Good luck to you (and good luck to me) exercising self-restraint at the Sephora VIB sale, which we’re in the midst of now. If you’re in the mood to treat yo’self, here are some skin care, makeup and hair products I love and can wholeheartedly recommend.
- Sephora’s Spring Bonus sale starts on April 13 for members of its Beauty Insider rewards program.
- VIB Rouge members will get 15% off their entire purchase on April 13 – April 16 and April 20 – April 23.
- VIB members will get 15% off on April 20 – April 23, when Insiders will get 10% as well.
- Gift sets are a great way to get the most bang for your buck during the sale, since they are already good value before they are discounted.
- Customers are limited to one Dyson product and three Drunk Elephant products per purchase; products from the online-exclusive brand The Ordinary are not available as part of the sale.
Skin care
- Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips — takes E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G off
- Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion — LOVE ? OF MY LIFE
- Caudalie Vine Body Butter and Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream — for the driest of the dry skinned
- AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel — helped clear up a bad breakout a few years back
- All the stuff from Clarins that I love — the Toning Lotion with Chamomile, Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs, Instant Eye Makeup Remover and Tonic Body Treatment Oil
Makeup
- Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara — I’ve been wearing this off and on for six years (!) and still love it for the length, separation and curl
- Awesome neutral palettes — Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Palette and Viseart Neutral Palette
- Hourglass Arch Brow — all that and a bag of salt and vinegar chips!
- Hourglass Brilliant Nude Blush — natural-looking cheeks
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer — fantastic for covering dark circles and skin imperfections, and the coverage looks legit natural
- Make Up For Ever Mist + Fix — an underrated, IMO, and awesome setting spray
- NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder –set the MUFE concealer with this
- Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow in L-54 — gorgeous on its own for 10-minute makeup, but it also layers really well with Tartelette In Bloom and the Viseart Neutral Palette
- Sephora Collection Colorful Shadow & Liner in Violet — an unsung hero of the purple liner world
- NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base — best of the best!
- Liquid liner loves — Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen and Clinique Pretty Easy Pen
Hair
- DRYBAR Double Standard Cleansing + Conditioning Foam — Shower. Staple.
- ghd Curve Soft Curl Curling Iron — $$$ expensive but worth every penny if you curl your hair often
- ghd Curve Classic Wave Wand — not necessary…but it’s fun if you have the $ and have long hair
Are you doing any damage this time around? If you are, what are you looking for? Oh, and let me know if you have any questions about any of these recs.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I picked up three of these items with a 20% off Ulta coupon (the Clinique liquid liner and eye makeup remover, Nars shadow primer) last week, along with some other things, and definitely did some damage there, so I need to be more prudent at Sephora. However, the Hourglass Arch Brow is on the list, as well as restocking Sephora foot masks and under eye masks. I want to buy some mascara too but haven’t chosen one yet, and I have a sunscreen on the list (Dr. Dennis Gross Sheer Mineral Sun Spray.)
NICE! I am definitely grabbing another Clinique Eye Makeup Remover, for sure, as well as a tube of Hourglass Arch Brow. What type of mascara are you looking for? Lengthening, curling?
Big lashes, brown mascara! I’m deciding between Lancôme Hypnôse and DiorShow Iconic, but I’m open to suggestions.
My eyes had been super itchy from every mascara but I started doing the stuff my eye doctor told me to do for dry eyes (derp) and it’s helping a lot.
Guerlain Maxilash Volumizing and Curling Mascara, maybe? They have it in brown, and it’s pretty epic for big lashes. Only thing is remember it smelling very strongly of roses.
My haul arrived today: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhpAb7RhtZl/?taken-by=themakeuptrainnyc
Nice! I’m thinking of picking up a Jo Malone fragrance too although perfume is the last thing I need, LOL!
I think I want to pick up the new NARS blush palette!
Oh, which one? Both are great!
Thanks for the recs Karen!! My list has too many products but I think I’m sure I’m getting the hourglass Mood exposure blush,the ambient metallic strobe lighting palette and Shiseido facial cotton. Other products on my list is the Fenty gloss bomb, PMG Decadence palette and Giorgio Armani lip maestro 202.
Hi Kim,
You’re the second person in the comments today who’s mentioned a Pat McGrath Palette. I’m so tempted but the price is killing me, man!
P.S. Fenty Gloss Bomb is bomb. 🙂
Nice recs! I ended up ordering the Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Subversive La Vie En Rose Eyeshadow Palette, Too Faced Natural Face Palette, Sephora PRO Pigment Palette in Metallic, and the Tarte Mermaid Treasures Custom Magnetic Palette.
What a great haul, Rachel! I am so tempted by the Pat McGrath palettes too. 🙂
I’m looking for an everyday mauve colored lipstick, not too rosey. Can you recommend some that I could pick up during the sale? Thanks?
Hi Jennifer,
Happy to help! What finish are you looking for? Matte, cream, metallic? Also what’s your price range?
I think I’m looking for matte or semi matte, I always buy gloss but they don’t last long. The girl at sephora suggested Milk in the color Facts but it looks really pink on me. I’d like to stay under $30. Thank you for your help, your suggestions on the blog have certainly put a dent in my wallet!!
OK, how about Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Backtalk? It’s $18 and feels/looks much more expensive than it is. Super pretty color too. I’m wearing it on my lips in this post:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/urban-decay-3/the-urban-decay-backtalk-eye-face-palette-is-getting-people-heated/
Another good one is NARS Powermatte Pigment in Save the Queen:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/nars-3/nars-powermatte-pigments-nudes/
Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in No. 6 is easy to apply and a good everyday option, however the satin finish might not be long-wearing enough for you:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/hourglass-femme-nude-lip-stylos-2/
Thank you for this! You’ve given me great options that i am certainly going to try and i love that you post the photos with the color on your lips not just swatched down your arm. So so helpful!!
You’re so welcome! I try to do lip swatches as much as I can. The baby sometimes changes those plans (as babies do!) but most of the time I can knock ’em out when I have the time. Glad you find them helpful, and let me know which color you end up going with. I’m hoping you’ll love UD Backtalk Lipstick. UD’s Vice line is a gem! So many colors, gorgeous finishes and so, so smooth.
Almost forgot about this one. Urban Decay Liquid Lipstick in Backtalk. It’s the flat matte version of the lipstick I mention below. I prefer the lipstick because I love how smooth it looks on my lips and it’s just so easy to apply/wear, but if you’re looking for something that won’t budge this is probably the way to go.
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/new-urban-decay-vice-liquid-lipstick-part-2-pink-brown-shades/
Jennifer,
Josie Maran makes a beautiful color called Dusty Rose. It is so pretty and versatile. My dark brown skin and my friend’s tan/peach skin both look pretty wearing it. 🙂
Thank you! I will check it out when i go! i appreciate all the suggestions! Its so hard for me to pick colors!
Sorry but, What does VIB mean?
Sephora Germany doesn´t do a VIB sale, so my wallet is safe. For now.
I definitely did some damage over the weekend – picked up some new products to try out and restocked on some favourites. Highlight for me was the Caudalie Radiance Serum!
https://covetedbeauty.blogspot.ca/
I wanted that Tartelette in Bloom palette for so long, and then I totally forgot about it. Might just need to snag that up!
Hi Kristen,
The colors are basic but overall the palette is really solid. Whenever I don’t want to think or work too hard I grab it and it makes everything easy peasy!
The colors look perfect for everyday/going to work. I picked up a Flower Beauty eyeshadow palette a couple months ago because I thought the colors would be good for daytime, but there are really only two looks I’ve been able to create with it. The rest of the colors are a bit too smoky for the office. The Tarte one looks like there would be more daytime-friendly options!
I exercised an odd amount of restraint this time around! I snagged two Besame lipsticks from the Snow White collection (I’ve wanted to try them for YEARS, can’t wait to get them) and the Natasha Denona Lila palette (I know it is pronounced LEE-LA but I always think of Lila from Dexter because I love Jaime Murray and that character was a smorgasbord of awesome craycray). I am also anxious to try the Denona shadows because everyone raves around them. I managed NOT to buy the Tom Ford gloss that I wanted, as I have so many glosses to get through. However YES KAREN GET THAT JO MALONE FRAGRANCE!! I will shamelessly give anyone the push for that. Jo Malone fragrances are wonderful. I especially love Mimosa Cardamom (wearing it today) and English Pear and Freesia (and I normally cannot wear sweet scents…it is very well-balanced). It’s also much easier to swallow $65 for a fragrance that $230+ (hello Tom Ford, your perfumes are so expensive but sooooo worth it!). Anyway that is my lack of sleep input lol. Happy Day everyone!
Going to try your beloved Hourglass Warm Brunette Arch Brow! And I love love Jo Malone Blackberry&Bay! Wood Sage&Sea Salt& Pomegranate Noir I use in fall, winter. Smaller size lasts awhile too as they all are great to mix. Want to try Nicole’s suggestion of Mimosa Cardomom or Wild Bluebell.
Omg, the AmorePacific Enzyme Peel is amazing!!! I love it so much! It has been a total game changer for me.
I probably won’t order from this sale as I only qualify for the 10% off, and I can get 20-25% off on most brands I care about on a frequent basis during the year. I didn’t qualify for the Ulta 20% off this time, but I’ve gotten it before based on just random issuance. Also, it hacks me off that Sephora will tell you when you order that your order is okay, then some time later tell you they can’t fill an item or two. In this day and age, that SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. Inventory should be correct at all times – no excuses.
CL,
I SO agree with you!! Sephora has done this to me several times!! Not only this but I’ve received my order without the samples numerious times, and I have just about gotten to the point where I don’t trust I’ll get things when I order. I ordered a lipstick (a Sephora brand mind you) it was the whole reason I placed the order – it was in stock and in my basket. It was my third repurchase because I had loved it so — I did not get it, and I was livid. I called and they said that It wasn’t available. I told them then why does it show that it is on the website? No reasonable answer.
The last time I had problems with two Anastasia Beverly Hills lipstick just being absolutly horrible– they instantly refunded my money – without product return– because I flat out told them if I were at Nordstroms — which is where I will shop next time– I’d receive REAL customer service — and they got busy doing something about the bad product and making things right. BE SURE and call when you don’t get what you expected, and accept nothing but what you feel you deserve from them, they are a HUGE company— make them do right by you!!
I’m definitely going to be getting the Fenty Gloss Bomb, the Body Lava (if it restocks, fingers crossed), the Olaplex Hair Perfector, Clarisonic Sensitive brush head duo, and probably some other impulse stuff! I just bought a new Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil but otherwise that would totally be on the list.
Hi Karen,
Didn’t all of the sale percentages used to be 15%? It seems to me that those of us that don’t have the VIB status this year have lost out. I just ordered the NARS Wanted Palette – and I’m disappointed in the size of it for the price. I have wanted it since even before it was released – an finally was able to purchase it. I have only used a few shades of it and it seems fine, but my goodness at the price, I sure could have made other choices.
We have a Sephora opening here very soon, but I’ve had several bad experienced with them, not sending what I had in my order, showing it was in stock only to find it wasn’t — especially when the product was the reason for my order. I’m just leery now of Sephora. I have to say though they did right by my ABH lipsticks which we both horrible – one you cannot even apply it’s so dry and horrible. They refunded my money without my having to return the lippies. That impressed me – but I told them how if I were at Nordstroms – the CS would be SO much better. They heard that! I won’t be ordering – I’ll get what I need from our ULTA – then I have it in my hands, they run percentages off everyday – and great CS. Plus, no missing items!!!