I’m taking a small hiatus from the setting spray tournament now that we’ve finished round 1 (but round 2 and 3 coming soon!). Sephora is doing another 20% off sale starting today, so I wanted to share my favorite 5 things I picked up in the last one that were new to me and absolutely worth getting. I forced myself to only pick 5, but let me know if there was anything you wanted to hear about! In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.
Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin® Natural Finish Foundation in 3W – One of the first things that immediately impressed me about this foundation is how well it matches my skin tone. I don’t need any green color corrector with it, which feels like a small miracle because I’ve relied on one with so many products. It goes on incredibly lightweight while still evening out my skin in a really seamless way. It never looks like I’ve put on too much makeup. It blends out super easily, takes almost no time to apply, and the finish is very “my skin but better.” I also love that it doesn’t require any extra steps like heavy moisturizers or special primers to look good like some other foundations do with my dry skin. It almost sets on its own right away and has a velvety texture that isn’t sticky at all. I can touch my face before setting without a ton of transfer. This has quickly become my go to when I want something with more coverage than a skin tint without going as heavy as some other foundations.
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Under Eye Setting Powder in Soft Pink – I’ve been testing so many powders lately. I think I have about 20 to review, about half of which are pink powders. If you want a full deep dive sooner rather than later, let me know in the comments! In my quest to find the best brightening pink powder that works for dull and/or tired-looking skin, I’ve really been enjoying this one. I was never a big fan of the original Laura Mercier loose powder (though to be fair, the last time I tried it was five years ago), but this version is honestly so good. It’s smoothing, lightweight, and noticeably brightening under the eyes without looking dry or powdery. It mattifies just enough while still giving a skin-like finish, and even though it’s marketed as an under-eye powder, I can use it all over my face with no issues. Even with all the other pink powders I’m testing, this is the one I keep reaching for, even more than the original Givenchy powder I loved so much.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush Serum in Dragonfruit – I’ve talked about this product a few times before, and I really love the other shades I own, but Dragon Fruit has become my new favorite. It looks like a hot, neon pink in the bottle, but on my skin it sheers out into the prettiest light pink flush. I’ve been using it as a blush base under other products to bring some life back into my face (my almost one year has decided sleep is not for him), but it also works beautifully on its own for that easy no makeup makeup, “I definitely hydrated today” kind of look. It blends out into this natural color that works surprisingly well with my undertones. One of the things I appreciate most about this blue is that my skin doesn’t immediately eat it, which is rare for serum blush formulas on me. It lasts well without getting overly dewy, and it just makes my skin look healthy rather than shiny. I get the smoothest application when I put a little on the back of my hand and load up a brush before stippling, but you can absolutely dot it straight onto your cheeks too.
Eadem Lip Balms in Fig Sauce, Pain au Chocolat, Croissant au Beurre, Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, Guava Fresca, and Butter Mochi
Eadem Le Chouchou Exfoliating + Softening Peptide Lip Balm in Fig Sauce – I’ve talked about these balms so many times because they’re genuinely some of my favorite lip products ever. What I wanted to share is that Fig Sauce is such a good color. It’s a super pretty milky rosy brown that ends up being the perfect everyday shade. I usually go for deeper and more brown colors because of my high-contrast olive complexion, but this one still works so well. It’s flattering, easy, and very much a “throw it on without a mirror” situation. The formula is incredible, the scent is amazing, and I haven’t met a shade I didn’t like. I’m so happy to have another one in my collection, and I highly recommend them if you’ve been curious. I still love the shimmery ones (Pain au Chocolat and Coissant au Beurre), Boba Bounce, Bissap Glaze, Guava Fresca, and Butter Mochi, but Fig Sauce has definitely become one of my favorite day-to-day colors.
JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream – I don’t talk about hair care very often because it’s such a personal category and not one I consider myself an expert in, but sometimes something impresses me so much that I have to share. The JVN Complete Air Dry Cream is absolutely one of those products. I’ve never had something that I can apply to towel-dried hair and have it dry into something voluminous, defined, and genuinely good looking with zero effort. My waves stay intact, my hair keeps its shape for days, and it never feels heavy, crunchy, or weighed down. Plus, it smells great. The brand says it provides “touchable hold that lets your natural texture shine,” and that’s actually true. Most air-dry or leave-in products just don’t work for me, but this one has been such a standout that I had to include it.
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.
I’m taking a quick break from the Setting Spray Showdown because the Sephora fall sale kicks off tomorrow! I always use this sale to restock my staples and finally grab a few expensive items I’ve had my eye on. For this sale, I decided to do one pick per category. These are all products I’ve used extensively, tested against tons of others, and would personally repurchase in a heartbeat. I also used almost all these products in a single face, and it turned out amazing, especially for my olive undertones. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.
Glowy primer: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops – This is the primer that makes my skin look so much better, no matter how little sleep I got. It’s skincare and glowy primer in one, without leaving a greasy finish. It gives that fresh, bouncy finish like you just drank a gallon of water. Even though it provides a glow, it still sets down and provides a great base for makeup to sit on top of and also looks great on no-makeup days because of the finish. I’m really happy I finally grabbed this in the spring Sephora sale.
Grippy primer: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer – I only use this on my T-zone, but it completely transforms how long my makeup lasts and makes it worth the extra step for me. It really makes everything stick to it without actually feeling sticky. Every time I skip it, I notice that products fade so much faster. This is especially true on my nose, where I almost never skip this now since it makes such a huge difference.
Skin tint/foundation: Ciele Tint & Protect Medium Coverage Serum Foundation in Shade 3 – I’m testing 15 foundations right now, and I decided after much deliberation that If I could only keep one complexion product, this would be it. It provides light to medium buildable coverage and is super easy to apply and blend. It looks great applied with fingers, brush, or sponge and gives my skin a natural glow without being wet or too dewy. I love that it also has SPF 50 (though of course I use another SPF underneath!). Plus, this shade works for me even without green corrector so I can skip a step.
Concealer: Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer with Caffeine in 2 – I didn’t want to love this concealer as much as I do because it’s so expensive, but it really is amazing. Despite the high price, it looks stunning on the skin. It provides excellent coverage without creasing or looking cakey, especially under the eyes. It’s lightweight, doesn’t settle into fine lines, and isn’t too drying. The finish is dewy and hydrating but not overly glowy. While it sets beautifully on its own, it also works well with powder if needed. I’ve used it as a concealer and blended all over as a foundation, and it works great either way.
Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder Ultra-Blur – If I could choose only one powder to keep, it’d be this one. It is hands down the best pressed powder I’ve ever tried, and since I got it, I’ve barely touched any of my other pressed powders. I love that no matter what I do, it never feels like I put too much of this on. It’s truly translucent so it doesn’t add any coverage or change the color of what I have on my face. It’s definitely only doing a tiny bit of setting and mattifying (so I wouldn’t recommend this for combo/oily skin) but I love how it’s able to do what I want a powder to do without adding any heaviness or getting cakey. It does have a tendency to hard pan, but you can easily fix that with a piece of tape.
Cream bronzer: Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick in Bright Side – The texture of this bronzer is so smooth and glides on effortlessly. It blends out in seconds with either a brush or sponge (and even fingers). The shade Bright Side adds the perfect amount of warmth without pulling orange, and it gives my skin that healthy, sunkissed look without emphasizing texture or dryness. It’s lightweight enough for every day, but still pigmented enough to build up for more definition. Even on days I’m rushing, it never streaks or looks muddy, and I know my makeup will still look even hours later.
Cream blush: Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne – This formula has quickly become one of my favorites because it strikes that perfect balance between a cream and a balm blush. It melts right into the skin, blends beautifully over foundation or bare skin, and leaves behind that a glow-from-within finish. The shade Glassy Cayenne is especially flattering — a warm terracotta that adds life to my face without overwhelming my olive undertones. It feels nourishing but not sticky, and it dries down just enough to stay put all day. It’s the blush I reach for when I want something that looks effortless but polished, and it layers gorgeously with powders or other creams.
Highlighter: Ciele Glow & Protect in Piper – This is one of the most natural highlighters I’ve ever used. It really just looks like my skin is just naturally that glowy. It gives a healthy sheen without any glitter, and the creamy texture makes it easy to tap on with fingers, sponge, or brush. I love that the formula blends into the rest of my makeup instead of sitting on top of it. The shade Piper works great on my olive skin too. This also has SPF 50, like most of Ciele’s products, which is a great bonus.
Powder Bronzer: Armani Luminous Silk Glow Bronzer in Shade 90 – The first time I tried this, I knew I had to have it. It has a weirdly perfect yellow/green undertone that works so well with my olive skin, making it look like a natural, sun-kissed glow. The tiny amount of shimmer is just enough to make my skin look healthy and like I actually go outside (which I don’t). The pan is huge, so you can use literally any brush with it, and that just makes applying it even more fun. It blends seamlessly and layers beautifully with my other products. It’s pretty expensive, so it’s a great choice to get during the sale.
Powder Blush: YSL Make Me Blush 24H Building Powder Blush in Hot Mauve – This is one of the best powder blushes I’ve tried all year. The formula super smooth, blends beautifully, and gives just the right amount of pigmentation. It’s very blurring and smoothing on the skin, never patchy, and wears really well throughout the day. This shade turns a true neutral pink on me. It doesn’t go peachy at all, which is surprisingly hard to find with my understones. It’s described as a warm rosey taupe, and I just love this shade so much on my skin tone. I also love the packaging (it’s very cute while still luxe-feeling), but that’s just a bonus given how expensive this blush is. I might get more shades during the sale, but I’m honestly so happy with this one that I might just stick with one.
Liquid eyeshadow: Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve – This shadow has quickly become a one-and-done favorite. The mauve shade is the perfect neutral to warm brown on my skin tone and looks so polished with very little effort. I do want to call out it’s not mauve on me at all, but I’m okay with that. It applies super easily, blends out quickly, and once it sets, it stays put all day without creasing. I love using it alone, but it also works really well as a base under other powder shadows. It’s exactly what I want in a liquid matte shadow. I also love how easy it is to get just a little bit off the doefoot because the formula is a little thick, which means you don’t end up with way too much that blends out all over your face. I honestly might grab some more shades during the sale.
Powder Eyeshadow: YSL Couture Mini Clutch Palettes in 730, 710, and 200 – These are some of my absolute favorite palettes, and while I think they’re worth the full price, they’re an especially good deal during the sale. 730 is my go-to pink-toned palette because every shade is flattering on my olive undertones, and the formula is just incredible. Each shade picks up easily, blends seamlessly, and wears beautifully all day without creasing. I love that even with only four shades, there’s enough variety to get multiple complete looks from soft and subtle to something more dramatic. The shimmers are particularly special in all the palettes and give that perfect shiny, dimensional finish that works on its own or layered over anything else. It’s the kind of palette that makes me excited to do my makeup because I know every look will turn out well. The packaging is also stunning and clearly luxury. I also love the 200 palette (you can see my full review here: YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 200) and the 710 palette (you can see my full review here: YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 710). I’m tempted to grab another one during the sale, but I really had to see if any of the other top the three I already have.
Brow Gel: 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’m honestly always shocked that my eyebrows stay put with this until I wash them off, with zero crunchiness, flaking, or stiffness. The hold is strong but flexible, and it actually looks natural. I wish it came in tinted shades, but even with the clear shade, it’s worth adding into my routine for the shaping and hold.
Brow Pencil: Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in Shade 5 – Because of a sparse area I have in one of my brows, I never skip this step, so I had to include both this and a brow gel on this list. I love this pencil because it goes on so quickly and naturally, and the size makes it perfect to fill areas in fast but not overdo it. And 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: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Defining and Lengthening Tubing Mascara – This mascara adds length and definition and stays perfectly in place until you wash it off with warm water. The brush grabs every lash without clumping, and the formula feels super lightweight. I love that my lashes don’t fall as quickly and keep a curl much longer than with heavier mascara formulas. I’m doing a mascara test, and this is one of my favorites so far because it holds a curl the entire day without flaking or smudging and is just super reliable. I I might pick up the new brown shade during the sale.
Lip liner: Glossier Lip Line Enhancing Hydrating Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Buff – When I was going through all my lip liners and picking out my favorites, I realized that this one is the one I end up wearing the most. The formula is super comfortable, lightweight and non-drying. It’s not the longest wearing because of that but as someone with pretty dry lips, that’s a trade off I’m willing to make. The formula is creamy and hydrating, making it easy to apply without tugging. Buff is a slightly warm leaning brown that doesn’t go orange, and I’m so excited to wear this even more the rest of the fall.
Lipstick: Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Slip – This formula is still one of my favorites. It’s semi-sheer but buildable without settling into any lip lines. It’s a satin matte finish that doesn’t slide around and wander onto my face and is so easy to reapply throughout the day. Despite the satin matte finish, it’s still very comfortable and nourishing. Slip is a warm leaning brown that I can’t quite describe but it’s the perfect lipstick for a fair/light olive skintone. Slip is my favorite everyday lipstick. I honestly wear it more often than any other lip product I have, and I have a way more lip products than I’m wiling to admit.
Lip Balm: Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Pain au Chocolat (*PR) – This is easily one of the most special lip products I own. The shade Pain au Chocolat is a sheer, shimmery brown that adds warmth and dimension alone or over another lip product. It keeps my lips soft and hydrated for hours. I also feel like my lips feel better after I use this. The texture is buttery and smooth, and it smells faintly of a chocolate croissant so it’s not overpowering. I also love the clear shimmery gold version (Croissant au Beurre), but this shade is something I can’t stop reaching for. Of all my lips balms (and I have dozens and dozens), this is the one I would pick up during the sale.
Lip Gloss: Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil in Glazed Plum – This is as good as everyone says they are. These are very moisturizing, nourishing, and conditioning in a way I didn’t expect. It’s also longer lasting than I thought it was going to be. This shade is very sheer but you do get a wash of color. The glitter is subtle with just enough to add a pretty reflective shine to your lips. I think it makes my lips look amazing if I’m being honest, and it’s not gritty at all. It also smells really nice (if you like honey). I’m honestly thinking of getting more shades even though I definitely don’t need more lip products.
Setting spray: One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray – This setting spray takes away any powderiness, melts the layers of makeup together, and leaves a soft, radiant finish that lasts all day. I love that it adds a glow without making me oily, and the mister is great. It’s especially good for dry skin because it gives that healthy, hydrated look without feeling sticky or tight. I’ve tested so many setting sprays for my showdown series coming soon (I made a whole tournament bracket!), and this one is going to be in the running for the top spot for sure. It’s just reliable and makes every look better all day.
Honorable mention to Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Self Made – This is a beautiful matte powder blush formula in such a good shade for me. I’m shocked it’s as inexpensive as it is (especially if you grab it when Sephora Collection is 30% off). This is the blush I’ve been going to when I just need something to throw on without thinking or having to worry about how it’ll look. This is on par with the Pat McGrath blush formula for me, which is really high praise given how much I love that blush. Self-Made is described as a muted light pink, and it’s a perfect pinky beigey goes with everything kind of shade. I also love this for travel because it’s so thin and easy to sneak into my makeup bag. This is going to be even more on sale since it’s Sephora Collection so I wanted to add it in!
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.
The Sephora sale is the perfect time to grab high-end beauty products at a discount, especially those that feel like a splurge at full price. While I love finding budget-friendly gems, there are some luxury products that are so exceptional, they’re worth every penny—even more so when you can get them on sale. If you’ve been eyeing any of these but hesitating because of the price, now’s the time to add them to your cart! In this post, all links are affiliate links, but all opinions are my own!
Prada Reveal Skin-Optimizing Refillable Soft Matte Foundation in LW5 – During the upcoming Sephora sale, depending on your discount, this will end up being around the same price as other foundations from brands like Nars, Estee Lauder, Haus Labs, Ilia, Makeup by Mario, etc., and it’s so much better than anything else I’ve tried in this category (although for skin tints, I have other recommendations!). It doesn’t matter what I do with the rest of my face, this looks great all day. It’s somehow blurring and skin-perfecting without being too high coverage or drying. It’s described as a skincare foundation that refines the skin in three dimensions including tone, luminosity, and texture to reveal soft-filtered skin in real life, and that’s honestly exactly what it is. It’s basically magic in a bottle, and I don’t understand the wizardry of this foundation. I’m just so glad I picked it up and tried it! And if you’re not going to travel with it or care about it having a lid, you could totally get away with buying just the refill.
Prada Foundation in LW5 and Sarah Creal Concealer in 02
Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer with Caffeine in 2 – I didn’t want to love this concealer as much as I do because it’s so expensive, but it really is amazing. Despite the high price, it looks stunning on the skin. It provides excellent coverage without creasing or looking cakey, especially under the eyes. It’s lightweight, doesn’t settle into fine lines, and isn’t too drying. The finish is dewy and hydrating but not overly glowy. While it sets beautifully on its own, it also works well with powder if needed. I’ve used it as a concealer and blended all over as a foundation, and it works great either way.
Makeup Forever HD Skin Face Essentials Longwear Full Face Cream Palette – This palette is so fun to use and play with to mix together different shades to make whatever colors I want. It has contour, bronzer, blush, and highlight options, and you can use the bronzer/contour shades as complexion products as well. It’s so worth it to have an all in one face palette for travel that I also use all the time at home. I love the formula and how easy it is to apply and blend. They also have great staying power for creams and the formula layers on top of other things super well if I’m using these more as adjusters. I’m always surprised by how much use I get out of something like this as someone who isn’t a fan of face palettes, but I think it’s because the colors are so dialed in and because the texture makes them so easy to mix together to get my perfect shades.
YSL Couture Eyeshadow Quad 710 – The YSL Quads are some of my absolute favorite palettes, and while I’d gladly pay the $88 price tag, they’re an even better deal on sale. 710 is the perfect neutral palette and is flattering even on my olive undertones. The formula is exceptional—each shade picks up effortlessly, blends seamlessly, and wears beautifully all day. I love how even with 4 shades, it feels like there’s enough variety in the quad to get a bunch of different looks. The shimmer topper in this palette is especially stunning—I’ve been layering it over all kinds of eyeshadows to add the perfect touch of sparkle. Whether you’re going for a natural, no-makeup look or something bolder, I highly recommend this one. And of course, the packaging is beautiful. I also love the 200 palette – you can see my review of that here: https://liftbakelove.com/2024/11/09/ysl-couture-mini-clutch-in-200-gueliz-dream-my-favorite-eyeshadow-palette-for-my-olive-undertones/.
YSL Candy Glaze in 02 and 15 – If you’re looking for something incredibly nourishing and hydrating that also works like a lipstick, this is the one for you. And if you’re just looking for an incredibly luxurious lip balm that makes your lips look and feel amazing, then the clear (02) is fantastic. It lasts for so much longer than I would have expected, to the point that I would absolutely use the clear as a nighttime lip treatment in a pinch. It also smells amazing, but if you’re not into fruity/mango scents, you might not appreciate it as much as I do. Shade 15 (Showcasing Nude) is a beautiful rosey brown that is a perfect my lips but better color that’s so easy to wear.
What other products would you like me to review? 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 Sephora sale is coming up on April 1st, and there’s about to be a ton of Sephora sale recommendation videos and blog posts. Since I’m on a no-buy this year, I went through my wishlist and then looked into my collection to find something I already own that can do the same thing. I hope this inspires you to shop your stash instead of shopping the sale too! 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.
Wishlist: Item Beauty Air Hug Clean Lightweight Full-Coverage Concealer | What I already own: Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer in Arrowroot The Item Beauty concealer wasn’t on my radar until Kackie Reviews Beauty started talking about it, and now it’s one of my most wanted products. It sounds amazing – hydrating, long-wearing, non-creasing, smoothing, and blendable. The good news for me is that I already have a concealer that has all those qualities already. I got the Ilia concealer a while ago and have really been loving it for all the reasons I’m sure I would love the Item Beauty one. Instead of buying another concealer, I’m going to get more use out of the one I already have. I’m also not sure there’s a shade match for me in the Item Beauty concealer – 100 looks too cool and light and 110 looks too dark, so I’m glad I already have a concealer I love.
Item Beauty Concealer Swatches from the Sephora Website
Wishlist: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Slip | What I already own: Finding Ferdinand custom brown lipstick I put the Merit lipsticks on my wishlist right when they launched, and I started seeing the rave reviews of the hydrating, not too pigmented, satin formula. In particular, Slip looks like a great shade for me and is described as a warm neutral shade. I realized that it looks like such a great shade for me because it’s very similar to a Finding Ferdinand lipstick I custom made for myself. I love this shade so much – it’s the perfect neutral warm brown that looks right at home on me. The Finding Ferdinand shade is a bit more dewy and and hydrating (at least as far as I can tell from the swatches), which I actually prefer. It’s also a bit warmer, but that works for me! I’d much rather get more use out of my custom shade than grab yet another lipstick.
My Finding Ferdinand Custom shade
Slip from the Sephora website
Wishlist: Tom Ford Cream and Powder Duo in Naked Bronze | What I already own: Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Spice and Bodyography Glitter Pigment in Off the Hook I’ve had the Tom Ford Naked Bronze duo on my wish list for so long – I don’t even remember what first made me want to buy it. It looks like the perfect bronzey cream and topper that would make for a day or night one shadow look depending on which you use or a super dimensional look when used together. I happen to already own Tom Ford Spice, which I have to imagine is super similar in formula to the Naked Bronze cream. It’s also a very similar dark metallic brown shade, even though it’s definitely not an exact dupe. Bodyography Off the Hook seems like a great shade pair with it as a topper. It’s a beautiful taupey bronze glitter topper that matches the opacity of the Naked Bronze topper. I’m honestly super excited to play with this duo instead of buying something new even if it isn’t exactly the same color story.
Bodyography Glitter Pigment in Off the Hook and Tom Ford Cream Color For Eyes in Spice
Naked Bronze from the Sephora website
Wishlist: Melt Cream Blushlight in Golden Hour | What I already own: Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush in Lychee Golden Hour is described as a bright coral cream with golden pearl, and while Lychee isn’t quite the same, I think I could get a very similar effect. I love the Melt Cream Blushlight formula (I already have two) and have had Golden Hour on my wishlist for awhile. But in looking in my collection, the So Soft Blush in Lychee looks like it’ll give me the same effect. Lychee is a warm melon that is quite golden and peachy, and while it doesn’t have any shimmer like the Blushlight, it is a very radiant formula. I also think I could mix Lychee with my Melt Cream Blushlight in Polished to get an even closer effect to what I’d get from Golden Hour. The So Soft formula is so incredibly soft and creamy (like the name implies), and that makes it so easy and quick to apply. It blends so seamlessly into the skin without disappearing, and it’s one of the longest wearing cream blushes I own. For those reasons, I’d absolutely rather get more use out of Lychee than buy another cream blush.
Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush in Lychee
Golden Hour from the Sephora website
What are you shopping for and do you already own something similar that you can use instead? 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.
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 