Tag: everyday makeup

6 Products that Kackie recommended that are so good they make me want to throw out my other makeup

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 6 Products that Kackie recommended that are so good they make me want to throw out my other makeup

Most of you know KackieReviewsBeauty and are here because of her (thank you for joining us over here!). She’s actually the person who came up with the name of this blog (because I’m literally her green friend). I’ve written a ton about why she’s awesome (like in this post here), but most importantly for this post is that she’s also one of the only reviewers I trust to recommend things based on what will work for her viewers. Kackie will get into the details like what undertones a shade will work best for, nuances about a product’s finish, what’s the best application style for it, etc., not just the products she personally loves. Normally I do a massive “Kackie Made Me Buy It This Year” roundup (and yes, I have that list… it’s really, really long). This post is about the products that are so perfect for me, especially with my olive undertones, that they make me want to throw away everything else in their category. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Byredo Bibliophilia Eyeshadow Palette – I watched Kackie’s video and my first thought was, “It’s probably fine, but I do not need another palette that expensive.” Especially because it has a few red shades, and it’s otherwise mostly basic browns. And then I kept thinking about it. And thinking about it. And thinking about it. Even when I got it in my hands, I was nervous because of the red tones in it. We literally texted back and forth about it because I just didn’t think it was going to work on me.

And then I tried it. I have never put on an eyeshadow look so quickly and had it look that good. I’ve been using it every day, and every look I come up with just looks so right on me. The thing I love most about this palette, other than the fantastic formula, is that the colors are so nuanced. If you want everyday browns with that lean a little cool or a little warm (but not too orange, grey, or green!), it’s perfect. The red shades, especially the burgundy, work on me way better than I expected because they have such nuanced tones to them. The lighter cream, beige, and grey shades blend everything together so well, and everything looks smooth and intentional even if I layer a ton of shades together. The sparkly wet look topper does pull a little green like Kackie said, but I love that. It brings out the brown in my eyes and makes everything look harmonious with my skin. I haven’t wanted to touch my other eyeshadow since I bought this, and I have an absurd amount of eyeshadow. Seriously, I have only worn this palette and nothing else since I got it. I really don’t think the swatches below do this palette justice with how smooth and blendable the formula is, how perfectly not quite matte the matte/satin shades are, and how sparkly the shimmers are.

The first 9 shades in the palette starting from left to right on the top row
The second 9 shades in the palette starting from left to right in the middle of the second row

If I were starting over, I’d buy this and maybe add one YSL quad for pinks and purples. I know that $115 is incredibly expensive for an eyeshadow palette, but you would need to spend $310 on the YSL quads to get to the same number of shades that’s in the Byredo palette. Danessa Myricks and Pat McGrath sell $128 palettes, Isamaya’s are $110, and Prada has $85 quads. In this price range, I’d choose the Byredo every time.

Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer in Light 1 – I have tried a bunch of concealers specifically because Kackie mentioned them, and honestly I’ve liked every single one. This one is so great because of the color and the formula. It’s a little bit green in the best way, so it’s actually warm olive concealer. It looks so natural on my skin. It is a little light for me, so I can’t use it all over my face instead of foundation, but it’s perfect for under my eyes or anywhere I want brightening. The formula is not too dewy or too matte. It blends out really fast and has enough coverage to actually cover, but doesn’t blank everything out and make you look uncanny. It layers really well too over other products and itself. Like everything on this list, once I started using it, I’ve barely wanted to reach for my other concealers, which is saying something because I have at least 10 at this point that I’m supposed to be testing.

Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer and Vieve Modern Radiant Cream Bronzer in Light 1

Vieve Modern Radiant Cream Bronzer in Light 1 – I have so many great cream bronzers at this point that I really didn’t think this one would stand out. This one though really is special, just like Kackie told me it would be. It has a slightly green, olive-leaning, neutral-warm tone that makes it look like I’ve actually gotten some sun recently. It doesn’t turn orange on me and just looks so natural. The formula is super easy to use and makes me not want to reach for my other bronzers. I can take a fluffy brush and slap it on or a more targeted application, and it blends beautifully either way. I can do a sheer layer or build it up. It’s super flexible. It also lasts really well and doesn’t disappear into my blush the way a lot of bronzers do on me. I’ve been testing a ton of cream bronzers and contours for olive skin, and this is the best one I’ve tried so far.

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne and Glassy Cinnamon – I’m honestly still shocked by how much I love these. This formula has quickly become one of my favorites because it strikes that perfect balance between a cream and a balm blush. It melts right into the skin, blends beautifully over foundation or bare skin, and leaves behind a glow-from-within finish. The shade Glassy Cinnamon is a beigey peachy brown that somehow doesn’t turn Cheeto on me and just looks so natural. Glassy Cayenne is a rosy terracotta that adds life to my face while stayed muted enough for the kind of makeup looks I tend to wear. The formula feels nourishing but not sticky, and it dries down just enough to stay put all day without losing the glassy finish. It’s the blush I reach for when I want something that looks effortless but polished, and it layers really well with powders or other creams. The only caveat is they’re sheerer than a typical cream blush stick so keep that in mind. That’s worked well for me because it’s harder to go overboard when I’m running on 2 hours of sleep or am doing makeup in the car.

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne and Glassy Cinnamon and Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Biscuit

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Biscuit – I actually had no plans to buy this until Kackie shoved it in my hands at her house because she knew it’d be perfect for me. I’ve tried so many highlighters that just look off on my skin and aren’t quite the right color. Biscuit is a perfect light beige that makes my skin look glassy and hydrated without any weird shifts happening. It really looks like my skin is naturally doing something nice, not like I applied a highlighter. It also doesn’t emphasize texture and doesn’t mess up any of the products that are underneath. I catch myself in the mirror and think it just looks so pretty. I have a few other highlighters that I really love, but this quickly has become my favorite. My only complaint is you can’t buy this shade at Sephora, so I had to grab it directly from Westman Atelier.

Merit Beauty Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner in Brownstone applied directly and then sheered out

Merit Beauty Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner in Brownstone – This one comes with an apology to Kackie because when she first raved about a sheer lip liner I told her, “that is totally not for me.” Especially since I’m so high contrast, I didn’t understand why I would want something sheer that wasn’t going to last very long. I bought it anyway to review for the blog after hearing about it on her channel a few times, and it’s now one of the only lip liners I’ve used since. It gives definition to my lips without a harsh line. The sheer quality makes it super easy to wear, and if you let it dry down before adding anything, it has surprisingly good staying power for a liner that doesn’t promise longevity. The shade Brownstone is my perfect every day slightly deep cool brown that works really well to add just enough contrast for it to be a natural looking but still an effective lip liner. My only tip is to not fuss with it too much or you can basically smudge it off. Especially, if you’re a lip liner and clear gloss person, this is the liner I’d pick.

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.

The Best New to me Products I Tried From the Sephora Sale

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Best New to me Products I Tried From the Sephora Sale

I’m taking a small hiatus from the setting spray tournament now that we’ve finished round 1 (but round 2 and 3 coming soon!). Sephora is doing another 20% off sale starting today, so I wanted to share my favorite 5 things I picked up in the last one that were new to me and absolutely worth getting. I forced myself to only pick 5, but let me know if there was anything you wanted to hear about! In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin® Natural Finish Foundation in 3W – One of the first things that immediately impressed me about this foundation is how well it matches my skin tone. I don’t need any green color corrector with it, which feels like a small miracle because I’ve relied on one with so many products. It goes on incredibly lightweight while still evening out my skin in a really seamless way. It never looks like I’ve put on too much makeup. It blends out super easily, takes almost no time to apply, and the finish is very “my skin but better.” I also love that it doesn’t require any extra steps like heavy moisturizers or special primers to look good like some other foundations do with my dry skin. It almost sets on its own right away and has a velvety texture that isn’t sticky at all. I can touch my face before setting without a ton of transfer. This has quickly become my go to when I want something with more coverage than a skin tint without going as heavy as some other foundations.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin® Natural Finish Foundation in 3W

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Under Eye Setting Powder in Soft Pink – I’ve been testing so many powders lately. I think I have about 20 to review, about half of which are pink powders. If you want a full deep dive sooner rather than later, let me know in the comments! In my quest to find the best brightening pink powder that works for dull and/or tired-looking skin, I’ve really been enjoying this one. I was never a big fan of the original Laura Mercier loose powder (though to be fair, the last time I tried it was five years ago), but this version is honestly so good. It’s smoothing, lightweight, and noticeably brightening under the eyes without looking dry or powdery. It mattifies just enough while still giving a skin-like finish, and even though it’s marketed as an under-eye powder, I can use it all over my face with no issues. Even with all the other pink powders I’m testing, this is the one I keep reaching for, even more than the original Givenchy powder I loved so much.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush Serum in Dragonfruit

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush Serum in Dragonfruit – I’ve talked about this product a few times before, and I really love the other shades I own, but Dragon Fruit has become my new favorite. It looks like a hot, neon pink in the bottle, but on my skin it sheers out into the prettiest light pink flush. I’ve been using it as a blush base under other products to bring some life back into my face (my almost one year has decided sleep is not for him), but it also works beautifully on its own for that easy no makeup makeup, “I definitely hydrated today” kind of look. It blends out into this natural color that works surprisingly well with my undertones. One of the things I appreciate most about this blue is that my skin doesn’t immediately eat it, which is rare for serum blush formulas on me. It lasts well without getting overly dewy, and it just makes my skin look healthy rather than shiny. I get the smoothest application when I put a little on the back of my hand and load up a brush before stippling, but you can absolutely dot it straight onto your cheeks too.

Eadem Lip Balms in Fig Sauce, Pain au Chocolat, Croissant au Beurre, Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, Guava Fresca, and Butter Mochi

Eadem Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm in Fig Sauce – I’ve talked about these balms so many times because they’re genuinely some of my favorite lip products ever. What I wanted to share is that Fig Sauce is such a good color. It’s a super pretty milky rosy brown that ends up being the perfect everyday shade. I usually go for deeper and more brown colors because of my high-contrast olive complexion, but this one still works so well. It’s flattering, easy, and very much a “throw it on without a mirror” situation. The formula is incredible, the scent is amazing, and I haven’t met a shade I didn’t like. I’m so happy to have another one in my collection, and I highly recommend them if you’ve been curious. I still love the shimmery ones (Pain au Chocolat and Coissant au Beurre), Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, Guava Fresca, and Butter Mochi, but Fig Sauce has definitely become one of my favorite day-to-day colors.

JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream – I don’t talk about hair care very often because it’s such a personal category and not one I consider myself an expert in, but sometimes something impresses me so much that I have to share. The JVN Complete Air Dry Cream is absolutely one of those products. I’ve never had something that I can apply to towel-dried hair and have it dry into something voluminous, defined, and genuinely good looking with zero effort. My waves stay intact, my hair keeps its shape for days, and it never feels heavy, crunchy, or weighed down. Plus, it smells great. The brand says it provides “touchable hold that lets your natural texture shine,” and that’s actually true. Most air-dry or leave-in products just don’t work for me, but this one has been such a standout that I had to include it.

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.

Best Blushes for Olive Skin: My Current Favorites for Fall 2025

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Best Blushes for Olive Skin: My Current Favorites for Fall 2025

Blush is one of those things that instantly makes me look more awake, even on days when I’m running on no sleep and too much coffee. I’ve been testing a bunch of different formulas and new (to me) shades lately and wanted to share the ones I’ve actually been reaching for now that we’re solidly into the fall season. They all work well on my olive skin, blend easily, and make me look a little more alive without any extra effort. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush in Berry Flush – The one kind of blush that doesn’t usually work for me is a serum blush that’s meant to be like skincare. Serum blushes tend to fade into nothing on me super quickly and slide around my face. So, I was really impressed by the staying power of this given how lightweight and dewy it is. While this blush is intended for a no foundation look (and works great for that), it also works really well over foundation and powder unlike other serum blushes. I really like Berry Flush for my olive skintone, especially in the fall. It just gives that perfect “I’m cold” flush with very little effort, and it makes me look like I’ve had enough water. Be aware this has niacinamide and other skincare ingredients if you’re sensitive to those!

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush in Berry Flush and Make Beauty Cream Stroke in Major Mauve (*Gifted)

Make Beauty Cream Stroke in Major Mauve (*Gifted) – This has become my go to blush when I want something effortless but still pulled together. I apply this straight from the stick, and it glides on smoothly. I was surprised how easily and quick this blended out. You can use fingers or a brush, and it will take 5 seconds. It sets down enough to last all day without feeling too dry too dewy and just makes my skin look really nice because of how blurring it is. It’s one of the cream blushes I can trust not to move around, and it works well under any powder blush or highlighter I’ve layered on top. Major Mauve is a terracotta leaning mauve (they described it as an “Earthy Mauve”) that works perfectly with my olive undertones.

Rare Beauty Matte Bouncy Blush in Truth – As the name suggests, this matte blush has a squishy bouncy texture but goes on matte. It’s the most blurring and long-wearing of my bouncy blushes, so I reach for it when I know I’ll have a long makeup day. It has a silky finish that’s easier to apply than a traditional powder blush. It’s super buildable and layers well with other blushes or cream products without disturbing what’s underneath. Truth is a soft plum that I love when it starts to get colder in the fall. It’s such an easy shade for me to work with.

Rare Beauty Matte Bouncy Blush in Truth, Soshe Blurring Pillow Blush in Rosy Rest, Speakeasy, Berry Smitten, and Copper Spice

Soshe Blurring Pillow Blush in Speakeasy, Rosy Rest, Berry Smitten, and Copper Spice (*2 Gifted, 2 Purchased) – I have been loving all the shades of this blush. It’s so quick and easy to throw on, just like the Rare Beauty blush. Similarly, this formula is really blurring and lasts well all day. It has a natural finish that looks really nice on my dry skin, so that makes it a little more versatile than the Rare Beauty which is more matte. I love how all the shades work well with my olive undertones since I can usually only find a couple in a range that work for me. Berry Smitten (berry plum) and Copper Spice (warm terracotta) have been my favorite shades for fall, but I’d recommend all of them. Speakeasy (dusty mauve) Rosy Rest (dusty pink) are super easy for me to throw on when I want something more neural. I also love that you can buy just the refills and pop them in a magnetic palette, which is what I did with a few of mine.

Soshe blush refills in a magnetic palette

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo in Fizz/Jam – This duo has become one of my favorites lately. The formula feels silky and almost creamy for a powder. It’s super blurring, like most of these other blushes, but a bit harder to blend out than those. I mostly love this duo for the colors. Fizz is a bright watermelon pink that instantly wakes up my complexion, and Jam is a rich berry that adds depth and is especially perfect for fall. On my olive skin, both shades look super flattering, and I love mixing them together so I can make my cheeks more pink or berry depending on my eye look. This is definitely a splurge even when you consider it’s a duo. If I had to choose, I’d go with the Soshe Blurring Pillow Blush because it’s an easier formula to work with overall and has the same blurring quality without any of the dryness from being a powder blush.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo in Fizz/Jam

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.

The Products I Used To Do My Makeup in the Car in Under 10 Minutes Without Brushes

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Products I Used To Do My Makeup in the Car in Under 10 Minutes Without Brushes

Sometimes (honestly, most of the time right now with a 9 month old), I can’t do a full makeup routine. I recently had to do a full face in the car, without any brushes, in under 10 minutes (my husband was driving, don’t worry!). I wanted to share the exact products I reached for that made it possible to still look put together. Each product is easy to apply with fingers, quick to blend, and reliable enough to last all day without any powder. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Basma The Foundation Stick in 35 (light skin with neutral olive undertones) – The stick isn’t too stiff, and I can use it to spot conceal just where I need to. The formula is super buildable so you can get light to pretty full coverage. It feels really lightweight and has a natural, almost finish that isn’t too matte or glowy. It lasts really well and is my new go to when I don’t want to deal with liquid foundation, like in a car. Plus, since they have actual olive shades, I don’t need to use green color corrector with it. The left swatch is unblended and the right is blended – it starts out a bit intense, but blends out beautifully and matches my skin so well.

Basma The Foundation Stick 

About Face Beach Freak Bronzer Stick in Beach Goth – This has quickly become one of my favorite cream bronzers because of how effortlessly it blends and how natural the finish looks. The formula has such a nice texture that melts into the skin without disturbing any makeup underneath. It’s a bit dewy as you can see in the swatch, which makes it easy to blend with my fingers before setting down into a soft, skin-like finish that never feels sticky or heavy. The color is beautifully balanced so that it’s warm enough to add life and dimension, but not so orange that it looks like I put Cheeto dust on my face. I love that it builds easily depending on how intense of a look I’m going for. It’s the kind of product I can swipe on in a hurry, blend with my fingers, and instantly look more put together.

About Face Beach Freak Bronzer Stick in Beach Goth and Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm in Glassy Cayenne

Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm in Glassy Cayenne- This is one of the easiest cream blushes to apply without a brush. It glides effortlessly onto the skin and blends out seamlessly with fingers. Glassy Cayenne is a deep warm rose that creates such a flattering, flushed look that instantly brightens my complexion without ever looking overdone. The formula has just enough of a natural, skin-like finish to look healthy, and it stays put throughout the day. It’s the perfect blush for a quick, no tools applications.

Make Beauty Infinite Hold Brow Gel – This continues to be my all time favorite tinted eyebrow gel, and it makes the perfect base for filling in with a pencil. The combo of this with the Rare Beauty Eyebrow Gel (mentioned later in this post) gives shape, color, and hold reliably. The spoolie makes this really easy to throw on, even in a moving car. The Cool Brown shade works really well for me, but I do wish they had more shades.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in 5 – Because of an empty spot I have in one of my brows, I never skip this step, so I had to include both this and brow gels in my travel bag. I love this pencil because it goes on so quickly and naturally and the size makes it perfect to fill areas in fast but not overdo it. And unlike other pencils, it stays all day, so I don’t end up with a hole in my brow by the end of the day. This shade also works great for me, and I appreciate that they have a pretty wide range.

Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel – I’ve tried so many brow gels, and nothing has ever really held my brows in place all day until this one. I was honestly shocked that they stayed put until I washed them off, with zero crunchiness, flaking, or stiffness. The hold is strong but flexible, and it actually looks natural. It’s my perfect last step to finish off my brows.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve – This shadow has quickly become a one and done favorite. The mauve shade is the perfect neutral on my skin tone and looks so polished with very little effort. You can tell in the swatch it ends up being essentially a neutral brown. It applies super easily, blends out quickly, and once it sets, it stays put all day without creasing. It’s exactly what I want in a liquid matte shadow. I also love how easy it is to get just a little bit off the doefoot because the formula is a little thick, which means you don’t end up with way too much that blends out all over your face. That also makes it super easy to use even in a moving car.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve and Peptide Glow Hydrating Lip Treatment in Brûlée

Rephr Lash Curler – I’ve tried so many lash curlers over this years, but this one is by far my favorite. It works with my eye shape really well which a lot of other curlers don’t seem to. It gets all of my lashes including the corners, and my lashes actually curl. It was also super easy to use even while the car was moving, which I appreciate. This one also never pinches my lashes or does anything weird.

Persona Tubing Mascara in Black – I love tubing mascaras for how easy they are to remove, but many of them are too heavy for my straight lashes to stay curled. This lengthens, separates, and holds a curl without smudging. It comes off with just warm water like all tubing mascaras. It took a few days for me to warm up to this one, but I’m really enjoying it. I’m currently putting together my tubing mascara recommendations, and this might make it to the top 3. That said, I still prefer the one from Finding Ferdinand or Em Cosmetics.

Peptide Glow Hydrating Lip Treatment in Brûlée (*PR) – The texture of this balm is really smooth and thick (in a good way) and feels incredibly hydrating. It’s almost like a lip gloss in the form of a balm. It sits comfortably on the lips without feeling sticky or heavy. Brûlée is a sheer warm nude that adds just enough tint to make my lips look more even, but it still feels super low-effort. It turns pretty pink on me as you can see in the swatches, but I actually really like that for a “my lips but better” kind of look. It’s not the longest-wearing lip balm I’ve ever tried, but it wears off evenly, leaves my lips feeling soft and nourished, and I don’t feel like I need to use another balm after it’s worn off. One note – this has a coconut/beachy scent which is a little strong. I love this balm enough to look past it, but if you’re not a scent person, I’d recommend the Queen Musia Skincare Supercharged Tinted Hydrabalm in 1993 instead.

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.

Products I Didn’t Expect to Love But Keep Reaching For

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Products I Didn’t Expect to Love But Keep Reaching For

I’ve been testing a bunch of new products lately for some upcoming roundups and posts, and I wanted to share 5 of them that have genuinely surprised me with how good they are. I didn’t expect any of these to wow me as much as they did, but I’m so glad I tried them. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream – My skin’s been feeling unusually rough and irritated lately, and I grabbed this on a whim hoping for something calming and nourishing. I swear it worked overnight. My skin looked and felt noticeably smoother and more moisturized the next morning. Even my husband commented that my skin looked better, and my makeup applied better too. It has this an extremely thick and rich texture that somehow doesn’t feel suffocating (even though I thought it would). It somehow just calms everything down, and I’m seriously impressed.

Milk Makeup Hydrogrip Primer – After a few all-day wear tests, I can confidently say that this works amazingly well to keep my makeup looking great all day. It seriously extends the wear time of makeup, especially in tricky spots like my nose where foundation tends to fade first. It isn’t drying, layers beautifully under multiple foundations I tested, and spreads easily with a smooth, slightly tacky finish that helps makeup grip and stay in place. I also tested it side by side with the ELF version. They’re almost the same but I find the Milk lasts even a little longer (you definitely don’t need to run out and grab this if you have the ELF though!).

Makeup Forever Artist Color Crayon in Endless Cacao, Dior Contour Stick in 01, Westman Atelier Contour Stick in Biscuit

Makeup Forever Artist Color Crayon in Endless Cacao – This might be the only contour shade I’ve found that actually looks like a shadow on my olive skin. It doesn’t have any weird orange undertones as you can see from the swatches compared to the Dior and Westman Atelier contour sticks. It’s cool-toned and just sheer enough to build up and blend without any harsh lines. The crayon format makes it super quick to use, though it’s a super chunky for detailed contouring. I’m a little worried about how usable it’ll be when the tip wears down, but for now, it’s doing the job really well. It also doubles as a lip liner or eye pencil if you’re into multipurpose products, but again, I don’t know how easy that’ll be with how chunky of a stick it is.

Finding Ferdinand Lashlift Mascara (*gifted) – I hadn’t used this for awhile but am trying it again for a future tubing mascara round up, and I had forgotten how much I love it. This tubing mascara was the first that I tried that was much lighter weight than the Thrive mascara. I love that my lashes don’t fall as quickly and keep a curl much longer than with the Thrive. This is currently in my top spot because not only does it hold a curl longer than the Thrive mascara, it holds a curl longer than all of the other tubing mascaras I’ve tried and stays the entire day. I’ve bought a few of these myself, but the current tube I’m using was gifted by the brand.

Sephora Collection Totally Juicy Lip Tint in 12 – I grabbed this during the last Sephora sale and totally forgot to report back on how it is. It dries down quickly, feels moisturizing, and leaves behind the most even, long-lasting stain I’ve tried in a while. It’s super low-maintenance and easy to apply. It doesn’t feel as high stakes as some other lip tints I have. There’s a faint scent, but it fades fast and isn’t overwhelming. Shade 12 (described as a deep brown nude) is on the darker side even for my high-contrast coloring, but it’s gorgeous freshly applied and wears down into a beautiful, soft stain as you can see below. I really want to check out some of the other shades now especially since this is only $14.

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.

Natasha Denona Mini Glam Palette: The Best Everyday Neutral Eyeshadow Palette for Olive Undertones

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Natasha Denona Mini Glam Palette: The Best Everyday Neutral Eyeshadow Palette for Olive Undertones

I’ve tried countless neutral eyeshadow palettes, but the Natasha Denona Mini Glam Palette really stands out to me. It’s become my staple every day palette, especially because it works so well with my olive undertones without going too warm or too cool. I wanted to do a full rundown of each shade and why I love this palette so much. As always, 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!

The Mini Glam palette has five shades that all work well individually as one-and-done looks or together to create various looks. Unlike other palettes that can pull too warm and orange on me, the browns actually stay brown, and the shimmers don’t end up looking like I accidentally added cheeto dust to my eye look. Because of this, the Mini Glam palette is super easy for me to throw on even when I’m running low on time. I can put together a polished look with minimal effort and without really having to think about it. I also love that I can do anything from a subtle wash of color to a cool-toned smoky eye with just this palette.

Of course, the palette is great for travel because it’s so small, and I even threw it even my backpack to take to the office one day with no issues. Some of the shades remind me of the Biba palette (I’m pretty sure Seed is actually in both), so this is a great way to get Biba palette vibes for only $27. Here are some swatches of all of the shades:

The shimmers, Golden Flesh (a gold-bronze metallic), Anjo (a gray-brown metallic), and Faye (a cool metallic champagne), all apply well with a finger or brush, though I recommend using natural fiber brushes if you can with Natasha Denona shadows in general. There’s no chunky glitter or fallout with these shades, which is another reason they’re super easy to throw on in the morning.

Seed is a creamy dark brown matte and Harlow is a creamy matte taupe that both blend easily without any patchiness. Seed is a perfect outer corner and liner color for me while Harlow is a great base and blending shade or easy one and done matte look.

Golden Flesh and Anjo both work really well for one and done looks depending on if you want to go more bronze or more taupe. They also layer beautifully together. Faye is a fantastic inner corner highlight, and I’ve also used it all over the lid for a subtle daytime look.

If you have olive skin and struggle to find truly flattering neutral tones, I highly recommend giving the Natasha Denona Mini Glam Palette a try. It has become an absolute essential in my collection and is worth every penny especially since it’s fairly affordable given the cost of other quands and quints (looking at you, new Hourglass quads).

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.

Long Wearing Summer Makeup That Holds Up All Day (Including the New Sacheu Blush + Contour)

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Long Wearing Summer Makeup That Holds Up All Day (Including the New Sacheu Blush + Contour)

The past couple of weeks I took a short hiatus to focus on doing full day wear tests so I could find products that hold up through long, hot summer days and even during runs. I wanted to find low-effort, long-wearing products that actually live up to their promises. Here are the 5 products that really stood out to me!

ELF Power Grip Primer – Someone recently asked me for a recommendation for a primer that could stop their makeup from sliding off by midday, and I realized I hadn’t actually tested this cult-favorite yet. After a few all-day wear tests, I can confidently say that it works. It seriously extends the wear time of makeup, especially in tricky spots like my nose where foundation tends to fade first. It isn’t drying, layers beautifully under multiple foundations I tested, and spreads easily with a smooth, slightly tacky finish that helps makeup grip and stay in place.

Sacheu Liquid Contour STAY-N in Giving Sass – This still isn’t my favorite contour color for my warm olive skintone but it’s getting super close! It’s just a little bit warm (you can see a little orange peaking through on the edges) but it definitely has enough neutral and green tones that it works on me as a brontour. The formula is what really won me over – it applies effortlessly, blends out in seconds, and dries down to a soft, natural skin-like finish. And because it’s a stain, it legitimately lasts all day, even with sweat and tons of baby kisses.

Sacheu CHEEK STAY-N All-Day Liquid Blush in I’m Guilty – I absolutely love this color. It’s a mauvey rose that actually reads like a true “nude mauve” on my olive skin which surprised me because most shades with that label pull too pink or too bright. This one is deeper, slightly desaturated, and super wearable. If you look at the built up swatch towards the bottom you can see how deep and mauve it can get, and I love how versatile that makes this shade. It’s been the perfect everyday shade for me this month. Like the contour, it blends out with almost no effort and sets down to a long-wearing stain that doesn’t budge. I’ve been reaching for both this and the contour over all my other blushes and bronzers lately, which says a lot considering how many I have in rotation.

Half Magic Sparklestik Eye Crayon in Princess Teddy – I tested so many eyeshadow crayons to find the most long lasting, and this was by far the winner for me. A few of the others creased or rubbed off after a couple of hours (even inside with AC), but this one held up great even after running and taking long walks in the summer heat. I also love this color – it’s a great everyday one and done sparkly brown I can easily throw on. I also really love how sparkly it stays even after I blend it a bit since some sticks’s shimmer can blend out into nothing. I’m probably going to pick up a few more shades of these.

Elf Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray – Similar to the primer, this really helps my makeup last all day. Because it’s meant to also leave a dewy finish, make sure that if you want to optimize how long lasting it is that you don’t go overboard. A little goes a long way! The dewy finish is really pretty, and I was surprised it didn’t get in the way of the staying power of this spray. I also don’t know if I’d recommend this for those with oily skin who really want to lock in their makeup and might need something like the One Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray.

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.

My Favorite Bouncy Blushes for a Natural, Soft-Focus Finish

Featuredby liftbakelove1 Comment on My Favorite Bouncy Blushes for a Natural, Soft-Focus Finish

When it comes to blush, I want something that’s effortless to apply, blends seamlessly, and leaves my cheeks looking naturally flushed—not like I’m wearing product. Over time, I’ve found myself reaching almost for blushes with that soft, bouncy texture that sits somewhere between a cream and a powder. They give the blur and longevity of a powder without the mess, while still maintaining the smooth, skin-like finish I love from creams. These are my favorite four formulas – let me know if you there’s any bouncy blushes I should try next! In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Blushes are swatched in the order they are listed below

MAC Glow Play Blush in So Natural, Blush Please, Heat Index, Totally Synced, True Harmony, and Grand – This formula has been my go-to for finishing off cheek looks for years thanks to its impressive blurring effect that really pulls everything together. Because the texture is a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. This is definitely the bounciest of the bunch I’m covering today, but I don’t find that has an on its performance. Between So Natural (golden beige), Blush Please (neutral light mauve), Heat Index (bright pink), Totally Synced (light lilac), True Harmony (bronzey beige), and Grand (petal pink), I’m very well covered in terms of tones. So Natural go a bit more orange on me than I would have wanted, which is why I picked up True Harmony. It shows up way more brown on me so I was really happy I grabbed it.

Half Magic Cheek Fluff Soft Blur Blush in Don’t Be a Doll, Only Drama, and Magic Brownie – Like the Glow Play line, this has that cream-powder hybrid texture that melts into the skin beautifully and delivers a diffused, blurred finish. These are slightly more pigmented and longer-wearing than the MAC glow play, leaning a bit closer to powder while still retaining that cushiony feel. These still have that cream-like sheen like the Glow Play blushes. Don’t Be a Doll is a peachy bubblegum that does go coral on me and is almost too orange, but I’ve been loving it during these warmer months. If I could go back in time, I probably should’ve gotten Sexual Flushtration which is a hot pink. Only Drama is a magenta plum that is one of my favorite purple blushes in my collection. Magic Brownie is a rosy brown that actually stays brown and doesn’t turn orange – an amazing find for olive skintones who are always looking for a brown blush. I really don’t like the packaging these come in – it’s a weird fast food container material that I don’t think will last long or travel well. I depotted two of mine and will move the last one now that I’ve been able to show the packaging in this post.

Em Cosmetics Pillow Plush Blush in Tickled – As you may have guessed, this also has a bouncy, cushiony texture that’s a hybrid between a cream and a powder. This one leans more matte than Glow Play or Cheek Fluff, and it’s the most natural-looking on the skin, with even greater staying power than those. While it lacks the cream-like sheen of those two, it’s very blurring and seamless on the skin. I absolutely love the shade Tickled – it’s a cool toned mauve that’s beautiful on my warm olive skintone. This is my go-to “I made my look way too warm and have to fix it” throw it on top blush. I think I also like the packaging the most out of these, especially for travel, since it’s sturdy and has a mirror.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush in Hope – As the name suggests, this matte blush has that same bouncy texture but leans furthest into powder territory. It’s the most blurring and long-wearing of the bunch, with a silky finish that’s easier to apply than traditional powder blush. Pigment-wise, it’s comparable to Cheek Fluff—rich but buildable. It also layers well with other blushes or cream products without disturbing what’s underneath, making it super versatile for quick or more polished looks. Hope is described as a nude mauve, and it’s more of a peachy pink on me that’s almost too orange but not quite. I honestly love that for the summer, and I might pick up one of the other shades for the winter.

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.

Stuff I Tried Lately: The Good, the Great, and the Green Corrector

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Stuff I Tried Lately: The Good, the Great, and the Green Corrector

I’ve been testing a bunch of products lately, some new to me and some I probably should’ve tried way sooner. I wanted to report back on these five, since a few of them have already made it into my regular routine and one was a total fail. Here’s what stood out (for better or worse) and how they worked on my dry, olive skin. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

ELF Power Grip Primer – Someone asked me for a recommendation for a primer that would help their makeup stop slipping off their face, and I realized I hadn’t tried this primer yet. I did a few all day wear tests, and it really does help makeup stay much longer. I was especially impressed with how well it kept foundation on my nose, an area that usually wears off pretty fast on me. It also wasn’t drying, played well with multiple foundations I tested it with, and spread easily and evenly. I’m really looking forward to using this one in the summer now that I know how well it works!

Basma The Foundation Stick in 35 (light skin with neutral olive undertones) – I know I’m very late to the party on this one, but my Fenty Foundation stick expired and I needed to replace it. I figured it was as good a time as any to finally try the Basma, and I’m so impressed. The stick isn’t too stiff and works well whether I apply it directly to my face or to a brush first. I like using the brush method a bit better because it can stick a tiny bit to dry patches but drawing all over works in a pinch too. The formula is super buildable so you can get light to pretty full coverage. It feels really lightweight and has a natural, almost finish that isn’t too matte or glowy. It lasts really well and is my new go to when I don’t want to deal with liquid foundation. Plus, they have actual olive shades so I don’t need to use green color corrector with it.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush in Watermelon and Berry Flush – I love blush, whether it’s liquid, powder, cream, or anywhere in between. But the one kind of blush that doesn’t usually work for me is a super runny serum blush that’s meant to be like skincare. Serum blushes tend to fade into nothing on me super quickly and slide around my face. So, I was really impressed by the staying power of this given how lightweight and dewy it is. While this blush is intended for a no foundation look (and works great for that), it also works really well over foundation and powder unlike other serum blushes. I really like Berry Flush for olive skintone, and I hope they come up with more shades! Watermelon is pretty coral on me, which is pretty, but might lean a little bit orange if you’re looking for a more neutral pink. Be aware this has niacinamide and other skincare ingredients if you’re sensitive to those!

Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel – I’ve tried so many brow gels, and nothing has ever really held my brows in place all day—until this one. I was honestly shocked that they stayed put until I washed them off, with zero crunchiness, flaking, or stiffness. The hold is strong but flexible, and it actually looks natural. My only complaint is that it doesn’t come in tinted shades. I’ve been layering it over the Make Beauty Infinite Hold eyebrow gel (which is still my all time favorite tinted gel that comes pretty close in terms of hold), and the combo is perfect—it gives shape, color, and all-day hold without fail.

Tarte Shape Tape Corrector in Green – Easily the worst green color corrector I’ve tried in recent memory. I’m still searching for my perfect one, but this isn’t close. The formula is incredibly dry, hard to blend, and just sits awkwardly on top of the skin. Instead of neutralizing redness, it leaves a weird minty green layer that looks like paint and doesn’t mesh well under foundation. It’s not comfortable either – it feels like old school face paint. If you’re looking for a green corrector that actually works, the best one I’ve found so far is the Exa High Fidelity green color corrector —it’s a much more neutral muted green in a formula that actually blends into the skin without being too matte or too dewy.

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.