Sephora Sale: What I’m Trying, Buying & Love

October 31, 2020

‘Tis the season for some of the best beauty sales! Not only has the Sephora sales started but they also have their collection of holiday sets & kits together. It is time to stock up and find some great gifts for friends & family.

I have divided my favorites up into different categories. You might see some repeat of my favorite Sephora Sale purchases across a few of the collages I made but they can be used for a lot of different things so I wanted you to see them in all of the contexts so keep that in mind!

What is the Sephora Holiday Sale?

Earn up to 20% off based on your loyalty program status at Sephora. Each tier’s sale starts on a different day so the higher your tier, the longer you have to shop!

What’s worth stocking up on?

While it is nice to get all of your more expensive make up up to 20% off I think some things are worth stocking up on while some you can get for better prices elsewhere.

So whats worth it?

  • Perfumes – they rarely go on sale so this is the time! Pro-tip? Check the holiday sets (Like this one I got for Scott last year! or the women’s best sellers) & see if one of your favorites is in there. A lot of those sets come with a coupon to redeem a free full-size bottle of any of the samples. Another great way to save money!
  • Holiday kits – for example, the Laura Mercier Caviar stick holiday set has 4 of their most popular colors for $35. One caviar stick usually costs $29 alone! You might have to do a little cost comparison BUT worth it for the savings. I personally am snagging one of the Nest Candle sets – these are two of my all time favorite candles!
  • Gifts – some of the holiday kits (like to LM Caviar sticks or the set of 3 Tarte eye shadow palettes) can be broken up into multiple gifts. Think teachers, nieces, sister, etc.
  • Skincare – another thing that rarely goes on sale. Even though I have recently switch to the Inkey List products (I cannot get enough of their Vitamin C serum!! It is the best one I have ever tried) & they are less expensive products – it is still nice to get them 20% off.
  • Makeup – it depends! For clean beauty buys or designer products that you love, this is the time to stock up on them! Brands like Tarte always go on sale on their direct website so I would avoid those & just wait til their next sale.

What I Am Buying & Trying?

  • The Inkey List Vitamin C – DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS just because it’s on $15. According to my research, for the best results you want your serum to have 10% or more potency with its Vitamin C. This serum has 15% and honestly my skin has never been more even since using this consistently. Definitely ordering more! And it is also a clean beauty product!
  • The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm – this is great for people with dry skin who are looking for a solution that removes makeup & cleanses the skin. It is so moisturizing and also breaks through the makeup & grime. Plus its literally $10. You cant argue with that.
  • The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream – another inexpensive clean beauty product. I havent tried this yet but it has 4+ stars and over 1000 reviews. I will keep you updated. And another great price – $10!
  • The Inkey List Retinol Anti-Aging Serum – All of the women with skin I envy on the internet all incorporate retinol into their routine. With how much I love their other products I thought the Inkey List line would be a great place to start. Trying this one and I will keep you updated. Even after the sale it is only $10!
  • Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray – I have really fine hair but I am my mother’s daughter and I love BIG hair. To help offset the fine-ness of my hair I have incorporated this thickening spray into my blowout routine (with the Revlon blowdry brush!) and it works SO well! I started with a sample size but I am snagging the full size at the sale this time!
  • Charlotte Tilbury Setting Spray – this setting spray quickly grew notoriety on the internet after a TikTok showing how effective it was blew up. I snagged (again) a sample size to try it and it works SO well, doesnt dry you out (there is no alcohol) and leaves your skin looking fresh & dewy. Other setting sprays have left me dry & flakey which turned me off of them but this setting spray has me ADDICTED – especially to protect me from mask rub off!
  • Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil Supreme – my beauty guru Kathleen Jennings loves this oil for her fine hair. I have been wanting to try it & now is the perfect time!
  • Nest Candle Holiday Set – every holiday season I buy one of the nest holiday candles. It is divine, has such good throw, and feels like a little treat yo-self for me. These are two of my favorite scents so between the set price and the 20% off I get for being a Rouge VIB member I cant pass this up!

My Favorite Products by Category

Perfumes (Worth it!)

  • Tocca Maya – got a sample of this last year and loved it!
  • Si by Giorgio Armani – one of my 2 go to fragrances. This one is sweet, floral, and sexy! Smelled it on my friend once and immediately purchased it.
  • Juliette Has A Gun – my signature. I swear I cannot go anywhere without someone asking what I am wearing. This one is so unique and doesnt have dupes because it is reacts differently with every body. I am obsessed!
  • Alien by Mugler – this is one of my all time favorite perfumes. Every time I smell it on someone I absolutely LOVE it. For some reason I dont love the way it reacts on me but if you are looking for a safe bet for a super sexy scent this is it!
  • Amazing Grace – we were at a winery in a cave in Napa a few years ago and it smelled amazing inside. I asked if it was the candles they were burning and the girl said it must be her perfume and this was it. It smells clean, soft like baby powder, and a little sweet. It is really stunning. I just found out they make it in a candle and I am running to snag it once it is in stock again!

Foundations (depends!)

Okay a quick intro on foundations. I love all of these foundations and if you were looking for a cleaner beauty products (all of the CT foundations are free of parabens and the like even though they arent “clean clean”) or you have a foundation you swear by go ahead and snag it. Usually I would be buying my Charlotte Tilbury foundations at this sale. Since I discovered the Catrice foundation I am not sure I will ever buy another foundation ever again. Truly it is that good. BUT I wanted to provide my Sephora foundation recommendations for you as well, just in case!

  • Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder – this is the perfect foundation for those who dont like to wear a lot of makeup but want great glow & coverage. The CT products rarely go on sale so I would definitely get it. I personally use this the most in the summer. Light to medium coverage. Lightweight. Perfect glow. Love this one!
  • Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation – this is my favorite medium to full coverage foundation. Still gives you a great glow, as all Charlotte Tilbury products do, but feels good on the skin. For me, nothing compares to Charlotte Tilbury foundation finishes. They literally make you look like you are a red carpet goddess.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Setting Spray – this setting spray quickly grew notoriety on the internet after a TikTok showing how effective it was blew up. I snagged (again) a sample size to try it and it works SO well, doesnt dry you out (there is no alcohol) and leaves your skin looking fresh & dewy. Other setting sprays have left me dry & flakey which turned me off of them but this setting spray has me ADDICTED – especially to protect me from mask rub off!
  • Fenty Foundation – this is a great matte, full coverage foundation that comes in SO many shades. If you prefer a matte finish, this is the way to go!
  • Nars Soft Matte Foundation – I have yet to try this foundation but it has been getting rave reviews from beauty bloggers all over. More of a lightweight foundation with a medium buildable coverage. If you try it, let me know!

Eyes (a few good buys!)

For eyes, I think there are great products to stock up on. Some come in sets that are a better value, some are just all around good products. Do I think their are drugstore eyeliners that might be just as good? Yes. I think that the caviar sticks & some eye palettes blendability cant be compared to a drugstore product & are worth the investment.

  • Laura Mercier Caviar Stick & Holiday Set– I use the shade amethyst stick every day for an easy eye makeup look and I love it. The holiday set of 4 caviar sticks pictured below is an incredible savings & comes in 4 of their most popular colors. You cant go wrong with either – just depends on what you are looking for! You could also break the set of 4 up into teacher gifts or stocking stuffers- just add a little gift card or sometime fun!
  • Tarte Tartelette Palette – this is my absolute favorite palette of all time. I feel the way about this palette that every teen to 20 year old girl felt about the naked palette in 2011 (RIP). Tarte eye shadows are SO blendable and soft. I dont personally love lot of shimmer so this palette’s matte shadows are perfect for me.
  • Tarte Surfer Curl Mascara – this is my favorite clean beauty mascara. However, I dont think that this is the best price you can get. In fact, I found a better deal for you. You can get 2 for $30 on QVC. Or if you want to try a few Tarte mascaras I actually just ordered this set of 3 to try after hearing great things from friends about the others included in this set! I actually used to love the Lights Camera Lashes!
  • Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – this is another favorite mascara & one of my go to’s! This is a great mascara if you like dark, dramatic, full lashes. The primer is great too!
  • Monsiuer Big Holiday Set – another old favorite mascara! Perfect for full long lashes! This set of 2 is a great price too!
  • Kaja Beauty Bento Bouncy Eye Shadow Trio – if you dont need a huge palette and are just looking for a few good coordinating shades, this would be the buy for you. I haven’t personally tried them but they are one of the top rated & best selling eye shadow palettes at Sephora! I liked the pictured shades personally but they have lots of colors to choose from!
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil – this pencil is so soft and smooth. I own it in two colors – bourbon & rockstar. Honestly it really does speak to its name because it really just glides on. I know thats cheesy but its true!!

Lips (yassss)

Lots of good lip sets & colors that I swear by (for gifts or for yourself!).

Clean Beauty

  • Tarte Salt Lyf Duo – literally every blogger you follow owns either one or both of these products. I promise you. I own the lip gloss – its a little sticky but the color is so good. Such a good mauve color that literally everyone swears by!
  • The Inkey List Vitamin C – DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS just because it’s on $15. According to my research, for the best results you want your serum to have 10% or more potency with its Vitamin C. This serum has 15% and honestly my skin has never been more even since using this consistently. Definitely ordering more! And it is also a clean beauty product!
  • Farmacy Green Clean – another favorite makeup remover cleanser combo. Really gets you squeaky clean! Plus it smells INCREDIBLE – like key lime.
  • RMS Beauty Products – Living Luminizer, Lip2Cheek, Eye Polish. Thi product line is a celebrity favorite. Almost all of their products are coconut oil based & super clean! Plus its amazing to support a female owned business & Rosemary is a total sweetheart!
  • The Inkey List Holiday Heroes Kit – while there isnt a major savings here (the products are already so well priced) this is a great kit to try a couple of their products & see if you like OR if youre a genius like me, get for your man to trick him into starting a skincare routine.
  • Tarte Sea Breezy Cream Bronzer – bought the sample size of this and wore it all summer! Great color payout & nice and blendable!
  • Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm – a great vegan lip product. I wear it at night to keep my lips nice and moisturized through the winter months.
  • The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm – this is great for people with dry skin who are looking for a solution that removes makeup & cleanses the skin. It is so moisturizing and also breaks through the makeup & grime. Plus its literally $10. You cant argue with that.
  • Tarte Surfer Curl Mascara – this is my favorite clean beauty mascara. However, I dont think that this is the best price you can get. In fact, I found a better deal for you. You can get 2 for $30 on QVC. Or if you want to try a few Tarte mascaras I actually just ordered this set of 3 to try after hearing great things from friends about the others included in this set! I actually used to love the Lights Camera Lashes!

Hair Products

For hair products I think there are some splurge worthy items that are much higher quality than a drugstore product that you should buy. Do I think most shampoos & conditioners would be worth the investment? No. Are there some great styling products & treatments that I really like? Yes. One thing I love but refuse to spend money on anymore because there are great drugstore options is dry shampoo. Those are my thoughts. So what would I pick?

Holiday Sets Picks (Yes yes yes!)

There are so many great holiday set picks so I have broken them down a little further into sets I think are great values (these!) and sets that I think make great gifts!

  • Deborah Lippman Nail Essentials Manicure & Pedicure Set – With the way 2020 is going we never know when nail salons will be shutting down next! Or many during 2020 you have a friend that replaced her monthly manicure by doing it at home! This set is such a good value. Deborah Lippman polishes and products are clean and really high quality! This would be a great gift for yourself or a friend!
  • Best of Rare Beauty Mini Set – ICYMI Selena Gomez dropped her Rare Beauty Line a few months ago. Since then, people cannot shut up about how great the creme blush is. Snag this mini set for $15. Perfect for a stocking stuffer, if you want to try before you buy, or as a great little gift!
  • Tarte Give, Gift, Get Eyeshadow Palette Trio – seriously this is SUCH A GOOD DEAL! You saw me rave about Tarte Eyeshadow Palettes earlier in this post. The name of this set says it all. Give one, gift one, and keep one for yourself. This is perfect if you have sisters or cousins or for literally anyone in your life.
  • Nest Holiday Classic Diffuser & Candle – this is truly the best holiday candle. It is the perfect amount of spice, pine, and holiday smells that you dream of. This is the perfect gift for someone who loves to host or your mom for hosting Thanksgiving (so she can use it all December long and remember how much more she loves you than your siblings while she shops for Christmas).
  • Nest Candle Holiday Set – every holiday season I buy one of the nest holiday candles. It is divine, has such good throw, and feels like a little treat yo-self for me. These are two of my favorite scents so between the set price and the 20% off I get for being a Rouge VIB member I cant pass this up!
  • Monsiuer Big Holiday Set – another old favorite mascara! Perfect for full long lashes! This set of 2 is a great price too!
  • Mens Cologne Sampler – got this for Scott last year and he loved it. He dropped his old bottle of cologne in the bathroom and shattered it and wanted to try out some new ones. It also comes in a great faux leather travel bag (that TBH I stole and use for travel now because it fits so much!). As I mentioned earlier in the post – you get a coupon to redeem for a full size bottle in the kit so its a great way to save on cologne for your mans!
  • The Inkey List Holiday Heroes Kit – while there isnt a major savings here (the products are already so well priced) this is a great kit to try a couple of their products & see if you like OR if youre a genius like me, get for your man to trick him into starting a skincare routine.

Gifts (Definitely! & tell your husband to shop for you too!)

  • Nest Candle Holiday Set – every holiday season I buy one of the nest holiday candles. It is divine, has such good throw, and feels like a little treat yo-self for me. These are two of my favorite scents so between the set price and the 20% off I get for being a Rouge VIB member I cant pass this up!
  • Peter Thomas Roth Eye Patch Party – i wear eye patches pretty much daily now as part of my morning routine working from home. I love PTR masks & I am sure the eye masks are no exception. These would be great for a grab bag or white elephant or for those teachers and moms out there who need a little pep in their undereye step!
  • Deborah Lippman Nail Essentials Manicure & Pedicure Set – With the way 2020 is going we never know when nail salons will be shutting down next! Or many during 2020 you have a friend that replaced her monthly manicure by doing it at home! This set is such a good value. Deborah Lippman polishes and products are clean and really high quality! This would be a great gift for yourself or a friend!
  • Monsiuer Big Holiday Set – another old favorite mascara! Perfect for full long lashes! This set of 2 is a great price too!
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Stick & Holiday Set– I use the shade amethyst stick every day for an easy eye makeup look and I love it. The holiday set of 4 caviar sticks pictured below is an incredible savings & comes in 4 of their most popular colors. You cant go wrong with either – just depends on what you are looking for! You could also break the set of 4 up into teacher gifts or stocking stuffers- just add a little gift card or sometime fun!
  • Pura x Nest Holiday Set – if you’re anything like me you’ve seen the Pura plug in everywhere lately. Pura has partnered with your favorite candle companies to create scents that are long lasting throughout your home. I’ve been wanting to try this myself & this Nest holiday set has my favorite winter scents to make my house smell like Christmas starting ASAP.
  • Mens Cologne Sampler – got this for Scott last year and he loved it. He dropped his old bottle of cologne in the bathroom and shattered it and wanted to try out some new ones. It also comes in a great faux leather travel bag (that TBH I stole and use for travel now because it fits so much!). As I mentioned earlier in the post – you get a coupon to redeem for a full size bottle in the kit so its a great way to save on cologne for your mans!
Posted in Uncategorized