it’s that time of year again! the sephora spring savings event is their big sale of the season and it’s usually when i either try new things or stock up on favorites. as a refresher, here are the key dates and promos for the event, which runs 4/5 through 4/15:
vib rouge: 20% off
vib: 15% off
insider: 10% off
everyone: 30% off sephora collection (discounts can’t be combined)
i was reading hillary kerr’s (co-founder of who what wear) substack and she did a fun challenge of ‘you can only have one,’ so i thought it would be a cool exercise to do with the sephora spring savings event. with everything on sale up to 20% off, it’s really easy to get carried away…and as someone who currently has 8 mascaras and 10 foundations, i know what that’s like! and while with something like foundation, you need different formulas—skin tints, full coverage, etc.—you really get away with one of each product.
cleanser: biossance squalane cleansing oil is my home go-to cleanser but when i travel, i use the farmacy green clean cleansing balm. both are equally good at removing makeup and all the impurities from the day without drying, it just depends on your preference
toner: biossance squalane + BHA pore minimizing toner is a long-time fave…it’s alcohol-free and gently refines skin and controls oil without drying
serum: merit great skin instant glow serum with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid does exactly what it says—gives your skin this amazing lit-from-within glow without any makeup
moisturizer: kiehl’s started making their renowned multi-corrective moisturizer in a soft cream last year, and it’s the perfect weight for my oily skin. it restores firmness and hydrates while also reducing excess oil
eye cream: algenist eye renewal balm feels so luxe and creamy with its triple peptide complex (that brightens and reduces puffiness), but doesn’t settle undereyes
spf: supergoop mineral matte screen spf 40 gives amazing sun protection while also being a good prep before makeup and doesn’t leave a white cast on darker skintones
foundation: ciele tint and perfect spf 50 is something i discovered last year on youtube and i’m obsessed! the shade match is perfection and it really does give a “your skin but better” finish that is the perfect mix of glowy but not too shiny. if i have to pick a fuller-coverage foundation, i’d go with westman atelier vital skin stick or haus labs triclone skintech foundation
highlighter: hourglasses ambient palettes are kinda a cheat here (since it comes with multiple formulas in one palette), but the way they give your skin this beautiful lit-within-glow is for sure a cheat code. it’s also part highlighter, part bronzer, part finishing powder all in one.
concealer: the haus labs triclone skintech concealer has hyaluronic acid to hydrate the undereye area, while the formula brightens and smooths
powder: givenchy prisme libre loose powder has 4 shades to a pot for different uses, from mattifying to blurring to highlighting without settling or sitting on top of the skin
mascara: diorshow overcurl has been a holy grail for me for years, and even though i always try other mascaras when they come out, i always come back to this one. holds a curl, lengthens, and gives great volume without being clumpy
eyeshadow: bobbi brown shadow sticks are utterly foolproof. swipe directly from the wand and blend with your finger…done!
eyeliner: sephora collection waterproof 12-hour eyeliner comes in a ton of colors, smudges with ease, and can go on the waterline.
brows: kosas brow pop easy eyebrow pencil has an angled applicator for foolproof placement and spoolie to feather and clean up brows…also comes in a great shade range
blush: remember when glossier launched and it was like a sea change in makeup? i originally tried it and didn’t get the hype because everything was so no-makeup makeup, but cloud paint is so bright but blends to a beautiful sheer wash of color
lipstick: merit signature lip comes in matte and satin formulas that are non-dying and with amazing color payoff in both
lipgloss: the thing i love about the ami colé lip treatment oil almost as much as the hydration is the color payoff which is lacking in a lot of lip oils (especially on deeper skin tones)
fragrance: prada paradoxe is my favorite branded fragrance since it launched. i don’t usually go for floral scents, but this one has the mix of amber and musk that gives it a sensual vibe
candle: maison louis marie no. 4 bois de balincourt is a great dupe for diptyque feu de bois but much less smoky….woody but sexy and warm
