Tag: clinique

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 8

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 8

Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties this month, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser –  This is a very hydrating facial cleanser was great for my dry skin. It cleaned my skin and didn’t just not strip it of moisturize, but actually added hydration. This bottle also lasted me a really long time because I didn’t need to use very much. That said, I still like the Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser  even more and have another bottle of it to get through. I won’t be repurchasing the Kiehl’s Cleanser, but I did really enjoy using it while I had it.

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator (previous empty) – This continues to be my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve tried a few others for testing, but I always end up missing this one. It’s so hydrating, it helps my other products sink in better and faster, and it smells amazing too. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually moisturizes my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I have been through so many bottles of this and will definitely grab more when the next Credo/Ulta sale comes around. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine.

Athena Club Cloud Shave Foam – I have extremely dry skin, and I appreciated the extra moisture from this shave foam when shaving. That said, it’s pretty expensive and not super unique so I switched back to the Flamingo shave gel which I actually found at our local supermarket for $5 (the same price as getting it direct online). I would love recommendations if you have any though because I love testing new shaving gels and foams!

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate (previous empty)– I’ve been using this for years as my hydrating serum in my nighttime routine, and it definitely works really well for what it does. That said, this seems to keep going up in price (it used to be in the high 30s) and doesn’t feel worth it when there are so many great hydrating serums out there. I have a few more of these to get through because I had gotten a bunch of back-ups during a sale on Clinique’s website, but I’m planning to switch over to The Most from PSA Skin (you can read my review here) and will not be repurchasing this.

Phytosurgence Verdant Forcefield – This is described as a skin barrier reinforcing moisturizer that hydrates, softens, moisturizes, and protects with well studied vitamins, actives, and extracts. And it does all of that! I love how quickly is sinks in so I can move on to my next step without any pilling and how much softer my skin feels now that I’ve been all the way through it. Because it’s slightly green tinted, I loved using it under makeup to counter any redness. It’s also only about $11 per ounce, which is a bargain compared to some of my other faves like like the Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream at $28.4/ounce and Farmacy Honey Drop at $26.4/ounce. I have a bunch of moisturizer to get through, but I will repurchase this at some point.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and I’ll be sharing empties posts every other Friday all year. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 5

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 5

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

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Brynn (rich black)– This continues to be the best mascara I’ve ever used. I’ve moved on to one of the four minis I have, and I still love it. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. The best part is that it washes off so easily and quickly. I still have more minis to get through after this and will definitely repurchase until an amazing tubing formula comes out that’s better than this one.

Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist – I’m not a huge fan of the packaging (who wants to spray oil everywhere and try to handle a glass bottle with oily hands?), but the oil in here is the most moisturizing body oil I’ve tried. It also smells great and absorbs incredibly fast so moisturizing my whole body with this is super fast. I find I actually use this more often because it’s so quick so I’ve had way less dry areas since I got it. I have a back-up I’m planning to start once I get through some other things and will probably repurchase it when I’m totally out of it and the rest of my body oils.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – I have to imagine that I would love this if I had normal to oily skin, but as someone with very dry skin, it didn’t do enough for me. It smells amazing and sinks in so quickly. It definitely is moisturizing and makes my skin feel hydrated and glowy in the morning. That said, I find that I have to layer on at least 2 other moisturizers with this, and I would love something that’s a heavier hitter than this. So, I won’t be repurchasing this.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – I’ve written about this a few times already, and it’s because it’s my HG makeup remover. I had been trying the cleansing oil for awhile, but found that the balm was more effective at removing makeup if I was wearing more of it. The cleansing oil is great for the summer and really light makeup days, but the balm is what I need (both in terms of effectiveness and hydration) in the fall/winter and whenever my skin is irritated by spring allergies. I have 2 more back-ups of this in the full size so not going to rebuy any time soon.

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve – I’m trying to use up my hand creams so have them all over our apartment, and this lands in the middle of the pack in terms of formula and is scent free. It’s definitely hydrating and effective but it doesn’t provide as long-lasting nourishment as some of the others I’m using right now, so I’m not planning on repurchasing this.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and I’ll be sharing empties posts every other Friday all year. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 1

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 1

Back again with another 5 empties (fully finished products)! I have a bunch of empties to go through, but, as usual, I am keeping these posts to 5 products to keep them short. These are all products I finished while travelling for Thanksgiving in 2021, which is why they’re all minis. As always, I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again. 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!

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser – This cleanser took me forever to go through because I hate the smell and the texture. I know lots of people love it, so that might just be a me problem. It’s a lovely cleanser – it cleans without stripping, it leaves my face hydrated, and it washes off cleanly. But it feels like gross slime and smells like rotten cucumbers to me. With so many amazing cleansers on the market, I won’t be repurchasing this one and will happily never use it again.

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray – I used and loved this face spray for years before I started using my all-time favorite mist continues to be the Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator. It’s hydrating, doesn’t have a strong fragrance, and feels great on the skin. That said, I don’t feel like it does anything extraordinary, and I didn’t feel a huge difference when I ran out of it before my trip was over. I have a travel size bottle of the Josh Rosebrook and will likely keep refilling it when I travel, so I won’t be repurchasing the Clinique.

Tatcha the Silk Peony Eye Cream – I normally don’t do this but I actually think the description of this eye cream is very spot on: An eye cream that fights the signs of aging and melts to release a double shield of hydration with liquid silk and moisture-locking Japanese white peony for instantly youthful-looking, radiant eyes. It felt amazing on and made my undereyes look way more hydrated. I honestly loved this eye cream when I was using it and would consider getting it again if I didn’t like my HG Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothie Eye Cream even more. Plus, I can usually get the Shiseido buy one get one free during the holidays (so $32 each) whereas the Tachta is $60, so I won’t be repurchasing it.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder – I got this as a mini so long ago, and it lasted a very long time because I kept it in my travel bag. It’s incredibly lightweight and blurring without being too matte or drying. It’s honestly a lovely powder, and I totally agree with everyone who has hyped it up for use on dry skin. That said, it’s more than $10 more than the Kosas Cloud Set Powder for less product in the full size, and I like the Cloud Set even better, so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Cocofloss – The only reason I floss every day is because of Cocofloss, and I love the pineapple flavor, so I’m not surprised it’s one of the ones I’ve made it entirely through (I switch through flavors every day). If you’re not familiar with Cocofloss, it’s a floss made from recycled water bottles and infused with coconut oil which makes it both sustainable and very effective. I’ve honestly tried to go back to regular floss after using this, and I can tell the difference in how much better it works.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 15

by liftbakelove3 Comments on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 15

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

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil – I bought this in June 2020 and just finally finished it. If you’re looking for something that is gentle, effective, and incredibly cost effective for the amount of time it lasts, this is a great buy. I loved using this in the summer because it’s much lighter weight than my usual cleansing balm. That said, I have a ton of cleansing balms to go through right now between the ones I already had and the many samples I’ve received lately so I won’t be repurchasing this for awhile. I’ll probably get another bottle when it starts to get hotter out again!

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – This continues to be my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve tried a few others for testing, but I always end up missing this one. It’s so hydrating, it helps my other products sink in better and faster, and it smells amazing too. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually moisturizes my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I have been through so many bottles of this and will definitely grab more when the next Credo/Ulta sale comes around. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine.

thisworks deep sleep body cocoon – Like most other FabFitFun moisturizers, this was totally fine. I really loved the lavender scent and found it helped me wind down at night which is the only thing that stuck out to me about this. The actual formula is pretty lackluster – it takes awhile to sink in, it’s not that moisturizing, and it’s also not that hydrating. I have so many body lotions that I love and that I’m testing, so I’m definitely not repurchasing this.

Kaja Don’t Settle Concealer – I got this on sale for less than $13, and I’m really glad I had it while I did. It’s a buildable light to medium coverage concealer that’s very lightweight and easy to blend. It paired really nicely with my skin tints that I generally wear as foundation and didn’t look overdone. That said, the formula didn’t make me fall in love right away like the Kosas Revealer Concealer (which even though I love the formula, it went off after 6 months, and that’s not worth it to me especially at that price). I’m testing 3 concealers right now so won’t repurchasing it, but definitely would consider buying it again.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – I have to imagine that I would love this if I had normal to oily skin, but as someone with very dry skin, it didn’t do enough for me. It smells amazing and sinks in so quickly. It definitely is moisturizing and makes my skin feel hydrated and glowy in the morning. That said, I find that I have to layer on at least 2 other moisturizers with this, and I would love something that’s a heavier hitter than this. So, I won’t be repurchasing this.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 9

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 9

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

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist – I’m honestly shocked I’ve never written about this on here before, especially because I’ve gone through so many bottles of this. I use this as a hydrating step while I’m doing my makeup every morning, especially if things are starting to feel a little drier than I want it to be, because I set everything with my Cover FX Setting Spray. I use this very much like a Mac Fix+, but Fix+ breaks me out, so I was so excited to find this. The watermelon mist is so fine, actually hydrating, and smells amazing. I love how it melts all my makeup together to look seamless without disrupting anything. I have two back-ups of this and am planning to keep repurchasing it.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I’ve been using this every morning for years, and I think there will be more of these in my empties because I ended up getting a bunch of the smaller jars in sets and am going through them pretty quickly. It’s simple, effective, not too heavy or light, and plays well under makeup. It’s really such a staple in my routine that I don’t have much to say about it except that it’s one of my favorite moisturizers for my dry skin – it just works really works, and I keep coming back to it over and over again no matter what else I try. I have another back-up to get through and am planning to repurchase unless something knocks it out of my morning moisturizer spot.

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate – I’ve been using this for years as my hydrating serum in my nighttime routine, and it definitely works really well for what it does. That said, this seems to keep going up in price (it used to be in the high 30s) and doesn’t feel worth it when there are so many great hydrating serums out there. I have a few more of these to get through because I had gotten a bunch of back-ups during a sale on Clinique’s website, but I’m planning to switch over to The Most from PSA Skin (you can read my review here) and will not be repurchasing this.

It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product – This definitely worked well for my hair as a spray-on deep conditioning treatment. It didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, and even though I’m willing to make an investment if the quality is there, I didn’t find this special enough to spend almost $40 on the full size. I’m really happy with the products I recently reviewed from the Inkey List and have a ton of deluxe sample spray leave-in conditioners to get through, so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser – If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love Allies of Skin products, and this cleanser is one of my favorites. This cleanser creates such a luxurious cleansing experience – you can even use it as a quick, hydrating mask if you leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off. And while it really does clean, it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated like you used a moisturizer. This is the only cleanser I’ve used that actually helps with any extra dryness and irritation, and I really notice a difference when I’m not using it. I have already started with the backup I had and will absolutely be repurchasing it when I finish that one.

I’d love to know – what have you finished lately? Like I mentioned, I have a ton more empties that I will be posting about, and not all of them are as positive as this group. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!

May and June Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on May and June Favorites

Since it’s now July (again, already? how? I was just saying this about May!), I wanted to share my favorites from May and June since I missed last month.

So I am definitely part of Kackie Reviews Beauty’s blush fam and own over 20 blushes. I love blush, particularly cream blush, and the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal is the perfect “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. And now that I just don’t feel like doing anything really, it’s so nice to have something that is so easy to put on and blend and that stays all day. It’s super expensive (I got it on sale – like everything in this post!), but I am still very tempted to get other shades because I just love this formula so much.

After watching so many of my favorite YouTubers rave about this, I finally broke down and got the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bonzer and highlight duo when it was on sale. Just like the Westman Atelier blush, it’s such amazing formula that blends like a dream, looks natural, and still makes an impact. The shade intensity 0.5 is great for my skin tone, and I even really like the highlight shade even though I know a lot of people don’t. I love how they are both a little sheer which makes it super easy to just throw on without having to be super precise.

Kaja Bento from lightest to darkest. Westman atelier Blush in Petal. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in 0.5.

For something that is actually a reasonable price in this list, the Kaja Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio in Toasted Caramel is an amazing set of shimmer shadows that you can wear alone or as toppers. They have a ton of different shades available, including some with mattes to make an easy 3 shadow look.I love wearing any of them all over the lid or pairing them with my other palettes to bring in some extra sparkle. I also love the packaging and how it really clicks closed, and I can’t wait to bring it with me when we can finally travel again.

I’ve talked about how much I love my Bite Beauty Lip Lab Bespoke Lipsticks before, and when I got an email that I could get a replacement for only $40 + 15% off, I jumped at the chance to get one of my favorites in the sheer formula. And, of course, it’s perfect. I love the formula, I love the color, and I love the new packaging. It was super easy to order via email from the SOHO lab where I made my original ones, and it’s definitely my new favorite lipstick.

My new sheer lipstick, and then my other 3 custom lipsticks in the satin finish.

And now a few skincare favorites:

I thought that the Caudalie Grape Water was kind of silly, to be honest. Then, it was on sale, and it’s actually fairly affordable for a spray like this anyway, so I finally got it because I’d heard so many good things about it. They were all right – it really does increase hydration, and help my other skincare sink in. It also helps calm my skin down after a workout, when my face is usually super red and hot. Less important, but it also smells great, and I love the mister on the packaging. It’s definitely my favorite spray.

Anyone knows me knows I only have one holy grail makeup remover/first cleanse, and that’s the Clinique Take Off the Day Cleansing Balm. It started feeling a bit heavy now that I’m stuck inside all day without air conditioning, and everything just feels hot and gross, so I decided to switch to the cleansing oil and see if that worked better in these circumstances. It’s great – I loved how I can pump it out from the bottle without having to dig into a jar, it works exactly the same as the balm, and it feels way lighter. I will definitely switch back to the balm in the fall/winter, but I’m so happy to have this for the summer!

With all the hand washing and walking around barefoot in my apartment with no ability to get my nails done, my hands and feet really needed some TLC. It turns out that the Sephora foot and hand masks are amazing. My hands and feet feel so hydrated and so much better after using them, and I love to stock up during their sales. All the scents I’ve tried have been awesome!