It’s almost that time of year! Sephora’s 2024 Holiday Sale (where you can get 20% off) is starting soon! Sales like this only happen at Sephora twice a year, so if you have been thinking about making a purchase, this is the time. Keep reading for all the details (exclusions) and dates for the holiday sale:
Tag: skincare
The 20% off Spring Sale at Sephora is right around the corner. Sephora only has two big sales a year, so if you have been thinking of making a purchase this is a good time to shop. Keep reading for more details and dates for the Sephora 2022 Spring Savings Event Sale.
The colder weather can do a number on my skin — my mostly normal skin is more dry and my lips are chapped. Even though our California winters aren’t the coldest, everyone can benefit from a good cold weather beauty routine. This is my winter skincare routine:
New (To Me) Skincare / Beauty
I recently got a lot of new beauty and skincare products so I thought it would be fun to do a little round-up of everything. I have definitely found some new favorites!
I’ve been using my Sunday Riley Good Genes all-in-one lactic acid treatment for over a month now and I am so excited to do a review. Here’s a look at what Good Genes is, and my experience using it for a month:
I recently discovered the brand, Farmacy, and their Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer at Sephora. From the first time I sampled the Honey Drop Moisturizer, I fell in love. I bought the full size at Sephora and I’ve been loving it ever since.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
The year is almost over so I’ve put together a round up of my 2016 favorites! I’ve loved so many things this year and I’ve split them up into Beauty, Entertainment, and Lifestyle!
Winter Night Time Routine
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Winter is almost here! I love the change in season and the cooler weather. In the winter, I do my night time routine a little differently. With it getting darker earlier and the cold, dry air, I’ve switched it up a little. Here’s a look at my winter night time routine:
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
It’s my birthday month! Each year I like to make a list of some things I’d love for my birthday. This time I’ve broken it up in to three different categories: Makeup/Skincare, Tech, and Extras.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
If this year is like years past, Sephora will be having their 15% off Spring Sale for VIB Rouge in the next few weeks. — UPDATE: VIB Rouge 15% off event is April 7th through 13th (online promo code: ROUGENOTE). I’ve gone to the in-store events for the last few years and they’ve each been really cool. Check out my experience at the Spring Social event or the Beauty Before Brunch event from the past couple years.
This year, I already have my cart filled and ready to go so I thought I’d share what’s on my wishlist!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
When you have a special event to attend, whether it be a birthday party, a graduation, a school dance, a wedding, or just a big date, you want to look your best.
Big Event Countdown!
1 month:
- If you aren’t already, get into some kind of fitness routine. Exercise will help you feel healthy and energized. Nothing gives you that radiant glow like a healthy body, so go for a walk everyday or step it up and play a sport or go for a run. When your body is more fit and healthy, you’ll feel and look your best.
- Diet is key to looking and feeling great from the inside out. Be sure to get your fair share of fruits and vegetables, or try a fun juice cleanse! Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and avoid processed foods.
2 weeks:
This is the time to knock out some of the easy things!
- Hair cut/color – If you’re in need of a cut or a trim, now is the time to do it. Freshly cut hair can sometimes look too harsh or you may not be used to styling it. Getting your cut or color done two weeks before the big day gives you time to get used to/fix your lovely locks.
- Plan your hair and makeup look. Don’t wait until the last minute; try out hairstyles and makeup looks that you’re curious about. Will you have your make up professionally done? You still will want to know the overall type of look you want. Practice makes perfect, so experiment and have fun. Once you have the look you love, take a picture. You will want to refer to it leading up to your big day.
- Plan your outfit! Just like with your hair, make sure you have your entire outfit ready (accessories included); if not, now is a good time to grab a friend and get some inspiration from your favorite store (or even you friend’s closet).
1 week
Getting so close to the event! So exciting!
- Eyebrow waxing! If you’ve never gotten your eyebrows waxed at a Benefit Brow Bar, I definitely recommend it. Waxing your eyebrows professionally will ensure the perfect shape for your face and help define your features. If you have any redness or bumps, it’ll have gone by the big day.
- Face masks will help exfoliate the skin and even skin tone. Try the GlamGlow SuperMud or TingleExfoliate for amazing results. Repeat every few days for super glowy skin.
- Finalize your outfit, hair, and makeup. Make sure you have everything you need to walk out the door to your special event.
- Deep-condition your hair. Using a 5 minute hair mask can help your hair feel soft and look shiny.
- Lips scrub & condition your lips. I love the Fresh Sugar Scrub with the Dior Creme de Rose lip balm.
2 days
- Manicure/Pedicure. Freshly painted nails will really pull the look together. I like to get a pedicure at a salon because it’s super relaxing and I love the fun designs & colors to choose from but I usually like to do my manicure with my Sephora Gel Shine kit. French manicures are my go-to for any special event.
- Teeth whitening is an easy way to brighten your look. I really like the Crest whitening strips because they are quick and do a great job brightening your smile.
- Biore pore strips can help to remove stubborn blackheads and reduce pore appearance. I like to exfoliate and then wash like usual with my Clarisonic Mia before using the pore strips.
1 day
- Face mask/ spot treatment. Target any blemishes with a soothing acne gel. I really like the Grease Lightening Cleanser from Lush. Or just dab on a small amount of any face mask onto troublesome spots.
- Double check that you have everything you’ll need for the event; from head to toe.
The Big Day
- Shave your legs and moisturize. Soft and smooth skin will help you feel great on the big day
- Don’t forget the deodorant! The final stages of getting picture perfect for your special event can cause you to sweat and stress, but with a good deodorant/antipersperant, and least you’ll smell great and feel fresh.
- Prep your skin. Primers and serums are your best friend. They’ll help your makeup stay put and keep your skin looking bright.
- Use a makeup setting spray like the Urban Decay All Nighter.
- A splash of your favorite perfume is all you need before you walk out the door!
You’re all set for your special day! Let me know your tips for getting picture perfect for your big event in the comments or tag me in a picture on Instagram (@muffinchanel). I’d love to see all of your looks!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I picked up some Tarte goodies during the VIB Rouge Spring Social at Sephora and I’ve had some time to use the products to give a proper review. I purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation in the shade Light-Medium Neutral, the CC Primer in the shade Light, and the Airbuki brush.
Routine
I have been using the CC Primer and the Airbrush Foundation everyday I wear makeup since I purchased them. I start by prepping my face with sunscreen (usually the Josie Maran Daily Argan Moisturizer) and then I’ll use the Tarte CC Primer as a base for the powder foundation. I lightly buff on 1-2 layers of the Airbrush Foundation and I’m out the door. It’s all really fast and easy.
CC Primer
This primer is different than others I’ve used. It comes in a chubby tube and twists up like a lipstick. It’s more like a light foundation/cover stick than a silky primer. The POREfessional by Benefit, for example, is super silky and blurs away the appearance of pores. The Tarte CC Primer is divided into four sections, two with the “foundation” color, one with a green color corrector, and one with a pinkish purple color corrector. I just apply the CC Primer directly to my face and blend it out with my fingers.
The CC Primer evens out your complexion, neutralizes hyper pigmentation and gives sheer/light coverage. The CC Primer is perfect alone for running a quick trip to the grocery store, yoga day, or just a “no-makeup” makeup look. The primer makes a perfect base for the Airbrush Foundation.
Airbrush Foundation + Airbuki Brush
First off, the Airbuki brush is super soft! It’s amazing and I haven’t seen any hairs falling out or anything. It’s the perfect applicator for this Airbrush foundation but probably would work well with other types of mineral foundations as well.
The Airbrush Foundation comes in a sleek container with a bamboo screw off lid. What is unique about this powder foundation is the mesh liner/netting between the mouth of the jar and the product.
The lid actually has a little knob that, when screwed closed, keeps the mineral powder from escaping the netting. It’s great because it really helps control how much powder comes out and prevents you from wasting. Unlike other mineral foundations, you don’t need to invert the powder through the sifter and swirl/tap your brush to load the powder. The Tarte Airbuki is made to fit perfectly over the mesh lining. You simply press your brush into the net and get the perfect amount of powder on your brush; not swirling or tapping needed.
This design is awesome, especially for travel since you won’t have to worry about all the powder getting out from under the liner. I like to gently press the powder into my face and then buff it out to blend. The mineral powder gives a beautiful airbrushed finish and feels lightweight.
My skin is dry/normal and when I first used the Airbrush Foundation, I noticed that the powder clung to the drier parts of my face and made the area look flaky and bad. That’s where the CC Primer really helps me — the Primer either makes those areas less dry or creates such a smooth base that I haven’t had that problem since targeted those dry areas more with the Primer.
The Airbrush Foundation is long-wearing although I haven’t won it more than 10 hours. I do find though, that it starts to look even better as the day goes on. I love the fresh-faced airbrushed look it gives after first application, but as the day wears on, it seems to really melt into your skin and gives me a clean, healthy glow. I love it.
The foundation is build able up to medium coverage, but even at that medium level, your skin still looks like skin and not a cake mask. I have freckles and I really want my foundation to even out my complexion and make me look radiant but not cover my freckles and make me look unnatural. This Tarte Airbrush Foundation does just that! I definitely recommend this to everyone!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
This super cute set by Josie Maran is perfect for summer! The Argan Summer Hydrating Skin Savers set from QVC comes with the new formulation of the Daily Argan Moisturizer, the Light version of the signature Argan Oil, and the Argan Color Stick in the color Glow.
The light version of the Argan oil is super light and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s described as having a semi matte finish and, compared to the regular version, it is more matte, but it’s still an oil. Since it is so light, it would be perfect for day time, wear in warmer months, or if you have oiler skin.
I love the Argan Color sticks; my favorite color is Dreamy Pink. This Color Stick is a beautiful pink with some silver shimmer/glitters. It can go on lips and cheeks and is a perfect travel item because of its multiple uses.
The new formulation of the Argan Daily Moisturizer is great and with SPF 47, perfect for summer or wearing year round. If you are a fan of the old formulation of the Daily Moisturizer, but aren’t sure about trying the new formulation, here is a quick comparison:
At first glance, both formulations look the same and smell similarly. Both are slightly more runny than traditional sunscreens. The new formulation is more like a traditional sunscreen in that, as you rub it in, it leaves a white residue. Both formulations absorb quickly, but you have to rub the new formulation in a little longer for it to absorb completely. This may be because it has a higher SPF (47 vs. 40).
The new formulation actually seems to hydrate the skin more than the older version and it smells great. I feel like it gives more sun protection and helps prep my skin for makeup. I love the new formulation and this amazing gift set!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
The Spring Social was Sephora’s first store-wide VIB Rouge event and we had so much fun. If you were already VIB Rouge, you might have received your invite in the mail or through email.
The event was “closed door” from 9-11am today for all VIB Rouges who RSVP’d. My friend and I got there about 9:30am and the store was super busy! They checked us in at the door and we were greeted by everyone. There was fun music, Starbucks, cute little waters & snacky pastries in the back.
Two hair styling stations were set up in the back and every beauty station had someone getting her makeup done. It was such a fun vibe and it was cool to shop with other people who love beauty, skincare and makeup as much as I do.
I had a list of everything I wanted to get and I was super excited about the extra 15% off + VIB Rouge goody bag!
My bag kind of got messed up in the car, but the products are all that matter!
- tarte – colored clay CC primer (light)
- tarte – Amazonian clay full coverage airbrush foundation (light-medium neutral)
- tarte – airbuki | bamboo powder foundation brush
- fresh – Sugar Lip Polish
- NARS – Matte Multiple (Altai)
And then the freebee bag is really cute and quite large with the zip around opening. I think it might be too big to throw in my purse, but it’ll be nice as a small travel makeup bag.
I had a really great time today at Sephora and I’m really excited to try out all of my new products. Did any of you go to the Spring Social in your store? If you didn’t get a chance to make it in to the event and you’re VIB Rouge, you can still get the 15% off with
PROMOCODE: ROUGETICKET