Sephora Sale Picks: Spring 2020
As a former beauty editor & blogger, I've been into products for as long as I can remember - hair, nails, skin, makeup, fragrance, I love it all. I believe that - like cooking, baking, crafting or any other form of creation, cosmetics are another extension of personal expression. Shading, contouring and blending truly are studies in art for me.
We do a lot of deep soul work around here, but skincare and make-up have been a lifelong passion for me and there's room for both! That said, I'm keeping things light this week with a fun post on my Sephora sale picks. I'm definitely not as product-crazed as I once was. As my life path has shifted and evolved, I now prefer higher-quality products that I know will work over the latest and greatest palette or highlighter.
These are a few of my must-haves - with emphasis on skincare. I use Sephora's twice-yearly 20% discount (20% off for Rouge, 15% for VIB, 10% for insiders) to stock up on my tried and trues.
clockwise from top:
- OLEHENRIKSEN PHAT Glow Facial: This mask is legit for deep-cleansing, softening and adding radiance.
- Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler: All curlers are not created equally - this one works the best for my eye size and shape.
- Vanilla Woods: my signature scent, fresh enough for daytime but alluring enough for a night out. Bonus: this company is certified clean & vegan.
- Herbivore Prism mask - great for minimizing pores
- Natasha Denona blush in Bloom: a sheer wash of color that goes on very naturally and adds a bit of dimension and glow
- Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Grade Resurfacing Peel: This I've actually not tried yet, but in quarantine without access to my beloved JetPeel facial treatments, I figured I would give it a whirl.
- NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device: I've used this religiously for 5 minutes every day for about 2 years now. It's a great at-home alternative to a microcurrent treatment you would get at a spa and is designed to keep facial muscles lifted and toned, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Benefit Roller Lash: I always come back to this one, it lifts and separates my lashes perfectly.
- GrandeLash Lash Enhancing Serum: Yes, it works!
- Dior Addict lip in LA Pink: A very light formulation with a hint of gloss in the perfect shade of browny pink.
- Shani Darden Texture Reform: I definitely noticed improved appearance in skin refinement with this product, but it does not smell good (fair warning).
- Evian hydrating spray: the perfect hydration boost for dry skin, it's been a staple for me for 16 years.
- I'm a big fan of The Ordinary and also love Tata Harper's products but they're not pictured here - particularly the resurfacing mask and serum.
If you're not feeling big box beauty stores, that's cool.
My top drugstore picks:
- Aztec Healing Clay Mask: YEP! This does the trick and then some. My husband even notices a difference in my skin after using this - it does wonders to clarify and draw out impurities. The only drawback is you have to mix it yourself and it can be a bit messy and cumbersome - but it's pretty amazing when you get past that.
- I love a good peel-off mask, they're so satisfying. This Unicorn Vitamin C mask is my favorite and definitely brightens.
- I use a jade roller and gua sha tool religiously every morning - they do wonders do reduce puffiness, add lift and tone - this set is a great value!
- This squalane oil is just as effective as comparable products that are double the cost.
- I use Revlon's Colorstay lip liner (in raisin) regularly.
- I like e.l.f. brushes for the price.
- I love plain old aloe vera gel for moisture, but with the sanitizer shortage, it's currently a bit hard to find at a fair price.
What are your favorite Sephora and drugstore products?
Leave a comment
Also in Self-Care Sunday Blog Posts
Summer Solstice Sweetness: A Ritual to Light Up the Second Half of Your Year
Happy Summer Solstice! The longest & brightest day of the year has been observed across all societies and cultures from Egyptian to English to Aztec as a a celebration of light, joy and illumination.
With so much darkness and heaviness in the world lately, now seems like a perfect time to Lighten Up!
How to Manifest with the New Moon
Working with the moon phases is an accessible way to deepen our connection both to nature and to ourselves. I find that honoring these rhythms of nature can make it easier to identify, recognize and honor our own natural ebbs and flows.
During the new moon cycle, the sun and moon align with each other, merging yang energy - the heating, masculine, assertive energy of the sun, with yin energy - the cooling, feminine, receptive energy of the moon. The balancing of these two polar opposite energies in the dark sky creates a powerful invitation to both let go and start new - it's the perfect canvas for a fresh start.
Andrea Pacini
Author