My Sephora Holiday Savings Picks
It’s one of my favorite times of year…the holidays! But also, the Sephora sale. They only really do these sales twice a year, and they are such a great opportunity for beauty lovers (and newbies!) to pick up a treat for yourself, or start your holiday shopping early!
If you’re not a Beauty Insider, you should definitely sign up. If you’re ready this blog, then you’re likely beauty and skincare interested, which makes it worth it. There’s no sign-up fee or cost to membership – it’s just a rewards pass, and the more you spend throughout the year, the higher your tier. Your tier will determine your discount in this sale, as well as how early you can shop. Here are the details:
Beauty items are such a great holiday gift for anyone, because many times there are things that make such a nice treat for others – something people won’t buy themselves, but are something they would love to have. So if you are ready to jump into your holiday shopping, or if you’re just ready to stock up on some favorites or try something new, I’ve put together a post of all my favorite skincare, makeup, and holiday gifts to grab during this sale. Let’s jump in!
My Makeup Picks
If you’re looking for eyeshadow palettes, I can’t recommend this one from Makeup by Mario enough; it’s one of my top purchases of 2021, and I use it almost daily for a really simple and natural eye-makeup look. The shadows are pigmented, but buildable, so it’s less intimidating for those who don’t do a major eye look every day. You can build a beautiful smokey eye in neutrals or blacks, and it is perfect for building a base to any eye look. Another super simple palette I have in my cart is this one from Charlotte Tilbury. It’s got four sets of eye looks built out for you, or you can mix and match, with a matte and two shimmery shades. I love that this can work for any eye color, and gives you a multitude of looks to play with – definitely more bang for your buck, and this is a great time to treat yourself to a more luxe palette like this one, for yourself or it makes a great gift for someone else.
If you’re in it for eye looks, then definitely check out my two favorite mascaras of the moment – this one from Lancome is such a simple, buildable formula that leaves you with a beautiful bold lash. The shape of the wand makes it easy to apply, and is great for a giving you more of a winged eyelash. And my newest mascara of choice? This tubing mascara from Hourglass. If you haven’t tried tubing mascaras, they are a more watery formula with a harder brush, so they go on pretty lightly and build in intensity. This mascara is incredible – no more to be said.
And I can’t leave out my two favorite eyeliners. If you’ve got green, brown or hazel eyes, this plum-wine colored eyeliner from Charlotte Tilbury is the eyeliner you didn’t know you needed. It will make your eyes pop, and has the most amazing creamy consistency. I use on my waterline, or do a winged or smokey eyeliner look – gorgeous. And this taupe eyeliner from Makeup by Mario is another wonder-find! If you want your eyes to wake up or open up, put this on your water line and it gives you such a youthful look and wide-eye. I love it as a finishing touch to a smokey eye!
Also in my cart? This gorgeous highlighter/bronzer/blush duo from Tom Ford. These sales are always the time of year when I treat myself to nicer items I want in my makeup kit, but can’t justify without a sale price. I saw Katie Jane Hughes use this palette in a look the other day, and it was an immediate add-to-cart moment. It’s sister, the Shade and Illuminate is another favorite beauty purchase of the year that I got in the sale during the Spring. It’s got a cream bronzer and super subtle highlighter, so this is a great building palette for anyone looking for a two-in-one palette that is great for travel and easy makeup looks. Not ready to splurge on a cream bronzer? Definitely check out this one from Saie beauty that gaining a cult-following. It’s so easy to use – I did a whole post on it here.
If you’re looking for some daily staples to put in your cart, then I can’t recommend this glowy duo from Saie beauty enough – this star-glow gel from Saie mixed with their Slip Tint is a gorgeous every-day combination for skin, and has been a regular part of my routine. Build it with a cream blush for a super dewy, natural complexion, with this terracotta color from Rose Inc. that I love, or this beautiful and fresh pink color from Nars, my current shades on rotation. Finish it off with my favorite cream highlighter from Rare Beauty, and you’ve got a gorgeous look once you slap on a little bit of mascara.
And you can never go wrong with treating yourself or anyone else to a lipstick. I am obsessed with Patrick Ta’s line of bold colors, and the formula stays put under a mask without drying out your lips. I love this bright berry shade, and his orangey-red color. A tried and true combination that pretty much works on anyone – the Pillow Talk lip kit from Charlotte Tilbury. If you’re not a bold lip fan, this shade is just a universal upgrade to a nude, and is a great formula.
My final pick? A little bit of luxe for a gift for you or someone else – this highlighter palette from Dior. This has been in my own makeup kit for a while, and I can’t recommend it enough. It builds well over matte or creamy complexions, and I use all four shades together or separately to give me a little extra oomph to any look. It’s a great gift to someone else, or a treat yourself moment you can’t go wrong with.
My Skincare Picks
This sale is an excellent time to stock up on skincare favorites, or to just try something you have had your eye on. I’ve put together all of my favorite skincare picks, including many of the items that are in my current rotation, as well as things that are long-time favorites I can’t live without. First up, toner, the most-skipped step in any skincare routine, because many people have convinced themselves they don’t need it. Two toners that totally have an impact? This Ready, Set, Glow AHA toner from REN skincare that I love to use with a reusable pad in the morning to buff away any dead or dry skin, and give your skin a healthy glow. Follow it up with this hydrating and rebalancing toner from Indie Lee that leaves your skin refreshed and ready for skincare. I love it layered for added hydration when I use a harsher toner to keep my skin feel refreshed rather than tight, or use it on it’s own if you have a dryer or sensitive skin type.
If you don’t already know my love for the entire Farmacy line, then you are sleeping under a rock or not on this blog often enough. I absolutely stan this brand, and I think their whole line is luxe quality skincare with a super fair price tag. I love the mellow honey scent, and the products do their job! Two of my favorites? Their AHA/BHA serum that is great for getting deep down into those pores to help clear and heal any dark spots, and their Honey Halo ultra-rich moisturizer, especially as the winter dries my skin out – now available in a jumbo size, which I snagged in my sale haul. Both are staples in my nighttime skincare routine!
Other routine must-haves for me right now are this eye cream from Origins. I tried this after I saw TIBAL post about it, and wow, everyone is sleeping on this eye cream. This is the best of the best – super light-weight, which means so little bumps, includes incredible ingredients like vitamin C, caffeine and niacinamide, all of which help brighten and wake up the under-eye. It gives a light sheen, and they just created a second shade for darker/cooler skin tones, which we love to see. This is a must-add and a definite try for anyone shopping the sale!
I have recently been struggling so much with my acne, especially cystic acne, and a recent visit to the aesthetician has me skipping the night-time moisturizer in my routine to let the skin breathe. I have dry skin, but acne-prone skin, so I am still trying to give my skin some hydration and pump in some antioxidants, too, and I have finally found the perfect combination – 3 drops of this vitamin nectar from Fresh + 2 drops of this gorgeous face oil from Summer Fridays. Both incorporate antioxidants, which help the skin to breathe and and heal at night. These are both excellent products that are going to be staples in my routine.
And in every routine should be an SPF, no ifs ands or buts. If you’re looking for one that won’t break you out, and doubles as a great glowy base for makeup, look no further than the Glowscreen from Supergoop. Add some of this to your moisturizer in your daytime routine, and you will never look back. This is a great quality sunscreen that also give you the healthiest glow under makeup or on its own.
Not interested in any kind of complicated skincare routine, but want to give adulting a shot? This set from Tatcha is your answer. It includes four of my all-time favorite skincare products in one cute little set, and takes the guessing game out of building a skincare routine, with the added bonus of incredible ingredients. This set includes their cleansing oil (super gentle and effective), their rice polish (top ten favorite skincare products), their hydrating and plumping essence (a staple in my AM and PM routines), and their dewy cream (so. dreamy.). This set is a great gift to yourself or anyone else you’re trying to help self-care.
Speaking of self-care, a few of my items are great treat yourself moments, like my all-time favorite mask for these cooler temps, the Jet Lag mask from Summer Fridays, packed with hydration, or these eye masks from Wander Beauty that I have been using for years. Both make a great gift for you or a friend, and are items you will use for months to come. Pair them with this roller massage head that I purchased as a treat for Chris, and you’ve got a great self-care/take-care gift for the holidays – easy!
Ready to step up your skincare game? My splurge item on this list is the NuFace facial toning device that I have and love. It’s my only big ticket item on the list, and that’s on purpose. I think this device is really worth the money, and while you have to use it frequently to see results, the firming and toning are legit, and so great for drooping cheeks, fine lines around the eyes, or tackling that double chin and tech neck. While this item does have a steeper price tag, it’s cheaper than a round of Botox and definitely a great time to grab this on sale for anyone serious about skincare.
Last but not least, body care is skincare! And these two items from Necesaire have been repurchased so many times since I started using them last year. I love love love this hydrating body serum paired with their moisturizer. I use this every single day when I come out of the shower, and not only do they keep my skin from drying out, but they also have helped tackle the bumps on the backs of my arms and keep my self-tanner in solid for days. If you’ve hesitated on buying these before, let this sale be your excuse. I promise you won’t look back – nothing else compares.
My Holiday Beauty Gift Picks
If you’re in need of a gift for someone else, need to send your significant other a menu of items so you get something good, or you’re looking to treat yourself and try something new with a value set, this holiday sale is for you! Sephora does so many great holiday bundles, and it’s such a great time to shop around in beauty! I put together all of my favorite gift-worthy items below, and will highlight a few that I have and love. But some of these are on my own wish-list and cart, too!
For your friends who love to play around with makeup, add items 1, 6, 10 and 11 to your cart! I love these shimmery eye shadow sticks (so easy and creamy) from Bobbi Brown, or these pigmented eye/lip/cheek tints from Danessa Myricks for the more adventurous! And I I have my eye on this set from cult-favorite Westman Atelier, and you cannot go wrong with this lip set in a range of classic colors from makeup legend, Charlotte Tilbury. These are all such clutch shades for any beauty lover in your life!
For your friends who love a cozy scent, you can never go wrong with gifting a candle! Check out picks 2, 3 and 7. Home scents are perfect for this time of year, and this warm vanilla candle from Summer Fridays is in my cart. Scented after their lip butter, I know anyone will love. If you’re into LeLabo, then this candle from Maison Louis Marie is the perfect dupe for Santal 26, if you’re not into the high-end price tag. Coming in under $40, this is one of my all-time favorite candles. And if you’re looking for a great gift for a hostess, then this holiday set from Pura is perfect and unexpected. I just got two of these diffuser devices, and having the holiday scents makes such a difference to come home to, for home or for your office.
For your skincare queens, picks 12, 13 and 14 are for you! Holiday bundles are a great time to try out skincare, or gift a little bit of self-care to someone you love. I have my eye on this Retinol set from Shani Darden – her retinol is a top pick! And if you’re wanting to try my favorite brand, Farmacy, this set is a great way to dive in or set up someone you love with an easy and clean skincare routine. Last but not least, I snagged this lip butter set from Summer Fridays – I already have the two lighter shades, but had to get this darker plum color for the holidays – this is my most worn lip balm, so I’ll throw extras in my bag or keep one at my desk.
And for the friends who love a quality blow-out, check out my haircare picks with 4, 5 8 and 9! I think this silk pillowcase and eye mask (help skin and hair stay healthy and shiny!) are a perfect gift for any friend, colleague or family member. If you’re looking for the perfect blowout at home, then this set from amika is for you! This blow-drying brush makes styling and drying your hair so simple, and it lasts for days! I love amika products right up there with my Oribe, and this set includes some of my favorites! For something a little bit luxe, this hair perfume oil from Gisou is in my cart, and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews! This is a great gift for someone you want to splurge on. And lastly, this set from Olaplex is perfect for keeping your hair healthy! Their products are top-notch, and this set includes their best-sellers, like their bonding hair oil and hair perfecting mask, two of my personal favorites!
Happy shopping and happy holidays!
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