Tag: product review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

About-Face Brand Review: Testing Olive Foundation Shades, Brown-Toned Products, and More

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on About-Face Brand Review: Testing Olive Foundation Shades, Brown-Toned Products, and More

I’ve been trying out a bunch of About Face products lately, and I have to say, I’ve been pretty impressed overall. Some of them have quickly become staples in my routine, while a few have some quirks worth mentioning. I wanted to share my thoughts on what really stood out—both the hits and the misses—and why some of these are definitely worth checking out. Thank you to About Face for sending me a few extra products to test – products marked with * are ones that were sent, otherwise I bought things myself. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own and unsponsored.

The Performer Foundation in F2 Olive and L2 Olive* – I love this foundation so much I have it in two shades (one for winter and one for summer). This is a super lightweight serum-y medium coverage foundation that builds really easily. It has a skin-like finish that’s hydrating but not overly dewy. It doesn’t dry out my skin, and it wears really well throughout the day. I particularly love that they have actual olive shades – this is one of the only foundations I own that I don’t have to wear with a green color corrector. In the swatches, L2 Olive is pulling a bit more yellow than I find it to be in real life but keep in mind these are definitely warm olive shades. The packaging isn’t my favorite because I don’t prefer a giant doefoot, but that’s not enough to keep me from using this constantly over my other foundations. *I bought the original two bottles myself, and the brand sent me a new L2 Olive which I’m so excited to have.

F2 Olive, L2 Olive, Capulets

Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Capulets – I’ve been using the Merit Solo Shadows so much as one and dones or as a base that I totally forgot I had this About Face liquid eyeshadow. I decided to try it again, and I’m so happy I did. It’s so easy and fast to throw on and blend out with a finger or a brush. It dries fast enough that I can easily put other things on top of it but not too fast that it gets stuck where I don’t want it. Capulets is a perfect light brown that doesn’t go orange on me (as someone with an olive undertone, that tends to happen a ton with browns). It also has great lasting power so I love to throw this on when I only have 2 seconds and then can add other things on top of it later in the day, and it’ll still look just as good.

Cheek Freak Blush Balm– This blush dries down to a matte finish that actually lasts such a long time for a cream blush. It starts off really balmy so it’s really easy to pick up on a brush or finger and blend into the skin, and then it stays where it is. I also love how the packaging matches the color of the blush since I have three of these – it’s always easy to find the one I want. Laid in particular is a super bright pink blush that is just the quickest way to that flushed look, especially in the summer. If I want to look really awake and hydrated, this is my go to since it’s so bright and flattering. Get Some is a warm rose that gives a soft, natural flush that pairs well with almost any makeup look. I wanted it to be more brown but it definitely leans more in the red direction on me. Score is a beautiful bright purple that is so good for warm olive skintones. This was one of my first real purple blushes, and I’m so glad it introduced me to how good purple looks on me.

Laid, Score, Get Some

The Curtain Call Set & Smooth Loose Powder* – This powder is a bit tricky for me because it ended up being a little too drying for my undereye area, which is usually my primary use for setting powders. However, I have it in the pink shade, and it actually works really well for brightening around other parts of my face, especially the center of my forehead and other areas where I want to highlight without using an actual highlighter. It has a finely milled texture that blends seamlessly without emphasizing texture, making it perfect for targeted brightening rather than an all-over powder. If you don’t have incredibly dry skin, you might really love this powder, and I do really like how the pink doesn’t actually read as pink on my face.

Coquette and Side Eye

Blurred Matte Lip Plump Soft Matte Liquid Color in Side Eye and Coquette* – I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this formula. It has a soft matte finish that’s incredibly comfortable and doesn’t dry out my lips at all, which is impressive for a matte lip product. It genuinely does make my lips appear plumper and smoother. The plump comes from a mentholy/minty type of ingredient, so be aware if you’re sensitive to that. Side Eye is a “nude brown” but I find it leans quite warm and almost turns too orange on me. I’m happy it doesn’t though because I think it’ll be great for summer with bronzy looks. Coquette is a classic soft pink that just looks really nice. For my high contrast features, I wish it was a little bit darker, but it’s easy to throw on and goes with a lot of what I tend to wear. The staying power is fantastic, and even as it wears off, it leaves behind a soft, even tint.

What other products would you like me to review? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.