The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is here, and I’ve compiled a list of my top 15 beauty products to help you shop. Each of the skincare and makeup items reviewed below are ones I consistently reach for and would without-a-doubt repurchase. I hope you know that when I recommend a highend product, you can be confident that I think you will love it as much as I already do.
Use code ‘SAVINGS’ to save up to 20% sitewide.
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20% off
10/28 – 11/7
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15% off
11/1 – 11/7
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10% off
11/3 – 11/7
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($16 – $46): Formulated with oatmeal, shea butter, glycerin, and squalane, this cream calms, nourishes and deeply hydrates. I use this almost every night, and it’s a dream for dry, sensitive skin.
Summer Fridays ShadeDrops SPF 30 Mineral Silk Sunscreen ($36): I never thought I would say this, but I genuinely look forward to applying my sunscreen every morning, and that’s all thanks to the ShadeDrops formula. It’s lightweight and feels just like a moisturizing serum, so my makeup wears perfectly on top. It blends effortlessly and never leaves a white case.
Supergoop Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 ($20 – $46): Looking to look glowy? This sunscreen is for you! I typically wear the bronze ‘Golden Hour’ shade to even out my skin tone on no-makeup days and the champagne ‘Sunrise’ shade for extra luminosity underneath makeup.
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint ($42): This provides sheer coverage that leaves my skin more even and healthy looking. I love that it’s dewy and glowy but still has wonderful staying power. It builds beautifully, but you will likely go through the bottle quickly if you prefer more than one layer for additional coverage. I wear ‘Shade 4’ and love the undertone.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($45 – $69): Let’s be honest: The price of this foundation is truly painful, but if you purchase it during the sale, it’s slightly less painful. This is light-to-medium, buildable coverage with a natural finish that looks like a better version of my skin. If you can afford to splurge, I highly recommend splurging on this. ‘Shade 6.5’ matches me perfectly.
Kosas Revealer Concealer ($28): If you want a concealer that is medium-to-full coverage but also a hydrating, natural finish, you have to try this one. It’s great for concealing blemishes but also highlighting my under eyes, which can be challenging to find in a single formula. This line also has amazing shades for olive undertones, and I wear ’06 O.’ My only complaint is that I didn’t try it sooner.
Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Creme Contour & Powder Bronzer Duo* ($38): If you want to achieve a more sculpted look, this travel-friendly, two-in-one product is meant for you. I have the medium shade, ‘She’s Sculpted,’ which includes a cool-toned cream to contour and a neutral to warm-toned powder to bronze. Both are highly pigmented and blendable.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($20): These blushes are just as amazing as everyone says they are: pigmented, long-lasting, and easy to blend. What more could you ask for? I have ‘Encourage,’ ‘Happy,’ ‘Truth,’ ‘Hope,’ ‘Bliss,’ and ‘Peace.’
Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines Double-Take Crème and Powder Blush ($34): I never thought I could love a blush as much as I love this one; it is genuinely one of my all-time favorite products. The sheer, glossy cream is intended to layer on top of the silky powder, and it applies so beautifully. I love ‘She’s So LA’ for a bronzy nude look, ‘She’s Baked’ for a sunkissed berry look, and ‘She’s Blushing’ for a shimmering rose look.
Merit Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm* ($30): I find myself reaching for highlighters, especially powder ones, less and less, but this cream will always be a favorite. The formula melts into the skin without ever disturbing the makeup underneath. ‘Bounce’ is a sheer wash of rose gold for the ultimate dewy, lit-from-within look.
Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder ($35): I’ve always been reluctant to wear let alone invest in setting powders because of my dry skin, but this one is a game-changer. It helps my makeup last longer and minimizes my texture, but it never looks cakey or overly matte. The baked formula actually offers a subtle luminosity. I wear ‘Cushiony.’
Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette* ($68): Everyone needs a high-quality neutral eyeshadow, and now is the perfect time to save on this masterpiece. With the perfect balance of creams and powders, shimmers and mattes, both the original and rose version of this palette include everything needed to create a variety of looks.
Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil ($29): I can never have too many neutral lip liners, and I recently fell in love with this formula and shade range. Because of the gel texture, these glide onto the lips for a comfortable yet long-wearing lip color. I adore ‘Structure’ for a slightly lighter, warmer look and ‘Contour’ for a slightly darker, cooler look.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick ($34): For me, this formula is worth the hype. I don’t typically invest in lipsticks, but this one is beyond creamy and luxurious. Of course, ‘Pillow Talk’ is a universally-flattering pinky nude, but I’ve also been loving ‘Very Victoria’ for a more true nude.
Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum ($24): Essentially a high-shine lip gloss in a solid form, this is the most unique lip product I’ve ever tried. I own two of the 14 shades, ‘Mauve Glow’ and ‘Nude Glow,’ and they are stunning. These are perfect for wearing on their own or on top of a more matte lip color.
Finally, I want to note that no one ever needs more beauty products and no one should ever feel pressured to shop. Although I do earn a small commission when someone purchases a product through my affiliate links, I choose to share my favorites because it makes me happy to talk about products I love, and I would have found similar posts so helpful when I was younger.
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Disclaimer: This post contains one or more beauty products that companies have been kind enough to send me free of charge for review purposes. PR samples will always be indicated by an asterisk (*). I only recommend products that I genuinely use and love, and I only collaborate with brands about which I feel passionate and whose values align with those of my blog and myself. As a result, all opinions expressed on Makeup By Makena are always honest and are never influenced by an outside source.
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