As part of my no-buy year, I’m trying to really get to know and love my collection and starting a “favorite products under $X series” to help me in that process. I’ll be doing posts every month for different dollar amounts, and I’m so excited to dive into my collection in this way. I’m starting with my favorite products under $10. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for under $10 beauty products in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand – This blends so easily and quickly and creates a sophisticated glow without glitter. It’s a perfect wash of light-catching pigment and is also blurring. It looks great as a finishing touch to any look I’ve used it in, and I love that it looks great on the cheeks, brow bone, inner corner, or anywhere else I want it to go. I can apply it straight from the wand or use my fingers or a brush and it works great. It only comes in one shade but I think this shade would work for a lot of people because it’s so sheer. Compared to $38 for the Charlotte Tilbury version of this, it’s incredible that this only costs $9.18. I honestly would’ve thought this was a luxury product down to the packaging, and I can’t believe it’s less than $10.
Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer – This is my favorite concealer for when I want something high coverage to cancel out my undereye circles. The shade Fair Warm is perfect for me (my arm where I swatch shows up much lighter and cooler than my face, but I find that helps show product colors really well). It’s incredibly lightweight for how much coverage it provides, and I can layer it with no issues. It doesn’t look dry or cakey and has great lasting power for something that actually is hydrating. I’m able to use powder on top of it with no issues or any weird texture. This is everything I wanted the Tarte Shape Tape to be. This concealer is $6, and I got it on sale for $4.80.
Essence Mosaic Blush – I have both shades that are currently at Ulta, a rosy pink shade called The Berry Connection and a peachy pink shade called All You Need Is Pink. There’s a little bit of kick back because it’s a bit dry, but it goes on smoothly and is easy to blend. I love using these to set any cream blushes I’ve used because they’re not too pigmented and have a satin finish. I got these blushes for $3.99 so both together are under $10. I was shocked at how great this formula is – it rivals my high-end blushes easily. I find myself reaching for it over other powder blushes because it looks so pretty and is so easy to blend. I also like having them for travel because the compact is so thin and easy to slide into my makeup bag if I want something to help my cream products last longer.
Ulta Under Eye Brightener – I have super dark undereye and can’t get away without a corrector, and I’m so happy to have discovered this one. It’s about $10 and a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot!
Shop Miss A Super Soft Wonder Blender – I cannot believe I was spending $20 regularly on Beauty Blenders when these were an option. They get so big once you’ve wet them, and they have an amazingly soft texture. And they are still firm enough to avoid soaking up a ton of makeup and blend products seamlessly. I have tried many Beauty Blender dupes and makeup sponges, but none of them have as great as this one. At $1.55 per sponge, I am never going back and have loved and used these for almost a year now with absolutely no issues.
What are your favorite products under $10? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
If you haven’t heard of Beauty Pie, it’s described as providing consumers with exceptional formulas sourced from the best factories worldwide – all while keeping costs low by cutting out the middleman, excessive packaging and expensive marketing budgets. It’s basically like the Costco of beauty – you pay a membership fee to access the low prices, but in theory, you save way more than your membership fee. This is part two (see my first reviews here), and I know I’ve already saved more than the yearly membership cost (I ended up getting a Black Friday deal where the membership was $9 when all was said and done). As with all of my reviews, this is not sponsored, and there are no affiliate links in this post. And as always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!
Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil – This lip oil reminds me so much of the Dior Lip Oil but is so much more nourishing and a fraction of the price (the Beauty Pie is $8.21 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the shade Nude Nectar which is sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some “my lips but better” color if I’m not wearing anything. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it. It’s been a struggle to not pick up a ton more shades but between my no-buy and all my FitGlow Lip Serums (which is also very similar to this), I definitely don’t need more right now.
From left to right: Beauty Pie lip oil in Nude Nectar, lipstick in Nothing Nude, cream blush in Bare Blush
Futurelipstick Luxe Shine – This formula is really high shine and super smoothing, and I find myself reaching for it so much more than my other lipsticks. It’s surprisingly nourishing and hydrating for such a pigmented lipstick – it has the finish of a lipstick and the formula of a hydrating lip balm. I have the shade Nothing Nude which is a cool rosy brown that I’m super excited to wear even more when fall rolls back around this year. This lipstick is $10.60 – the least expensive full sized lipstick I have in my collection. It reminds me the most of the Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Color ($36) and the Glossier Ultralip ($18) in terms of formula and finish.
From left to right: Beauty Pie lip oil in Nude Nectar, lipstick in Nothing Nude, cream blush in Bare Blush
Supercheek Cream Blush – The formula is creamy but it totally dries down and isn’t sticky. It’s super easy to dip a brush into the pot and blend onto my cheeks – it takes less than 10 seconds. The formula is also surprisingly blurring (which hopefully you can see in the swatch above), and I love how it sets down to a powdery finish without being matte. The texture is really thin and because it dries down, I don’t notice it on my skin at all. I love the color I got, Bare Blush, which is such a warm, rosy pink. The only issue I have with this blush is that it can tend to pick up what’s underneath it if I’m not careful, so my favorite way to use it is actually over powder. Out of these three products, this is my least favorite, and I think I prefer my other cream blush formulas over it. That said, it’s a really great product for less than $10 vs some of my favorites like the Kjaer Weis Cream Blush which is $32.
What new products and brands have you discovered lately? Are there Beauty Pie questions you have or products you’d like me to review in the future? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!
Someone requested this post, and I got super excited about the idea to think about which products give me a boost when I use them. These products are my version of a bold, red lip – when I put them on, I instantly feel more confident and put together. They make me feel happy and ready to face whatever life is throwing my way no matter what kind of day I’m having. 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.
Roen 1:1 Quad – I love the Roen eyeshadows, but there’s one shade I use the most. The sparkly shade swatched farthest to the right below is my go to for adding a high impact sparkle to any eye look, whether it’s on top of the other shades in the 11:11 palette or any other eyeshadow I’ve used. It just seems to finish off any look, particularly in a world where I want people to see my eyes mostly through a screen. I did a huge presentation that I was really nervous for and covered my eyes with this shade and got so many compliments on it. So now when I’m feeling nervous, I just put on a ton with a finger, and I’m good to go.
Swatches of the Roen 11:11 Quad
Glossier Portrait and Lisa Eldridge Velvet Petal – I thought I wasn’t a pink person at all since I tend towards more browns and roses for my lip shades. Then I tried these two lip products and realized there’s something about a warm, pink lip that just makes me feel amazing. I’ve gotten compliments wearing both of these, and they really brighten up my face. Portrait is my go to for when I want a glossy lip, and Velvet Petal for when I want something matte and long lasting, especially under a mask.
Glossier Portrait (top) and Lisa Eldridge Velvet Petal (bottom)
Auric Glow Lust – This product is my favorite for making my skin look amazing no matter what’s going on with it. Even if my skin is dull and dehydrated and not looking its best, Glow Lust will make it look glowy, smooth, and moisturized. Every time I wear it, I instantly feel more confident, especially for video meetings because Glow Lust reflects so beautifully and distracts from anything else going on. Of all of my glowy, liquid products, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch.
Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini – I’m not a huge powder product user, but there’s something about this bronzer that really pulls a look together. I find this creates a more satin finish which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting, especially under a mask. This Vesca bronzer is my favorite for this purpose (and also my favorite powder bronzer in general) – it’s not too orange, feels incredibly smooth and velvety, blends beautifully, smells amazing, and is such a believable bronzer on me. When my makeup is feeling a bit blah, I add this as a finishing touch, and everything feels right again.
Nail polish – Having super pretty, sparkly, fun nail polish on always makes me feel more confident and put together. I have a ton of polishes that I love for this, so here’s some recent ones that made me feel great while wearing them. I could list so many more – let me know if you want to see more nail polish on here in the comments!
KBShimmer Wrap It Up
Holo Taco Bring Me the Teal and Starrily Star Cluster
ILNP Cityscape
Starrily Uranus
What products make you feel more confident? Let me know in the comments below! Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
I own almost everything that Lisa Eldridge has come out with except for her lip liners and foundation and have generally been super happy with the products (including the lipsticks, highlighter, blushes, and lip glosses). When I saw these eyeshadows come out last year, I knew I wanted to try a couple and have been testing them since then for this review. If you’d like to see a full Lisa Eldridge brand run down, let me know in 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 for new posts.
Spoilers: I absolutely love this eyeshadow. This formula is so quick and easy to use. It’s almost like a mousse and feels half way between a cream and a liquid. I’ve tried using a brush and fingers, with and without a primer, and applying directly from the doe-foot and from my hand – nothing I tried didn’t work out amazingly. The formula doesn’t crease and looks exactly the same all day. I tested it on a 17 hour makeup day, and it honestly could have just been applied. I even did an hour and a half long gym session, and it didn’t budge. I’ve used it as one sheer layer, a thicker application, and layered on top of itself, and it looked great all three ways. I love how I have enough time to play with it and blend it out however I want before it sets down. They’re also both some of the more spangly eyeshadows I’ve ever used, which may be the thing I love about them the most.
Angelica (left) and Bianca (right)
Angelica is a rosy bronze that is the absolute perfect shade for me – I feel like I’ve been hunting for this color for years, and here it is. It’s the perfect mix of brown, bronze, rose gold, and metallic sparkle that isn’t too dark or too light. The sparkle really shines against the darker color in a very sophisticated way. I can pair it with almost any blush and lip color, and it looks right at home. If I could only pick one eyeshadow to keep, this would probably be the one.
Bianca is a warm, purply-pink that really makes my brown eyes pop. It also has a very sparkly, almost metallic finish, that makes it one of the sparkliest eyeshadows I own or have ever seen. I used Angelica first and thought that was the sparkliest eyeshadow ever, and this totally blew it out of the water. I was worried it would be too light and pink, but I’m really happy with the color for a brighter look and can’t wear it in the spring and summer. That said, I find that it looks better on me with a crease color and some added depth in the outer corner vs being a true one and done for me like Angelica.
Agelica (Top) and Bianca (Bottom)
The Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow is in the same price range as other liquid shadows like the Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow ($28). It’s more expensive than the Bodyography Liquid Eyeshadow ($20) and the Glossier Lidstar ($18), but I like the formula so much more than those. The shadows stay pigmented and sparkly all day and don’t fade or crease, but they’re still easy to remove. They also are much easier to work with because of their almost cream like texture. Even if I wasn’t on a no-buy, I wouldn’t get any other liquid shadows because I honestly would rather be using the Liquid Lurex every time. And if I could go back in time, these would be the only two I would get.
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.
I get frequently asked for makeup and skincare recommendations for a full routine, and I’m super excited to put them all in one place – again! I did this last year, and it’s been really fun to look back and see what’s still a favorite (turns out, a lot of things) and what was newly discovered this year. Like last year, I’ll be splitting out the makeup and skincare lists so these posts don’t get too long. I would love see your favorites and recommendations for 2021 in the comments! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.
Primer: Glossier Future Dew – This continues to be one of my favorite products, and is one of the only things I consistently use every day in my makeup routine. It provides such an amazing glossy, hydrating base that makes me look like I drank enough water (and if you know me, you know I have never had enough water). It works beautifully with any foundation, concealer, and powder combo I put on top of it and makes them look way better on my skin – no dry patches, no clinging, no flatness. I got another back-up during Glossier’s 20% off sale recently so I always have another bottle on hand.
When I think through all my base products, these two really rise to the top of my list for the ones I would keep if I only got to keep my HGs. The Typology is my go-to for when I’m having a really dry skin day or want something light coverage (which is most days). It’s incredibly smoothing and lightweight while being able to build to medium coverage. It wears incredibly well for how moisturizing it feels (it wears in without wearing off), and it plays well with every bronzer, blush, highlighter, and powder I’ve used with it. It also contains lots of great skincare ingredients, and my skin definitely feels way less dry at the end of the day than with other base products.
I gravitate towards the Fenty Eaze Drops when I need something more long wearing and loved using it in the summer when it was super hot. The formula is almost entirely mask proof and sweat proof, but doesn’t look heavy at all. It has a natural finish that I can easily add dew too with something like Glossier Future Dew without effecting how long it lasts. Even walking around or working out when it’s incredibly hot, it holds up super well all day. I love that I can blend it in super quickly with my fingers, and it looks flawless – during the summer, I want things that are quick and easy, and this definitely checks all the right boxes. You can hopefully see from these swatches the difference in texture between the Typology and the Fenty but check out my full review for more details.
From left to right: Typology Tinted Serum in 001, Glossier Skin Tint in G11, Fenty Eaze Drop in 2, Charlotte Tibury Light Wonder in 2, Typology Tinted Serum in 002
Concealer: Ulta Under Eye Brightener – I have super dark undereye and can’t get away without a corrector, and I’m so happy to have discovered this one. It’s about $10 and a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot!
As last year (like 2019), the search continues for the perfect concealer to go over top of it, although I did love the Kosas Revealer Concealer (heavier coverage) and Glossier Stretch (lighter coverage) concealers that I reviewed this year. Stay tuned for more concealer reviews in 2022 (I have three new ones going to share information on in the new year)!
Powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – This one is the same as last year, and 2019, and I’m not surprised! This is the perfect powder for dry skin, and the full size does last forever. It looks like I’ve barely used it even though I bought it in 2019. If you don’t want to splurge for the full size and don’t use a lot of powder, you can totally get away with using the travel size for over a year in my experience. I really also love the Kosas Cloud Set powder, especially for a “brighten up my look at the end” but I find myself going back to the Hourglass more often.
Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick – This was my favorite in this category last year, and nothing beat it out this year. It is the perfect color and texture for a natural looking contour. I also love the packaging – it feels super luxe with the magnetic closure, and I really appreciate having a stick for a quick makeup look. If I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.
Bronzer: Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate and Salt New York Crème Tint Pro Two favorites for this year and it’s the same as last year – both are cream products that give a super natural look in about 2 seconds. They are super blendable and easy to build up to the opacity I want or leave fairly sheer. I actually think the colors and formulas are pretty similar so if you want to not spend way too much on the Tom Ford, I would definitely recommend getting the Salt New York paired with one of their highlighters to replicate the duo.
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate cream bronzer and highlight duo in Shade 0.5 (but this could just as well be Salt New York in Light and Beige)
Blush: Kjaer Weis Blushes – I own over 50 blushes, so it was almost impossible to pick a favorite from this year. I have to go with the Kajer Weis blushes though because it has the perfect balance between blendable and long-wearing. It’s so easy to work with, create impact, and stays all day. The first time I used one of these, I was shocked to find that it was still on my cheeks after wearing makeup for over 15 hours. I love that I can just buy a refill without the extra packaging and put it in my Salt New York empty palette, and that it’s still around $30 even for a luxury product. Because I own so many cream blushes, I tried to get shades I didn’t have already and chose Sun Touched, Inner Glow, Blushing, and Blossoming. All four shades are beautifully unique, and I get a ton of use out of them.
Highlight: Auric Glow Lust – I wrote about the Auric Glow Lust many times this year, and I’m still in love with it. It gives both a super smooth and glowy effect to the skin, whether I use it as foundation, a primer, a mixer, or a highlighter. Of all of my glowy, liquid products, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch. The packaging is also amazing, especially the pump – it’s so much easier to use than something like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. It feels like much more of a luxury experience, from the packaging to the formula. I have the shades Selenite and Morganite, and I love using Selenite all over as foundation or a primer and Morganite as a true “high points of the skin” highlighter. I have a full review here if you’d like to see more comparisons between the two. I also have since gotten the Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter, Glossier Haloscope, and Beauty Pie Triple Luminizing Wand and am happy to do a full comparison post – let me know in the comments below!
I couldn’t just pick one eyeshadow product because I had so many favorites this year, but I narrowed it down to three. First it’s all the Roen quads – each shade is a perfect one-and-done on it’s own, and they are so easy and quick to use. I’m so happy I have all of them but my favorite is the 11:11 quad (the middle four in the swatches), especially the most sparkly shade which is just the prettiest eyeshadow I own. The formula is also super versatile so I find myself reaching for them all the time when I don’t want to have to work at an eye look. With a finger, the shades go on incredibly pigmented and intense, but with a brush, you can create a very sophisticated wash of color.
Swatches of the 75° Warm , 11:11, and 52° Cool Roen Quads
I’ve written about how much I love the Vesca Moonlit Dream Cream Eyeshadows, especially the shade Lyra. This formula is still the easiest cream shadow I’ve ever worked with. They stay blendable for long enough to get your look just right, and then they dry down and don’t crease all day. I’m also still in love with the packaging – it’s super easy to only get what you need, and I don’t have to worry about them drying out. The color Lyra is described as a champagne rose with an iridescent reflect, and it’s the perfect coppery, rose, shiny, glittery, works for day and night color for me.
Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy – I own a ton of single glittery/topper type eyeshadows and love them all, but I think my absolute favorite is this one. I’ve used it on top of my eyeshadow almost every single time I’ve used my eyeshadow since I bought it, and I’m so happy with the effect it has. It’s a sheer shimmery eyeshadow that adds a wet look to any shadow without really adding any color or changing the color of the look underneath. It’s also incredibly reflective and glossy, doesn’t have any fallout, and is so easy to apply with a brush or fingers (and doesn’t require any glitter glue).
Something finally unseated Glossier Boy Brow as my HG brow gel, and it’s the Kosas AirBrow gel. It tints and fills in the brows so quickly and easily without overdoing it or over applying the gel. It doesn’t get crunchy or hard and stays in place all day. I prefer it to the Boy Brow because it’s a bit thicker so it lasts longer and keeps my brows exactly where I want them all day. After trying so many eyebrow pencils over the years, I finally have found my favorite, and it’s the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil. I use it for a sparse area I have in one of my brows, and it goes on so quickly and naturally. 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.
Mascara: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara This is hands down the best mascara I’ve ever used and continues to be what I go back to even after trying others. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. The best part is that it washes off so easily and quickly. I’m never going back to a non-tubing mascara again and bought enough of these to last me through next year just like I did last year.
Lip Liner: Soft Blur Velvet Lip Liners from Em Cosmetics – Out of all my lip liners, I definitely reached for these the most often. The formula blends so easily so you can get a soft, blurred, and diffused look. I find that creates a much more natural look that still defines my lips and helps prevent any feathering of the lipstick I use on top. Even with how soft and lightweight they are, they are very long lasting. I have the shades Kitten, a neutral rose, and Mink, a cool brown, which both work really well with my lip color and the with my favorite lipsticks and glosses.
From left to right: Em Cosmetics Lip Liners in Kitten and Mink
Lip gloss: Fitglow Beauty Serums – I now have 5 full sizes of the tinted serums, 7 minis, and 5 night lip serums because of how obsessed I am with this formula (and I don’t like to use that word unless I really mean it). The formula is incredibly nourishing, thick, hydrating, and long-lasting, and I just can’t stop using them. The Night Lip Serum is the best night time lip treatment I’ve ever tried, and I wake up consistently to hydrated and nourished lips. The swatches below are from the first four I got, but all the colored serums are beautiful and I can always find one to match my look. Let me know in the comments if you’d like more swatches of more shades!
Fitglow Lip Serums in Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root
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. I love using these during the day on work calls when I want more color like a traditional lipstick, don’t mind having to reapply, and can take advantage of how moisturizing these are.
Glossier Ultralip in Portrait, Villa, Trench, and Cachet
When I’m looking for something more long-wearing, especially under a mask, I always reach for one of my Lisa Eldridge Velvet Matte Lipsticks. The formula is the most comfortable matte lipstick I’ve tried – they’re not drying at all, have the staying power I expect from a matte lipstick, and looks velvety smooth on the lips. They’re highly pigmented and blurring and cover the lips in one swipe. I have the shades Velvet Fawn, Velvet Muse, Velvet Petal, Velvet Affair, Velvet Midnight, and Velvet Dragon. My most used are definitely the first four lighter shades, but I love dabbing on Velvet Midnight or Velvet Dragon as more of a stain.
Setting spray: ABH Dewy Set Setting Spray The Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray has been my favorite for years, but I like this even better. It does just the right amount of dewiness and sets my makeup while still leaving everything skin-like and flexible. I love how this makes my makeup look after everything is said and done and how it provides great lasting power without drying out my skin (in fact, I think it adds another layer of hydration). It’s also less expensive than similar options, like the Hourglass Setting Spray, so I’m very excited this has come into my makeup routine.
What were your favorites this 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.
If you haven’t heard of Beauty Pie, it’s described as providing consumers with exceptional formulas sourced from the best factories worldwide – all while keeping costs low by cutting out the middleman, excessive packaging and expensive marketing budgets. It’s basically like the Costco of beauty – you pay a membership fee to access the low prices, but in theory, you save way more than your membership fee. This is part one because I’ve already gotten a bunch more products, and I know I’ve already saved more than the yearly membership cost (I ended up getting a Black Friday deal where the membership was $9 when all was said and done). As with all of my reviews, this is not sponsored, and there are no affiliate links in this post. And as always, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts!
Triple Beauty Luminizing Wand – It blends so easily and quickly and creates a sophisticated glow without glitter. It’s a perfect wash of light-catching pigment and is also blurring. It looks great as a finishing touch to any look I’ve used it in, and I love that it looks great on the cheeks, brow bone, inner corner, or anywhere else I want it to go. I can apply it straight from the wand or use my fingers or a brush and it works great. It only comes in one shade but I think this shade would work for a lot of people because it’s so sheer. Compared to $38 for the Charlotte Tilbury version of this, it’s incredible that this only costs $9.18. I honestly would’ve thought this was a luxury product down to the packaging, and I can’t believe it’s less than $10.
Luminizing Wand on the left and the highlighter from the palette on the left
Glow-All Super Powder Face Palette – I really struggle with powder products because they tend to stamp on vs deposit color and blend out so it’s super easy for me to overdo. I don’t have that issue with this palette at all. The formula is so easy to work with and you don’t have to think about what you’re doing because it’s so hard to overdo it. The formula is also incredibly creamy and blurring as you can hopefully see in the swatches below. I’m so happy to have this for travel and for quick and easy looks at home. I brought it with me when we visited family for Thanksgiving, and it was great to have everything in one palette, including such different blush colors. You can still get a pretty big brush in the pans, which I really appreciate. The palette is $17.13, and I’m loving it so much more than my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Sculpture Unlocked palette which was $58.
highlighter, bronzer, and blushes from the face palette
Wondercolour Longwear Cream Shadow Stick – These are super easy to use with fingers to blend out (or honestly just draw on your eyelids and call it a day). The formula dries down and stays all day after providing enough play time to get it exactly where you want it. The shade Brazillionaire is a bit more cool toned than I expected and Little Star is a little light so I actually love mixing them together for a really easy one and done shadow look. These are great for travel vs bringing powder eyeshadow that might break. While I love the formula of these, the colors aren’t perfect, and I don’t find myself reaching for them over my other shadows. They are about $7.50 depending on the color, and for that price, I’m glad I picked up a couple given how amazing the formula is. They feel exactly like the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks to me, and those are $29. That said, given all the eyeshadow I own, these don’t stand out in my collection, and I’m less excited about them than the other things I’ve gotten.
Wondercolour Longwear Cream Shadow Stick in Brazillionaire and Little Star
What new products and brands have you discovered lately? Are there Beauty Pie questions you have or products you’d like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading!
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. 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!
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil – I bought this in June 2020 and just finally finished it. If you’re looking for something that is gentle, effective, and incredibly cost effective for the amount of time it lasts, this is a great buy. I loved using this in the summer because it’s much lighter weight than my usual cleansing balm. That said, I have a ton of cleansing balms to go through right now between the ones I already had and the many samples I’ve received lately so I won’t be repurchasing this for awhile. I’ll probably get another bottle when it starts to get hotter out again!
Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – This continues to be my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve tried a few others for testing, but I always end up missing this one. It’s so hydrating, it helps my other products sink in better and faster, and it smells amazing too. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually moisturizes my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I have been through so many bottles of this and will definitely grab more when the next Credo/Ulta sale comes around. I’m planning on repurchasing this forever unless something really amazing launches that knocks it out of its HG spot in my routine.
thisworks deep sleep body cocoon – Like most other FabFitFun moisturizers, this was totally fine. I really loved the lavender scent and found it helped me wind down at night which is the only thing that stuck out to me about this. The actual formula is pretty lackluster – it takes awhile to sink in, it’s not that moisturizing, and it’s also not that hydrating. I have so many body lotions that I love and that I’m testing, so I’m definitely not repurchasing this.
Kaja Don’t Settle Concealer – I got this on sale for less than $13, and I’m really glad I had it while I did. It’s a buildable light to medium coverage concealer that’s very lightweight and easy to blend. It paired really nicely with my skin tints that I generally wear as foundation and didn’t look overdone. That said, the formula didn’t make me fall in love right away like the Kosas Revealer Concealer (which even though I love the formula, it went off after 6 months, and that’s not worth it to me especially at that price). I’m testing 3 concealers right now so won’t repurchasing it, but definitely would consider buying it again.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – I have to imagine that I would love this if I had normal to oily skin, but as someone with very dry skin, it didn’t do enough for me. It smells amazing and sinks in so quickly. It definitely is moisturizing and makes my skin feel hydrated and glowy in the morning. That said, I find that I have to layer on at least 2 other moisturizers with this, and I would love something that’s a heavier hitter than this. So, I won’t be repurchasing this.
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 not all of them are as positive as this group. 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.
I can’t believe it’s already December, and it’s time for another round of favorites! As usual, I fell in love with a ton of new products this month, but I’m 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.
Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadow in Groundwork – This is my favorite matte one and done shadow. It’s a neutral taupe that goes with any blush and lip color I’ve chosen. The formula is incredibly easy to work with and doesn’t require a primer because it’s a hybrid primer shadow. It doesn’t crease and stays all day without fading. While I love using it alone, I’ve actually been using it all the time as a base for cream glitters and shimmer shadows. It’s perfect for that – they stick so well, stay all day, and the darker base really makes them pop. Swatches with comparisons to my other favorite one and done shadows available here: https://liftbakelove.com/2021/05/30/my-favorite-one-and-done-single-shadows/.
Glossier Stretch Concealer – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, and I’ve been using it a ton this way lately. I’ve been super tired lately with how dark it’s getting, and this has been so great to use to get my makeup done super quickly. I can just dot it all over my face, blend, and be done without needing both a concealer and foundation step. The Stretch Concealer looks incredibly skin like, lasts all day, and provides just the right amount of coverage for me (which is light). I find the light coverage makes it blend seamlessly and wear well even without powder since it’s harder to tell where it’s worn off than with a fuller coverage product. It also feels very light weight, and everything I put on top of it looks great. Swatches with comparisons to other base products available here: https://liftbakelove.com/2021/07/07/cate-the-great-beauty-made-me-buy-it/.
Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight – I have the shade Polished, and it’s such an incredible warm pink that looks so at home on me. It has a really beautiful luminosity to it from a slight amount of shimmer that makes this really special. This has been my go-to blush ever since I got it, and especially when I want something that has that super glowy from within blush look. It blends so effortlessly and quickly, and I just love the super thin but hydrating texture. They also have great staying power for such an emollient cream blush. I ended up getting the shade Daydreamer during Melt’s sale in November, and I’m sure that will be included in a future favorites.
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter – I have yet to find another body butter I like more than this one. It is incredibly moisturizing while still being fast absorbing and super lightweight. I love all the scents, but this unscented one is my favorite to mix with any body oils so there’s no competing fragrances. I’ve been using this a ton now that we’re really into winter, and my skin is drier than ever. It’s been so helpful to keep my skin from getting to that “so dry it’s unbearable and itchy” state. I also got gifted the retinol version of this, so look out for a review on that soon!
Holo Taco Frost Light
Holo Taco Nail Polish Clean Up Brush – I don’t talk about it often here, but I love painting my nails and do so at least a couple times a week. A clean up brush is a must have tool for me to ensure my manicure looks great. I just dip it in some acetone and use it to clean up any nail polish that got onto my cuticle or skin. The Holo Taco clean up brush has a much smaller head than my others and more tapered which makes it super easy to get into small areas without accidentally taking off polish from my nail. It’s such a worthwhile investment for $10.
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.
Kackie has one of my favorite beauty channels to watch – so much so that it’s part of my morning routine Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when she posts new videos, and I can’t imagine it any other way. What makes her stand out for me is that she actually reviews products rather than fawning over new releases. She covers textures, colors, formulation, packaging, etc. in depth, usually with comparisons to similar products you might already have. She has what she refers to as an encyclopedic knowledge of products, and I think that’s why I find her reviews so helpful. Kackie goes out of her way to give the most pertinent information to help viewers decide why something might or might not work for them and what they should know about the product when making a purchasing decision. For that reason, almost everything I’ve gotten because of her recommending it has become a fast favorite and something I wish I had bought sooner. 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!
Typology Paris Serum Teinte – I’m still really loving this, especially for when I’m having a really dry skin day. It’s incredibly smoothing and lightweight while providing solid light to medium coverage (which is the coverage level I prefer for foundations). It is actually so smoothing that I got carded at dinner wearing it, and the person said “your skin is so smooth, there’s no way you’re not in your early 20s.” And I’m not in my 20s anymore at all! It wears incredibly well for how moisturizing it feels (as Kackie says it wears in without wearing off), and it plays well with every bronzer, blush, highlighter, and powder I’ve used with it. It also contains lots of great skincare ingredients, and my skin definitely feels way less dry at the end of the day than with other base products. I have lots of swatches on my Typology review if you’re interested!
Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight in Polished and Natasha Denona Puff Paint Liquid Blush in Darya
Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight – I have the shade Polished, and it’s such an incredible warm pink that looks so at home on me. It has a really beautiful luminosity to it from a slight amount of shimmer that makes this really special. I only tried it because of Kackie, and now it’s my go-to blush for when I want something that has that super glowy from within blush look. It blends so effortlessly and quickly, and I just love the super thin but hydrating texture. They also have great staying power for a cream blush. I’m likely going to pick up another one during the sale because I love using it so much, even with my dozens of other cream blushes.
Natasha Denona Puff Paint Liquid Blush – This is a liquid blush serum that dries down but keep its beautiful sheen – you can see how dewy it looks on my swatch above. I love using it as a finishing touch after I apply other cream blushes to add some brightness and shimmer-free shine. It never disturbs anything underneath it and is just the right amount of pigmentation to use in this way. I have it in the shade Darya, which is a bright melon color that is really unique to my collection (which is exactly what Kackie said about this shade for her collection and how I knew I had to try it).
Phytosurgence Skin Spark Blush Balms and Flash Florescence Cream Shadows – Phytosurgence is yet another brand that I never would have known about until Kackie talked about them in a video. I’m so glad she did though because I’ve loved everything I’ve gotten from the brand. Phytosurgence is a small indie brand that focuses on transparent and conscious beauty, and they make high performance and affordable products. The Skin Spark Blush Balm formula (I have Fume and Simmer) impressed me from the first time I used it, and I find myself using them over and over again over my other cream blushes. 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.
The eyeshadows (I have Wild Oak and Potent Petal) are 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. I’ve frequently added a more sparkly shadow (like the ones from Phytosurgence) on top for something extra, 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).
Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder – This powder is really so amazing, and I know I posted about it super recently because I love it so much. I have it in the shade Airy, but because of how sheer it is, I’m sure Breezy or Feathery could have worked for me as well. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness.
Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini – I have been loving setting my cream products with powder products in a matching tone to make them last longer and add a bit of coverage in those areas. I didn’t purchase this before watching Kackie talk about it, and her review helped me know that it would work for me. I find this creates a more satin finish which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting, especially under a mask. This Vesca bronzer is my favorite for this purpose (and also my favorite powder bronzer in general) – it’s not too orange, feels incredibly smooth and velvety, blends beautifully, smells amazing, and is such a believable bronzer on me (to borrow a Kackie phrase).
Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini
Ulta Under Eye Brightener – Kackie mentioned this is a very effective dupe of my beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector for $10, and she was so right. Just like the Becca one, this corrector works so well for correcting my super dark circles and helps hydrate my super dry under eyes for whatever concealer goes on top without any heaviness. It blends like a dream and the color is perfect for me. And it’s in stick form which is so much easier to use than the pot!
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.
The fall Sephora sale is starting this Friday for Rouge members and soon after for VIB and Insider members! I wanted to share my top 15 recommendations for things to pick up during the sale, focusing on products that I’ve used, loved, and repurchased over and over again with a couple of newer must haves thrown in. If there’s a product you’re considering that I didn’t mention here, feel free to ask any questions in the comments! 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.
Mini Retro Eyeshadow Palette – I wrote about this palette in my March/April 2020 favorites, and it’s still one of my favorites. It’s been such a 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 in person, these are so special. I love using these shades in conjunction with other palettes (especially the shimmer shades) to add some color to an otherwise neutral look or to make a really pretty and sparkly pink or a sultry green look. The shadows still feel like new even having it for almost 2 years now, and I highly recommend it instead of spending over a hundred dollars on a larger ND palette.
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Foundation Brush – This is one of my favorite foundations brushes (and I have a lot of brushes). I find myself continually going back to it instead of any others I have. It has such a perfect shape for foundation and even concealer because the angles and edges make it super easy to get into all the contours of my face. It’s also really densely packed which ensures it maintains the level of coverage of any product I’m using it with. It also never creates any streaks and cleans really well even with consistently using it with liquid products.
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush – Like the foundation brush, this has really densely packed bristles which I really appreciate. It’s also designed to mimic the shape of your fingertip, and I find that it makes it like I’m blending out with my finger but without losing any coverage. I use it every day with my undereye corrector, and it helps so much when I’m attempting to correct my dark circles. It also works great for spot concealing given how precise you can get with it.
Viseart Petite Pro 4 – I got this during a sale at the end of 2019, and I still reach for it all the time even with all the other eyeshadows I own now. I’m so happy I decided to get it and that I have it in my collection. It’s the perfect mix of neutrals, and I’ve loved how small and compact this is for travel and how easily it fits in my Salt New York palette when I’m at home. Like all Viseart shadows, these blend seamlessly with little fallout and aren’t overly glittery, so I can put together a look for work super quickly too. I love using the mattes to blend out another look that might need it or use the shimmers as a sophisticated topper. This a great option for anyone wanting to try out Viseart eyeshadow, especially during the sale.
Melt Cosmetics Cream Blushlight – I have the shade Polished, and it’s such an incredible warm pink that looks so at home on me. It has a really beautiful luminosity to it from a slight amount of shimmer, and it’s my go-to blush for when I want something that has that super glowy from within blush look. It blends so effortlessly and quickly, and I just love the super thin but hydrating texture. They also have great staying power for a cream blush. I’m likely going to pick up another one during the sale because I love using it so much, even with my dozens of other cream blushes.
Natasha Denona Puff Paint Liquid Blush – This is a liquid blush serum that dries down but keep its beautiful sheen – you can see how dewy it looks on my swatch below. I love using it as a finishing touch after I apply other cream blushes to add some brightness and shimmer-free shine. It never disturbs anything underneath it and is just the right amount of pigmentation to use in this way. I have it in the shade Darya, which is a bright melon color that is really unique to my collection.
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – I’ve talked about this in my favorites many times, and I still use it almost every day. It’s such a great for dry skin, and the full size really lasts forever. It looks like I’ve barely used it even though I bought it in 2019 and use it super consistently. If you don’t want to splurge for the full size and don’t use a lot of powder, you can totally get away with using the travel size for over a year in my experience. Even though I love the Kosas Cloud Set Powder (which is also a great thing to pick up during the sale), I still find myself reaching for this all the time, especially for under my eyes.
Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask – This continues to be HG face mask, and one of the only ones I use consistently. 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 when your skin is feeling extra dry. It 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 my 1.7oz jar is still going strong so it was totally worth the investment.
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! I featured this in my year end favorites last year, and it’s still going strong and working great for me.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream Duo– 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 at least four times! This is the only eye cream I’ve found that actually works to reduce wrinkles around my eyes without irritation and while still adding a ton of hydration. And this duo makes it less than $50, plus even less with the VIB discount. It’s totally worth it for me for how effective it is, and this is another product where I can really tell the difference if I switch to something else.
Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub – I got this mini as a gift with purchase, and I didn’t expect to get a lot of use out of it. It turns out that it’s the best scalp scrub I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried a lot of products like this). It works really well as a scalp scrub in that it gets out any residue or product build up that I have in my hair. What I really love about it though is that it actually hydrates as it works so I don’t have to worry about irritating my already super dry scalp. It makes my hair feel so much cleaner but without drying anything out, and it also smells amazing! I’ve already purchased the full size, but if I hadn’t, I would absolutely grab a jar now.
Necessaire The Body Wash – I have tried a ton of body washes this year and my favorite is still this one. I love the eucalyptus for when I need a mood boost and the sandalwood is great for creating a sense of calm before I head to bed. I love the packaging and the formula is perfect for my dry skin even in the winter (I posted this as one of my July favorites last year, and it was great for the summer this year too). I’m starting to run low on this one after finishing my other one, so I might pick up another one during the sale.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist – I use this as a hydrating step while I’m doing my makeup every morning, especially if things are starting to feel a little drier than I want it to be, because I set everything with my Cover FX Setting Spray. I use this very much like a Mac Fix+, but Fix+ breaks me out, so I was so excited to find this. The watermelon mist is so fine, actually hydrating, and smells amazing. I love how it melts all my makeup together to look seamless without disrupting anything.
Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask – I’ve talked about this in 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 (and I always pay less because I pick up one during the Sephora 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 will definitely be picking up another one during the sale!
Olaplex No. 3 – Every time I use this, I feel like my hair has been transformed. It feels way smoother, stronger, and shinier without being weighed down. I notice a huge difference when I don’t use this treatment, and it’s incredibly worth it to me. My hair is normally super prone to breakage, and this is one of the only products I’ve tried that actually helps with that. It also helps my hair feel way less dry than usual without making it greasy. This is one of my only true hair staples (outside of my Bumble & Bumble loves) that I continue to repurchase over and over again.
What’s on your Sephora sale wishlist? Let me know in the comments below, and let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.
Makeup and Skincare Reviews 