Critically Curated: Sephora Sale

(Spring 2025 Version)

I hope you aren’t sick of these bi-annual posts because I genuinely love this sale. Comparing our carts, chatting about our favourite products. The communal joy of building our makeup and beauty shelves gives me the energy of a digital slumber party - cucumber slices and face masks included. I get such a happy buzz over it and I hope you do, too!

Every sale, I typically stock up on my perennial favourites. These products rarely change. Mostly because I believe - especially in the skincare category - that consistency, rituals, and routines are the way to go. Buying something at a discount that I would buy full price for anyway? Yes, please!

🏆 All Time Faves: The below is what I’m actually ‘adding to cart’ this go-around based on my current needs / empties. (Remember it’s not a deal unless you actually need it!) For convenience to shop all my forever favourites, I’ve created some dedicated shelves on my ShopMy. Check them out HERE.

Shop all my favourites here.

🍁 ICYMI: I formatted my Fall 2024 Sephora sale post in this fashion of ‘faves’ by category HERE.

Sephora Sale (Fall 2024 Version)

I also infrequently use the sale as an opportunity to try something new. Often, they’re recommendations that surface from friends. Like, say, when a TSSer suggests something in the comments sections of these posts. Friends help friends build their beauty carts!

In my opinion, the Sephora sale is also the ideal time to go in on big ticket items that are longer-term investments like tools (brushes, irons or straighteners, LED masks) or fragrances. Things that last for a really long time.

With that, the Sephora sale is officially on! From April 4 to 14, all products sitewide are available to shop with a discount. Your savings percentage correlates with your Sephora tier, as below:

• Rouge: 20% off sitewide between April 4-14

• VIB: 15% off sitewide between April 8-11

• Insider: 10% off sitewide between April 8-11

• All: 30% off on all Sephora collection between April 4-14 with code ‘SAVEMORE’

Per previous Sephora posts, I’ve split the format of this not by product category but by what I’m repurchasing vs what I’m trying out for the first time.

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Personal Context

Like many things, skincare and beauty recommendations are highly personalized. Not only because we all have different needs, but also because formulation or product execution preferences come into play.

For instance, I often double cleanse at night to get rid of makeup and and any daily ‘ick’ that’s accumulated. Because of my dry and sensitive skin, I love the textural consistency of a cleansing balm for the first round and a cream formula for the second. You might find a gel works better for you or that even one cleanse is sufficient.

A quick intro of me:

• Skin Type: Dry (as the Sahara Desert)

• Skincare: My main things I look for are brightening, moisturizing, and targeting general signs of aging. I’m turning 33 this year and the two things I typically look for in my skincare are products that tackle fine lines and dark spots/sun spots. These I developed due to lack of proper sunscreening in my 20s. A reminder to you about the importance of sun protection - both via sunscreens and SPF clothing like hats etc.

• Beauty: A minimalist! Most days all I can scramble to do is some strategic concealer dabbing, filling in my brows, a flush of blush, and an outfit coordinating lippie of choice.

So without further ado …

Repurchasing

Dieux ‘Deliverance Serum’: I’ll never be without this! For someone with dry and sensitive skin, this is my all time favourite serum from a brand I trust. I buy a few bottles every Sephora sale so that I never not have backups.

Never without multiple backups of Deliverance! I bought two during this sale.

Dieux ‘Instant Angel Moisturizer’: I love the transparency and messaging at Dieux. Their products are no-nonsense and they just work. One of the co-founders, Joyce De Lemos, is also a cosmetic chemist who originally formulated the much beloved Skinceuticals ‘Triple Lipid’ moisturizer. ‘Angel’ provides a very similar effect but at a much lower price!

Clinique ‘Moisture Surge’: I led with the fact that I have dry skin for a reason - yes there are two moisturizers on here! I typically buy this moisturizer in the spring/summer because of its gel formulation. Its texture might be lighter, but it is still very juicy on the skin. Practically luminous!

Clinique ‘Take The Day Off Balm’: My all time favourite cleanser. I find balm formulations incredibly satisfying to use. Slather a small amount all over your face and gently melt away any makeup or daily grime. As someone with dry skin, my frequent pain point with cleansers is the ‘squeaky’ feeling they often come with. Some people might like that feeling, but I experience it as an uncomfortable ‘tightness’. This balm is the antidote to that. A note that Clinique also has a charcoal formulation of this balm that I’ve tried, but I much prefer the OG.

Summer Fridays ‘Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum’: While I was tempted to branch out and try a new eye serum (I briefly considered this one) I ran the ingredients on my go-to ‘Jet Lag’ serum through the Beautypedia checker (highly recommend doing this for any product) and based on price and quality of ingredients, this was the far better deal. A solid reminder that building a strong (if boring / repetitive) foundational routine is key.

New To Me

Nécessaire ‘Hand Retinol’: I’ve been curious about a retinol hand cream for awhile, especially with the golden rule that everything you do to your face should also be done to your neck and backs of your hands. I started a face retinol a number of years ago so I feel like I’m playing a bit of catch up with this purchase.

Topicals ‘Faded Under Eye Brightening Eye Serum’: I have a pair of silicone ‘forever’ eye masks that I’ll pull out and pair with a serum of my choosing for nights I want to feel pampered and fancy while bingeing House from my couch. I’m a true sight to behold in the PM. These masks are wonderful because they are reusable and can work with any product you want. I’ve heard great things about Topicals brightening products and look forward to trying this out. In case you don’t have your own reusable eye patches, Topicals conveniently created some with their brightening under eye serum.

Merit ‘Flush Balm in Lusitano’: I’ve been impressed by (most) everything from Merit I’ve tried, particularly because they really seem geared towards the can’t-be-bothered minimalist (with added travel convenience for most of their formulas and packaging). Their foundation stick, in particular, was super useful while I was on my honeymoon in Europe. Easy to apply and not a fussy liquid I’d have to take out while going through airport security. Their blush is modelled in the same fashion. The packaging is satisfying (and very cutesy) to hold in hand while dabbing across your cheeks. I already have their Flush Balm in a terracotta shade and with warmer months ahead I thought this soft peach would be great to add to my collection.

Armani ‘Eye Tint in Cashew’: As per the above ‘minimal’ description, anything streamlined and erring on the side of natural is my makeup preference. I have one of these eye tints in a shimmer and this warm brown matte shade seems like a good everyday option. Easy to apply and just one step.

Tower 28 ‘Shineon Milky Lip Jelly’: Something out of my comfort zone! Not only a gloss, but a pink one at that! If I’m going for a colour in beauty, it’s usually in the warmer, zestier palettes. Somewhere closer to reds, oranges, peaches, terracottas. Otherwise, I like to stick to neutrals like warm beiges or nude browns. I don’t have too much pink anywhere in anything I own but this came highly recommended and also seems fun for spring / summer.

The Maker ‘Lover Perfume’: I’ve always had a fascination with fragrance. For me, scent has deeply embedded itself into many of my memories - tying up precious moments with a sensorial bow. I can recall toddling after my mother’s ‘Red Door’ through my childhood home. I remember sashaying down school hallways, arms linked with my friends as we doused ourselves in Britney’s ‘Curious’, Bath & Body Work’s ‘Cucumber Melon’, Marc Jacob’s ‘Daisy’, and VS’ ‘Love Spell’. If you couldn’t smell us from the other side of the quad, we hadn’t spritzed enough. And, of course, I clamoured for Taylor’s own “expensive wood” fragrance, as per David Letterman: ‘Santal Blush’ by Tom Ford.

In the same way both music and fashion have anchored my life’s experiences, so too does perfume. It also doesn’t hurt that fragrance packaging is often beautiful. Like modern day apothecary collections of clinking, faceted glass bottles shimmering on a shelf. This particular one caught my eye not just for the Taylor-inspired name but also for the vessel that is inspired by an antique ink flask.

If I had a semi-useless and highly specific talent it would be being very good at blind buying perfumes based solely on the descriptive notes. Of the ones listed, sandalwood and fig mean this sounds like it will be a luscious and creamy but also fruity and woodsy scent. Perfect for spring transitioning into summer.

Your turn! I’d love to know …

1. What is your all-time-just-can’t-live-without product you tell EVERYONE about?

2. Are you trying anything new during this sale?