Tag: makeup

My Top Product Recommendations for the Credo Beauty 20% off Sale

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Credo is having their once a year 20% off sale from Thursday, October 21st to Sunday, October 24th, so I wanted to share my recommendations! If you don’t know Credo, they’re the largest clean beauty retailer in the US. With over 130 brands to choose from, from skincare to makeup to hair and body care, they have everything you need for your good-for-you-and-for-the-planet beauty routine. It really does only happen once a year and is a great excuse to start your gift shopping early or just treat yourself to something you’ll love. 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!

Kjaer Weis Blushes – This formula 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.

Kjaer Weis Blushes in Suntouched, Inner Glow, Blossoming, and Blushing

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – I’ve included this in multiple favorites posts because I really do love and use it so much.  This is one of my go-tos when I’m short on time and just need to add some color to my face without having to do a lot of work or blending. I own so many cream bronzer products, and always come back to this one as my “I just don’t want to think about it and need something that works” product. I stand by what I said in my 2020 favorites post: if I had to start my collection over, this would definitely be one of the first things I replace.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit and Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal

Westman Atelier Blush Stick in Petal – Similar to the contour stick, this also continues to be a favorite of mine. Petal is the perfect “natural but makes me look way healthier and hydrated than I am” shade. It’s just so easy to use and blend, and it’s my go to for when I’m running late or don’t have as much time to do a full “blush look.” I also continue to love the packaging, which just makes it a joy to use. I’ve written about this a few times on the blog in favorites posts because it’s been a staple product for me since I bought it.

Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil in Tahiti – This formula is not sticky at all and fairly long lasting. While it’s not as moisturizing or cushiony as similar products from FitGlow or Vesca, the color I have is beautiful and always works with anything else I have on my face. I’ve also brought this with me while traveling a couple of times to use as a quick monotone lip and cheek because this works beautifully as both a lip gloss and liquid blush, and it’s very reliable.

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. Between this and the W3ll people I’ll mention later, I’m all set for smoothing and brightening powders.

Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow in Globe, Astronaut, and Supreme

Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow – This truly only takes 10 seconds to put on, and I love it for a super quick but impactful eye look. I have three shades, but Globe is by far my favorite. You have enough time to blend them (more than 10 seconds if you need it), and then they don’t budge after they dry down. They also don’t crease on me at all which creates a very different look than something like the Roen shadows (which I still love so much but they definitely have a messier vibe). One tip – these are incredibly liquidly so make sure not to turn them upside down when you’re using them.

Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer – This concealer blends out beautifully and doesn’t dry out the area under my eyes – it really does feel like a concealer & eye cream hybrid. It doesn’t lose coverage when I’m blending it out, which is super important to me with concealers since I have incredibly dark under eyes. I can use it both under my eyes and on my face and alone or with foundation. This has become a staple in my routine since I’ve bought it, like many other things in this post, because it’s just incredibly reliable and works so well.

Rituel De Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Lovesick

Rituel De Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment in Lovesick – I reach for this when I want to use a cream blush but want something more satin and that will last all day. This formula is much less dewy than most others I’ve tried but blends quickly and easily like any other cream blush. This shade is also a really unique cool dusty rose that I somehow can’t dupe in my giant cream blush collection. If I didn’t have so many other cream blushes, I would totally consider grabbing more of these during the sale (definitely let me know if you’d like me to review any though in the comments!).

W3ll People Superpowder Brightening Powder – This my go-to before I got the Kosas Cloud Set powder, and I still really love it. I like to use this powder as a last step before my setting spray to clean up and brighten any areas that might need it. It’s perfect for that, and I’m surprised I didn’t have something like this in my routine for so long. It’s super useful as a way to correct going too far with blush or bronzer without adding coverage or mattifying your skin. It is one of the only brightening products I’ve ever used that actually works, and I’m so glad I have it.

W3ll People Superpowder Bronzing Powder (*gifted) – One of my favorite things to do lately has been 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 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 bronzer works really well for that purpose because it’s so smooth and blurring and blends super easily without being patchy or sticking to any of the cream products I’ve used.

Radically Rejuvenating Whipped Night Cream – I have super dry skin, and this is highly recommended for people who really need a lot of moisture in their night time routine. This is super nourishing without feeling heavy and is much less expensive than comparable creams I’ve tried. For someone who goes through moisturizer as quickly as I do, this is such a great option to have in my routine. I recently finished this and haven’t yet repurchased because I have so many others to get through right now, which is why it wasn’t in the picture.

What’s on your Credo Beauty 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.

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 12

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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!

Glossier Skin Tint – This has been my daily go-to for that perfect “my skin but better” look. It’s super hydrating and has just enough coverage to use as a “I’m only going to be on video calls today” base. The G11 shade is a great match for me, but it’s low coverage enough that I’m confident you could go up or down a shade just fine. Even though I wouldn’t recommend using a beauty sponge with this, It applies quickly and seamlessly with fingers or a brush. I’m considering repurchasing it eventually because it was such a staple for me, but I’m trying to get more use out of my Typology Tinted Serum and Fenty Eaze Drops.

Glossier Boy Brow – This has still been my favorite choice for brow gel – it just does exactly what I want a brow gel to do. It deposits color, but not too much, defines the brow hairs, but not too much, and has staying power, but not too much. I’ve been using my backup already, and similar to the Skin Tint, I might repurchase this, but I have a few brow gels in my collection I want to test out and see if I like better than this first.

Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick – This has been one of my favorite highlighters of all time, and I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned it before. It honestly makes my skin look so healthy and radiant while blending so seamlessly and easily. If I didn’t have so many other highlighters right now, I would absolutely consider buying a full size. I also have a second mini of it to get through, and I’m sure there will be even more amazing highlighters that get launched by the time I finish that one.

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum – For me, this wasn’t special enough to justify the high price, especially when compared to similar serums that I’ve used and loved like PSA Skin The Most or The Inkey List Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which is only $7.99 for an ounce. So, I will not be purchasing the full size of the Glow Recipe one.

Farmacy Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer – I’m still surprised by how much I love this given how incredibly lightweight it is. It’s still very moisturizing, but has the benefit of sinking into my skin so fast. I really appreciate that for a morning moisturizer because I tend to start my makeup pretty quickly after my morning skincare routine. It also layers incredibly well with my other morning skincare without causing pilling. I already bought a full size of this to use once I finish my Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream, and I can see it becoming my new HG.

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.

September 2021 Favorites

by liftbakelove1 Comment on September 2021 Favorites

I can’t believe it’s already October, and it’s time for another round of favorites! 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!

I am so happy to have discovered the Ulta Under Eye Brightener. 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!

I’ve been testing Dieux Deliverance serum since August, and it’s truly a game changing product. My skin had been looking a bit dull and overly dry in the summer, and even though I love the other products I use, I needed something more. This serum is supposed to address skin issues like irritation, uneven tone, texture, lack of firmness, among others, and it definitely does everything it says it does. My skin is already looking less uneven, less dull, and less textured This serum did the trick and absolutely has my skin more even and calm and all the other improvements I was looking for. Given how much I love their Forever Eye Mask, I’m not surprised this is just as amazing.

Everything everyone has said about Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder is true – it really is that amazing! 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. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. The only thing I find is that it doesn’t add any coverage, unlike the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, which is still one of my favorite powders of all time, and I’m still using under my eyes because I prefer it for that.

FitGlow Lip Serums in Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root

So I know I’ve only had this for a few weeks, and I try not to share things in my favorites until I’ve been using them for awhile, but I just can’t not talk about the FitGlow Beauty State of Kait Edit. The kit comes with Night Lip Serum, Beach Glow, Gospel, and Root. 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 3 colored serums are all beautiful and, between the three, I can always find one to match my look. I expect to have these in favorites posts for months to come, and I’m hoping they do some more mini sets so I can grab a few more shades!

I didn’t realize how much I need the Cupcake Polish VNL Blur #1 until I purchased it. It’s a neutralizing base coat that comes in multiple shades and is meant to reduce the number of coats of the nail polish you’re using. It works incredibly well and turns all my 3 coaters into 2 coaters and 2 coaters into 1 coaters! I never do a manicure without it now.

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.

Phytosurgence Review: Phytobrushes, Spectral Shine, Flash Florescence Cream Shadows in Bloom, and Verdant Forcefield

by liftbakelove3 Comments on Phytosurgence Review: Phytobrushes, Spectral Shine, Flash Florescence Cream Shadows in Bloom, and Verdant Forcefield

I’ve been waiting to do another Phytosurgence review until I had enough products to do a full post with only buying things I thought I would love. And now I almost have too much for one post because they keep launching amazing things! If you haven’t heard of Phytosurgence before, they are a very small indie brand that focuses on transparent and conscious beauty. They make high performance and affordable products that absolutely rival luxury brands. As with my last Phytosurgence review, I’m about to really rave about the products so I want to say upfront that this was not sponsored, and I bought the products with my own money. 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!

It took me an incredibly long time to start this paragraph because I’m still in shock about how good the Phytobrushes are, especially for both being under $15. I purchased both the Skybuff and Skyfluff brushes, and I’m in love with both of them. If you’re a regular reader here, you know how much I invest in fude brushes (from Sonia G., Chikuhodo, Wayne Goss, etc.), and these fit right in my collection because of how high quality they are. They suggest using the Skybuff for their Spectral Shine and Skyfluff for their Skin Spark blushes, but I actually love using them the opposite way. They blend out the products so seamlessly and quickly so that the products really look like they’re naturally part of your face – exactly the kind of look I love.

I used the Phytobrushes, Skin Spark blushes, and Spectral Shine highlight for a perfect no-makeup look

It’s so hard to describe how special Spectral Shine is and how unique the formula is. It doesn’t have glitter or shimmer, just really fine pearl pigments that blend seamlessly into the skin. It’s incredibly lightweight and feels like nothing but is super long lasting. Especially if you want something that looks like your skin but better in person (vs blinding highlights that look great on camera), this is for you. I was waiting for the right shade to come out, and then the limited edition Divine Daylight launched. It’s a peachy neutral beige shade, which is so at home on my skin.

Spectral Shine in Divine Daylight

I’ve been using the Flash Florescence Cream Shadows – In Bloom almost every day since I got them. The formula is incredibly thin and lightweight with very little fallout. I love how multidimensional the shimmers are – they’re just really special. I have two of the shades: Defiant Dahlia (described as a rich deep brown shade with violet undertones and neutral/gold shimmers scattered throughout) and Orchid Overload (described as a translucent based shade with pink, purple, and silver shimmer). Defiant Dahlia looks amazing as a one-and-done shadow, and Orchid Overload is one of my favorite toppers of all time. And these are about half of the price of the Hourglass Scattered Light eyeshadows! If you’d like me to get and review the other two shades, let me know in the comments below.

Flash Florescence Cream Shadow in Orchid Overload and Defiant Dahlia

I’m always looking for new moisturizers to try because of how ridiculously dry my skin is. Verdant Forcefield is described as a skin barrier reinforcing moisturizer that hydrates, softens, moisturizes, and protects with well studied vitamins, actives, and extracts. And it does all of that! I love how quickly is sinks in so I can move on to my next step without any pilling and how much softer my skin feels now that I’ve been testing it for over 3 months (I don’t like to review skincare until I’ve really tried it). It’s also only about $11 per ounce, which is a bargain compared to some of my other faves like like the Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream at $28.4/ounce and Farmacy Honey Drop at $26.4/ounce. I still can’t get over how high quality Phytosurgence products are from the packaging to the efficacy for their prices.

Have you tried anything from Phytosurgence? Are there other products from them or other brands you’d like me to try and review? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for reading!

Matching Manis and Lipsticks for fall featuring Finding Ferdinand’s new collections

by liftbakelove1 Comment on Matching Manis and Lipsticks for fall featuring Finding Ferdinand’s new collections

If you’re a regular here, you’ll know how much I love my Finding Ferdinand products and the company, so I was super excited for their fall collections. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to showcase one of my favorite things to do – match my manicure to my lipstick! Like all my reviews, everything written is my completely unbiased opinion, and I would definitely be talking about these without being an affiliate. This post was not sponsored, but these were gifted to me.

First up, the Cabernet Collection, which features three sheer lipsticks with the flavor Cabernet Crush. The flavor is super bright and fruity but not in a fruit candy kind of way. It’s more a sophisticated grape flavor that really does pair well with these shades. Like all Finding Ferdinand lipstick flavors, it lasts just long enough without lingering in an annoying way.

Finding Ferdinand Sip Happens and Starrily Oxytocin

Sip Happens, which is my favorite of the collection, is a bright reddish berry that is now my go-to “red.” Because of the sheer quality of the lipstick, this is one of the only red toned lipsticks I can actually wear. It also has enough brown in it to work for me since my natural lips tend to make everything quite pink. I paired Sip Happens with Starrily Oxytocin, which is a dark red holo polish and perfectly matches the vibe of this lipstick.

Finding Ferdinand Grapeful and Holo Taco Purple Slushie

Grapeful is a cool purple shade that reminds me of Finesse but darker. I’ll be honest that this shade doesn’t look great on me on its own, but it’s a great mixer shade to cool another lipstick down without making it lighter. And because it’s a sheer formula, it mixes super well into other lipstick formulas. I paired it with Holo Taco Purple Slushie, which is a vibrant royal purple linear holo from their original rainbow collection. I love their linear holo formula, and this was such a great excuse to use the original rainbow colors again.

Finding Ferdinand On Cloud Nine and ILNP Dash of Cocoa

On Cloud Wine is a super deep red berry shade that is now the darkest lipstick I own. I’m so glad to have it in my collection to add some depth under my lighter glosses (I have a lot of pale glosses that make me look dead, but not on top of this lipstick!). It’s a bit intense for me on its own (like Grapeful) but so useful to have especially now that we’re in the colder months. I paired it with one of my new favorite nail polishes, ILNP Dash of Cocoa. This polish is a deep brown holo polish with a red-to-gold shift. It’s incredibly complex with a ton of depth and so perfect both for fall and with this lipstick shade. I’m still wearing now as I write this, and I can’t get over how beautiful it is.

The second collection is the Pumpkin Spice Collection, which also includes three sheer lipsticks but with the flavor Pumpkin Spice. The flavor is smells exactly like pumpkin pie to me in the best way possible. I’m not even a huge fan of pumpkin scents (I’m much more of an apple person), but I really love this one.

Finding Ferdinand Pumpkin Spice Latte and Holo Taco Orange Drink

Pumpkin Spice Latte is a warm orangey brown that is the exact opposite of Grapeful. I use it similarly as a mixer shade to add warmth to my cool-toned lipsticks and under cool-toned glosses. It’s much less bright than my other orange mixer shade, and I really appreciate having both. I paired it with Holo Taco Orange Drink, which is a vibrant, bright orange linear holo also from their original rainbow collection. As I mentioned above, I love their linear holo formula and loved wearing this color again.

Finding Ferdinand Autumn and Olive and June JJ

Autumn, which is my favorite shade of this collection, is a warm pinky nude shade. This is almost exactly the color of my lips, and I love pairing it with Kackie’s Thrive Lip Liner and a clear gloss. It’s a great my lips but better look for fall for me. I paired this with JJ from Olive and June, which is a rosy terracotta shade. I love this color, but I’m not a huge fan of Olive and June’s formula, so if you have suggestions for a color like this, please let me know if in the comments below!

Finding Ferdinand Cold Brew and ILNP Chai Latte

Last, but certainly not least, is Cold Brew, which is a deep neutral brown that I’ve been loving using to “fall-ify” my punchier pink lipsticks. I’m also wearing this lipstick right now, and it works so well with the deep brown eyeshadows I tend to pull out this season. I paired it with the shade Chai Latte from ILNP, which is a mocha ultra holo, and perfectly compliments the brown tones in Cold Brew. I love the cozy vibes this pair gives me since it feels like having hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold winter night under a blanket.

What do you think of these collections? Would you like to see more matching makeup and nail polish from me? What would you like to see next on LiftBakeLove? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks as always for being here! And a big thank to Color Expression for editing these photos – all edit credit goes to him!

August 2021 Favorites

by liftbakelove4 Comments on August 2021 Favorites

I know I’m a bit late with my August favorites, but hopefully that’s okay! 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. Since I took quite a long break, if there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you wanted me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! 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!

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 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.

Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini

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).

Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy

Flower Beauty Chill Out CBD Lip Glaze – If you’re a regular reader here, you’ll know I tend towards mid-range, high-end, and luxury products, but sometimes I find a budget gem – this is one of them. These are $10 and just as beautiful and high quality as my lip glosses that are over $30. I have the shades Unwind (a beautiful pink that really brightens up my face) and Peace Out (a sheer shimmery peach that adds a luminosity and glow to any lip color I put underneath). The formula is incredibly nourishing and thick enough to stay within lip lines unlike thinner glosses. It has really great lasting power for a gloss and feels great for hours.

Flower Beauty Chill Out CBD Lip Glaze in Unwind and Peace Out

Dieux Forever Eye Mask – I have incredibly dry undereye, and these really lock in hydration and increase the effectiveness of any eye cream I put underneath. They also feel like they are doing a bit of tightening on the undereye area, which I love. They also really stay put so I can walk around and do other things with them on instead of worrying about them sliding down my face like some other eye gels. These are so incredibly worth it for $25 since they are reusable and continue to feel new no matter how many times I use them (whereas some eye patches are in the $2/use mark, these will be around $0.25 per use even if I only use them twice a week).

Dieux Forever Eye Mask

Allies of Skin Multi Acids & Retinoid Brightening Sleeping Facial – This is incredibly effective and strong, so I recommend only using this if you are already comfortable with retinols and acids. It contains a blend of 7% AHAs + BHA, 1% Retinoid Complex and 7 Brighteners, and it really does everything it says it does! It makes me feels like I have new skin that is brighter, clearer, less dull, and more hydrated. Because I only use this twice a week, this bottle is lasting forever (I got this in May and feel like I’ve barely made a dent in it), which makes the $88 much more reasonable. Plus, I was able to get this for 15% off which made it even more worth it, and, as always, I highly recommend also waiting for a sale to grab Allies of Skin products.

July 2021 Favorites

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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!

Hot Weather Favorites

by liftbakelove6 Comments on Hot Weather Favorites

Now that we’re really in summer and I’ve experienced a historic heatwave, I wanted to share some of my hot weather favorites. This is a short list of the makeup and skincare that I’ve been relying on to ensure my makeup lasts all day and to improve summer skin issues. If you have requests for other product round-ups, let me know in the comments below! And as always, subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Fenty Eaze Drops in Shade 02 – 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.

Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini – I have been loving setting my cream products with powder products to make them last longer without putting setting powder everywhere. I find this creates a more satin vs matte finish, which is great for someone like me that wants to look hydrated and dewy while still having something long lasting. There are lots of powder bronzers that would work great for this, but I’ve been really loving using the Vesca bronzer. Since I just got this recently, I’ll be doing a full review of it soon – let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Vesca Kissed By Bronzing Powder in Santorini

Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – This spray in particular is my HG setting spray that I’ve been using for years and love. It’s alcohol-free, it really does add dewiness which I can never get enough of, and it’s so much less drying than other setting sprays I’ve tried. I always use this to finish off any makeup look, but I find it’s especially important in the summer to make everything last all day.

Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder  – My skin starts feeling super congested in the summer, and I need to do a bit more than my normal chemical exfoliant routine. Because my skin is generally very dry and dehydrated, I tend towards super gentle exfoliants, especially if I’m going to use a physical exfoliant. The pineapple powder is super gentle while still being very effective. My skin always feels so much better when I use this – much less congested without any irritation. It’s only $16, and this bottle will last forever. I also love that I don’t have to worry about it expiring as quickly because of its powder format.

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme Detoxifying Hydrator – This is my favorite mask to use when it’s been really hot out. This has been such a skin saver for me (and my husband, who also loves this mask!). It’s so hydrating and leaves my skin super soft and moisturized. If my face feels irritated from the heat, it helps my skin feel better immediately because it’s so cooling. It’s even if you keep it in the fridge, and I’ve been loving using mine straight from the fridge lately. It’s pricey but a little goes a long way, and the small jar that both my husband and I use is still going strong.

What are your hot weather favs? Let me know down in the comments below!

The 5 Products I’d Use for A Quick and Easy Full Face of Makeup

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The 5 Products I’d Use for A Quick and Easy Full Face of Makeup

Someone suggested I write a post about what I would use for a full face if I could only choose 5 products, and I loved that idea (thank you!!). These are the 5 products I would use to do a super quick “I have a video call starting in 5 minutes that I need to get ready for” look. I have dry skin and prefer a dewy look, so you’ll see lots of cream products and no powder. If you’d like me to do this again but focusing more on something much more sweatproof/long wearing, let me know in the comments below! And if you enjoy reading, subscribe here or follow me @liftbakelove on Instagram for updates!

Glossier Stretch Concealer – My favorite way to use this concealer is all over like a foundation, so it would absolutely be my pick to use as both a foundation/concealer. This is one of the best ways to do a full face fast since you can dot it all over your face, blend, and be done. The Stretch Concealer is my go to for this because it 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.

Glossier Boy Brow – My eyebrows are super thick and unruly and require a brow gel (at minimum) to look okay, so there’s no way I would skip a brow product. My choice would be Boy Brow because it deposits color (but not too much), defines the brow hairs, and has great staying power without being crunchy.

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

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate duo – This might be cheating since this is a duo, but it was one of the first things that came to mind for this. I would use it as a bronzer, highlighter, and eyeshadow. The formula is a little sheer which makes it super easy to just throw on without having to be super precise, and it blends into the skin incredibly seamlessly. The bronzer shade is neutral enough to be used as more of a “brontour,” which makes it a great shade for a one and done eyeshadow look too. I normally always use an eyeshadow primer, but I found that I could use my finger to apply this to my eyes without a primer, and it worked great. Because it’s a cream product, it’ll definitely crease a bit especially without a primer, but I’m totally okay with that for this kind of look.

From left to right: blackberry, raspberry, coral, peach – brighter shades I think would be perfect for this kind of look!

Salt New York Crème Tint Pro – Because the crème tint pro functions as both a lip and a cheek product, they make for a super easy monocrhomatic look. I’ve written about these many times because they are one of my favorite cream products. I own all of the shades they make, and I love that any of them would look great paired with the Tom Ford duo. You can also use them on the eyes if you don’t mind creasing similar to the Tom Ford, and I would totally do that if I wanted to pull the look together even more. This is a great formula for a “I’m running late and need something easy” look – they blend out quickly with a brush, sponge, or fingers and never look patchy.

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – Something always looks a bit off until I finish a look with mascara, so I knew it would have to be one of my 5 products. The only mascara I’ve been using for awhile is this one so it was an easy choice. It makes my lashes look amazing, doesn’t smudge, and actually holds a curl. As always when I mention this mascara, if there’s a tubing mascara you love and think I should try, definitely let me know in the comments!

If I could choose a 6th product, it would be the Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. There’s a lot of cream products in this list and no setting powder, and I think adding the setting spray would go a long way for longevity. This spray in particular is my HG setting spray that I’ve been using for years and love. It’s alcohol-free, it really does add dewiness which I can never get enough of, and it’s so much less drying than other setting sprays I’ve tried. It would be a great finishing touch for this almost full face of cream products.

What would your 5 products be? Let me know down in the comments below!

2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 8

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2021 EMPTIES (WILL I REPURCHASE?) – PART 8

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.

Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Repair Mist – While my all-time favorite mist continues to be the Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator, this one is amazing in the morning and during the day, especially to help prevent any mask-ne. It’s lighter than the Josh Rosebrook, and I’ve really loved having both in my collection. That said, I feel I got through it a little too quickly given that it costs $59 for only 50ml (1.7oz). The Jose Rosebrook is double the amount for about half the price so I’ve been using it for all my misting, and it’s been great. If anyone has other mists I should try, please let me know in the comments!

Josie Maran Argan Oil – This is a nice oil – it sinks in pretty well, it moisturizes, it provides an occlusive layer, and it has never broken me out. That said, I love the Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil + 100 mg CBD so much more and have switched back to that already. It absorbs so much faster, and I find that it actually improves my skin brightness and firmness whereas the argan oil is just a nice oil. I tend to get this as a gift with purchase, and I’ll use it when I do (if you’re a regular here, you’ll know I recently finished one of these a couple months ago), but I won’t be repurchasing.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil – After finishing this eyebrow pencil, I switched back to a drugstore eyebrow pencil assuming it would be the same. It absolutely wasn’t, and I found myself missing this pencil so much. It’s super easy to get a natural look without going overboard and the color blends in really well. The pigment lasts incredibly long which I’ve found is much more unique than I realized. I think the shade range is pretty great with 12 shades, and I’m glad I can find something that more closely matches my eyebrows than having to choose between a warm dark brown and black. I’m definitely repurchasing this and can’t wait to get back to it!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer – This is my HG eyeshadow primer, and I already repurchased the large size of this. My eye lids are naturally much darker than my face so I like to use a primer that’s tinted to help even everything out and get my eyelids closer to the rest of my skin in shade. Beyond being a great color for me, this also helps my eyeshadows show up way better and last longer. I always notice a huge difference when I use this versus when I don’t. I know the large size will take me forever to get through, so I’ll look around to see what else is available then. I can’t imagine anything being better than this for me so I will likely repurchase it!

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara – This continues to be the best mascara I’ve ever used. This is my second mini of the four I got as a buy 3, get one free deal, and I still love it. 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 still have two more minis to get through after this and will definitely repurchase until an amazing tubing formula comes out that’s better than this one. Let me know if there’s any you think I should try!

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!