Sephora's Biggest Semi-Annual Sale Is Finally Here
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'Tis finally the season for roasted chestnuts, festive manicures, and most importantly, holiday savings. To ring in the most festive time of the year, Sephora announced that its annual Holiday Savings Event is officially kicking off on Friday, November 5 until Monday, November 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and that's music to our ears. It's happening just in time to check off all the names on our gift lists, and you can treat yourself to a bunch of new skin-care, makeup, fragrance, and hair-care goodies, too. Plus, there is a treasure trove of new launches, like the Lawless Mini The Glam One Eyeshadow Palette, that'll definitely put you in a jolly mood.
If this is your first Sephora Beauty Insider rodeo, don't worry — it's pretty straightforward. First off, it's totally free to become a Beauty Insider (so if you haven't already signed up, do it pronto). Your Rouge, VIB, or Insider tier depends on how much you spend in a calendar year.
If you have Rouge (you spend at least $1,000 per year) or VIB status (at least $350 per year), lucky you: You get to shop the Holiday Savings Event earlier, longer, and with a deeper discount than Insider members. Sounds pretty sweet, no? Here's the complete breakdown of the sale:
- Rouge: 20 percent off from November 5 to 15
- VIB: 15 percent off from November 9 to 15
- Insider: 10 percent off from November 11 to 15
Here's where you call up all of your friends to find out who has Rouge status and ask them for a little favor. Seriously: On November 5 and 6, Rouge members can bring a VIB or Insider member as a guest into the store and they'll be able to enjoy the 20 percent discount as well. Talk about a partner in crime — in which the crime is shopping and saving together. And if you don't have a stand-alone Sephora within your radius, don't fret, because Sephora at Kohl's shoppers can also enjoy the Holiday Savings Event.
If you don't feel comfortable shopping in person, no worries. Simply hop on over to sephora.com and use the code YAYHOLIDAY, and you can even pick up your purchase in-store on the same day, use the retailer's same-day delivery option, or get free standard shipping with the code FREESHIP during the entirety of the sale. It couldn't be easier to save big bucks on your favorite beauty products.
Plus, all Sephora Collection products are 30 percent off between November 5 and 15 for Beauty Insiders only — no code required. Though the tiered savings can't be stacked (as in, you can't combine them to get a super-steep discount on Sephora Collection products), the offer may be used in the same transaction as the Holiday Savings Event sale.
Hang tight, because there are a few more important details and exceptions to keep in mind. Each customer can redeem their discount as many times as they'd like during their allotted tier-level time period, so you can spread out your shopping and buy whatever catches your eye as you browse Sephora's vast inventory. There's no minimum purchase needed, either.
However, for U.S. and Canada-based customers, The Ordinary and MAC Viva Glam products are excluded from the discount. Also, there's a limit of one Dyson item, five Morphe products, and three Tarte Shape Tape Concealers allowed per transaction.
As always, you can't combine this offer with any others. And finally, Instacart, Instagram shopping, in-store services, previous purchases, and purchases of gift cards, gift wrapping, packaging, packaging, taxes, and shipping and handling charges also do not apply.
Now that we've got all of the basics down, here are some of our favorite picks that we'll be eyeing during the sale:
Skin Care
Tweak your skin-care routine for fall and winter concerns (think dryness, flaking, and chapped lips) with the help of new and classic products. Whether it's trying out a buzzy exfoliator that'll deep-clean your pores or testing an Allure Best of Beauty-winning face mask, Sephora's got you covered.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Solution Set
Hyper Skin Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum
For a deeper post-wash cleanse, swipe on a dollop of the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Its salicylic acid-based formula penetrates deep into pores, getting rid of dirt, excess oil, and acne-causing bacteria in the process. Though sensitive skin types may want to use a less intensive formula, this treatment is great for mattifying oily complexions and removing blemish-inducing buildup on pimple-prone skin.
There are tons of face masks on the market, but Kiehl's Best of Beauty-winning Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque is an all-time favorite among Allure staffers. The main ingredient in this mask is white clay, which absorbs excess sebum while working to break down blackhead-forming buildup. If redness and sensitivity are also concerns, Kiehl's beloved mask is also infused with soothing aloe to calm and comfort.
Hyperpigmentation can be more stubborn to fade than the acne that caused it to form, but the Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Solution Set is here to help. This kit contains a trifecta of minis from the French brand's tone-evening Vinoperfect line, including the Radiance Dark Spot Serum, Brightening Glycolic Essence, and Brightening Glycolic Night Cream. Each of these products is powered by glycolic acid's skin-smoothing and brightening properties, plus squalane for moisture.
Another one of our favorite skin-brightening products is Hyper Skin's Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum. Known for constantly selling out, this trendy serum is made up of three key skin-care ingredients: hydrating hyaluronic acid, dark sport-addressing kojic acid, and (as the name states) brightening vitamin C.
Makeup
Many of us are now returning to our offices and IRL workplace situations, so now's the perfect time to stock up on some cosmetics. But if there's one thing the pandemic taught us, it's to chill — well, at least with our beauty routines. The "no makeup"-makeup trend had a major revival, and the minimalist trend seems to be staying for 2022. So expect to see more lightweight foundations and creamy, multipurpose blushes in stores, and possibly in your own stash.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership Mega: Celestial Odyssey Eyeshadow Palette
Rare Beauty Mini Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Trio
YSL Beauty Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream Lipstick
For the perfect lightweight base, try out the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40. This foundation-serum hybrid creates a sheer veil of coverage to even out any pigmentation and blemish concerns but does much more than just cover up spots. This silky tint also contains a fusion of hyaluronic acid for skin hydration, moisturizing squalane, and niacinamide to minimize the appearance of pores. To top it off, it also contains broad-spectrum SPF 40 to guard your skin from UV rays.
Pat McGrath Labs never ceases to amaze us with its plethora of cosmic shades and intense pigments, and its latest iteration of the Mothership eye shadow palette line is its latest creation yet. The Mothership Mega: Celestial Eye Shadow Palette contains 18 shades of shimmers, glitters, foils, mattes, and sparkles to mix and match. Each and every shade glides on like smooth butter, blends like a breeze, and has an opaque color payoff that won't smudge or fade.
To get the best bang for your buck, Rare Beauty — aka, Selena Gomez's beauty line — is always stocked with high-quality cosmetics at an affordable price. None of the brand's offerings on Sephora have a price tag above $30 (yes, including sets), and now they'll be even cheaper, thanks to the Holiday Savings Event. What Rare Beauty item is on our shopping list? There's the Mini Soft Pinch Blush Trio, which features three different shades of the brand's popular liquid blushes: peachy-pink Bliss, mauve Hope, and apricot-hued Peace.
Nothing beats a classic, which is why we're not missing the opportunity to restock our supply of YSL Beauty Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream Lipstick. Each tube of this liquid lipstick contains a creamy formula that glides on smoothly, drying down to a rose-petal-soft, matte finish. There are currently 12 shades to choose from on Sephora's site, but the vibrant candy-red Rouge Tatouage (as seen above) is one of our favorite hues.
Hair Care
We're not going to sit on our high horse and tell you to drop $599 on a Dyson hair-tool set, but we will say that the best time to buy said set is when you can save up to $119 off the original price tag (if you're Rouge). Not too shabby. Otherwise, there are plenty of leave-in treatments, shampoos, and hair accessories to pique your interest.
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask
Grace Eleyae All Silk Turban
Olaplex Healthy Hair Essentials
Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler Limited Edition Set
We all know that Briogeo's original Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask is a hair care savior — it is a three-time Allure Reader's Choice winner, after all — but sometimes we don't have 10 minutes to spare to use it. So, consider the line's Strength + Moisture Leave-In Spray Hair Mask for the same conditioning effects, without the need to hop into the shower. This leave-in spray is infused with argan oil to moisturize and soften your hair, while biotin restores its glossy sheen.
Here's a fun fact: Covering your hair with a bonnet or smooth covering (like a silk or satin headwrap) can help with dryness and frizz. There are tons to choose from in a variety of styles and prices, but Grace Eleyae's All Silk Turban is worth every penny. The elastic headband fits snuggly on your head without budging or moving throughout the night, and it's made of double-lined silk to protect your delicate hair from bedhead, frizzing, and breakage.
If your hair looks like it's screaming SOS — as in, drier than tumbleweed and as brittle as steel wool — then Olaplex's Healthy Hair Essentials will be the gift that keeps on giving for you. This set includes a full-size bottle of the brand's biggest claim to fame, the No. 3 Hair Perfector, which is infused with an active ingredient known as bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. This ingredient gives the treatment its reparative properties, allowing it to address broken disulfide bonds caused by over-bleaching hair. The kit also contains mini versions of the No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, two Allure Best of Beauty winners, to cleanse and maintain moisture, and a full-size of the No.7 Bonding Oil for increased luster and heat protection from styling tools.
Dyson's gift sets are the ultimate splurge for hair-care lovers. Allure editors have not stopped singing the praises of the Airwrap since it launched in 2018 — if you need proof, it has scooped up two Best of Beauty and Readers' Choice Awards in the years since. The device is puzzlingly lightweight but dries, styles, and curls hair lightning-fast so it doesn't incur as much heat damage. Speaking of intense heat, gone are the days of accidentally burning your arms and wrists on a traditional iron (ouch). This innovative device uses high-velocity air to literally attract and wrap hair around its cylindrical barrel. The set also comes with two sets of different-sized barrels, three brushes (firm, soft, and round), a pre-styling dryer, and a leather carrying case. Plus, this limited edition styler comes in a gorgeous "Prussian blue" colorway that makes your hair tools look like a functional piece of art on your vanity.
Fragrance
Here's a shopping hack: Some of the most expensive items in Sephora are fragrances, so use your discount wisely and grab a new luxury perfume at a lower price. Though they can still be a bit pricey post-discount, many of them never go on sale, so this may be one of the few chances to nab them for a few bucks less.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Maison Margiela 'Replica' Discovery Set
Ellis Brooklyn Bee
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia
Consider the Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille as your perfect, sweet-and-spicy fragrance for autumn and beyond. This warm scent isn't your average vanilla: It has an added creamy sweetness from tonka bean and cocoa that's balanced with a subtle bite from tobacco and ginger. You can also expect to get a whiff of dry fruit accords as the perfume dries down.
For those of you who change your signature fragrance daily, you'll enjoy all of the options in the Maison Margiela Replica Discovery Set. It includes 10 sample-size scents under the Replica eau de toilette line, all for $35. Spritz on By The Fireplace to evoke the spicy nature of autumn, or mentally transport yourself out of the cold and into the sunny Amalfi Coast with the citrus-based Under the Lemon Trees — the choice is yours.
Fans of both sweet and warm fragrances will love dousing themselves in Ellis Brooklyn's Bee. The fragrance meshes these two scent profiles in one bottle through the additions of vanilla bean, sandalwood, cocoa absolute, and its star ingredients, sugary honey and spicy dark rum.
The Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia is a floral that we'd consider actually groundbreaking. This fresh scent has notes reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers: white gardenia, jasmine, and fruity pear blossom. Its intensity softens and warms as it dries down with hints of brown sugar, creating a sweet floral fragrance that doesn't err on overwhelming. If you feel like trying something new, this pick acts as a nice break from the colder months' signature spicy and creamy aromas.
Gift Sets
Whether you're crossing names off of your holiday shopping list or just want to treat someone to a special beauty surprise, Sephora's enormous selection of gift sets surely won't disappoint you. From advent calendars to celebrate a festive countdown to hair-moisturizing quartets, any beauty fan will appreciate these giftable kits.
Sephora Collection Holiday Vibes Advent Calendar
Origins Merry Masks Minis Holiday Set
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Set
Gisou Honey Infused Haircare Set
Is it really the holiday season if you don't have an advent calendar? Give the Sephora Collection Holiday Vibes Advent Calendar to your favorite beauty lover to keep their spirits bright on a daily basis — well, technically for 24 days. They can expect to find a mix of samples and full-size products from the retailer's namesake collection, plus accessories like a scrunchie and a mini pocket mirror.
For the one person who has a medicine cabinet reminiscent of a luxury spa display case, grab the Origins Merry Masks Minis Holiday Set. Each of the five masks focuses on different skin concerns to target, and each 0.5-ounce tube provides enough of the creamy formulas for at least one treatment. This set includes two masks from the Clear Improvement mask line: the Active Charcoal Mask for unclogging pores via its oil and dirt-absorbing hero ingredient, and the Charcoal Honey Mask for all of the benefits of the former with the added moisture-retaining power of honey. Your giftee will also be greeted with a moisturizing, avocado oil-based overnight face mask, the gently exfoliating, clay-infused Original Skin Retexturizing Mask, and the zinc oxide and sulfur-infused Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask to absorb excess oil and slough away dead skin cells.
Any makeup lover will tell you that Charlotte Tilbury's signature universally-flattering mauve shade, Pillow Talk, is a must for anyone's lipstick collection. Luckily, the Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Set comes with four lip products that all come in the nude-pink hue. This four-piece kit comes with a full-size Matte Revolution Lipstick, plus mini versions of the Lip Cheat Lip Liner, juicy Jewel Lip Gloss, and conditioning Collagen Lip Bath.
Everyone will get a kick out of the four-piece Gisou Honey Infused Haircare Set. This kit comes with travel-size bottles of the brand's moisturizing honey-infused hair products, which also make your hair smell amazing, by the way. This gift set contains the brand's hero product from their Honey Infused line, the Hair Oil, along with the Hair Mask, Hair Wash, and Conditioner, all containing the nourishing ingredient.
Find more information about the Holiday Savings Event at sephora.com and get your shopping list prepped for November 5, and then treat yourself to some hauls all the way through November 15.
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