Sephora 2020 Holiday Savings Event

It’s my favorite time of year when Sephora kicks off their sale which only happens twice a year! If you haven’t heard yet, the sale at Sephora started last week, October 30, for the holiday season! All levels – Sephora Rouge, VIB and Beauty Insider can shop the sale of the season!

The reason this sale is so awesome is that department stores will never give you this much of a discount off of beauty products! So if you’ve been thinking of splurging on the Dyson Hairdryer or T3 Styling Wand now is the time to buy those investment pieces.

HOW TO SHOP THE SEPHORA SALE

First off, you need to be a member of the Beauty Insider program (you can sign up here).

The sale takes place in a tiered format:

·         Rouge members – Receive 20% off October 30 – November 9
Code: HOLIDAYFUN

·         VIB members – Receive 15% off November 3 – November 9
Code: HOLIDAYFUN

·         Beauty Insiders – Receive 10% off November 5 – November 9
Code: HOLIDAYFUN

If you aren’t familiar with the tiers here is a run down on how it works. The top tier is VIB Rouge which is for those customers that spend $1,000 a year. The next tier is VIB for customers who spend $350 a year. The third tier is Beauty Insider which is for any customers in the program who spend less than $350 a year. I’m a total makeup junkie so I shopped the sale last week and summarized my top 10 picks below:

WHAT TO BUY FROM THE SEPHORA VIB SALE - TOP 10 ITEMS

1. Hair Tools - The T3 Styling Wand is super easy to use and creates the most long lasting curls. I always struggled with curls falling out soon after I've curled my hair but this styling wand is amazing! What's even better is that this comes in a set of THREE barrels so you get more for your money! Another one of my favorites, the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, is another one of my personal favorites. The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer has made my life so much easier with its high-speed, powerful, brushless digital motor and intelligent heat control for shine. It dries my hair so fast and when I use a round brush with it, my hair looks like I’ve just stepped out of the salon.

2. Body Wash - I always stock up on my favorite brand of body wash, Necessaire in Sandalwood (comes in three different scents). This product is both vegan and considered a “clean” product which is made without all those harmful chemicals.

3. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask - Still one of the hottest products in the blogger community, this mask does not disappoint. I love how thick the mask is and how hydrating it is (definitely great for those that have dry and dull skin). I use this mask as my night time moisturizer and wake up with beautiful hydrated skin!

4. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder - I use this loose setting powder each time I do my makeup. It really helps to set my undereye makeup so it doesn’t crease and to contour the sides of my nose and under my cheek bones. I love that it also comes in a mini travel size which I bought as part of the sale so I use it on the go.

5. Lip Combo - To get my signature lip combo (I’ve been wearing this for YEARS) I use these three products. I first start off my lining my lips with the Smashbox Lip Liner in shade Nude Medium followed by filling in my lips with the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bow N Arrow. Then once that’s dry I use the Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss in Sheer. This 3-step combo makes the most beautiful glossy neutral lip color.

6. Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer - Another must have product and one I can’t live without. I pair this concealer paired with the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and it creates a flawless undereye finish!

7. Moisturizers - Nothing is more important than a great base! I like to keep my skin well hydrated and moisturized. Here are some of my favorite moisturizers: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer and Tatcha Water Cream.

8. Face Tools - I have a Jade Roller and also did purchase the Gua Sha tool during the last Sephora sale in the spring and actually use it more than the Jade Roller. The Gua Sha tool promotes the lifting and smoothing of the skin and it leaves the face lifted.

9.  Foundation - There are so many foundations out there but one that I have been wanting to try is the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna which is a soft-matte long-wear foundation that comes in 50 shades! My go-to foundation is the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation which is a long-wear foundation and lasts for up to 24 hours (you can read my review here).

10. Perfume - When does perfume EVER go on sale? Well during the Sephora sale they sure do! I have both the COCO Mademoiselle and the Chloé Eau de Parfum they are both amazing. I always make sure to stock up on perfumes during each sale and cologne for my husband as well. He loves the Bleu De CHANEL and it smells sooo good!

What will you be shopping from the Sephora Sale?

Holiday Healthy Skin with Neutrogena

I'm partnering with Neutrogena this holiday season to create this smokey makeup look using the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup. The foundation is a silky, lightweight formula that provides flawless coverage for that perfect natural look!

Now until December 31, use promo code HEALTHYSKIN25 at checkout to receive 25% off Neutrogena makeup purchases on Neutrogena.com.

To create this #HolidayHealthySkin makeup look the following products were used:

* Healthy Skin Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15
* Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20
* Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer
* Nourishing Eye Liner
*MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Deep Plum
* Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow in Soft Taupe
* Healthy Volume Mascara
* Healthy Skin Blush in Rosy

Head over to www.neutrogena.com/holidaylooks.html to see additional holiday looks!

Product Review: The POREfessional by Benefit Cosmetics

I hate pores! It's super hard to get rid of pores and some of us naturally have larger pores than others.  I’ve always had large pores on my nose and always wondered how to minimize them! Luckily, I stumbled across the Benefit The POREfessional by Benefit Cosmetics (retails $31.00) and am totally loving this product!

This product is a face primer that makes your face look flawless.  The product works to smooth out uneven skin texture (such as pores and fine lines) and essentially creates a smooth surface for flawless skin.  The formula itself is lightweight and feels silky. It’s a balm that you can apply under or over makeup. 

According to Benefit, this product can be worn two ways:

Under Makeup - Apply to clean, lightly moisturized skin then pat on problem areas and blend with fingertips.  Using the product under the makeup creates a smooth canvas.

Over Makeup - Pat on lightly over makeup and blend.  This helps to touch up problem areas and to make your skin look matte.

I really like the packaging on this product.  The product comes in a tube (not made out of glass) for easy traveling! You can easily throw this in your purse for those that are always on the go.

Product Review: Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

Face oils or face creams? That's the debate I've been having lately.  I walked into Sephora a couple of weeks ago and bought the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil instead of what I had initially gone in for which was the Lancome Energie De Vie Dullness Relief & Energy Recharge Daily Cream (see my review here).

Why are face oils better than creams? Face oils come without chemicals, toxins, and all the bad ingredients that creams can contain.  Oils have been around for many years - but how is that we as a society have just discovered them?  Most people are under the impression that oils can cause breakouts, are pore-clogging and make our skin look and feel greasy.  But that's not really the case.

Your skin certainly needs a certain amount of oil. Oils can transform your skin and keep it healthy.  Facial oils are also a fantastic base for makeup because they plump fine lines, even texture and can give the appearance of dewy skin.

This face oil in particular is made with Seaberry Oil. Seaberry oil (also known as seabuckthorn oil) is an antioxidant which is rich in moisturizing omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9.  Seaberry oil is also noted for protecting the skin from aging free radicals.

According to the the Fresh website, those individuals that used the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil felt the following:

- Proven to provide 24-hour hydration
- 100% felt their skin was immediately nourished
- 100% reported their skin was supple
- 97% said their skin was immediately hydrated
- 85% felt it decreased roughness on contact

The Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil comes in a thick glass bottle filled and a dropper.

How do I use the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil? I use this product by taking the dropper and placing a drop or two on my face.  Then I take my finger tips and massage the face oil on my face and into my skin. The oil feels lightweight and my skin doesn't look oily after.

So how did I feel after using this product for three weeks? My skin felt smoother and hydrated then it was before. Especially during the winter months when the weather is dry I pay extra attention to my skin.

The only complaint I had about the product was that it does have a strong smell.  If you can get past the smell of the product then you'll love it!

Before:

After:

Will you be trying this product? If so let me know your thoughts!

Product Review: Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics

I've been obsessed lately with finding the perfect highlighter.  I came across the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics (retails $30.00 for 0.33 oz) which comes in a luminous champagne color.  I was going to buy the actual size which comes with a blender on the other side, however, when I got to the checkout line I asked for my birthday gift and viola! Sephora was offering  a small size of the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics along with the They're Real! Mascara by Benefit (check out my review here on the They're Real! Mascara by Benefit).  I just HAD to try the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics before purchasing the actual size and let me just say - I was pleasantly surprised.

I like the Watt's Up! by Benefit Cosmetics application because it's in stick form.  I can throw it easily in my bag or makeup bag and don't have to be afraid of shattering the case by it slipping out of my hands onto the ground.

The highlighter is such a pretty, shimmery color. 

The highlighter is designed to work on all complexions. Benefit Cosmetics suggests applying the highlighter to your cheek and brow bones, while using the soft blender to sculpt and then blend the product onto your skin.  The highlighter can be used on its own or over existing makeup.

Here is how the product looks on my skin... It's pretty shimmery however, when it's blended out it works so well against skin and doesn't look caky.

Here's the product blended out. It's such a shimmery beautiful color! It results in a beautiful, glowy sheen that’s super luminous.