10 Sephora Items I Recommend With a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee—If You Don't Own Them, You're Missing Out
Each one is under $60.
I've worked as a beauty editor (or beauty editor intern way back in the day) for nearly 10 years now. And, let it be known, Sephora's bi-annual Savings Event never gets old. Between long-standing cult-classics and glittering new launches, the retailer offers the current beauty market's crème de la crème and the chance to score the entirety of your wish list at a fraction of the price. (Trust me when I say it's a temptation worth indulging.)
Now that all three tiers of Sephora Insiders have access to the sale, I'm executing my twice-yearly due diligence and sharing 10 staples I'd personally add to your cart if they're not there already. In fact, these 10 hero products are so good, I've only ever received glowing feedback after recommending them to friends, family, and readers. Sephora's Savings Event is on through April 20—all you need is to use the code SPRINGSALE at checkout. Keep scrolling!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this $42 lip balm will change your life. I mean, who knew I had the capacity to be this excited about something as elementary as clear lip balm?! The stunning gold bullet is a chic frequent flyer amongst beauty editors, and the lush shine, plumpness, and long-lasting hydration it delivers needs to be scientifically studied.
Say hello to the first of a two-part skincare fixation. (It's superb on its own but out of this world when layered underneath the YSE Beauty formula, below.) A few months back I received a press release stating this three-in-one product from Mara is used and loved by the one and only Gisele Bündchen. Obviously, I had to pull it out from the back of my cabinet to test it for myself. Friends, this is angel skin, bottled. I use it as my second step in the morning—after cleansing and before SPF—and my skin has never looked so clear, healthy, and youthful.
Another amazing multi-tasking product! I discovered this product via word of mouth from our extremely lovely Editor in Residence, Tennille Jenkins. It offers a chemical SPF 30 and a nice dose of niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate to tackle dark spots and dryness in one convenient swing. As the cherry on top, light-reflecting microspheres blur imperfections and deliver natural-looking radiance.
You know something's good when your product-averse fiancé uses it not once, not twice, but three times in the shower just because "it feels so nice." Now, I realize this is not an underrated product. In fact, it's an award-winning, long time-adored cult-favorite. I'm just here to remind you how freaking fantastic it still is 11 years post-launch.
At this point 89% of my lip gloss collection is made up of browns or brown variants. (I like what I like!) Yet, this new plumping formula from Kosas is quite perfect and has quickly become my newest fave. It offers a gorgeous wash of color that's not overly opaque nor too weak. The plumping effect is spicy, and the shine is downright glassy without too bad of a stick factor.
When I tell you I've sworn by this stuff for years and have yet to find anything remotely as talented! I recommend this product to literally everyone because it quite literally does everything. It adds body (I instantly look like I have twice the amount of hair on my head), texture, style memory, hydration, and even heat protection. Just be sure to avoid any user error and shake the bottle like ya mean it before you go to town on your strands.
If I could only wear one fragrance brand for the rest of my life, I would choose Phlur. And I don't think I'm alone! If you've been anywhere around the internet for the last year or so, you already know Vanilla Skin is one of the most viral scents on the market. I can verify that it is, indeed, delicious, and my fiancé practically trips over himself whenever I slather myself with this oil—the smell is actually that intoxicating.
I don't care what type of skin you have, this oil-free jelly moisturizer is about to be your MVP this summer. It's the only lightweight, oil-free formula that's been able to deliver a long-lasting glow to my dry-ish combination skin, yet it feels like you have nothing on your face. It's left our entire beauty team speechless TBH.
I love myself a dullness-zapping, dead skin cell-sloughing peel pad, and this stack from StriVectin is elite. The formula is gentle on my quick-to-flush sensitive skin, yet contains every type of acid a dermatologist wants in your skincare routine like AHAs, BHAs, PHAs, and TXAs.
There are about three Rhode products I use on a daily basis, but the lip shaper is hands down my favorite. I opt for deeper shades (I've found Twist to be the best option for my skin tone) to truly contour my lips and fake the look of a fuller pout. In a pinch, I also use it to define my nose, cheekbones, and eyes.
