It is a weird time to be talking about shopping and spending money, so let's start this by saying if you do not want or have the means to shop the annual spring Sephora sale - skip it. I should have skipped it but let's be honest, I am under a lot of stress right now and I am a stress shopper. It's not a good thing, it's just the truth of it. This sale is really good for people who have a Rouge status and get 20% off - if you do not, this could be another reason to skip because most brands offer deeper discounts themselves than Sephora is offering. But, enough people messaged me asking what I was buying to warrant a round up of my favorite Sephora picks. I ordered the very first day of the sale and hoped my order would make it in time that I could test what I ordered and review them here while the sale was going on, but with all that is going on my package has still only just partially shipped and won't make it in time for me to include first impressions. However, I will add what I bought to the end of this post so you can see!
Makeup
• Bobbi Brown Crush Oil-Infused Gloss - The perfect lip gloss does not exist? Bullshit. It does, and this is it. New Romantic is the nude pink gloss of my goddamn dreams. Free Spirit is a nude beige color so luscious it will make you cry. The formula, is, and I cannot stress this enough, NOT STICKY. It's sumptuous and lush and hydrating. Just buy it already and thank me later.
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Brilliant Nude* - We all know I am a cream blush girl, but apparently 2019 was the year I fell back in love with powder formulas. This finely milled dream of a blush is a deep nude color with a subtle sheen. When I use it I apply an even, light dusting across my cheeks and it somehow gives the effect of blush, bronzer, and highlight. It is my go-to when I want to look effortlessly radiant. This is my favorite shade of this formula, but they're all stunning.
• Melt Cosmetics Blush - A more traditional powder blush (lots of fall-out), this super pigmented pan took me by surprise. I purchased the shade Bawdy during the last Sephora sale and instantly fell in love. Be careful with this aggressive fucker - she packs a punch. It takes a very light hand and a fluffy brush, but the vibrant pink gives me an enviable flush of color. I immediately went back for the peach color, Honey Thief, and both have been in high rotation.
• Surratt Auto-Graphique Liquid Eyeliner - This is, hands down, the best liquid eyeliner I have ever used. Yes, pricey, but - refillable! The ultra-precise tip glides the color on easily, and it dries down quickly. Then it doesn't budge all day. I purchased the brown and the black and I have fallen back in love with the cat eye because of this product. Of the two shades I own I actually prefer the brown with my hazel eyes.
• Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eye Quad - Originally released as a limited edition product, I missed it the first time around and watched with aggressive jealousy as others got it and adored it. Everyone raved about it. The makeup artist who did my makeup for my elopement and wedding reception even did a whole IG story series on all the looks she created with it. So when it was finally brought back I pounced on it. It is as a good and as versatile as everyone says. The pink hues suit my features, and the formulas are so creamy and blendable. I'm currently head over heels for this quad and plan to pick up more quads from the brand. I have greenish hazel eyes and think this looks lovely with them, but I bet it would kill on blue or brown eyes.
• Charlotte Tilbury Dancefloor Princess Lipstick - Here's the thing about CT lipsticks - they're all orange. Seriously, they all lean orange. Luckily, orange suits me so I'm golden in that front but it's frustrating. I swear the perfect medium pink of "pillow talk" you see in all the swatch photos never actually looks pink on anyone I know. It's still beautiful, but it's a muddy brown orange-pink in real life. Anyway, that aside, I do genuinely adore Dancefloor Princess. One of Charlotte's newer Hotlips 2 launch, this pinky nude does lean a bit coral (surprise surprise) but it works really well on me. It's a soft satin formula with classic wear time that is also very comfortable. The packaging is cute but I know a lot of others have complained the design wears off easily but this has not happened to mine. I have not tried it myself but apparently the clear balm from this line is also amazing.
• Charlotte Tilbury Eye Blender Brush - I normally prefer Real Technique brushes because they are so affordable and such high quality, but occasionally a luxe brush surprises me. This one did. It's so dang soft, you guys. It glides shadows on like a fucking magic wand or some shit. Great for the crease or any blending, it works wonders. I love it. She stays.
• Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Shade - I always use the Sephora 20% off to splurge on things I'd never pay full price for but lust after. I have wanted this palette for AGES and finally picked it up when I had a gift card. I purchased shade 0.5 and it's the perfect tan shade for fair bbs like me. It's more bronzer than contour but it can work both ways. The highlight is a silky, wet looking dew with a touch of shimmer but on the skin it mostly just reads as wet. There are a handful of shades for other skin tones, and I think some of the darker shades could work well as contour colors.
• Tom Ford Eye Quad - The quad I own, Nude Dip, is just stunning. The versatility of this quad is next level. It is so easy to create day and night looks. Another splurge, but this palette has been one of my most used since I bought it years ago.
• Tower 28 Beach Please Cream Blush in Magic Hour - This is the closest formula dupe I have found for my HG Kjaer Weiss blush (not sold at Sephora). It is creamy and highly pigmented and has serious staying power. I really hope they release more shades soon.
• Becca Cosmetics Light Shifter Brightening Concealer - This has mixed reviews but I fucking love it. I will say, this is not a concealer for those seeking full coverage. It's much more about bringing and reflecting light to/from your undereyes. I can use it alone and it works well over skincare. I think it would work amazingly well layered over a full coverage concealer to take something that feels too matte and heavy to looking radiant. This can also double as a highlight.
• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer - This is similar to the Becca, but has more coverage. The coverage is still light to medium, but buildable. Probably my favorite under eye concealer I own.
• Erborian CC Color Correcting & Redness Reducing Broad Spectrum SPF 25 - I have rosacea and this have been a game changer. It is silicone heavy, so I recommend using a light hand and only using this on certain areas if you aren't a fan of silicones. Otherwise this self-adjusting formula adapts to your skin tone to cover redness and holy heck, it is amazing.
• Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Neutrals - Easily my most reached for palette to date, this is exactly what it says it is - a bunch of warm neutral shades. Containing both mattes and shimmers (as well as a primer base), this palette is so damn versatile it is shocking. The shadows are silky and blendable, with minimal fallout. If left to only have one eye palette for ever I would be surprised if I didn't pick this one.
• Huda Beauty Neon Obsessions Palette in Neon Pink - Look, Huda is a crap human being with zero moral compass and I hate that I bought something from her. But you can pry this palette from my cold, dead hands. The glitters in these palettes are next level - sheer, buildable, opalescent. My go-to look is a nude beige shadow all over with a pop of one of the glitters from this palette in the corner and I will, without fail, be asked by at least three people what I am wearing on my eyes.
Skincare
• Indie Lee Stem Cell Serum - I have gone through two bottles of this serum, which promises to address firmness, texture, and tone while protecting against pollution. It's super gentle but effective, my skin is always more radiant when I use it. It's more than I like to spend on skincare, but then again it actually works, so do with that what you will.
• Indie Lee Squalane Serum - A more affordable Indie serum, this beauty is one of my most recommended skincare products for all skin types. Indie's squalane is rich but lightweight enough for day time. It looks beautiful under makeup if you want a gentle oil to add some glow to your moisturizer or foundation. I also apply this before I use any facial tools to add some slip. During the colder months I use this nightly for extra hydration.
• YTTP Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream*- Another cult favorite, this moisturizer is just damn good. I can see why everyone loves it. Easily adaptable for any skin type, this unscented moisturizer is jam packed full of yummy goodies like squalane, ashwagandha, and fermented reishi. My only gripe is that it comes in a tub instead of a tube.
• Tower 28 SOS Daily Mist - I love a mist. I mist between steps of my skincare to help products absorb better. This newbie has quickly become a favorite and my first bottle is already half gone. Hold it far from your face as the spray isn't as fine as others.
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Ultra Fine Mist - The name does not lie. This mist is SO. FINE. And it smells like a watermelon jolly rancher and while I wholeheartedly hate fragrance in skincare I fucking love how this smells. The packaging is also cute as shit, so.
• Fresh Soy Cleanser* - This old favorite is a simple, basic, but super effective cleanser. Even my husband likes this one which says a lot because he is randomly extremely opinionated about cleansers. I use this as a second cleanse. It claims to be good at removing makeup but I don't use it for that purpose, so I cannot confirm.
• First Aid Beauty Lab Retinol Eye Cream - For an OTC retinol product, this one is pretty decent. Take some time to slowly work in into your routine to avoid irritation. The lines under my eyes aren't gone, but are significantly less severe 4 months into using this nightly.
• Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Sheets - Look, ya girl may have the driest skin this side of the equator but I still get oily. These massive blotting papers get my entire face with one sheet. I have them in my purse and at my desk at work. Love.
Haircare
•Amika Polished Perfecting Brush* - I haven't even looked at my straightener since this brush entered my life. It is so quick and easy to use and not only tames my hair but also gives me the look of a blowout which we all know I don't have the patience to do with a brush and dryer. Truly, I am the laziest human alive when it comes to doing my hair and this tool means it takes less than five minutes to smooth my hair. I couldn't recommend it more.
• Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal Dry Shampoo* This dry shampoo has a weird applicator, but that's fine because it works wonders. My fine hair typically gets weighed down by anything I put on it dry, but this dry shampoo gets the job done by absorbing excess oil and giving my hair a much-needed boost & lift at the roots.
• Verb Dry Shampoo Light* A classic aerosol dry shampoo, this slightly purple hued spray is a dream for my platinum locks. Lightweight and lightly scented, this is one of the only dry shampoos that does what it says and makes my hair look and feel clean again. It also comes in a dark version for brunettes.
What I Bought
Full disclosure - my full order has not arrived as of when I am writing this. Only my candles have arrived. So I cannot give you my impressions for most of these products.
• Overose Candles - It seems most of these are already out of stock, but hopefully they come back in stock before the sale is over. They are endlessly photogenic and chic. I ordered two, and having never smelled these in person before, it's a bit of a risk. However, I have yet to hear about anyone not loving these so I am optimistic. They are pricey, but bigger and cheaper than Diptyque. They also seem to have very interesting and diverse notes.
Okay, these just arrived as I was finishing this, and I am going to wait to shoot them for my page before I light them, however, they are sitting on my counter about 20ft away from me and I can smell them from where I am sitting. The cold throw is unreal.
• Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush - Sneak peeks of these starting going out back in early 2020, so when they finally dropped and I was still intrigued I figured that was a good indication to try them. I bought four shades because I have no self control. Once they arrive I will likely do reviews on my Instagram.
• Fenty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer - I purchased this specifically to compare it to my beloved Tom Ford. I went with the second shade, Butta Biscuit, as the first shade, Amber, is more of a contour shade than bronzer. I am excited to see how it compares to the pricier TF.
• Marc Jacobs Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner in Nude(ist) - After hearing countless people on Instagram rave about how this is the absolute perfect nude lip liner, I gave in and ordered it to see for myself.
• Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator Broad Spectrum SPF 25 - Look, I love a tinted moisturizer. I love a dewy, lightweight base. And while I feel like I haven't used a Clinique product since 2007, that didn't stop me from scooping up this newbie.
• bareMinerals Smoothing Foundation Brush - This is the one thing I tested before buying. In store back in February I messed around with this and a few different foundations on the back of my hand and recall being really pleased with how it blended, so I figured this was a good time to order.
• Grande Cosmetics GrandeLash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum - This was a restock for me. I have been using this for about a year and my lashes definitely grew much longer. They weren't thicker, but I could always rely on mascara for that. It impressed me enough to rebuy.
Alright, kids, that's it! I hope this was helpful. And again, you do NOT need to shop this sale if you are not feeling it.
Cheers,
Claire
• An* denotes a gifted item
• This post contains affiliate links