Beauty junkies rejoice because the VIB Rouge 20% off sale at Sephora starts today. This is the annual holiday sale for those who have VIB Rouge Point Status. If you’re shopping online use code 20ROUGE at checkout, it will be valid 11/4 through 11/7. It’s valid on Sephora.com, in Sephora US Stores, Sephora Canada and Sephora stores inside JCPenny locations. You can use the code or coupon multiple times in store and online from the dates of the sale. I have a roundup of recommendations along with some items I have on my wishlist.
I’ve split the recommendations by category to help organize everything by type. There’s a lot to explore and I always find something new to try everytime I shop in store or even online. Out of all the online beauty retailers I find the Sephora site easiest to navigate and search whether I’m looking for a specific brand, product, sets or basically anything.
Up first are face products. I have quite a few foundation favs, my top three picks at Sephora include the NARS Velvet Skin Tint (I mix Groenland and St. Moritz), NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation (I use Punjab) and Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick (my best match is #123).
For other face products, five of the best things I can think of include:
Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder (review here) is a new launch I think has reached holy grail status for me. I can use either Shade #1 or #2 and both give a very lovely naturally glowy set look.
Tom Ford never goes on sale and items are pretty spendy. I really like the Fire Lust Skin Illuminator and Sheer Cheek Duo in Bi-Coastal (reviewed and swatched here). I have a back-up of Bi-Coastal because it gives the prettiest glowy sheen in two pink tones.
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit in Surreal Light has to be the prettiest face palette I’ve seen this year. Swatches and review here.
For concealers, I’m loving the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I can use Custard, Macadamia or Ginger (swatched here). It’s been a staple for years and continues to be a reliable one for under eyes and spots.
For lips the options are easy because there are tons of great brands, formulas and colors. My most reached-for formula is the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine (fav shades are #8, #9, #44 and #47, swatched here).
The Armani Lip Magnets are among the best matte finish liquid lipsticks that I’ve tried because they aren’t drying. Six of the colors swatched and reviewed here. I have 3 more on my wishlist but want to try and see them in person first.
For moisture, I really adore the Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade. This one doesn’t change my lip color, but I know it does on some others. I like it for the packaging and great feeling formula. For those who can’t do anything scented the AmorePacific Moisture Bound has been the best unscented unflavored balm I’ve tried.
NARS Velvet Lip Glides I think can be hit or miss for some. I like Stripped and Bound for colors. It doesn’t really feel velvety as it does glide on the lips. It doesn’t give full coverage in one swipe but needs a bit of layering. I still think they are worth checking out.
For neutral eye makeup, I really think it just doesn’t get better than the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, in particular Naked2 and Naked3 (both swatched here). For this holiday the Marc Jacobs Style Eye Con No. 20 in About Last Night is quite incredible as well – I find it a bit more versatile as it contains more than just neutrals.
My top two mascaras are the Stila Huge Extreme Lash and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara.
I’ll have a review of the NARS Give In Take Palette as soon as I can. Hopefully either today or by this weekend the post with swatches will go live along with some other items from the Sarah Moon Collection. I’ll say right now the palette is gorgeous!
For hair there are so many options and the value sets are seriously tempting. The Drybar Let It Blow Travel Set with a mini Buttercup dryer along with some other minis. The Sake Bomb Shampoo and Conditioner are great options for dry hair and I use the Hold Me Hair Clips on a daily basis. They’re bright yellow which makes them easy to find.
For volume and clarifying I like the Bumble and Bumble Surf line. They have a cute Big Beachy Hair Anywhere Surf Travel Set that is great to try the items if you’re unsure.
Sephora Favorites have lots of options I featured the Ready, Set Style! Set yesterday. I think it’s a great value for the price and seems like a set that anyone any age would like.
For skincare I like the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation is the best lightweight moisturizer cream for everyday. It’s got a cream texture so it has substance but it has a lightweight lotion feel so it’s not heavy. There’s no scent or added fragrance and is great for normal combination skin.
On dry days the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is the way to go and never stings. It offers instant relief for dry skin. In terms of beauty skincare tools I’ve found the Clarisonic Mia Fit to be better than the ones with the handles. It’s compact, easy to use and comes in a cute pink color which I love.
For eyes I’ve use the Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum for day and Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye Cream for night because it has retinol. Both have helped with puffiness and smoothed texture. There’s no irritation and they don’t sting the eyes.
Kate Somerville is in my top 3 skincare brands. She has three classics in her Cult Favorites Kit – I’ve tried all three separately and they are great. I swear by her face cleansers, in particular the Goat Milk Cleanser and Gentle Daily Wash. I’ve gone through so many tubes of the SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser which is excellent but for the past year I’ve pretty much stuck with the ones from Kate (it’s more affordable).
Last but not least are a few fragrance recommendations. Fragrance is so personal it can be hard to give recommendations because we all have different opinions on what smells good. There are lots of value sets out during the holiday for men and women like Louboutin, Chloe and Elizabeth and James. Since perfume can be pricey if you have a favorite, the sale is a great time to stock up on full sizes.
I’m still in the process of finalizing and narrowing down my list. I do have the Laura Mercier Iconics Set on my wishlist and the sale would bring the price down quite a bit. There’s still quite a bit of other things though such as Tom Ford Winter Soleil (which isn’t online at Sephora, at least not yet), skincare I want to stock up on (this Peter Thomas Roth Mask Vault looks amazing!).
I’ll be doing a haul post once I finalize my order and receive everything. Posts to go live on NARS, Le Metier de Beaute, and Surratt Beauty soon (he has new blush colors out!). Let me know which one you prefer first. I’ve taken all the photos and completed swatches – just need to edit them all and gather my final thoughts for the reviews.
To recap, the 20% off sale at Sephora is on everything for VIB Rouge members. It starts today 11/4 and runs through 11/7/2016. If you’re shopping online use code 20ROUGE. Let me know what you end up hauling or what you have on your wishlist!
