Sephora Sale Lowdown

The Things I Always Repurchase If I’m Running Low

My Sephora sale shopping habits have come a long way and while I’ve been demoted from VIB Rouge status long ago, there are still certain products that I replenish during sale time if needed. It’s very convenient to have so many brands all in one place. While many rivaling US retailers or brand’s direct websites offer similar (arguably sometimes better) discounts, Sephora always takes the cake in terms of selection especially when I lived in Canada as it was the exclusive retailer for many smaller up-and-coming brands. Here is the round-up of my personal go to’s.

Skincare

The bulk of my current skincare faves are not from brands that Sephora carries, however there are a couple of exceptions:
Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask $58.00 is a delightful gentle mask that softens the skin and improves skin texture over time. Bonus? It smells and feels like peach jam!
Fresh Rose Face Mask $62.00 is an excellent option if you’re looking for a luxe hydration boost or if you want to treat a friend to a wonderful skincare present. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this mask.
Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion $42.00 has been in my acne fighting arsenal for many years. This, together with Differin, have played a major role in keeping my adult acne under control. I always repurchase. A little skincare treat that has been a new this year is the Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist with Reishi + Ashwagandha $42.00 - it is a facial mist with a super super fine spray and it’s just a nice hydrating layer to add under a hydrating serum in the morning or throughout the day if I’m not wearing makeup at home.

Complexion Perfection

I fall in and out of love with many foundations over the course of a year, but as of late I have been pretty loyal to Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation $47.00 which holds up really well and can be built up or sheered out depending on my mood. It never feels heavy, either, which I appreciate.
Another all time favorite is the My Armani To Go Essence-in-Foundation Cushion $90.00 CAD that is available only on the Canadian Sephora website for the sale - it is lightweight, natural looking, sheer to medium buildable coverage with great lasting power. I’m still hoping one day it will come to the US but not holding my breath.

When it comes to concealers I have a couple that I have stayed loyal to for a very long time:
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage $36.00 has been the best blemish concealer for me for a decade now. I use shade SC-3.
I also adore the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer $30.00 for my hyperpigmentation and I have been repurchasing it steadily since it launched a few years ago.

The Sephora Collection #57 Pro Concealer Brush $22.00 is the perfect method of application for both of them.

For the under eye area, my main squeezes are either Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Concealer $32.00 for more coverage or Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Concealer $34.00 for a more dialed down everyday look. If I am going for a more glowy natural look, the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer $38.00 is phenomenal. It has less coverage than Power Fabric sister so I only ready for it on days when I had my full 8 hours of sleep, but the subtle glow and the fact that it’s undetectable on the skin are stand-out qualities for me.
Add in some Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder $30.00 and I am good to go - seriously this is the best under eye powder I’ve tried in a long time. It’s super fine, it blurs, brightens and helps prevent my concealer from creasing.

Color

I can’t tell you the last time I finished a blush or eyeshadow… and you probably haven’t either. So this VIB sale, let’s step away from the eyeshadow palettes and focus on getting stuff that we actually go through completely. Sometimes I dabble in a new mascara - this year I have loved the Marc Jacobs At Lash’d Mascara $27.00 because it does it all: it lengthens, it curls and offers a healthy dose of volume. If you want a more natural long separated lash look that never smudges or flakes (while still being super easy to remove at night) the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara $29.00 is remarkable. It survives all types of weather while easily coming off when in contact with warm water. It’s magical.

My favorite lip liner is Makeup For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil in “3C” $20.00. I went through a brief discontinued scare with it, but it looks like it’s back in action.
For lipsticks, I can’t get enough of Surratt Beauty Lipslique Lipstick in the shade “Gamine” $34.00 - a shiny, comfortable peachy nude that makes my heart sing. I also recently purchased the shade Paramour which is a gorgeous sheer pale beige option. If you’re into warm-toned reds and want a comfortable option to take you through the holiday session, Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in the shade “415 Redwood” $38.00 is great. I’ve also been loving Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in M.I. KISS $34.00 for a subtle berry-stained lip effect.

Eyebrows are boring but necessary - I have recently been enjoying the new Anastasia Brow Pen in “Granite” $22.00 to create the most lifelike hair strokes in my brows.

If you do need to fill an eyeshadow-shaped void in your beauty stash, my vote is for an eyeshadow topper type of product that can work sheered out on its own or patted on top of other eyeshadows with your finger for a high shine impact. I love the Armani Eyes To Kill Stellar in “Halo” $45.00 CAD pictured below that is sadly a Sephora Canada exclusive (my US friends can snap it up at Nordstrom). The Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows $29.00 are also great.

Hair

If you highlight your hair and want to keep brassiness at bay, a long time favorite of mine that I always repurchase is Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask “Baby Blond” $53.00 - a hair mask that smells of violets, knocks back brassy tones and moisturizes the hair really well without weighing it down. I use it about once every 2-3 weeks and leave it on for about 30-45 minutes. In terms of treatments, Olaplex reigns supreme. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 $28.00 is a perennial favorite, and I’m so happy it also comes in a larger value size now! I also adore the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil $28.00 which I discovered last year and now cannot be without. It’s especially great for travel due to its super portable size and multi tasking capabilities: it helps strengthen the hair, smooths out frizz and offers heat protection. It’s a fantastic brand to look into if you’d like to improve the overall health of your hair.

For heat protection, Kerastase Blond Absolu Heat Protecting Serum $37.00 has been fantastic for me this year and if you have a similar hair type to me I strongly recommend checking it out. It’s lightweight and helps protect bleached hair from heat damage. My split ends have been dramatically reduced since having this in my routine.

Body

Two of my long-time self tanning favorites are available at Sephora, and no matter how many different things I try, they are the tried and true staples I always go back to: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning $40.00 for my face and neck, along with St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse $44.00 for my body. I apply them both once a week. I use a reusable cotton pad to apply the facial self tanner, and this application mitt for the body mousse. Easy peasy!

For an ultimate bath time treat, the Fresh Rice Sake Bath $82.00 is hands down the best bath soak product I’ve tried. It makes the water slightly foamy, it smells like a luxurious spa and it leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft and moisturized. The price tag is high so I don’t use it often, but when I do, it’s always a worthy treat.

For the fragrance enthusiast, I love the fragrance samplers that Sephora carries around the holiday season. They make for an incredible gift and they never let me down. My two favorites are the Jo Malone Cologne Collection Mini Set $115.00 and the Maison Margiela Replica Mini Discovery Set $35.00.