Sephora Spring Sale – Favs and Fails!

My husband says Sephora is for gals what Home Depot is for men.  100% truth in that!  It’s a virtual goldmine for the beauty addict and I could literally spend (and have spent) hours there.  Twice a year they have something rarely seen in the beauty industry – a big SALE!

If you aren’t familiar with Sephora’s Beauty Insider Sale, here’s how it works.  First, you must sign up for their Beauty Insider Program (this is free and you get extra perks!).  Then every time you make a purchase at Sephora, you get points which accumulate throughout the year.  They have 3 levels, if you spend nothing all year, you are still a Beauty Insider.  If you spend $350 per calendar year, you are rewarded with the VIB level and if you spend $1000 you are elevated to the Rouge level.

What does this all mean?  Well in addition to extra perks you receive throughout the year like birthday gifts and samples, you’ll receive a percentage off your entire purchase during the two Sephora Beauty Insider Sales held in the Spring and Fall.  Discounts range from 10% to 20% depending on your Beauty Insider Level.  This may not sound like a lot, but believe me… beauty junkies are thrilled with this as makeup and skincare almost NEVER go on sale.

I recently shopped the Sephora Spring Sale and picked up a few brand NEW products as well as a couple others I’d been wanting to try.  I thought it would be fun to do a Favs & Fails with a quick mini review of each product.  Ready?  Here we go…

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NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

I wanted to try this concealer because several of the YouTube Beauty Gurus have raved about how good it is at covering blemishes, redness and flaws.  Both Tati Westbrook and Chloe Morello swear by it.  Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer is described as:

“A full-coverage concealer in an oil-free, ultra-lightweight cream formula that blurs imperfections as it conceals, smoothing the look of skin with a soft-matte, natural-looking finish.  Soft Matte Complete Concealer instantly conceals dark circles, redness, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, blemishes, and acne with a light-diffusing effect that blurs and smooths.”

The Soft Matte Complete Concealer is a home run.  Unlike the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (a total fail), this concealer does not settle into fine lines, wrinkles or pores.  It melts right into the skin and is perfect for spot concealing imperfections, age spots and redness. It’s available in 16 shades and you can easily apply it by dabbing it on with your fingertips where needed.

FAV 💗💗💗💗

Price:  $30.00 USD

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser and Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer

I was lucky enough to receive this little travel sized set from Drunk Elephant as one of my Beauty Insider Birthday Gifts.  The set includes Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser and Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer.  This brand is becoming one of my favorites.  Drunk Elephant is a clean beauty brand.  All of their products are free of what they call the “suspicious six” which are essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical Screens, fragrance/dyes and SLS.  They pay attention to pH levels and safety and formulate their products with effective percentages of active ingredients.  This company is impressive.  Specifically, their Sukari Babyfacial is a desert island product for me.  Truly a game changer girls!    Anyway, back to the birthday gift…

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser is said to “remove all traces of makeup, excess oil, pollution, and any other grime from the day. Beste No. 9 is totally non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and appropriate for all skin types“.  For me, this cleanser was just okay.  It did a good job of removing makeup but I had to use a different cleanser to get the eye makeup off.  I prefer a does it all cleanser that I can use on my entire face and eyes.  Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is my all time favorite.  I will use up the travel size but will not be purchasing a full sized bottle of this cleanser.

FAIL😞

Price:  $32.00 USD

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer is described as “a protein moisturizer that combines an unprecedented array and concentration of actives for improvement in the appearance of skin’s tone, texture, and firmness.”  I loved this product from the first application.  Loaded with peptides & amino acids, this cream melts right into the skin leaving it hydrated but not greasy.  When applied as the last step in my skincare routine, I wake up with balanced, healthy skin that is glowy and radiant.  I will definitely be purchasing a full sized jar of this baby when my sample runs out.

FAV 💗💗💗💗💗

Price:  $68.00 USD

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

According to Milk Makeup, Hydro Grip Primer is “a hydrating, makeup-gripping primer formulated with hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and blue agave extract for all-day hydration and hold.  This primer is formulated with aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid, and B vitamins to support skin for a healthier-looking base, and provide a glassy, post-hot-yoga-class glow.”  I don’t know about you, but if I can get a post hot yoga class glow from a jar of Primer, I’m on it!  Let’s stock up on that baby!

Unfortunately, for me this was more of a “hot mess” than a hot yoga glow.  This is one of several “Gripping” Primers to come on the scene recently.  Gripping Primers are supposed to do a fabulous job of keeping your makeup in place & extending the wear time making it last all day .   And they do that.  The problem is, they’re sticky.  And not just for a few minutes.  For me at least, the sticky feeling didn’t go away even after it dried down.  I don’t like that feeling and this alone will keep me from using this Primer.   I SO wanted to love it because of the fabulous ingredients but it just didn’t work.  It might work for you though as over 600 reviewers on Sephora have given this Primer a perfect five star rating.

FAIL😞

Price:  $30.00 USD

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer is said to be “a weightless, color-boosting eyeshadow primer that smooths lids for better blending and longer, crease-proof wear“.  I’ll make this quick, this Eye Primer is fantastic.  It does exactly what it claims and then some.  In fact, it is the 2019 Winner of my Eye Primer testing which I do every year.  You can get the full scoop on this eye primer Here.

FAV 💗💗💗💗💗

Price:  $22.00 USD

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Repair + Strengthen Travel Kit

This brand has been getting a lot of Buzz recently and I thought the Sephora Spring Sale would be a perfect opportunity to try it.  Briogeo is a Clean Beauty brand and all of their products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben-free and sulfate-free.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Repair + Strengthen Travel Kit contains travel sizes of three of Briogeo’s bestselling products.  The Don’t Despair, Repair line of products is said to address hydration and hair breakage, something I know a little too much about lately.  Ladies of a certain age will know what I’m talking about!  So far I’m loving this trio.  It leaves my hair feeling hydrated but not weighed down, shiny and more manageable.  I’ll continue to use it and see if it helps with the breakage issues.

FAV 💗💗💗💗

Price:  $25.00 USD 

And that’s a wrap for my Favs & Fails from the Sephora Spring Sale!  Have you tried any of these products?  Please leave a comment below.  As always, I would love to hear from you.

Until Next Time…

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