So if you haven’t heard there’s a big Sephora sale going on right now — it’s for loyalty members right now (at the Rogue level which basically means you spend a certain amount a year at Sephora) but opens up for VIB and Beauty Insider Members (which you can easily sign up for free here now) this Saturday, the 20th – 23rd. As you likely know Sephora doesn’t tend to have items discounted, ever — so this is an incredible opportunity to 10% off on most products!!
I like to think I’m into beauty and skincare – I try a lot of samples but the truth is I don’t shop a TON at Sephora because I get so many things to try all the time, it just doesn’t make sense. My good friend Elizabeth is a beauty GURU. She answers all of my skincare question, advises me on the best products to try and how to properly use them and as flawless skin herself. She’s a full time working mama to an adorable 1 year old and today she’s sharing her top picks and what’s on her shelf! You can follow her beauty adventures on Instagram here.
Makeup enthusiast in an understatement. Personal care products have become by personal business and I love them all: drugstore, department store, luxury, dupes. My bathroom is an equal opportunity beauty laboratory and I try to take time every day to practice my self care science experiments. Of all the places I go to collect my materials, Sephora is my supply mecca.
I love their wide selection with zero sales pressure, sample program (I never feel bad asking to try something – even when not making a purchase) and, more recently, their hyper-engagement with emerging brands and trends (i.e. colourpop).
When their seasonal sales come around, I jump at the chance to stock up on favorites and try some new things that have been on my very very (very) long wishlist. Even though the discount doesn’t seem huge, it’s a lot for the skincare and cosmetics and cosmetics category zero exclusion deals can be pretty elusive.
My favorite thing to chat about on IG and IRL is beauty so HMU. In the meantime, I want to share some of my Sephora favorites so maybe you can find anew favorite of your own.
SKIN:
My makeup looks best applied to smooth, super hydrated skin so I invest as much time as I can on skincare. If I have the luxury of 15-20 minutes of alone time I will ALWAYS do a mask sometimes more than one if they are quick fix formulations. Mt favorite combo is an exfoliating mask like Drunk Elephant Baby Facial or Dior Hydra Life Extra Plump Smooth Balm Mask followed by a hydrating mask like Fresh Rose or Fresh Instant Black Tea Perfecting Mask. One of the BEST and most affordable ways to try skincare is buying in SETS. Sephora has THE most amazing collection of skincare sets at low prices. TIP: Do a search on Sephora.com for the skincare product (or ANY product for that matter!) and see if it’s included as part of a set. You get the product you want and can try some other favorites. These are both great sets (here & here).
I love Drunk Elephant Skincare because the products, referred to as “clean clinical,” are good for the skin AND highly effective (read unbiased reviews on Beautypedia). DE also encourages a less is more approach and all of their formulas can be mixed in the palm of your hand and so you are only taking the time to apply ONE layer, while still getting the benefits of multiple products. Before makeup in the AM I mix B-Hydra, Protini, Lala Whipped Retro Cream and C-Firma. (DE is pricey but look for their travel duos!) Then I pat Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream under and around my eyes. It’s SO rich and leaves an amazing sheen. The hype is real on this one.
PS – Don’t forget sunscreen!
BASE:
I have tried just about every foundation and concealer that exists and my ultimate aha moment came when I realized that the most important part of picking a formula is YOUR skin tone and skin type (Duh right?). Don’t worry about new exciting products or what looks great on a you tuber. My skin is very dry skin and I aim for a dewy finish. I use a light coverage foundation from Laura Mercier (Candleglow in Macademia) mixed with a few drops of Drunk Elephant’s Marula Oil on a damp Beauty Blender. The perfect dampness for me is a soaked BB squeezed out lightly into a washcloth. Then I Blend Blend Blend. Next, I like to use concealer as my real “coverage.” I swipe Bare Minerals Serum Concealer in Light around my nose, under my eyes and on my chin with this new buffing concealer brush from Sonia Kashuk. A Sephora Artist told me to hold the brush towards the bottom of the handle and blend the makeup with only the white tips of the brush head – that’s why the color gradient is there. Then I spend 2-3 minutes just tapping and rolling a damp beauty blender all over my face from the inside towards the outside. Sit down. Relax and Blenddddddd.
EYES:
Rule one and done for brow makeup: Choose a COOL tone. Warmer tones tend to look orange and fake. I prefer a pencil and use Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow in Shade 06. It’s a super ashy shade with some gray in it which is something to look for. After penciling just on the arch and ends of my brows and brushing up and out with a spoolie I go over the entire brow with Glossier Boy Brow and then Finish with Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter. This is a clear gel that gives the most incredible and natural looking hold.
My current mascara combo is Lancome Monsieur Big with Loreal Telescopic layered over. I always get travel sized tubes of higher end mascaras because A) Money B) I don’t worry about dry out and C) I can also mix it up more often!
GLOW:
I always apply blush and highlight at the very end once my other makeup is set – the color tends to sit better this way. For the dewiest cheeks ever: Bobbi Brow Fresh Melon Pot Rouge gently tapped onto the apples of my cheeks with my middle finger and pointer finger. Then I layer over Honest Magic Balm with the same technique. If I want to amp up the look for evening, Bobbi Brown Pink Glow powder highlighter is so so good. Swipe and tap it on over the balm with a small dome brush for precise application.
LIPS:
A great lipstick happens when the tone and formula are spot on. I have a warm undertone so I love orangey reds like Nars Red Square, coral pinks like Bite Peche and terra-cotta shades like Bite Praline. My best advice is to try on a color in store and walk around with it on for the rest of the day. If you love the way it looks in different lights and it wears well, treat yourself online.
HAIR:
I stopped wearing perfume when I was pregnant through nursing and then just never got back into it, but whenever I use Bumble and Bumble’s Save the Day Daytime Protective Repair Fluid or their Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil (both of which are legit formulas) people always ask me “What scent are you wearing?” Always.
On My Wishlist:
Some things I want to play with in my lab. Let me know if you’ve tried any and what you think!
Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask (I got a sample of this and LOVED it)
A Beauty Junkie Shares Everything You Need From The Sephora Beauty Sale
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