Sephora Sale Haul and First Impressions

My Sephora sale haul and first impressions of the makeup and skincare I purchased

For the record—I set a budget. I did end up slightly exceeding that budget but I felt like that was inevitable. I get serious FOMO when I see other people raving about a particular product, especially during a sale. I’m happy to share with you my Sephora sale haul and first impressions. There were a few items that had been on my wish list for a while, a restock and a few products I purchased on a whim.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder – The compact is much bigger in size than I thought it would be so that makes me happy. I got the shade, ethereal light, which is a cool white powder. I think this is very complimentary for my fair complexion. I purchased this to use as a finishing powder but based on the reviews, it could also work as a setting powder. I haven’t worn a full face of makeup in a long time but for setting concealer it works pretty well!

ILIA Multi-Stick (in the shade At Last) – I’ve been eager to try ILIA products and I like the idea of a clean, multi-use cheek and lip color. This is a dusy rose color and it looks great on my cheeks and lips. I’m really into monochromatic makeup looks right now, even if it’s only for a Zoom call.

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops (in Light) – This has been on my wish list for so long! I was debating between this and the DE version but this one was cheaper. I used three drops and mixed with my nighttime moisturizer so it could work overnight. When I woke up, I had a nice little glow to my face but I didn’t look orange or patchy.

Sephora Collection Foot Mask – I bought this on a whim but I wanted something for my sad, calloused feet! It said to soak your feet for 20 minutes but I left it on for much longer, like 45 minutes. I’m so glad I did because my feet felt incredibly soft to touch. That said, it’s basically a sock with hyaluronic acid and almond extract. I could definitely DIY this next time and save my money.

Drunk Elephant Marula Face Oil  – OK, I had a tiny sample that I tried and loved but I was so disappointed by the mini size. I know I purchased the smaller size but for $40, it just seems so overpriced. Hopefully I can make this last a while!

Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil – This is a restock. I am down to my last few drops. This is an overnight miracle worker for anyone with sensitive or acne prone skin. I wake up to clear, healthy looking skin every single time I use this oil. I typically use it two or three times per week.

GrandeLash Enhancing Serum – It’s too soon for me to share results (I’ve only been using it a few days). I’ve tried two lash serums prior to purchasing this (Rodan + Fields and Peter Thomas Roth). The Rodan + Fields Lash Boost worked quite well but if it touched my skin, it would burn; alternatively, the PTR lash serum didn’t make my lashes thicker or longer. It was a complete bust.

Briogeo Leave-in Conditioner (not pictured, en route) – OK, so this wasn’t on my original wish list but I’m running low on my current leave-in conditioner (by Redken) and needed a replacement. The reviews were mostly positive and it was only $16 (with the discount applied). I’ll keep you posted on how this works out!

Random Thoughts on the Rewards Bazaar

I finally became a Rouge member towards the end of last year and while I appreciate the 20% discount; I’m still not a fan of Sephora’s reward system. I’ve accumulated over 3,000 points and yet every time I see a reward worth getting, it either sells out right away or I don’t find it to be worth the amount of points. Last week, I was finally able to scoop a Drunk Elephant set for 500 points, but this was after my haul so I had to find something else to purchase (which is also why I purchased the hair conditioner).

Ulta’s reward program is so much better because your purchases accumulate as points that you can redeem as cash for practically anything in the store. The downside of Ulta for me is that they don’t carry all the brands I love. Does anyone else feel this way?

If you did some online shopping as well, leave me your Sephora sale haul in the comments! The Sephora sale is still going on for Rouge members through May 1st. Check out my Sephora sale beauty recommendations.