The annual Sephora sale is back again and I love seeing what other people got/recommend so I thought I’d share my favorite things and what I got to try out! The discount you get is based on your Sephora Insider level and I only qualify as a basic Insider so I only got 10% off. I really haven’t been buying new makeup/skincare products but have been trying to use up everything I already have but there were a few things I’ve been wanting to try for a while! For reference, I have combo normal/oily t-zone skin and have some redness in my cheek. I have tan skin and am usually a MAC NC42/44.
What I Purchased
These were the 4 items I purchased once my sale window opened last Tuesday. Summer’s coming and and since I have an oily t-zone, I thought it would be a perfect time to try the Fenty Invisimatte Setting + Blotting Powder ($36). I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll post a review after I’ve used it for a while. I’ve also been dying to try the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray ($23) so I got the mini size. Mini sizes seem so expensive to me but I’m always hesitant to get the full size in case I don’t love it so it’s a great way to try it without wasting a full size. I posted on my stories and so many people had great things to say about this! I used to love MAC Fix+ Spray but I noticed recently it hasn’t been keeping my makeup on for a long time. I’ve only tried the Charlotte Tilbury a couple times but so far, I’m liking it.
The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($23) has been all over my TikTok foryou page and even though I haven’t been wearing a lot of blush lately, I totally got influenced! I got the color Grace which is a ‘matte bright rose mauve.’ I wanted to get Faith, a matte deep berry, because I heard that purple-y blush look amazing on brown skin but they were sold out online and in store.
The last thing I got was the Vacay All Day Beauty Value Set ($48) which was an absolute steal for all the products in it! It was sold out online but I saw my local store had a few available so I opted for the Pickup In Store (which I highly recommend!). This set came with:
- mini Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
- mini Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum
- full sized Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Facial Spray
- mini Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
- mini Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Sunshine Drops
- mini Freck Beauty The Original Freckle
- mini Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Provence – pale pink nude
- full sized MAKEUP BY MARIO Plumping Lip Serum in Bronze Glow – warm bronzy brown
- mini OUAI St.Barts Scalp & Body Scrub
- mini Supergoop! Glowscreen
I love that there’s two full sized items included and I love the Supergoop! Unseen Suncreen so I’m hoping I love Glowscreen just as much. The Too Faced mascara I wasn’t a big fan of but I can’t wit to try everything else!
What I Recommend
I used to be a MAC stan but I feel like their formula has changed over the years so I started branching out for new things. The Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder ($36) was another TikTok influence and I love it! I use shade #5 and I’ve already hit pan on this. I love it for days when you don’t really want to wear make up but powder isn’t enough and foundation is too much. I feel like it does really blur my skin! I do notice that when my skin is drier, it emphasizes the texture so I do not recommend if you have dry skin.
I tried the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Setting Powder that everyone was raving about but it was just okay for me. I do love the One/Size Turn Up The Base Versatile Powder Foundation ($38) in shade Dark 2 (N). I use it as a setting powder for my liquid foundation or sometimes over the blurring balm powder.
I’m more of a matte foundation girl instead of glowy, mostly because my oily t-zone makes it look like I’m sweating instead of glowing! I love the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation ($42)! I originally got the shade Tahoe, but ironically after our Bora Bora vacation I match the Moorea shade perfectly!
I use the Milk Hydro Grip Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer ($25) and Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Concealer ($34) together for my under eye bags and I love it. I haven’t tried the Milk Primer as an eyeshadow primer because I’m trying to use up my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion but I’ve already bought this primer twice! I love the Pat McGrath concealer, I feel like they have a great dark shade range and it works great for my under eyes and blemishes.
I’ve bought the Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater + Squalane Face Wash ($26) twice, too! I’ve been cleaning out my makeup/skincare collection and I’ve been trying to finish out what I have instead of buying new things all the time. There were a few other cleansers – Drunk Elephant No. 9 Jelly Cleanser & SkinMedica Cleanser – I had in my stash that I was working through but this one is my current favorite.
The Ordinary is one of my favorite skincare brands and I love how simple the branding is and how affordable everything is! The Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum ($8.90) is one of my favorites, I’ve purchased this maybe 2-3 times? I alternate using this and my vitamin e serum when I’m using my gua sha. I use the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution ($9.50) once a week to exfoliate as part of my skincare routine. It does tingle a little when you put it on so if you have sensitive skin, this may not be for you! I’ve been trying out different eye creams and I haven’t found my holy grail yet but Caffeine 5% + EGCG Depuffing Eye Serum ($8.90) has been working so far for me.
My last recommendation is the Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer ($39). This is seriously, my holy grail moisturizer, I’ve purchased this 4 times! It’s moisturizing enough for my face, but not too thick where it makes me look greasy. Plus I love the watermelon scent!
There’s always something to get at Sephora, but I usually add it to my favorites list try to hold back purchasing until a sale comes up. But I definitely do recommend ordering online because you can pick up the same day and get cash back on Rakuten! I may or may not buy a few more things before the sale ends, but I’ll be back with a review post on that Vacay set!
