SEPHORA SAVINGS EVENT GUIDE 2020

YAYAY! I can barely contain my excitement. My love for makeup and skincare is no joke! Any way, in case you are new to my blog, I love sharing my beauty and skin care finds as well as tricks I have picked up along the way. In the future, I will be doing a monthly beauty faves (usually from Sephora!) because I try so many new things regularly and give my thoughts on IG I figured I might as well keep it in one easy to find spot too! In this post I will only share the absolute BEST so you can cut right to it!

Ready for the good news?? ITS THE FIRST DAYS OF THE SEPHORA HOLIDAY SAVINGS EVENT! Each fall Sephora does a MASSIVE promotion for their loyal shoppers [only done twice a year!] and I literally wait for it! Its THE time to stock up on your faves from makeup to beauty to skincare to haircare and tools, and try NEW things too. Its also a great time to grab gift sets for Christmas gifts. Depending what level you are in their Beauty Insider Tier, you can get up to 20% off of your entire purchase during their Savings Event. Here is a link to all the details.

Here’s how it works: Rouge members get 20% off 10/30-11/9, VIB Members get 15% off  Tuesday11/3-11/9 and Insider Members get 10% off Thursday 11/5-11/9. Use code HOLIDAYFUN to redeem online, and just a heads up that code can be used multiple times! It is FREE to join their Beauty Insider Club, and it gets you access to deluxe samples, birthday gifts, AND qualifies you for this promotion. If you aren’t a Beauty Insider, it is not too late. Join now! If you missed the sale time frame and are reading this after the sale…no worries, you can shop their Spring Savings Event. Its usually in April!

In order to make this easier & a little less overwhelming I decided I’d break my faves down into their respective categories by headline so you can easily navigate what you are looking for, and as a bonus at the end I am sharing more tips on shopping the sale! For my FULL makeup holy grails breakdown from earlier this year, go to this post. It has allllll the details.

 

💄 SEPHORA SAVINGS EVENT MUST-HAVES💄

✨PRIMER FAVES✨

Dior DreamSkin Perfector

Okay this is a serious splurge! LOL. I had so many deluxe samples of this and could not get over how AMAZING it is. I have found NOTHING better, and I have tried alotttt of samples! I kept going back and getting samples of this and finally bought it last year during the sale. I got the refill because it was less $$ LOL. WORTH IT. I still have half the bottle because a little goes a long way. I apply this all over, including my under eye and around my nostrils and tip of my nose (which get patchy with foundation, this is the only primer that prevents that). I find it gives my foundation long wear without caking or creasing in my laughlines, under eye, and nose! So good for those in their late twenties or beyond with light to advanced signs of aging. I am 30 now and have texture, which is OKAY and totally normal… but I can’t get away with bad primers anymore HAHA.

If you are on a budget, try this e.l.f primer, it is a pretty good Tatcha SIlk Canvas dupe.

Milk Hydro Grip

The trick with this one is only apply to where pores are noticeable. I find this is finnicky all over if you have dry skin, but if you are oily then it can be great! I apply on my cheeks up toward my nose bridge and find it prevents the oil slick and makes pores invisible. It gives my foundation really long wear in those spots too.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

I use this on my undereye as a brightener, after applying the DreamSkin, on my cheekbones, brow bone above and below the brow, my chin, nose bridge and nose tip. It gives a gorgeous glow from within and really helps my dark undereye. I apply this even on my no-foundation days to feel ALIVE and healthy looking. A little goes a long way, another worthy splurge!

 

✨CONCEALER FAVES✨

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer

This is my holy grail! Its powder-like luminous finish but so natural looking and not drying at all. I have dark circles and undereye texture and find both to be medium-high coverage and a natural finish without being drying or bunching in my creases. So many concealers make my undereye dry and cakey looking and this does not! I used to use Shape Tape (so dry on me), but this is WAYYYY better. It is a WORTHY splurge! I bought a back up of this because I wear it daily — it blends perfect with and without foundation!

Pat McGrath Sublime Concealer

I have been trying this the past month from a deluxe sample and its amazing. Coverage isnt as high but it is brightening and radiant under the eye and not drying at all. Its a splurge too but a little goes a long way!

Kaja Don’t Settle Concealer

I have tried a sample of this a couple times and love it for the lower price point compared to the above two. It’s pretty close to a drugstore price but way better performing, worth a couple extra bucks. My under eyes are VERY dry and I have texture, so unfortunately I have not found a great drugstore concealer. This is your bargain bet!

 

✨FOUNDATIONS FAVES✨

IT Cosmetics CC+ with SPF

[Shade Neutral Medium] I have been hooked on this foundation the past year. It has a natural/satin finish, and can range from light to high coverage depending on your method of application. I like to mix with a bit of serum and apply in a patting motion with my fingers for a natural radiant finish and light coverage. For fuller coverage I apply with a beauty sponge. Bonus points for SPF coverage!

Estee Lauder Double Wear

[Shade Fresco] This is a great full coverage very matte foundation. When I want to cover it allllll up, this is the one! I apply with the damp beauty sponge, spritzing the sponge with my lilah b setting spray. This is SUPER long-wearing!

Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation

[Shade Milos] This is lightweight, feathery, and totally radiant. It gives that perfect dewy model glow and I LOVE it for lighter makeup days and in the winter since it is more hydrating.

 

✨BROW FAVES✨

ABH Brow Wiz

I have been using this for 7 years and always repurchase. It is the perfect amount of creamy yet “hard”– too creamy means it will melt off my face! I use the shade Taupe. It is thin and easy to blend out and pretty quick to apply. It is my second fave brow filling product, more on that below!

ABH DIPBROW Gel

I use this to add dimension to my very sparse brows (Damn you, 90’s skinny brow trends!). I use shade blond to add “highlight”. It sounds silly but just like for your hair, it works on your brows!

I am SUPER particular about brow products. Mine are dark blond and lighter in parts, very thin, and super unruly (the hairs like to point every which way and it ain’t cute, LOL). After years and TONS of products, this is my line up. I dip my my fave angled brush/spoolie into some Wunder Brow product [shade blonde] — NOT FROM SEPHORA–[side note: this is a gel and gets better as the tube dries out a bit so its more of a putty, like the ABH dipbrow pot but BETTER. TRUST ME], that I dab out onto a reusable palette (don’t use your hand because this is LEGIT and difficult to remove!). I brush the brows down first and then I use small and gentle strokes into the brows to get the desired shape. Then I brush the brows up with the spoolie end and fill the under arch area. I go in light at the inner part of the brows so it is more of a gradient, natural look. It takes a bit of practice but once you nail it, its amazing. BONUS– it is waterproof!

 

✨EYE FAVES✨

If you check out my current beauty routine post you’ll know I have 3 eye palette faves. This one is my # 1 right now because it is so versatile. The shades are great on the eyes, shimmer shades are perfect for highlight, the deeper shades are good for a subtle liner wing and filling brows in a pinch, and the pinky shades are good for blush. Perfect all around palette year round!  All 3 of these palettes are versatile like that though, which is why I love them! For shadow brushes, I love all of the ones from this set.

Tartelette in Bloom

I love my neutral browns and this palette is PERFECT for daily looks and for night looks. I use the light nudes for my crease, deepen with the tan, shimmer on the centre of the lid. The shimmer is also a fantastic highlight shade, to me it rivals the cult fave ABH Amrezy Highlight! I love the deep shades for creating a sultry, less harsh upper eye liner just by dipping my brush in setting spray and dabbing in the palette. I shared this on my IG stories before and will have it saved in my Makeup highlight. The cool pink shades are a great blush in a pinch, too. I have even used the brown shadows for contour!

ABH Modern Renaissance

This one has been a fave for years and is the first palette I ever splurged on. I have had it for 3 years and its still going strong! The highlight shades are out of this world! The browns are so rich and creamy, the warm sandy tones are great for warming up the cooler browns, and the reds are stunning. I used this palette for a copper orange eye look–check out my IG Reel on it!

 Too Faced Just Peachy

I love me some peachy pinks and nudes. This palette is fully matte, which I love! The shadows are a great formula that don’t go patchy either. The deep plum shade is divine for fall and winter, I have used it as a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner and I have also used it with some setting spray to shade my lips (and top with gloss!). Of course, these shades are perfect as blush too. You know I love a versatile palette!!

Sephora Gel Liner

For everyday I use a nude pencil, this nude gel liner makes my eyes look bright, awake, and bigger!

Stila Stay All Day Warerproof Liquid Liner

I recently switched it up from my tried and true KVD Liquid Liner because it kept seeping from my upper lid to my inner lower lash line– not cute! I guess in this season of my life, my skin is evolving and is a bit more oily as the day goes on which tends to break up product. This one has been great!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes

I have been using this for over 4 years and LOVE IT. So much I wore it on my wedding day after testing mannnny mascaras — waterproof and otherwise. Its worth the money for it to be budge proof. Especially with my aforementioned eye greasies, or when it is humid outside!

BuxomMascara

When I want extra oomph without waterproof, I grab this. But regularly I just stick to drugstore mascara for day to day!

 I love  Voluminous Original Mascara, because it doesn’t get flakey on me and there’s minimal transfer.

 

✨BRONZER/BLUSH/HIGHLIGHT FAVES✨

Fenty Contour Stick

 I use the Fenty trio in shade Light, and I also have the Medium Shade which is great when I have more of a tan. I use the shade Amber to contour my cheekbones, nose, forehead, and jawline [Using the contour shader brush from THIS set to blend the contour]. I have been using this contour stick for over 2 years and haven’t found one I like more! The highlighters are very pretty on the face, decolletage, and legs! If you want just the contour stick, go here.

Hoola Bronzer

 I like a bronzer that is matte and not shimmery, Shade Natural Bronze, I have had the mini for YEARS!

Nars Blush Duo

It lives up to the hype — I LOVE the Nars Orgasm Blush. Perfect amount of gold shimmer and it’s the most beautifully flushed shade. I love it in this duo set with the bronzer, which is a matte medium warm/cool bronzer shade.

Nudestix Cream Blush Stick

I LOVE this cream blush, in shade Naughty N Spice. I got a deluxe sample of it during the summer and I cannot rave enough about it. No shimmer, just beautiful nude peach pink sheer colour.

Becca Champagne Pop

This is the perfect balance of shimmery gold/silver without being too warm or cool toned. My next in line is Benefit [shade Cookie]. I apply it with my fave domed powder brush from this set, or the fan brush in the same set, and if I want a more intense beaming highlight I will spritz the brush with this setting mist first before dipping into the highlighter. I use this on my cupid’s bow, top of the cheek bone, tip and bridge of the nose, brow bone, and inner eye. Your girl loves a total glow!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

The subtle, fresh, glitter-free/non-sparkly creamy powder highlight in this palette is everything for makeup and no makeup days. I’ve never seen a more gorgeous highlighter that is light but builds! They also have this quad that includes a more bronzy shade and blush shade– if I could pick between the two I would try this quad! They’re both a bit of a splurge but last SO LONG and are brightening and blurring– AMAZING! I use this on my undereye after sweeping away the setting powder, or use it straight up to set and brighten. I also use to as a highlight on my nose, cheekbones, cupids bow, browbone, and sweep across the lids on my light makeup days. If you have a matte blush you can add this on top for a glowy pop. Plus the palette will last for years… another worthy splurge!

 

✨SETTING SPRAY/POWDER FAVES✨

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

I used to be totalllyyy against setting powder. Why? Because every one I tried made me look 20 years older and exaggerated my under eye texture and dryness. NOT CUTE. I tried Laura Mercier, Bareminerals, all of the big ones other people LOVED. I was TOTALLY hesitant in believing this one would work for me. I was SHOCKED when it did. SHOCKED. It wears well ALL day it brightens my under eye while keeping my concealer creaseless (and I have creasy under eyes, haha). I apply my concealer, then use a beauty sponge lightly dabbing into the powder and then gently pressing along my undereye. Let ‘bake’ for 5-10 minutes while doing the rest of your makeup. Brush away with a soft dome brush and set with a mist and you are golden!

Glow Recipe Watermelon Ultra Fine Mist

For that extra glow over makeup or without– I got this mist during the spring event. I love the healthy dewy glow it gives at a fraction of the price of Tatcha’s Dewy Mist (which I also love, but pricey!). Plus this smells DELICIOUS, haha!

UD All Nighter Long Lasting Setting Spray

Long lasting and perfect for more matte looks. I also love this for making highlighter a bit more blinding and to turn eyeshadows into soft liners. Just spritz on your hand, or direct on brush, then dab into desired shadow. Apply to eye a liner with a brush like this.

 

 

✨LIP FAVES✨

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Cheat

My go to combo is a quick lip liner and gloss. To add some colour back to my lips I love this. Its my lips shade but better and looks beautiful on.

Fenty Gloss Bomb

This shade is universal and totally gorgeous. I love shades Fenty Glow and Fu$$y. It is moisturizing and not sticky and I love using it over matte liquid lips to keep it from looking dried out. It wears off after a while and leaves lips looking hydrated and pretty. Fenty just released a 4-pack of gloss minis in new shades that I am dying to try that are holiday exclusive!

Laneige Lip Mask

This lip balm ismy holy grail. It is all the hype and more. I use it day and night and no other lip balm/salve is half as good for my super dry creasy lips!! The brand recently came out with a balm version of the classic mask for during the day that I just added to my cart, it comes in 4 different flavours! A MUST HAVE for the winter season. I use it day and night year round and still have my original jar from 2 years ago!

My tip for juicy hydrated lips– apply this hyaluronic acid, then top with your moisturizer, and seal in with the lip mask!

✨MAKEUP APPLICATION TOOL FAVES✨

Sephora Ready to Roll Brush Set

This set has all the brushes you need for your face at a super affordable price. They are soft and durable! Great value!

Tarte Beauty Sponge

This has the soft edges and the straight edge which is perfect for apply foundation, concealer, and baking.

ABH Eyebrow Brush/Spoolie 

This is the perfect small angled brush with a fine tip to fill the brows quickly but delicately. I love it for getting full natural looking brows!!

✨SKINCARE FAVES✨

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

I picked this oil based makeup remove last year and LOVED it. I tried a few others after that and none have measured up in their ability to fully remove all makeup from my skin. This is my first step in makeup removal. I gently apply it all over, wait a minute for it to work its magic on even waterproof makeup, then moisten my face with water and kind of lather. Then Rinse! I dont dry my face until after I use my cleanser, next.

Purity Cleanser

I have had my first bottle of this for years, it is so long lasting and effective. When my face is still wet from my last step I gently lather with this cleanser, then rinse.

TO Lactic Acid

This chemical exfoliates the skin to reduce fine lines, texture, and dullness. When I use this my skin is always glowy the next day. I use this every other night, on the nights I don’t use retinol!

TO Glycolic Acid Toner

I found this to be a bit harsh on my face, but found a tip to use it daily to refresh your underarms. It prevents the harmful stinky smelling bacteria from spreading. I do this every morning with a cotton pad before reapplying my deodorant (I use all-natural deo! So I need all the anti-stink help I can get!)

Tatcha Essence

This resurfacing softener plumps up skin with a proven method of drawing skincare ingredients (applied subsequently) DEEPER into the surface of the skin. Deeper penetration = better results! Think of this like an amplifier that enhances the performance of all your other skincare! And because if its good enough for Jeffrey Starr and Tati (famous youtubers over 30 years old), its a YES from me.

TO Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This little powerhouse serum can hold up to 1000x its weight in moisture, seriously hydrating and plumping up your skin! After washing my face,I apply the essence, then I mist with this, then pat the serum in. I top it with my Buffet or Niacinamide (alternating the days). I also use it on my lips to get them soft and pillowy (tip below!).

TO Niacinamide

I use this serum in the evening and morning after applying the essence and HA, patting it in until absorbed. It is soooo good for clarifying your complexion, reducing scars, and keeping you glowy. Breakouts have been dimished and my skin texture has improved so much with this added to my regimen. FYI– Niacinamide is Vit B!

TO Buffet Serum

Like a buffet of peptides for your skin, it is super replenishing and just great. I use it in the morning after my essence/ HA before applying my moisturizer and SPF. As you can see, I am a big The Ordinary (TO) fan. I love their affordable skincare that doesn’t compromise on quality. All of these newTO buys are so well rated and each was $6-$15! AH-mazing! The go out of stock FAST so go, go, GO!

Shani Darden Retinol Reform

I love this concentrated retinol cream, because this mama is 30 now and a mom of two wild boys. Haha! Worth the splurge compared to other retinols I gave tried. It is a great gel serum formula that absorbs well. I use this every other night, then once absorbed I top with my moisturizer. If you are looking for ONE anti-aging product to add to your regimen, THIS IS IT.

La Mer Creme

This is my annual splurge. I have been buying it on discount for the past three years and LOVE it. A little goes a long way. I use this daily in the winter, and a couple times in the week year round, and my skin looks SO healthy, fresh, and have helped slow the signs of aging. Because HELLO LATE 20s, Entering my 30’s!! When I wear it during the day on no makeup days (usually I apply at night!) Tyler always compliments how glowy I look, and usually men are kind of clueless! HAHA. Fun fact: apparently Chrissy Teigen applies this ALL OVER to keep her model body in top shape, including all through her pregnancies to prevent stretch marks!

Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream

Special mention to this face cream from new beauty brand Volition, which I have been using for the last 3 weeks and LOVE so far. I received it in my FabFitFun box and was definitely uncertain on whether I would use it. Definitely better $ than the luxury one above and very effective. My skin looks bright, youthful, refreshed, and pores minimized since I started it. So if you aren’t down for the mega splurge, this one is AMAZING too.

Josie Maran Daily Face SPF 

Non-greasy, no whitecast, wears PERFECT under makeup. I went all summer without a sunburn. PLUS– you NEED this daily year round when using harsher anti-aging products (like Retinol and acids). Seriously the best face SPF I have ever tried, and this many!

✨HAIRCARE FAVES✨

Olaplex Hair Perfector

this rebuilds the bonds and prevents damage to your hair. My hair is dry at the ends, easily damage, thick, and frizzy. I use this once a week for 10 minutes. I suggest dampening hair, then applying this and watching tv before hopping in the shower for real.

Verb Ghost Shampoo

This shampoo cleanses without leaving anything heavy behind. It has been my secret to only washing my hair ONCE A WEEK! I know right? And it does NOT get greasy!

MoroccanOil Purple Shampoo

I have tried a couple purple shampoos for my blond babylights and this is the one to take out the brass in one go! I gently apply it mid shaft to ends and let sit a few minutes before rinsing.

Amika The Kure Mask

I skip conditioner and go straight to this, since I only wash once a week! No need to have too many steps, right?

Ouai Wave Spray.

This one is one of my faves because it doesn’t have salt, which dries out your hair, or make your hair feel sticky or tacky. Instead of  salt it uses rice as the active ingredient– salt is sooo drying for my hair type and leaves my ends feeling gross. Not this one! It also adds a great smell. Perfect for waking up and freshening up your waves on the fly.

Ouai Air Dry Foam

I love this so that I can avoid heat while still having manageable hair with soft waves when it air dries. I apply a couple pumps of this all over after towel drying and gently twirl a few strands to help the natural curl.

Ouai Dry Texture Foam

I really like this for refreshing my hair in the mornings and make it more manageable while adding body and texture.

✨BATH/BODY FAVES✨

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanner

I love that this is not too deep, and no yellow or orange tones. It looks SO natural and develops evenly. Even when it fades I find it is less patchy than others!

St. Tropez Mitt

This is the best mitt for applying self-tanner, it blends amazing and is easy to wash after!

 

My Top Tips for Shopping the Sale

Whether you are seeing this while shopping a Sephora sales event OR have a gift card to blow… These are my top tips to spend SMART.

Focus on SKINCARE

I always use the sale to stock up on my skincare faves. Through my mid twenties I started to establish a stringent skincare routine and invest in skin products (some may call it high maintenance, I call it conscious and preventative!). A good rule of thumb is the ABC’s for anti-aging and acne prone skin– Vitamin A (Retinol), Vitamin B (Niacin), and Vitamin C! As you can see above, that’s what I stocked up on this time around. [A, B, C] PS- DON’T FORGET SUNSCREEN! I love this SPF Sunscreen/Setting spray, and I just ordered this SPF daily moisturizer.

INVEST In Tools

Tools to invest in are a straightener (I’ve had this one for 4 years!), an interchangeable barrel curling wand, and a hairdryer. I have been dying to get this Dyson one!!

QUALITY Hair & Makeup Brushes will LAST

If it’s time to upgrade your hair and makeup brushes, a sale or gift card is the perfect time to do it. The brush set that is affordable that I recommend is this set.

You might think all hair brushes are made equal, but that is so so wrong! A good brush can help your hair drying time fly by faster, tame frizz and bring out shine, or give a fast and effective tease for killer volume for your hair styles. For hair drying, this can cut your drying time by up to half. For frizz and shine, a classic boar bristle brush. And a comb to dethrone all combs, this one.

Think About GIFTS

Birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day (they have Men’s stuff!), Christmas…. now is the time to pick up a sweet value set, replenish an old fave, or surprise with something new. Fragrance or Cologne is a safe bet [my fave perfume is ALWAYS Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, I have been wearing it for 15 years!), along with candles, this super neat hair towel that cuts drying time by 50%, a luxe silk pillowcase, or a new beauty toy [like this Dyson hair styler that has a cult following!]