Hello friends! It hit me pretty recently that it has been quite a while since the last time I did a haul. Sephora is my guilty pleasure; I love picking up old favorites along with testing out new products that catch my eye. Though I love going into the actual Sephora stores and swatching 500 different colors on my hands, online shopping is just a lot more realistic route for me. One thing I love about Sephora is the option to select free samples and snag different promos with every order. The free two-day shipping as a VIP rouge is a big selling point for me as well. When it comes to beauty retailers, I am pretty biased. About three weeks ago I ordered a few things from Sephora, and I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions today on the products I picked up!
Urban Decay Bronzer in ‘bronzed‘
I almost purchased this Urban Decay bronzer last summer, but I was a little hesitant about picking it up. I have been a die-hard, loyal Benefit ‘Hoola’ bronzer addict for years, and when I am loyal to a product, I am typically very loyal to it. When my I ran out Hoola for what feels like the hundredth time, I decided it was time to try out a new one for once in my life. As I was browsing for a new bronzer to pick up on Sephora, I immediately spotted the Urban Decay one that stood out to me last summer. I figured it was worth a try after reading some reviews. Not only is the packaging of this product absolutely stunning, but I actually really like the product itself. It’s a very warm toned, matte bronzer, which is something I personally like. It does not have any scent at all and it lasts almost all day on the skin. It’s not too dark, nor too light, and I think it’s a bronzer I would definitely repurchase in the future (not that I go through bronzers super quickly). I’m very excited to take this product with me on my upcoming trip because it’s so compact and travel-friendly. As much as I love/loved Benefit Hoola, the bulky, cardboard packaging was not always the easiest to pack for trips!
Urban Decay Naked Concealer in ‘medium light neutral‘
This is my second bottle of the UD Naked Concealer. I picked it up several months ago for the first time and honestly fell in love. I finished the entire bottle, but I thought I would try to switch it up and try something different. After weeks of testing out 3-4 different drugstore concealers, I realized there was nothing that worked quite as well as my Urban Decay concealer. I love this concealer because it offers the perfect amount of coverage for me. It isn’t cakey or thick on the skin, but it has just enough coverage to mask dark circles and cover angry breakouts. It feels light on the skin, and I like that I can use it with a natural, no-makeup look or with a more full-coverage face. I also like the color selection. It’s nice that they offer warm, neutral, and cool tones in the line. I went with the medium light neutral, and it’s actually a really good match for me this time of year.
For the past two months, my skin has been breaking out like crazy. I have struggled with acne since about the 4th grade, and it kind of comes in waves. If you have had acne before, you understand just how frustrating it is. When I moved to California, my face started flared up again for the first time in years, even though my diet and skincare routine have not changed. When I spotted these spot-healers on Sephora, I figured they were worth a try. I was intrigued. I have tried these ‘acne-clearing treatment spots‘ about five times now, and I can’t say I am thoroughly impressed (especially because they are pretty pricy). Did they shrink my spots? A little. However, the difference was not enough for me to consider ever repurchasing these. I am definitely going to pack these babies for trips as they are super travel friendly, but I don’t think they are very powerful. They might be the perfect fix if you have the occasional pesky breakout that you want to heal over night (or on a trip!). If you have skin problems like I do, you may want to pass on these and focus on something a little more aggressive for curing your skin woes. I recently picked up a mini size of the Sunday Riley ‘UFO’ oil (using my Sephora beauty insider points). I have been hearing incredibly things about this acne-clearing oil, but I wasn’t quite ready to drop a ton of money on a skincare product that may not even work for me. I tried it for the first time last night, and I noticed HUGE changes this morning. I am going to give UFO a few more weeks, but I am definitely planning on reviewing it some time in the near future (and sharing if I decide to purchase the full size).
Becca Shimmer Skin Perfector Highlighter in ‘champagne pop‘
I put off buying this highlighter for months. I was always so drawn to it, but the price tag kind of steered me away for quite some time. I already own quite a lot of highlighters, so I figured this hyped-up product was not really worth the splurge. Last year, I decided to pick it up, and I fell in love. I decided very quickly that it was definitely worth the money, and it soon became a year-round staple for me. Earlier in 2017, I dropped this highlighter and it completely shattered. Though I had hit pan already, it still had a few good months left in it. In July, I decided I just couldn’t go any longer with out, so I repurchased it again. I have other highlighters in my collection, but none really compare to Becca Champagne Pop. It’s the one highlighter that works for me with and without a tan. The champagne tones are very flattering on the skin, and the formula is very smooth and blendable. I love that this highlighter sits on the skin without emphasizing pores or dousing your face in flecks of sparkles and glitters (like some of the other powder highlighters I own). If you are looking for the perfect, wearable highlighter to wear year round, I would highly recommend Champagne Pop!
I hope that you guys enjoyed my little Sephora haul + review. Let me know if you have tried any of these products and if you have purchased anything lately that you love/hate!
xoxo,
Mackenzie
shop the haul:
HI Mackenzie! What are you using for blush that you recommend? The color I was using is discontinued and I’m not sure what direction to head in. I use the candlelight highlighter by too faced and it lasts forever! So if you’re ever looking to try another that’s definitely worth it.
Hey! My two favorite blushes are Benefit ‘Galifornia’ (I have recommended this one to so many friends, and they have all loved it) and NARS ‘Exhibit A’ (which if you look at a picture, you will probably be shocked. It’s very bright, but I have used it for probably four years now. It looks beautiful on the skin, and looks a little like you’ve been in the sun). For cream blush, I love Vapour. I use their cream blush on natural skin days. If you are looking for a drug store blush, I would recommend Milani! I have heard great things about the highlighter- I might have to give it a try soon!!
I want to try champagne pop so badly but I already have a highlighter from Becca and can’t justify buying another right now.
Have you ever tried Differin Gel for acne? Like you I’ve been struggling with acne for years and am dealing with a flare up right now.
I totally feel you! I definitely think you don’t need 500 highlighters. All you need is one good one!
I tried it for a few years. I have struggled with hormonal acne for years and years, so topical gels only do so much sadly. The only thing that worked for my acne was oral medications, but I had to get off my acne pills this summer, which I think it the issue. However, I am really loving that Sunday Riley UFO oil. I got a sample of it at Sephora, and I have definitely been noticing that my acne is clearing up. Going to give it a few more weeks, but I am really happy with it so far. Acne is the worst though!