Sephora
Sephora’s holiday savings event — The Super Bowl of beauty sales — ends today. This nearly two-week annual affair is the brand’s biggest sale of the year and offers up to 20% off on some of the most cult-backed, reviewer-adored and well-known products in all things makeup, hair and skin care, plus 30% off Sephora’s own house brand.
It also happens to be one of the few times of the year that the coveted Dyson Airwrap multi-styler can be found at a discount. If that’s not a historical moment, I don’t know what is.
Get a head start on this year’s holiday shopping and explore products that have been previously recommended by beauty experts and dermatologists, as well as items that have made it into our own beauty routines.
If you’re not familiar with Sephora’s three-tiered Beauty Insider program, it bears some explaining. The top two tiers are based on how much you regularly spend at Sephora, while the lowest level simply requires free email signup.
“Rouge” members spend at least $1,000 annually with the retailer, and were rewarded with first crack at the sale, with access starting October 28, and the highest discounts at 20% off sitewide (a small handful of brands are excluded). “VIB” members have spent at least $350 per year, and enjoyed a 15% discount starting on November 1. All you have to do to achieve “Insider” status is sign up for Sephora’s mailing list and you can enjoy 10% off for one more day, as the sale ends today, November 7.
And for the entire duration of the sale, Sephora’s own branded collection is 30% off to all Beauty Insiders, regardless of membership tier. Just make sure to use the code SAVINGS at checkout.
You can sign up or check your membership status here.
Even the most beauty-savvy among us can become a little overwhelmed at Sephora’s robust offerings. So, just in case you needed a little help getting started, we rounded up some of our all time favorites, like skin care staples from Drunk Elephant, luxury moisturizers that are worth the price tag and classic exfoliating treatments that have stolen our hearts.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Skin care
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Sephora
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting liquid exfoliant
A recurring favorite among nearly everyone here at HuffPost Shopping is this Paula's Choice salicylic acid toning solution, which can dramatically smooth skin texture, help unclog pores and sweep away dead skin cells. It was also previously recommended by Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist in San Diego, who said it is a great exfoliating option for sensitive skin because it contains antioxidant-dense green tea extract to reduce redness and sensitivity.
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Sephora
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser body scrub
If you're a keratosis pilaris sufferer like myself, then you are probably aware of the absolute chokehold this body scrub has had on the KP community. I've used this religiously for the past two years and it's one of the only products out there that has made any kind of progress in smoothing out my bumpy skin texture and reducing discoloration. Also previously recommended to us by dermatologists, the KP Bump Eraser utilizes a blend of lactic and glycolic acids as well as pumice beads to dislodge excess keratin and dead skin cells.
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Drunk Elephant's C-Firma vitamin C serum
Drunk Elephant's C-Firma is a potent and lightweight serum that contains l-ascorbic acid and vitamin E to provide effective antioxidant benefits and place it among the big dogs when it comes to vitamin C products.
"The nutrients, antioxidants and fruit enzymes serve to noticeably brighten, firm and improve the effects of photo aging. When used consistently, the product will aid in the reduction of dullness and uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of elasticity and firmness," Washington, D.C.-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Somenekpreviously told HuffPost.
"The nutrients, antioxidants and fruit enzymes serve to noticeably brighten, firm and improve the effects of photo aging. When used consistently, the product will aid in the reduction of dullness and uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of elasticity and firmness," Washington, D.C.-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Somenekpreviously told HuffPost.
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Sephora
Sephora prebiotic moisturizer
If you want a solid, no-fuss moisturizer that gets the job done during the dehydrating months of winter, then look no further. I'm three months into using the Sephora brand prebiotic moisturizer and it's been checking off all of my dry skin boxes. It’s creamy, fragrance-free and my skin drinks it in like a tall glass of water. The naturally derived prebiotics in this cream work to help deeply hydrate the skin while natural marula oil strengthens the skin’s barrier, effectively boosting its ability to fight the elements. Aside from making my skin feel ultra comfy, I love that it doesn’t sit heavy on my face like some other moisturizers intended for dry sensitive skin. I'm telling you, don't sleep on this.
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Sephora
Farmacy Green Clean cleansing balm
Around these parts we always double cleanse, especially using this unctuous cleansing balm by Farmacy that seamlessly melts away everything from waterproof mascara to stubborn sunscreen. Shopping writer Kristen Adaway said that this is her favorite makeup remover of all time because it feels like butter on the skin and contains a blend of nourishing oils, extracts and enzymes that clean skin without leaving it stripped or tight.
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Sephora
NuFace Trinity facial toning device
The lengths to which we have waxed poetic about the NuFace Trinity facial toning device are long, to say the least. For senior shopping writer Lourdes Avila Uribe, the micro-current wonders of the NuFace have worked to visibly contour her face, brighten her complexion and slightly reduce the appearances of some of her more deep-set wrinkles.
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Sephora
Youth to the People superfood antioxidant cleanser
Rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants and superfood extracts that help support skin's pH balance, this gel cleanser by Youth to the People can be a great option for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
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Sephora
Sunday Riley A+ high-dose retinoid serum
This high-dose retinoid serum is a recent addition to my skin care lineup and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to up their retinol dosage without over-sensitizing their skin. What makes Sunday Riley's A+ serum so great is that it uses a 6.5% retinoid blend composed of encapsulated retinol, retinoid ester and retinol-alternative extracts that can work to dramatically improve skin tone and texture.
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Sephora
Dermalogica daily microfoliant
Dermalogica's cult-favorite water-activated "microfoliant" is what Uribe (and the entire internet, it seems) uses when she wants to tackle pore congestion, texture irregularities and a dull complexion. The loose rice-based powder incorporates papaya enzymes, phytic and salicylic acids to address all of these concerns, while colloidal oatmeal addresses redness and irritation.
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Sephora
PMD Clean smart facial cleansing device
The PMD Clean has been my facial cleansing device of choice for years because of how effective it is at getting my skin clean, reducing blemishes and improving texture — all while being gentle enough to not irritate my sensitive skin. If you have tried traditional facial brushes with nylon bristles then you know they are notorious for being too abrasive and developing a terrible smell. That is never a problem with the PMD because the soft silicone brush head is antimicrobial and uses 7,000 vibrations per minute to break down impurities from pores while simultaneously massaging the skin.
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Sephora
Augustinus Bader's The Cream moisturizer
According to Lindsay Kastuk, a New York-based makeup artist, Augustinus Bader's renowned moisturizer — simply called "The Cream" — is "a makeup artist's holy grail luxury moisturizer." This replenishing emollient formula helps support cellular renewal and improve moisture retention and skin barrier function.
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Sephora
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright eye cream
This antioxidant-intensive eye cream is a personal favorite of Shadi Malek, a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles. Suitable for all skin types, the feather-light formula has a slight color-correcting and brightening effect and contains vitamin C to address premature aging of the skin and boost the skin's natural production of collagen.
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Sephora
Fresh kombucha treatment essence
When my skin is desperate for a dose of comfort, Fresh's kombucha treatment essence is what I reach for first. It offers the anti-pollution and free-radical reducing benefits of antioxidants, useful for aging skin. This lightweight essence also contains mandarin peel extract and hyaluronic acid to help promote a supple and even-looking complexion.
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Sephora
Laneige lip sleeping mask
Don't let the mouthwatering scents fool you: The lip masks from Laneige give your pout some serious hydration, according to New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr.Marisa Garshick.
"I always tell my patients 'Don’t forget about your lips,' and this sleeping mask is a great option to give the lips the boost of hydration they need, especially this time of year. It combines a moisture wrap technology and a berry mix complex to boost moisture and deliver antioxidant benefits, so your lips are softer, smoother and healthier when you wake up," Garshick previously told HuffPost.
"I always tell my patients 'Don’t forget about your lips,' and this sleeping mask is a great option to give the lips the boost of hydration they need, especially this time of year. It combines a moisture wrap technology and a berry mix complex to boost moisture and deliver antioxidant benefits, so your lips are softer, smoother and healthier when you wake up," Garshick previously told HuffPost.
Makeup
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Sephora
Rare Beauty liquid blush
Rare Beauty liquid blush has taken TikTok by storm for its featherweight feel, seamless blendability and ultra pigmented formula –– trust me, a little dab'll do ya with this. Available in both dewy and matte finishes, this blush will leave you with a healthy and natural-looking flush all day long.
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Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Wiz brow pencil
I consider Anastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Wiz to be my old faithful when it comes to filling in the sparse patches in my eyebrows, while still looking completely natural. I love how precise the point is, which is great for mimicking brow strokes, and the formula is the perfect combination of being creamy enough to glide on without skipping, yet stiff enough it won't become a smudged-out mess.
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Sephora
Merit cream blush balm
You may have seen Merit's hydrating blush balm in the hands of all the "clean girl aesthetic" beauty influencers on TikTok, and there might be a reason for the fervor. Available in five flexible shades, the balm deposits a creamy and radiant veil of color that lets your natural skin shine through while also conditioning it.
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Sephora
Makeup Forever Ultra HD self-setting concealer
"If you’re a minimalist like me, using a self-setting concealer such as Makeup Forever's Ultra HD concealer can help avoid creasing without setting," Judi Gabbay, a professional makeup artist based in New York City, previously told HuffPost.
She explained that water-based liquid concealers that self-set melt into the skin better and reduce the need to add an extra layer of product. This natural-finish concealer, which is available in 26 shades, offers buildable coverage and contains hyaluronic acid spheres to keep skin hydrated.
She explained that water-based liquid concealers that self-set melt into the skin better and reduce the need to add an extra layer of product. This natural-finish concealer, which is available in 26 shades, offers buildable coverage and contains hyaluronic acid spheres to keep skin hydrated.
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Sephora
Natasha Denona's All Biba neutral eye shadow palette
"The Natasha Denona Biba neutral eyeshadow palette is a splurge that's worth the money," Kastuk said. This palette covers a vast shade range and offers different finishes from mattes, metallics and shimmers. Denona's eyeshadows are known for their pigmentation and blendability, so it's a great option for makeup users at all levels.
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Sephora
Tower 28 Beauty Make Waves mascara
If you happen to have straight and short lashes, Adaway recommends you try Tower 28's Make Waves mascara, which has recently become her favorite eyelash product. The long-wearing vegan formula contains vitamin B and castor oil to condition lashes and a unique ingredient typically used in hair styling works to define curl using a memory hold.
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Sephora
It Cosmetics CC+ cream
The It Cosmetics CC+ cream has been my exclusive foundation of choice for a number of reasons, but namely, that it makes my skin look absolutely flawless. I have keratosis pilaris on my face and this is the one perfectly finished foundation that hides all imperfections without looking cake-y or unnatural in the slightest. Plus, the color-correcting formula is also infused with broad spectrum SPF50 and a whole slew of skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides and niacinamide.
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Sephora
Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk lipstick
To know Charlotte Tilbury is to love the brand's bestselling lipstick in Pillow Talk, a universally flattering mauve-pink shade. The matte finish formula has also been boosted with orchid extract to smooth and condition the lips.
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Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
My obsession with this multi-purpose product knows no bounds. It's my makeup essential for achieving a dewy complexion and luminous skin finish from the ground up. I typically apply it as a base beneath my foundation; the formula uses flower extracts and glossy oils to hydrate and brighten the skin.
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Sephora
Beauty Blender makeup sponge and Power Pocket Puff
The classic BeautyBlender makeup sponge has long been an essential in my makeup bag because of the seamless way that it applies foundation and other cream or liquid products without leaving any kind of cakey texture behind.
The latest addition to the Beauty Blender family is the Power Pocket Puff, a multi-purpose tool that has been amazing for applying setting powder, touching up my skin throughout the day and creating a blurring effect on the skin.
The latest addition to the Beauty Blender family is the Power Pocket Puff, a multi-purpose tool that has been amazing for applying setting powder, touching up my skin throughout the day and creating a blurring effect on the skin.
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Sephora
Supergoop Glow Screen SPF
The Supergoop Glow Screen is the most luminous way to shield your skin from the sun and prevent premature aging and is, in my opinion, one product that is worth all the hype in the world.
Candace Marino, a medical aesthetician better known to her clientele as the L.A. Facialist, previously told HuffPost that she wears this SPF "every single day as my last step of skincare and first step of makeup.The formula is hydrating and contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to keep the skin hydrated and balanced. SPF 40 is obviously protective enough for the sun and environmental stressors, however it also helps prevent blue light damage to the skin."
Candace Marino, a medical aesthetician better known to her clientele as the L.A. Facialist, previously told HuffPost that she wears this SPF "every single day as my last step of skincare and first step of makeup.The formula is hydrating and contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to keep the skin hydrated and balanced. SPF 40 is obviously protective enough for the sun and environmental stressors, however it also helps prevent blue light damage to the skin."
Hair care
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Olaplex Bond Maintenance shampoo and conditioner
Olaplex's hair-repairing formulas are known for their claim to address cuticle damage, unruliness and frizz by re-linking broken bonds within the strand.
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Briogeo deep conditioning hair mask
Ona Diaz-Santin, an international hair stylist and educator, previously called the fortifying and deeply hydrating capabilities of Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair deep conditioning mask "worth every penny." Key ingredients include moisturizing rose hip oil, mineral rich algae extract and B vitamins for healthier-feeling hair.
"It's not only super moisturizing, but also strengthens your damaged strands, leaving your hair feeling refreshed and new," Diaz-Santin said.
"It's not only super moisturizing, but also strengthens your damaged strands, leaving your hair feeling refreshed and new," Diaz-Santin said.
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Dyson Airwrap multi-styler
Possibly the most coveted of all hair styling products, the Dyson Airwrap can quite literally do it all from curling to shaping, smoothing and drying –– all without the use of damaging extreme heat.
Before You Go
