Gone Sale-ing: The Sephora Sale Post

My very unfiltered thoughts on the most overhyped sale ever, plus what I recommend adding and removing from your cart.

Welcome to what is undoubtedly the thirty-eighth post you’ve seen today about the Sephora sale, which kicks off later this week. Whether you’ve been meticulously refining your cart for weeks, are planning to pick up only the necessary restocks (at least, that’s the plan) or have been counting down the days until you don’t have to hear the words “Sephora sale” for at least a few more months — it’s that time of year yet again. And of course, I decided to place a last minute order before the sale starts so that I could test out a few new-to-me products and see if they met our standards so I could share them with you — yes, this was totally a selfless order, not at all for me (ps. some of them made the cut!). Anyways, I’ll be the first to admit that I have some mixed feelings surrounding the sale (we’ll get to those in a bit) but no matter what, my favorite part of every Sephora sale is discussing what’s in your cart, helping you decide what’s worth it and what can wait and all the enthusiastic madness that comes with placing your order. So please, ask me all the questions and share your carts with me! It really does make my day. Let’s dive in.

Programming Note: This post includes more goodness than an email can handle and will get cut off. Don’t miss a thing, read it here!

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An Honest Conversation About the Sephora Sale

Behind each Sephora sale is a PR and marketing machine that rivals even the most ambitious of presidential campaigns. As soon as the dates for the triennial sale are announced, it can feel nearly impossible to avoid the barrage of content about the Sephora sale from every corner of the beauty community and beyond. And all of the noise, the profuse endorsements and overall infatuation that surrounds the sale can easily lead you to think that this is your one and only chance to get the deal of a lifetime. But it’s not.

And as someone who always ends up placing several orders throughout the sale, I have to remind myself that the Sephora sale is not a Halloween candy on November 1st situation. If you’re a Rouge member like me — and therefore spend far too much money at Sephora despite telling yourself over and over again you don’t need another lip glossy balm thing — you save 20% while everyone who doesn’t have a shopping addition saves 10-15% off their purchase.

And here’s where I’d like to offer a bit of much needed perspective:

For most products sold at Sephora, there’s a very strong possibility that one of your favorite creators (not just me, but also me) has a discount code for said product that will save you the same amount.

I’ve always preferred to use a creator’s code/link whenever possible because [a] I can spend my money on my own time, not just when there’s a sale; [b] I get to support my favorite creators; and [c] buying directly from a brand’s website cuts out the Sephora middleman, meaning the brands get to keep more of the profits. Obviously, it’s important for brands to move product during the sale but that will happen regardless of how you shop (remember, this whole thing is a PR machine). Also, keep in mind that a lot of brands will announce their own sales with similar or better discounts around the time of the Sephora sale (some are already going on!).

For reference, you can always find my affiliate links and discount codes (which range from 20-10% off many of my favorite brands) linked in my Instagram bio, on the righthand side of the myMusings landing page when you scroll down and throughout my ShopMy page. They doesn’t cost you a thing to use and literally exist to save you money. I constantly update these lists with new codes and links but I’m also more than happy to share another creator’s code with you if I don’t have one for the brand you’re looking for.

And while I know I sound a little negative about the whole thing, I still enjoy the sale because I get to connect with more of you and discuss all the thrilling delights in your cart. In my experience, no two carts are ever the same and I’m always fascinated by the products that stand out most to you among the thousands carried at Sephora. Plus, there’s nothing better than helping you decide between products and seeing which ones make the cut to your final cart.

TLDR: The Sephora sale is overhyped. Every creator (myself included) is eternally grateful when you use their code or affiliate link to make a purchase and you may even save more by using them. Brands will have their own sales. If you want to support your favorite creators when shopping the Sephora sale, you need to check out through one of their affiliate links on the website not the Sephora app. You can support me by using this link or any of the links below. And I can’t thank you enough if you choose to do so.

One More (Important) Thing

Most of my favorite skincare and makeup brands are not carried at Sephora so you won’t see a lot of my holy grails that I can’t shut up about in this post — which may be somewhat refreshing. My list of recommendations is limited to the products I love most and truly recommend wholeheartedly (so many categories are excluded all together). And while there are plenty of people who will happily compile a lengthy list of recommendations including products that are just okay or trendy in order to increase the likelihood of you using their links to make a purchase, I think we have a mutual understanding that I’m not here to waste your time/money or mine. I don’t say that to sound all high and mighty, it’s that I’m really lazy and bad at faking it.

Also, whenever possible, I included other deals and/or discounts for the products below. And while that exercise was likely a complete waste of time because most people will just shop through Sephora anyways, I still hope the information is helpful for reference and potentially saves you more depending on your tier status and whatnot. If you have any questions about my shades, want comparisons, more details on why I chose to include X over Y, etc. please ask away in the comments below! Admittedly, I don’t respond to my DM’s as quickly as I do the comments here.

Thank you in advance for liking this post, using my links and listening to me when I tell you that product in your cart simply isn’t worth it. Happy shopping!

My Tried and Trusted Recommendations

I’ve debated over and over on how to best format my recommendations, and I’ve decided to overcomplicate it — of course. For those of you who need no convincing, please let me direct you to the full list of my recommendations. I will likely update this throughout the sale, so be sure to check back (I’ll share the link on Instagram, too).

Here’s how the rest of today’s post will go: First, you’ll find a quick list of the recommendations that made it to the tippy top of my list (My Ultimate Must Haves), and took me forever to finally decide on. Think of that list as the products I hold in the highest regard, the ones I would filibuster for until the government finally enshrined them as national treasures and the products I use almost everyday. The second list (The Feast) is for those of you seeking more information, details, nuance and my unfiltered, strongly held opinions on a very select list of products that I decided to highlight. I love all of these products with every fiber of my being and could spend hours talking to you about each and every one of them. And while I would have loved to do just that with every item included in the full list, we simply aren’t emotionally prepared for that. Also, I sprinkled in a few products I don’t recommend picking up — make sure to look out for those, too.

If you have any questions or need more explanation on the products featured below or in the broader list linked throughout, please let me know in the comments!

My Ultimate Must Haves

• I hold this product in the highest of regards and I truly use it every single day and night. I have not personally tried anything that comes close to it, and I highly doubt I ever will.

  • Note: I no longer use/recommend this product.

• Not every product can be a game-changer but this product is truly in a league of its own and deserves to have monuments dedicated to it around the world.

• If I lost bit of makeup I own (she says, cringing at the thought), the first thing I would repurchase that’s sold at Sephora would undoubtedly be this product. It’s exceeds my expectations time and time again.

• It is not at all an exaggeration to say that this product dramatically changed my skin, my mindset about caring for my skin and is one of my most repurchased products ever.

  • Note: I no longer use/recommend this product.

• Few things products really impress me; however, this one immediately challenged my understanding of what this type of product could be. And not only that but it is easily the most effective and luxurious product in a crowded field.

Pictured: That time I cried in Sephora and my favorite hair care product

The Feast

In no particular order…

Skincare

• If I could only use one serum for the rest of my life, I would choose this one without any hesitation. Whether you are looking for a one and done addition to your morning and nighttime routines or you’re looking for a meaningful upgrade, this is your best option (in my opinion). I’ve personally used this every morning and night for more than two years, and I really credit it for healing and strengthening my skin. Of course, if you’re sensitive to any of the ingredients, don’t get this. But I think of this as a calming, hydrating serum and use it with every active under the sun — which is to say, don’t think of this as a product you can only use when you don’t have X, Y or Z in your routine. Most importantly, this is a longterm play and you will not see results overnight — and that’s true for every product despite whatever new and lofty claims brands come up with. However, with consistent use, one morning you will wake up and realize your skin has never looked better. Though you’ll have gone through several bottles of this serum by that point (I go through one a month), so it may be in your best interest to purchase more than one during the sale. Also, as a side note — I really recommend investing in your serums over your moisturizers. Let me know if you want me to do a post on that.

  • Note: I no longer use this product.

• Nearly all vitamin c serums come with a list of lofty and unrealistic promises, leading to disappointment and half emptied bottles; however, this vitamin c serum truly is one of the best I’ve ever tried. While it doesn’t have the same manufactured hype around it (read: marketing and PR), it is one of the few vitamin c serums that has noticeably improved my skin with consistent use. The packaging is intentional and doesn’t fall into the common traps of other vitamin c serums (read: no dropper! no glass bottle!), and it’s a really lovely formula to interact with. I have gone through two bottles and always found it incredibly easy to fit in my routine and didn't notice that usual pitfalls associated with vitamin c serums. Though with 20% L-Ascorbic Acid, I do not recommend this if you’re looking to buy your first vitamin c serum. If you already have one in your routine and tolerate it well, this will be a great upgrade for you. In my opinion, this is the best vitamin c serum sold at Sephora (though please note that’s really not saying much given that I think the range they carry is abysmal) and beyond (which is saying something).

• However, if you’re sensitive to L-Ascorbic Acid and are in desperate search for an alternative that actually does something, look no further than this perfect product. Not only is this serum one of the main characters on my Instagram and in my morning skincare routine (I use it alongside vitamin c) but I’ve gone through truly more bottles than I can count. While I absolutely do not subscribe to all of the brand’s claims, I can say that this made my skin visibly more radiant and is surprisingly hydrating, too. I even stopped using it for a few months to see if I really did notice any changes — and while my experience should not be misinterpreted for any clinical trial results or the like — it’s undeniable that my skin looks better when I use this consistently. And as someone who has debilitating insomnia and could always use a radiance boost, trust me — this serum delivers.
  — Note: You can always save 15% on Dermstore with code: myskinterest

• I honestly feel silly even recommending this because if you know me, you know that this moisturizer is my favorite skincare product ever (mic drop). Simply put, it is the perfect moisturizer for my skin and it’s been my go-to moisturizer for over two years. And no matter what, this always has a place in my routine, my heart and it will forever be among my most recommended products. If you’ve seen my morning skincare routines on Instagram, you know this is always front and center. In my nighttime routine, I almost always use this under a thicker moisturizer or barrier-boosting occlusive. But more broadly, I’m continuously charmed by how truly remarkable this moisturizer is. I guess the best way to describe it is that it’s not at all fussy — it looks amazing under makeup and is they key to skin prep, it literally (literally) never pills despite having every opportunity to do so given how much skincare I slather on my face and in my experience, it really lives up to the brand’s claims. And while it’s just come back in stock on Sephora’s website (!!), if it happens to sell out during the sale there’s a good chance it will be in stock on the brand’s website (save w/ myskinterest10). Despite having more unopened moisturizers in my collection than exist at your local Sephora, I continue to repurchase this one time and time again because there’s truly no product I’d rather use. However, I also think its lighter weight cousin is in a league of its own (and it’s in stock). This plushy, gel moisturizer was formulated specifically for those with oilier and/or acne-prone skin and while I love layering this under a thicker moisturizer, most people will love this on its own, particularly as we crawl toward the warmer months ahead.

  • Note: I no longer use/recommend this product.

• After that month when every brand released a lip balm, gloss, treatment or glossy balm thing within seconds of one another, I understand that you may not want to hear about another lip product. However, it’s important to me that you at least consider trying my favorite lip treatment and the only one I think is worth your time at Sephora. To make a long story at least a bit shorter, this has been around for a while and everyone I know told me to give it a go. But of course, I was reluctant to give in to the hype and tend to avoid trending products because part of me likes to think I’m above all that. Anyways, when the brand came out with new shades earlier this year, I caved and immediately understood why this formula is so beloved. There’s only so much one can say about a lip product, but I think what makes it stand out is that it isn’t trying to anything more than a lip treatment. It’s not too thick, not too thin, not slippy or sticky, you can apply a thin layer and wear during the day or a thick layer for overnight care, the shades are pigmented but not too pigmented, it provides immediate and lasting hydration, the applicator is the perfect size and shape AND it smells great. My favorite is the strawberry shade but I have them all.

• I promised myself I would stop at five recommendations but this heavenly product has been a staple in my nighttime routine for years. In a crowded category of products competing for your attention, trying to put words to this luxurious delight would be a disservice to a product that demands to be experienced. Yes, there’s a lot of hype about it online but I ask you to put that aside because this is my most favorite step in my nighttime routine and that says more than any amount of social media hype (at least, as far as I’m concerned). Not only is it a decadent experience but it’s one that is unmatched by any other similar product — and trust me, I’ve tried them all in an effort to find out. While I am unusually in love with skincare, even I sometimes dread the thought of my nighttime skincare routine when I’m coming home late or already snuggled under the weight of several blankets and my cat. Still, this product makes me excited for my triple cleanse (yes, I triple cleanse at night — double cleansing is for normal people). It’s effective, rinses away cleanly and comes in several scents if you’re into that kind of thing. Sure, it’s not going to be for everyone but I think it’s probably for most people and it’s certainly for me. Plus, a jar of this will last you for months.
  — Note: You can always save 15% on Dermstore with code: myskinterest

I promised myself I wouldn’t spend too much time on skincare so for the sake of getting on with it, I recommend checking out the full list. And if you have any questions, let me know in the comments!

Makeup

• Ah, finally. We’re approaching skin tint season and this is undoubtedly my favorite skin tint — it’s truly in a league of its own. And here’s the thing: I’m incredibly picky when it comes to coverage products because I’m not great at the whole makeup thing — I need my makeup products to basically put themselves on and perform under pressure. While this skin tint appears thicker than others right out of the bottle, it almost becomes one with the skin and is practically weightless. Best of all, it provides just enough coverage and blur while still letting my skin look like skin, and you can build it up for more coverage as well. It blends like a dream, wears well throughout the day (for a skin tint), it’s hydrating and perfect for dry and mature skin, it never looks cakey and it never clings to dry patches. Of course, Sephora sells a lot of skin tints that are probably much more popular on TikTok or whatever but trust me when I say this one is the best skin tint you’ll find at Sephora. It’s dewy but not overly so in my mind; however, those with normal and dry skin may like this more than those with oilier skin. I also recommend grabbing at least one of these while you’re at it (my favorite is Desire). I wear shade two.
  — Note: You can always save 10% with code: myskinterest

• In my opinion, this is the only foundation stick that’s worth your time, at Sephora and anywhere else, and this brand never goes on sale so the Sephora sale is actually a good time to pick it up — along with all my other favorites from their line. In my experience, this works best when used as a concealer or in areas you want to add a bit more coverage — and it’s the only stick foundation that doesn’t make my desert dry skin look like an old, crusty, dried up sponge. I’ve tried Merit’s and the new on from Ilia, and I seem to be the only one who doesn’t like them — especially the one Merit, which truly makes my skin look worse than I ever thought possible. Of course, those who products were made for those with normal to oily skin and not my very dry skin but I still think this foundation stick would work very well on everyone. And if you have dry or mature skin, it’s a game-changer. I find that I use this most for quick touch ups throughout the day and whenever I’m traveling because it applies beautifully with just the warmth of my fingertips and it really can provide any level of coverage. I think it has a very natural finish and I cannot say enough about the packaging — it’s so luxe. Plus, it will become a family heirloom because no matter how much I use it, you would think it’s brand new (read: you get a lot of product). I wear shade 0.5.

• I know, I know — I really need to stop talking about this foundation but it’s truly about as perfect as a foundation can be. And remember how I said I’m picky about coverage products? Well I’m particularly picky when it comes to foundations and if they can’t perform, they’re done. And while I absolutely did not expect a self-described “soft matte” foundation to play well with my skin, which is akin to an arid climate (read: really dry), it easily eclipsed all other foundations in my collection. I find that it applies best in thin layers, which really allows you to customize the coverage level in a way that always seems to look perfect — and yes, it basically applies itself. I also think the thin but not too thin formula makes it incredibly adaptable to whatever base you pair it with. For example, because I wear a glowy primer, this never looks matte on me but friends of mine who prefer a more matte finish and use a mattifying primer say it’s perfect for them, too. But that also proves that this formula really does work across skin types and truly is worth it. The fragrance is nearly undetectable and it blurs in all the right ways without looking like a full beat. If you’re going to get one foundation, I feel passionately that it should be this one. I wear shade LN5.

I know, you were looking for more than just three coverage products. Where’s the blush? What about the concealer? Why didn’t she mention a primer or powder? How could she leave out mascara? Well, truthfully, my favorite ones aren’t sold at Sephora and like I said, we have a mutual understanding that I’m not here to waste your time or mine. Still, the full list includes plenty of other makeup products I highly recommend (I just wasn’t feeling as passionately about them at the time of publishing). However, I have — for better or worse — tried nearly everything at Sephora, so if you want my thoughts on other products not included, just ask below! Just because something isn’t included doesn’t mean I don’t really enjoy the product, I really just wanted to keep this list as concise as possible.

Hair Care

• It should surprise absolutely no one that I recommend adding everything from this brand to your cart. And if you’re a subscriber (love you!), you know that I’ve gone on, and on, and on, and on again about how much I adore their products. But if I *had* to limit myself to just three of their products (which is nearly impossible, but the way) my top recommendations would be: this game-changer (or you can get the mini size but you’ll regret not getting the full size); this product, which lasts forever and will exceed all expectations and then some and; a pair of these, you’ll thank me later. Still, that’s not totally fair because I really love everything I’ve tried from the brand and highly recommend grabbing this, this, this (it really is worth it). Their products have truly changed my hair and their mission and mantra has also transformed my relationship with my hair. I now think of hair care as a ritual that’s just as important as any other ritual I have, and the ability to shift the mindset of their consumers is a powerful thing and indicative of just how good their products are.

  — Note: You can always save 15% off on their website when you buy three products

• A friend recommended this hair care duo to me last year and I’ve used them nearly non-stop ever since. They’re incredible but what makes them even better is that they have refills. And before you roll your eyes about the (at times) false illusion of sustainability brands promise to promote refills — and I’m right there with you — I really, really like having the refills on hand so I don’t run out as often. I go through shampoo and conditioner faster than most people (partly because I double shampoo my hair) and Sephora’s shipping isn’t what it used to be. So while I don’t recommend starting with a refill if you’ve never tried their products, the sale is a good time to grab a refill or a few because I rarely see them go on sale. Oh, and I also really love this product from them, too!

• Look, I’ve restrained myself from talking about this for long enough so just indulge me. If you are thinking about buying a very fancy and expensive blow dryer during the Sephora sale, I highly recommend that you buy this one. I quite literally don’t know how to properly blow dry my hair but you would think I’m a lifelong hair stylist when I use this. I’m not kidding. The attachments for this model specifically are SO good and easy to use — it basically does my hair for me. Whenever I use it I get more compliments than you can imagine. Also, I don’t use the attachments everyday (nor do I blow dry my hair everyday) but because they are easy and fool-proof, I use them more often than I thought I would and my hair looks amazing every single time. Plus, it takes about ten minutes start to finish. I know I sound kind of silly but I fully believe this is one of the best investments beauty I’ve ever made.And the reason I’m so passionate about it (among others) is because this model really sucks and isn’t worth the difference in cost. Well, it’s good for drying your hair fast but the attachments are oddly bad — you have to manually turn them (??) and as someone who has both, I never reach for this one. So for anyone who was planning to buy an expensive blow dryer, get this one.

• Pro tip: buy this as well — don’t get the hair spray it’s not as good. Even if you don’t heat style your hair but want more volume, I would still get this because it literally transforms my flat, pin straight hair. I wish I had tried it earlier. It’s a hero product.

Other Delights

• While Sephora carries a lot of lovely fragrances, I’m currently obsessed with perfume oils and I think you should be too. And although Sephora’s selection of perfume oils is somewhat limited I’m absolutely in love with this one, this one and this one. While incredibly different scents, each one is a more intense and intoxicating version of the spray version of the fragrance and the oil truly last all day long. For me, perfume oils are a more intimate way of interacting with a fragrance because I can place it exactly where I want it on my skin, which adds to the enduring allure of each scent. Plus, a perfume oil doesn’t travel throughout the air like a spray; instead, they linger on your skin so only those closest to you can smell the full fragrance profile and how it interacts with your unique body chemistry. Also, it makes it easy to reapply in public without making a complete scene. If you only get one, get this one, it wears the longest on me. But then again, I’m also moderately to extremely obsessed with this body mist, which is in stock despite all odds. I actually find that this scent lasts longer than most perfumes and I’ve heard the same from others.

• I’m not a huge “natural” deodorant person but this is the best natural deodorant I’ve tried at Sephora. Like many popular “natural” gel deodorants, this is formulated with AHA’s which gently exfoliate and help minimize bacteria that causes odor. While I honestly don’t love the packaging and firmly believe the green bottle is the only good scent, it’s been a staple in my routine for well over a year. This has a a blend of shikimic, mandelic and lactic acids and while I don’t think the brand discloses the percentage in the formula, those acids are high up on the ingredient list for whatever that’s worth to you. I’ve tried the ones from Nécessaire and Saltair and neither were particularly effective for me. I will say that I’m currently obsessing over a deodorant I was able to get from Europe but given that it’s not available in the U.S., I would argue this is the next best thing.

My Cart

Honestly, my cart has changed SO much since I began writing this post and will only continue to change — so I’ve gone back and forth on whether I would actually share it. And while my cart is subject to change dramatically by the time I publish this post, let’s take a peek at what’s currently inside.

• My cart is mostly haircare and I have a combination of new-to-me products I’ve been dying to try and restocks of my beloved favorites (but mostly restocks). This shampoo and conditioner from Virtue has been on my list forever and I can’t wait to try it (I love a lot of Virtue’s products). The restocks in my cart are the usual suspects from Ouai, Crown Affair and Virtue.

• The makeup in my cart is limited to a restock of my favorite eyeshadow primer (I know, very exciting). And while I know there are cheaper options that apparently work just as well, I really like this one. Literally every eyeshadow creased on me before I started using it, and now even the most difficult creams whatnot stay all day. Plus, the saturation of my eyeshadow doesn’t fade throughout the day either.

• My cart has really seen the most change when it comes to skincare. Right now, I only have one of my holy grail serums in my cart but we all know that’s going to change. I’m simply dying to try this essence, I really want to grab a restock of this gem and I kind of feel like it’s my duty to pick this up for the sake of science — would you be interested in my review???

• And of course, I’m still considering a few other things. Let me know if you want me to share those!

Reminder: If you want to support your favorite creators when shopping the Sephora sale, you need to check out through one of their affiliate links on the website not the Sephora app. You can support me by using this link or included in this post.

What’s In Your Sephora Cart?

What products do you need help deciding between, want more information on or want to hear my thoughts about? Do you have questions about specific shades or want me to compare anything for you? Are you trying to decide if X product really is worth it for you and your needs or if it’s better than what you’re currently using? Ask away!!!

I’m answering all the questions and this is a much better place to ask than my DMs. You can find every product I recommend linked here.

Until next time, follow along on Instagram and browse all of my favorite things. myMusings is a labor of love but it is labor. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.

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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.

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