I Test Beauty Products for Work—Here's What I'd Buy From the Sephora Sale With $220
It's haul time.
Ever since beginning my career as a beauty editor, I've become the unofficial (ahem, unpaid) personal shopper for my family and friends. It's part of my daily routine to research for loved ones who crave the answers to their burning beauty questions: Which drugstore concealer won't crease? Is the new Armani Luminous Silk Foundation worth it? What perfume should I buy my mom for Mother's Day? In chronological order, the answers are Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer, yes, and Jo Malone's new Yuzu Zest Cologne.
I understand that beauty hauls can get quite pricey, so I usually advise everyone to wait until a sale like Sephora's spring Savings Event to hit "purchase" on larger shopping sprees. Thankfully, this sitewide sale is officially on until April 20, and Beauty Insiders can save up to 30% on their purchases (depending on membership level) when they enter the code SPRINGSALE at checkout.
Beauty Insider Savings Tier
- Rouge: 20% off
- VIB: 15% off
- Insiders: 10% off
- Extra Perk: 30% off Sephora Collection
Putting my shopping expertise to good use, I decided to give myself a budget of $220 (before the discount) and pick out products that are not only trendy but also extremely worth buying now that they're on sale. Yes, I've tested them all. Below, see the products I'd recommend from Rhode, Prada Beauty, Makeup by Mario, and more.
Article continues belowSephora Savings Event Shopping List for $220
If there was ever a time to move Rhode beauty products off of your wish list and into your cart, it's now. Depending on your Beauty Insider status, you can save up to 20% on the ultra-viral Peptide Lip Tint in each and every glossy shade. I'm nabbing the baby-pink Ribbon and vampy Raspberry Jelly.
I'm a big fan of celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan's hair products (he's famous for creating the Rachel haircut for Jennifer Aniston), and I'm slowly putting all of my family and friends on game too. Fans of slicked-back styles and on-the-go touch-ups will appreciate this little smoothing wand, which captures and controls flyaways without the crunchy cast. I recommend this wand to everyone!
If you've been on BeautyTok in the last year, you've certainly heard of Make Up For Ever's Artist Color Pencil—specifically in the shades Anywhere Caffeine and Wherever Walnut. Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa are famous fans, and now, the rest of the internet has discovered the chic shades and long-wearing results. I recommend this shade because you can wear it as a lip liner, a lip contour, a warm blush, and an eyeliner. Fun fact: It's designed for allover color and is completely eye-safe.
After hundreds of New Yorkers answered a poll about which perfumes attract the most potential dates and compliments, the one with the most overlap was Prada Beauty's Paradoxe Intense Eau de Parfum. It's sexy, woody, and warm, but if you don't want to splurge right away and don't want to blind-buy the deeper version of a famous perfume before trying the original, then I'd recommend grabbing this discovery set with both bottles. Both are showstoppers, but this small investment will help you decide which you'll wear more in the long run.
Makeup by Mario's beloved original Ethereal Eyes palette made a triumphant return after popular demand, and it's the eye shadow compact to get your hands on during a sale. It's not just because it's admittedly pricey and every dollar off counts or because this palette was once limited edition and I have stock anxiety. It's one of the easiest palettes to dress up or down thanks to its stunning array of soft-glam shimmers and everyday mattes.
I heard great things about Dr. Groot's hair-thickening shampoo and conditioner before trying them, but I was blown away once I actually started incorporating them into my routine. Not only have I noticed a difference in the density of my hair (after being told by a hair-loss specialist that my strands were thinning, no less), but the shampoo also cleans the scalp beautifully, lathers like a dream, and leaves my hair feeling healthy and hydrated afterward. If you're not yet ready to commit to a new system, though, I'd recommend trying this mini set first.
Pink cat-eye nails are absolutely everywhere right now, and so are press-ons. Put them together and you get this stunning set from Glamnetic, which makes some of the most long-wearing and professional-looking press-ons I've ever tried. Snag these while they're on sale. You won't regret it.
We've officially hit $220, and you can head to checkout here with a stellar haul that will make your life easier and send your beauty game through the roof. If you feel like doing a bit more shopping, allow me to point you in the direction of a few more favorites.
More Beauty Products to Shop During Sephora's Sale
We beauty editors are collectively obsessed with the reformulated version, which does not usually happen. Trust me.
I'm nabbing this internet-famous serum while it's discounted.
Suitable for all skin types and supremely comfortable.
This is the perfume brand to watch right now.
BRB, I'm buying three shades while they're on sale.
A lip-and-cheek stick that I can't get enough of.
