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Sephora Spree

Beth Ann

Veteran

Well, my MIL gave me a Nordies card for my recent birthday (yay, and hello NAS). My husband, in consultation with my almost 14 year old DD, purchased a Sephora card for me. I love that they teamed together! DD follows several beauty YouTube celebrities and has become a bit of a maven -- making sure I claimed the birthday freebies that were a part of my reward cards (Nars lip pencils at Sephora, and Urban Decay eye pencil at Ulta).

The thing is, I'm generally on a very tight beauty budget. I color my own hair, do my own nails, and don't do treats like facials, laser treatments, waxing, etc. My DH was feeling generous and purchased a $250 gift card. So......What would you purchase from Sephora with a gift card? What are you Sephora faves?

Bear in mind that I will return to my budget later. Here are some of my "beauty concerns"
1. Higher humidity in Indy (and less estrogen) is affecting my hair. I could use products to add shine, tame frizzies and deep condition.

2. My skin is changing, too. I could use a great eye cream, and better moisturizers, treatments, etc. I also have some discoloration -- melasma and suns pots. I'd like something that I might be able to keep buying later --- or put on my Christmas list!

3. I've been using a BB cream lately, but am only "meh" about it. I'd love to have a base that evens out my completion and adds a glow without clogging pores or causing breakouts, which are lessening, but still a concern. My skin is not generally sensitive, so no wories there!

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Belated happy birthday! With that budget, I start thinking about bigger ticket items first. Do you have a Clarisonic? I don't, but I've heard good things about it from others. Also, maybe some nice perfume, if you wear it.

Makeup and hair/skin care are so personal, but I've really been liking the new gel I've been using, and it could work for you with the humidity issue. I posted about it in a previous thread and will add the link. It's from Devacurl. I am a big fan of bumble and bumble for hair stuff, and Stila for makeup - their liquid liner and pencil liner are both nice, their eye shadows are great, and I like their foundation - I think mine is officially a tinted moisturizer or bb cream, I can't recall.

ETA: here it is, and lots of suggestions from others too - http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....its-misses

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks for sharing the link, Laura! There are a lot of great suggestions there! My hair is wavy in it's natural state, although not truly "curly." Curl defining mousse, which I have used before, does do a great job of making my texture look intentional, not a failure to touch my hair after the shower!

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Beth Ann, you didn't post what kind of skin you have, oily, dry combo etc.
I'm older than you, but have oily, sensitive skin. Love my Clarisonic, but use the delicate brush head.

Here's my skin care regimen:
morning
Wash face in the shower with Boots Expert sensitive gentle cleansing wash (it's one of those pump things that foams when you press it) from Target
Then I use a First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pad - Sephora
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado - Nordstrom
Algenist Sublime Defense (just enough moisture and SPF 50 with a little scoop of Philosophy turbo booster Vitamin C powder mixed in (rub between palms) - Sephora I've tried loads of sunscreens and this one is my absolute favorite.
I blow dry my hair, then use a little Smashbox primer (pore reducing version) - Sephora
I use powder foundation - Double wear from Estee Lauder followed by the rest of my makeup

evening
Use a drop of Argan Oil (Sephora or Ulta) on each eyelid, rub lightly with a finger tip to dissolve eye makeup, and wipe with a cotton pad.
Use Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner - Nordstrom, on a cotton pad to wipe off most of my makeup.
Use my Clarisonic with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser - Nordstrom, then wipe again with the toner.
Follow that with serum (I've been using the little ceramide capsules from Elizabeth Arden). Then the Kiehl's eye cream.
Wait a few minutes, then I mix a pea sized amount of Retin-A with my night time moisturizer, which is Bobbi Brown Vitamin enriched face base - Sephora

I always put the moisturizer/sun screen steps on my neck and upper chest too am and pm.

Sounds like a lot of steps, but is really pretty fast to do.

They say to use Retin-A on bare skin, then do the rest of the steps...but this doesn't work for me as I can never get past the peeling and flaking stage no matter how slowly I ease into it.

Hope this gives you some ideas

Beth Ann

Veteran

Cheryl: My skin is in transition as we speak! It was combo, with hormone related breakouts (adolescence in reverse). Now, I feel the breakouts finally subsiding a bit, but my skin and hair are getting a bit dryer and a bit duller. It's the melasma and dark spots left over from the hormone shifts that is my biggest complaint, along with dullness. Sigh. I sound like a paper bag! Things are that bad, really!

Your routine is well thought out --- I'll look into some of these prodcuts. I had considered a Clarisonic. I'd be interested to know if more people are using them! My skin is not sensitive, at least!

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Beth Ann, the Facial Radiance pads have either BHA or AHA I forget which and you never use these at the same time as Retin-A.

The most important products for skin care and anti-aging are
Vitamin C
AHA/BHA
Retin-A
Sunscreen

I have heard good things about the Clinique product for discoloration and you might look into that.

I buy my Retin-A from taraskincare and save a boat load of cash. I use the 0.025% as that is the strength which supplies anti-aging. The higher percentages are really intended for anti-acne .

Hope you find some products that you love...I went through so many before I found the right ones for me.

kkards

Veteran

wow….what a generous present. the best thing i like about gift cards is that you can use a little at a time, so its like a gift that keeps giving, or all at once, so you can go to town. its like the best of both worlds.
re the bb cream, sephora has the wonderful machine that they hold up to your face and it gives foundation recommendations, and then the SA tests them on you, so you get there advice as well. i have to say that what it recommend for me has been the best foundation I've used in years.

Anonymous

I use a Clarisonic and have found it worth the investment. You've been given a really nice gift $ to work with , and I'd definitely use it on skin and hair care myself. I know some people argue that hair products are not worth spending money on, but I disagree. Also Sephora always has all of those great kits of smaller sizes that are a really good value - and perfect for experimenting with new products. Foundations are hard to recommend as we all like different things. I never buy stuff like at Sephora because the lighting in those stores sucks (pardon the expression) and I don't always find their sales people all that swift - if you know what I mean. Anyways - go for some great skin care stuff, some hair stuff, and maybe a Clairisonic (although I have forgotten how much they cost.....)

Momo

Veteran

How fun!
I agree with the Clarisonic. I love mine, makes a huge difference in my skin when I am consistent with it.

I also adore Caudalie Divine Oil.. It is truly divine.

I have a ton of fun with the sample sets and you can get some great deals if you look at the Sephora Favorites and the other Value Sets.

And sign up for the beauty insiders program... With 250 you should be able to get even more samples.

I much prefer shopping Sephora online. More samples and I feel like I make better choices

Yeah.. I am a VIP beauty insider meaning I have spent way, way too much money there. Had to cut back. Actually haven't bought anything there in 6 months.

Momo

Veteran

And Sephora is on ebates. 4% back right now

Meredith

Veteran

Falsies, obviously. In all seriousness, I like this list of suggestions. http://thoughtcatalog.com/chri.....irl-needs/

Even if the products themselves aren't quite right, I think the categories of products are good. If I had to pick three products that last forever and are worth spending a bit more I'd say eye primer (so color stays set in humidity), a really good mascara (although you may not want to go back to drug store versions), and an exfoliater appropriate for your skin type.

trix

What a nice gift! If they already bought the gift card, would you be allowed to use it toward one of their custom makeover sessions? They're "complimentary" with $50 or $125 in purchases:
(http://www.sephora.com/store-l.....021http://

I did one last year and ended up buying about four or five products they used (though not all at once; I waited for a discount to get some of the items later or found some for cheaper elsewhere).

Anonymous

I love my Clarasonic and often use it morning and evening with one of the cleansers that came with it. It is fabulous for preventing those midlife breakouts. My face has never been so clean. I think it has helped fade dark spots too, maybe because it stimulates circulation. You can use any favorite cleanser with it. I also bought the long attachable handle to reach the middle of my back in the shower. It feels great. I like the stiffer body brush for body and feet.

Gaylene

Veteran

Another vote for the Clarasonic. I use mine with the inexpensive CeraVe Hydrating cleanser recommended by my derm. I've used my brush daily for a few years now and I think it really helps with the dulling, flaking, and occasional breakouts that can be triggered by hormonal changes.

I agree with Cheryl that sunscreen, Vit C, AHA/BHA, and Retin-A are the cornerstone of good skin care, and would also add hyraluronic acid and ceramides to the mix. You can find all of these at varying pricepoints so it pays to experiment with less pricey lines to see what works best for you.

I do have two indugences, though. The first is Clinique's Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector. It is a brightener as opposed to a concealer which means I don't need to worry about it settling into all those tiny lines--and it does seem to lighten and brighten up the eye area as well as working as a sunscreen and moisturizer for the eye area. If I want more coverage, I add a tiny dot of regular concealer in the specific spot--which I seem to do less and less these days. My other indulgence is a toner because I like the feeling it gives me after I splash water on my face in the morning. I suspect the value is more psychological than real so I experiment with different ones--right now the Caudalie toner I found at Sephora is my favorite. I seriously doubt the product claims and feel a bit guilty at the price, but, hey, it is my splurge item!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I am thrilled that you got such a lovely gift. (And happy birthday!!!)

And I'm also grateful for the thread. I have never considered a Clarisonic but I am rapidly becoming curious about it.

Carla

Veteran

Smashbox primers are quite nice, and I'm a Sabastien Potion #9 (leave in conditioner) fan. I don't have any Sephora experience. The one time I tried, the SA didn't seen interested in helping me (more interest in chatting with a co-worker) and I wasn't in the right frame of mind to be demanding. I've heard great things about their personal demonstrations though, so will give them another try sometime.

I, too, am interested in hearing more about Clarisonic, so will follow this thread.

Sweet gifts, Beth Ann!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

What a lovely birthday gift:) I do love browsing through Sephora but don't have recommendations on skin and haircare. I mostly buy lipsticks or a mascara or sometimes a blush palette and my benebalm there. Hope you have fun makeup shopping!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Another vote Clairsonic.
I use drugstore L'oreal shampoo. But this is good
http://www.sephora.com/no-friz.....ct_you%20m...

I don't live in a super humid environment but they're humidity products look good too.

This is absolutely fantastic. Wash your hair, glob it on, put on plastic shower cap and putter around house for an hour or so, rinse out. You don't need to use it often, I've had my tub for a while.
http://www.sephora.com/phytojo.....Id=1512318

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm the spanner. I have a Clarisonic and I'm over it. I just don't think it does all that much. I used the softest (acne) brushes since I have sensitive combo skin and it certainly cleans. I'm just not sure that I feel all that great about using the same brush head over and over for even a couple of weeks. Using a fresh super soft wash cloth seems like a better, more sanitary option for me.

If I had a big gift card from Sephora....I'd buy a great foundation/bb (and you can use it and return it easily if you don't love it).

I'd definitely splurge on the anti-aging stuff that dakotacheryl listed. That's stuff that will definitely give you a skin boost. First, though, I'd do some serious searching on Beautypedia and see what the best of the best products are in each of those categories. That website is curated by the company behind Paula's Choice products, so expect to see their products listed in all the categories, but feel free to ignore them. (Full disclosure: I'm typically a luxury cosmetic purchaser. This year I overcame my aversion to the Paula's Choice marketing and gave several products a try and honestly I am super wowed by their efficacy and pricing, but they don't sell them at Sephora, so it won't help you. I do think their recommendations for other products on Beautypedia are generally quite good, so that's why I'm recommending it. If you are paying the big bucks, you want to feel like you are getting the most effective versions of what you are buying.)

What else? Maybe some of the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day. I love that stuff. And some Smashbox eye primer (your shadow will never move once you apply it). And Smashbox foundation primer with salicylic acid, which is great for combo skin because it will help exfoliate the dry bits, clean out the pores and regulate the oil production of the oily bits, absorb excess surface oil that forms during the day and airbrush the lines. Yes. I know. I am in awe of it. Then maybe some of the YSL lip stains? And maybe a new eye shadow or two? Or invest in a few brushes?

ETA: And high five Deb! I love the Caroline Hirons blog too! Like anything else, what works for you is what works for you. Things that work brilliantly for my friends won't work well for me, and vice versa. That is why Sephora's wonderful exchange/return policy is so fantastic. If it isn't great, I take it back. They are always great about it.

Gaylene

Veteran

K, I also had the same concerns about the Clarasonic brush. On the advice of my derm, I detach the brush head after every use, rinse it thoroughly, and let it dry separately from the handle. Once a week, I wash the brush head in a sink filled with water to which I've added a drop of dish detergent. I also swish out my makeup brushes at the same time, and, once all my face stuff is out, finish with my hair brushes and combs. According to her, dirty makeup and hair brushes can aggrevate skin issues as we get older. I also replace the brush heads every 3-4 months when I replace my mascara (my opthamologist is adamant about that since he had had to deal with too many eye infections caused by dirty mascaras and other eye makeup).

Thanks to Rachylou, I now think of makeup as dirt I put on my face--makes me more careful about keeping the stuff as close to "clean" dirt as I can...

Beth Ann

Veteran

Came back from a day at a garden show with my Mom (benefit of being closer to her now), and am overjoyed at the expression of YLF wisdom! I'm making dinner now (at 8pm), so I'll follow up more later, when I have a chance to investigate your suggestions further.

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment --- I don't mind growing older too much, but I want to avoid the midlife-drab if at all possible!

dakotacheryl

Veteran

When I bought my Clarisonic, it just didn't make sense to me to use the brush on a face full of makeup, that's why I use my toner and a couple of cotton pads to take the majority of my makeup off before I use my Clarisonic.

I also don't put the cover over the brush unless the brush itself is dry to the touch.

Windchime

Veteran

Happy Birthday, Beth Ann!
I'm not going to be any help with how to spend your gift card because I've not yet visited a Sephora store. But you've received buckets of good suggestions.

And in response to what you just wrote, you don't need to worry about becoming midlife drab! I don't think you could even if you tried.

Anonymous

I also did not like my Clarisonic and finally sold it a few months ago. I like the Glam Glow products at Sephora.

I get my Diorskin foundation, Anastasia brow gel and whiz brow there, plus a few other things. I mainly use Mario Badescu skin products which unfortunately are not sold at Sephora.

I would recommend getting some makeup brushes there though as well.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

I really like the Sephora brand "Pro" Brushes

deb

Veteran

Have you ever read Caroline Hirons' blog? She specializes in skincare in the UK. I love her videos because she is so darn funny. You may want to check out some of her recommendations.

http://www.carolinehirons.com/

annabelle

Veteran

What fun! Don't forget that Sephora has a very generous return policy. If you don't like something... simply return it! They also are great with giving samples from the store. E.g., if you don't want to try a 50 ml bottle of face serum for $90, ask for a little sample and the technician can decant some from the tester into a small container for you. For skin care, you are going to want to try things out for a few days, and not just on the back of your hand in a store.

Here are the brands I'd like you to read reviews about for your three concerns, because these are what I've found I like when I can splurge a bit:

1. Alterra. (I just looked and Sephora no longer carries Ojon, but check them out too. I love their Damage Reverse Restorative Smoothing Glaze, on drugstore.com)

2. Algenist Targeted Age Correcting Serum (treats several skin concerns, including sun spots) and Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream. Bobbi Brown has some nice eye creams, probably a better value, if you don't need the firming component. My trick for eye cream is to buy off of ebay - really. There are so many gift with purchase sized eye creams floating around that you can try for $4 or $12, or even full sized once you know the brand(s) you like.

3. Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting. So, when I looked that up, I see it is a CC not a BB. CC is generally for more aging skin and has more treatments in it than a BB. But I use it as a lightweight moisture/foundation combo. I picked it up as a "foundation" that I could travel with, to leave the usual loose powder + brush at home.

Have fun with this! I love the idea of asking for the makeover. I recommend bringing in your current products and asking the artist to use as much or as little of your stash as she/he wants to as well as getting makeup recommendations. For me, I'd splurge on the skin care and hair care regimen more than on makeup products. As Bobbi Brown says, if your skin is flawless then whatever you put on top goes on better, regardless.

greycat6

Veteran

Great suggestions here! How generous of your family! With that amount of money I would want something that will last long term (like a Clarisonic) and consumable for fun (that will run out and you would have to replace like a fun lippy.)

Another vote for the Clarisonic. Game changer for my perimenopausal complexion. Love it! I change the brush every 3 months, detach and wash the brush weekly and always let it air dry without the cover on.

I love the Living Proof No Frizz hair care line. Gets my not quite curly/not quite straight hair under control.

Happy Birthday and Happy Beauty Day at Sephora!

Beth Ann

Veteran

More wonderful sites and links and products to explore! Thanks so much! I did some scouting online last night, and will check out some more of these links today. I hope to get a few items this week and will let everyone know how it goes!

Jjsloane

Veteran

What a great gift! I always have trouble shopping with a gift card because I want to maximize it.
Another vote for Clarisonic and I find the Bumble and Bumble hair products are amazing! If you're curious about trying new products I'd suggest a gift set, they have good ones.
http://www.sephora.com/skin-care-sets-travel-value?
I like the Fresh Sugar lip set and have loved all the Peter Thomas Roth products I've tried.
I get this every year and it lasts me almost the entire year:
http://www.sephora.com/sun-saf.....Id=1702067
It's a great way to try out different products and everyone needs sunscreen! I like the Dr. Jart BB cream and it's included this year as well as the Clinique CC cream.
I use mostly Bare Minerals products for makeup and love their night serum and night treatment (got them in a set)
http://www.sephora.com/pure-tr.....Id=1318856

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