What to Buy at the Sephora Holiday Savings Event!
Disclosure: I independently research, buy, and try all recommended products unless noted otherwise. Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission when you click on a link and purchase something.
Hi, beauty friends! It's the most wonderful time of the year — the Sephora Holiday Savings Event! This sale is the perfect time to buy holiday gifts and something special for yourself.
The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is open to Sephora Beauty Insiders, a free membership with benefits such as savings, samples, and experiences at participating Sephora stores. Not a member but want to take advantage of the discount? All you have to do is sign up for free in-store or online.
Sale Details
The sale will run from Oct. 27 – Nov. 6, 2023.
Rouge members, Sephora’s highest membership tier, save 20% and get first access to the sale beginning today, Oct. 27.
VIB and Insiders members save 15% and 10%, respectively, and can begin shopping the sale on Oct. 31.
All Beauty Insider members save 30% on Sephora Collection products.
Discounts cannot be stacked.
Shopping online? Use code TIMETOSAVE at checkout to activate your member discount.
I’m a proud Rouge Beauty Insider, and I like to take advantage of my 20% discount to restock or stock up on my favorite beauty products and treat myself to the pricier items on my beauty wishlist.
Whether you're shopping for gifts or buying something nice for yourself, keep reading for my Sephora Holiday Savings Event recommendations.
P.S. If you shop the sale, tag me in your Instagram Stories @jessikalynorozco. I’d love to see what you bought!
Related: What to Buy at the Sephora Holiday Savings Event (2022)
My Sephora Sale Wishlist
I’m a creature of habit when it comes to my beauty routine, but there are a few new products that launched in the last couple of months that I want to try. Below is my Sephora sale wishlist.
Fable & Mane MahaMane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil – I’m a huge fan of Fable & Mane because their hair products have taken my dry, color-damaged hair from scream face emoji to star eyes emoji. I will literally buy anything they put out. Out of all the products I’ve tried so far, I only returned one. See the Hair Recommendations list below for all of my Fable & Mane product recommendations.
Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush – I first tried Merit’s Flush Balm Cream Blush after buying two colors — Beverly Hills (a soft pink) and Persimmon (a soft orange-red), my fave color so far! — at the Sephora Spring Savings Event earlier this year and fell in love! I plan on buying 1-2 more colors at the Sephora holiday sale. More about these balm cream blushes in my Makeup Recommendations list below.
Fenty Skin Warm Cinnamon Butta Drop Shimmering Whipped Oil Body Cream – Y’all, I’m obsessed with Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream. I’ve owned and depleted every single jar I bought, and I can’t stop buying them. I was planning on restocking the original scent, but I just discovered they have a new Warm Cinnamon scent, and I must have it!
My Sephora Sale Restock List
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Moisturizer – I’ve used this gel moisturizer for years because it’s my go-to for my oily skin. I always return to this one whenever I try a new gel moisturizer. I go through at least one jar per month of this moisturizer, and I’ve been waiting for the Sephora Holiday Savings Event to buy the jumbo 3.3 oz. jar.
SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub – I just ran out of this amazing hair scrub and will restock my stash at the sale.
Sephora Collection Clean Eye Mask – I love having tons of under-eye masks in stock to use before I do a work video shoot or when I need a little self-care. Sephora Collection’s Clean Eye Mask is my favorite to have in my beauty collection, and it’s 30% off at the Sephora Holiday Savings Event!
Makeup Recommendations
Foundation for oily skin girlies: Only people with oily skin know the struggle of finding a foundation that 1) Stays put without slipping and 2) Doesn’t oxidize, and I have two amazing recommendations for you: Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder and Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation.
If you want that “my skin but better” foundation, go with the Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder. This unique balm-to-powder foundation makes skin look — dare I say — like you’re wearing a social media filter. And you only need a pea-sized amount of product for it to look good. I bought this foundation at the Sephora Spring Savings Event earlier this year, and I still have a ton of product left. I also love that it’s compact and comes with a tiny spoon to scoop the product into your hands. I like to use the spoon to pick up a pea-sized amount of product before warming it up between my fingers to apply to my face. The consistency of this product is gorgeous and long-lasting, and it doesn’t oxidize on oily skin.
If you’re looking for a soft, matte, long-wear foundation, you’ll want to try the Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation. I wore this foundation on my wedding day, and it stayed put from morning to night, even while hiking a mountain for my wedding photos. This foundation is a real one for the oily-skin girlies.
A concealer that actually conceals: For a concealer that actually conceals, try the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer. The large, doe foot applicator makes it easy to apply the concealer to your under-eyes or face to highlight. I would say the concealer’s consistency is mostly full coverage. It does a great job at concealer under-eye circles that aren’t too dark. If you have really dark under-eye circles, I recommend color-correcting them first with something like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish Color Corrector.
The best brow pencil for people with thicker brows: If you're a longtime reader of my blog, you know my go-to eyebrow pencil is Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer because it makes filling in my thicker-shaped brows easy. I like to use this product with Anastasia Beverly Hill’s Clear Brow Gel and Pro Pencil, a concealer pencil to shape your brows. Here’s a list of other brow products I love and use when I need to switch things up:
My favorite cream blushes: I've become a cream blush enthusiast over the last couple of years. I love a good, long-lasting blush, and my current favorite is the Patrick Ta Major Beauty Headlines Double-Take Creme and Powder Blush. I have and love all the colors She's So L.A. (a bronzed nude), She's That Girl (a soft pink), Do We Know Her? (a neutral peach), and She’s Wanted (a rich berry). This creme and powder blush is highly pigmented because of its unique application process. First, you apply the powder blush, followed by the creme blush. The finished look is this beautiful blush that doesn't budge.
For a more soft, natural-looking blush, Merit’s Flush Balm Cream Blush is the best and prettiest. I like wearing this blush during the summer when I’m going for that no-makeup-makeup vibe. I also love how it’s uniquely shaped for easy application. I have this blush in the colors Beverly Hills (a soft peach) and Persimmon (a soft orange-red) — my fave! I would love to buy 1-2 more colors to add to my collection.
The best bronzers: I’m always on the hunt for a good bronzer to warm my skin up. I have lots in my makeup collection, but my favorites are the Nars Laguna Bronzing Creme, Sephora Collection Matte Bronzer Powder (30% off!), and Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer.
Juicy lip glosses: Remember when I said I’m a creature of habit? Well, the only lip product I love and use daily is the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat lip gloss in the color Fenty Glow. I also have it in Hot Chocolit, but I only wear it during the fall and holidays. If you like the juicy lip gloss look, I’m sure you’ll love this lip gloss.
Hair Tools & Product Recommendations
For an all-in-one hair tool: I said this before, and I’ll say again: I love my Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler or the Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete now. Honestly, I bought the airwrap never blowing out my hair before, and now, I have a tough time styling my hair without it. It has completely changed the way I style my hair forever. I've used it on both my short and long hair, making both lengths look smooth and voluminous. I bought the first version at a Sephora Holiday Savings Event with my Rouge Beauty Insider discount in 2020.
Full disclosure: I did have to use my warranty to trade it in after a couple of months because of an electrical issue. It took a little over a month for Dyson to troubleshoot the error via email, but once they realized it was an electrical issue, everything happened so fast, and I got my replacement airwrap in a week.
Another all-in-one hair tool is the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand. I also bought this at a Sephora Holiday Savings Event in 2019, and I've had it ever since. I love that the barrels are interchangeable, but my favorite barrel size is the one-and-a-half-inch barrel to create loose, voluminous waves on short and long hair.
For healthy, shiny, and hydrated hair, even when it’s dry from heat and color damage: I’m always talking about how much I love Fable & Mane on my Instagram. The obsession started when I bought the HoliRoots shampoo and conditioner to rejuvenate my dehydrated hair from heat and color damage. Then I bought the HoliRoots Pre-Wash Hair Treatment Oil, which helps strengthen hair. Because I have fine hair, I like to apply it in the mornings of my hair wash days instead of overnight. I’ll leave it in for about 2 hours before washing it out post-workout.
I also have and love the SahaScalp Hydrating Cooling Scalp Mud Mask, SahaScalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub, and HoliRoots Hair Mask. I only use the mud mask, scrub, and hair mask once weekly when I have my “everything shower.” I’ve tried different hair wash systems in between, but I always return to my Fable & Mane products because they work best for me. Even my hairstylist has commented on how soft and shiny my hair is, despite the heat and color damage, at my salon appointments. Every product I have smells divine.
Another brand I love and use to treat my color-damaged hair is Olaplex because that’s what my hair stylist uses on me when I visit her at the salon. In my post-hair wash routine, I use the Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. This lightweight serum is a great option for people with fine hair because the product doesn’t weigh your hair down. I use it as the last step in my post-hair wash routine after applying my Sephora Collection Hydrating Scalp Serum (only $18 normally — $13 at the sale — what?!) and Moroccanoil Hair Treatment Oil. Then, I comb my wet hair with a wide-tooth comb before blowing it out with my Dyson Airwrap.
I also want to recommend purchasing a silicone scalp brush to use on your scalp before you wash your hair. Using a scalp brush will help increase the blood flow to your scalp and lift any dry product or skin from the scalp, giving you a fresh, clean canvas to work with. This silicone scalp brush from the Sephora Collection is 30% off at the sale.
Skincare Recommendations
Cleansers for people in their 30s who have oily skin: My skin isn’t how it was in my 20s, and the products I used then don’t have the same effect on my skin now. That’s when I came across Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate Cleanser, a daily foaming wash with AHA and Enzymes to clean pores from dirt, oil, and an over-production of sebum. It’s great at keeping my 30-year-old skin in tip-top shape.
One cleanser I used in my 20s that still works for me is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. It’s the best gentle cleanser for people with sensitive and oily skin that can be used on the face and eyes, in my opinion.
Toners to balance your skin: I love using a toner as the second step in my skincare routine to prep my skin for my skincare products. I’m currently using the Fenty Skin Fat Water with Niacinamide for its hydrating, acne-fighting, and brightening properties. Another favorite in my collection is the ****Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pore-Tight Toner. Not only does it balance your skin, but it also tightens your pores and gives you glowy skin, and it smells like a spicy jalapeno margarita. Other favorite toners for oily skin include OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force Oil Control Toner and Farmacy Deep Sweep Toner.
Brightening and hydrating eye creams: In my 20s, I was positive eye cream was a conspiracy. A moisturizer in a tiny bottle marketed for people to think it was specifically for under your eyes? C’mon. Then, I turned 30 and noticed my under-eye circles were darker than normal, despite the 7-to-8 hours of sleep I get most nights. Introducing Origins Ginzing Vitamin C Eye Cream. angels harmonizing Origins Ginzing is a peach-tinted eye cream that comes in two tones to brighten under-eye shadows. It's the only one I've tried so far that instantly brightens the shadows under my eyes. I don't think I'll love a brightening eye cream as much as I love Origins Ginzing.
When my under-eyes feel drier during the cooler months, I always reach for Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. Both do a great job hydrating the under-eye area.
My favorite moisturizer for oily skin: It’s no secret that Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb is my favorite moisturizer for oily skin. Every time I try something new or go back to a previously loved moisturizer, I always end up coming back to Aqua Bomb.
Must-try serums: Until recently, I’ve only used vitamin C serums because I love how bright and glowy they make my skin. Then, I tried Youth To The People Triple Peptide Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum and fell in love! Unlike most vitamin C serums, I didn’t see an immediate difference when I applied the Youth to the People Triple Peptide serum. But after consistent use, I noticed hydrated skin, the baby wrinkles on my forehead, and "tech neck" lines disappearing. My current favorite vitamin C serum is this Sephora Collection Vitamin C + E Super Glow Serum (more about it in my Life Lately vlog, ep. 2). My other favorite serums include OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Serum, Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil.
Related: My Favorite Vitamin C Serums Under $100
Must-have matte sunscreens: If SPF isn’t part of your skincare routine, what are you even doing? SPF is important because it protects our skin from harmful diseases like skin cancer. I like to use broad-spectrum sunscreens to protect my skin from UVA and UVB rays. I have a couple of favorite matte sunscreens I buy at Sephora. Tatcha's Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen gives you porcelain-like skin without the clogging. I also like Supergoop!'s Matte Screen, which has a neutral-tinted sunscreen and is great for no makeup or light makeup days.
Skincare for self-care days: I love having at-home spa days/self-care days. I have a plethora of face masks and skincare tools that make my at-home spa days so chef’s kiss. Below is a list of my favorite face masks and skincare tools:
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask – My favorite everything face mask. When traveling, I use it as an eye cream and moisturizer.
Summer Fridays Overtime Mask – My favorite exfoliating mask. Smells like pumpkin!
Sephora Collection Metal Facial Razor – I use this 1-2 times per week to dermaplane (shave) my face.
Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor – It’s out of stock at Sephora right now. Hopefully, they didn’t discontinue it.
Facial Steamer – Having your own facial steamer is a skincare game changer! I have one from Vanity Planet (not sold at Sephora). But if you’re certain you want to buy one from Sephora, I found this Pro Facial Steamer from Dr. Dennis Gross.
Holiday Gift Set Picks
Since this is somewhat of a holiday guide, here are my Sephora holiday gift set picks. The majority of these sets have products I mentioned in my recommendations above.
I hope you find something you like from my recommendations. If you purchase something from my guide, tag me on Instagram @jessikalynorozco. I’d love to see what you bought!