As you all probably know by now, the Sephora Sale is going on right now.
Now- 4/11: 20% off for Rouge Members
4/5-4/11: 15% off for VIB Members
4/7-4/11: 10% off for Insiders
It's a great sale if you are a Rouge member (which I am not). You get 20% off if you are Rouge which is such a great savings for beauty products. I'm a VIB, so I'll get to shop tomorrow. I think 15% is a nice saving but I do think at that point, you can often find some of these beauty products on sale at other websites. I know Bergdorfs does a beauty sale here and there, Nordstrom sometimes marks their beauty down, etc. So while it is nice to get those 15 % savings, it's not causing me to RUN to shop. And then 10%, sure, it's nice but I don't get the hype at that point. For example, I love the brand Kosas, and their website has all of their products and often runs sales. They also often offer bundles of items with big savings.
So I do think this sale tends to be overhyped, but it's a nice excuse for me to chat makeup which is something I am really into but probably don't share enough! This post is LONG and I could have easily shred 10-20 more products but I wanted to be as selective as possible!
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in fair// applied with fingers
I saw this ALL over TikTok for months before I finally caved and purchased it because I did not need another makeup step. I ordered the mini version which is what you see pictured and have had it for months now and still have not finished the bottle, so I feel like a little goes a long way. I got a full size of this, though, for when I do run out.
They mostly advertise this as a primer and I've found that is how I mostly wear it... it's the first step in my makeup routine. However, you can use it as a foundation for a no-makeup makeup look. It's really lightweight and has minimal coverage. It' just has this glowy tint to it and I think the biggest selling point for me is that it totally erases my pores. It's actually kind of crazy how well it works to smooth out my skin. It's very luminous/dewy looking so if you prefer something matte, then this might not be for you. It is supposed to be moisturizing for 24 hours but I never wear makeup for that long, ha!! But I do find it the perfect hydrating base for makeup.
Westman Atelier Foundation in shade II// Westman Atelier Foundation in Shade IV// blended with Artis Brush 7
This is such a pretty foundation that provides a good amount of coverage so my skin looks more uniform but it still lets freckles show through. It's buildable so you can put on a little extra for those special occasions. I use both shades as I saw in a Gucci Westman tutorial she recommended always using two or more foundation colors at once because the skin is not always the same color everywhere so I have now been using both colors. The IV shade is great for me in the summer and mixes well with the II shade which is my perfect match for the winter. Together they are just perfect for me and I would never go back to only using one shade of foundation!
Gucci Westman is a celebrity makeup artist/stylist and she has been in the industry for ages so I really trust her tips and her products. These Westman Atelier products are also clean if that is something you are interested in! I really do think this gives my face a more natural look with a bit more depth to it. I wouldn't call it 'flawless' because this formula allows some natural skin imperfections to show through (but to me, that is positive). It blends so nicely which is one of my favorite things about this foundation! See my full review on Westman Atelier products, here.
The only change I wish they would make with this product is to add SPF!
All applied with fingers
This is a somewhat recent purchase for me. I think I saw it a bunch on TikTok and finally caved because I was curious. I really love this stuff and have been using it more lately than my beloved Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige. This Hourglass concealer is totally different, though. It's liquid. I used to use liquid concealer before I started using the Cle de Peau Concealer (which is a cream) and I thought I would always prefer a cream concealer more. But I really am loving this Hourglass. It's pretty full coverage and brightening. It blends really nicely and seems to melt into my skin similar to how the CDP melts into skin. This is not matte and feels dewy but not shiny. It doesn't sink into fine lines either. It wears nicely. I also find it to be buildable. I wouldn't say it is 'flawless' coverage but there really isn't any makeup that I use that is flawless coverage. I really like makeup that shows your skin a bit.
I do love my Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige, however, heard that they released a new version and it's not the same as the old. The packaging looks ever so slightly different so I guess that is how you can differentiate. I haven't tried the new formula but the reviews are not looking good. I don't know why they would mess with a good thing!
Smashbox Becca Undereye Brightener// applied with fingers
I don't use this every single day, but it's such a good product. I mostly use it for special occasions but also use it when my dark circles need major help. It's for brightening and neutralizing purple/blue undereye circles. I layer it under the Cle de Peau or Hourglass concealer. It's really easy to apply, you just tap it on and blend it with your fingers. It kind of just melts into your skin. You can read about my holy grail Under Eye products, here.
This product was made by Becca. They went out of business in September 2021 and now Smashbox is selling the product under their label. When I had heard that Becca was going out of business, I bought backups, so I have not had to purchase the new Smashbox version. It's my understanding that the formula is exactly the same but I just wanted to mention that I haven't personally tried it so I can't confirm!
If you are not familiar with a 'color corrector' it basically uses the color wheel. If you have purpley/blue dark undereye circles, you want to use a peach color over the dark circle to neutralize it. So most under-eye correctors are what they are calling 'apricot'. If you have a zit or redness, you use a green color corrector. Color correcting is fascinating to me and if you want absolutely flawless-looking skin for a special occasion, this plays a huge part in that! I love watching the YouTube videos seeing people literally put red lipstick under their eyes and then use concealer over top and it somehow magically makes their dark circles disappear. I have never been brave enough to try that method, haha!
This is a solid setting powder and is super fine. It's totally translucent and not cakey at all. I put it on my t-zone and chin which is where I tend to get oily.
Westman Atelier Contour Stick in Biscuit// blended with Artis Brush 7
This is product took me a hot minute to fall in love with. At first, I was like eh, this is just OK. But I feel like now that I have practiced with it a ton, it's a 'can't live without' product for me. I only use it at the hollows of my cheeks and then blend it upward... that is the key to this. You have to put this right in the hollows of your cheeks and blend upward. I don't really contour my entire face. You need a lot of the product to see color as it's actually not very dark once you blend, but that makes it pretty fool-proof. For being a cream product, it looks pretty matte and the color is cool-toned. It warms up my face in that it gives it some color, but it's not a warm, glowy bronze, it's very flat. I use the product below to get that 'warmth' that I prefer. However, I do think this product really helps to shape my face by accentuating my cheekbones.
This is considered a cream highlighter but I use it as a bronzer in the winter months. It is so creamy, it blends like a dream. In the summertime, I use it more as a highlighter (as it was intended) because I am a bit tanner. I apply it on the outer temples of my forehead and on my cheeks right after I used the contour stick. Since the contour stick is more of a flat, matte formula, this has a shimmery quality to it that I find helps to give depth to my complexion. Compared to the contour stick in biscuit, this has shimmer, and the color is a much warmer bronze. This color is also more translucent so it's easy to blend- you really can't mess it up or apply too much. Also, these tinted highlights are expensive but I've had them for almost a year now and have barely made a dent in them! See my full review on Westman Atelier products, here.
Super Loaded Highlight in Peau de Rose// applied with fingers
I LOVE this color. It's gorgeous. This is like a true highlighter. It doesn't have much color, it looks much more opaque in the compact. It's glowy and gorgeous with a slight pink tint. I put it on my upper cheeks, in the corners of my eyes, done the middle of my nose, at my browbone, etc. I was using a powder highlighter before this and I have to say, I much prefer the cream highlighter. The powder would sit on top of my skin but I feel like this cream highlight meshes with the rest of my makeup and melts into my skin making it look much more natural and cohesive.
Westman Atelier Blush in Bichette// blended with Artis brush 6
I absolutely love this blush and really think this was a huge game-changer in my makeup routine. This is a cream blush and it's very pigmented so you only need to use a tiny bit. For some reason, most powder blushes I have worn in the past wear off on my skin SO quickly. This stays put all day and gives me such a nice flush. The color bichette is incredible, it's warm and has a bit of berry color to it. I gravitate towards 'berry' things as I find that's what typically looks best on my skin tone. I have had this for about a year now and have barely made a dent in it so although these WA products are pricey, a little goes a long way! See my full review on Westman Atelier products, here.
Eyebrow Pencil in medium chocolate brown (this trio set is a big savings)
I love this eyebrow pencil! The shape of the tip is a triangle so it's really easy to draw a fine hair line. I also love that the pencil is a little thicker in diameter and also square because that makes it easier to grip and have more control with each stroke. I used to use the Dior Brow Pencil in Universal Shade and it was fine. I would say it was directly comparable to the Anastasia brow pencil.
Eye Brow Gel (this trio set is a big savings)
So while I don't exactly think the formula of this brow gel is anything earth-shattering, it works! But, it's the brush that is the perfect size for my brows!
This is a holy-grail product for me. I had a $5 Revlon eyelash curler because I thought $23 was a little $$ for a tiny little metal eyelash curler. I eventually caved out of curiosity and you guys, this is SO worth the hype. I don't know how it works SO much better than the Revlon one but it really is at least 5x better then the Revlon one. It curls my eyelashes like no other. There is truly a reason this is always making top beauty lists.
I have absolutely no loyalty to mascaras. I am constantly trying different ones because I have never found just one that I am absolutely ecstatic about. Right now, I am using this really inexpensive mascara from Amazon. I saw it all over TikTok and for $5ish, it's really great. It doesn't rub off onto my eyelids and it doesn't flake off... those are usually the two issues I have with some mascaras, so I'd say this is a winner.
This is the best lipstick I have EVER used. I could sing its praises from the rooftops, it's so good. First, the color is just perfect on my skin. The formula and color remind me a bit of my beloved Bobbi Brown Crushed Lipstick in Babe but I find this shade to be a bit more flattering on me. The Kosas leans a little pinker than the Bobbi Brown babe does. The formula is similar to Bobbi Brown crushed in that it lasts pretty long, but it's more hydrating than BB crushed. This lipstick is for sure a 10/10. There is a 'mini' size you can get that's perfect for a tiny clutch. I got the mini tube and actually, my wedding dress had pockets so I was able to keep the mini size in my pocket all night for touch-ups. It was perfect!
TheTinted Lip Balm in Rush is also amazing. It's like slightly cooling on my lips which I like and the color is just very natural 'flushed' looking.
I will say, you can get this on the Kosas website and they usually have sales. So if you are not getting 15-20% off, you're probably better off waiting for a sale on Kosas' site! This is the trio lip set that I got from the Kosas site and I love it... it's also a 45% savings.
I have a whole post about these brushes and you can find that here: Artis Brushes vs. Others. These are the best brushes. They're expensive but I use them so much. I think they pair SO well with the Westman Atelier products and help to blend them flawlessly.
What's In My Cart
Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand// this is something everyone talks about on TikTok. I'm honestly really happy with my WA contour stick but I am always so curious to try new things! I'm seeing this is already sold out which is SUCH a bummer.
Lip Plumper Gloss// This is another TikTok product I have been seeing everywhere. People are saying it really works. I'm not really looking for my lips to look larger, I'm just looking for the lines on my lips to be plumped. I'm actually really curious about this lip plumper, too, because it actually says it smooths out lines! It will be a game-time decision on what to order.
Hydrating Mask// I had a deluxe sample of this a few years ago and loved it but never remembered to purchase a full size. I am low on masks so I thought I would get this one. My skin can always use all the hydration!
Dennis Gross Peel Pads// Always repurchasing these. I actually think I prefer these peel pads but they are a but more $$$ so for the price difference, these are plenty good enough. They make my skin SO clear, pores smaller, any blemishes/zits disappear. I highly recommend these! They are STRONG so beware if you are not used to using something so strong.
Fresh Sugar Advanced Lip Balm// Always purchasing more tubes of this. I think it's the best lip balm on the planet. I hate that it's $26 and almost never goes on sale so this is one of those things where even at the 10% off, I'd order it!
WA Eyebrow// Even though I don't need a new brow pencil and I love my Kosas one, I just have to try this WA one that just came out days ago. There are few WA items that I haven't liked so I'm just so curious about this eye pencil and gel duo! This one also looks to be out of stock so hopefully it comes back!
Here is a before and after of the makeup I listed in this blog post! There is absolutely no editing or filters used in these photos!
Top 5 Must Buys
- Anything Westman Atelier
- t3 Curling Iron (this is expensive so it's a big savings, I use it every single time I curl my hair)
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