I have a pretty simple system when I’m shopping for beauty products, if I’m looking at drugstore items, I try to get them at Ulta. If I’m looking at mid to high end products, I try to always buy them at Sephora. That way I’m able to maximize my loyalty points across the board. That being said, Sephora is my happy place. I can spend hours upon hours there and it will feel like minutes. So when I got my invitation to the Beauty Before Brunch event for VIB Rouges, I RSVP’ed as fast as my little fingers could type.
The event itself was really well organized, and went pretty seamlessly. I was also able to bring one of my best friends as my guest (who was also able to get in on my 15% off game! Holla). There were raffles every couple of minutes, a Benefit Cosmetics table where you could get mini makeovers, facials at the Philosophy table, fragrance IQ help, a bareMinerals specialist who was also doing mini makeovers, a nail polish station, and a contouring station. My friend actually won one of the raffle/door prizes, which was a full size Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser in a Sephora tote filled with other samples. So we didn’t make out too poorly.
While there wasn’t as many samples as I was expecting in the foldover clutch, I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth either – especially with the full sized Formula X nail polish bottle. Though I will give myself a massive pat on the back, I did not buy nearly as much items as I had saved on my Sephora app. I’m sure the only one that appreciates that is my wallet, however.
I finally caved and picked up the Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow palette. The original Naked palette is probably my most used eye product and I’m still amazed that I have yet to hit pan in it. I honestly use it about every day I use eyeshadow, and it has proved to be more than worth the price tag. My only annoyance with it is that it’s hard to come up with a look that compliments my warmer toned lipsticks – so what better than to fix this than picking up it’s Rose Gold inspired sibling.
I kid you not when I finally took this out of the package, I just stared at it for a solid 5 minutes in awe. I can not wait to play around with these shades. Not to mention the little packet of primers will be great to keep on hand for travel.
While I was getting my makeup done by the wonderful Benefit ladies, I finally got to try out the Gimme Brow in light/medium. While I already have so many other eyebrow products, this was the first non-pencil or gel/pomade pot product that I’ve fallen for. I also love how compact it is. Even though I still have some product left in my They’re Real Push Up Liner, I know I’ll have to replace it in a month or so anyway, so I might as well get 15% off of it now. Aside from the Naked 3 palette, the Hoola bronzer is probably the other product that I’ve been eyeing for months, and if I end up loving it as much as I love my Benefit blushes, then it will be a purchase well loved. The little makeup bag was my gift with purchase, and was filled with a deluxe sample size of the POREfessional Primer, and some foils of Puff Off.
I’ve been on the lookout for a nice beigey eyeliner for my inner eyes & waterline for the past month or so, and was stoked that the Sephora brand Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof had a couple of options, so I picked them up in Blonde Ambition and Girl Talk.
Unfortunately, when I got my VIB Rouge birthday gift in the mail the other day, the red Nars Lip Pencil had completely melted in the tube and was effectively unusable. I was devastated. However, after explaining the situation to the most wonderful sales girl, she just grabbed me a new birthday gift. Seriously amazing customer service. Some of the other samples I picked up from the brand specialists included a Cover FX CC cream, and a Shiseido moisturizer (I’m too excited to try these out)!
Last but not least, I restocked my Boscia Charcoal Pore-Minimizing Hydrogel Mask. Which I can’t recommend enough. While it’s a little harder to put on than some other sheet masks, it forms and adheres to your face much better than cotton sheets.
You can find the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette here; Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow, Hoola, and Push Up Liner here, here, and here; Sephora Contour Eye Pencils here; and Bosia Charcoal Pore-Minimizing Hydrogel Mask here.
Have you tried any of these before? What are you planning on getting during Sephora’s sale? Let me know below in the comments!
♡Em
