Emerging from the wicked winter feels good, doesn’t it? In New England, Spring is officially here and I’m ready to make some self-care switches for the season. And since nothing is more tempting than a good sale, this post highlights the perfectly timed semi-annual Sephora Savings Event, which has just started. Here’s the scoop: Rouge members save 20% April 14th-24th; VIB and BI save 15% and 10% respectively starting April 18th-24th. Speaking from personal experience, things do sell out early on, so if you’re not at the Rouge status, be sure to add to cart and checkout first thing on the 18th. The code to use is SAVENOW.
This year, I am focusing on a handful of my favorites. Some are new to the market. Some are new to Sephora. All are worth a splurge, especially considering the discount. Covering almost all the bases, my picks include a fragrance I love wearing during warmer months, a fantastic face cleanser, a couple of moisturizers (including that most talked about one), a toner everyone with annoying blackheads needs, a Westman Atelier product that finally works for me, and a sunscreen my combination skin adores.
Let’s do it.
The Maker Libertine Eau de Parfum
This casual, yet sophisticated citrus opens with a burst of energizing pomelo, hovers with a soft floral hibiscus note, and dries down with a fresh, herbaceous accord. It’s brilliant. This was my first favorite from The Maker collection and continues to be the fragrance I wear most often. Especially as the temperatures climb. Don’t dismiss Libertine if you’re not a citrus person–this is a very unique take on that off-duty feeling that always gets you noticed. If you’re not familiar with this exquisite range, check my more detailed overview of the entire range here. $175 (50ml)
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
In short: worth the hype. This truly is the be-all and end-all of moisturizers, a seamless blend of high-tech and luxe. I’ve been using The Rich Cream since its launch and was thrilled with the subtle tweak that qualified the formula as vegan a few years ago. The first thing I noticed? Its silky texture. Less rich than you’d imagine (this being a good thing), it delivers the perfect dose of nourishing comfort combined with cell rejuvenating properties courtesy of the brand’s TFC8 complex. I credit this miracle as one of a very few topicals that has my skin looking better at 40+ than it did in my 30s. $290 (50ml) but I say get the duo for $305, which includes a 15ml travel size
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
I have no idea why Sephora calls them Foundation Drops. Yes, the pigment game is strong, but the packaging reads Skincare Complexion Drops. Skincare (but tinted) it is. Since the original Vital Stick products left me super underwhelmed (waxy texture and heavily yellow undertones), I was apprehensive about this launch. It turns out that shade V is pretty great on me. The Westman Atelier drops pay off in the color department so I use them sparingly and either mix 1-2 drops with a creamy serum before going out in the evening or apply them over my favorite sunscreen. The coverage is medium and the finish is definitely dewy without looking oily. Most importantly, they don’t oxidize. $68 (30ml)
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser
Officially my favorite Glow Recipe product of all time, this creamy cleanser is absolutely incredible. It foams up with just a few drops of water, removes all dirt, pollutants, tinted sunscreen—you name it—and leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated, I have to remind myself to stop touching it. I love everything about this Avocado formula and absolutely hate the way it over dispenses when you squeeze the tube holding it upright. I did discover a successful solution: store it lying sideways on the shower shelf. Fingers crossed that a pump is in the works. Still a winner. $28 (150ml)
Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream
If you’re after a lightweight yet generously moisturizing solution that is packed with Ceramides, Peptides, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Mushroom, and Sacha Inchi Extracts, this is your answer. The brand also highlights Hydrosella™, a compound that delivers up to 72 hours of hydration. Unfamiliar yet intrigued, I did a quick search and learned that it’s a blend of Glycerin, Water, Erythritol, and Hibiscus Fruit Extract. Good to know and I’m here for it. My combination skin is loving this Shani Darden formula day and night. It’s oil-free but does contain Shea Butter so expect the luscious creamy texture but featherlight feeling upon application. Stunning packaging, too. $58 (75ml)
Alpyn Beauty Pore Perfecting Liquid Exfoliator with 2% BHA & Borage
My rave may be a bit premature (It’s my first week using this liquid step) but I feel confident in my excitement. This Alpyn Beauty leave-on treatment is your post-cleanse and pre-serum step to decongest blackhead-prone skin, brighten, and clarify a dull complexion. What is it: Salicylic Acid to exfoliate deep within the pore, soothing Borage, a brightening duet of Vitamin C and Niacinamide, purifying Tea Tree Leaf, and a nourishing medley of Moringa and Marua Oils. It’s a rich toner but not the slightest bit oily, and absorbs beautifully. It works best when applied with a cotton round. $39 (120ml)
Saint Jane Luxury Sun Ritual SPF 30
Luckily, Sephora carries one of my favorite daily sunscreens! The full name of this Saint Jane gem is Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30 and you guessed it, the pore promise got me hook, line, and sinker. What is very luxurious indeed, is the whipped creamy texture that almost feels like a primer. It magically blurs enlarged pores and has a natural-looking matte finish. The active ingredient here is the physical filter 10% Zinc Oxide. Other glow boosting properties include Jasmine, Hibiscus, Desert Rose, and Green Tea Leaf Extracts. $38 (50ml)
Explore all my favorites at sephora.com
