Tag: ysl beauty

Shopping My Stash: 7 Old Favorites I’m Excited to Use More In 2026

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on Shopping My Stash: 7 Old Favorites I’m Excited to Use More In 2026

To kick off the year, I decided to go through my collection and look for the products I haven’t touched in forever but still really love. These are the products I forgot about or just got hidden behind all the things I’m testing. The second I started using these again I remembered exactly why I loved them in the first place, so today’s post is seven products I forgot about and want to use way more in 2026. In this post, all links are affiliate links (thank you for your support!), but all opinions are my own. *Note on swatches – I got some feedback it was hard to tell the actual product shades, so I focused on making sure to get the colors as accurate as possible for the products. This means my skin tone may not read as accurately across all the pictures. Please let me know in the comments if this is helpful!

InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 43 in Fair Medium – This was one of my favorite “no makeup makeup” skin tints before I started testing so many complexion products and primers and forgot it existed. Disclaimer that I personally would not rely on something like this as your only sunscreen (and this is why), but it is one of my favorite light coverage skin tints. It goes on effortlessly, it feels really nice on the skin, and it gives coverage without looking like you’ve used makeup at all. It gives me that healthy, hydrated look and evens things out with almost no effort, and I’ve been loving having this back in my routine, either as my actual base product or as an evening-out-everything primer.

InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 43 in Fair Medium and Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer in N95

Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer in N95 – I’ve written about this one a ton because it’s one of my favorites, but it got pushed back to the concealer drawer. I somehow ended up with at least 5 new ones that I’ve been rotating through, so old favorites haven’t gotten much time in my routine. The second I reached for this again I remembered how reliable it is and why I love it. It’s one of those formulas I can use in specific areas or all over my face. It’s actually worked really well to add coverage in certain spots when I’m wearing the InnBeauty, but I’ve also used it as my foundation a few times, and it still works great like that. The finish is natural and skin like, it has a blurring effect, it self sets a little bit, and it blends out easily every time. N95 is a good enough match for me in the middle of winter that I can use it all over without it looking off, and it gives really nice coverage without turning heavy or too matte.

Fwee Pudding Pot Blush in PK01 and MV03 (starting with ND04 for reference)

Fwee Pudding Pot Blush in PK01 and MV03 – I swatched all of the shades for a post, loved them, put my favorite shades away neatly, and then completely forgot about them once I got inundated with new cream blushes, liquid blushes, stick blushes, and basically every blush format under the sun last year. Pulling them back out has been such a good reminder of how easy they are to use and how good they look on the skin. They blend out effortlessly, they melt into the cheeks, and they give that natural flush that makes your whole face look healthier without feeling like you’re wearing a lot of blush. I love the shade selection and I’ve been really happy with the wear time too. For reference, I included ND04 in the swatches, since it’s a peachy-pink that does turn cheeto orange on me. K01 is a bright watermelon pink that looks great on my olive undertones. The shade MV03 is a perfect bright berry for winter that gives me “fjords” cheeks and retains some berry without going too, too red. I’ve been loving playing with these again.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Nude Bronze Light – I’ve had this for years and was so happy I rediscovered it when I shopped my stash. The color is just perfect for me, and it’s one of those bronzers that is almost impossible to mess up. This shade is a pale golden bronze that leans every so slight peach so it gives a really natural warmth and makes my skin look healthy without ever looking harsh. I never have that moment where I realize I used too much and have to dial it back. The formula layers beautifully over creams and liquids, so it works with basically anything else I want to wear. If you want a super intense or pigmented bronzer, I definitely have other recommendations because this one is quite sheer. I will likely be switching to my others when I start to get at all tan again, but this has been so nice in the winter because it’s easy throw it on and not have to worry about piling on too much. It is expensive, so I’d recommend getting a mini or waiting for a sale, but I’m genuinely happy I own it because I’ve been reaching for it over all my other bronzers lately.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Nude Bronze Light and Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in 001 Pink

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in 001 Pink – I bought this years ago, used it a ton, and then it slowly got pushed to the back of my blush collection as I started testing more K beauty blushes, the YSL blush, Rare Beauty blushes, and the Westman Atelier blush duos (among many others). Pulling it back out reminded me that it’s one of the easiest powder blushes I own to throw on top of whatever cream or liquid blush I’m wearing to give that fresh, bright, healthy flush without looking like I’m wearing a lot of blush. It is one of those shades that looks almost too bright in the pan, but on the cheeks it sheers out into the prettiest pink that makes your whole face look more awake, especially with my olive undertones. It blends quickly, builds without getting patchy, and has a very soft finish that looks flattering on the skin. I tend to prefer bouncy cream to powder formulas, so the fact that I still love this as a straight powder blush says a lot, and I’ve been really happy to have it back in rotation. It’s the kind of blush that just works and makes everything else I’m wearing look better.

Half Magic Glitter Pop in Dopamine Sparkle and Glimmer Pop plus Cyber Diamond for referenced, sheered out at the bottom to see the texture

Half Magic Glitter Pop in Dopamine Sparkle and Glimmer Pop – As I posted about in December, I am still completely obsessed with my Byredo palette, and I use it every chance I get. Sometimes I want a little more (okay, a lot more) sparkle than what that palette gives me. The topper shade in the Byredo palette is gorgeous but it’s for very specific look, so I pulled these back out to add sparkle to any eye look or use alone for a very quick glittery look. I own all of the shades, but Dopamine Sparkle and Glimmer Pop are the ones I reach for the most. Dopamine Sparkle is a really pretty pink, and Glimmer Pop is more of a neutral champagne with gold and silver mixed in, and neither one pulls too pink, too green, or too orange once they’re on the eyes. The texture reminds me of the old Pat McGrath special shades where it can feel a little rough when you swatch it, but on the lid it turns into this insanely sparkly, almost gel finish with very little fallout. They’re easy to tap on with a finger or a brush and the sparkle lasts all day. Glimmer Pop reads more sparkly than Dopamine Sparkle on me, although it could also be that my Dopamine Sparkle is older and a little dried out. Either way, I’m excited to use these a lot more in 2026.

YSL Candy Glaze in 15 Showcasing Nude and Shade 16 for reference

YSL Candy Glaze in 15 Showcasing Nude – I’ve talked about the Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Sticks a ton and I own three shades, but I’ve been testing so many other lip products lately that I almost forgot how much I love this formula. I’ve still been using the clear one all the time, but between testing new glosses, lip stains, lipsticks, and balms in tubes (everywhere in 2025), I haven’t been reaching for pigmented stick balm type products as much. I’m so glad though that I pulled this out. It smells amazing, feels amazing, and it has that perfect balance of pigment without feeling like a full lipstick. Shade 15 is one of those colors that just makes my whole face look better, it’s really easy to wear, and it gives that glossy finish without being sticky. You can see in the swatches it’s more pigmented than shade 16, which I also love, so I wanted to include that for reference since not all the shades have the same opacity. It was honestly harder than I expected to find older lip products I want to bring back into rotation because the newer launches have been so good. This one absolutely deserves a spot in the regular rotation, and I’m excited to wear it a ton in 2026.

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.

My 20 Sephora Sale Recommendations: One Product Per Category That I’d Repurchase Myself

Featuredby liftbakeloveLeave a Comment on My 20 Sephora Sale Recommendations: One Product Per Category That I’d Repurchase Myself

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.

Ciele Tint & Protect Medium Coverage Serum Foundation in Shade 3 and Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer with Caffeine in 2

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.

Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick in Bright Side, Haus Labs Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Cayenne, and Ciele Glow & Protect in Piper

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.

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Bronzer in Shade 90 and YSL Make Me Blush 24H Building Powder Blush in Hot Mauve 

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.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes® Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow in Mauve and YSL Couture Mini Clutch Palettes in 730

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.

Glossier Lip Line Enhancing Hydrating Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Buff, Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Slip, Eadem Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Pain au Chocolat (*PR), Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil in Glazed Plum 

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.