My Top 25 Sephora Picks
Only the best of the best.
Hi friends! Happy Sephora Sale day! Doing something a little different this year and highlighting my top 25 picks. There’s a lot more suggestions tucked away in each description. PLEASE let me know if you have any questions or need any specific recommendations or swatches. Happy to help— just DM me or leave a comment here. ICYMI I already highlighted my favorite sets in this post!
The Sephora Savings Event starts today & everything is on sale on their site with code EVERYTHING. Even Dyson + Shark (but they have a 1 item limit)!
Here are the sale details:
Sephora Collection is 30% off from 10/31-11/10
Rouge Members: 20% off 10/31-11/10
VIBs: 15% off 11/4-11/10
Insiders: 10% off 11/4-11/10
Dieux Baptism Gel Cleanser - my favorite Dieux product. This demolishes makeup and SPF and so it’s a nice option to have on hand if you don’t want two different cleansers. I love that they have a scented version and unscented for the sensitive Sally’s of the world. I personally enjoy this scent, it’s light and fresh but not overwhelming. The texture of this is almost like a jelly and it has a nice lather. It’s the perfect gel cleanser for all skin types - never drying!
Violette_FR Boum Boum Milk - this is by far my favorite acne safe milky mist. It’s so hydrating and is such a nice prep step in the AM or I’ll use it in the PM before Super Satty if my skin is feeling particularly dry. It really helps balance the skin microbiome which is essential for acne prone skin. I do have this one in my cart which is $21 that I am going to try!
Experiment Super Saturated Serum - if I have to pick one hydrating serum to use for the rest of time, it’s gonna be her. And so therefore if I have to only pick ONE product from Experiment it’s going to be this one BUT I am obsessed with this entire range. I use every single product. Molecular Mesh is my favorite moisturizer (see below). Plasma Wash is always in my shower (a milky cleanser that removes makeup + SPF, leaves skin hydrated but no film). The lip balm is amazing. Buffer Jelly too. This is inspiring me to do a dedicated instagram post for what arguably is my favorite skincare brand.
Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Clearing Serum - mandelic acid is a gentle AHA that exfoliates, improves texture and targets acne and hyperpigmentation. This is thin, watery formula that melts into the skin. It works for even the most sensitive skin to reveal brighter, smoother skin. This is a great companion to a retinoid as it’s gentle and keeps my barrier in tact which is important for treating acne.
Mara Clear Skin Mineral Milk - another favorite exfoliant, because you get the 2% salicylic acid which is great for black heads and breaking up pore blockages beneath the surface of your skin. This ALSO contains mandelic acid along with niacinamide and copper which speeds up wound healing. This is fantastic for sensitive skin, but is a bit more well rounded/stronger than the Sofie Pavitt. This is still fantastic for sensitive skin. If you need something even stronger than this, I highly recommend the YSE exfoliating pads or the Dr. Dennis Gross Peel pads in Universal or Extra Strength.
The Outset Firming & Plumping Vegan Collagen Prep Serum - I have a lot of gel cream favorites, but I kept feeling like a lot of them were making my makeup pill unless I used a tiny amount but then my skin wasn’t hydrated enough. This serum can truly layer with any sunscreen and makeup— it’s very hydrating! I don’t need a moisturizer (especially under a nourishing SPF) and my makeup always looks so smooth and flawless- NO pilling ever!
Experiment Molecular Mesh - this has become my preferred PM moisturizer, yes— even over the Sofie Pavitt! It’s more of a medium weight moisturizer (I’d say the SP is more heavy, because it’s a reverse emulsion) very similar in texture to the Dieux Instant Angel. However, this is considered acne safe with no potential pore cloggers. I love how a little goes a long way because it’s stretchy. It’s also great to sandwich with!
Sofie Pavitt Omega Rich Moisturizer - she’s my number two, but I really enjoy having this on hand especially for when we get into the VERY cold and dry months. I know so many of you are so much drier than me and swear by this, so if you have dry skin and/or acne prone— it’s a must. If you’re dry and NOT acne prone, Dieux’s Instant Angel is elite!
Saie Super Glowy Gel - I love having this product on hand for when I want a glowy base, but don’t want to be metallic. It’s so natural, your skin just looks hydrated. I really like also mixing this with concealer or a skin tint to sheer it out. I wear Starglow most of the year, but love Sunglow for the summer (perfect for giving your face a little tan). And love that they sell minis of these, because it takes me too long to get through the full size.
Armani Luminous Silk Concealer - this is the best satin skin-like finish concealer that looks just like skin. I love the variety of undertones, as I truly get a perfect match (shade 2) which makes it undetectable. It sets itself so no need to powder it! I do think this is best for normal/combo/oily as dry skin might need something more hydrating (see my notes on Tower 28 at the bottom).
Merit Minimalist Stick - this is still by far my most used base product and ever since they launched more shades and I have a true match (shade Chiffon) I wear it nonstop. It’s so easy to swipe on, blend and go! And looks so skin like. A drier formula that does look dry if your skin isn’t properly prepped and hydrated.
Ciele blush + protect Liquid Blush - Probably my most reached for blush formula of 2024 and 2025. All of the shades are incredible and I plan on picking up the berry shade Sugar this sale. My two favorites are June (a warm burgundy that gives a gorgeous sun-kissed look but is less red/orange than Rhode toasted teddy) or January (a cool pink) that is just perfect all year round. These blend out like a dream and the longevity is unmatched, I get an 8+ hour wear! I love cream blushes but if they don’t have an applicator, I’m out— this one has a doe foot for non-messy application! If you’re more of a powder blush person— I highly recommend their powder blushes instead!
Rhode Pocket Blush - sleepy girl is the perfect every day mauve shade for all undertones and toasted teddy is the perfect sun-kissed terracotta of my summer dreams. This formula has a skin-like finish and is easy to blend. There are such mixed reviews on the longevity but I find these wear pretty long on my skin, getting a solid 6-8 hour wear.
YSL Buildable Blurring Powder Blush - this blush in shade 44 has been one of the few powder blushes that I’ve reached for this year! And I think because it’s so finely milled it blends out over all my cream blushes without getting stuck or patchy. It’s also the perfect cool toned mauve and it makes all my cream blushes last a little longer. This color and formula are perfection! It’s not sparkly, just gives a natural glow to the cheek.
Westman Atelier Contour Stick - will I ever shut up about this product? I think it’s the easiest cream bronzer to apply and the shade Biscuit is amazing for fair/light and neutral/cool leaning people with this reddish undertone. I only ever buy the mini because it still takes me a year to go through and it’s perfect for travel.
Farah Homidi Bronzer - I completely fell in love with this powder bronzer in the shade Bois this year and I love applying it over the Westman Atelier. I also used it exclusively in the summer when it was hot and humid. This applies like a powder but looks like a cream the way it seamlessly blends into the skin. I find as I approach my 40’s that creams just tend to flatter my skin better. You can tell this was created by a makeup artist. It’s like a work of art and the packaging is luxe and refillable. I still really love Hourglass in Diffused Bronze Light and Gucci in 01 for powder too! They’re both illuminating but not sparkly and blend like a dream.
Huda Easy Bake Loose Setting Powder - this is a new to me product as of August but since the Givenchy loose powder is now glittery— I was gifted a mini of the shade sugar cookie and I think this is the closest thing I’ve come to the Givenchy! I also loveeee how cute and compact the mini is especially as someone who doesn’t powder every day. I still like the Kosas Cloud Set in Airy for pressed but it doesn’t travel well without breaking and it hard pans which is annoying.
Glossier Lip Liner - I have a lot of lip liners I love from Sephora and should probably dedicate a whole post to this. But I think the one I reach for most often, but I don’t talk about nearly enough is the Glossier one in the shade Bit. This shade is described as a warm mauve, and everything pulls warm on me but this is a true cool leaning mauve on me! This formula is creamy and glides on but it sets and does. Not. Budge. It’s truly incredible and I think if they had a wider variety of shades it would get more hype than it does.
Violette_FR Lip Nectar - this is easily my favorite lip launch of the year. It glides on like a glossy gel that is super hydrating but as it fades, it leaves behind a gorgeous even stain. This is the perfect apply it and forget it product. My favorite shades are Betise and Dahlia Noir. At this point, now I’m just emailing their team begging for more shades!
Tower 28 Make Waves Mascara - I don’t wear a ton of mascara these days, but when I get asked for my favorite in general and Sephora, I always go back to this one. It gives length, volume and curl without irritating my eyes and comes in both brown and black— and comes in mini sizes for your travel bag.
Canopy Showerhead Filter - Canopy sent this showerhead with a filter over a year ago. And I did feel like my hair and skin were happier. To really test it out, I took out the filter when it got full and didn’t replace it. I can confirm my hair was softer and bouncier— less greasy at the roots and straw like at the ends. I also felt like my skin was much less red. And before you ask if it was my haircare routine— I took the filter out after already switching over to all Dove products for shampoo/conditioner/mask so I had no changes in my hair routine). Needless to say, my husband noticed a difference too and I just ordered a four pack of the filters to refill it. I don’t recommend ordering the filters from Sephora as they’re really expensive— but I do think the showerhead at 20% off is 100% worth it! My top hair rec for the sale.
Soft Services Theraplush Retinol Hand Cream - I’ve already talked too much about their buffing bar and covered it during the sets— so I will spare you and instead talk about this amazing hand cream with retinol that comes in this super chic refillable jar that is perfect for your bedside table. I also own this in the regular cream and it sits on my vanity. Soft Services just knows their body care so well! This particular scent is limited edition and smells like Xtra Milk by Dedcool which is one of my favorite skin-like scents out there! It’s magical. I’ve linked the regular one here— the refills are interchangeable!
IT Cosmetics Complexion Brush #7 - 9x out of 10 if you see me blending blush, bronzer or anything in a reel, I am using this brush. I’ve had this brush over a decade and have collected two more because I use it so much I really need to always have a clean one on hand! You can also blend foundation + concealer with this so sometimes it’ll be the only brush I will bring with me on a trip because it’s just that versatile!
Phlur Vanilla Skin - I find it very difficult to narrow down my favorite Phlur fragrance, and Cashmere Skin is SO new— but I think about what would likely be one of the most universally loved that is also a favorite of mine— it’s Vanilla Skin. It’s sweet but not gourmand, sexy and cozy at the same time. A little woody, but it’s not as spicy, musky or smoky as other vanillas I’ve tried. Worth smelling if you haven’t yet— I love the body mist of this too!
Glossier You Fleur - my favorite Glossier fragrance (although I actually really enjoy all four), and my most worn of the year. I love how this is floral, and salty and solar— it just screams summer. I highly recommend smelling it if you haven’t already!
Honorable Mentions:
I already talked so much about Eadem and Topicals lip balms in my sets post this week so didn’t mention those. I also didn’t mention the Merit Archival set again which I ADORE.
Ole Henricksen Pout Preserve Lip Balm - this is another fabulous thick, nourishing lip balm formula. How many lip balms is too many? (The limit does not exist)
Glow Recipe Dewy Flush Serum Blush - this was a surprise hit of 2025 for a really natural blush look. It truly just looks like healthy, flushed blush and is perfect for makeup minimalists. They launched two new shades too!
Tower 28 Hydrating Serum Concealer - I recommend this concealer to so many people, and it’s probably one of my favorite formulas ever. I just don’t have a great shade match— but if you do, I highly recommend! It’s so stretchy and skin like. It looks amazing all over the skin!
I don’t love that many sunscreens from Sephora, but I think Summer Friday’s Shadedrops is excellent and is a favorite of mine for when I’m not wearing makeup— feels like nothing on the skin! I also love Ciele’s prime + protect for under makeup. It’s the perfect shade match for my fair skin. I also love the Tower 28 SOS Faceguard is fantastic, but may be too dark for the most fair skin.
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clicked nearly every link! trying the Experiment serum for sure!!!
Hi Devan!! In your experience, how is the Merit minimalist stick for acne and rosacea prone skin?