Sephora VIB Sale | Reviewing Last Year's Haul
With the VIB sale starting today, I had originally planned on posting a wish list... but let's be real here, a Sephora wish list could literally go on forever.
Instead I decided to flash-review what I bought last year at the sale because well, it's been a whole year. It's safe to say I have some solid opinions on these products. Plus, a lot of them are possible repurchases for me!
Confession time: I find repurchases to be somewhat boring. Yes it's great that a product totally changed my skin for the better-- but look at that new shiny product that I haven't tried yet. Does it matter that it's not for my skin type or has a potentially irritating ingredient or is double the price? Nope cause it's new! Basically this post also serves as a reminder to reign in my wish list and remember that repurchases are good!
May Coop Raw Sauce available via Sephora, Peach & Lily
This was an impulse purchase last year but it was hands down the best thing I bought. It's somewhere between an essence, an ampoule, and an emulsion. I use it as one of the first hydrating steps in my routine and boy does it make a difference. It adds a kick of moisture and helps everything I put on afterwards-- serums, lotions, moisturizers, sheet masks, sleeping packs -- sink in so much better.
While the main ingredient in it is Acer Mono Sap, the second ingredient is alcohol. My skin is sensitive to large amounts of alcohol in some products but I don't have any issues with it in Raw Sauce.
Repurchase? Yes! (and I've already repurchased a mini)
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief available via Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy's, Boots
This was the first product I bought from Clinique's moisture surge line and I was instantly hooked. It isn't hydrating enough for me to use it my standalone moisturizer in the winter, but it was my go to in the summer and spring.
This gel sinks so nicely into the skin without any stickiness. It has an alcohol free formula which can be hard to find when you're looking at gels. Plus, it's pink. Or rather it was pink, since I used up all of it over the summer it's no longer pink.
I do want to try the heavier version of this moisturizer and a few other K-beauty alternatives before I decide if I want to repurchase this.
Repurchase? Maybe-- I'll decide next summer.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads available via Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, Feel Unique
These were the first chemical exfoliants that I tried and I will forever be thankful for them. They're very gentle but effective. With a combination of lactic and glycolic acids, they're fantastic for exfoliating newbies. They made a dramatic impact on my acne scarring, closed comedones, and sebaceous filaments.
But it's been a year and the changes I saw with these pads have sort of plateaued. As you can tell from my brief review, I don't think they're bad but I do think my skin is ready for some stronger AHA's.
Repurchase? No because I'm ready for stronger exfoliants. But in the future if I want to go back to something lighter I would 100% repurchase these.
Sephora Instant Moisturizer new formula available via Sephora
This was my go to moisturizer for the last two winters. It was cheap, didn't break me out, and got the job done. Unfortunately, Sephora reformulated it earlier this year and I haven't tried out the new one. On the bright side I did stock up on it so I still have 4 or 5 tubes left.
Repurchase? No cause it was reformulated.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser available via Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Birchbox
I have a lot of cleansers. I'm not sure why but I do and I think this is the best of the bunch! It's pH balanced (according to this spreadsheet from the AB subreddit) so it won't destroy your acid mantle. It's also very gentle but still effective. It's the only cleanser I have that I can use night and day without fear of it drying out my skin. I get that it's stupid to buy something so expensive that will literally be on my face for a minute or two, but it works and I'm sticking to it.
Last year in my first impressions for this cleanser I said that I could use it to remove leftover eye makeup bits but I'm gonna have to recant that statement. If I rub this in my eyes it stings like a motherfucker. But that's okay because I have since discovered the art of the double cleanse and don't need this to remove my eye makeup.
Repurchase? Yes!
Bare Minerals Complete Coverage Serum Concealer available via Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Boots
A part of me is so tempted to try out the Urban Decay concealer, the Tarte Shape Tape, and the Too Faced Born This Way concealer but why fix what isn't broke? I already have a concealer that I love! (Although knowing me I probably will still buy some of the other ones...)
I love the Bare Minerals concealer so much that I bought it in two colors. At the moment Medium Golden works well for me but in the summer I like to mix in some Tan. The concealer is perfect if you have dry skin since it's very liquidy and easy to blend. It doesn't cling to dry patches or worse, shriveled up acne spots. The coverage is medium to full, and it doesn't look cakey unless you pack it on like a crazy person. It also lasts all day long!
The biggest drawback of this concealer is the limited shade range since the darkest shade is not all that dark. If they expanded their color range it would be pretty perfect :)
Repurchase? Yes totally!
Hourglass Mineral Veil available via Sephora, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter
When I first bought this primer last year I was not all that impressed. But a year has passed and I've come around to see the light. This is a totally kick-ass primer. If you have combination or oily skin, this is the primer for you. It blurs pores, doesn't settle into lines, and elongates the wear time of your makeup. You do have to properly blend it in otherwise it can cause a white cast, but that's a minor issue. While it was a staple for my spring and summer makeup routine, during the winter I prefer something that adds more hydration and has a lotion-y texture.
Repurchase? Yes but probably next summer.
Bumble & Bumble Straight Blow Dry available via Sephora, Bloomingdale's, Look Fantastic
I featured this balm in one of my favorites earlier this year, and it continues to be one of my favorite hair products.
It's a heat protectant, de-frizzer, straightener all in one. Thanks to this balm I've started blow drying my hair as opposed to straightening it which is a lot quicker and easier. It's also sooo good at combating the humidity. There were days where it was super damp and rainy and my hair still stayed straight thanks to this guy. Plus, a little bit goes a loooong way. I use it maybe four or five times a month and I'm not even halfway through.
It's also really hard to overdo it with this balm. With many hair products just a little bit too much and turn your hair into a greasy mess. If you do over apply this balm, it's easy to brush it out without making your hair greasy.
Repurchase? Yes if I ever run out of it.
P.s. If you didn't see my post last week, I visited Sephora to check out and swatch some of the in store exclusive sets! You can read the post here.
Instead I decided to flash-review what I bought last year at the sale because well, it's been a whole year. It's safe to say I have some solid opinions on these products. Plus, a lot of them are possible repurchases for me!
Confession time: I find repurchases to be somewhat boring. Yes it's great that a product totally changed my skin for the better-- but look at that new shiny product that I haven't tried yet. Does it matter that it's not for my skin type or has a potentially irritating ingredient or is double the price? Nope cause it's new! Basically this post also serves as a reminder to reign in my wish list and remember that repurchases are good!
May Coop Raw Sauce available via Sephora, Peach & Lily
This was an impulse purchase last year but it was hands down the best thing I bought. It's somewhere between an essence, an ampoule, and an emulsion. I use it as one of the first hydrating steps in my routine and boy does it make a difference. It adds a kick of moisture and helps everything I put on afterwards-- serums, lotions, moisturizers, sheet masks, sleeping packs -- sink in so much better.
While the main ingredient in it is Acer Mono Sap, the second ingredient is alcohol. My skin is sensitive to large amounts of alcohol in some products but I don't have any issues with it in Raw Sauce.
Repurchase? Yes! (and I've already repurchased a mini)
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief available via Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy's, Boots
This was the first product I bought from Clinique's moisture surge line and I was instantly hooked. It isn't hydrating enough for me to use it my standalone moisturizer in the winter, but it was my go to in the summer and spring.
This gel sinks so nicely into the skin without any stickiness. It has an alcohol free formula which can be hard to find when you're looking at gels. Plus, it's pink. Or rather it was pink, since I used up all of it over the summer it's no longer pink.
I do want to try the heavier version of this moisturizer and a few other K-beauty alternatives before I decide if I want to repurchase this.
Repurchase? Maybe-- I'll decide next summer.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads available via Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, Feel Unique
These were the first chemical exfoliants that I tried and I will forever be thankful for them. They're very gentle but effective. With a combination of lactic and glycolic acids, they're fantastic for exfoliating newbies. They made a dramatic impact on my acne scarring, closed comedones, and sebaceous filaments.
But it's been a year and the changes I saw with these pads have sort of plateaued. As you can tell from my brief review, I don't think they're bad but I do think my skin is ready for some stronger AHA's.
Repurchase? No because I'm ready for stronger exfoliants. But in the future if I want to go back to something lighter I would 100% repurchase these.
Sephora Instant Moisturizer new formula available via Sephora
This was my go to moisturizer for the last two winters. It was cheap, didn't break me out, and got the job done. Unfortunately, Sephora reformulated it earlier this year and I haven't tried out the new one. On the bright side I did stock up on it so I still have 4 or 5 tubes left.
Repurchase? No cause it was reformulated.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser available via Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Birchbox
I have a lot of cleansers. I'm not sure why but I do and I think this is the best of the bunch! It's pH balanced (according to this spreadsheet from the AB subreddit) so it won't destroy your acid mantle. It's also very gentle but still effective. It's the only cleanser I have that I can use night and day without fear of it drying out my skin. I get that it's stupid to buy something so expensive that will literally be on my face for a minute or two, but it works and I'm sticking to it.
Last year in my first impressions for this cleanser I said that I could use it to remove leftover eye makeup bits but I'm gonna have to recant that statement. If I rub this in my eyes it stings like a motherfucker. But that's okay because I have since discovered the art of the double cleanse and don't need this to remove my eye makeup.
Repurchase? Yes!
Bare Minerals Complete Coverage Serum Concealer available via Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, Boots
A part of me is so tempted to try out the Urban Decay concealer, the Tarte Shape Tape, and the Too Faced Born This Way concealer but why fix what isn't broke? I already have a concealer that I love! (Although knowing me I probably will still buy some of the other ones...)
I love the Bare Minerals concealer so much that I bought it in two colors. At the moment Medium Golden works well for me but in the summer I like to mix in some Tan. The concealer is perfect if you have dry skin since it's very liquidy and easy to blend. It doesn't cling to dry patches or worse, shriveled up acne spots. The coverage is medium to full, and it doesn't look cakey unless you pack it on like a crazy person. It also lasts all day long!
The biggest drawback of this concealer is the limited shade range since the darkest shade is not all that dark. If they expanded their color range it would be pretty perfect :)
Repurchase? Yes totally!
Hourglass Mineral Veil available via Sephora, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter
When I first bought this primer last year I was not all that impressed. But a year has passed and I've come around to see the light. This is a totally kick-ass primer. If you have combination or oily skin, this is the primer for you. It blurs pores, doesn't settle into lines, and elongates the wear time of your makeup. You do have to properly blend it in otherwise it can cause a white cast, but that's a minor issue. While it was a staple for my spring and summer makeup routine, during the winter I prefer something that adds more hydration and has a lotion-y texture.
Repurchase? Yes but probably next summer.
Bumble & Bumble Straight Blow Dry available via Sephora, Bloomingdale's, Look Fantastic
I featured this balm in one of my favorites earlier this year, and it continues to be one of my favorite hair products.
It's a heat protectant, de-frizzer, straightener all in one. Thanks to this balm I've started blow drying my hair as opposed to straightening it which is a lot quicker and easier. It's also sooo good at combating the humidity. There were days where it was super damp and rainy and my hair still stayed straight thanks to this guy. Plus, a little bit goes a loooong way. I use it maybe four or five times a month and I'm not even halfway through.
It's also really hard to overdo it with this balm. With many hair products just a little bit too much and turn your hair into a greasy mess. If you do over apply this balm, it's easy to brush it out without making your hair greasy.
Repurchase? Yes if I ever run out of it.
P.s. If you didn't see my post last week, I visited Sephora to check out and swatch some of the in store exclusive sets! You can read the post here.