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Sephora Sale Haul + First Impressions

April 14, 2025

Sephora Sale Haul Picks

Today is the last day of the Sephora sale with code SAVEMORE and I have my full haul to share with some first impressions. There was quite a bit that I had on my list to try and the sale came at the perfect time!

Skincare Haul Picks

Sephora Sale Skincare haul Alpyn, Biodance, Kiehl's and iNNBeauty Project

My skin has been going through some changes the last month so I’ve been on the search for new moisturizers and serums to try. Here’s what I picked up:

Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic Acid Serum – I haven’t had a chance to try this yet but I’ve heard so many good things, I might pick up the moisturizer version too, if you have a favorite Vitamin C Serum let me know in the comments!

Alpyn Super Peptide and Ghostberry Moisturizer – This was the most recommended moisturizer from all of you! I asked for recommendations on my Instagram Stories and this hands down was everyone’s favorite, I’ve tried it and really like it. Once my skin rebalances or goes back to normal I think this will be one I reach for a lot. Right now my skin is super dehydrated so I’m in need of something heavier.

iNNBeauty Project Extreme Cream and Firming Eye Cream – I’ve been so curious about this brand. I’ve seen it pop up everywhere on my feed too! After some debating and feedback from you I decided to try it and I am 100% in love with both. 100% worth trying even though they are richer formulas. Quite a few of you mentioned you live in hot climates and still love this. I am going to buy the full size of the moisturizer before the sale ends tonight.

Biodance Bio Collagen Mask Set – Another viral skincare product I’ve been curious about. I have yet to try this since they recommend you apply for several hours. I can’t wait to try it.

I restocked the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser (my favorite) and Andrew picked up another Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream even though I have my own stock pile at home that I share with him, he really likes this one.

Sunscreen Buys

Sunscreen Buys Shiseido, Ultra Violette, ISDIN

Andrew and I are on a mission to try as many sunscreens as possible. Now that we’re in Miami where it’s hot and very sunny we’re being more diligent about applying sunscreen every single day and re-applying. Also since it’s hotter here we are trying to find the best sweat-proof one that doesn’t slide off immediately with sweat but that also won’t clog our pores or feel greasy. This has been a challenge since Andrew does not like mineral formulas and doesn’t want to wear anything that feels greasy.

Sunscreen Buys Shiseido, Ultra Violette, ISDIN

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF60 – This is a new formula and I tried this for the body. Although it’s mineral it blends out nicely. Still has a bit of a white cast but I like that it isn’t thick. I have to test it at the pool or beach to give my full thoughts but so far I’m giving it a thumbs up. I don’t know that I will be able to convince Andrew to try it though.

Ultra Violette is a brand I’ve been so curious about. I bought the Vibrant Screen SPF 50 (for the body) and like it but it is pretty emollient and doesn’t really have a dry down. That said it’s not too heavy.

I also picked up the Ultra Violette Mini SPF Mates to try for the face along with the Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm. I haven’t had a chance to try but a lot of you like these!

ISDIN is another line I’ve had on my radar but I’ve been hesitant because the two most popular ones are mineral. I tried the Fusion Water Magic SPF 40 and am not really a fan of the texture. I’m going to test a few more times though. The two mineral formulas are incredible and I think these are the first mineral sunscreens I’ve actually liked.

Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 does have a tiny bit of white cast but they also have a tinted option called the Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 which I really love. Both are very fluid and lightweight. They’ve layered well over my moisturizer so far and I haven’t had any irritation.

Dr. Jart Every Sun Day Face Sunscreen SPF 50 – This is a formula Andrew picked to try. He says he likes it and it’s not too greasy.

Hair Care + Fragrance Picks

Hair Care and Perfume Buys from Sephora Sale

I bought a few new things to try for the hair. I had high hopes for the Gisou Mini Wildflower Honey Infused Hair Perfume. It’s so cute and perfect for the purse but I’m undecided on the scent.

The Ouai Team sent over their Leave In Conditioner in the St Barts scent and it’s perfect for summer. I was planning to pick one up but thrilled they sent one over!

Verb Ghost Weightless Oil – I used to use this years ago and am not sure why I stopped. I picked this up to try again and LOVE it! I think it’s better than the new Kerastase Oil.

A quick shout out for the Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment Spray. For me this is the best thickening line I’ve tried. I received these in PR a month ago and while it’s not a daily treatment for me, I do love this anytime I want more thickening on the hair without it feeling weighed down.

Kerastase Gloss Absolu Line

Kerastase launched a new Gloss Absolu Line and I was 100% convinced this would be holy grail material. I like it but it’s not one I can use daily as the formula is too rich for my hair. I bought the entire line including the Anti-Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Oil and Anti-Frizz Spray. I did not like the Anti-Frizz spray (it’s too thick/heavy) but I do love the oil.

I bought the minis of both the Glossier You Fleur Eau de Parfum and Jo Malone Beach Blossom Cologne to try out first. I decided to go for the full size of the Glossier You Fleur which has a unique floral and salty blend. I’m not usually into osmanthus notes but this one is really nice.

I had the highest of hopes for the Jo Malone Beach Blossom. I loved the list of all the notes and the packaging looks so beautiful. This one unfortunately didn’t go well with my skin chemistry and had zero lasting power. I think the best beachy scent to this day is still Creed Virgin Island Water which is quite the splurge (and unfortunately not available at Sephora) but nothing else compares.

Makeup Picks

I went a little overboard with the makeup haul. I with I could have been able to review everything before the sale ends, but I do have some videos with swatches that might help.

Merit Shade Slick Lip Oil and Signature Sheer Lip Liner

Merit launched a new Shade Slick Lip Oil and Signature Sheer Lip Liner. You can see them in action here. Overall vibe of both is that they are very sheer for a minimalist look. The Lip Liners are sheer and glossy which I think are so interesting. They glide on the lips beautifully but are very subtle. The Lip Oil is also subtle but they layer nicely on top of the liner. I don’t know that I would call them must-haves for my makeup preference. I prefer something with more pigment.

Fenty Gloss Bomb Oil Picks and review

New shades of the Fenty Gloss Bomb Oils dropped and as a Fenty gloss addict I hauled all the shades. The only one I didn’t like is Rose Amber (it pulled too cool/grey on me). You can see them in action here and swatched here. I love the smooth texture, they feel thinner than the original Fenty Gloss Bomb. The sparkle looks intimidating but on the lips it’s not as sparkly as they look in the tube. The best ones are Fu$$y and Fenty Glow. Frosted Bunz is a repromoted which I also really like.

Gisou launched new shades of their Honey Infused Lip Oils. They’re fun and I love the formula but the colors are super sheer. See them in action here.

Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil

I picked up three powders to try and was able to try two of them. I really love the YSL All Hours Hyper Blur Loose Setting Powder (I bought 02 Fair Medium). I had high hopes for the Kosas Cloud Set Loose Powder but it settled into fine lines and seems to emphasize them. I think perhaps my skin is too dry for it now. I might keep this for when my skin goes back to normal (right now it’s too dry).

I picked up the Givenchy Prisme Libre Matte Pressed Powder in 03 Voile Rose. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet but I am very curious about how it will perform. Quick tip for things that are sold out online. I highly recommend doing the Buy Online Pick Up In Store option. A lot of stores still have stock even if things are sold out online and you can search stores near you by zip code. If you use that option and purchase it online (to pick up in store) they will hold your purchase for a few days in case you can’t make it in right away.

Setting Powder Haul Givenchy, Kosas and YSL

 

I picked up some Haus Labs. I swatched the Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick and they have the prettiest glassy shine. I’m not usually into a glossy/glassy look on the face but these were so pretty I had to try a few shades.

For my bronzer haul picks, I reviewed the Dior Forever Nude Bronzer Jumbo sizes in yesterday’s post. Also added some thoughts about the Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops in Shade 2 in that post as well.

Haus Labs also redid their bronzer in a Powder Sculpt Velvet Talc-Free Powder Bronzer. I’m really trying to love this as it’s SO popular but the texture just doesn’t sit well on my skin and the colors don’t look right on my skin tone. I picked the third lightest shades Terra Sol Light Medium.

Sephora Bronzer Haul Picks Dior, Haus Labs and Westman Atelier

As a tubing mascara fan now I picked up the Too Faced Ribbon Wrapped Lash Extreme Tubing Mascara to see how it compared to the Tarte. It’s a nice one and doesn’t smudge or flake, but it doesn’t add much volume to my lashes. I think the Tarte one is much better.

I restocked the Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil in Cool Brown and Warm Brown. Even though these don’t have a ton of product I still really like them. I can wear either the warm or cool versions so I bought one of each again.

Sephora Sale Haul

That wraps up my super lengthy Sephora haul. If you had been wondering about any of these items I hope this haul + first impressions post helps!

Stay tuned for more reviews and swatches as I get back into my routine! Also have a giveaway planned this week for the blog readers and will also be hosting one on my Instagram.

Sales Sephora

Sephora Savings Event Spring Sale 2025: Best in Makeup

April 3, 2025

Best Makeup to Shop during the Sephora Sale 2025

I’ve been MIA for the past couple of weeks as I just moved from Tampa to Miami! We’ve all been living out of boxes and moving boxes as we packed everything up for our big move. We are finally in South Beach! I’ll share more soon but you can see a sneak peek of our new place on my LIFE UPDATES highlights on Instagram if you’re curious!

We are slowly but surely settling into our new place and getting everything sorted. Lots of reviews and more beauty content coming your way as I get back into the swing of things. I really miss blogging and trying out new beauty products. I can’t wait to get back into my routine.

The Sephora Savings Event is here this month running from 4/4 through 4/14! Rouge gets first access starting this Friday instore or online with code SAVEMORE. Dates for access:

  • Rouge Members save 20% 4/4 through 4/14
  • VIB Members save 15% off 4/8 through 4/14
  • Insiders save 10% off 4/8 through 4/14
  • All Sephora Collection is 30% off

There are so many great makeup launches these days. I’ll share my absolute tried and true favorites by category and if there’s something new that I tried and loved recently I’ll also list those below.

Best Primers

Saie Glowy Supergel Rose Glow and Warm Glow

I’m still not a traditional primer kind of person, but I will use a multi-tasking primer/moisturizer/spf underneath makeup. I still love the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base and the Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer with SPF 50.

If I want something to mix in or add a bit of glow as a base, I still swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (I use Shade 3 or 4.5, swatches here) as a staple, but these days I’ve been really loving the Dior Forever Star Filter (I use Shade 3, swatches + comparisons here) and Saie Glowy Super Gel in Roseglow.

I also really like the new Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops which is a mineral formula with SPF40. I’ve been testing out the darker shade Golden Hour but might also pick up Sunrise to try.

Best Concealer

Best Concealers YSL, Natasha Denona, Givenchy, NARS and Armani

Two favorites I will always repurchase are the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer for full coverage (still creamy and very easy to blend) or the YSL Touche Eclat. The other ones shown above are also ones I’ve loved, but right now I’ve been sticking to the Natasha Denona one most of the time.

I have been very curious about the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer and will be picking it up during the sale.

Best Foundation/Skin Tints

Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick 3N

I love that there wide range of base formulas and coverage for every skin type and preference. My top three most-used foundations from Sephora are the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear Shade 6.5), Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (I wear 2.5N or 3N, swatches here) and the Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick (my shades range from V, VI to VII depending how tan I am).

I also really love the It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow. For a more natural looking tint I love the Summer Fridays Skin Tint and Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tints.

Best Setting Products

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder Medium | The Beauty Look Book

My go-to powder is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. For a loose setting powder I think the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder remains a classic and I really love the Makeup by Mario Setting Products. I love the way his SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder looks on the skin (definitely splurge on his puff). His SurrealSkin Soft Setting Spray is also a really good one.

The old version of the Givenchy Prisme Libre was 10/10 but I haven’t looked at the new one after reading so many bad reviews. I do have a few newer ones on my wishlist that I want to check out during the sale including the Givenchy Prisme Libre Pressed Powder, YSL All Hours Hyper Blur Loose and maybe the Kosas Cloud Set Loose Powder.

Best Bronzers/Contour

Armani Luminous Silk Bronzer + Prisma Glass

The best contour products I’ve tried from Sephora are the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Cream Bronzer Stick and Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick. These have the best undertones for my skin tone, most other brands run too warm or cool. Swatches + comparisons in this post here.

For a bronzer my favorite has been the Armani Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder in 100 or 110 (review here). I also still really love the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer for that soft glowy bronze. Gucci Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer in Shade 3 is also a really good one.

The Ilia Sunshift Weightless Silky Cream Bronzer is one of my favorite shimmery cream bronzers for the color + finish, but it’s more like a highlighter on my skin rather than a bronzer due to the shimmers. Swatches here.

There are lots of new bronzer formulas I have on my list to try. They’ve been packed away in moving boxes but I hope to review them before the sale ends! I do have the Dior Forever Nude Jumbo Bronzer in 20 and 30. I am curious about the new Haus Labs Powder Sculpt Velvet Powder Bronzers, hoping that one of the new shades will work for me!

Best Blush Formulas

YSL Make Me Blush 24H Buildable Powder Blush

I think I could write an entire series dedicated to blushes. I’m still 100% a powder blush lover. If I could only pick 3 powder blushes to recommend I think the YSL Make Me Blush Powder Blush (review + swatches here) is one of the best new powder blush formulas. I also still really love the Gucci Luminous Matte Beauty Blush (reviewed here and here) and Dior Rosy Glow Blush is also a favorite (swatches here).

Natasha Denona Hy-Blush Cloudy Cream Cheek Duo

Out of the newer blush launches I think the new Tower28 GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush (swatched here) and Saie SuperSuede Powder Blushes (tried on here) are solid wins. Formulas wear beautifully. I don’t love all the shades they launched but I do really love the colors I tried. The Tower28 is a true matte finish but doesn’t look flat. The Saie SuperSuede has more of a satin finish and it’s easy to layer and blend, but overall has a soft vibe.

For a cream/liquid blush formula Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tints, Natasha Denona Hy-Blush (review here) and Huda Blush Filter (one reviewed here) are my favorites for the formula and color selection.

I plan on buying some of the new Westman Atelier blush duos during the sale to try!

Highlighters I Love

Dior Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter swatches

I’ve been more into glowy blush for a glow rather than a traditional highlighter, but I really love the Dior Forever Glow Maximizers (Nude and Peachy are my favorites, swatches here). The Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Peau de Peche highlighter is also a staple – champagne bronzey tones are hard to find for me and this one is just perfect. Swatches in this post here.

Eyeshadow Favorites

Tom Ford Peach Glamour Eyeshadow Quad

My eyeshadow picks are my same go-to’s lately. I feel the need to find something fresh and new to change up my beauty looks, but my top 5 eyeshadow palettes are the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Peach Glamour, Tom Ford Golden Hour, Makeup by Mario Master Mattes, Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Nude and the Too Faced Born This Way Natural Nudes.

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

If I had to pick just one eyeshadow brand to wear Natasha Denona wins hands down. Her palettes are the ones I reach for nearly every single day.

For single shadows I still swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize (I wear Rose Gold the most) and the Armani Eye Tints in 44S Blush or 22M are my favorites. I think I might pick up a couple more colors during the sale.

Eye Makeup Staples (Liner, Brow, Mascara)

My favorite eyeliners actually aren’t available at Sephora (they’re from Sisley or Victoria Beckham Beauty). But for brows there are TONS of great options at Sephora.

I love Benefit Precisely My Brow (I wear Shade 3), Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Caramel) and Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil (Cool Brown) the best for brows. My most-used pencils are from ABH because Caramel is the best color for me. My natural hair color is almost black but my brows are a lot lighter so matching something to my hair usually ends up looking too harsh but Caramel is the best color for me. As much as I love the Glossier one there’s not much product in the pencil and I think I used an entire pencil in 3 weeks.

Best Lip Liners

New Tom Ford Lip Liner

Now onto my favorite category: lips! I love a good lip pencil and layering lip products are always fun, but these days I have been so low maintenance I usually wear 1 product on my lips at a time.

I still think the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat is the best lip liner for my lip tone. I know everyone probably already owns Pillow Talk, but it’s still my go-to favorite pink neutral (swatches here). I’ve also been really impressed with the Fenty Trace’d Out Longwear Lip Liners (swatches here), Huda Lip Contour 2.0 (swatches here), Glossier Lip Line (swatches of my picks here) and Tom Ford Long Wear Lip Liners (swatches here).

If I could only recommend 2 to try during the sale, I’d say splurge on the Tom Ford or Fenty options. I did pick up some of the Merit Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liners but with my life in moving boxes this past month I haven’t had a chance to try them.

Best Lipsticks

New Tom Ford Lip Color Lipstick + Lip Pencils

My top 6 lipstick formulas at Sephora include the Tom Ford Lip Color (new formula + colors reviewed here), Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix (I prefer the cream ones reviewed here), Prada Monochrome Soft Matte (I love P158 Meranti), YSL Rouge Pur Couture (swatches + review here), Westman Atelier Lip Suede (review here and also here) and the NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick.

Best Lip Balms/Oils

YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick Review

YSL makes some of the prettiest tinted lip balms, I love all the formulas, but my favorite is the Candy Glaze (review here and new shades here) or Candy Glow (swatches here) for the best lasting power, pigment and shine.

For a tinted lip balm or oil I have so many favorites. For a squeeze tube format balm the Summer Fridays Lip Butter is always in my bag. I have all the colors but love the Vanilla Beige the most (swatches here). The Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oils are super fun but the pigment is ultra sheer (new shades in action here).

For a twist up/click style balm I do still really love the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lips (all the formulas are great) and the Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm colors cannot be beat (new shades reviewed here).

Best Lip Gloss

Dior Glowmania Addict Lip Maximizer Lip Gloss

For lip gloss I’m still sticking to my top 5 go-to’s! The Fenty Gloss Bomb is still a favorite and I plan on picking up the new Gloss Bomb Oil shades tomorrow! The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer is my most-worn and most-reached-for gloss. I’ve been really impressed with the Huda Faux Filler Lip Gloss (swatches here), I think all the colors are flattering and wearable. Pat McGrath remains a favorite for the best smooth non-sticky gloss although so many shades are out of stock, I don’t know if it’s just sold out or being phased out.

Tools/Misc

Hourglass Makeup Brushes

For tools I wish there was just one brand I could find all my favorite brushes from, but unfortunately I have to mix tools from different brands. Overall I think the Hourglass brushes are top notch for both powder and cream products. I really love the No 15 Blush Brush for cream brushes and the Vanish Foundation Brush for bases and the Concealer Brush is excellent. I splurged on the travel brush set during a previous sale a few years ago and it was 100% worth the splurge.

Ilia brushes are SO under-rated, I hope they expand their brush range. I really love the Sculpting Brush and Finishing Powder Brush.

I think the Glossier Lip Liner Sharper is a must. The design to catch the shavings is large enough that you don’t have to empty it every single time. It’s also great for travel.

It seems as though a lot of my go-to powder puffs have changed and aren’t as soft as they used to be (I’m talking about repurchases not being the same). I really love the Makeup By Mario Master Pro Puff though. It’s big enough to cover a decent amount on the face without having to dab a million times and it’s ultra soft.

Another must-have I swear by is the Sephora Collection Daily Brush Cleaner. Since it’s on the spendy side I usually wash my brushes with Dawn Dish Soap and a scrubbing pad. But for cream products can be difficult to remove all the way. After I give them a rinse with warm water and dish soap. I’ll spritz the Sephora Brush cleaner to soak the brush. If you try it will be AMAZED at how much foundation, cream blush or eyeshadow come out, even AFTER washing it with soap + water.

That wraps up my makeup favorites and staples! If you’re shopping the sale let me know what you plan on picking up! I’m hosting a giveaway here on my blog. I’m going to send FIVE readers each a $100 eGift card to Sephora. Open to everyone 18+ but do note that the gift card will be to the Sephora US site only. Follow the steps in the widget below for a chance to win. I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday April 9th and email the winners directly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hauls Sephora

Sephora Haul Picks for Spring

January 30, 2025

Sephora Haul New Spring launches 2025 January

I have a Sephora haul with a look at some new launches along with some repurchases I made recently. I shared a mini haul on Instagram Stories a week ago and a number of you asked for a blog review with swatches so I have them rounded up today! You can watch the quick haul and try-on here if you still want to see the items in action!

New Spring Lip Launches

I hauled quite a few of the new lip launches and there are so many I haven’t had a chance to try all of them yet. If you want a more detailed review on any of these let me know in the comments!

Makeup by Mario launched a new Hydrating SuperShine Lip Gloss ($26 each). These are sheer glosses with a thick texture. I have mixed feelings about these. I think the tones he created are stunning but the pigment is very sheer and texture is on the thick side with a sticky feel. I don’t mind the formula, but the colors pull so sheer on me and I would have really loved to see more color payoff. I picked up Sunlit, Watermelon, Rose Crush, Rosewater, Perfect Pink with the brightest one Watermelon being my favorite color. They have a strong vanilla scent I find pleasant.

Makeup By Mario Supershine Lip Gloss Haul

Makeup By Mario Supershine Lip Gloss Haul swatches

Dior reformulated their Addict Lip Glow Balm ($40) yet again and while I find all the reformulations a little confusing, I have to say the newest version is really good. A few past options have been a little waxy feeling but this 2025 version applies smoother and is noticeably more hydrating on me. I picked up a few shades in Candy, Mahogany, Soft Nude and Rosewood. So far I’ve only had a chance to play with Candy which is a shimmery pink and has a subtle color shifting effect for a warm pink on my lips. These have the same minty feeling with a slight cooling sensation.

below left to right: Candy, Rosewood, Soft Nude and Mahogany

Dior Addict Lip Glow new formula 2025

Dior launched several new shades of the Addict Lip Maximizer Gloss ($40) in their spring Glowmania collection. I shared a demo of the new shades here and I think every shade is beautiful. (One of the shades Nudemania appears to be exclusive to Dior.com but the rest are at Sephora.)

Dior Glowmania Addict Lip Maximizer Lip Gloss

Dior Glowmania Addict Lip Maximizer Lip Gloss swatches

New Huda Launches

Huda launched a mini collection of lilac pink items and I picked up two of them. I love the idea of lilac pink makeup but find I can rarely wear the colors. This collection has changed that for me! The Faux Filler Lip Gloss ($21) in UUU Baby is one of the best sheer pinks I’ve ever tried and I am in love with the Huda Blush Filter ($23) in Ube Cream.

New Huda Beauty UUU Baby Faux Filler Gloss and Ube Cream Blush Filter

I tried the liquid blush in store over the summer and thought they would be too dewy but I have to say I’m really loving the pink one and might check out more. It blends out so nicely and easily. It does look dewy on the skin but so far it’s been staying put very well. You can see them in action here. I added swatch comparisons to her other pink glosses which I really love (they’re smooth and truly non-sticky).

New Huda Beauty UUU Baby Faux Filler Gloss and Ube Cream Blush Filter swatches

Complexion / Face

I never really knew how to make the Saie Glowy Super Gel Illuminators ($16 to $28) work for me until a few of you told me you mix it in with your foundation and I’m in love with the result. This dry season I’ve been wanting my bases to be a little more glowy and a little more sheered out and these gels from Saie do just the trick.

Saie Glowy Supergel Rose Glow and Warm Glow

They launched a new shade in Warmglow which is a champagne gold. I restocked the mini in Roseglow which is a lovely pink shimmer. I wish they made a medium in-between size because I find the regular size too large while the minis get used up too fast.

If your foundation has been looking or feeling a little dry but you don’t want to switch up your skincare, I recommend adding 1-2 pumps of this into your liquid foundation.

New Hair Pick + Some Repurchases

Sephora repurchases and restocks Tarte, Pat McGrath, Glossier, ABH, K18

I picked up the mini of the K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo ($24 for the mini) at the checkout area as an impulse buy and I really like it. It’s different from most dry shampoos I’ve tried. The formula seems more liquid/fluid when you spray it on the hair (ie it’s not really an aerosol). I love that it’s clear and doesn’t have any white cast on my hair. Does a great job at absorbing excess oil on Day 2 hair. It kept my hair looking refreshed throughout the day. I don’t know how long it lasts past 24 hours because I’m still the type of person who has to wash her hair almost daily (I’ll go 2 days max without washing my hair). Overall really love this.

I restocked a few things including the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation ($69) in LM14, Benefit Precisely My Brow ($27) in Shade 2.5, Anastasia Brow Definer ($26) in Caramel and the Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara XL ($27). The Glossier Lip Line Longwear Lip Pencil ($18) is the best new lip liner formula I tried in 2024 and I repurchased Grip which is a my-lips-but-better rose. The formula has really good color payoff and I love the tones.

New Blushes + Highlighter + Contour

Blushes seem to have taken over the spring launches right now. I picked up a few of the YSL Make Me Blush Powder Blushes ($45 each) and shared a demo here. These have two finishes right now: matte and shimmer. I prefer the shimmer ones but they’re all very good. The formula is soft and pigmented but they are really easy to blend and build. Pigment is easy to control so if you just want a hint of blush you can get a more diffused look.

YSL Make Me Blush Buildable Powder Blush

YSL Make Me Blush Buildable Powder Blush

Natasha Denona also launched her Hy-Blush Cloudy Cream Cheek Duo ($42 each) which has a highlighter and cream blush in one compact. I’ll review and swatch them all soon.

Natasha Denona HyBlush

Patrick Ta added four new shades of the Major Headlines Double-Take Duo ($38 each) but I’m probably going to pass on these (I still think his shade Not Too Much reviewed here is the best neutral).

Urban Decay launched their Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops ($34 each) and I’ve been loving the Space Cowboy shade for the perfect champagne glow highlight and PCH is a really pretty one too. These are multi-taskers you can use a number of ways. I am still experimenting with these but thought I’d share quick swatches here.

Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops

Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops

Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

I’ve been wearing the Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Palette  ($29) in a few looks and a number of you asked for swatches. I actually picked this up last year but realized I never swatched it on the blog. I really like the tones and the mix of mattes and shimmers. There a few true mattes in this palette and then some that have a tiny bit of sparkle embedded in them. The pure mattes are smooth and buttery with excellent pigment and color payoff. The mattes that have a tiny bit of sparkle pull sheerer but you can still build them for full pigment.

I do think the shimmer and glitters are prone to fall out if you don’t pat them on the lids or pack them on. You’ll have to do some clean up from the fall out but for me the good news is that once they are on the eyes they don’t migrate.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Palette swatches

As much as I like it, I do think there are better options out there for quality. If you’re looking for a good everyday neutral with mattes and shimmers I still think the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude or I Need a Warm and the Too Faced Born This Way Natural Nudes are better buys. I know the Too Faced palettes have been around forever but out of all the launches over the years, it’s still a solid staple of mine.

That wraps up my Sephora haul roundup! Let me know if you want a detailed review on any of these. I will have a full blog post on the YSL and Natasha Denona blushes soon!

What have you hauled this January? Any good finds, new loves or misses?

Sales Sephora Skincare

Skincare and Body Care Favorites from Sephora

November 6, 2024

With the Sephora sale in full swing I’m sharing my favorites in skincare, body care and fragrance today. As a beauty creator I am fortunate to be able to try a wide range of products. I love trying new skincare but to keep my list edited I’m focusing on my tried and true staples, ie products I repurchase over and over again. Dates and details below, use code SAVINGS if shopping online! (some exclusions apply):

  • Rouge members 20% off: 11/1 – 11/11
  • VIBs 15% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • Insiders 10% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • All Sephora Collection 30% off: 11/1 – 11/11

Best Skincare Sephora Sale

Makeup Removers and Cleansers

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

For removing makeup double cleansing is still a must to effectively remove all traces of makeup or sunscreen. I love a good cleansing oil but my favorite isn’t sold at Sephora (it’s this one from Chanel). I do have several solid balm makeup removers I love which I’ll list below.

Farmacy Green Clean is one of the best makeup remover balms. I love the classic one and this is the one I always keep stocked at home, but their limited-edition scented ones are always so fun for me to try.

Elemis and Clinique also make great solid cleansing balms, but I feel like the Farmacy one is the best and most effective.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is the best everyday cleanser for me and Andrew. After trying dozens of cleansers over the years I have to say this has the best consistency to clean the skin without drying it.

Serums and Moisturizers

Drunk Elephant Skincare Favorites Protini Polypeptide Cream and Serum

I’ve been neglecting essence treatments this year but I think I need to start using one again since they really make a difference! I just repurchased the La Mer Treatment Lotion for the sale.

For serums my 3 go-to’s include the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra (great for year round), Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum (for brightening) and La Mer The Concentrate Serum (best splurge).

I have several favorites for moisturizing creams. My top 5 are the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Augustinus Bader The Cream, Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Firming Moisturizer and the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base.

La Mer Skincare Favorites

I would rank the La Mer and Charlotte Tilbury in my top 2 right now. Those are the two formulas I packed with me in October. While La Mer is quite the splurge, I do think it has been worth it for me. I have repurchased the Moisturizing Soft Cream multiple times and also bought one to gift to my sister-in-law for Mother’s Day and she loves it.

With any of these formulas I highly recommend checking out a travel set or value set to try first. I always find it helpful to try something in a smaller size to sample before committing to the full size. Some great options:

Several of you asked me if I use retinol or tretinoin – I do not. I have really loved the Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Retinol Serum in the past but haven’t repurchased in a while. Right now I’ve been loving La Mer’s new Rejuvenating Night Cream. I’ve been using this for several months now and every other night (it is suitable to use nightly though) and I 10/10 love it.

Eye Treatments

La Mer and Caudalie Eye Cream

I have a few eye treatments I love from Sephora. The La Mer Eye Concentrate Cream is my go-to right now. It has the best consistency and texture for me – not too thick and not too thin. It helps with fine lines and hydration.

I’ve also been very impressed with Caudalie’s Resveratrol-Lift, Premiere Cru and the Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream. I’ve repurchased the brightening one and will probably repurchase the Resveratrol-Lift before the sale ends.

Face Masks and Treatments

Innisfree Pore Mask

I have used pore clearing and detox masks the most this year out of any face mask or treatment. I have three I think are 100% worth checking out. Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask is one of the most gentle pore masks I’ve tried and I’m obsessed. Caudalie Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask is also excellent but it’s on the stronger side (absorbs a LOT of excess oil). A few readers recommended the La Mer Deep Purifying Mask to me earlier this year. I decided to give it a try and it 10/10 lives up to the hype from you! It is quite the splurge and currently sold out online but you can always add the notification restock alert to your account if you’re interested.

For the best sheet mask I still swear by the La Mer Treatment Lotion Hydrating Sheet Masks but it costs an arm and leg.

Lip Balms

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms

I am a lip-balm junkie. I love trying different formulas! I could go on and on about ones I’ve loved, but the three I’ve used up and repurchased are Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (this mini set is so cute), Laneige Glowy Lip Balm (love this cute set too) and the La Mer Lip Volumizer (love the clear one, but the tinted ones are also fun).

Swatches of the Summer Fridays ones below:

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms swatches

Sunscreen

Caudalie and Charlotte Tilbury Sunscreen

My top three sunscreens right now are the Caudalie Vinosun Protect SPF 50, Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 and Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 60. I also really like a lot of formulas from Supergoop! but right now those three listed above are what I have been using lately.

Body Care

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream

I love trying different body washes and shower creams. I don’t have any loyalty to a particular formula or brand as I love trying new ones all the time. I will say I gravitate towards ones that can be unisex or have that clean smell because Andrew likes to use them too. Our top three most repurchased formulas are the Ouai Dean Street Body Wash, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Play Body Wash and Jack Black Turbo Wash. I will say that for winter the turbo wash is a little too drying so we’ve switched it out for the Necessaire Body Wash in Santal (love this Body Wash Discovery Set they’ve launched this year).

For a shower oil Andrew loves the L’occitane Almond Shower Oil. We used to love the Shea Shower Cream but they changed the formula/scent recently and it has an unflattering floral scent to it now.

If you struggle with body acne (we sometimes do in the hot summer months) we recommend the Kosasport Good Body Skin AHA Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash.

Two body creams I really love are the Herbivore Botanicals Cloud Milk Coconut Body Cream and Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. As a huge fan of Phlur Missing Person’s scent I also really love the Missing Person Body Oil (although I think Osea and Chanel make the best body oils, unfortunately they aren’t at Sephora).

That wraps up my current skincare and body care favorites! I know finding the best skincare can be overwhelming as it really takes time to try and see if something works for your skin type or needs. I really wish there was 1 single brand I could use all of my skincare from. If I had to pick just one I think Drunk Elephant has the best variety and range.

If you’re looking for recommendations I hope you found this post helpful!

Sales Sephora

Best Makeup To Shop from the Sephora Sale

November 1, 2024

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Ginger

The Sephora Savings Event starts today with first access for Rouge Members! Use code SAVINGS if shopping online! (some exclusions apply).

  • Rouge members 20% off: 11/1 – 11/11
  • VIBs 15% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • Insiders 10% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • All Sephora Collection 30% off: 11/1 – 11/11

Here are my Top 3 favorite picks by category.

Primers

NARS Light Reflecting Primer and Setting Spray

I’m not usually a primer fan because it adds an extra layer that I don’t really want. I’m into multi-taskers and these are my top 3 primers.

Foundation Favorites

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint

Best Skin Tints/Sheer

All of my favorite skin tints are reviewed in this Best Skin Tints for Summer post (note not all of them are available at Sephora, but it has all my shades + swatches listed).

 

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Best Medium Coverage

Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Foundation & Stick Foundation Review VI

Best Stick Foundations

Best Concealers

YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Concealer

My top three favorite formulas for concealer are ones that won’t cake or crease:

Setting Powders

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder Medium | The Beauty Look Book

Top three favorites for setting powers:

Bronzer

Armani Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder

My top three powder bronzer favorites:

Contour Favorites

Rare Beauty Contour Bronzer Stick

The best contour sticks:

Blush Favorites

New Gucci Beauty Launches Blush Shades, Lipsticks and Illuminator

Blush – Powder

I feel like I don’t have new favorites for powders except for those Hourglass Palettes which are sold out online. There are 3 favorites I have with shimmer and 3 more that are more satiny/matte.

Blush – Cream/Liquid

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Top three favorite liquid/cream formulas:

Highlighter Favorites

Dior Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter swatches

So many highlighter options I love these days, but if I were forced to pick just three:

Eyeshadow Palettes

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

I think Natasha Denona makes the best palettes. I think there is something for everyone and she has a good range of color options!

Eye Shadow – individual/singles

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

If you try one cream shadow formula, I recommend trying the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow – love the new reformulation, review here.

Mascara

Top three mascara formulas:

Lipstick Favorites

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Review via The Beauty Lookbook

Soooo many lipstick favorites! It was hard to narrow down to just three, but here are the best ones I’ve tried:

Tinted Lip Balm/Oil

YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm

 

 

Top picks:

Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Oil

Lip Liner

Glossier Lip Liner

There are so many good lip pencil colors, but the formulas aren’t all the same quality, here are 3 I swear by:

The new Tom Ford Longwear Lip Liners are really good too!

Lip Gloss

Dior Lip Maximizers Shimmer Macadamia and Rose Nude

I think Lip Gloss is my favorite beauty category, I could probably list at least 20 I love, but my absolute top 3 favorites

That wraps up my makeup favorites for the holiday savings event! What’s on your list/radar?

I’m going to be hosting several giveaways this holiday season! Kicking it off with a $250 egift card for Sephora (US site) to one Beauty Lookbook reader! It is open to anyone 18+ and to enter for a chance to win, use the widget below to enter. Best if you open this on a desktop browser or Chrome. Giveaway ends 11/5/2024 11:45 PM est. I’ll pick a winner from the entries within 48 hours and announce on this blog post and email them directly from [email protected].

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always thank you for your love and support! xoxo

Hauls Sephora

Sephora Summer Beauty Haul

June 20, 2024

Sephora Beauty Haul Beautylookbook picks

I did a Sephora recently and picked up some of the new popular launches. I shared the shopping haul on reels and today I have everything swatched! I have some hits and some misses.

Skincare + Fragrance

Sephora Haul Picks Caudalie, Farmacy, Shiseido, Valentino

I just ran out of the Instant Foaming Cleanser ($30) which is a nice gentle formula, but instead of restocking this one (it was a little too gentle for me) I decided to pick up the new Vinoperfect Brightening Daily AHA Micropeel ($38). It’s like a foaming cleanser but you apply on dry skin, massage in for 30 seconds and rinse. It’s one of the most gentle peels I’ve used and it really does work. I like it better than other acid treatments or powder exfoliating cleansers because it doesn’t burn and there’s no harsh texture. The description says it’s gentle enough to use daily but since it’s summer and I’m exposed to more sun I use it 1 to 2x per week.

You girls know I’m a huge fan of cleansing balms. I love the ones from Farmacy Beauty and they launched a limited-edition Honey Vanilla Cleansing Balm ($36) and it smells incredible. The fragrance in their limited-edition balms do not irritate my skin, if you need something that has no fragrance I recommend the Elemis Pro-Collagen NAKED Cleansing Balm.

I restocked the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 60 ($50) as it’s my favorite body sunscreen. It’s the best longest lasting that will hold up the best in water or with sweat. I reapply when I’m outdoors and it’s easy to reapply without it pilling. I also really like the Ultimate Sun Protector BodySpray with SPF 40 ($38), but find myself reaching for the lotion more.

I’ve seen a lot of raves about the Valentino fragrances so I picked up the Donna Born in Roma Travel Set ($90). All three are very strong and potent if you’re looking for a good date night scent that will last. I like the Born in Roma the best which is a sparkling floral with blackcurrant, jasmin and bourbon vanilla. I don’t know that I love any of them enough to buy the full size, but it’s a fun one to try.

Lip Haul

Sephora Lip Haul Gucci, Armani, Kosas and Gisou

I hauled quite a few lip products and I have some hits and some misses. I’ll start with the hits. I love the Armani Prisma Glass ($38) shades in Amber Shine 06 (brown) and Nude Glow 07 (nude). I still think they could have given us more product and a better applicator for the price but I love the color and shine.

The Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oils ($28) are hits for me, but do note the scents are very strong. I bought two of the shimmers. Watermelon Sugar is a pink shimmer but it’s pretty much clear on the lips. Coconut Frost is a sweet coconut scented color with pearly white shimmer. The Coconut one shows up better on my lips and give them a clearish pearly shimmer. They feel nicely hydrating without being too thick.

Misses for me include the Gucci Liquid Lipstick ($47) and Kosas Hotliners ($22). I love the colors of the Gucci Liquid Lipstick but I’m giving it a solid miss because it’s definitely not transfer proof as the name says and it does not last super long. They are more like a whipped velvet liquid lipstick but they go on a little patchy and require a lot of blending.

I bought 3 of the Kosas Hotliners ($22) with high hopes they improved the formula and removed the crayon smell from them. I picked up a few from Sephora, but FYI Kosas is having 20% off sitewide for their summer sale (no code needed). They no longer smell like rancid crayons, but the colors aren’t as good as I hoped. But do note I have pigmented lips and a lot of neutrals simply don’t show up on me.

Formula is not a smooth gliding formula which isn’t a deal breaker, but they tug a little. The upside of this is it makes it long wearing but it ends up looking a little dry on my lips and I’m just not really impressed. I like the concept and the neutrals look SO pretty. They’re just not for me.

Sephora Lip Haul swatches

I’m undecided about the Ilia Lip Sketch Lip Liner Crayons ($26). The colors are beautiful. Formula is long wearing with a soft matte finish but they look dry on my lips. They’re described as “hydrating, moisturizing and plumping” and I didn’t see any of these with the wear. I don’t think they’re necessarily drying but they look dry with the matte finish and I definitely did not feel any hydration. I like the look when topped these with a clear gloss and balm, but formula is not something I’m in love with. I also think they could have included a sharpener since these are chubby sticks that aren’t going to fit into a standard sized pencil sharpener.

Ilia Lip Sketch Lip Liner Crayons

Ilia Lip Sketch Lip Liner Crayons

Bronzer Picks

Bronzer Haul Picks Gucci, Saie and Kosas

I hauled three in this shopping trip and I regret buying two of them. The Gucci Beauty Bronzer in Shade 3 is a hit. I repurchased this and love the color and soft texture.

I picked up the Kosas Sun Show Bronzer in Beachy which is the second lightest shade in the lineup. It appears they reformulated or repackaged these from the original launch. On the hand and arm these swatch BEAUTIFULLY! The glow is finely milled and super soft which makes me want to wear it all over my body. On the face the shade is a little too dark, a little too warm and oxidizes/darkens. I think the glow is a little too harsh. I could fix this simply by using less but even a light brush tap picks up a lot of product.

Saie is a brand that gets so much love, but it’s one I just can’t really get into. I think they have a few good staples, but the ones that go viral aren’t for me. I picked up the Dew Bronze ($25) in Swim which is not neutral or light-medium on me at all. It’s very warm and orangey looking. Finish is very dewy and just sits on top of the skin. Packaging does not look or feel good. I swatched it next to the Sun Melt Bronzers which are also highly rated. I cannot get consistent results with these. Sometimes it looks amazing on the skin, but most of the time it pulls off all my foundation/powder once applied and blended.

Wearing the Prisma Glass 06 below with each bronzer look

Bronzer Haul Picks Gucci, Saie and Kosas

NARS Talc-Free Blushes

NARS Talc-Free Blushes

NARS reformulated their blush into a Talc-Free Powder Blush formula and to me they perform just as well as the original. I don’t still own all the blush shades in the original, but they did change the colors with the new formula.

Below wearing the new NARS Orgasm Blush, lips are the Afterglow Sensual Shine and Lip Gloss both in Orgasm

NARS Talc-Free Blush in Orgasm

The new Talc-Free Orgasm shade no longer has that beautiful peachy pink base undertone and it’s now just a straight peach gold shimmer. I consider the shade now ruined, although at this point I think pretty much everyone must have owned in a palette or individual form there’s a chance you still have the older formula/color. I swatched 2 different Orgasm blushes from different years just to make sure. Thrill is now deeper and brighter although on my face they end up look really similar. If you like the idea of a peachy pink blush but don’t want shimmer, Orgasm Edge is a matte version which is really nice.

NARS Blush swatches

Kosas Blush is Life

Kosas Blush is Life Baked Blushes

I’ve saved the best for last which is the Kosas Blush Is Life Baked Talc-Free-Dimensional Brightening Blush ($29 each) and these surprised me. TikTok influenced me to buy these and based on the fact that I’ve found Kosas products to be a strong hit or a strong miss, I didn’t know what to expect. The first shade I tried Butterflies was a little disappointing for me mainly because the color payoff wasn’t anywhere near what I expected from what I saw in the pan. It’s a sheer baby pink with a brightening effect, more like a highlighter than a blush. I think this shade would be better as a topper for me, but if you have fair or light skin I think you’ll probably love this color.

I almost didn’t try the others and was going to give them away but I’m glad I gave the other shades a chance because they are PURE LOVE. Dreamland is a lighter color on me, almost like a highlighter glow. I love the peachy tones in Blissed and Thrill. Hype is also a really pretty pink coral.

A number of people have said they’re just like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes but I disagree. There are similarities in the marbled swirling and glow factor, but the Hourglass has a much better texture and better quality when you compare them and touch them side by side. That being said I think the Kosas blushes are really good. They’re glowy but not as glowy as the Rare Beauty Powder Blushes.

Kosas Blush is Life Baked Blushes swatches

Below wearing: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 6.5, Givenchy Prisme Libre Shade 3, Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, Top is from Reformation (wearing a Medium) and nails are OPI Over-Slay Your Welcome

Butterflies Blush + Malibu Wet Lip Oil

Kosas Blush is Life Butterflies

Dreamland Blush + Unhooked Wet Lip Oil

Kosas Blush is Life Dreamland

Blissed Blush + Papaya Wet Stick

Kosas Blush is Life Blissed

Thrill Blush + Papaya Wet Stick + Dip Lip Oil on top

Hype Blush + Revealed Wet Lip Oil

Sephora Beauty Haul Beautylookbook picks

That wraps up my Sephora haul! I hope you found this helpful! If you’ve tried any of the things I hauled, would love to hear your thoughts. Especially if my misses worked for you, let me know how you’re using them.

Bronzer + Blush Sephora

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush

April 12, 2024

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush

Rare Beauty launched a new blush called the Soft Pinch Luminous Blush ($26 each at Sephora) and they’re so beautiful. They’re shimmery blushes with the softest silky texture I’ve ever felt. I bought 4 of them to try but also ordered the other 2 (coming in the mail).

  • Cheer is a pale pink
  • Happy is a cool pink
  • Joy is a soft peach
  • Hope is an iridescent rose

I shared a Reel applying these last week. I really love these alone or layered on top of a cream blush, but I want to preface this by saying I love a good shimmer in blushes. I was chatting about these with a friend last week and her first question was “does it emphasize the pore situation?” and my answer is “yes it can, but it’s not as pore emphasizing as some powder highlighters I have (like the ones from Hermes, Becca or Benefit)”.

The texture is super smooth and the shimmers are UNREAL! These truly feel lightweight like there’s nothing on the skin. They have a beautiful finish and the shimmer is very soft and glowy without being frosty. This makes me want to try the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighters although I am pretty shopped out with everything I hauled from the Sephora sale.

See them in action here:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sabrina Shorb (@beautylookbook)

If you have a lot of texture and large pores I do think this could emphasize it. I do not have perfect skin but I don’t have large pores (except my nose area). These went on smooth for me and I had no issues. If you’re conservative on the glow in blushes then I’d recommend the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic which have a more subtle shimmer to them.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush swatches Cheer, Happy, Joy, Hope

Swatching each shade, also wearing:

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush Cheer

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush Happy

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush Hope

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Blush Joy

I really love these. I think the colors are fun, youthful looking but not too trendy. I am 42 for a few more weeks and I think they are wearable for any age. The only downside is they do seem a little delicate/fragile.

You can still take advantage of some savings with the Sephora Savings Event using YAYSAVE (20% off for Rouge, 15% for VIBs and 10% off for Insiders, with 30% off all Sephora Collection).

I don’t know that I will have time to post my full haul here before the sale ends, I will try to round up everything by Monday. If you want to see my IN-STORE SEPHORA HAUL you can check it out here. I’ve saved some snippets to my SEPHORA RECOMMENDATIONS highlights on Instagram too @beautylookbook.