Affordable and effective, the Sephora brand of skincare has been under my skin-dar way too long. Obviously. And while the words ‘store brand’ don’t qualify as an automatic buzz kill, it can be difficult to shop for budget beauty products unless one desires a low budg look. No longer a skeptic, this luxury fiend has been slathering on some impressive facial formulas lately that cost less than dry lunch. Form face wipes through sheet masks to moisturizers, the Sephora Collection is definitely worth exploring. Below are some of my highlights.
Express Cleansing Wipes. Saturated to perfection, these makeup, dirt, oil, and grime removing sheets are infused with Shea Butter, Vitamins E, and B5 in addition to HydroSenn+, an intensely moisture binding plant extract. A facial wipe hoarder, these remained moist even six months after opening. One towelette is enough to cleanse your face thoroughly, eyes and lips included. Safe on dry and sensitive skin types, Express Cleansing Wipes are lightly scented and never tear nor leave messy lint behind. Praise Jesus for the travel pack. $9 (25 ct) $4 (10 ct)
Deep cleansing but never drying, the Mud Mask from Sephora Collection is a Kaolin based mask rich in purifying minerals such as Zinc, Copper and Magnesium. Mattifying White Clay is studded with Orange Peel flecks (that’s what they are, right?) that help to exfoliate the skin as you massage the mask in for a minute after applying. It dries quickly and changes in color from deep steel to light gray. The immediate clarity and glow after rinsing it off are pretty stunning. Best part? It’s $19 for a 2 oz jar.
Hovering somewhere between basic and luxe, the Instant Moisturizer has been my go-to face cream for the last few months. With so many mask selfies and the rinsing of sunscreen necessitated by travels and poolside lounging much of the summer, I’ve had to apply moisturizer sometimes four times a day. Fueled by Sephora’s proprietary blend of HydroSenn+, Green Tea Extract and Vitamin C, this lush face cream hydrates and protects the skin round-the-clock. Lightweight and quick absorbing, it contains subtle light reflecting pigment that adds immediate glow. $22 (1.7 oz jar) or $12 (1 oz tube)
Elegant in composition and lovely in texture, the Total Age Defy Cream for eyes & lips is the most well-rounded skincare formula I’ve tried from Sephora. Suitable for the delicate skin around the eyes and mouth, this multi-tasking treatment uses Plant Sugar, Collagen Booster Peptide, and Algae Extract to tighten, firm, and deeply hydrate. Enriched with Shea Butter, it lasts all day (great under makeup) and night. Crucial to every regimen, applying an eye cream is among the most important steps to successfully prevent premature signs of aging. Beginning with this Sephora Collection gem will suffice. $26 (.5 oz)
I cannot imagine not having a facial sponge sink side. Splashing away the residue of some of my favorite facial potions can leave a disastrous mess. That would be $50 for a new face mask and $100 for the housekeeper, please. The Facial Cleansing Pads from Sephora Collection arrived two to a pack and came pre-treated with Red Grape Leaf Extract, Olive Seed, and Vitamin E. Small and nifty, they work great to remove any trace of a mask or exfoliant whenever I skip a shower. Because of their ingredients, you can use them alone or with an added cleanser of choice. Dispose when signs of wear appear within 1-3 months. $8 (2 ct)
Single use and travel friendly, the Sephora Collection fiber masks offer a wide array of skin fixes for face and eyes. Since the sheet mask craze is here to stay, you may as well indulge in the countless options Sephora makes available. Perfect to pair with a relaxing bath or grueling jetlag, these disposable treatments are the epitome of feel good beauty with benefits. Since anything ‘anti-fatigue’, ‘revitalizing’ or ‘perfecting’ always gets priority in my routine, I have developed a few favorites: Ginseng and Pomegranate for the face and Ginseng and Pearl for the eyes. As the weather is about to start getting cooler and my combination skin is about to wreck havoc, I’ll be looking into Honey and Lotus formulas this month. $6 (face mask) $5 (eye mask)
Available at Sephora.com.
