup products? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!

Best Body Moisturizers for Dry Skin During Pregnancy

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

I’m already 30 weeks into pregnancy and couldn’t be more excited, but my skin is drier and itchier than ever. I have a bunch of friends who are going through super dry skin issues (pregnant or otherwise) so I wanted to put together this list of what’s been working really well for me. As far as I know, these are all pregnancy-safe as well! 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!

My go to body lotions and oils:

Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter and Saltair Body Lotion in Exotic Pulp– I’m pairing these (and the next two) together because they are almost interchangeable. I’m so glad I have both, but one of them is definitely the luxury version and the other is the budget version. The Osea body butter is the most luxurious, thick, and effective body butter I’ve ever tried. It’s next level moisturizing, and if I could, I’d use it everywhere every day. The Saltair Body Lotion is slightly less moisturizing despite being a fantastic body lotion. I can definitely notice a difference between the body butter texture and lotion texture. That said, both sink in really quickly, apply easily, and provide lasting dry skin relief. They also both have an amazing citrus scent that I love and that makes me want to use them. My husband and I both agree that the Saltair scent is definitely better, and I absolutely love that it comes in a huge pump bottle. The Osea is about $8 per ounce and the Saltair is about $1 per ounce, so when I run out of the Osea, I think I’ll be relying on the Saltair for my citrus scented body lotion needs.

Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil and Saltair Nourishing Body Oil in Exotic Pulp – These two are even more similar than the lotions. If I didn’t love the Saltair scent so much, I don’t think I’d be able to notice a difference if I used these with my eyes closed. These are both incredibly nourishing body oils that absorb easily and make my skin feel amazing. I’ve noticed a huge difference since using the lotion and oil combo on my skin. If I just use the lotions, I have to apply a few times a day, but when I use the oils on top, I can get away with a once a day body moisturizing session. And with my incredibly dry skin now, that’s a huge deal. The Osea is about $10 per ounce and the Saltair is about $5 an ounce. The packaging is equally lovely between the two, although the Saltair is better for travel. If you want to treat yourself, the Osea oil is fantastic, but I’m truly so happy with the Saltair.

What I’ve added to my shower routine so I don’t walk out of the shower with super dry and itchy skin:

Saltair Body Wash in Exotic Pulp – My skin has felt so much better post-shower since I started using this body wash. It smells exactly the same as the lotion and oil which is amazing, but what I love most about this body wash is its gentle and hydrating formula. It lathers up beautifully and leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and refreshed, without any dryness or irritation. I noticed an improvement in the overall texture and hydration of my skin after just a few uses which is really impressive considering how dry and itchy my skin has gotten. I also love the packaging with the pump – it’s so easy to use in the shower. Of course, it’s also affordable at $15 for a huge bottle.

Frida Mom In Shower Lotion – Obviously this was made exactly for my use case, but it really does do exactly what I need. I don’t have to apply lotion right after I shower with the body wash and this, which is awesome because I really need a nap now after I shower. You apply this directly on wet skin, rinse, and then you’re good to go. It doesn’t have a strong fragrance so it doesn’t counteract the Saltair, and the packaging is really easy to use. This isn’t very expensive, and I would pay a lot more for it because of how effective it is. I honestly think I’ll continue to use this even after pregnancy so I don’t have to think about putting on lotion right after the shower (which I never do anyway even if I really should).

When I want something fragrance free and need a break from the Osea and Saltair products (I love the scents but they are quite strong), this is the quick but effective routine I use instead:

Good Molecules B5 Hydrating Body Serum – I love how incredibly lightweight and fast absorbing this is. Of all the products on this list, this is the one I notice the least. If I need an extra boost of hydration before the other lotions or oils, this is now my go to. Not only is it really affordable, it really does help with hydration and helping with how dry and itchy my skin is right now. It’s not greasy or sticky, and I love that it comes in a pump. I didn’t notice any fragrance or have any issues with this. It does look like a bunch of people had a reaction to this product when I reach the reviews, so if you’re going to get this, I recommend patch testing first just in case.

Prequel Barrier Therapy – This is a huge bottle (10oz) for only $18, and you can use it on both your face and body (which I do). This is one of my favorite moisturizers to use literally all over. It makes my skin feel so great, helps with itchiness, doesn’t irritate my skin at all, and is just super soothing. When I’m having a particularly bad skin day, this is always what I reach for. I surprisingly haven’t had an eczema flare ups since using this, which has been really surprising given how wonky my skin has been otherwise. If I had to pick one thing from this list to recommend to anyone, it would be the Barrier Therapy. This product does sell out quite often but I find it comes back quickly – just make sure you sign up for the waitlist!

What’s your best dry skin products for particularly dry and irritated skin? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!

5 Best Makeup Products of the Year So Far: Favorites & Reviews

Featuredby liftbakelove2 Comments

Now that we’re half way through the year, I wanted to share the five products I tried this year and fell in love with (although I have a bunch more to talk about so I might do another round of this!). 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 for new posts. If you choose to shop through my links, some may be affiliate links that support the blog – thank you!

Exa Jump Start Smoothing Primer – I’ve been really struggling with my makeup completely breaking apart by the end of the day no matter what I use or how I prep my skin. I have super dry skin so haven’t typically thought to use a mattifying or pore-filling primer, but I figured it was worth a shot because the one is described as a semi-matte full of skincare ingredients. I am so happy to report back that not only does this not dry out the skin, it blurs, smooths, and locks down makeup exactly how I wanted. I’ve also tried this mixed with Glossier Future Dew on especially dry skin days, and that works better than I expected. I can see this becoming a staple I repurchase again and again.

Prada Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – I somehow ended up with 11 foundations in my collection at the moment, and I honestly love all of them (let me know if you want a review of all 11!). But if I had to choose just one to keep and use every day, it would absolutely be this one. I know it’s super expensive, but if you’re not going to travel with it or care about it having a lid, you could totally get away with buying just the refill. During the upcoming Sephora sale, depending on your discount, it’ll end up being around the same price as other foundations from brands like Nars, Estee Lauder, Haus Labs, Ilia, Makeup by Mario, etc., and it’s so much better than anything else I’ve tried. It doesn’t matter what I do with the rest of my face, this looks great all day. It’s somehow blurring and skin-perfecting without being too high coverage or drying. It’s described as a skincare foundation that refines the skin in three dimensions including tone, luminosity, and texture to reveal soft-filtered skin in real life, and that’s honestly exactly what it is. It’s basically magic in a bottle, and I don’t understand the wizardry of this foundation. I’m just so glad I picked it up and tried it!

Merit Beauty Solo Shadow in Studio and Mid-Century and Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Self Made

Merit Beauty Solo Shadow in Studio and Mid-Century – I needed a new one and done matte shadow after my Mac Paint Pots finally expired, and these seemed like the ones to try. I’m so glad I picked these up. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because of the way these set down. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. It also works great as a base for shimmer toppers or powder shadows. I’ve applied it with fingers and brushes, and it works great either way. I know this formula has a lot of hype around it, but it’s absolutely as good as people are saying it is. Studio is a cool taupe and Mid-Century is a warm brown, so between the two I have options for cool and warm toned looks. It’s also now one of my favorite shadows to bring when I’m travelling because the shades I have go with everything, and it’s just so quick and easy to throw on.

Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Self Made – This is a beautiful matte powder blush formula in such a good shade for me. I’m shocked it’s as inexpensive as it is (especially if you grab it when Sephora Collection is 30% off). This is the blush I’ve been going to when I just need something to throw on without thinking or having to worry about how it’ll look. This is on par with the Pat McGrath blush formula for me, which is really high praise given how much I love that blush. Self-Made is described as a muted light pink, and it’s a perfect pinky beigey goes with everything kind of shade. I also love this for travel because it’s so thin and easy to sneak into my makeup bag. I actually might buy more shades during the upcoming Sephora sale.

ELF Glow Reviver Lip Oil in Jam Session and Honey Talks

ELF Glow Reviver Lip Oil – If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I tend to lean towards high end products, especially for lip products (I still am loving my Hermes and Givenchy lipsticks). That’s why I was so surprised to love these as much as I do – I honestly would love to have them in every shade. They’re just pigmented enough and sheer enough to use in a variety of ways, whether that’s alone, on top of a lip liner, or on top of another lip product. The formula is surprisingly hydrating for a lip oil and is now one of my go-tos when my lips are feeling particularly dry. It’s not sticky and has a glassy shine. These don’t last very long, but for how nourishing they are and for $8, I’m willing to reapply.

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.

Best Setting and Finishing Powders for Dry Skin – Top 5 Favorites

Featuredby liftbakelove1 Comment

I’ve gotten my powder collection down to my five favorites (I recently organized my collection and got rid of a few) and decided I wanted to rank them from based on “which one would I buy again first if I lost my makeup collection?”. I love all five of these and think they’re all amazing especially if you also have very dry skin. But some of them definitely have risen to the top of my collection! 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!

Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Talc-Free Waterproof Translucent Pressed Setting Powder– If I could choose only one powder to keep, it’d be this one. It is hands down the best pressed powder I’ve ever tried, and since I got it, I haven’t touched any of my other pressed powders. I love that no matter what I do, it never feels like I put too much of this on. It’s truly translucent so it doesn’t add any coverage or change the color of what I have on my face. It’s definitely only doing a tiny bit of setting and mattifying (so I wouldn’t’ recommend this for combo/oily skin) but I love how it’s able to do what I want a powder to do without adding any heaviness or getting cakey. It does have a tendency to hard pan, but you can easily fix that with a piece of tape.

Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – This is my favorite loose powder by far, and you’ll see it’s the only one I’ve kept out of all the ones I’ve tried over the years. The Laura Mercier beat this one out because pressed will always be more convenient and easy to use, but if I could get a second one after that, it’d be the Givenchy no questions asked. 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. 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.

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder – If it wasn’t for the Laura Mercier powder, this would’ve been my pick for best pressed powder. And if you’re looking to spend less, I would go with this one since they’re very similar. I have it in the shade Airy, but because of how sheer it is, I’m sure Breezy or Feathery could have worked for me as well. Unlike the Laura Mercier, it does add a tiny bit of coverage, so I tend to use this one when I’m looking for that specifically. It also 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.

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!

Make Beauty 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. 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 the most coverage of all the powders on this list, which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover vs just trying to mattify or set makeup all over my face. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable, and I can pop out the pan if I want to put it in a travel makeup palette.

Best Beauty Products to Complete Your Minimalist Travel Bag – The 5 Products I Missed the Most When Travelling

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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.

My two favorite blushes from the Finding Ferdinand x Kackie Reviews Beauty Apres Ski Collection are still in stock!

February 17, 2024February 17, 2024by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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 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.

PHYTOSURGENCE REVIEW: Spectral Sunlight Cream Bronzer, Softquill Brush, Skin Spark Blush Balm in Condensate, Fervor, Ignite, and Sublimate

December 21, 2023by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment

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!

BK Beauty Brushes Review – Angie Hot & Flashy Travel Set TA101, TA501, TA502, TA506, TA507

December 3, 2023March 30, 2025by liftbakelove1 Comment

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.

February 2022 No-Buy Update

February 23, 2022April 1, 2025by liftbakelove3 Comments

I’m on a no-buy for most of 2022 and using these monthly updates to keep me accountable. For these updates, I’ve decided to answer the same set of questions every month. Feel free to follow along in the comments with your own no-buy or low-buy updates. 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!

What’s one thing that helped this month go easier?
Keeping a wishlist has continued to be incredibly helpful in this process. There have even been a few things I added to my wishlist that I removed only a few weeks later. It’s such a great reminder that there’s so many things I want to buy purely because they’re new and exciting rather than because I need them. And because I’m spending so much more time just getting to know my collection, it’s way easier for me to realize that I’d be essentially duping what I already have (like these products I wrote about earlier this month). I think even after my no-buy ends, I’m going to continue the policy of putting things on a wishlist and letting them sit there for a bit before I buy them. It’s a great way to make sure I’m only buying what I truly want.

What was one thing I wanted to buy but didn’t and why?
I really wanted to get new Glossier After Baume moisturizer that is specifically designed for very dry and/or sensitive skin like mine. I don’t have anything that thick and occlusive, so it feels like a gap in my collection. My skin has also just been feeling super dry lately, and it seemed like the perfect thing to help with that. But I own 26 serums and moisturizers, and I know between them all, I can make a mixture that will work for me. It’s also permanent so it’s still going on the wishlist for Black Friday, but I really need to get through some of my moisturizers (many of which are minis I got as gifts with purchase) before I add any more to my collection.

A recent manicure I did trying to really appreciate what I already have!

Did I buy anything this month?
I caved and bought three Starrily polishes (Aphrodite, Catnip, and The Cat’s Meow). One of my rules is that I can buy limited edition products as long as I don’t go over my budget for that category, and Starrily polishes tend to come back into stock very rarely. There have been polishes from them I had to wait at least 6 months to a year for, so in my head these were “limited edition,” That said, for full transparency, I did break one of my rules, and I wanted to share because it’s important that we don’t only talk about being perfect on the internet. I’m excited to 100% stick to it in March, especially knowing I really have everything I already need.

From left to right: Vesca Lyra, Bodyography Off the Hook, Mac Groundwork, Laura Mercier Rose Gold, Hourglass Reflect, Chantecaille Cheetah

What’s a product I rediscovered by having to shop my stash?
One of my favorite rediscoveries is the Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadow in Groundwork. I had honestly totally forgotten about it and how great it is as an eyeshadow base or matte one and down shadow. It’s a neutral taupe that goes with any blush and lip color I’ve chosen. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because it’s a hybrid primer shadow. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. While I love using it alone, I’ve been using it again specifically as base for cream glitters and shimmer shadows. I have so many pretty, sparkly shadows that look off without a base like this, so it’s been perfect for that. You can see above how it compares to some of my other favorite one and done shadows (more details about them here).

If you’re doing a no-buy, how did your February go? If not, what amazing thing did you buy this month? I’d love to 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!

Tag: beauty