The Sephora Holiday Savings Event kicks off on Friday, October 28th and I can’t wait to shop the sale and share some of my top recommendations. I look forward to covering this sale every year because I get to try new makeup at the discounted price and I can restock on old favorites. It also makes me so happy to be a resource for you while you shop the sale 🙂 Throughout the sale, I’ll be sharing my top picks, what I’m ordering and makeup tutorials! Stay tuned for an unboxing on IG reels as well.
ROUGE MEMBERS (Spend $1000 at Sephora in a calendar year) – 20% off your purchase with SAVINGS 10/28-11/7
VIB MEMBERS (Spend $350 at Sephora in a calendar year) – 15% off your purchase with SAVINGS 11/1-11/7
Beauty Insider (Free to join) – 10% off your purchase with SAVINGS 11/3-11/7
As always, I appreciate you using my links to shop 🙂 It comes at no cost to you and provides me a little commission on your purchase, which helps me to continue to make free content and recommendations on the blog. I hope this guide is helpful while shopping the holiday sale!
Previous Blog Posts
Sephora Spring Savings Event 2022
Sephora Fall Savings Event 2021
MY WISHLIST
I shared most of my haul on my IG stories and saved to my Sephora highlight. I’m restocking on some items I love: Hourglass concealer, Lancome mascara primer, Laura Mercier Shadow stick, Sol de Janeiro Cream, and my favorite Tom Ford Gloss.
The products I’ve loved the most from my haul are the Gucci blush, Patrick Ta blush, Dior Glow Palette, Armani lipstick, and Patrick Ta gloss!
Restocks
New products I’m trying
FOUNDATION
Year after year, my top two picks for foundation are still NARS Sheer Glow and Armani Luminous Silk. I’ve tried so many foundations and truly I don’t know if I’ll ever love any foundation more than these two. I did try the NARS light reflecting which has skincare but still prefer Sheer Glow. I felt the other was a little oily by end of day on my skin. I use the Flawless Filter after primer and before foundation when I want an extra flawless finish.
Since last savings event, I have tried a few foundations that I love and would recommend! I loved IT Cosmetics CC cream Nude Glow during summer and tried the Patrick Ta foundation and Haus Labs foundation.
My favorite matte and full coverage foundation is the NARS soft matte and I reach for this most during fall or winter but generally I don’t do full coverage makeup anymore. This one is extremely long lasting and I wore it from 8-9am to midnight on most days during our recent New York trip! It is full coverage and gives a beautiful matte finish without being drying.
Shade names: Charlotte Tilbury: 3 Light Medium or 4.5 when I’m more tan // NARS Sheer Glow and Soft Matte: Barcelona // Armani: 5.75 // Haus Labs: 260 Light Medium Cool // Patrick Ta: Light Medium 2 // Dior: 3W // IT Cosmetics: Medium Tan // Charlotte Tilbury: 7W
There are others I’ve tried (Shiseido, Rare Beauty, Laura Mercier, Saie, Too Faced) and they worked fine but probably wouldn’t repurchase once they run out!
For reference, I am generally medium with warm undertones when selecting foundations sometimes light medium. I would describe my skin as normal with some oil in my t-zone by the end of the day.
Holy Grails
Other foundations I love
PRIMER
My two most used primers these days the Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum and the Urban Decay All Nighter Primer. The Laneige drops give a great glowy base for spring/summer makeup. The All Nighter really grips onto makeup and makes it last all day. For heavier makeup days, the Tatcha Silk Canvas and Hourglass Mineral Veil are still great. I use the glowy makeup serum the most.
I did try the Milk Hydrogrip last time and didn’t like it enough to repurchase. Lately, for long lasting makeup days I’ve been loving the Glow Makeup Serum all over the face and putting a little bit of the Tatcha Silk Canvas in areas that get more shine by end of day (t zone, around nose, chin).
CONCEALER
For undereye, I’m still loving the Tarte Shape Tape the most. If you are looking for a full coverage option that’s not drying Hourglass is really great. I use that one for spot concealing all over the face and the Tarte shape tape undereye. I’ve also been loving NARS creamy concealer again too. I’ve tried many concealers (Too Faced, Urban Decay, Clinique, Becca, Huda Beauty, Fenty, Pat Mcgrath, Kosas) and still like the Hourglass and Shape Tape the most.
I did try Kosas last time, didn’t love that much. I tried Dior and loved! I think I’m going to try Armani when my Dior runs out.
For setting undereye, I’ve been loving the Pat Mcgrath Undereye blurring powder. I got it in Medium during the summer but I think I will purchase Light this time for the winter when I’m less tan 🙂 If you struggle with dry undereyes, this has been so great for me with the added skincare prep under my eyes.
Shade names: Hourglass: Fawn for undereye and Beech for all over // Dior: 3W // Nars: Custard or Macademia // Pat McGrath Powder: Medium, going to purchase light too
For reference, I usually get light or light medium with neutral undertones when selecting concealers for undereye and medium with warm undertones for all over.
SETTING POWDER, FINISHING POWDER, AND SETTING SPRAY
I’ve been reaching for the Charlotte Tilbury powder (in Medium) the most for setting all over my face and the Ilia or Laura Mercier (Honey) for my undereye. These are all really great options for powders and lay beautifully on the skin. I tried the Givenchy powder last time and loved it! I also tried Kosas and it was only okay, I wouldn’t recommend. I tried the La Mer powder over the summer and also loved it’s a great touch up powder and so beautiful but very pricey so I think any of these other options would work just as great. I also love the Hourglass powder as well.
The Charlotte Tilbury setting spray is the best – truly makes my makeup last all day and is the best setting spray I’ve used. It does have a rose scent so if you’re sensitive to fragrance I wouldn’t recommend. Urban Decay All Nighter has less of a scent from what I remember.
The lighting palettes from Hourglass are a top recommendation always. These finishing powders are applied after your setting powder and they bring such luminosity to the skin. I can see a difference in how my makeup looks when I do this extra step. It’s hard to show on camera but I really feel it makes all the difference and gives that extra oomph to your makeup. You can also buy these individually but I love them in the palettes to have a few options for color. They give you that glow from within look to your face. I would recommend choosing the volume that is more complimentary to your skin tone. I have both Volume I and II and do love both but I don’t think you need both of them. I have been reaching more for Volume II lately since getting it.
I’m going to try the Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Setting Powder that came out this year! Excited to see how it compares to the original 🙂
Setting Powders
Setting Spray
Finishing Powders/Blurring Powders
BRONZER
I’ve tried many bronzers and my favorites are still the Hourglass Bronzer and Gucci Bronzer. Hourglass is so finely milled and just looks so gorgeous on the skin. I use the NARS bronzing cream to cream contour and the Fenty for my nose contour. Unfortunately the NARS isn’t available on Sephora anymore since it was limited edition but I did see it’s still available on NARS site (just not on sale). I did try the Rare Beauty bronzer sticks when they came out earlier this year and love the formula – super user friendly and easy to blend! I haven’t tried the ABH cream bronzer, Makeup by Mario bronzer stick or the Patrick Ta duo but heard they are really great options. I saw the Makeup by Mario is in stock finally so I might grab that for the sale 🙂
Powder Bronzer Shade Names: Hourglass: Radiant Bronze Light// Fenty: I$land Ting // Gucci: 3 Medium // Tom Ford: Terra // Tarte: Park Ave Princess // Jouer: Sunkissed/Sunset
Cream Bronzer Shade Names: NARS: 02-Laguna // Rare Beauty: Happy Sol // Charlotte Tilbury: Medium // Saie: Medium
Powder Bronzers
Cream Bronzers
BLUSH
I can’t stop buying and trying blush. It’s a serious issue lol but I just loooove blush so much. I am still loving layering cream and powder blushes these days. Here are some of the ones I’ve been loving the most. Lately I’ve been combining the hourglass cream stick and layering with the Patrick Ta on top.
Shade Names: Hourglass: Wonder and Sacred // Makeup by Mario: Raspberry // Rare Beauty: Peace (limited edition) Joy // Charlotte Tilbury: Ecstasy (Powder), Pinkgasm, and Peachgasm // Laura Mercier: Ginger // Hourglass: Sublime Flush // Patrick Ta: She’s Sincere and She’s Seductive
Powder Blushes
Cream/Liquid Blushes
HIGHLIGHTER
These are all great highlighters and I love them all. I still reach for the Jouer the most and more recently, the Glowgasm palette from Charlotte Tilbury (no longer sold). Jouer is less expensive compared to the others. It is a delicate formula though so I wouldn’t recommend traveling with it.
I am finally going to try the Dior Highlight Palette – can’t wait!
Shade names: Jouer – Skinny Dip // Fenty: Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby and Afternoon Snack/Mo’ Hunny // Charlotte Tilbury: Spotlight
BROWS AND EYES
This is probably the most boring part of my makeup routine because I’ve found products that I like so I just repurchase them over and over. I’m still using my same brow pencil, mascara primer and mascara for the last couple years. I have straight asian lashes (I do use an eyelash serum for length and thickness) and this mascara combo just makes them look so nice. For eyeshadow, I love easy small palettes that have all the essentials and are easy to travel with. The Laura Mercier shadow stick in Caramel is a super easy every day lid color. I also love the Charlotte Tilbury palettes or the Natasha Denona Mini Palettes. I keep wanting to purchase the Patrick Ta palette because the formulation is so good but I have similar colors in my other palettes.
Shade names: Anastasia: Chocolate // Charlotte Tilbury: Pillow Talk and Golden Goddess // Laura Mercier Shadow Sticks: Caramel and Copper // Ilia Shadow Tint: Sheen
LIPSTICK
I have an IGTV with swatches of my favorite nude lipsticks, liners, and glosses on my Instagram but I’m always adding in new ones. I can’t resist a good nude lipstick! I think I’m going to film an updated favorites video this weekend 🙂 I love buying new shades and formulas to try. All of my lipsticks are primarily peachy nudes and brown toned nudes which I’ve gravitated towards for the last few years 🙂 I find that these compliment my warm skin undertone the most. My favs recently are NARS Belle de Jour, Fenty Unbutton, Charlotte Tilbury Nude Kate & Yes Honey, Givenchy Beige Caraman, and Patrick Ta Oh She’s Single. I can’t find the Too Faced lipsticks anywhere anymore but if you can find them I love Skinny Dippin’ and Birthday Suit. It looks like the Givenchy lipstick is sold out in Beige Caraman right now too but if it comes back in stock, it’s one of my favorites.
Shade names: Tom Ford: Sable Smoke NARS: Belle De Jour and Blonde Venus // Charlotte Tilbury: Nude Kate, Penelope Pink, Yes Honey, and Cover Star // Fenty: Unbutton // Patrick Ta: Oh She’s Single // Merit: Slip // Givenchy: Beige Caraman // Too Faced: Skinny Dippin’ and Birthday Suit / / Tarte: Colada
Most worn lipsticks
Other nude lipsticks I have and love:
LIPLINER
Almost every day 9/10 times I use the Sephora Collection lip liner – it’s the perfect color and glides right on! It’s 30% off for all members during the entire event 🙂 I recently picked up the Makeup Forever one and love the formula.
Shade names: Sephora: 2 Nothin but Nude // Charlotte Tilbury: Iconic Nude // Makeup Forever: 600 Anywhere Caffeine (more brown toned nude)
LIPGLOSS
I am a gloss girl forever – I just can’t do a lip combo without a gloss lol. These are some of my favorite glosses. My most reached for gloss is the Tom Ford and I know it’s such a splurge but the formula is amazing and it makes every lipstick combo look so good. I am almost out so I’m going to order another one! It’s the prettiest nude gloss with tiny tiny specks of gold shimmer. I also love Urban Decay Runyon (not on Sephora anymore but available on Urban Decay and on sale) and Dior Lip Maximizer in Coral.
Shade names: Tom Ford: Crystalline // Urban Decay: Runyon // Dior: 004 Coral // Fenty: Fenty Glow and Fenty Glow in Gloss Bomb Cream // Sephora: XXL Nude // Buxom: Bellini (for some reason this color is not available at Sephora but is available at Ulta) and White Russian // Marc Jacobs: Sugar, Sugar (I can’t find this anywhere anymore but it’s still a fav) // Tower28: Oat // Tarte Juicy Lip Plump: White Peach
Most worn glosses
Other glosses I have and love
MAKEUP BRUSHES
I couldn’t do my makeup without these three brushes. They’re truly worth the splurge and keep their quality wash after way. The dual ended Hourglass brush is a must have for me. I use the larger side for bronzer every day and the smaller side for my undereye powder. The two other brushes that I think are worth the splurge are the Fenty 125 for cream blush and Patrick Ta Contour brush for cream contour. Both of them blend and apply cream products so effortlessly. They’re easy to use and provide precise application. The Sephora foundation brush blends so well and I love how densely packed the bristles are. The Sephora concealer brush blends concealer really well and then I go in with a sponge and blend out more before setting with powder. I’ve always wanted the Hourglass foundation brush so might get it this time.
SKINCARE
I don’t use all of these at once but they’re products I’ve loved and repurchased over the years 🙂 love all the masks and try to do one at least once a week! My favorite sunscreen is EltaMD but it’s not sold at Sephora. I tried the Supergoop glow screen in the Golden Hour color during summer and loved it so much. Now that I’m less tan, I might consider getting the Sunrise original shade. For now, I’ve gone back to EltaMD.
One thing I’ve added in is the Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner twice a day and I love it! I replaced my Paula’s Toner with it but would recommend that one too if you’re looking for a more affordable option than the CT.
Moisturizer, Sunscreen, and Night Cream
Eye Creams
Face Masks
Other
BODY
I use these two daily and I swear the creme de corps has made my skin softer over the last year and a half! It’s unscented so I layer some of the bum bum cream on top. It smells so good! I loved the bum bum cream so much I got the hair and body mist and love spraying this when I don’t want to wear perfume. I tried the pink cream from Sol De Janeiro recently and really like that one too – a lighter scent kind of smells sweet and has some fruity notes.
My favorite perfumes are not included in the event. I’ve always loved Chanel Chance eau Tendre – very fruity floral . I recently got Baccarat Rouge 540 and LOVE – sweet and woodsy! I also love Le Labo Santal 33 if you’re looking for something clean.
This self tanner is my favorite!! The color looks so golden and natural and the mousse is hydrating. It usually lasts around 5-6 days on me.
HAIR
My two favorite hair products have been the Gisou Honey Hair Mask and Hair Oil and Bumble and Bumble Heat Protectant. The volumizing hairspray I use is not sold at Sephora (Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play). I also added in my styling products, hair mask, and dry shampoo recs. I have a few tutorials on my highlights for hair tutorials 🙂
I am almost out of my Gisou hair mask so I think I’m going to finally try the Shu Uemura hair mask!
Hair Masks
Hair Tools
Dry Shampoo and Texturizing/Volume Sprays
Heat protectant, hair oils, scalp treatments, and leave in conditioners
GIFT SETS
I went through gift sets and these are my top picks if you’re looking for gift sets for holiday shopping!
If you have any questions, feel free to DM me with questions! <3