The Sephora Sale: What I’d Restock, What I Love, and What’s Worth the Money
I have a very specific relationship with the Sephora sale. It starts out practical, and I tell myself I’m only replacing what I already use. Then somehow I’m twenty minutes deep into lip colors I do not need and comparing blush shades as if I’m preparing a legal brief.
So before any of us black out and buy three things with the word “luminous” in the name, let’s talk about how to save the most money, and what I’d focus on if I were shopping it with a little more restraint and a lot more strategy.
I’m always trying new skincare and beauty products, so these are some of my favorites from the sale right now, but don’t be surprised if you hear me recommend other things later because I love experimenting with new beauty and hair products.
How I Save the Most Money During the Sephora Sale
I shop this sale best when I start with replacements, not temptations.
If I already use a pricey serum, foundation, fragrance, or hair product, this is when I restock it. The sale is much more useful for products I know I’ll finish than for some mystery cream that promises to change my life by Tuesday.
I also think this sale makes the most sense for categories where the prices add up fast. Skincare basics I use every day, makeup in shades I already know work, hair products I genuinely rely on, and fragrance in smaller sizes all make more sense to me than impulse buys.
What I’d Buy at the Sephora Sale
These are the products I either already use and love or would happily restock during the sale.
Skincare
U Beauty The Super Hydrator
I love this stuff so much! It has reached cult-level status for sensitive skin and hydrates beautifully without feeling heavy. That said, if you use my U Beauty code AWSL20 on their website, you can get 20% off anyway, so this isn’t necessarily the most strategic Sephora sale purchase unless you prefer to buy it there for convenience.
Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
I use this TOWER 28 all the time. It’s very soothing when I have a Rosacea flare-up or anytime my skin is feeling irritated. It also works as a lovely toner, which makes it one of those very useful products I’m always happy to have around.
Makeup
Merit Flush Balm
This is an absolute staple for me. I’ve used it for years, and it gives just enough color to wake up my face without looking fussy or overdone.
Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
I have a few mascara’s a go back and forth with, and this Merit is one of them. It builds well, stays put nicely, and gives lashes more presence without getting heavy.
ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
This ILIA is my favorite because it goes on smoothly and has a little tooth comb on one side of the wand, which separates my lashes so well. That makes a bigger difference than people think, especially when lashes get a little more sparse or less cooperative.
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix Gel
I love this brow gel and use it even if I’ve already used a brow pencil because the brush is so tiny I can actually get every little brow hair instead of making a mess of things.
Naked2 Basics Matte Eyeshadow Palette
This cool-toned palette has been in every makeup bag of mine since I discovered it about ten years ago. The shades are easy to wear, easy to combine, and very hard to mess up.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner
I LOVE these waterproof lip liners and have tried them in many shades… some flattering …some not so much. These stay on really well and don’t transfer, which is exactly what I want from a lip pencil. I line my lips and then fill them in completely. My current favorites are Pillow Talk, Pillow Talk Fair, Crazy in Love, and Supersize Me.
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Millennial
This is the perfect pinky neutral for me. It’s easy, polished, lightweight and works with just about any makeup look I’m wearing.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is one of the most hydrating skin tints I’ve tried. It feels like skincare in a bottle and leaves a radiant finish. This comes in 30 shades (I wear Balos ST3) and is fragrance-free.
Hair Care Products I Love
A Few Of Vanessa’s Favorites on Sale
Beauty opinions tend to get passed around in families, so I thought I’d include a few of my daughter Vanessa’s favorites, too.
REFY Lip Gloss in Rosewood
She loves this rosy neutral gloss by Refy, which is easy to wear and filled with Hyaluronic Acid.
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer
Vanessa loves this concealer so much that it replaced her ten-year relationship with a NARS concealer, which is saying something. Her favorite is 03 Fair Rosy, which I tried and promptly bought.
How I’d Shop This Sale
If I were filling my cart, I’d split it into two groups.
First, the practical restocks. My Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, my dry shampoo, and any makeup product I already know works for me.
Then the enjoyable extras. A blush I already love, a lip color I know I’ll wear, and one fragrance I’d be happy to keep using long after the sale ends.
That’s really how I think the Sephora sale is best used. Not as an excuse to buy a pile of things I’ll forget about by summer, but as a chance to save on products I already love and maybe add one or two that genuinely improve my routine.
What do you like to restock during the Sephora sale? I’m always curious which products you buy again and again.
Well… as much as I really don’t want to, I am going to brave Sephora today because I am intrigued by the Haus Labs concealer and the Merit Lipstick. I need to see the colors in person. It is not a store I enjoy. I just feel like a duck out of water. I purchase most skincare and makeup online through my skincare specialist. I love your new haircut!
…I survived! LOL! I went in with my list from the A Well Styled Life blog, was met fairly quickly and welcomed, and then given to an associate who was very nice, kind, funny, and gentle. She loved seeing I had my “list,” and it turns out the Merit lipstick shade and the Haus Lab concealer shades in the blog, were perfect on me. She showed me how to use the concealer. She seemed genuinely interested that I have found some bloggers who are more mature, that I can more easily relate too. Also, a MUCH younger lady was looking at the lipsticks and said to me, “I see we like the same thing!” She was lovely too. The store was busy but not slammed, which probably helped! I also picked up a gift card for my granddaughter’s birthday.
I love Paula’s Choice Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense. I also agree with your other choices. The sale is a great time to restock!
I’m a bit surprised you use the cool-toned eye shadow palette with your “I think” blue eyes? I will admit that palette looks intriguing for my blue eyes. I used to use something similar but more intense; have changed to using Look Fabulous Forever eye shadows that favor navy/grey….I really like all of their products; made in England. Patricia started the company to provide products for the older woman when she turned 65. If you have the time, take a look at her website; it quite interesting. She also shows on-line tutorials for make-up application.
Why are you surprised? A have a drawer full of eye shadows in lots of colors. I am a true summer so warm tones make my skin look pallid. I did try a few of her products and was underwhelmed. My favorite shadow colors are purple toned grays.
I tried using the U Beauty code AWSL20 on the Sephora website but it was denied.
The code AWSL20 only works on the U Beauty site here
I received a J McLaughlin brochure today and there’s a beautiful white eyelet “Winnie” skirt with a tie waist and a pretty white eyelet “Kalinda” dress that made me think of you. The skirt looks really long though but both beautiful.
I guess I’m a simple girl. I buy my products from a Shoppers Drug Mart on seniors day. I try to use up what I have before replacing. That is the time when I might try something new.
I find Sephora too expensive, too crowded, and too many scents, so I avoid it. My daughter likes to go there so I have on occasion gone with her. I’m surprised by the number of young teens shopping there.
Thanks for the reminder about the Sale. I’m in the market for a new perfume!