What We’re Buying From Sephora’s Savings Event

“This primer changed the way my makeup looks and the way it lasts all day long. Nothing helped to control and absorb the oil on my combination skin like this. I’ve been using it sparingly, waiting for the sale.” —Asia Milia Ware, beauty editor

“Out of all the lip balms on the market, this one is my favorite. It lasts all day and keeps your lips nourished, even through the brutal New York winters. I love wearing it alone or with my favorite lip liner.” —A.M.W.

“If it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s good enough for us. This is her performance setting spray and an everyday setting spray the Cut girls use for long-lasting makeup. Every year, I buy this duo because the the travel-size one stays in my purse.” —A.M.W.

“Jackie Aina is the queen of smelling good. Her fragrances are all great, but when she launched She Was Here this year, an alluring scent of pistachio blended with vanilla milk and an unexpected note of Turkish rose, it immediately became my favorite one she has ever made. My friends are always complimenting me when I wear it, so I’m gifting it to them this season. It’s a great gift for the person you know who likes a scent that lingers.” —A.M.W.

“My beauty hack for extra pearlescent lips is to use only a shimmery gloss on the top lip and a regular one on the bottom so the sun bounces off the shimmer. It sounds crazy, but it works. Dior just launched new shades of its Lip Maximizer gloss, and I’ve been using this pearly-peach shade. It looks like I kissed the sun.” —A.M.W.

“When I’ve missed my monthly facial, I turn to this. It’s a two-step peel with glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids to brighten the complexion and clear out congestion. I always restock it during the Savings Event, and I give it to my friends who don’t have time for facials. First, I get a text saying, ‘Why is this so tingly?’ Then it’s followed by a ‘Wait, my skin looks so good.’” —A.M.W.

“I have every foundation under the sun, but I constantly reach for this. The creamy, buildable formula leaves a second-skin-like finish. It’s incredibly hydrating, and the shade match is perfect for me.” —A.M.W.

“Yes, the Shark Beauty mask is worth it. It’s the perfect gift for the person in your life who is obsessed with beauty tools. It has multiple light settings to treat different skin concerns and cooling eye patches that have depuffed my eyes in minutes more times than I can count. It’s rare that it’s on sale.” —A.M.W.

“What’s keeping Nia Long’s skin so fabulous? Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair serum. It’s a classic staple on beauty shelves. It renews the skin, reduces signs of aging, and locks in moisture. I’m going to use this Savings Event to restock for my mom and aunt, who swear by this serum.” —A.M.W.

“I’ve tried time and again to stray from this highlighter palette, but alas — I can’t help but reach for it almost every time I do my makeup. The Goldilocks glow it gives is unmatched. Powder products are difficult for me to finish since I’m always bouncing around and trying new launches (for science!), but I’m starting to see the waffle pan at the bottom of one of my palettes. And guess what? Dior brought us new shades for the holidays and one palette (Rose Gold) that has been available only abroad for years.” —Carol Lee, beauty writer

“I love this setting powder so much that I wrote a whole review on it. It’s one of those products you probably don’t think you need but will change the way you do your makeup once you’ve tried it. When applied over concealer, foundation, or even a more matte powder, it adds a luminosity that makes your skin look healthy, never metallic.” —C.L.

“Every year, I look forward to seeing what Merit will cook up for the holidays. The brand never disappoints, and the limited-edition Archival lip kit is on my list. The color is one of Merit’s best-selling blush shades, and I don’t doubt that it looks equally as stunning on the lips. Plus I trust all of its formulas, which sit nicely on the lips and keep them hydrated. I’m just terrified I’ll fall in love with the set, because what if Merit never makes it again? Well, I guess it’s better to have loved and lost … or something like that.” —C.L.

“This one’s a no-brainer. I actually snagged one already and took the mini one to Japan with me. Instant Angel is a workhorse moisturizer I can rely on to moisturize my dry skin and keep it happy, even when I’m breaking out or especially irritated. The key that comes in the set is so useful for getting every bit of product out of the aluminum tube.” —C.L.

“Last year during the sale, I bought the Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Essentials long-lasting full-face cream palette and I absolutely loved it. It’s perfect for traveling. However, out of all the shades, I used up the concealer and color corrector the most, so this year I’m buying the correction palette since I know I’ll get the most out of it.” —Bianca Nieves, senior shopping editor

“I’ve been looking for the perfect lip gloss to replace my beloved Ami Colé lip oil, and I think I’ve found the one. Refy’s lip gloss applies so smoothly, and I love the shade range, too.” —B.N.

“I wouldn’t say this is a dupe for the Dior lip oil, but it is pretty close. I love to apply this glossy, slightly tinted formula along with my Make Up For Ever lip liner. I’m down to the last few drops, so it’s time to restock.” —Chinea Rodriguez, shopping writer

“Do I need more lip gloss? No, but Pat McGrath’s shimmery glosses were the key to the Victoria’s Secret Angels’ lip combos, so I have to try it.” —C.R.

“I keep a moisturizing balm in every bag and every room, so it’s time to restock on one of my hydrating favorites. This adds a sheer tint of color and feels buttery soft on my lips.” —C.R.

“I’ve been traveling nonstop this year, so eye patches have become essential. I always pack a set for each trip, whether I’m popping them on during the flight or after unwinding at the hotel. These ones from Peter Thomas Roth have been my go-to.” —Ruhama Wolle, style-partnerships editor

“I’m a daily makeup girl, so anything quick and efficient is my love language — and Mario’s liquid eye shadow seriously gives the fastest eye look ever. Heads up: It’s super-pigmented, so you’ve gotta blend fast before it dries.” —R.W.

“I probably go through five of these a year because I refuse to step out without my brows done. I’ve finally found my perfect shade and that razor-sharp finish with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer. I’ve been using it for over four years now.” —R.W.

“I’ve heard great things about this product, and about Fara Homidi’s stuff in general, and I need to know if the hype is real!” —Danya Issawi, style writer

“I recently got the Make Up For Ever pencil in black to use as eyeliner and need to continue extending my collection. I’ve got my eye on the Wherever Walnut lip liner that practically every girl I know swears by.” —D.I.

“This is my favorite blush of all time. It gives you that glow-from-within look that I can’t seem to achieve naturally, no matter how hard I try, all winter.” —D.I.

“I have incredibly sensitive skin, and this is one of the only foundations that doesn’t break me out.” —D.I.

“I’m obsessed with Rōz’s shampoo and conditioner. I was surprised they worked well with my curls, but they keep moisture in and frizz away.” —D.I.

“I ran out of my Dieux and started using this and was nervous because my skin is so sensitive and acne-prone now. But my skin drank this up, and I haven’t had a single breakout or dry patch.” —D.I.

“Sorry, girls — the Rhode Glazing Milk really is that good. During the dry winter months, I like to pat it on top of my makeup using the palms of my hands. It melts all my powders into my skin and brings some life back into my face — just like a hydrating face mist except even more effective.” —Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor

“Mario Dedivanovic has never let me down, and many of his products are a staple in my everyday routine. Since I’ve been loving the newly launched Ethereal Eyes palette and never got around to trying his original eye-shadow palette, which so many pros and beauty editors swear by, I’m using the Sephora sale as an excuse to purchase it.” —H.F.

“The new Merit Solo Shadow cream eye shadows are fabulous. I find that most cream shadows are too creamy and tend to slide around my eyelids throughout the day, but these dry down in no time and stay put for hours. The consistency is also nice and thin, so I can build up the product for a more opaque look without the product looking cakey or feeling too heavy on my eyelids.” —H.F.

“This blush (in Malibu Cooler) went everywhere with me over the summer, and after carelessly throwing it into my work bag one too many times, it finally shattered. I’ll be replacing it during the Sephora sale.” —H.F.

“I’m also restocking my current favorite sunscreen from the K-beauty brand Beauty of Joseon. If I could bottle up the finish and infuse it into every single sunscreen I own, I would; it gives me the perfect amount of glow without feeling greasy or disrupting the texture of my liquid and cream makeup products. It’s also lightweight and hydrating. Beware: It does leave a slight white cast, but that disappears after a few minutes.” —H.F.

“In the cold winter months, nothing soothes and nourishes my dry skin quite like Josie Maran body butter.” —H.F.

“I’m really particular about creams. I like a thick consistency (especially in the winter), but I can’t stand a moisturizer that sits on top of the skin and doesn’t fully sink in. This one is the best of both worlds — it’s luxurious, buttery, and deeply hydrating without feeling too heavy. Powered by Korean ginseng, this cream also helps boost collagen production and smooth fine lines and wrinkles over time.” —H.F.

“I feel as if I’ve used just about every beauty product on the market at this point, but surprisingly I’ve never tried this cult-favorite toner. It’s known for minimizing the appearance of pores and blackheads, which is something I’m always struggling with, so I (finally) want to see for myself if it’s worth the hype.” —H.F.