Tag: em cosmetics

The 5 Makeup Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The 5 Makeup Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

Like I mentioned in my last post, I recently took a month long trip to the East Coast and brought a pared down routine. I tried really hard to bring only what I needed, and there were a bunch of things I left at home and really missed. I was so excited to be reunited with these makeup products this last week and never want to be without them in the future!

I didn’t realize how much I loved the Auric Glow Lust until I didn’t have it for a month. This product is so versatile – I can use it by itself in lieu of foundation, as a primer, mixed in with my foundation, as a highlighter, and any combination of those methods. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, which is something I can’t find with any other product. It’s a really special product that I missed having and being able to use to liven up, brighten, and blur any look that needs it.

I didn’t bring any powder blushes, but I wish I had brought just one – which would have been the the Em Cosmetics Heaven’s Glow Blush in Magic Hour. Because it gives such a soft, glowy look without being overly pigmented, it’s a really easy way product to use to brighten up a look that’s coming off a little dull or flat. This is my go-to for setting cream and liquid blushes, particularly if I know I need my makeup to last all day for video calls or running around a city. This color matches so many of my cream blushes and adds just the right hint of bright pink without changing the overall look too much. I just got this formula in the shade Venetian Rose – let me know if it’s like a review!

Swatches of the 75° Warm , 11:11, and 52° Cool Roen Quads

I bought a mini-palette that I made of single powder eyeshadows, but I so wish I had brought my Roen quads instead. I really love the Roen formula because it’s so versatile – with a finger, the shades go on incredibly pigmented and intense, but with a brush, you can create a very sophisticated wash of color. I totally could have gotten away with just one eyeshadow brush and gotten so many incredible looks with this range of shades, particularly with how many great one-and-done shades there are. I also love that these are so quick and easy to use and last all day which is super important to me when I’m travelling. If I had to pick one, I probably would have gone with the 11:11 but I would have loved to have them all.

I bought my IT Cosmetics CC Cream for foundation because I’m trying to use it up, but it ended up being too full coverage and not as long wearing as I would have liked. The Fenty Eaze Drop would have been a much better choice. The formula is almost entirely mask proof and sweat proof, and it would have been much better for me given all the walking we did outside in the hot weather. It also looks way more natural on my skin while still providing coverage. I love that is blends super quick and easily with fingers which means I wouldn’t have needed a foundation brush, and the packaging would have taken up such little space. Definitely bringing this the next time I travel!

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo in Shade 0.5

I’ve gushed about the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo so many times, and I definitely missed it when I was travelling. It has such amazing formula that blends like a dream, looks natural, and still makes an impact. I love how they are both a little sheer which makes it super easy to just throw on without having to be super precise, and it blends into the skin so seamlessly. I love that this has both a bronzer and highlighter in one and that the bronzer shade is neutral enough to be used as more of a “brontour.” I’ve been using it everyday since I got back, and I’m so happy to have it back in my life.

What are your must-haves when you travel? What do you want to see next here on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments!

March/April Beauty Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on March/April Beauty Favorites

I’ll be sharing some of my favorite “stay at home purchases” as I mentioned in my last post. Since it’s now May (already? how?), I wanted to share my favorites from March and April since I took a break last month.

I’ve tried lots of wash-off face masks, but I’ve finally discovered my holy grails, and I’m so excited to share these. The first is the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. I’m only using it once or twice a week, so this jar will last forever, making the price much more reasonable for me. It is one of the only things I’ve found to really help my skin when it’s feeling congested or dull when an AHA toner won’t do quite enough. It smells strongly like pumpkin, so if you’re not into that, I would consider skipping this one. For me, it’s totally worth the smell for a few minutes to get clear, bright skin. Bonus – I haven’t had any acne issues since I start using it despite my not great diet and high stress levels lately.

What I use right after the pumpkin enzyme mask to deeply moisturize my skin is the Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask. This mask warms up as you massage it into your skin, so not only does it work to deeply moisturize and calm my skin , it’s also a really great relaxing experience. It is the perfect mask to use after an exfoliating treatment or just when your skin is feeling extra dry. My only regret is that I bought the small size! I know there are a bunch of folks who use this a few times a week, which I definitely want to do now that I understand how great it is, so I’m hoping I can pick it up on sale when I run out!

If you know me or have read my past posts, you know I definitely don’t need any more blush. I got more anyway because it’s one of my favorite product categories. I think I’ve featured blush in my favorites every month so far, and that probably won’t stop any time soon. I’m usually more drawn to cream and liquid blushes, so I very excited to have found a really amazing powder blush formula – the Em Cosmetics Heaven’s Glow Blush in Magic Hour. It provides a soft, glowy look without being overly pigmented so it is such an easy way to brighten up a look. I also use this to set cream and liquid blushes if I know I’ll be on video calls for 12 hours, and the color is perfect for that for a wide range of shades. It’s been beating out my favorite Nars and Hourglass blushes for my most used powder blush, and I really hope they come out with more than just the two shades they current have!

I’ve written about my love for Natasha Denona shadows before when I talked about my favorite products of 2019, but I know it’s not possible or practical for everyone to get a $129 or more palette. I’m so excited she came out with these $25 mini palettes with the same high quality formula and much more curated shadows so you only get what you need. The Mini Retro Eyeshadow Palette is a really great addition to my collection because the colors are so unique. I’m not sure I was able to capture them in my swatches here, but I’m loving the shade selection here. These are great to use in conjunction with other palettes (especially the shimmer shades) to add some color to an otherwise neutral look or to make a really pretty springy pink/green look.

I have found my perfect gloss formula, and they are only $14! The Tower 28 ShineOn Jelly Lip Glosses are beautifully sheer, moisturizing, glossy without being sticky, fairly long lasting for a gloss, play nicely with lipsticks and lip liners underneath, come in a great color selection – I could go on and on about these. I have the shades Fire and Fearless. Fire is a great spring/summer bright orange shade and Fearless is a really pretty berry, but both are sheer enough that I can wear them for my work calls or to warm up or cool down lip products underneath. I was going to splurge for a expensive lip oil during the Sephora sale, but these definitely fulfill that need for me, and I’m so happy I got these instead.

I definitely didn’t need more brushes, but Sonia G. restocked her pro face brushes, and I was so excited to grab the Face Pro and the Designer Pro. The Face Pro is the best brush I have found for a diffused contour and bronzer application and is able to create that diffused look with all of my powder bronzers. It’s really great for me to have a brush I can use without having to think about if it’s the right one for the formula. The Designer Pro is perfect for blush or highlight or targeted powder application and similar to the Face Pro, it works great with every formula I’ve tried it with. As with all her brushes, they look great after washing, there is very little shedding, and they have the right weight distribution to make using them a great experience. Of all my Sonia G. brushes so far, I would recommend these as these shapes are more unique in her line versus others, and if you’re looking for a super high quality brush for blush, bronzer, and highlighter, you can’t go wrong with these two.

What are you loving this month? Anything you want to see from me next? Let me know!

2019 Makeup Favorites!

by liftbakelove1 Comment on 2019 Makeup Favorites!

I get frequently asked for makeup and skincare recommendations, and I’m super excited to put them all in one place. I’ll be doing a separate skincare/haircare post and a lifestyle favorites next for books, clothes, movies, etc. so this doesn’t get too long. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for 2020 in the comments!

2019 Makeup favorites:
Some quick notes before I get into it – I have dry skin, wear shade 4 in Luminous Silk, and I tend towards a glowy, natural look. I didn’t find a mascara or brow favorite this year, so those won’t be listed.

Primer: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face primer
I tried a bunch of different primers this year, but nothing overtook my long time favorite – the. It’s definitely more of a moisturizer but I do find that it helps makeup last longer as well. A close second is the Smashbox Primerizer but I found it didn’t hydrate as well as the Hangover primer does.

Foundation: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
This one is expensive, but Luminous Silk has just the right amount of coverage (medium), looks glowy but not oily, and lasts all day. For me, it is definitely worth the splurge. Some other foundations I discovered this year and may outrank Luminous Silk in 2020 are Clinique Even Better Refresh Hydrating and Repairing Foundation and Glossier Skin Tint.

Concealer: Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector
This was a game changer for me. I have very dark and noticeable under eye circles and have been searching for something to help correct them for years. This corrector does the trick and puts way less pressure on having the perfect concealer to go on top.

I’ve been loving the Glossier Stretch Concealer for the rest of my face so far, but am still on the hunt for my perfect concealer in 2020.

Powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
As someone with very dry skin, I’ve had trouble finding the perfect powder that will set my makeup, blend everything together nicely, and not look cakey. The veil powder does all of that and even though the full size is $46, the travel size is still going strong even though I got it at the end of 2018 and use it ever day. I decided to pick up the full size this year because the packaging is way easier to use, but I’m sure it will last for me for the next few years based on the travel size.

Contour: Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder (powder) and Fenty Match Stix Matte Skinstick in Amber (cream)
Both of these give me the perfect natural looking contour quickly and easily. I have considered trying others to see if they’re better, but I have yet to see a need to switch it up from these.

Bronzer: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer (powder) and Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush & Bronzer in Bondi Bae (cream)
Like my contour favorites, both of these give a natural warmth and blend out easily. They both give a subtle radiance that is especially great in the winter when my skin needs a little extra help. The Hourglass is one of my favorite powder formulas because it’s not that pigmented, so I can slowly build it up depending on what kind of look I’m going for. I have a few other bronzers but don’t find myself reaching for them as much because I pick up way too much color too quickly, and they aren’t as easy to blend as the Hourglass.

Highlight: Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle (powder) and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (liquid)
The makeup artist for my wedding used the Mac powder on me, and it looked so amazing in the pictures that I went out and bought it as soon as I found out what it was. It gives the perfect amount of sheen without being glittery, and I find that it’s very hard for me to use too much.

The HFF had been on my wishlist for a long time before I finally decided I should just get it. I’m so happy I did because it is one of the most amazing products I’ve ever tried. I mix it into my primer or foundation for an all-over glow, put it under my eyes under my corrector/concealer if I need more brightening and coverage there, and use it on as a liquid highlighter. It works well in every way I’ve tried, and I get tons of compliments every time I use it.

Blush: Nars Blush (powder) and Glossier Cloud Paints (liquid)
Once I found the right brushes to use with my Nars blush (more on that in my brush post!), it became my go-to powder blush. It makes me look healthy and awake without overdoing it, and although it being hard pressed can make it harder to use, I find that it means I don’t end up with a giant splotchy mess that’s hard to blend out.

The Glossier cloud paints give a natural flush to the cheeks that lasts all day and blends well with my other cream products. The one thing I dislike about these is the packaging. I always end up squeezing out way too much, but it’s worth it for the effect they give.

Eyeshadow: Natasha Denona Biba Palette
This was a gift from my husband (thank you!), and I’m not sure I could have convinced myself to spend this much on a palette. Now that I’ve had the chance to use it almost every day, I absolutely would buy it again. It is the perfect mix of warm, neutral, and cool tones with the right amount of shimmers. The formula is amazing, and if I could only have one palette, it would be this one.

Lip liner: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Wherever Walnut
The Bite liners were a close second, but given that they are discontinued and no longer available, my choice for this year is this Make Up For Ever pencil. The formula is creamy without being slippery and helps define my lips without drying them out. I particularly like this color because it adds depth to my lighter colors and helps retain the shape for darker colors.

Lip gloss: Em Cosmetics Morning Dew Crystal Lip Gloss
I have tried so many lip gloss formulas this year, and my favorite is absolutely this one. It is incredibly moisturizing and makes my lips look great even why they are incredibly dry. I tend not to go for clear glosses since I like one and done products, but I have come to appreciate that I can put this over any lip color to add shine and moisture. And it’s not sticky at all!

Lipstick: Bite Beauty Lip Lap Custom Lipsticks
While I am obsessed with the Lisa Eldridge Velvet Mattes that I got this year, my pick has to be my Bite custom lipsticks. I went to the Lip Lab for my bachelorette party and made my perfect red, my wedding lip color, and a replicate of my favorite but now discontinued lipstick. All 3 look amazing on me, and I loved the experience of making my perfect shades with my bridesmaids.

Setting spray: Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray
I was dedicated to Urban Decay All Nighter as my setting spray of choice for years, but the Cover FX knocked it out of my top setting spray spot for keeping my makeup looking great all day without drying out my skin. It’s alcohol-free, and I find that has helped a ton with my skin feeling less dry throughout the day.

I can’t wait to keep using these products and the new things I found in 2019 – looking forward to seeing how different my 2020 favorites are from my 2019 list!