Tag: drugstore 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.

Displaying PXL_20251121_164736235~2.jpg
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.

Displaying PXL_20251121_165132239~2.jpg
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.

Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 6: Milani Make It Last Dewy Setting Spray vs Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 6: Milani Make It Last Dewy Setting Spray vs Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator

This is the sixth match of the first round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with the same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For this round,  I tested the Milani Make It Last Dewy Setting Spray tested against the Josh Rosebroook Hydrating Accelerator. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

The Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator feels more like a skincare prep spray than a traditional setting spray, but I’ve seen it recommended as a multipurpose product that works well to set makeup too. The Milani Make It Last Dewy is more of a classic setting spray but with a glossy, “glass skin” finish. When I first sprayed them, it definitely felt like hydrating spa experience vs “a normal setting spray.” After they each dried down, both sides looked equally smooth and dewy, and my skin felt comfortable and hydrated. Neither blurred or mattified (as expected) which was a nice break for my dry skin.

By the afternoon, there were no major differences in how the sprays felt on the skin. Both sides still looked glowy and neither felt sticky or dried out. Where the difference started to show was in makeup longevity. My blush and bronzer looked better on the Milani side whereas they had faded a bit on the Josh Rosebrook side already. I also asked my husband to take a look, and he said the Milani side looked slightly better, which matched what I was seeing up close. From far away, I’m not sure you could tell a difference. I was especially impressed that the Milani spray held up to the Josh Rosebrook in terms of staying dewy and hydrated and was also impressed that the Josh Rosebrook was holding up against a setting spray for the most part.

At the end of the night, both sides still looked good overall. My skin didn’t feel tight or dry, and neither spray caused any serious patchiness or makeup breakdown like some other sprays have. That said, the Milani side continued to outperform when it came to makeup staying power. The blush, bronzer, and complexion products were still going strong on that side, while the Josh Rosebrook side had continued to fade even more throughout the day.

Who’s moving on?
The finish on both sides ended up being fairly similar, and I would gladly keep using both of them for a natural, slightly glowy, and hydrated look throughout the day. That said, the Milani helped my makeup last much better over the course of the day, while matching the dewy finish of the Josh Rosebrook. It promises a 16 hour wear, and I’d say it holds up. I will absolutely keep using the the Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator as a skincare mist and prep step, but (as probably expected), it didn’t quite hold up as a setting spray. Milani moves on!

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. I also received the Josh Rosebrook spray from the brand, but have bought at least 6 bottles of it myself before that. One of my favorite skincare brands!

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.

ELF Brand Review: The Best ELF Products That Feel High-End (Glow Reviver Lip Oil, Prime & Stay Finishing Powder, Lip Exfoliator, Halo Glow Liquid Filter, Sheer Slick Lipstick, Cream Glide Lip Liner, Liquid Blush)

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on ELF Brand Review: The Best ELF Products That Feel High-End (Glow Reviver Lip Oil, Prime & Stay Finishing Powder, Lip Exfoliator, Halo Glow Liquid Filter, Sheer Slick Lipstick, Cream Glide Lip Liner, Liquid Blush)

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I usually reach for high-end products, especially when it comes to makeup. But every now and then, a budget-friendly gem comes along that completely surprises me—and ELF has been delivering some serious winners. These products generally perform just as well (if not better) than some of my pricier favorites or are so inexpensive that they make a great option if you need one. In this post, all links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own!

ELF Halo Glow Liquid Filter – I’m a huge fan of “shimmer goos,” and this is one of my absolute favorites. I mix it into my primer or foundation for an all-over glow, use it under my eyes before corrector/concealer for extra brightness, or tap it on as a liquid highlighter. It works beautifully in every way I’ve tried, and I always get compliments when I wear it. I actually prefer it over Hollywood Flawless Filter—it’s smoother on my skin and, most importantly, it doesn’t break me out (which the Flawless Filter eventually did).

ELF Liquid Blush in Sauve Mauve, Dusty Rose, Bronze Bombshell – This formula is lightweight, ultra-pigmented, and blends out effortlessly to a soft, dewy finish. A little goes a long way, but it’s super buildable, so you can control the intensity—from a subtle flush to a bold pop of color. The texture melts into the skin without emphasizing texture or disrupting any other products under it. I’ve been really impressed with how well this wears throughout the day—it stays put without fading or getting patchy. If you’re looking for a beautiful liquid blush under $10, I can definitely recommend these. As far as shades go, Dusty Rose is very peachy learning orange on me so I wouldn’t recommend that particular shade if you happen to have an olive undertone, but I love Bronze Bombshell and Sauve Mauve on me.

Bronze Bombshell, Dusty Rose, Sauve Mauve

ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light) – This powder completely surprised me. It’s under $5 but outperforms some of my high-end powders. It has the slightest hint of luminosity, so it sets everything beautifully without making your skin look flat or overly matte. It’s the perfect mix between a finishing and setting powder. I love using it all over to set my cream products while keeping that dewy look. I even used this on my friend for her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and needed something that would last), and her makeup held up flawlessly through the ceremony and all the dancing—well past midnight. I’m continually impressed by how well this works!

ELF Cream Glide Lip Liner In Baddest Beige and Mauve Aside– I can’t say I like these better than my favorite lip liners from Thrive or Victoria Beckham, but if you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality lip liner that competes with higher-end options, this is it. The formula is creamy enough to glide on effortlessly without tugging or patchiness. I was super impressed given these are $2, and really like the semi-matte finish that works beautifully on its own or as a base under lipstick. They wear surprisingly well without drying out my lips. Both shades I got work really well for the types of lip colors I like to wear and for $2, this would be a great option for bolder colors you don’t wear really often.

ELF Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry – This is clearly meant to dupe Clinique Black Honey, and not only does it nail it—it’s better. The Clinique version always dried out my lips, but this one is slightly moisturizing. The color is nearly identical (at least to my eye), giving that perfect deep cherry tint. It’s sheer without being too sheer, making it easy to throw on without a mirror. For $5, this is a must-have, especially if you love berry lips as much as I do.

ELF Glow Reviver Lip Oil in Jam Session and Honey Talks – If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I usually lean toward high-end lip products (still obsessed with my Hermès and Givenchy lipsticks). So, I was genuinely surprised by how much I love these. Honestly, I’d take them in every shade. They’re the perfect balance of pigment and sheerness, making them super versatile—wear them alone, over a lip liner, or layered with another lip product. The formula is shockingly hydrating for a lip oil, and it’s become my go-to when my lips need extra moisture. It’s not sticky, has a gorgeous glassy shine, and while it doesn’t last long, for $8 and how nourishing it is, I don’t mind reapplying. Heads up: there’s a slight minty tingle, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to skip these.

Jam Session and Honey Talks

ELF Lip Exfoliator – I’ve been using this for years, and I still swear by it. It’s also one of my husband’s favorite skincare products. The stick format makes it so easy to use—no mess, no digging into jars. It exfoliates really well without being too harsh and actually leaves my lips feeling moisturized. We keep them all over the house, and I’ve yet to try a scent/flavor I didn’t like. These are also super easy to travel with because they’re small and won’t spill.

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.

Must-Have Drugstore Products For About $5

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Must-Have Drugstore Products For About $5

I got a bunch of great products for my birthday months ago, and there are some drugstore products in the bunch that really stood out to me that I wanted to write about. I then realized they were all around $5 which is amazing – I never would have expected that. I would love to read about your favorites and recommendations for under more affordable beauty products in the comments! 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!

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer in Green – This is the green color corrector I’ve reached for the most. I’m planning on doing a full green color corrector comparison post because I actually have a bunch 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 too matte or dewy so it works really well with whatever primer, foundation, concealer, and powder combo I’ve used that day. This is definitely meant to be more of a pure green concealer so 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 something like this anyway because they’re not nearly as green.

Wet n Wild Prime Focus Glass Correct Primer – I love this as a dewy primer even though it doesn’t have as much green as I would like (it basically looks colorless compared to something like the L.A. Girl color corrector). That said, it somehow manages to feel incredibly moisturizing with a glass-like finish (as the name would suggest) while still being able to act as a primer for makeup that doesn’t make anything slip around or feel greasy. I tend to mix this with one of my greener color correctors to really cancel out redness, but if I’m in a rush, I’ll just use this, and my skin still looks beautiful.

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer in Green , Wet n Wild Prime Focus Glass Correct Primer, Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Ritz , NYX Slim Lip Pencil Creamy Long-Lasting Lip Liner

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!

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Ritz – If I didn’t have Urban Decay Space Cowboy and needed something that gives the same effect on top of eyeshadow looks, this would be my pick. 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. It’s also 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). If I want to do that “cold girl” look with berry cheeks and lips and sheer sparkly eyes, this is my go to eyeshadow.

NYX Slim Lip Pencil Creamy Long-Lasting Lip Liner – This lip liner is creamy enough that’s it’s comfortable to use but stiff enough that it stays exactly where I want it. It also has really great staying power and is a great prep step for even more pigmented lip products because of those qualities. I honestly can’t tell too much of a difference between this and my much more expensive pencil lip liners, so if you’re looking for a place to save, this would be my pick. The shade Peakaboo Neutral (a brown toned pink) works great with the types of lip colors I tend to wear. For only $5 (or less on sale), these are so worth it.

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.

July 2022 Beauty Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on July 2022 Beauty Favorites

I can’t believe July is already over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! I As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months. If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil – This lip oil reminds me so much of the Dior Lip Oil but is so much more nourishing and a fraction of the price (the Beauty Pie is around $8 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the four shades – Jammy (berry), Nude Nectar (brown-rose), Sunhazed (cool-toned bronze with a hint of shimmer), and Naked Peach (peach with a hint of shimmer). All of them are sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some color if I’m not wearing anything else. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it.

Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil –Jammy, Nude Nectar, Sunhazed, and Naked Peach

 Salt New York Lilac and Tangerine Crème Tint Pro – These were a limited-edition duo launched last year, and I have been loving using them now that we’re really in the heart of summer. I have been doing a ton of monochromatic mauve/purple looks with Lilac and bright orange, bronzy looks with Tangerine and having so much fun. Even though these are bolder colors than I usually reach for, they are a bit sheer which makes it easy to not go overboard (hopefully you can see in the swatches below). These are super versatile, and as with all Salt New York products, the formula is beautiful – buildable, dewy without shimmer, and super easy to blend.

From top to bottom: Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Lilac and Tangerine

ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)– This powder really surprised me. It’s less than $5 and performs honestly even better than some of my high-end powders. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it, so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. I even recommended this to my friend to use on her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and wanted something that would stay all day), and her makeup held up through the ceremony and all the dancing at the reception well past midnight. I am continually incredibly impressed by how well this powder works!

Persona Dreamstick Cream Blush in Bubble – This formula is incredibly thin and creamy which makes them super easy to work with. They blend out so quickly with fingers, a brush, or a sponge. The color Bubble looks super bright in the package and in a thick swatch but it’s just the perfect “I’m awake and healthy and hydrated” color for me without having to think about it. I also love using this to brighten up a look that’s gotten too warm. These aren’t sticky but don’t dry down completely matte – a very skin-like finish.

Persona Dreamstick Cream Blush in Bubble

DS&Durga Rose Atlantic – I am absolutely terrible at describing scents so I’m going to copy in exactly what the website says: This scent isn’t just a rose. It has the ocean, delicate petals, the green stem, the waxy leaves, and the fresh idyllic powder of summertime. It is an everyday perfume.
I completely agree – this is my new favorite every day perfume. It’s perfectly ocean-y with sea salt spray and a summer breeze (my favorite) with just a hint of floral to make it unique. I’m so happy I bought the Discovery Set because otherwise I would have just gotten Debaser and never known how amazing Rose Atlantic is.

What were your favorites this month? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Flower Beauty Jungle Lights Eyeshadow Palette Review

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Flower Beauty Jungle Lights Eyeshadow Palette Review

As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection, and part of that is doing more in-depth reviews of products I already have. This helps me spend more time playing with them and learning about why I like (or don’t like) certain products. For this series, I’m planning on doing a full review on each one of my palettes, and now that I’ve finished all my Pat McGrath palettes, I’m going to go through some drugstore options. I’m starting with Jungle Lights from Flower Beauty, which is usually around $18 though I’m fairly confident it’ll continue to go on sale once in a while. And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

This palette has six super metallic and creamy (but still powder) shades. The formula is the same for all six shades, and they all perform equally well. They are extremely glittery, flaky, and shiny. Because they are highly pigmented and a bit chunky, the shadows can be a little difficult to blend – but I don’t mind because of how impactful they are. I primarily use this palette as six one-and-done shades or to pair with matte shadows from other palettes. Since all six shades are the same formula, I’ll just be going through the colors of each shade in the rest of this post.

Shades are listed in order below from left to right as seen in swatches here.

Amazon is a super warm golden shimmer. On me, it’s a bit darker than I would want for a gold shadow for every day but it’s beautiful for a more statement gold look. It can pull almost orange because of its warmth. This makes it really great for the summer months for bronzy looks but I find I never reach for this shadow in the fall or winter.

Anaconda is a forest green with gold shimmer. I don’t go super bold and colorful with my eyeshadow, so I’ve only used this as a liner. It works great for that though and goes really well with my brown eyes.

Tiger Lily is my favorite shadow in the palette and the one I use the most. It’s listed as a metallic copper shimmer but it pulls more pink than copper on me. I have been really into pink looks for the last few months, and this shadow works great for pairing with pink lipstick and blush without being too monochromatic.

Paradise is a sparkling champagne shimmer that, like Amazon, leans quite warm. This is the only shadow I’ve used a topper or inner corner highlight, and I love it for that. It’s quite light so it’s harder for me to use as a one-and-done but I find it works so well to lighten up a look that’s gotten too dark – especially with some of the other shadows in this palette.

Jaguar is a deep, rich purple with pink shimmer. Like Anaconda I don’t use this much because it’s so dark and pigmented, but I love playing with it when I’m just messing around with my eyeshadows. It’s super pretty, and I know I’ll figure out a time and place for it.

Wild is my other most used shadow in the palette. It’s a beautiful light mauve with silver shimmer and what I use when I don’t want something as intense as Tiger Lily.

What other palettes would you like to see an in-depth review of? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Beauty Pie Review: Seamless Foundation Buffing Brush, Pro Angled Contour Cheek Brush, and Pro Angled Concealer Brush

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Beauty Pie Review: Seamless Foundation Buffing Brush, Pro Angled Contour Cheek Brush, and Pro Angled Concealer Brush

If you haven’t heard of Beauty Pie, it’s described as providing consumers with exceptional formulas sourced from the best factories worldwide – all while keeping costs low by cutting out the middleman, excessive packaging and expensive marketing budgets. It’s basically like the Costco of beauty – you pay a membership fee to access the low prices, but in theory, you save way more than your membership fee. This is part three (see my other reviews here and here), and I know I’ve already saved more than the yearly membership cost (I ended up getting a Black Friday deal where the membership was $9 when all was said and done). As with all of my reviews, this is not sponsored, and there are no affiliate links in this post. And 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!

Seamless Foundation Buffing Brush – This brush is really densely packed which ensures it maintains the level of coverage of any product I’m using it with. It also never creates any streaks and cleans really well even with consistently using it with liquid products. While this brush is amazing for foundation, I actually love it even more for cream blush. It blends every formula so seamlessly and quickly and is my go-to for when I’ve overdone my blush and need to blend everything together quickly because of its size. This brush is under $10 and feels similar to my much more expensive synthetic brushes. I now totally understand why Kackie Reviews Beauty said in her review that she wanted tons of these in her collection.

Pro Angled Contour Cheek Brush – I’ve been getting way less use out of this one than I expected to. I use the foundation brush more often for cream blush and bronzer and my Sonia G brushes for powder products. I love the shape and the quality of it – it’s probably my favorite angled brush in my collection. It has the perfect density of bristles to apply and blend just the right amount of pigment. I just really never reach for this particular brush shape. If you’re looking for an angled cheek brush, this one is amazing quality for less than $10.

Pro Angled Concealer Brush – This reminds me so much of the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush. It has an extremely similar shape that seems to be designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip. I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage because of the densely packed bristles. I switch between this brush and the Rare Beauty one purely depending on which one is clean and/or is still drying from being cleaned. I use them every day with my undereye corrector, and it helps so much when I’m attempting to correct my dark circles. It also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it while still being big enough to blend out edges. I don’t think you really need both this one and the Rare Beauty one, but it’s amazing that this is almost half the price.

What new products and brands have you discovered lately? Are there Beauty Pie questions you have or products you’d like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!

My 5 Favorite Products Under $10

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on My 5 Favorite Products Under $10

As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection and starting a “favorite products under $X series” to help me in that process. I’ll be doing posts every month for different dollar amounts, and I’m so excited to dive into my collection in this way. I’m starting with my favorite products under $10. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for under $10 beauty products 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 or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand – This blends so easily and quickly and creates a sophisticated glow without glitter. It’s a perfect wash of light-catching pigment and is also blurring. It looks great as a finishing touch to any look I’ve used it in, and I love that it looks great on the cheeks, brow bone, inner corner, or anywhere else I want it to go. I can apply it straight from the wand or use my fingers or a brush and it works great. It only comes in one shade but I think this shade would work for a lot of people because it’s so sheer. Compared to $38 for the Charlotte Tilbury version of this, it’s incredible that this only costs $9.18. I honestly would’ve thought this was a luxury product down to the packaging, and I can’t believe it’s less than $10.

Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand

Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer – This is my favorite concealer for when I want something high coverage to cancel out my undereye circles. The shade Fair Warm is perfect for me (my arm where I swatch shows up much lighter and cooler than my face, but I find that helps show product colors really well). It’s incredibly lightweight for how much coverage it provides, and I can layer it with no issues. It doesn’t look dry or cakey and has great lasting power for something that actually is hydrating. I’m able to use powder on top of it with no issues or any weird texture. This is everything I wanted the Tarte Shape Tape to be. This concealer is $6, and I got it on sale for $4.80.

Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Warm

Essence Mosaic Blush – I have both shades that are currently at Ulta, a rosy pink shade called The Berry Connection and a peachy pink shade called All You Need Is Pink. There’s a little bit of kick back because it’s a bit dry, but it goes on smoothly and is easy to blend. I love using these to set any cream blushes I’ve used because they’re not too pigmented and have a satin finish. I got these blushes for $3.99 so both together are under $10. I was shocked at how great this formula is – it rivals my high-end blushes easily. I find myself reaching for it over other powder blushes because it looks so pretty and is so easy to blend. I also like having them for travel because the compact is so thin and easy to slide into my makeup bag if I want something to help my cream products last longer.

Essence Mosaic Blush in The Berry Connection and All You Need is Pink

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!

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 and have loved and used these for almost a year now with absolutely no issues.

What are your favorite products under $10? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.