I have revised my plan of attack for the Sephora VIB sale, because, let’s get real…only a few of the items I want are things I can’t function without (I’m talking to you, Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion). Most of the things are things I only want because they’re on sale… I’m 100% my mother’s daughter that way (“It’s on sale? BUY IT. Don’t you ever pay full price, ever!”).
But really, how much do I actually need another bronzer, all-matte neutral palette or another coral lipstick?
Not much! LOL. But I still want them all, especially with new makeup coming out every five seconds, so I gotta check myself before I wreck myself…
How do I weed out unnecessary or spur-of-the moment purchases?
On the very first day of the sale, I put everything I want to buy into my cart, and then I wait… And wait. And wait. I let it all simmer there, brewing and stewing (and taunting me?). Then, juuuuust before the sale ends, I’ll see what’s left in my cart, and most of the time when I do this, there are things that have sold out, which whittles the list down, and from there I reevaluate what’s left and see what fits into my budget.
This tactic reduces the likelihood of me getting a whole bunch of things I mostly only want because they’re on sale.
Um…but K-Dawg, does this actually work?
Dude, it totally does! Forcing myself to wait and really think about my cart and the grand total $ staring back at me helps…because I know who I am, and I’m a spur-of-the-moment shopper.
Waiting also forces me to look around at what I already have in my stash.
For this last sale, I knew I needed another bottle of Kate Somerville Anti-Bac, sunscreen/face moisturizer for winter (ugh, dry skin), an eye cream and some chemical exfoliators for mature skin, because every morning lately when I wake up and look in the mirror, instead of seeing my face, I see freakin’ Gollum’s!
What my heart was telling me I wanted, though, was a bunch of makeup — a Charlotte Tilbury palette, Shiseido eyeliners and eyeshadows (they recently revamped their entire makeup line, and it’s supposed to be REALLY good), some Charlotte Tilbury blushes and bronzers, and a Dior foundation.
OK, and maybe a few other things were in there too, ha ha ha. You know me too well!
Step 1: Shopping my own stash
The Charlotte Tilbury palette ended up being sold out, but everything worked out because I rediscovered my BECCA Chrissy Palette, which more or less serves the same purpose. I’m a little sad panda, 🙁 but if the CT palette is still around for the next VIB sale and I’m still lusting after it, I’ll get it then.
As for skin care, after digging through my drawers and makeup bins at home, I found some Kate Somerville samples I’ve been meaning to test but haven’t gotten around to (see pic at the top), including a firming and brightening retinol and vitamin C serum (which I’m VERY excited about because I LOVE me some vitamin C), a hyaluronic acid essence and a moisturizing cleanser.
I also found a lost gift card to a local spa that I received last Christmas, which I’m going to use to get another exfoliator/brightening product, Skinceuticals C+E Ferulic.
The things you find when you actually look through your drawers!
Step 2: Whittling down the final cart
Ultimately, I ended up getting exactly what I needed to stick to my budget:
- Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion (ride or die)
- Clinique Superdefense Moisturizer SPF 20 Age Defense Very Dry to Dry Combination (used it before and like it for dry winter skin)
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream (new to me, but Clinique moisturizers usually agree with me, and I like the price point.)
- Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream (several friends raved and recommended this.)
- Shiseido Facial Cotton (THE STUFF, and everything else in comparison feels like sandpaper.)
I’m a little bummed that I did pick up any color products, for sure, but I’m also excited about trying some new skin care…and hopefully not looking like Gollum first thing in the morning, ha ha!
Did you end up getting anything from the sale?
Oh, and if you got that CT palette, please note that I will have to vicariously live through you.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi!
I got a bunch of Christmas presents for girlfriends.
And I got myself, tatcha skincare faves kit, Charlotte Tilbury mask and pillow talk lip liner, a new foundation from Lancôme, Grande row serum, and a mini Becca highlighter. Then I stocked up on brush cleaner, a beauty blender, eye makeup temover.
I reallyyyyy want Huda new nude palette. But I talked myself out of it……for now.
Hi Jade! I know how it is to talk yourself out of things. I had so many full-on conversations with myself while looking at my cart, ha ha!
Which foundation did you get?
The Lancôme Teint Idole ultra long wear. I had samples of it and use samples all summer long when I’m more tan, and fell in love. It’s my magic foundation, looks like skin, right undertones. I’m in love.
Honestly I’m still trying to talk myself out of it. Giving myself until January.
I’ll have to give it a go one of these days! It’s been forever since I’ve worn a Lancôme foundation, but I do like their textures and finishes. 🙂
Waiting until January is a good strategy. Who knows, you might even be able to get it on sale.
I feel a bit like an old lady with my Lancôme foundation and Lancôme eye makeup remover but it just works. I had actually given up on foundation and started wearing tinted moisturizer for awhile.
Fingers crossed!
Were you able to shop this past weekend? I am VIB Rouge and I don’t think they will let you shop this sale unless you are just VIB. Do you know differently?
Hi Julie,
They staggered the sale so VIB Rouges were able to shop during the first two weekends previous. Last weekend was VIB only, no VIB Rouge, unfortunately.
I picked up 2 foundations! YSL All hours and La Mer- talk about blowing your beauty budget! I figured if either of them was the wrong color or didn’t look good on my 40+ skin, I’d return (love Sephora’s return policy). I figured one of them would be going back, but darn it they both are a good color match and look good on my skin. What to do…
I stayed away from all makeup, as I feel my stash is more than adequate for a lifetime (seriously, I get anxious thinking about how to use up what I have already, especially since I don’t wear things like eye makeup/lip/blush everyday), but my weakness has always been skincare, so I stocked up on that same Drunk Elephant eye cream, Ren glycolic toner, Tatcha sunscreen and some other things I can’t remember right now.
I really like the UD Born to Run palette though…that was a hard one to not buy.
That’s one of the reasons why I shop there, too, Tracy. You can’t beat the return policy!
So the Born to Run palette is REALLY warm. If you’re into orangey and reddish browns it’s fun, and I wore it a lot for a month because I was on a jewel-tone kick.
How are you liking the La Mer?
Hmm, I like warm colors, but I lean more towards cooler colors (my skin is light/medium with neutral leaning cool undertones), so maybe the Born to Run is not for me. I also have plenty of shimmery shades, from Natasha Denona, Pat McGrath and Colored Rain singles.
I like the La Mer better than the YSL actually. The YSL seems a little too matte on my skin, although it doesn’t make me look dry. Maybe I’m just not used to that finish, as I don’t typically go for matte foundations (my other 2 are Chanel Perfection Lumiere and Armani Luminous Silk). So maybe the YSL will go back, and I’ll keep the uber expensive one, haha!
Actually I find Sephora a little finicky when it comes to returns. I like to make sure it’s a yes before buying.
Really? I’ve never had them refuse a return, but I always keep my receipts or packing slips until I know for sure it’s a keeper.
But that does speak to the wasting of product you buy if you try it then return, because then it basically gets tossed into the garbage (and the make up company, not Sephora, has to eat that cost). So really being sure you want it before buying is the best solution, or getting samples (which Sephora is very good about, but not everything they sell, ie La Mer, is in store for them to make you a sample of).
Why wouldn’t Sephora absorb that loss? I thought they had insurance for loss.
Maybe I’m wrong, I heard it on someone’s youtube video they said they pass that loss on back to the brand, but I know nothing about how Sephora operates. So I should’ve qualified that comment with, “I’ve heard…”
Luckily, I’m pretty stocked up with skin care, however, I did need a new moisturizer. I went with Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration moisturizer. So far, it’s keeping my skin soft in this dry air. Since I’m a Rouge member, I was able to get the 20% first weekend of this month and the last weekend of Oct. I grabbed two of the holiday Pat McGrath palettes: Dark Star and Bronze Temptation and another PMG labs eye liner – black coffee. Wow, why haven’t I jumped on the bandwagon sooner? Oh right, I don’t have $125 for a palette. Her shadows are magical! And the last weekend – along with the Fresh moisturizer, I picked up the NARS Manic Velvet Matte lip holiday set (a great value, great color range and cute makeup pouch that speaks to my inner teenage punk girl) and a PMG labs Lust Lip Gloss in Flesh 4. I have naturally dark lips that are discolored. This warm brown looks great on it’s own – it’s not super pigmented but it does add enough color without having to pair with a lip liner.
I hope the Kate Sommerville works well for you – I have used her other products, if you need feedback.
I’ve tried that Fresh Rose moisturizer and it broke me out. 🙁 Same thing with the toner. It smells and feels AMAZING though.
I saw your comments on Kate S. on FB! I came this close to getting the Deep Tissue cream but I needed a sunscreen, and I just couldn’t get the math to work out. Is there anything else you can recommend from her line besides Deep Tissue and her sunscreen?
Also, what’s the PMG liner like?
I am not Rouge, so by the time I get to my cart, a lot of the frippery is SOLD OUT! and I end up with the basics, so my cart looks a lot like yours. Clinique and Drunk Elephant skincare, and a new to me HG product, Bobbi Brown’s Illuminate Primer. I also found the Bite Beauty Lip Mask tin irresistible at that price! I have been wanting to try those forever! One for myself, one to gift.
I’m kinda secretly relieved the frippery is all gone because it’s hard to resist. What Clinique and Drunk Elephant did you get? And tell me about this primer, please! How is it with pores?
I’m only VIB so a lot of the hot items weren’t available to me. Which is great for my low-buy. I do the same as you, Karen. I add everything I want onto my cart, then whittle down as days, weeks pass on. I ended up with the Clinique Glow kit bc I really need the moisture surge moisturizer and for only $4 more, I get the cleansing balm that I love and a trial size of their vitamin C, plus some other extra stuff. Also ended up with the Tarte Knockout toner bc I’m out of P50 and wanted to see if this was a cheaper dupe, and the original Bare Minerals foundation. I love Sephora’s return policy, though I always feel incredibly shy about returning things!
I really wanted the Wander lipstick/liner you wrote about, but then looked at my current lip collection and couldn’t justify it! I still haven’t opened the Bite Beauty bday gift I got from there.
Kate! I am doing the same thing with Tarte Knockout. Been using it now for about three weeks, and you know what? It hurts. I got used to the tingly feeling of P50 but Knockout feels stronger and stings more. Or maybe I’m just a wimp. (That’s probably it.) It works though!
Oh no! I’m slowly getting my skin used to Retin-A so I want to be extra careful. Was only using p50 once or twice a week. Definitely don’t want anything more strong or irritating.
I know a ton of people love Knockout. Maybe do a slow introduction?
I put a bunch of things in my cart, realized black Friday is next week and started comparison shopping.
Then I shopped my stash. The la mer was quickly removed from the cart.
I want a new moisturizer (for the non-la mer nights) or a serum.
I had what I thought was a gift card. It is a store credit. In store only. The store near me had none of the items in my cart. I deleted my cart and moved on with life. The 20% is not a steep discount. I try to buy clothes at only 40% off or more–most does not fit well so why spend a lot? That makes it hard to pay full price.
I also got more la mer in the mail today (freebies!).
The good stuff was gone. I saw a youtube video about advent calendars. Out of stock. But, next week starts good discounts so no worries. If I remember correctly, even first aid beauty was 40% off after Thanksgiving. I am shocked that I am not concerned . . .
I just received my pretty boring order today! None of my skincare is from Sephora, so it was makeup. I got the Sephora Bright Future gel serum concealer and corrector, the CoverFx Dewy Setting Spray (I love their Performance setting spray), and a Sephora collection gel blush.
I do the same thing, Karen! I put things in my cart then whittle away. I was bummed that the Nars Hot Tryst cheek palette sold out, but it’s actually a good thing to help keep me in check! I, too, love the Chrissy Teigen palette. Love those colors!
But what if the one thing you really needed sold out while on sale? That thought would keep me up all night!
I needed to restock on Drunk Elephant LaLa Retro, so I bought the kit that had this, the Lippe, and some small sizes of the B-Hydra, Beste cleanser, and the C-Tango eye cream. I also picked up the Bite Beauty LipMask mini trio kit for a gift, a Kaja Beauty Bento in Orange Blossom, and the Bite Beauty Sweet Treats set in Champagne for myself.