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We love Sephora and we love skincare. Before the pandemic, it was one of our favorite places to go because there was always something we did not know we needed. The Sephora sales are not as fun now that you cannot try the product, but at least you have us to help guide you through our favorites and what to avoid.
This is our third-time breaking down our Sephora favorites in a year, yet each list has changed. Since we always have a lot of questions about our skincare routine, we decided to breakdown what we do and what we use. If you want to see last Sephora sale picks, click here.
One of the most important things to remember for any sale is that it is not worth buying if you do not have the money for it at that time — regardless of the discount. All of the products we recommend will be on sale multiple times throughout the year. If you do not catch this sale, you can always catch another in a few months.
If you already know what is up, you can skip the Sephora Sale Details paragraph and jump right into our skincare favorites! We are separating out our picks into different posts this year so that we can include as much information as we need to!
All of the links posted in this blog are affiliate links, which means we can make a commission off of your purchase. We appreciate when you shop through our links because posts like this take at least 8-10 hours of work – it feels good to get paid for the hard work that goes into making the posts, collages, IG stories, etc.
Sephora Sale Details
If you are not familiar with the Sephora loyalty program, there are three different tiers based on the amount of money you spend in a year. Twice a year, Sephora will have site-wide discounts based on tier-level. Sephora will also have two other sales where they give “$X off $X.” Personally, unless you are buying luxury products or value-kits, I think most products are a better deal at different times of year. However, I still buy a ton of stuff during this sale. Sometimes I just dont want to wait.
This spring the sale is occurring from April 9th 2021 through April 19th 2021, with different tiers have access to the sale at different times. The dates and discount amounts are as follows:
- Rouge (spends $1,000 or more in a calendar year): 20% off – sale access 4/9/2021 through 4/19/2021
- VIB (spends at least $500 in a calendar year): 15% off – sale access 4/13/2021 through 4/19/2021
- Insider (spends less than $500 in a calendar year — good for you!): 10% off – sale access 4/15/2021 through 4/19/2021
Skincare
Our favorite haircare products and make-up products are in different posts!
Our Routines
We are happy to recommend some skincare favorites from Sephora, but we use skincare from all over — not just brands that are at Sephora.
Everyone always asks for a post about our skincare routines, and I am never able to write one because I change mine so frequently. However, I feel like the basics of a skincare routine are to wash, moisturize and protect. I apply everything in order of thinnest to thickest, except when applying retinol. So here is what I (Sarah) does with the products we like after the action, most of them from Sephora.
- AM Skincare Routine:
- Wipe face with Micellar Water: I don’t usually do a full wash since I just washed it 12 hours prior)
- Toner/Essence: You do not need this part, I just like using a toner. Sometimes it is exfoliating, sometimes it is a hydrating one. Or sometimes I use an essence.
- Vitamin C Serum: I just trust the research and know I need one as it helps prevent aging from other factors besides the sun. It can also help brightening your skin
- Other Serums:
- Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum: I have not used this in a while, but I used this after my Vitamin C serum in the morning and before hydrating serum at night to help cut down on my dark spots. It really worked for me, but took about 4 months to notice a difference.
- Snow Mushroom Water Serum: Missy uses this serum in the morning. She said she can tell a difference in her pores when she uses it.
- Sunday Riley Good Genes: I use this a few times a week, I try to ensure I use it on retinol nights
- It is almost never the cheapest at Sephora, it goes on sale quite frequently throughout the year. In just a few days, it will be going on sale at SkinStore.
- Eye Cream
- Belif Hydrating Eye Cream – Not the eye cream I use regularly, but very plumping and hydrating.
- Teamine Eye Cream – My main concerns are dark circles and this eye cream has been a miracle for them. Takes about 2 months of using a little in AM and PM to notice a difference. I apply just a tiny amount with my ring finger. Always seems to be 25% off at LovelySkin.
- Revision DEJ Cream: I have not used this, but my dermatologist recommends it more for fine lines, firming and dark circles. I trust her recommendations since she was right about the Teamine, so I bought some to try after my Teamine is finished. Use code: REVSNCK for 20% off
- Moisturizer
- Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Repair: My favorite moisturizer of all time. It is so healing and great for anyone starting a retinoid. I hate that it is $130, but I truly have found nothing else like it to be so moisturizing, plumping and healing. I use sparingly and only when I need to since it is so expensive. Use THANKS15 for 15% off.
- Belif Moisturizers (varies by skin type):
- Aqua Bomb: Lightweight, gel-like moisturizer that is best for those with combo/oily skin. I like it in the summer because it is light, yet hydrating.
- Moisture Bomb: Heavier moisturizer that can be greasy if you do not have dry skin. It means business.
- Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer: A great moisturizer for $15. I tend to use at night since it is on the thicker side.
- Caudalie Moisturizers (Missy’s favorites): Caudalie used to be cheaper on European sites, but now it does not seem to be the case since they reformulated and came out with new formulas.
- Sunscreen: I prefer EltaMD, but will sometimes use SuperGoop if I am going to wear makeup or want a little glow.
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen: Goes on clear (make sure to use enough!) and is a great primer base for makeup.
- Supergoop Glow Screen: Gives off such a great, natural glow. Wear with or without makeup. Just make sure to set it with powder if you have oily skin – it can get greasy when you use the correct amount.
- PM Skincare Routine
- First Cleanse: You do not have to do two cleanses, but I do. I like to use an oil-based cleanser first to help dissolve the makeup. I prefer balms, Missy prefers oil cleansers. If you just want to wash once, skip on down to our 2nd cleanse option.
- 2nd cleanse: This helps ensure you really got everything. I follow up with a water-based cleanser here, which are the cleansers you usually see. Or sometimes I am lazy and just use the Bioderma Micellar Water.
- Purity Made Simple Cleanser: This is a great water-based cleanser that is good at taking off your makeup.
- iS Clinicals Cleansing Complex: This is my favorite cleanser. It lasts me about 8 months, but I love that it is the perfect pH for a second cleanse and has just the right amount of exfoliating acids in it. Use code: ISC30 for 30% off.
- Retinoid/Retinol: If it is a retinoid night (I alternate between retinoids and acids), I apply a pea-size amount of retinol.
- Inkey List Retinol: This is a great beginner retinol (it is what I started with!). Start off using every three days, and graudally work your way up to every night. If you are peeling too much, use the retinol sandwich method which is moisturizer first, retinol, moisturizer. I only use retinol 4 times a week.
- Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol: This is a strong retinol that you have to work your way up to. I like it though because it it is moisturizing, yet effective.
- Differin: Missy uses Differin because she has acne. It is the only over the counter retinoid and recommended for those that struggle with acne. Some use it for anti-aging, but my dermatologist said there isn’t enough research done on it’s effects on photoaging. Missy really likes it though and has been able to use it instead of her expensive Rx option.
- Acid: If it is a non-retinol night, I use whichever combo acid pad I have — I like to use a combo of AHA/BHA. I try to only do this a 2 days a week, retinol 4, one off night
- Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads Extra Strength: These are expensive, but effective. I would not buy at Sephora and wait until a deal.
- Gly/Sal 5:2: These are much cheaper! Not an exact dupe, but similar.
- Essence or Hydrating spray – I like to make sure my face is moist before applying the moisturizers
- This is where I would use the CosRx or, what I have been doing lately is just spraying my face with a hydrating mist
- Caudalie Grape Water: This is awesome. I love it because it is so hydrating and it feels so good. I will set my makeup with it sometimes or just have it on my desk to spray my face to freshen up throughout the day. It is my favorite moisturizing spray.
- Hyalauronic Acid serum: This is the time to buy the Necessaire Body Serum. It rarely ever goes on sale higher than 10%. If you buy the body serum and apply to your face, you get 5 oz instead of just 1, which is the size usual HA serums come in. Such a steal!
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer or Hydrating Mask
- See above for moisturizers
- Youth to the People Dream Mask: My top skincare purchase last year. It is so good. It just melts into your face and you wake up with soft, glowing skin.
- Oil to seal it all in
- Drunk Elephant Marula Oil: Missy’s favorite oil and she got me hooked on it. It is expensive, but worth it as it lasts a long time. Missy has tried all of the other brands, this is the best for her skin (combo/acne prone). I like it because it does not have a fatty smell and absorbs quickly.
- Youth to the People Glow Oil: This oil is still expensive, but compared to most face oils, is on the cheaper end. I discovered this last sale and love it. It smells great and gives off such a great, natural glow. I love this in the morning.
Favorite Skincare Masks
I do not mask as much as I used to because I just got too lazy. Once I do my skincare routine, I am done for the night. I liked masking more when I went to the office. It felt like something nice and relaxing to do. Now that I am home all the time, it does not feel as much as an escape.
- Hydrating Masks
- Exfoliating/Purifying Masks
- Cold Plunge Pore Mask: One of my favorite clarifying masks! I also love the bright aqua color of it. It is a fun one.
- Resurfacing BHA Glow Mask: Missy has been using this mask for years, it is holy grail status for her. Helps when she has breakouts and helps make her have a great glow.
- De-Puffing
- Clarins De-Puffing Mask: Not the actual name, but it is what it does. I never get too puffy, so I did not notice a huge difference after using it. However, Missy gets swollen in her face and says this works well for her — especially in her cheeks and chin.
- Variety
Body Care
- Body Wash:
- Bioderma Atoderma Shower Oil: This is not at Sephora, but one of my favorite body washes. It lathers like a body wash, but does not strip your skin. Since it lathers, you do not have to worry about making the floor too slippery, either!
- Necessaire Body Wash: I prefer the Bioderma, but do have to admit this is very moisturizing for a body wash. My husband loves it, but he goes through body wash so quickly!
- Lotion
- Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Body Lotion: Sephora does not carry this anymore, but this has been my favorite lotion since 2014. I would stay in Hiltons just to get the free lotion. I love the smell and I love how light it is. Great for summer, but may not be enough hydration for winter.
- Necessaire Body Lotion: I would not pay full price for it, but would buy on sale. It is a nice medium thick lotion that does not leave you feeling greasy. I do like that it does not have a smell, so it will not clash with your perfume.
- Bum Bum Cream: This is a nice moisturizing cream that is one of Missy’s favorites. It has a very strong tropical scent and a hint of shimmer. I like to wear if I am going out somewhere.
- Self-Tanning
- Clarins Glow Booster: I don’t tan because it always looks so fake to me. However, this serum that you add to your daily moisturizer? It looks like such a natural glow. You can add more or less based off of the type of tan you want. And there is no scent! Even Missy loves it!
- More coming on tanning….
Hope you liked this rundown! Please comment if you have any questions! We would be happy to answer them!
