Gone Sale-ing: What to Buy During the Sephora Sale (And What to Skip)
It's the most beautiful time of year, the Sephora Savings Event is here. Easily find the best products with my curated recommendations, answers to your questions and what I'm buying.
Welcome to yet another post about this year’s spring Sephora Saving Event, which runs from April 4 through April 14. As with every Sephora sale, I have so much to say and countless recommendations to share. And I’ve come prepared. Over the last few weeks, I’ve placed multiple orders, spent hours combing through Sephora’s website and even ventured to my local Sephora to personally test all the things so I can give you my (at times brutally) honest opinions on everything. So whether you plan to pick up a few restocks of your tried and trusted favorites, treat yourself to one of the new product launches you can’t stop thinking about or skip the sale all together — trust me, you’ve come to the right place. Today’s post includes some of my thoughts on the Sephora sale, my tippy top recommendations on all of the new launches and new-to-Sephora products, answers to your most pressing questions asked on my Instagram story and a preview of what’s in my cart. I can honestly say I’m more excited about this sale than all of the previous ones combined. As always, please ask any and all questions in the comments below, my favorite part of the sale is helping you refine your carts, decide between two or more products and discover new-to-you delights to love. Let’s dive in.
Don’t forget to click the 🤍 button before you go (it helps other readers find this newsletter)!
The following contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through those links. Thank you for your support.
The Internet’s Favorite Sale
I’ve said this before, it bears repeating: the Sephora Savings Event is not the sale of a lifetime. And despite the utter madness that ensues around the triennial sale, it’s always a good idea to remember that you can get the large majority of the products in your cart for a better discount — particularly if you’re only saving ten or fifteen percent. Many brands are offering better discounts on their websites and, in most cases, it’s very likely that a creator you follow has a code that will give you the same or a deeper discount so you can buy what you want on your own time. You can always find my codes here, in my Instagram bio or on my ShopMy page.
Still, and somewhat surprisingly, I’m more excited for this sale than any of the previous sales combined. While many of my most favorite products — from skincare to makeup, tools and fragrance — are not sold at Sephora, I’m buzzing about several of the new brands and products that will be included in the sale for the first time. And some of them even made it into my top recommendations. As always, I’m not here to waste your time or money (or mine, frankly) with a bunch of half-hearted recommendations for products that are, at best, just fine. In a sea of recommendations and false claims, we have a mutual understanding that only the best will do and this post only includes my tippy top recommendations for products that I’m excited about, use consistently and stand behind completely. However, this time I decided to (try to) limit my recommendations to products I haven’t discussed in my previous Sephora sale posts — from recent launches to new-to-Sephora products. If you haven’t yet, read those and come back here! Or read this, then those. Whatever your preference, I’ve also included a link to all the products mentioned in this post at the end. Keep reading for the best of the best.
And please, ask all the questions below!
More to Muse On
My Top Sephora Sale Recommendations
In no particular order and inclusive of only new and new-to-Sephora products. For a more comprehensive list of my favorite products at Sephora, check out this post.
I literally cannot say enough about Sofie Pavitt or her incredible line, Sofie Pavitt Face, that finally launched at Sephora earlier this year. I’ve talked about all of my favorite products in her line extensively in previous posts so I won’t repeat myself but trust me when I say that her products have truly become a permanent part of my skincare routine. If I had to pick, my top three products from Sofie would be: the Reset Mask (I talked about it here and here), Mandelic Clearing Serum (I shared more thoughts in this post and this one) and my holy grail — the Omega Rich Moisturizer. Though if I could pick a fourth, it would be the Micellar Cleansing Pads because they are *perfect* for on the go. Here’s the thing: I have endured many mediocre moisturizers over the years but I can honestly say that the Omega Rich Moisturizer is among the best moisturizers I have ever used. I was lucky enough to receive a lab sample of the Omega Rich Moisturizer in August and I can honestly say it was love at first swipe — so much so that I’ve gone through four jars and am very close to finishing my fifth. While countless moisturizers claim to be rich, the Omega Rich Moisturizer actually lives up to its name and is an endlessly indulgent emulsion that doesn’t feel suffocating or heavy on the skin. For those with dry skin, it’s a dream come true. It’s easily one of my favorite launches of the year (even though I used it for several months in 2024) and everyone I’ve recommended it to has gone out of their way to tell me how much they love it, too. It should go without saying but Sofie Pavitt is one of the very few people I completely trust with my skin and I have yet to be let down by any of her products. Fun fact: I used the Omega Rich Moisturizer (and the Mandelic Clearing Serum) on my wedding day but hid the jar before our photographer arrived so I could keep the product a secret! If you buy one skincare product during the sale, make it one from Sofie Pavitt Face.
— Note: You can always save 10% with code: myskinterest10
If you’ve followed me here or on Instagram for any period of time, you’re likely familiar with my undying love for all things Crown Affair. And while I’ve discussed their products at length throughout myMusings and in my previous Sephora sale posts, we have to talk about their new wash day duos. Generally speaking, reformulations and I are sworn enemies with a storied, spiteful past — particularly when it involves a product I’ve loved, relied on and used for years. Plus, I’m notoriously difficult to please. So, as you may imagine, I was less than thrilled when Crown Affair sent me their new shampoo and conditioner formulas without any warning of the change. However, and I do not say this lightly, this may go down as the singular reformulation I can actually get on board with. And while both The Hydrating Duo and The Volumizing Duo are lovely, my personal favorites are easily The Volumizing Shampoo and The Volumizing Conditioner — and yes, I like them (a lot) more than the original formulas. As someone who has always had greasy hair, The Volumizing Duo is a revelation and intended to help hair look and feel clean for longer (without stripping hair). However, what really distinguishes this duo from all others at Sephora is the conditioner: it’s a gel. When I first used this, I thought I had inadvertently been sent two bottles of the shampoo because they look so similar and I’m used to a cream conditioner. But after using this duo for months, I can’t imagine going back to a cream. Despite having fine, easily weighed down hair that refuses to hold a curl, The Volumizing Duo actually gives my pin-straight hair volume (!!!). I truly cannot recommend Crown Affair’s products enough and these two are an absolute must have.
— Note: You can always save 15% with code: natalie15
In news that should shock exactly no one, the newest products from Westman Atelier are absolutely wonderful and worthy of a lifetime achievement award. For those who missed my Instagram stories, let me reiterate my all-consuming love for the Sun Tone Hydrating Matte Bronzing Drops, which are ridiculously easy to use and incredibly versatile (I wear the shade Soleil Parfait). I apply them like I would any other bronzing product and find that they blend like a dream, last for a very long time and don’t disturb any of my other makeup. On days when I simply cannot be bothered to put on makeup, I apply a few drops of these all over my face to make me look a bit more healthy. And unlike nearly every liquid bronzer, these are actually matte! And, of course, there are the very new Baby Cheeks Face Trace Sculpting Powder Duo and Baby Cheeks Powder Blush Duo (a little confusing but worth it). If you were considering buying a blush or bronzer during the sale, let it be one of these. These powder duos are intended to be more pigmented than the other Westman Atelier powder products (I wore the bronzer on my wedding day!) but I still find them incredibly easy to use. These blend seamlessly and last all day long, the shades are *stunning* and honestly, I plan to buy more shades and will probably pan them all. I could talk about these forever but truly, these are some of the most exciting, effective and beautiful makeup products I’ve tried in a very long time. Westman Atelier never goes on sale so if you were considering picking these up, do it now!
— Note: While these are (obviously) more expensive than the new blushes from whatever brand, the formula is exceptional and I would bet you’ll get more use out of these than the three random blushes currently sitting in your cart. 🤍
It’s rare that a product I had absolutely no interest in becomes one of my favorites; however, that’s exactly what happened with the newest eye cream to come to Sephora. If you know me, you know that I am an eye cream queen and I *love* to layer several different eye serums and creams as part of my morning and evening skincare rituals. And while this certainly isn’t replacing my favorite eye cream by any means, it’s easily in my top five eye creams and I can’t stop reaching for it. Unlike most traditional eye creams, this one is an emulsion — and I would compare the texture and feel to the Rhode Barrier Butter (one of my all time favorite moisturizers). If you’re looking for a great eye cream that works beautifully under makeup and gives the eye area a much needed dose of hydration, I highly recommend picking up this one. It’s probably my favorite eye cream carried at Sephora and, honestly, I would pay double the price for it without blinking. If you’re familiar with the brand, I would say the eye cream is a slightly thicker, more hydrating version of their Extreme Cream — which is too light and not hydrating enough for my very dry skin.
— Note: I do hate that they refer to one of the ingredients as “Nature’s Botox” on the back of the bottle but I am willing to overlook it because I love the product.
The reformulation of the beloved Prisme Libre Setting and Finishing Loose Powder is, in many ways, the true crime story of our generation. And after months in shimmery limbo, I’m happy to report that rumors are true: the Prisme Libre Blurring & Color-Correcting Matte Pressed Powder is matte! I’ve tried countless pressed and loose powders in the months since the reformulation and I honestly think the new pressed powder is the winner. While the pressed powder is beautifully blurring, I do think it offers a bit more coverage than the original formula. As a result, I not personally able to achieve the diffused glow that I was with the original loose powder. In my experience, the new pressed powder is also slightly less kind to dry skin and although I can use under my eyes, I have to be careful. Still, it’s better than most others and it definitely feels similar to the original. I absolutely recommend it and would make sure to purchase it before it sells out during the sale! — I wear shade 03.
It is not at all an exaggeration to say that I wear this liquid eyeshadow every single day, no matter the occasion or season. And look, I know what you’re thinking: liquid eyeshadows are messy and fussy, patchy, hard to apply and absolutely not something you want to deal with. I know! I feel that way too about every liquid eyeshadow except for this one. Trust me, the matte formula of this eyeshadow is different. Not only does it blend beautifully (I always use my holy grail eyeshadow brush, also on sale!) but it’s also ridiculously easy to customize the depth of color to achieve a barely there shadow, a more noticeable look and anything in-between. While it’s stunning on its own, I tend to layer a shimmery shadow on top and I absolutely love how it looks, wears and compliments everything I pair with it. Truly, it gets along with every other formula in my collection. Because my undertones are like the Bermuda Triangle, I had to try several different shades before I found my perfect brown in the shade 30M. I was hesitant to try this shade because it looks really dark online and I am really pale but the cool undertone makes it look at home on me. If you’re looking for a quick, easy eyeshadow that lasts all day and is perfect for truly every occasion — from Board meetings to school drop off, drinks with friends and running errands — trust me: this is the one.
— Note: You likely already have an eyeshadow brush that will work perfectly with this but I recommend the one linked above. It’s my favorite eyeshadow brush and I’ve purchased several over the years.
Your Questions, Answered
Please excuse my somewhat too honest opinions and if I missed a question or you have others, please feel free to ask below in the comments. For a more robust list of my favorite products at Sephora, check out this post, this post and/or this post.
Of the brands you asked about in response to my Instagram story, Violette FR was easily one of the most mentioned. And while I’ve tested nearly every product from the brand over the last few years, I can’t say that I’ve been very impressed by the collection. To be frank, I think the brand gets by on vibes. In my experience, the Bisou Blush is fine but you probably have something better in your collection. I really tried to love the Bisou Jelly but I decluttered them pretty quickly, and the same goes for the Boum-Boum Milk (too light for me), the C’est la Cream (also too light for me) and the Baum Shine (really not a fan). The only product I would recommend is the Bisou Balm, which is a sheer matte lipstick, with the caveat that the formula really dries out my lips and feels a bit waxy. I have the shades Rose Latte and Bonbon Myrtille but I reach for Rose Latte the most. Overall, I think the skincare products are best for those who don’t have severely dry skin and the makeup is nothing special. Personally, I don’t see myself purchasing anything else from the brand.
Look, no one wanted to fall head over heels in love with the new Ultra Violette sunscreens more than me. However, I find the two formulas I tried to be largely disappointing. I sort of expected not to love this U.S.-compliant take on their beloved cult classic formula because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original (it always pilled on me). But I did have *very* high hopes for this face and body sunscreen because the packaging is similar to one of my favorite formulas from the brand. And while I prefer this one, neither are products I will reach for consistently (if at all). Of course, I didn’t expect the U.S.-compliant formulas to be anywhere near as amazing as their *absolutely stunning* Australian products but frankly, I prefer countless other sunscreens made in the U.S. over these. To me, this really goes to show how criminally outdated our laws and regulations around sunscreen really are and will continue to be under the current administration. UGH.
If you’re in search of a vitamin C recommendation, this post is for you!
Based on the overwhelming excitement for all things Merit in your responses and everywhere I look, it seems like I’m the only person who doesn’t love every single product from the brand. However, I do really like and definitely recommend a few of their products that didn’t quite make it to my tippy top list. While not my favorite in this category, the Flush Balms are delightfully sheer and come in so many lovely shades (my favorites are Stockholm, Cheeky and Archival). I also like the new shades of the Shade Slick Gelée and exclusively used the Solo Shadows for months after they launched. With everyone on social media talking about the new Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liners, I figured they would be a home run. Unfortunately, none of the shades look at home on me (even though I was convinced Coupe would be perfect) and the formula isn’t my favorite. It’s incredibly creamy, sheer and has no staying power on me — to an extent that makes me utterly confused why no one else is talking about it. With all that being said, I would absolutely recommend other lip liners over these, including this holy grail and this one (I discussed both in an earlier Sephora sale post, linked here).
— EDIT: It’s worth noting that you only get 0.3 grams of product with the Merit lip liner, whereas most lip liners have 1.1 or 1.2 grams.
If you’re wondering about my absolute favorite (and friendly to dry skin) concealers, I talked about them in this post! And while we’re on the topic of concealers, let’s address the elephant in the room: few new-to-Sephora products have been more buzzed about than the Sarah Creal Full Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer. I originally bought the concealer and several other Sarah Creal products before the brand launched at Sephora but unfortunately, the lightest shade is too deep for me — and the range desperately needs to be expanded across the board. In my experience, this wasn’t as hydrating or forgiving of my fine lines and wrinkles as my other favorite concealers carried at Sephora (linked above). I’ve also tried the mascara but liked the packaging more than the product itself and swatched the lipsticks but didn’t find a shade that felt like me.
For the many people who asked about the new Dior Forever Nude Jumbo Bronzer, I have some bad news for you: the lightest shade was pretty orange on me. And as someone who swears by Dior Beauty, I’m devastated. However, in addition to the ones featured in the list above, I really recommend this somewhat rosy bronzer that will last you decades, blends beautifully and has never looked orange on me. Again, aside from the bronzers previously mentioned, the majority of the bronzers I reach for daily and absolutely adore are not sold at Sephora. For more on my everyday makeup look and the makeup products I swear by, check out these posts — and let me know in the comments if you want me to get working on an update for what I’m using right now.
Generally speaking, I don’t consider Sephora to be “affordable” and if you’re one of the *many* people who asked for a recommendation for the best, cheap sunscreen at Sephora, I think you’re better off looking elsewhere. If I had to pick one, it would be this broad spectrum sunscreen that I used to *love* years ago. I also really enjoyed this dewy sunscreen for a while but please note, it’s really dewy and there’s no real getting around that. It’s always going to be dewy and take its time to dry down. For more sunscreen recommendations, I implore you to read my post (linked below) on my favorite sunscreens and how to get the most out of your sun protection. It’s due for an update to reflect products that have been released since the time of publication but the helpful information and best practices are evergreen (and very, very important!).
— Note: Mineral sunscreens are completely irrelevant to me, as I will absolutely always choose a chemical sunscreen over a mineral option.
My Cart and Products I Always Restock
For a more robust list of my favorite products at Sephora, check out this post, this post and/or this post.
While subject to change without warning or reason, at present, my Sephora cart is limited to restocks of my tried and trusted favorites. Obviously, I’ll end up purchasing far more than three things (she says, cringing).
I always use the Sephora sale as an excuse to purchase the refill bags of two of my favorite shampoos from The Ouai, The Detox Shampoo and The Fine Hair Shampoo. I find that my hair feels the most clean and healthy when I rotate between these and my beloved Crown Affair shampoo, and I already purchased a few backups of The Volumizing Shampoo (whoops). I love that The Ouai has refills and I think they’re a pretty good deal; however, my bottles have broken a few times after refilling them over and over. I keep telling myself that I’m going to order glass bottles to use instead but of course, I always forget.
On the list of things I never want to live without or accidentally run out of is my favorite brow pencil. And while it takes me months to use it up, I like to have a few on hand just in case. Honestly, I’m sure there are better brow pencils out there but I really love the formula of this one — it’s not too soft or too stiff. Also, I really appreciate that it doesn’t have a cap. That may sound odd but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put the wrong cap on the wrong end and while I know it’s a small thing, it makes a difference for me. I use a shade lighter than my brows so I can fill them in quickly without worrying about making one too dark or what not, and there’s just something about this one that I love.
Speaking of brows, I also plan to pickup another tube of the only brow gel that doesn’t break out my brows. I’m not someone who likes to laminate my brows but I absolutely want them to stay in place and this one perfectly shapes and holds throughout the day. No matter how haphazardly I apply this, it always dries clear and never leaves any unwanted residue behind. It’s truly just the perfect brow product.
Tell Me More
And there you have it! I’m nosy so please share your carts with me in the comments below and of course, ask me all the questions! Happy Sephora shopping!!!
What’s in your cart?
Which products should I add to my cart?
Is there one product you’re particularly excited to purchase?
Until next time, follow along on Instagram and take a look at my favorite things from my vanity to my closet. myMusings is a labor of love but it is labor. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 button before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.
myMusings is meticulously curated newsletter about skincare, beauty and everything in-between. If you haven’t yet, subscribe here and consider becoming a paid subscriber.
I mostly stocked up on staples this year.
I did buy 2 new to me Sephora collection products—an eyeliner and a new brush.
This is so helpful! Thank you! I’m in the market for a nighttime chemical exfoliating serum. I would use it twice a week (the other nights I’m using prescription tret or taking a break from actives). My primary concerns are brightening and evening skintone/texture. My skin handles anything/everything very well. Any recommendations? I was looking at the Sofie Pavitt serum but looks like they recommend that for daytime, but I have no issue breaking the “rules” if you think it could still be a good option 😂