Sephora VIB Rouge Sale 2018 Haul
At some point last year, I reached VIB Rouge status at Sephora and although I unknowingly spent a hefty amount of money on beauty products to get there, it came with some great perks! One of them was having early access to VIB/Rouge-only sales that ranged from 15-20% off purchases. The holiday sale recently wrapped up and I thought I’d share my thoughts on a few of the new products I bought, and a few from the sales in the spring and fall.
Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic - $34
For a long time, I’d been missing one crucial step in my daily skincare routine: toner! But I’ve never been a fan of rubbing it in with a cotton ball or pad. The idea of it just seems very abrasive on the skin. The Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic is a toner in spray form, solving that problem for me completely. After a few spritzes post-cleansing, I just let it air dry then proceed to my moisturizer. It feels cool and refreshing, and although I can’t single it out as the sole reason for my clear skin lately, I’d like to think that it’s playing a part along with the rest of my skincare lineup.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer - $50
My skin becomes drier in the winter, particularly around my cheeks and forehead where there would be noticeable flakiness. For the last couple of years, I switched over to Tatcha The Water Cream when the cold hit, but this year I wanted to experiment with a more affordable alternative. Enter: the Glow Recipe Watermelon Juice Moisturizer. It’s incredibly hydrating. Although there are still a few dry patches on my face here and there, the moisturizer has definitely made a significant improvement in keeping the majority of my skin smooth. It also smells like Jolly Rancher candy, which is a nice bonus for other fruity scent lovers out there! I’m happy to report that this moisturizer has already become my new winter staple.
RMS Beauty Eye Polish in “Magnetic” - $35
I bought the RMS Beauty Eye Polish in “Magnetic” as a quick glam solution for my busiest days. I’m really loving makeup that can be applied by just your fingers – it helps encourage using the bare minimum. With just a swipe or two it adds a subtle shimmer to my eyelids, and it’s easily buildable with a few more thin coats to a more opaque shade of taupe. The colour is neutral enough to wear with most outfits and can easily transition from day to night. It’s also compact enough to fit into discreet clutches or pouches, so I can take it with me wherever I go for a fast touch-up.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - $31
After many years of jumping from one mascara to the next, I finally found one that could hold a curl on my short, straight eyelashes: the Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara! This year, I tested the original formula which is more popular among the beauty crowd than its waterproof counterpart that I’d sworn by. Shockingly, it doesn’t hold my curls at all. I noticed the formula was definitely less tacky and did a fantastic job at adding length, but I’d always have to re-curl my lashes after applying the mascara. Needless to say, I’ll be switching back to my waterproof version once this tube’s done!
ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner in “Nobody’s Baby” - $36
I’ve been looking for a tinted lip balm for a while and when I discovered ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner with Sephora’s clean seal, I knew I had to try it out. I was a little skeptical about how I’d feel about the product since its reviews online were less than stellar. But to my surprise I found it more hydrating than I expected. It feels smooth on the lips, and not at all sticky. I picked “Nobody’s Baby,” a nude pink shade which applies sheer but gives me a “my lips but better” colour after a few comfortable coats.
Lano 101 Ointment Multi-Balm Strawberry - $19
I heard about the Lano 101 Ointment Multi-Balm a while ago and was excited to finally get my hands on it. I decided to bring it along on our honeymoon in September as my go-to lip balm. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the product—it felt sticky, warm (I prefer lip balms with cooling effects) and the scent reminded me more of play dough instead of strawberries. I haven’t tested it as a moisturizer on chapped skin, but I’ve had a hard time picking it up again since our trip and don’t imagine myself reordering it.
Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer - $169
All of the blow dryers I’ve ever owned were bought from Walmart or Target under $50. But after having to leave my last blow dryer at home when I moved out and experiencing some days when my hair wasn’t completely dried before using some sort of hot styling tool on it, I knew I had to buy a new one sooner rather than later. I decided to finally splurge on a blow dryer and purchase the Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer. It’s conveniently foldable and perfect for travel. Although it’s advertised as being small, I find it to be almost the same size as most blow dryers out there. It’s powerful and dries my hair faster than the ones I’ve owned previously. And now that I’ve chopped off half my hair (the big reveal will be coming soon!), blow drying has been a piece of cake.
