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The Sephora Holiday Sale is Happening Now

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I love Sephora. 

I could spend hours walking up and down the aisles. And when I leave, with my glossy black bag filled with goodies, I’m convinced for a brief moment that when I use these new products, I will emerge as a better, more beautiful version of myself. Lol.

So I never miss the Sephora Holiday Sale Event, happening right now, marketed specifically for their “Insiders.” 

What does that mean? 

Nothing special; you just have to sign up for their rewards program.

If you’re not a Sephora Insider, sign up on their website before you start shopping. It’s easy, it’s free, and they don’t bug you about anything. 

This sale is different because the discounts vary based on your Insider status, determined by your annual spend. 

If you’re just getting started, you’re called an Insider and get 10% off; if you’re VIP, you get 15% off, and if you’re what they call Rouge, you get 20% off. Of course, the more you spend annually, the greater the discount you receive. 

Regardless of which level you are, use the code YAYHOLIDAY at check out. 

The savings can be significant if you use many of the brands they carry or worth it if you want to try something new. 

*And please note, I rotate through  A LOT of products. These are the ones I order specifically during the Sephora Sale. You can see my current am and pm skincare routines here:

A Simple and Effective Morning Skincare Routine.

The Best Order to Apply Your Skincare at Night.

My Picks at the Sephora Holiday Sale Event

Makeup picks from Sephora's Fall sale

For today’s post, I stood in my bathroom and looked up all of my favorite products to see if you can grab them on sale. Most of these you’ve heard me talk about countless times. When I find I product that delivers results, I stay loyal to it.  

Below, I broke this down into New-to-Me Products, Skincare, and then Makeup, Fragrance and Tools. 

Skincare

Long-time readers know I put a lot of care into my skin. It’s all part of my aging gracefully plan. I’m almost 42 years old, with fair, freckled, sensitive skin, and dealt with terrible cystic acne – as an adult – for many years.

It wasn’t until I got my skin issues under control in my late 30s that I felt confident enough to put my face on the blog, so I am more than happy to spend here and save in other areas.

Now, my skin has never looked better.

While I spend on better beauty products, I save a significant amount of money by taking advantage of this sale, held twice a year (now and in the spring), especially now that I have daughters who pillage my beauty products

Also, because I want to keep this a kind space, I will not approve any comments shaming anyone for spending their money on things that make them feel good, especially something as harmless as self-care products. If you can’t already tell, I’m growing tired of people saying hateful things for the sake of saying hateful things. 

New-to-Me

Biossance Squalene products and Opalex blonde enhancer shampoo

This sale I’m giving three products a try. 

First is the Biossance Squalane Resurfacing Night Serum. I specifically want to see if it brightens my skin and helps with some stubborn age spots.

Next, also from Biossance, is their body toning moisturizer. I like that it has no fragrance and sounds like it isn’t sticky. It gets rave reviews, so I’m curious to see if it’s worth the hype and the price. There is no point in taking care of your neck up only to look like the crypt keeper everywhere else, right?

Finally, I recently went very blonde and my stylist recommended the Olaplex Blonde Shampoo to help tone and hydrate. You only use as needed, maybe once a week, to help fight off brassiness and keep your hair feeling healthy in between visits to the salon. 

Favorite Skincare Picks from the Sephora Holiday Sale 

 

skincare picks from Sephora's fall sale

These products are the centerpiece of my skincare routine. 

In the evening.

I double cleanse every night.

This means you wash your face twice, first with an oil-based cleanser, and then follow up with a gentle gel-based one.

For this, I use the Tatcha Oil Cleanser by far, my favorite gentle cleansers. It quickly removes makeup and cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture. For sensitive skin, it’s a dream. I’ve been using this for years.

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, $32 This is a fantastic gel cleanser. You get a deep clean, again, without stripping your skin. 

I apply the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer, morning and night. As a final step, I use Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask, $52 on top of my moisturizer right before I get in bed.

It helps lock in all my products, and I wake up with soft and hydrated skin. 

The Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, $39, is my forever favorite mask. It’s so simple and effective, only takes 5 minutes, and helps clear your skin in one quick application. 

I use it once or so a week; even my daughters regularly use it to help with breakouts. 

In the morning.

Some experts tell you not to wash your face in the morning, but I think that is crazy.

If you go to sleep with heavy creams and then wake up to kids touching your face, it needs a gentle cleanse to start the day, so I use the Tatcha Oil Cleanser .

For a daily moisturizer, I like the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer , especially in the cold weather.

Then I apply the Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30, $34 every single day, as my final morning layer. 

Sunscreen is your most important beauty product, so be sure to wear a generous amount daily and always apply it as your last step. 

Favorite Makeup | Fragrance | and Tools

One of the many benefits of focusing on skin health is you don’t need much in terms of make up. You’ll never see me “baking” or conturing to an inch of my life.

I like to see my skin come through, freckles and all.

You have seen all of these on here before. They are my everyday, go-to, 5 minute face essential.

Makeup picks from Sephora's Fall sale

 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Balm, ($38) Like a lipstick and lip balm together, super hydrating with just a hint of pigment. 

Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Cologne, ($142) This has been my signature scent for several years. It’s just lovely, and I am forever complimented on it. I buy it once a year at the sale. 

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, ($49) What’s great about it is that it isn’t heavy or cakey.

You can build for the kind of coverage you want (use a BeautyBlender for easy application). The best thing about Bobbi Brown is the array of skin tones available. You can be pale as a ghost (like me) or have deep and dark skin. It’s truly inclusive.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer, ($30) I have been using this bronzer since I was in my twenties. For my skin tone, it looks natural. If you want a healthy glow, you seriously don’t need any other product. And it lasts forever. 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Skin Perfecting Brush Set, ($55) It’s under $60 and has everything you need to get the most out of your application. I also bought it for my teenager as her first “good” set of brushes so it works for everyone. 

beautyblender ORIGINAL BEAUTYBLENDER Makeup Sponge, ($20) I add these to my cart every time there is a sale. 

tarte Power Bar Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette, ($19) I’m a big fan of tarte. Their Shape Tape concealer is the best concealer I’ve ever used. I picked up this simple under $20 eyeshadow palette last year, and it’s incredible. Simple, pigmented, smooth application and lovely neutral colors. 

Finally, let’s talk eyebrows. There are two products I use religiously, because especially as we age, our eyebrows may become sparse and need some extra attention to help highlight the structure of our face. 

First, the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow is a fantastic everyday tinted eyebrow gel. 

When I want something with more precision, I use the Anastasia Eyebrow Duo

Both are available in a range of colors. 

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Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

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The Sephora Holiday Sale is Happening Now

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Megan Kristel

Megan Kristel is an entrepreneur, working mom, and former personal stylist. Tired of the one-dimensional portrayal of women online, she founded The Well Dressed Life as a resource for other professional women.

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kathryn

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Thanks for not hoarding your beauty secrets! I like Tarte products as well. How does the Tarte shadow wear? I love the look of that neutral palette, and can see my daughter...borrowing?...it.

My Sephora pick-I started using Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer. Not enough SPF for day, love it for an early evening when the mineral SPF 20 is adequate. I don't wear foundation, so for me this is perfect. I can definitely recommend it, if you're ever looking for another minimal coverage product.

Jacqueline

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Hi Megan, Did you remove the hyaluronic products from your routine, was included in previous posts? If yes, wondering what brought you to that decision. Thanks!!

Megan Kristel

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Nope, I have them in my routine and am still enjoying Super Bounce from Glossier ($28). These are simply the products I've purchased specifically from Sephora during their sale :)

Janet

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

Hi Megan. Do you use the bronzer as blush, or do you use two separate products (bronzer and blush)? Thanks!

Megan Kristel

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Hi Janet! I use the bronzer separately, to add some warmth to my skin. I like a couple different blush products. First, the Wander Check and Lip Tint is light and just a touch of color. I wear it in the color Rendezvous. I love Nars Orgasm.

Judy

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

I always enjoy your posts, but the beauty and skin ones are my favorite!! Thank you!

Megan Kristel

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

Awww, thanks Julie - these are always a lot of work so I'm so glad they are helpful!

Emma

Friday 16th of April 2021

Great post