It’s inevitable- everywhere you look you are most likely seeing someone, somewhere post about the Sephora ‘sale’.  While I don’t really think it’s that great of a deal or worth freaking out over, it is worth saving a couple of bucks (literally only a few dollars saved) on items you would normally need.

I do not use this time to experiment and buy all the makeup and skincare- I keep my cart to items that need replacing or items I know will be fully used in the coming months/year….I probably keep makeup and skincare wayyy longer than I should but I can’t justify throwing anything out if it still seems ok!

I’ll admit my cart isn’t that exciting this time but here are the items I actually purchased and why!

1. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask: I purchased 2 mini sizes as gifts, 1 for Mother’s Day and one for a birth gift (I ALWAYS get something specific for the mom after giving birth, not just the baby!). This is a moisturizing face mask for in all honestly I deem this my eye creme. I’ve tried soooo many eye cremes and my eyes are just so sensitive to everyone I’ve tried. They tear constantly, itch, burn, turn red, tender to touch, get irritated, etc. with any eye creme. I’ve tried all natural, sensitive skin specific, expensive, moderate, and drug store. None worked. I was intrigued when I first heard about this mask so I figured why not try this as my eye creme- IT’S AMAZING. Feels cooling, moisturizes without clogging delicate under eye skin, and it doesn’t irritate my eyes! I use it every morning and evening. I also add this to my neck every night and sometimes to the back of my hand/knuckles because they are so dry from all this hand washing. It’s truly an incredible product. I am nervous to use all over my face because my pores clog very easily, but it’s 100% worth it for what I use it for!

2. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfect Cleansing Gel: I purchased this mini size more than a year ago and keep it in my shower. It’s the perfect formula for a quick rinse after a hot sweaty run or workout. I have acne prone/hormonal acne skin and I found that it dried my skin out a lot if I used it as my daily face wash but I find that it helps keep my pores from getting clogged if I used it once in a while only once a day. Since I’ve been working from home, I workout in the morning before starting work and then run on my lunch break. I wash my face after my morning workout, after my afternoon run, and before bed. I only use a tiny bit of this after my afternoon run every couple days or once a week then only moisturize afterwards instead of my whole skincare routine. I’ve been finding this has been so helpful for my skin from getting clogged or dried out. I am finally running out so I decided to repurchase another mini size.

3. Ole Henriksen Balance Force Oil Control Toner: Again, I have hormonal acne prone skin and my pores get clogged very easily. This stuff has salicylic acid and works wonders. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed but not dried out. In the winter months, I tend to keep this to just my t-zone or areas that have breakouts. In the summer, I use it all over. It’s a staple in my morning and evening skincare routine. I even put a bit on a small piece of a cotton ball and leave it on a blemish for a few minutes to work as a spot treatment! I’ve re-purchased this more times than I can remember!

4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: The ONLY lip product that you NEED! I’ll be honest- I used to include deluxe sample sizes of these any and every time they were available in my online orders. I have about 5 deluxe samples. I was hooked but did I really need to spend $20 on a lip product? When I went clean through 3 of my samples, I realized it was necessary. I asked for it for my birthday in December and my husband got it for me (woo!) but he got the green apple flavor. I wasn’t sure about it but I literally just opened it this week and it’s just as good! I still love the original (pink container) because it gives off a light pink sheen on your lips. I ordered this one to use out and about and I’ll use my green apple one as a night time treatment. Oh, yea I should mention that this isn’t only for sleeping. I use it all day every day. I have chronic chapped lips. No idea why because I drink soo much water every single day and eat healthy/properly fuel my body daily but nothing would keep my lips moisturized before I tried this. Now they stay moisturized and rarely get chapped!

I told you that list would be boring. BUT! Here are some beauty items that didn’t need immediate replacing that I regularly buy year after year.

1. Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser: My everyday cleanser for morning and night! It gets off my makeup (including mascara) and washes away sweat super well without stripping any moisture from my skin or leaving residue. I was skeptical about using oil as a facewash with my combination, acne-prone skin but it has truly been the best product for my skin type! I make sure to really massage it into my skin and will double wash if I really have a full face of makeup on. No need for a wipe or a second type of a cleanser. I tried the trial size a few years ago and have continue to purchase the full size ever since!

2. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA: I kept hearing about The Ordinary products but just didn’t understand how something that cost less than drug store products could even be effective/good for your skin. BELIEVE THE HYPE. I was in a rut with moisturizers. I was trying to go for less is more with my skincare because more ‘helpful’ products just continued to make my skin worse. I found that my moisturizer wasn’t helping either trying to keep my skin clear and texture free. In steps this guy. It’s such a basic yet effective moisturizer and I suggest everyone gives it a try. The Ordinary is excluded from Sephora’s sale but it’s literally $7.70.

3. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: I’ve purchased this countless times and also got my mom hooked. It’s the best undereye concealer out there and can be used for an everyday look or when you really want to go full face. I have Tarte Shape Tape and cannot fathom how people use that for concealer under the eye. This Nars one really is creamy but stays put, covers well without getting cakey, and doesn’t crease. I use it as a spot treatment and it covers darks spots well but where it really excels is covering any blue/darkness under the eyes. I get Ginger because it has slight orange hues to balance the blues out under the skin. Use one to two dots under that and dab with my ring finger and it looks like you are naturally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

4. Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation: This used to be one of the most popular foundations but after using the past year, I’m not sure why it’s not as popular anymore! It’s so natural looking but looks good in both person and photos. I’ve found a lot of foundation that looks good in person doesn’t look good in photos and vice versa. This feels lightweight and covers well. It isn’t full coverage (dark spot still poke through) but that’s what spot concealing is for. Doesn’t melt/crease in the summer and doesn’t latch to dry spots in the winter. Perfect balance!

5. NARS Bronzer Powder (Laguna): I’ve used this for more than 6 years and while I’ve tried other types including cream, this one is still my absolute favorite. I use it with a nice big fluffy brush for naturally sun-kissed cheeks. It works when I’m super tan in the summer yet still looks natural when I’m far from tan in the winter. If I want more of a contour in the summer months, I will add Nudestix Bondi Bae bronzer stick first.

6. Dior Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer: That’s a mouthful but all you need to know is it’s the best lash primer. I find that any mascara will work well if I use this primer first. I’ve used it since my beginning years at college and it’s never failed me. My recent favorite combo is this with Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.

7. Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil: I used Anastasia and some drug store products before trying this out but Benefit is by far the best brow filler. Even after it wears down, it still has nice fine lines without looking like a crayon which I found Anastasia to do. It has great pigment and still looks natural. Also stays put!