Tag: skincare

The Best Contours for Olive Skin (as long as you don’t mind adding blue)

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Best Contours for Olive Skin (as long as you don’t mind adding blue)

If you have olive skin, you’ve probably run into this problem. A contour looks like it will be cool enough to make a realistic shadow until you blend it out. Then, it turns into bronzer. On me, most contours pull warm the second they hit my skin and do not read like a shadow at all, no matter how much the brand promises “these are actual cool tones this time!” So, I wanted to do a full breakdown of how I make any contour work for me, and the ones I recommend.  In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

What I’ve been doing to make all my contours work for me is add a tiny bit of blue. Blue cancels out orange, so it takes a contour that reads warm and makes it a little more of a grey, shadowy color. In my swatches below, the left side is the contour on its own. The right side is the same contour with a touch of blue added. The difference is not huge (trust me, I know how nuanced the difference is for some of them), but on my face it is the difference between something being a bronzer and a believable contour. Some of these start out better than others, so you can see the blue doesn’t do as much, and that’s one of the reasons I like those better.

These are in same order of the swatches from top to bottom:
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Crayon in Endless Cacao – Color wise, this is the coolest one on its own out of the ones I’ve tried. With a touch of blue, it becomes a really good true contour tone for me. I just do not love the formula. It goes on fine, but it feels a little dry especially as it dries down, and it also manages to blend out into almost nothing. I layered it up a bunch in the swatch so you can see the color, but you can also see the texture on the left shows every dry spot on that part of my arm. I really wanted to love it because the undertone is pretty good, but I don’t reach for it much. I also don’t love the packaging. I don’t love this for a contour because the stick is so chunky, and I don’t like traveling with it because I worry the cap could pop off. I’m still glad I tried it, but it is not a staple for me.

Dior Forever Skin Contour in 01 Light – This is one I reach for constantly, even though the tone is not perfect on me straight from the stick. With a tiny touch of blue, it becomes a really believable contour, and then I can use the same product as is as a bronzer over top. That’s my favorite way to use it, and I do that quite often. The formula is big the reason I keep coming back to it. It is genuinely one of the easiest cream contour sticks to use. It blends quickly, it is forgiving, and I don’t have to think too hard about it. I also love the packaging. It feels sturdy and travel friendly, and it’s the kind of product I actually feel good throwing in a bag. I also think if you’re not very olive undertoned, it’ll work great as a contour as is (based on what I’ve heard from my not-green friends).

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Contour in Gentle – This looks so cool and grey/taupe on the website swatches and nothing like it looks on me. This is a great example of a contour being technically correct but still super warm on me. That said, I really like this formula. It’s super easy to throw on and blend, and it’s more forgiving than the blushes. It’s not nearly as pigmented, and you don’t have to worry about going overboard right away. It also mixes really well with the LA Girl blue corrector. The undertone shift looks smooth and even, and it wears really well throughout the day. The only reason I’m not raving about it is because I like the next one even more and I reach for that one first almost every time. I still love this one, and I would still recommend it.

SACHEU Contour STAY-N in 01 Giving Sass – This one is my favorite. If I had to keep only one liquid contour, and honestly maybe one overall, it would probably be this one. It is so easy to dot on, it blends fast, and it stays on extremely well, which is exactly what you want from a product called STAY-N. It also works perfectly with the blue trick. I can do targeted contour with a little bit of blue mixed in, then go back in and use it as is on top where I want warmth. It ends up functioning the same way the Dior does for me which I love. Of all of these, this is the one I have used the most by far and would repurchase. This is also one I travel with a lot because the applicator makes it so easy to just dot and blend. It’s one of my favorite options if you specifically want a contour wand situation.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Smooth Blur Contour Stick in Half Tone – This is the one I can most easily use as contour by itself without it looking weird on my skin. I think it is because it has a little green in it, which works great for me. The formula is perfectly good, and I have no complaints. It applies well, blends easily, and it does what it’s supposed to do. I personally like the creaminess and blendability of the Dior stick a little better, but this is still very workable. The main thing to know is that if you apply too much, you can see it start to turn into bronzer. The edges can get warmer, and it stops reading like a shadow. I’m really glad to have tried this one, but it’s not my top pick. *I did just notice they added more shades, and I bet greyscale might actually work really well for me. Let me know if you want me to try it!

Victoria Beckham Beauty Contour Stylus in Marble – This one works, but it’s not exciting to me, and it’s too expensive for what it is. On the positive side, the packaging is super nice, like most Victoria Beckham products. Even though it looks like it might be a little dark at first, it blends out really well and can look natural on my high contrast complexion. That said, I don’t like the super skinny precise contour stick format (just as much as I don’t love how chunky the Make Up For Ever is). The formula also feels a little dry and a little sticky on me. If you love a precise contour stick and you love the brand, you might enjoy it. If you’re shopping specifically for the best contour for olive skin, which I assume you are if you’re reading this, this is not the one I would tell you to run out and buy.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Biscuit – This has been one of my favorite brontours for years, and it still is. On me, it has always leaned more a little bronzer than true contour, but it is one of those products that looks good every time as a stand-in for both. Like the ABH, it has a touch of green in it that makes it work really well with my skin. I can add a little bit of blue and do the contour and bronzer thing with it, and it works well, but I do usually use this as a brontour when I’m running low on sleep and time. I love the packaging, and I love the formula. It is so effortless to use. This is the one I reach for when I am trying to get ready really quick, and I just want to throw something on and know it is going to look good. They just added new shades of this one, and I’m thinking of trying Coco if that would be helpful!

LA Girl Pro.Conceal Color Corrector and Makeup Forever Artist Cream Color in Matte Cobalt

The two blue mixers I’ve tried are the Makeup Forever Artist Cream Color in Matte Cobalt and LA Girl Pro.Conceal Color Corrector in Blue:
I bought the Makeup Forever Artist Cream Color in Matte Cobalt specifically to mix with cream contours. It does work, but you have to work fast since this dries down quickly and matte. It is super pigmented and it can be a little hard to blend, which you can see in the swatches (although it’s easier for this purpose because it doesn’t move around as much as a liquid would). The best way I have found to use it is to apply my contour to my face first, then tap the tiniest amount of Matte Cobalt on top, then mix as I blend. That gives me the undertone shift I want without fighting the formula as much. Because it’s not meant for this, it’s very easy to end up with too much blue, and I wouldn’t recommend it for this purpose.
My second mixer is LA Girl Pro.Conceal Color Corrector in blue, and this is super easy to use even though it’s a liquid. It blends like a normal concealer, it mixes so easily, and it is what I use for liquid contours. I can mix it on the back of my hand with them, and it stays workable long enough to adjust the ratio. If you are buying one blue corrector for this trick, I would just get the LA Girl. It does exactly what you need, and it’s only $6.

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 and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Kulfi Brand Review: What’s Worth It and What I’d Skip

Featuredby liftbakelove2 Comments on Kulfi Brand Review: What’s Worth It and What I’d Skip

I’ve been testing a handful of products from Kulfi and I wanted to pull everything into one brand review because this is one of those lines that feels really thoughtful and very easy to actually wear. I also did my usual retesting before writing this so I could compare everything against what I’ve been reaching for lately, and overall I’ve been really impressed, especially with how low effort these formulas are while still looking polished. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Kulfi Main Match Concealer in Paan Party

Kulfi Main Match Concealer in Paan Party – This has stayed one of my favorite concealers since I got it. It blends out quickly, the coverage is very buildable from light to medium, and the finish is a natural satin that makes skin look like skin. It’s described as a radiant-finish but my dry skin definitely cancels that out. I’ve been using it as foundation a lot lately because it’s so easy to throw on all over. It looks like I just have great skin and not like I’m wearing a ton of makeup. It’s flexible enough that I can use it as a traditional concealer or use it as a foundation and add another concealer on top without anything pilling or layering weird. That all said, I was looking back at pictures of the days I wore this all over as foundation, and it’s definitely too light of a shade to match my face and neck (although a great match for the inside of my arm). I can definitely see myself repurchasing this one but in a darker shade, especially because the shade Paan Party is an unusually good match for me as far as undertones go. It’s one of the rare base products where I don’t feel like I have to use green color corrector to make it work.

Kulfi Zari Eyes Eyeshadow in Bronze Brocade

Kulfi Zari Eyes Eyeshadow in Bronze Brocade – This formula is so fun and it’s been one of my favorite one and done shadows because it basically applies itself. A little bit goes a long way, and you can dip your finger in and swipe it all over your lids, and it immediately looks dimensional and sparkly in a way that still feels totally wearable for everyday. You have enough time to blend it out and get the edges how you want, and then it sets down and wears really well on me without much creasing. Bronze Brocade is also a great shade choice because it’s warm but not aggressively orange, and it’s exactly the kind of throw it on and look put together eyeshadow I reach for when I don’t want to think too hard (which is pretty often with my current level of sleeplessness). I’m definitely interested in trying more colors because I really love this formula.

Kulfi Glossy Lip Staining Lip Oil in Rose, Caramel, and First Sari – This was the first Kulfi product I bought and the only one I’ve gotten multiple shades in right away. I wear these constantly because they’re so easy to use, and I really love a good lip stain. They go on like a comfortable gloss and then leave behind a really pretty stain that stays true to the shade you put on instead of turning into the same generic pink on everyone. Caramel is the one I reach for the most for everyday, but First Sari is probably my favorite olive friendly shade, especially if I’m doing more of a berry look. The stain wears really well and they make my lips look smoother instead of drying them out. I’ve been trying a lot of K beauty lip stains over the years and these absolutely hold their own against those.

Kulfi Glossy Lip Staining Lip Oil in Rose, Caramel, and First Sari and Kulfi Lip Snack Glossing Lip Balm in Coconut Chum Chum

Kulfi Lip Snack Glossing Lip Balm in Coconut Chum Chum – This lip balm formula is really comfortable, it’s not sticky, and it feels moisturizing and nourishing on the lips. I have zero complaints about how it wears. Coconut Chum Chum is a really pretty sheer pink that I’m honestly more excited to wear in the spring but it does work well with my undertones. I also really like the packaging. The applicator makes it really easy to apply neatly without needing a mirror (it also helps the shade isn’t too pigmented). For me, it’s just one of those products where if I’m looking at my huge pile of lip balms in a tube, nothing about this one is screaming “you need to run out and get it”. My number one is still the Eadem lip balms, followed closely by the Ole Henriksen and Unleashia balms. That said, if you’re already placing a Kulfi order and you want an easy, glossy balm to toss in your bag, this is a really nice one.

Kulfi Free the Brow Brow Gel – I really like the packaging with the dual sided brush and comb. It makes it really easy to shape brow hairs and get them into place. The brow gel itself gives hold without flaking and without that crunchy feeling. I love that it looks really natural once it dries down. For most people, I think this would be a holy grail brow gel, and I totally get why it’s a favorite for my friends with easier to control brows. For me personally, it’s just not quite enough hold because my brows are unruly and refuse to behave. They always fall out of place within an hour with this one. I still prefer the Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting Gel as my benchmark hold in place all day bro gel, but I would absolutely recommend this one if you want a comfortable flexible hold and don’t have brows that refuse to do what you want.

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 and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Final Setting Spray Showdown Rounds 3 and 4: Hourglass, Milani, Danessa Myricks, and Mac

by liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Final Setting Spray Showdown Rounds 3 and 4: Hourglass, Milani, Danessa Myricks, and Mac

Welcome back to the Setting Spray showdown! This is the third and fourth (last!) round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with the same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For these rounds, I did all of the matches in one post since I’ve already talked about each spray at length in previous posts. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Round 3, Match 1: MAC Fix+ Stay Over vs Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Spray – Obviously, since we’re at the final four, all of these are beautiful and genuinely great setting sprays, and I would repurchase all of them again and again. Mac Fix+ Stay Over is one of my all time faves, and I’ll keep repurchasing it, especially for my super dry skin days. But if I’m being super picky, Danessa Myricks is the one that’s moving forward in the showdown. I tested these side by side on different days and switched sides to make sure. Both times the Danessa side looked smoother and more blurred without being too matte. It photographed better, it looked better in person, and it kept my makeup looking great consistently throughout the day. I continue to be surprised how well the Danessa works with my dry skin, even in winter.

Round 3, Match 2: Milani Make It Last Dewy vs Hourglass Veil Soft Focus – These both looked great, as expected, and I really do think the Hourglass spray is amazing for a soft focus finish. If I really had to choose, the Milani side held up better throughout the day and just looked slihtly more hydrated and smoother. I also did side by sides over two days and switched the sides to make super sure like I did with the first match. In photos and in person, everyone picked the Milani side both days. That said, I’m sure from a distance that you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between these two. Given how much less expensive the Milani is, it’s an easy choice to move it on when it held up so well to (and honestly did better than) the Hourglass.

Round 4: Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Spray vs Milani Make It Last Dewy – I tested these against each other for a bunch of days so I could switch the sides each spray was on and see how they worked with different makeup. Surprisingly, the same spray won every time even though it was very close. I did get a couple of “those are the same” responses, which is good news given these are the final 2! Both sprays gave me that blurred, smooth look and helped my makeup last all day, but one side always just a little looked better in photos and in person (as always, no one I knew which side was which). That side looked more natural, my makeup looked more intact at the end of the day, and my skin looked dewier without an overly glassy finish or looking like I had a film on my face.

So especially if you have dry skin, Milani Make It Last Dewy is the final winner! One caveat – the sprayer is not a luxury experience, and it’s the one thing that really bugs me about the Milani. Given how much less expensive it is than many of the others, I’d be willing to buy a nicer spray bottle to put it into (and probably will). The Danessa Myricks spray is also still incredible, and I think you’d be really happy with it particularly if you have combo to oily skin. My oily-skin friends have confirmed it’s amazing for them. Honestly, I’d still recommend most of the setting sprays I tested, and definitely any in the top four. I’m excited to have the more matte and blurring ones for summer and the dewy ones this winter!

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.

2025 Product Fails And What I’d Buy Instead

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 2025 Product Fails And What I’d Buy Instead

I was going to do a full “worst products of 2025” post, but honestly I didn’t have enough fails to do one. It was an amazing makeup year, and I’ve had way more great products than bad ones. That said, I’ve been collecting the products that really didn’t work for me in a bin all year, and these are the five that really stood out as not working for me (and what I’d recommend instead). In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Instead of the Sephora Collection Color Shifter Strange Botanicals Palette, Try the Half Magic Eyeshadow Singles – This palette is such a cool concept. I bought it on sale because it was really inexpensive, and I thought it would be a fun way to try Sephora Collection palettes. But all of the mattes are patchy, hard to blend, and super uneven. The shimmer shade is fine, but pretty flat. It’s the kind of palette that makes you feel like you’re really bad at doing your makeup, and then you remember you own other shadows that basically apply themselves (like my beloved Byredo Bibilophilia palette).

Sephora Collection Strange Botanicals, Half Magic Blushing Lizard, Wet Pebble, and Sparkle Puff

The one topper shifter shade in the palette is actually really pretty (it’s the fifth shade in). It’s smooth, shifty, and performs well. But I think it’s better to just find your perfect shifty topper and buy that because you probably already own a bunch of mattes you love that perform way better. Specifically, I would recommend the Half Magic single shadows, especially since they have way more shades to choose from. I have Blushing Lizard, Wet Pebble, and Sparkle Puff. Look how much prettier and sparklier and smooth they are than the Sephora Collection Shades. I’d rather buy one amazing topper that can also be a gorgeous single shadow than buy a whole palette where I only reach for one pan.

Instead of the Make Beauty Heat Stroke Blush, Try the the Make Beauty Cream Stroke Blush – I wanted to love the dewy Make Beauty Heat Stroke Blush stick especially since I have dry skin. The formula ended up being more work than I want to do with a blush stick. The formula can get patchy and a little sticky, and even though the finish is nicely dewy, I don’t love how it sits on my skin. It also was really hard for me to find a shade that I thought would work well with my olive undertones, and even with Swelter being the best option I could find, it still doesn’t feel quite right on me.

Displaying PXL_20251121_164736235~2.jpg
Heat Stroke Blush in Swelter, Cream Stroke Blush in Major Mauve and Hypernude

The Cream Stroke Blush sticks, though, I’m so happy with. I have Major Mauve and Hypernude, and I love this formula so much more. It’s easy to swipe on, easy to blend, and the finish is blurring without being too matte. It’s not sticky at all and lasts much longer than the Heat Stroke blush. The shades also actually look great with my olive undertones. Major Mauve is a terracotta leaning mauve (they describe it as an “Earthy Mauve”) that works perfectly with my olive undertones. Hypernude is peachy beige that definitely leans orange/warm on me but is perfect for when I want to do a warm look on purpose because it doesn’t go all the way to Cheeto orange like a lot of blushes do. I’m so glad they came out with this new blush stick formula, and I’m planning on grabbing Chroma for the summer. If you’re looking for something dewier that has a great formula, I’d recommend the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush.

Instead of the Ulta Beauty Collection Pressed Finishing Powder, Try the Canmake Abloom Face Powder – I was really excited about this one because I am always hunting for great affordable powders, and powders are my most read category on here. On my skin, the Ulta Beauty Collection finishing powder looked textured and drying without actually doing anything blurring, smoothing, or setting. It also feels a little too pigmented to work as a soft-focus finishing powder. If you’re looking for an Hourglass or Givenchy style powder, this is not the one. If you want to something similarly affordable that is actually a great finishing powder, I’ve been loving the Canmake Abloom Face Powder in shade 3. I’ve been using it just as much as my favorite luxury pressed powder from Givenchy, and it’s been working the exact same. Related, I’ll be doing a bunch of KBeauty reviews soon – let me know if there’s any products or brands you’re interested in reading about!

Ulta Beauty Collection Pressed Finishing Powder and the Canmake Abloom Face Powder

Instead of the e.l.f. Black Cherry Sheer Slick Lipstick, Try the Finding Ferdinand Delicious Balms – This one is supposedly a dupe for Clinique Black Honey, and I have worn variations of this shade family for years. Now that I understand my undertones and color theory better, I can see why it has always felt slightly off on me. I also know that it turns weirdly orange on some of you, and generally just isn’t a universal shade. Beyond the shade, I really do not like this formula. It feels a little drying, it does not apply as smoothly as I want a “sheer easy balm lipstick” to apply, it can look patchy, and it’s just not comfortable. And honestly, I didn’t love the original Clinique Black Honey formula either for the same reasons.

Displaying PXL_20251121_165132239~2.jpg
e.l.f. Black Cherry, Finding Ferdinand the Black Balm and Lucky Cat

The Finding Ferdinand Delicious Balms are absolutely what I’d recommend instead (and you can use my affiliate code liftbakelove10 for a discount.)I showed the Black Balm and Lucky Cat in the swatches, but there are more shades if you’re looking for something warmer, cooler, more berry, more lavender, etc. The formula is so much better. They go on smoothly, feel comfortable, actually nourish the lips, and they smell amazing. The shades feel more dialed-in and nuanced than all the Black Honey dupes, and it’s much easier to find something that works for your undertones. I also like mixing the Black Balm and Lucky Cat to get a deeper black cherry tone that works for me.

Instead of the Ulta Beauty Collection 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palettes, Try the Colourpop 9-Pan Palettes – Ulta’s small 5-pan palettes are absolutely fine for an affordable eyeshadow palette. There’s nothing terribly wrong with the one I have, but it’s also just not amazing. And since they’re $14, and ColourPop’s 9-pan palettes are also $14, I would go with a ColourPop 9 pan every time. Not only because the formula is better, but you also get more shades. The eyeshadows are easier to use, have more consistent pigmentation, and overall just more fun to work with. Hopefully you can see how the mattes in the ColourPop shades are smoother and more pigmented and the shimmers are sparklier. Both brands go on sale often, but even at full price, I would choose ColourPop every time for the formula. If you’re willing to spend a little more for a mini palette that feels truly high quality, I love the Natasha Denona minis. I absolutely love the Mini Retro and Mini Glam palettes, and I would happily spend the extra $10 for any of those.

ColourPop Going Coconuts on the top (plus the four on the right) and Ulta Beauty on the bottom of the first five

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 and some products may have been gifted, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

Setting Spray Showdown Round 2: One/Size, MAC, Milk, Danessa Myricks, Milani, and Hourglass

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Setting Spray Showdown Round 2: One/Size, MAC, Milk, Danessa Myricks, Milani, and Hourglass

Welcome back to the Setting Spray showdown! This is the second full round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with the same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For this round, I did all of the matches in this post since I’ve already talked about each spray at length in previous posts. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Round 2, Match 1: One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying vs MAC Fix+ Stay Over – This one was honestly frustrating to kick off this round with because these are two of my favorite setting sprays, and I’d genuinely recommend either depending on what you want. If you’re looking for a more matte, smoothed, blurred finish and maximum hold for your makeup, One/Size absolutely delivers. It mattifies, blurs, and keeps everything in place all day. But the MAC Fix+ Stay Over surprised me by keeping my makeup staying looking good just as well as the One/Size while also having a better skin finish. It managed to smooth and blur while still maintaining a hydrated, skin like, slightly dewy finish, and my makeup still stayed together all day. I was really impressed that it held its own against the One/Size while also making my skin look hydrated and natural, so MAC is moving on. Note that I have dry skin and it’s the winter, so if you have combo or oily skin, you might really like One/Size.

Round 2, Match 2: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip vs Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Spray – I want to be fair to Milk because on its own or compared to plenty of other sprays, it really does work well, but head to head, Danessa Myricks made it obvious which of these two was moving on. The Milk side looked good at the start, but it looked way more textured as the day went on and the makeup seemed to fall apart faster. By end of day, it looked a more broken up on that side, almost like I hadn’t used a setting spray at all relative to the other side. The Danessa Myricks side, meanwhile, stayed noticeably smoother, blurred, and put together all day long. Everything stayed melded and cohesive instead of separating and getting textured. Way more easily than I expected, Danessa Myricks is moving on.

Round 2, Match 3: One/Size Powder Melt vs Milani Make It Last Dewy – This was another round where I really struggled to pick a winner. Right after spraying, Milani Make It Last Dewy looked more natural, while One/Size Powder Melt looked noticeably glassier and glowier. Both melted my powders together nicely, but the Milani felt like it slightly thinned the makeup, while One/Size kept everything more intact at the start. By my 6:30 p.m. check in though, most people I sent photos to actually preferred the Milani side because it looked smoother, even though the One/Size side held the makeup a little better. By the end of the day, both sides honestly still looked great and I’m not sure you’d really be able to tell the difference. So, I’m giving this round to Milani for that tiny bit of a smoother, less textured, more natural finish overall, and the huge price difference between them. The One/Size is still one of my favorites, and I will absolutely be finishing this bottle, but I feel confident recommending the Milani for a dewy, melt your makeup together spray.

Bye round: Hourglass Veil Soft Focus moves on. Because of the number of sprays in this showdown, one of them had to get a bye round this time, and Hourglass Veil Soft Focus is the one moving on automatically based on how the bracket shook out. I don’t mind at all, because it was one of my favorites from Round 1, and I’m excited to see how it stacks up against the Milani Make It Last Dewy.

Who’s moving on from this round: MAC Fix+ Stay Over, Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Spray, Milani Make It Last Dewy, and Hourglass Veil Soft Focus.

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.

6 Products that Kackie recommended that are so good they make me want to throw out my other makeup

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on 6 Products that Kackie recommended that are so good they make me want to throw out my other makeup

Most of you know KackieReviewsBeauty and are here because of her (thank you for joining us over here!). She’s actually the person who came up with the name of this blog (because I’m literally her green friend). I’ve written a ton about why she’s awesome (like in this post here), but most importantly for this post is that she’s also one of the only reviewers I trust to recommend things based on what will work for her viewers. Kackie will get into the details like what undertones a shade will work best for, nuances about a product’s finish, what’s the best application style for it, etc., not just the products she personally loves. Normally I do a massive “Kackie Made Me Buy It This Year” roundup (and yes, I have that list… it’s really, really long). This post is about the products that are so perfect for me, especially with my olive undertones, that they make me want to throw away everything else in their category. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Byredo Bibliophilia Eyeshadow Palette – I watched Kackie’s video and my first thought was, “It’s probably fine, but I do not need another palette that expensive.” Especially because it has a few red shades, and it’s otherwise mostly basic browns. And then I kept thinking about it. And thinking about it. And thinking about it. Even when I got it in my hands, I was nervous because of the red tones in it. We literally texted back and forth about it because I just didn’t think it was going to work on me.

And then I tried it. I have never put on an eyeshadow look so quickly and had it look that good. I’ve been using it every day, and every look I come up with just looks so right on me. The thing I love most about this palette, other than the fantastic formula, is that the colors are so nuanced. If you want everyday browns with that lean a little cool or a little warm (but not too orange, grey, or green!), it’s perfect. The red shades, especially the burgundy, work on me way better than I expected because they have such nuanced tones to them. The lighter cream, beige, and grey shades blend everything together so well, and everything looks smooth and intentional even if I layer a ton of shades together. The sparkly wet look topper does pull a little green like Kackie said, but I love that. It brings out the brown in my eyes and makes everything look harmonious with my skin. I haven’t wanted to touch my other eyeshadow since I bought this, and I have an absurd amount of eyeshadow. Seriously, I have only worn this palette and nothing else since I got it. I really don’t think the swatches below do this palette justice with how smooth and blendable the formula is, how perfectly not quite matte the matte/satin shades are, and how sparkly the shimmers are.

The first 9 shades in the palette starting from left to right on the top row
The second 9 shades in the palette starting from left to right in the middle of the second row

If I were starting over, I’d buy this and maybe add one YSL quad for pinks and purples. I know that $115 is incredibly expensive for an eyeshadow palette, but you would need to spend $310 on the YSL quads to get to the same number of shades that’s in the Byredo palette. Danessa Myricks and Pat McGrath sell $128 palettes, Isamaya’s are $110, and Prada has $85 quads. In this price range, I’d choose the Byredo every time.

Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer in Light 1 – I have tried a bunch of concealers specifically because Kackie mentioned them, and honestly I’ve liked every single one. This one is so great because of the color and the formula. It’s a little bit green in the best way, so it’s actually warm olive concealer. It looks so natural on my skin. It is a little light for me, so I can’t use it all over my face instead of foundation, but it’s perfect for under my eyes or anywhere I want brightening. The formula is not too dewy or too matte. It blends out really fast and has enough coverage to actually cover, but doesn’t blank everything out and make you look uncanny. It layers really well too over other products and itself. Like everything on this list, once I started using it, I’ve barely wanted to reach for my other concealers, which is saying something because I have at least 10 at this point that I’m supposed to be testing.

Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer and Vieve Modern Radiant Cream Bronzer in Light 1

Vieve Modern Radiant Cream Bronzer in Light 1 – I have so many great cream bronzers at this point that I really didn’t think this one would stand out. This one though really is special, just like Kackie told me it would be. It has a slightly green, olive-leaning, neutral-warm tone that makes it look like I’ve actually gotten some sun recently. It doesn’t turn orange on me and just looks so natural. The formula is super easy to use and makes me not want to reach for my other bronzers. I can take a fluffy brush and slap it on or a more targeted application, and it blends beautifully either way. I can do a sheer layer or build it up. It’s super flexible. It also lasts really well and doesn’t disappear into my blush the way a lot of bronzers do on me. I’ve been testing a ton of cream bronzers and contours for olive skin, and this is the best one I’ve tried so far.

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne and Glassy Cinnamon – I’m honestly still shocked by how much I love these. 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 a glow-from-within finish. The shade Glassy Cinnamon is a beigey peachy brown that somehow doesn’t turn Cheeto on me and just looks so natural. Glassy Cayenne is a rosy terracotta that adds life to my face while stayed muted enough for the kind of makeup looks I tend to wear. The formula feels nourishing but not sticky, and it dries down just enough to stay put all day without losing the glassy finish. It’s the blush I reach for when I want something that looks effortless but polished, and it layers really well with powders or other creams. The only caveat is they’re sheerer than a typical cream blush stick so keep that in mind. That’s worked well for me because it’s harder to go overboard when I’m running on 2 hours of sleep or am doing makeup in the car.

Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne and Glassy Cinnamon and Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Biscuit

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick in Biscuit – I actually had no plans to buy this until Kackie shoved it in my hands at her house because she knew it’d be perfect for me. I’ve tried so many highlighters that just look off on my skin and aren’t quite the right color. Biscuit is a perfect light beige that makes my skin look glassy and hydrated without any weird shifts happening. It really looks like my skin is naturally doing something nice, not like I applied a highlighter. It also doesn’t emphasize texture and doesn’t mess up any of the products that are underneath. I catch myself in the mirror and think it just looks so pretty. I have a few other highlighters that I really love, but this quickly has become my favorite. My only complaint is you can’t buy this shade at Sephora, so I had to grab it directly from Westman Atelier.

Merit Beauty Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner in Brownstone applied directly and then sheered out

Merit Beauty Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner in Brownstone – This one comes with an apology to Kackie because when she first raved about a sheer lip liner I told her, “that is totally not for me.” Especially since I’m so high contrast, I didn’t understand why I would want something sheer that wasn’t going to last very long. I bought it anyway to review for the blog after hearing about it on her channel a few times, and it’s now one of the only lip liners I’ve used since. It gives definition to my lips without a harsh line. The sheer quality makes it super easy to wear, and if you let it dry down before adding anything, it has surprisingly good staying power for a liner that doesn’t promise longevity. The shade Brownstone is my perfect every day slightly deep cool brown that works really well to add just enough contrast for it to be a natural looking but still an effective lip liner. My only tip is to not fuss with it too much or you can basically smudge it off. Especially, if you’re a lip liner and clear gloss person, this is the liner I’d pick.

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 Best New to me Products I Tried From the Sephora Sale

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on The Best New to me Products I Tried From the Sephora Sale

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.

Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin® Natural Finish Foundation in 3W

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

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.

Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 7: Hourglass Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray vs Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 7: Hourglass Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray vs Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

This is the seventh match of the first round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with the same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For this round, I tested the Hourglass Soft Focus Seeting Spray tested against the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (newest version). In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Before I get into it, I did do a full day side by side wear test between the original All Nighter and the new All nighter. They were basically indistinguishable, especially by the end of the day. I felt super comfortable moving forward with the newest version since that’s what is available now. If you’re a loyalist to the original, I’d grab a bottle from Skindinavia (which I’ve also tested many bottles of), but the new one is almost identical in performance.

The Hourglass has one of the nicest misters of all the sprays I’m testing, which I do appreciate. The mist is so even and way better than the ones that spit out droplets all over your face. I do think that added to the overall blended/blurred look that the spray gave right away, in addition to making my skin look more hydrated. The All Nighter has a surprisingly nice mister for a mini that was still way better than a lot of the others. Going on, All Nighter feels like a classic setting spray. There is a bit of tightening and a light tackiness that lets you know it is setting everything down. It felt heavier than Hourglass, and it almost seemed like I lost a tiny bit of coverage as it dried. The Hourglass side just looked more seamless right from the start, and I could definitely tell a difference.

A few hours later, both sides were still looking good, but the Hourglass side was still slightly better. I happened to go into the office, so I asked my (fantastic, amazing, genius) coworker which side looked better, and she ended up choosing the Hourglass side. She said the blush and complexion products looked more intact and more skin-like, and I completely agreed. She did point out that my eyeshadow looked better on the All Nighter side (the glitter was holding up way better). It also seemed like from farther away, you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference, which was a good sign for both of these sprays.

Later in the day, the All Nighter side was feeling noticeably heavier, while the Hourglass side still felt hydrated and weightless. It also looked more soft, natural, and hydrated than the All Nighter side which was really starting to break down at this point.

By the time I was ready to wash everything off around 11 p.m., the difference was very obvious. The concealer on the All Nighter side was almost gone, and the Hourglass side still looked intact under my eyes and around my chin. Both sides wore off on my nose, but there was still slightly more coverage on the Hourglass side.

The blush, bronzer, and foundation were also holding up better on the Hourglass side. It kept that soft focus finish all day (as the name would suggest!), and it still felt lighter and more comfortable by the end of the night. The All Nighter side looked more worn down and noticeably drier. As always, my husband got a vote. He looked at both sides and immediately picked Hourglass because the All Nighter side looked much more textured.

I also took a video of myself to send to a friend, and the difference between the two sides was super clear. The Hourglass side looked hydrated and smooth, while the All Nighter side looked textured and overly matte. The only place where All Nighter still looked better was the eyeshadow, which really did hold up well.

Who’s moving on?
The Urban Decay All Nighter Natural Finish did well with eyeshadow and is still a great spray generally, but the Hourglass Veil Soft Focus really outperformed it. It has blown me away every time I’ve worn it. I will say that I have pretty dry skin, which I think made a huge difference in this particular match. I still think the All Nighter is really functional (even the new one), especially in the summer or for more combo skin. That said, the Hourglass made my complexion look better immediately, it held coverage longer, it felt better, and it kept a soft, hydrated finish all day. Hourglass moves on!

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.

Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 5: Em Cosmetics Divine Water Perfecting Mist vs One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 5: Em Cosmetics Divine Water Perfecting Mist vs One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray

This is the fifth match of the first round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with the same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For this round,  I tested the Em Cosmetics Divine Water Perfecting Mist tested against the One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

I want to say up front that I’m not 100% sure you can even still get the Em Cosmetics spray anymore, but I decided to test it anyway because I wanted to see if the One/Size Powder Melt really works as well as I think it does. It’s been one of my favorites throughout the months I’ve been testing, and I love seeing in these side by sides if things actually work.

Both sprays applied beautifully with misters that sprayed evenly. I love that they don’t spit at you (looking at you so many of the sprays I’ve tested so far!). Right after applying, the One/Size side looked glossier and more hydrated, while the Em Cosmetics side looked little more natural and slightly drier in finish in comparison. I could definitely feel the difference in the beginning with the Em Cosmetics having more of a dry down vs the One/Size feeling more hydrating. Both actually did a great job of melting powders together and helping my makeup look cohesive, which is one of the promises of the One/Size spray.

Within the first hour, both sides looked really similar, and there was no clear line of demarcation. I couldn’t actually tell a real difference in texture or finish. If you told me I had used the same spray on both sides, I probably would have believed you. They both also settled into feeling lightweight and pretty unnoticeable. Neither were uncomfortable or tight like some setting sprays can be.

About halfway through the day, I could start to see a difference in how my makeup was holding up. The One/Size spray clearly kept the blush and bronzer in place better, and my skin still looked smooth and glowy without looking greasy. The Em Cosmetics side had a touch more fading and a slight increase in dryness, especially around my mouth and cheek area. I did a quick check with my husband, and he thought the One/Size side looked much better too. I even got a comment from one of my very favorite coworkers that one side clearly looked more dry and matte, even though Teams.

By the end of the day, it was clear that the One/Size spray outperformed the Em Cosmetics mist. My blush and bronzer were still visible and my skin still looked blurred and cohesive on the One/Size side. The Em Cosmetics side wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t hold up as well. The blush had faded significantly, and there was more texture showing through especially around my cheek and forehead. Both sprays were still super lightweight and never felt heavy or sticky, which I really appreciated compared to some of the other sprays I’ve tested.

Who’s moving on?
While both sprays are great in terms of comfort and application, the One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting spray clearly out performed the Divine Water Mist in terms of actual makeup setting. If you’re looking for something that’s going to lock in your makeup for a long day and give a blurred and hydrated finish, One/Size is the better choice here. I’ll still use the Em Cosmetics mist as a skincare spray, but One/Size is definitely moving on in this setting spray tournament.

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.

Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 1 – One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying Setting Spray vs. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Setting Spray Showdown Round 1, Match 1 – One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying Setting Spray vs. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

This is the first match of the first round in my setting spray showdown series, where I’m testing popular formulas side by side to see what actually makes a difference in real life. I’ll be doing the same makeup, with same lighting, for at least 16 hours for each test. I’ve also been testing all of these setting sprays for months before doing these elimination rounds. For this round, I tested One/Size On ’Til Dawn Mattifying Setting Spray on one side of my face and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray on the other. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own.

Right away, I could see a literal line down the middle of my face. It’s very apparent that these are very different formulas. The One/Size side locked in immediately with a blurred, soft-matte finish, while the Charlotte Tilbury side stayed wet and shiny for a while. Even after fanning it because it wouldn’t dry down, it still stayed a little too dewy. The One/Size side looked like my skin but smoother, while the Charlotte Tilbury side had that slightly glassy, almost plastic-like sheen. The One/Size has more of an intense aerosol type sprayer while the Charlotte Tillbury has that spitty spray bottle situation. I don’t actually love either mechanism and wish they had one of those fine misters.

A couple hours in, the difference got even clearer. My blush and bronzer honestly looked better on the One/Size side, and it was smoother, more even, and less textured. The Charlotte Tilbury side was still a bit sticky and shiny, and while both sprays definitely helped my makeup last, the One/Size side felt lighter and more comfortable throughout the day.

At the 12-hour mark, I couldn’t believe how good both sides still looked and that even my cream blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow were totally intact. The makeup on my nose hadn’t budged. I asked people at an event in the afternoon which side looked better(they didn’t even know what was different on each side), and every single person (including my husband) picked the One/Size side. He said the Charlotte Tilbury side looked a little “clumpy,” and honestly, I agree. It also still felt heavier by comparison.

By the 16-hour mark, both sides were still going strong, but the finishes had shifted a bit. The One/Size side looked a touch more dry and flat. Even though it still matte and blurred, it was maybe too matte at this point. The Charlotte Tilbury side, meanwhile, had settled into a softer, dewier finish that was actually a little more flattering right at the very end of the day.

Who’s moving on?
If you want that locked-in, blurred, weightless matte finish that doesn’t move all day, One/Size On ’Til Dawn is the clear winner. If you prefer a more dewy, natural look (and don’t mind a bit of shine or heavier feel), Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless still holds up impressively well. I’m honestly shocked that after 16 hours, my makeup looked almost exactly the same as when I started. This experience was the same as when I’ve been testing this before, and I’ve found that both do a great job. The One/Size side just looked a little more flawless all day and has held up better not just in this test but when I’ve testing them running on the treadmill, playing with my son, and out in the summer heat and humidity. One/Size moves on!

Stay tuned for the next round! 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.