In My Sephora Cart

I used to look forward to the Sephora sales more than I do now. I used to have a long list of things I wanted to buy and had to choose a few to add to my cart and check out with.

Now that I have a routine that my skin likes and have settled on a simpler makeup look that feels right to me, I don’t have a lot of new things I want to get. I mostly use the savings events to stock up on things that I already use at a lower price. It’s also very amusing to me that most of the skincare products I use aren’t eligible for the discount since they’re very inexpensive in the first place. Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it works better or at all.

I like to plan what I’m getting about a month ahead of time so I can account for it in my budget and check out with ease on the first day of the sale. I’m very efficient. I’m about 99% sure that this is what I’ll be getting this go-around. My list is mostly repurchases of tried and true staples, but I also have my eye on a few things I want to test.

Tried & True Beauty Staples

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner

I bought a smaller version of this makeup brush cleaner and I’ve been clinging to the last few milliliters. I’m trying to make it last at least until I place my order for a bigger bottle. It cleans every bit of liquid, cream, or powder out of the brushes in seconds and smells like vanilla. It’s the only thing that has gotten me to clean my brushes consistently. My skin thanks me for that by not breaking out.

The INKEY List De-puffing + Dark Circle Eye Cream

I’m not sure if this eye cream is included in the sale. It’s already about 1/4 of the price of most eye creams at Sephora so it wouldn’t shock me if it was excluded. I tried this eye cream after finishing the Sephora Collection eye creams I had.

I love that it’s in a squeeze tube. I’m partial to products that I don’t have to stick my fingers into. They seem cleaner. I haven’t noticed a difference in my eye area and don’t really expect to. I don’t have super dark circles or puffy eyes. I just really like how luxurious putting on eye cream feels, and I want to keep my eye area moisturized. I prefer this one’s consistency to the eye creams I used to use. Those were thicker and I felt like they tugged at my skin if I wasn’t careful about tapping it in.

The Ordinary Serums

I’ve been using these serums for years! I know they aren’t included in the sale, but I have to mention them because they’re so good and very affordable. I’m more than certain that these serums are why my skin doesn’t act up as much. I don’t use all of them at the same time. I spit them between morning and nighttime, putting them on after I cleanse and tone but before I moisturize.

Morning

• Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides – good for anti-aging and loss of firmness
• Niacinamide + Zinc – helps with pores and oiliness
• Hyaluronic Acid – hydrates (If you use no other serum, use this one.)

Night

• Mandelic Acid – helps with dullness and uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and acne and blemishes
• Alpha Arburin – helps lighten dark spots

Origins Frothy Face Wash

I cannot tell you how many of these I have bought. I’ve been using this face wash for 10 years. I remember being so excited to finally try it when Chanston and I were living in our apartment as newlyweds. I’ve been using it every since. It’s my nighttime face wash that makes my skin feel like I washed the day off without drying me out. I usually grab at least one of these during the sale. I can’t run out. I just can’t.

BTW, a lot of the more popular brands at Sephora have a sale on their websites right after Sephora’s ends. If there are a few products from a brand you want to try, it might be worth waiting to see if they have a deeper discount than Sephora. There’s no guarantee, though.

The INKEY List Omega Water Cream Moisturizer

I tried this very affordable moisturizer because I love the texture of Tatcha’s Water Cream but wasn’t a fan of its price. I think the packaging is beautiful, and I would 100% buy it again because I love the product. I just can’t bring myself to pay that much money for a product that The Mister™ and I will use a total of four times per day. We will blow through it and, therefore, have to repurchase more often.

I went on the hunt for something comparable to Tatcha’s Water Cream and found this one. The consistency is the same, and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated but not greasy. This will be my third or fourth tube of this stuff, so it’s safe to say I like it. (If you were wondering what new product I was trying in my latest beauty empties post, this is it.)

Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask

It’s the best lip mask on Earth. I will not be debating this. My lips are the softest they’ve ever been. You can pry this from my cold, dead fingers.

New Beauty to Try

I honestly haven’t been very excited about trying new beauty products for a while. I think it was because I already have so many and want to use those up before adding to my stash. For example, I haven’t bought a liquid or cream blush, even though they’re popular right now, because I have at least 6 powder blushes. I can just use those. The effect won’t be the same, but it’s similar enough for me to sit this one out.

Now that I’m settling into my routine of getting dressed every day and looking to improve a few steps of my beauty routine, I’m excited to try some new products.

First up…

Touchland Hand Sanitizers

I’ve been working through my mountain of sanitizers I’ve amassed since 2020. I’m on the last half of my last bottle now, so I thought I’d get one that smelled great instead of the usual Purell. I keep seeing Touchland mentioned, so I guess I’ll see what the hype is about. I wish I could smell them before purchasing, but since I can’t, I’ll roll the dice with Blue Sandalwood and Rosewater. I didn’t not choose Rosewater for the packaging…

innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask

I’ve been off of my clay masking game since I got my LED mask last year. I adore my LED mask, but it doesn’t do anything for blackheads. I finished my Origins Charcoal Mask a few months ago, and I’m close to finishing my Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask. I’d buy either of those again, but I want to see if I can get the same results for less. To get back to clay masking at least twice per week, I’m giving this pore clearing mask from innisfree a try. I’ve tried other products from innisfree and liked them, so I have high hopes for this mask.

Danessa Myricks Water Powder Serum

This is the only new makeup on my radar right now, but it is technically skincare. I’m an oily girl, but I don’t want to be shiny all the time. It calls attention to any speck of texture or discoloration I have in my skin, and I’m not a fan. I also don’t want to have to dust translucent powder on my face to combat that every day. It starts to look cakey if I don’t blot the oil on my face throughout the day.

I want something less fussy than my current makeup situation and I’m hoping this water powder serum does the trick. It’s designed to be worn alone or as a primer before makeup, so I’m hoping that I’ll like it since I plan to use it both ways. It’s designed to be shade-inclusive by the incomparable Danessa Myricks so I’m betting that it won’t make me look chalky.

Salt & Stone Hand Creams

I finished using my Necessaire hand creams, and while I like them, I want to try something else. I don’t think I can get over the smell of the Retinol hand cream, and I have no notes on the other one. It’s great if you want something unscented.

I want to try something scented, so Salt & Stone has my attention. I want to get all three scents, but I’m choosing to exercise restraint. I’m grabbing Bergamot & Hinoki and Santal & Vetiver. I’ll see about Black Rose & Oud another time.