2022 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 10

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

Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator – While I love Necessaire products and especially love the eucalyptus scent, I wouldn’t buy this again. The exfoliating particles were way too small to be effective for me vs something like the KBShimmer scrub. It also is much less moisturizing than other scrubs I’ve tried. If you’re looking for a body exfoliator that is super gentle though, I think you’d really like this! It definitely does something and it’s not irritating at all so it’s perfect for someone with sensitive skin or if you’re not used to body exfoliating.

Amika The Kure 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. I will absolutely buy more from this line once I get through all of my similar hair products (I have a ton), and I would definitely recommend this.

Krave Beauty Kale-lalu-yAHA – I really liked this product while I was using it, and I’ve had it since at least 2020 so it lasted forever. For only twice a week, it made a huge difference for my skin and has kept it from being congested. I noticed a difference when I wasn’t using it, and it didn’t irritate my skin. That said, I much prefer the REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner. It’s more powerful in terms of the results I get without being any less gentle. It is just as hydrating and provides that same glowy complexion. It doesn’t hurt that Ren is much more available from major retailers than Krave, and the bottle I’m sure will last just as long. I will be using my Ren toner and likely repurchase that unless something even better comes along.

Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask (repeat empty) – I’ve talked about this in at least 3 favorites posts now because I love it so much. My last jar lasted me from before January 2020 until now, so for me, it’s 100% worth the $34 price for the jar (especially if I can get it on sale). I only use this mask twice a week when I use my AHA toner, and it really helps with any potential irritation that comes with using an exfoliator. It also makes a huge difference in taming the redness in my skin that I really don’t have any anymore. I already had a replacement because this is one of the only products I know I can’t be without, but I will absolutely get another jar in 2023 when I finally run out again.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Energizing Marine Cleanser – I only had a sample of this, and I’m so glad I got to try it. I loved using it while I had it – it’s so gentle and hydrating while cleansing super well, and it smells great. It didn’t irritate or dry out my skin, and I felt like I could wait quite a bit longer than usual without needing to put on moisturizer after using it. All that said, it’s $64 for 5oz so I’m not sure if I will ever invest in it because there are so many other cleansers on that market that are amazing and so much less expensive.

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

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!