Sephora Sale 2020 Recommendations
The annual Sephora sale is here again! If you’re an Insider, the sales are as follows:
Rouge 20% off: 10/30 - 11/9
VIB 15% off: 11/3 - 11/9
Insider 10% off: 11/5 - 11/9
Now is the perfect time to pick up any products you have been eyeing or replacing backups. As always, do not feel pressured to buy anything if you absolutely do not need it. With COVID, money can be tight and I never want you to feel pressured into thinking you need anything. From having this space I have been fortunate to work with so many brands that kindly gift many products to me to try. I’m so fortunate to receive these that I can test and recommend them to you. Here are some of my recommendations for skincare/haircare/bodycare recommendations. I’m not too sure if I’ll have a pt 2 up with makeup products - I use a very minimal amount of products from day-to-day since I just work from home these days lol. Anyways, it’s a long one so grab a cup of something and dig in!
This post contains affiliate links. If you’ll be shopping the Sephora sale, I would absolutely love if you clicked on my links and shopped with me. All earnings are funneled back into my Blog/IG spaces.
I believe you have to shop through the website rather than the app in order for any orders to count ☺️
Skincare
Eye Creams
Farmacy Cheer Up Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream * ($45 for .5 oz)| This is one of the first eye creams in a while that really “wowed” me. It has a thick but light formula and blends in nicely. While I don’t really struggle with dark circles/under eyes, I do find that my under eyes look much brighter when I use this. For the last year or so, every friend that’s asked me for an eye cream recommendation, I’ve directed them to this one.
belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb * ($48 for .84 oz) | This one is a nice and hydrating cream which easily sinks into my skin. This one was getting to the end of the shelf life and I ended up using this on my neck which I could visibly notice looking softer and smoother. ** My pro-tip for expiring eye creams is to use it as a neck cream 😉
Serums
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum *🌿 ($46 for 1.01 oz) | I struggle with redness and when I use this I can see that redness fade and my skin is a lot more even in tone. This has a thick texture but it sinks in nicely and doesn’t leave any residue behind.
Caudalie Vinosource SOS Deep Hydration Serum *🌿 ($49 for 1 oz) | I can’t tell you how many bottles of this I’ve gone through. This has the lightest consistency that sinks in so nicely and plumps up my skin. This does have a light fragrance (classic Caudalie scent), it does fade so it doesn’t last long but it is there. T loves this through so we go through this stuff like crazy. When we were in Paris in December we may have stocked up on 3-4 bottles of this stuff 😂. If there was one serum I could use for the rest of my life, it’d be this stuff.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Anti Dark Spot Serum *🌿 ($79 for 1 oz) | This one is a bit more pricey but I’ve noticed a huge difference when I regularly use this. I struggle a lot with hyper pigmentation and this is one of the products that really helps fade any marks and leave my skin even.
Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum * ($64 for 1 oz) | This was easily one of the first vitamin c products I tried that I genuinely liked. This has a thin serum that sinks in nicely but also does not have an awful scent (looking at you, Drunk Elephant), instead it has a slightly citrusy scent. I had run out of my Vinoperfect serum above and was diligent in finishing this bottle. I did notice my skin looked brighter overall and would definitely repurchase this in the future. I wish I still had it as I think it would pair nicely with the next product below.
Shani Darden Texture Reform * ($88 for 1 oz) | I have an IG post dedicated to this product (worked with Shani Darden on a paid collaboration). I never used a fully dedicated retinol product so I was a touch nervous to delve in, so I went with the Texture Reform (she has a Retinol Reform available). This stuff was extremely gentle and I used this as part of the 30-day challenge. I eased this into my routine and worked up to the point where I can use it every other night. After the 30-day mark I really noticed a huge difference in how fast acne spots healed, how even my skin became, and how quickly scars faded. If you’ve been curious about trying a retinol product, I definitely recommend this one.
Moisturizers
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream * ($68 for 1.7 oz) | It’s been a minute since I used this but I genuinely loved it while I had it. It gave my skin a dewy look (truly) and it was my go-to AM cream while it was in my rotation. This is more affordable in the Tatcha moisturizer line, and I would definitely pick it up again.
Tatcha The Silk Cream * ($120 for 1.7 oz) | This one is a complete splurge but one I would gladly partake in if I ran out of moisturizers (it’s the product I go through the slowest + but get sent the most frequently lol). My skin always feels so soft and silky (yes again, as the name implies). It has a medium texture but lighter than others I’ve tried, and it sinks into the skin nicely. My skin always looks smoother and my skin stays pretty normal throughout the day and rarely gets oily. I can easily use this as an AM/PM cream.
Caudaile Vinoperfect Brightening Moisturizer with Niacinamide * ($59 for 1.6 oz) | When Caudalie released this I was over the moon excited to try as I’m a fan of the Vinperfect serum. There is a Vinoperfect night cream but it has a thicker moisturizer which I’m not a big fan of the texture of. This has a regular cream consistency and it’s easy enough to use for both AM/PM. I find myself going through this rather quickly and I’ve definitely seen some brightening effects.
Cleansers
First Cleanse: I’m much more partial to oil cleansers than balm cleansers (you’ll see below) lol.
Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser ($48 for 5.1 oz) | This is a huge splurge but this is my all time favorite oil cleanser. This one is unscented (IMO) and has a thicker texture which I really enjoy. I find it takes my makeup and sunscreen off and my skin always feels nice, soft, and clean afterwards. This comes in a nice package with a pump so it’s easy and functional to use.
Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser * ($34 for 6.7 oz) | I was a fan of the cream skin line from Laneige so I was definitely eager to get my hands on this. This has a thin texture but it works into my skin nicely and it’s been doing a great job of getting off any makeup/sunscreen I’ve worn.
Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil * ($28 for 5 oz) | This one is a great alternative to the Tatcha cleanser and at a slightly more affordable price point. I would point out that this has the slightly sweet almond oil scent - it doesn’t bother me, but thought I’d put it out there. This does have a thicker texture than some other oil cleansers, but less than the Tatcha one. This does have castor oil which claims to help with lash growth, which is perfect since I usually work this into my eyes a bit.
Fresh Beauty Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil * ($43 for 5 oz) | This was another one I tried that I would choose as an alternative to the Tatcha/Caudalie cleanser. This again is on the pricier side, but is slightly cheaper than the Tatcha one. I don’t really recall this one having a fragrance, but some others claim to detect one. The packaging isn’t my favorite but it’s ok - if you’re a fan of the Fresh range this is a good choice.
Second Cleanse
Fresh Beauty Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash * ($38 for 5.1 oz) | This has been my fav as a second cleanse and I’ve been using it for a while now. I wasn’t a fan of this a few years ago but gave it another chance and really fell in love with it. It has a lightweight texture and never leaves my skin feeling dry or stripped. It does take a bit of effort to rinse it off, but NBD. I even ended up getting the large bottle which comes with a pump ($69 for 15 oz) cause I enjoyed it that much.
Caudalie Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser * ($28 for 5 oz)| I was keeping this to use when my skin was acting up, but T ended up finishing this lol. This is a thin consistency and applies/washes off easily. It has a light and fresh scent but it doesn’t linger. I usually find that when I use this my skin is less. red and a lot more even in tone.
Toners, Essences, Mists
Caudalie Vinopure Toner * ($28 for 6.7 oz) | This was one that I kept on reserve when my skin was acting out. The main ingredient in this is salicylic acid (which my skin agrees with) and fortunately I never had any issues with this drying out my skin. I’d usually go in with a spot treatment after but would still layer on some hydrating layers afterwards.
Laneige Cream Skin Mist * ($27 for 2.54 oz) | This is just like the Laneige Cream Skin Toner, just in mist packaging. This one was great for warmer weather as I was a bit lazier with my routine and just wanted to spritz this on for an extra boost of hydration.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir * ($49 for 3.38 oz) | Another product that was a favorite for me is the Beauty Elixir - I keep a bottle on my desk to spritz myself throughout the day for a nice little pick me up. I always spritz T and he always makes fun of me bc he doesn’t know what this does. I don’t necessarily feel any major difference in my skin, but it feels good and it smells nice ☺️
Queen of Hungary Mist * ($95 for 3.4 oz) | This one is a complete splurge but now that I’ve tried it, there’s no going back. This honestly has the finest mist and is such a nice treat to use at the beginning of my AM routine when I wake up and at the end of my PM routine before I head to bed. If you’re not into mists I think this one is a pass, but if you appreciate a good mister, this one is worth trying.
Tatcha The Essence ($95 for 5.1 oz) | This is one of my favorite products and the one that really gave me that ‘aha’ moment of essences actually making a difference in my routine. I started off with a mini (ordered through Tatcha directly) and once I realized that it was a staple for me, I invested in the full size. Pricey, yes. But 100% worth it in my eyes. Tatcha’s is definitely a thicker consistency which I like and really feel like it sinks in, versus other essences I’ve tried that feel more watery.
Bodycare
Ouai Body Cleanser * ($28 for 10 oz) | This quickly became a favorite and I loved the scent. It was a bit musky and definitely unisex. A little went a long way and lathered up nicely.
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub ($28 for 8 oz) | I don’t struggle with KP but I do minority struggle with strawberry legs. TikTok has been very educating (lol) and many people recommended using this to regularly exfoliate. I’m giving this a try along with using a Moroccan exfoliating mitt and so far I do feel like my legs are looking a lot smoother. T has some KP on his arms so we’re having him try this out too. I ended up picking up the smaller size but there’s a lot of air and it feels near empty, so if you’re thinking of giving this a try just get the larger size right off the bat.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil ($25 for 8.4 oz) | If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that this is one of my all time favorite products. I love anything from the almond range but this in particular is my go-to for shaving. A little truly goes a long way so this will last a long while. The smell is incredible and always leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.
Hands
Sol de Janeiro Hand Sanitizer | I’m not sure if this is the same formula as the one from their website, but I’ve been using mine for a few months now and it has the classic SDJ scent. It’s not sticky and the scent actually lingers - it’s a win for me.
Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream | This has been one of my fav hand creams for a while and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon. It has that light French pharmacy scent and leaves my hands feeling soft and hydrated. My nails do actually look a lot better when I use this regularly as my cuticles look 👌🏼 and my nails grow long and strong. I used to keep this on my desk at work and I’ve definitely converted some friends to use this. Sometimes I also pick up minis of these as they’re great to keep in my handbags to use on the go.
L’Occitane Hand Cream | Although I’m not the biggest fan of the OG one (shea butter is not my first choice), I do love the formula of the hand cream for the Almond / Cherry Blossom scents. Sadly Sephora doesn’t sell the large size of the Almond hand cream so I’ll have to purchase that from L’Occitane directly, but they do have this trio of minis which is perfect for trying the various scents/formulas before committing to the full size.
Haircare
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo * | I know aerosol cans aren’t the best for the environment and while I do go through dry shampoo rather slowly, I was interested in trying some powder form dry shampoos. This one from Briogeo smells amazing and has super easy travel friendly packaging. This is easy to squeeze and disperse the product where needed, and there is never any issue with a white cast - even on my dark hair. If you’ve been interested in trying a non-aerosol dry shampoo, I recommend this one.
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo *🌿 | If you’re okay with aerosol cans, then I recommend this one. I remember trying a Ouai dry shampoo years ago and disliking the smell of it. They’ve since replaced it with the Melrose Place scent which I am a huge fan of and I really feel like this does a good job making my hair look fresh. If my hair is feeling limp or even a bit meh, this really does give a refresh and a touch of volume - big fan.
Ouai Detox Shampoo * | I don’t often feel like my hair builds up with product, but I do occasionally spritz hairspray these days + dry shampoo on day 4+ (and beyond) hair when I’m too lazy to wash lol. This also has the classic Melrose Place scent and the scent lingers for a day or two as well. This definitely feels stripping so when I use it I’m always sure to pair it with a hair mask and/or a hair oil afterwards.
Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Matcha and Apple (Shampoo + Conditioner) *🌿 | This duo from Briogeo is one of my faves, from the scent to the performance. I wish these came in jumbo size tbh. I’ve been working on finishing a bunch of other hair products but I’m pretty much done so I’ll be re-stocking these during the sale. They always leave my hair feeling soft and silky and the scent lingers for about a day or so.
Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask * | I’ve been working through most of the hair masks I have but when I saw a few people recommending this one I decided to give it a try. This mask only needs 1 minute (yup, just 60 seconds) to do it’s magic. This can be applied directly to wet hair in place of conditioner. I can instantly feel my hair becoming silkier after using this and my hair is definitely softer afterwards. It’s good for all hair types and is SLS free so it’s color safe - color me impressed.
Fragrance
NEST New York Grapefruit | I had this in my apartment in Sunnyvale and it lasted nearly 2 years. 1 of 2 reed diffusers I opened at our current place is nearly done so I’m definitely going to be snagging this to replace that once complete. I had tossed my bottle at my last place but recently learned that they sell refills so I’ll be sure to keep the bottle to be a touch more eco-friendly.
Tools
Mount Lai // My lovely friend Stephanie (@collectionofvials) created this line and I’m so proud to have seen her bring this brand to what it is now. She’s Kindly sent me products over the years and I still use them and enjoy them.
De-Puffing Rose Quartz Eye Treatment Tool* | This was one I was curious about and wanted something to help with puffiness under my eyes. With COVID and working from home, I’ve definitely experienced longer work days. From the moment I roll out of bed I start making my coffee and turn on my computer. I’m pretty much staring at my computer through lunch and until dinner time (and sometimes beyond). It’s a lot of strain on my eyes and sometimes I like to take an eye cream (or just a standard face cream) and really massage around my eyes. This nicely sits in-between my fingers and glides back and forth for a quick little massage.
Gua Sha* | I have been using a gua sha for almost 3 years now and I don’t think I could go back. This is a product I think you need to use regularly in order to see results and I definitely see it when I’m diligent with this. You can use the angled sides to run along your jaw to help shape your face a bit more. I also use this along my cheekbones to help give some shape to my round face (lol). I do see this lifting my face and neck more - always be sure to use an oil with this and not pull on dry skin.
Massaging Jade Textured Facial Roller* | I rarely see huge differences when using a normal jade roller but I wanted to give this textured one a try. It definitely leaves little red marks on my skin (not in a bad way) so I tend to only use this at night. I feel like this helps a lot with puffiness and really gets the blood flowing in my face. I think along with some products I used, this really helped my skin with fine lines and also helping scars to fade faster.
***
Products marked with an asterisk (*) were gifted to me.
If there is an 🌿 symbol, that means I have since purchased this on my own.
All opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Feel free to read more on my disclaimer.