What to buy during the Sephora sale

April can be kind of a weird month, but one of the highlights for me is always the Sephora Spring Savings event for their Beauty Insiders. If you're in the Rouge tier, you get 20% off your order (and you've already had a head start); starting today, VIBs get 15% off, and regular old Beauty Insiders get 10% off—still nothing to sneeze at. The event runs through the 19th and what's really noteworthy in my opinion is that Sephora has added a bunch of new brands that I'm really excited about. So here are 10 of my favorite products right now—read on for details. 



Skincare favorites


This is the time of year when I feel like a ghost emerging into daylight, so I decided to try something new: a self-tanning serum. This is more of a glow serum—it's not very dramatic but delivers a subtle wash of color that makes me look warmer and, strangely, more well reseted. Even better, it has hyaluronic acid for extra plumping, and it doesn't break me out. 

Step two in my glow process is this priming oil, which is just as puzzling of a hybrid as it sounds, but it miraculously combines the intense moisture of an oil with the grip of a primer. It makes your skin soft and smooth (and, yes, glowy), and makeup goes on beautifully over it. 

I recently ran out of my beloved P50 toner, found this under my sink, and started using it as a stopgap. It might not be quiiiite as good as Biologique Recherche (and this is a salicylic acid versus lactic), but it's doing a pretty good job of keeping my pores clean and smoothing out my skin overall. Considering it's a fraction of the price, I might never go back to P50!

I have been wanting to try this cream forever because people freaking rave about it and, perhaps more importantly, it's all you need—no serum, no essence, no 10-step routine, etc. I've been using it the past few nights and while I haven't yet noticed a dramatic transformation, my skin already feels smoother and softer (and in case I haven't mentioned it before, I have suuuuper dry skin).

I put sunscreen on every day, even when I'm glued to my computer all day and don't leave the house until 5:30 p.m. And while moisturizers with built-in SPF can come in handy, I find I get the best protection when I use a separate one. I love the silky-smooth feel of this mineral sunscreen and it doesn't break me out. 

I exfoliate daily with my toner, but I love a deep exfoliation mask on the weekends. This one came highly recommended by Grace Atwood, I've used it once, and I'm already a fan. It definitely makes your skin feel brighter, tighter, and smoother without any irritation whatsoever. One thing to note: like most of Tata Harper's products, this one has a strong scent (that I enjoy, but I know some may not). 

Makeup must-haves

Merit is a newer clean makeup line, and I love how luxurious the packaging feels. I've been using this concealer/foundation stick, and while it's lighter than what I had previously been using, I like how buildable it is and how smoothly it goes on. It looks very natural and bonus, doesn't get stuck in my creases.

While I'm enjoying Merit's complexion stick, I am really into their mascara. I find clumping to be a major problem with most clean mascaras, but this one goes on very finely and naturally. (It's a tubing formula.) You can definitely build more volume with a few more coats, miraculously without flakes or smudging.

I go back and forth between highlighter, bronzer, and blush, and this kind of combines all three to give you a warm glow. I love how smooth and sheer the formula is, and the packaging feels very luxurious and weighty, in a good way. There is a bit of glitter to it, but I personally love a little sparkle on my cheekbones.


Hair holy grail 

Of all the brands Sephora has recently added. I'm probably most excited about Oribe, which, if you ask me, makes some of the best styling products around. This is one of my all-time favorites because it's one of those products you don't realize you need until you try it. It's not a dry shampoo—it adds just the right amount texture, and a little goes a long way. Plus it smells ah-may-zing.

10 comments

Lovely said...

Excellent picks! I need that priming oil and the Texturizing Spray sounds amazing!
xoxo
Lovely
www.mynameislovely.com

Laura B said...

Thanks for sharing your picks! I think I need that sunscreen! I just ran out of the one I was using and wanted to try a new brand!

Shelbee on the Edge said...

I keep forgetting about Sephora when I need new makeup products! I have to get out to the mall and check out what's new in Sephora soon! Thanks for sharing your picks and linking with me!

Shelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com

» Joha said...

Great post! Thanks for sharing. x

Mica said...

That coola sunscreen sounds interesting! I have found the perfect sunscreen that means I don't get burnt even if I'm out on the beach all day with the kids, but it really breaks me out sadly! My usual BB cream doesn't break my out but it's got such low protection it is only a staying inside kind of one, not ideal for a day in the sun!

Hope that you are having a lovely week :)

Away From The Blue

Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom said...

Ohh, I love Sephora sale posts! I got a tanning drops item from their sale, too, but it is a different one than the one you've mentioned here (and I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head). That hair texturized sounds marvelous! I've used the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid exfoliant before when they used to ship me their products occasionally and I agree it is a keeper!

Carrie
curlycraftymom.com

rika said...

I love your options. Thanks for sharing such a great post.

Cheers,

Alexandra, Diamond Myths

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