Tag: farmacy

October 2021 Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on October 2021 Favorites

I can’t believe it’s almost November, and it’s time for another round of favorites! As usual, I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but am only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than one month. As always, 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.

Amika Multi-Task Repair Treatment – My hair had been feeling incredibly dry and lifeless lately, but when I added this into my routine, it’s like my hair went right back to normal and then some. It makes my hair feel so soft, so much less frizzy, and way shinier. It also has more volume and movement without me doing anything to it, which I love. I’ve only been using it once a week, and that’s been plenty to see results.

Farmacy Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer – This is honestly the best moisturizer I’ve tried for my super dry skin. It’s incredibly thick but still absorbs super quickly and plays well with my other night time skincare products. Usually by this time of year, my skin starts to get flaky and itchy because it’s so dry, but I’ve had no issues since I’ve been using this. I’m so glad they have the jumbo version now because I know this is going to be a staple for me for a long time.

Phytosurgence Phytobrushes – I have been loving both the Skybuff and Skyfluff brushes, and I am so happy I have them in my collection. I’ve been using them with lots of different cream blushes, bronzers, and highlighters, not just Phytosurgence products, and they’ve been fantastic. They pick up and blend out products so seamlessly and quickly so that the products really look like they’re naturally part of my face – exactly the kind of look I love doing. I’ve washed them a few times now and can confirm that they still look and feel brand new and have no issues with shedding or misshaping.

Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Flora

Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Flora – I’ve written about my love for Salt New York’s products so many times, and it’s because it’s my favorite cream formula. They blend out super easily, are super lightweight, and look so at home on my skin. I’ve been loving the shade Flora from their summer duo, which is described as a a rich, juicy, intoxicating hot pink with a slight blue undertone. It doesn’t matter how little sleep I got or how bleh I’m feeling, this shade brightens up my face and makes me look so healthy, hydrated, and happy. It’s not available anymore, but the 90s duo just launched, and I think Sugar Plum is going to be my Flora equivalent for winter!

Mac Glow Play Blushes in Grand and So Natural

MAC Glow Play Blushes – I wrote about these in my February 2020 favorites and can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve written about them again. This formula has been my go-to recently for finishing off my cheek looks because they have a really incredible blurring quality that really pulls together any look I’ve done. Because the texture is like a cross between a powder and a cream, it adds a slight sheen like a cream and great lasting power like a powder. I’ve been using both of the shades I have, So Natural and Grand, depending on what other blushes I’ve used, and I’m so glad I’ve been using these again. These are on sale right now at Nordstrom too!

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.

July 2021 Favorites

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on July 2021 Favorites

I can’t believe it’s already time to talk through my July favorites, which means we’re more than half way through 2021! I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but as usual, I only feature products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than one month. So if you don’t see something you were expecting based on how much I raved about it, you’ll likely see it in a future 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!

Phytosurgence Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Potent Petal – I have used this shadow so many times since I got it that I feel bad for neglecting my other eyeshadows. Potent Petal is described as a  a soft cherry blossom pink with a slight hint of a champagne shimmer, which is perfect for my brown eyes. The formula is the perfect mix between a matte and shimmer shadow so I can use them for a more subtle day time look or build them up to something super multidimensional and impactful. It’s just so easy! I’ve frequently added the their new Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Orchid Overload for some extra dimensional glitter, and the glitter sticks to these eyeshadows all day. I also love how much time I have to play with these to get them just where I want them on my lids, but then they dry down and stay put (even through some super intense gym sessions). I have also been loving Wild Oak (the other shade I bought), but Potent Petal is my favorite of the two.

Phytosurgence Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Potent Petal

Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balm in Simmer – I have been loving the Phytosurgence blushes I got last month, but in particular the shade Simmer. It’s a beautiful bright pink that really wakes up my whole face. It blends so seamlessly and easily into the skin, leaves an impact with such little product, and stays all day. It doesn’t need to be built up but absolutely can be layered. The finish is just glowy enough without being sticky even though it has a balmy, moisturizing texture. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s basically perfect. it’s just really special, especially considering it’s only $17. If I didn’t own so much blush, I would buy more colors (definitely let me know if you want me to review any other colors though – I will grab them if you comment below with a request!).

Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balm in Simmer

Glossier Ultralips – I have been loving all of the shades I got – you can see more swatches and comparisons of all of them here. The Ultralips are a pretty pigmented tinted lip balm that has a touch more glossiness than your average balm. I love how moisturizing it is and how long lasting it is (for a lip balm texture). You can also build up the color without anything weird happening like pilling or patching. Glossier says that the formula is so comfortable it’s like “pulling on a buttery-soft, well-loved cashmere sweater”, and I definitely agree. This is like putting on your favorite pair of sweatpants after a long day, but for your lips, and I have been using them so much.

Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet

Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer – I’ve been loving this in the summer because it’s incredibly lightweight but still very moisturizing. It also sinks into my skin so fast, which I really appreciate when it’s this hot and I don’t want to feel moisturizer on my face. It also layers incredibly well with my other morning skincare without causing pilling. I’m planning on picking up the Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer to try for the winter when my skin gets even drier than it is right now – let me know if you’d like a review!

NBM Cuticle Buddy – Color Expression, who does amazing nail polish reviews, totally sold me on the Cuticle Buddy. And for $35, you can get a kit that comes with a great travel nail file, the cuticle buddy, and a full 1oz of nail oil to refill your cuticle buddy with. I think this is just such an incredible value, especially considering how great the oil is. I got the orange (growth) formula which contains tangerine and sweet orange essential oils, and it smells amazing. I’ve been using this every night, and I definitely feel a difference in my nail health and strength. I’m so excited to have found these and am hoping to pick up some of the fun summer scents when they restock. As always, you can use my affiliate code with Shop NBM to get 10% off sitewide: LIFT10. Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about these without being an affiliate (I even wrote this before getting a code and am editing this in afterwards). 

What was your favorite product this month? What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

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

by liftbakelove2 Comments on The 5 Skincare Products I missed the most while I was gone for a month

I recently took a month long trip to the East Coast and tried to pack as lightly as I could. This meant paring down my routine to the necessities and using up my travel sized products instead of bringing my full size HGs. Because of that, there are a bunch of things I had to leave at home, and there were some skincare products that I really missed and will make sure to take with me from now on!

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – I have no idea why I didn’t bring this with me because it is my ultimate skin saving product. Like everyone else, I hadn’t been on a plane for about a year and a half, and my skin wasn’t ready for it. My skin also reacted to the incredibly high amount of pollen on the East Coast and the change in climate. Since this product is made for irritated skin that comes from dry skin, it would have been super helpful to have it to calm down my skin. I’m definitely going to remember to bring it the next time I travel.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask – I know I’ve talked about this before, and it’s because it’s always one of go-to masks. It’s what I reach for for moisturization and calming, which as I mentioned, my skin really need. It is also so great when my skin is feeling extra dull and dehydrated because my skin feels so smooth, hydrated, less irritated, and glowy after using this. It was the first thing I used after washing my face when I got home, and it made my skin feel so much better after being in new environments, planes, and under a mask for many more hours than usual.

Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD – I’ve written about this oil in almost every empties post that included a facial oil I finished because it is my true HG and the one I always miss when I’m not using it. Most facial oils I’ve tried have been equally moisturizing and glow-giving, and they all provide an occlusive layer as my last step in my skincare routine. The thing I love most about the Josie Maran oil is that it sinks in so quickly so I don’t end up with a oil slick on my face when I’m getting into bed. I can also see a big difference in my skin’s brightness and firmness when I use this vs when I don’t. If you’re looking to get this, I highly recommend waiting for a sale on the Josie Maran site because you can buy it for way less than $78.

Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser – If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love Allies of Skin products. I didn’t bring this one because I have a bunch of travel sized cleansers to get through, but I really wish I brought this instead.  This cleanser creates such a luxurious cleansing experience – you can even use it as a quick, hydrating mask if you leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off. And while it really does clean, it also leaves your skin feeling hydrated like you used a moisturizer. This is the only cleanser I’ve used that actually helps with any extra dryness and irritation, and I really noticed the difference when I wasn’t using it.

PSA Skin the Most – I hardly ever do this, but I feel like the brand’s description is so spot on that I’m just going to paste it in here: “This nutrient-packed hydrating serum is like an island oasis for stressed out, hungover, dull, and dehydrated skin. It provides essential hydration immediately while helping skin cells better retain moisture overall for plump and supple skin.” My skin absolutely loves this serum, and I missed having something for dehydrated and dull skin, especially right after I washed my face. I’m never not bringing this with me again.

What’s your can’t be without it skincare product? Let me know in the comments, and let me know what you’d like to see here next!

2020 Skincare Favorites

by liftbakelove6 Comments on 2020 Skincare Favorites

This is more a list of my best skincare discoveries in 2020, and the products I still can’t live without. I have a ton of tried and true favorites that I’ve used every day for years (comment below if you’d like a detailed post on that!), so instead of going through each category, I’ll be listing my ultimate HGs and discoveries from this year. I’m also skipping the haircare favorites because they are literally all the same as 2019 – I still love Bumble and Bumble and everything else I listed so much, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner – This toner was my favorite skincare discovery of 2019, and it’s still going strong in 2020! It has continued to make my skin clearer, brighter, and less dry. It’s also $14 for a huge bottle, and I was able to grab a bunch of bottles during a Black Friday sale. My husband loves it too, and it’s one of the only skincare products he consistently uses.

Krave Beauty Kale-lalu-yAHA – I’m still sticking with this as my chemical exfoliant of choice. For only twice a week, it really makes a huge difference for my skin and has kept it super clear and not congested. I’d be surprised if anything comes into my routine that’s better than this one for exfoliation.

Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask – On the nights I use the Kale-lalu-yAHA, I pair it with this sleeping mask so I only use it twice a week. This really helps with any potential irritation that comes with using an exfoliator and makes a huge difference in taming the redness in my skin. I’ve had the same $34 jar I raved about it in my January 2020 favorites, and it’s going strong. I have already bought a replacement though, because I notice when I don’t use it!

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – This is the best face mist I’ve ever used – and I’ve tried so many. It’s actually hydrating (like I can use it instead of a moisturizer in a pinch even with my super dry skin), and it smells amazing. Like a lot of other things on this list, I have a bunch of backups now because I don’t want to be without this.

Allies of Skin 1A™ Retinal + Peptides Overnight Mask – After a lot of searching, I have finally found my HG retinol! This doesn’t irritate my skin at all, is somehow hydrating, and still actually does all the things retinol does (smooths the appearance of wrinkles and brightens skin). It’s really a miracle product, and I have already tried so many other Allies of Skin products because how good this is. I love them all so far, and this brand is hands down my favorite brand discovery of 2020!

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask – I have to shout out Cate the Great Beauty who convinced me to get this after raving about it over and over again. 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, especially in the winter. It is the perfect mask to use after an exfoliating treatment or just when your skin is feeling extra dry and really is the best face mask of all time. My skin feels so smooth, hydrated, and glowy after using this. It’s my go to for when my skin is feeling stressed, irritated, overly dry, or anything else that requires help. It always comes to the rescue, and 1.7oz jar is still going strong so it was totally worth the investment.

Peter Thomas Roth face masks – My friend Emily surprised me with this masking set (thank you again!), and I am obsessed with them. The cucumber is the perfect cooling mask to add hydration, the pumpkin is so good for quickly exfoliating without irritation, and the gold mask is some crazy magic product that totally transforms my skin. I actually love the pumpkin one so much I have a full size of it as well, and my favorite thing to do is use the pumpkin mask and then the Farmacy honey potion mask for a true skin renewal self-care moment. When I don’t have the time, I use the gold mask because it makes my skin look and feel so good so fast. And if I have even less time, I will use the eye patches for a quick pick me up of my under eye area that I don’t even have to wash off.

Nuface Mini Facial Toning Device – I know this is expensive, but it really works! This device has helped so much with my forehead wrinkles (they were so deep and now they are basically gone between this and the retinol!) and firming up my jawline and my neck. I’m so glad I invested in this now so I can keep using it on my skin for years to come. I have convinced a couple of other folks to get one and so far, they have all had good things to say too!

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – Anyone knows me knows I only have one holy grail makeup remover/first cleanse, and that’s the Clinique Take Off the Day Cleansing Balm. I think I’ve gone through at least 6 of these by now, and I have 3 back ups right now. It gets all my makeup off while hydrating my skin, and it provides a really nice moment of self care massaging it into my skin. I will definitely keep using this as the first step in my cleansing routine. Ulta has this for 50% quite often so that’s when I stock up!

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream – This eye cream was sent to me to try and review, and I thought at the time “there’s no way I’m going to fall in love with a $70 eye cream.” And now, I’ve repurchased it twice! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation. I was able to find a set of two for $80 which was a steal, so I’m going to keep keeping an eye out because I can’t imagine switching to another eye cream.

I’ll be doing body care next, and let me know in the comments below if there’s anything you want more info about or a post you’d like me to do!

March/April Beauty Favorites

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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!