My 23 Must-Have Sephora Sale Recommendations

Scroll below to shop my top picks organized by the categories of Skincare, Makeup, Hair, and Body.

---

Skincare:

Almost all my skincare picks above are “clean” products and get the seal of Sephora Clean approval 👍 (two exceptions are the lash serum and lip mask)

Also, *FYI* my skin type is sensitive, acne-prone, combo/oily.

*One note I’d like to make about Drunk Elephant products before I get into my faves: yes they are pricey but they personally last me a long time. I have yet to run out of ANY of them (though I think my TLC Framboos is getting close) and last time I bought them was Sephora’s sale at the beginning of November, so almost 6 months ago. If you aim to get what you need around their 2 yearly sale times, then you’re never paying full price!

1. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum, $90

I had to start off with my favorite Drunk Elephant product of all time: their resurfacing serum. I use this every other night (I switch off between this and their Retinol – which is a routine they suggest and is working great for me) with a couple drops of their facial oil. It creates the perfect combo of acne-fighting, resurfacing action that also hydrates well. P.S. Don’t let the word “oil” scare you – I have sensitive, acne-prone, very-easily-clogged-pores skin and this oil does not clog pores / cause acne for me at all (which is quite rare for ultra-hydrating products).

Let’s talk about the price for a second – yes, I know it’s pricey. But this product almost single-handedly changed my skin so the price just isn’t a problem for me. If you’re hesitant, try this little set instead which includes a mini size plus a really great nighttime cream (that I also use and love). Also, don’t forget about Sephora’s amazing return policy!

2. Drunk Elephant F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask, $52

This is probably my second favorite Drunk Elephant product (or perhaps tied with their oil), and it’s actually one of their newest products! I ordered it the minute it came out at the beginning of the year and soooooo glad I did. I have used this quite a lot during the recent winter months. I’m easing it out of my routine now since the temps are rising and I’m also not outside nearly as much #stayhome (thus I’m not getting whipped with wind /coldness/ dryness everyday).

In my Instagram poll, a lot of you were requesting hydration recommendations – this is my #1 for quick and mega hydration. I have never ever gotten so much hydration from a product without breaking me out. It’s da best! …or rather, DA BOMB 🙃(get it? since it’s called F-Balm…)

Directions say use like 4-5 pumps, but I use a max of 3 and it really gets the job done. Also, this product comes with a mini of the above mentioned product (their resurfacing serum), so that’s also a fab plus. And I do tend to use them together.

3. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum, $80

This is my everyday serum to use in the mornings. I mix with their Protini moisturizer (product mentioned next/below) and it’s the best! It definitely brightens my overall skin tone. Vitamin C is an important step to include in anyone’s skincare routine. I think it’s especially important for those in their 20s and 30s because it helps prevent future concerns like fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also important for anyone older since it helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that might already be there.

This is definitely a pricier option for Vitamin C. TBH, I’m super loyal to the Drunk Elephant brand and trust them with my life (or I guess just my skin, but honestly…). If you’re looking for a cheaper option, I did recently try this more affordable serum and can definitely recommend that (it’s not sold at Sephora but just thought I’d share anyway; additionally, this realllyyy affordable one at Sephora also has great reviews and is clean but I haven’t tried it myself).

4. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, $68

This I use every morning, always mixed with one pump of the above-mentioned Vitamin C serum, and sometimes also mixed with a pump of DE’s hydration serum, depending on my skin’s needs. It is a fantastic moisturizer and I feel it can work with everyone’s skin type. It’s the perfect amount of medium moisture, no fragrance, and a real powerhouse of ingredients including signal peptides, growth factors, amino acids, and pygmy waterlily to improve the look of skin’s tone, texture, and firmness.

Something I also love about this is it absorbs pretty quickly, which is important for me as I am almost always running late and rushing in the morning.

5. Drunk Elephant The Littles, $90 (a $126 value)

Looking to revamp your skincare routine? Or even just develop one at all? …or maybe a more robust one? This set includes all DE’s best-selling basics, so it’s the perfect way to sample their star players without dropping a ton of dough (also great for travel if you already love DE!).

I personally stand by every single one of the products in this kit except for the cleanser – which I didn’t hate, just didn’t love (not sure anyone can pry my beloved Fresh Soy Cleanser out of my hands…). The 4 key products in here I’ve all mentioned above (at night: resurfacing serum + oil; in the morning: vitamin C serum + protini moisturizer); add the B-hydra hydration serum to either night or day mixtures when needed; and love both the eye cream and sunscreen. And that covers the set!!

6. GrandeLASH MD Lash Enhancing Serum, $65

This is the only product I’m sharing in this post that I haven’t personally tried. I’ve had my eye on it for a couple years, and knew the reviews were always good… just never pulled the trigger. Recently, I saw a couple bloggers on Insta (who have really great natural lashes) share this and say they swear by it, so I’ve been waiting for this sale to finally pull the trigger! Very excited and seems like a good quarantine product to try since I have less steps in my nighttime routine currently (ie: no eye makeup to remove).

7. Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner, $28

If you haven’t heard of Caudalie, they are a really great French skincare brand that is clean! I got a mini size of this in a Caudalie set I picked up a few months ago. I was buying the set to mainly try their blemish serum to help combat acne on my nose and chin (and I do indeed love and use that serum), but I quickly fell in love with the toner!

I hadn’t been using a toner (Drunk Elephant says you don’t need one – which I decided I don’t agree with haha). But I do only use toner on my acne-prone areas – so just my T-zone, plus any random breakouts elsewhere. I think it’s important after opening up pores for the first thing to get absorbed to be something acne-fighting. This toner has natural salicylic acid and definitely helps keeps my pores clearer while not being overly drying. I apply with these reusable cotton rounds from Amazon.

8. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $20

I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of this product before – I feel like honestly every single person on the internet raves about it. I use it every night before bed, and sometimes during the day if my lips are in dire need. It hydrates them and prevents them from ever getting chapped. It absorbs very slowly, which I’m not sure is good or bad, but I like that it last a long time! I have the original berry scent and it’s so heavenly that it’s become my favorite nighttime routine step. Highly recommend and the jar lasts a longggg time!

---

Makeup:

*If you want to get just one new lipstick to add to your collection, make it THIS one*
9. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Lipstick, $34

This is such a great color, I truly believe everyone (in the more light-medium skin tone range) should own this nude-pink hue. You’ve maybe heard of it? It’s definitely Charlotte Tilbury’s most famous product. See the color on me in this Instagram pic. The lipstick lasts pretty long and is a super chic matte finish.

For anyone reading this with a darker complexion, there is now a darker version of Pillow Talk available (I think it’s fairly new), so I definitely would check that out (it looks really nice in the photo online!!).

I also love the matching lip pencil for this, but usually (due to laziness) I just wear the lipstick alone. A set with both the lipstick and the pencil in mini versions is available for $25 here, but I have a feeling it will set out very quickly during this sale.

10. Kosas Color & Light: Pressed Powder Blush & Highlighter Duo, $34

Kosas is a fabulous clean makeup brand if you haven’t heard of them before! I use this powder blush in the color Longitude Zero, described as “an iconic pink rose duo for classic blush and a just-kissed flush.” And this is exactly how I feel it looks! It’s just the perfect classic blush color. And what’s great is Kosas makes every color in a more pigmented version for darker-skinned ladies or just anyone wanting something with a ton of color pay-off. But the original has a good amount of pigment – I love it! Very easy to apply and very pretty. And it’s convenient to have a highlighter right there, too.

This is the powder duo, but they make the same colors in cream form also – I have both and love! I have the cream in the Velvet Melon color, described as “a luminous peach duo for youthful vitality and juicy dewiness.” I love that one too… I just have been liking my Longitude Zero powder more lately, and feel its a more universal shade to share with you guys.

11. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara, $28

Ilia is another great clean beauty brand. This is the perfect mascara for long-lasting, naturally beautiful lashes. This doesn’t provide insane volume but it does lift, lengthen, and hold curl. It’s funny last Sephora Sale I shared a hella-voluminous mascara (still love it, but it’s not clean – linked here), and my taste has since changed! I really prefer a more natural lash look these days. And this one doesn’t fall out which has been my biggest struggle with mascaras the last year or so. I also LOVE the wand! One side is shorter, fluffier bristles; the other side is like a longer, stiff comb. To use – start with the shorter side to curl and create volume, then the longer side to build length and separate with precision.

12. Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil, $29

I used this brow pencil for several years, then switched to a cleaner (but not nearly as good option), and have now decided to order this again during the sale because I miss it that much. It’s great because you never have to sharpen it – it just twists up! And it truly lives up to its name of “ultra-fine precision.”  It keeps its tiny, precise shape through its entire life! The brow brush on the other end is a NEED, and TBH I don’t understand why all brow products don’t somehow incorporate one to make your brow routine more efficient.

13. Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel, $22

My current daily brow routine is my free sample of a brow pencil by Benefit (not going to link it because the Dior one above is similar but better, and same price) + this amazinggg clear brow gel on top. This means business when it comes to keeping your brow hairs in place – seriously! If you have pesky brows or just want a product that really delivers, grab this gel STAT.

14. Bareminerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer, $19

Be warned – this tube is TINY. It really took me by surprise when I first opened! I only need the littlest amount and don’t use it everyday so it’ll still probably last me ages – but just wanted to let you guys know. This is the best eyelid primer I’ve used for my HELLA oily lids if anyone’s looking for staying power. Not sure how well it makes eyeshadows pop or anything since I really don’t use eyeshadow, but I use this to prime my lid for my rare eyeshadow moments or my less rare eyeliner moments. Works wonders!

---

Hair:

15. Playa Everyday Shampoo + Supernatural Conditioner, $28 each

I got a sample of these in an online Sephora order and am so glad I did! Playa has changed my hair game, and guess what?! It’s clean!! Smells fresh, cleans my hair, doesn’t weight it down, my hair stays clean for longer… that’s all you can ask for really! Or it’s all I ask for in a shampoo/conditioner anyway! My hair is pretty fine and naturally straight, and these products help give it a litttttle bit of added texture too which I love! Highly recommend, I’ve been using them since Thanksgiving and have absolutely no complaints.

16. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, $25

BEST. DRY. SHAMPOO. EVER. If you haven’t tried it yet… why not?! This actuallyyyyy cleans your hair and smells amazing (but the scent isn’t too strong, which is also key for me). Works really well overnight AND within 5 minutes – it’s worth the price! This is a must-try if dry shampoo is part of your weekly routine. I go through this stuff really quickly so I always stock up during sales like these. Plus, they just came out with a value size recently for $36 that is a pretty good deal without the sale on top!

17. Dyson Airwrap, $499 – $549 depending on what set you get

Not going to write much here because I have post and video on this amazing invention – linking right here. There is a lot of info in that post so definitely check that out if you are interested. But long story short – totally changed my hair game and is a total time-saver for me. Plus, it doesn’t use crazy heat so it’s better than traditional blow dryers and heat styling tools. I will end this by saying this device literally never goes on sale so act now if interested! It’s also most definitely going to sell out during this sale, too – it did last year!

*Note that the Sephora sale only allows for one Dyson product purchase per person.

18. Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil, $28

One of my more recent beauty purchases, this hair oil has been great! I love its light, fresh scent and that it doesn’t weigh my hair down. It’s the first hair oil I’ve tried where that is the case. I have fine, thin hair that can get greasy fast, so oil is a dangerous game. This one is great and a little goes a long way! The amount/packaging may seem small but it’s because you really only need a drop or two. Btw – it’s a clean beauty product!

19. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, $36

This is THE BEST deep conditioning mask I’ve ever tried, and I have tried quite a few throughout my lifetime. It definitely restores strength and moisture – my hair truly feels and looks AH-MAZING after using this. It’s also a great quarantine buy because I know for myself anyway that my hair is way overgrown, desperately needs a cut, and this is saving it right now! FYI – also clean 👍

---

Body:

20. Supergoop! PLAY Body Mousse SPF 50, $34

This is a great time to stock up on sunscreen and SPF products – summer and warmer temps are coming faster than you realize! And even if shelter-in-place is still active by then, personally I’ll still find a way to catch some rays! My buildings got a roof 😎

Supergoop! is my absolute favorite SPF brand. None of the products have that typical sunscreen smell or that typical sunscreen feel – and TBH I’ll pay anything for that! LOL! I truly love all their products but their mousse is my favorite. Head to my blog post here discussing more of my Supergoop! faves. Btw – it’s both a clean and reef-safe brand.

21. St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Body Mist, $42

Figured there wasn’t a better time than now to experiment with self-tanning, and I’m so glad I did! I’ve avoided self-tanners since high school because they’re hard to use (I’d rather be pale than look ridiculous or unprofessional) and they smell awful (and personally I’m extra sensitive to scent). Well, they’ve come a long way over the years, and I’m happy to say I’ve found one that really works for me!! This one is so easy to use (just make sure to use a mitt, linked mine below) and is very subtle / buildable depending on how much you spray. It smells almost… delicious? Even bae commented on how delightful I smelled after applying. It also dries super fast, lasts pretty long (maybe a week?), makes my skin feel super hydrated, and doesn’t have an instant bronzer in it which translates to no staining 🙌🙌🙌

22. St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Face Serum, $30

I haven’t personally tried this yet, as I will be ordering it tonight during this sale! But the reviews impress me. In my recent self-tan journey, I’ve just been spraying a spritz of the above body product to mix into my nighttime moisturizer – but it hasn’t made a big difference and I’m afraid to use more than one spritz haha! Excited to try the matching face serum product. I plan to mix this in with my moisturizer at night.

23. St. Tropez Double Sided Luxe Tan Applicator Mitt, $7.50

I really don’t recommend using self-tanning products without a mitt! (Unless the instructions say otherwise, of course.) I’d never used one until a couple weeks ago and it really is a game changer. Plus, it’s not too expensive and reusable. This is the one I have and it works great.

---

what do you plan on getting during the sale? let me know in the comments below!