A Few of My Favorite Things | Sephora Holiday 2020

Every year, in anticipation of the Sephora Holiday Savings Event, I share a curated list of my personal favorite products/formulas available at Sephora for whether you’re looking to be tempted by something or to find a special gift to give someone else.

I have deliberately tried to lean-in to more exclusive brands and products, and these are all the permanently available products; you’ll find a gift guide dedicated to all things limited edition at Sephora here.

For a broader range of my all-time favorite formulas and products: Best Blushes, Best Highlighters, Best Eyeshadows, Best Eyeshadow Palettes, Best Lipsticks, Best Lipglosses, Best Eye Brushes, Best Face Brushes.

If you’re curious about all of the holiday products and sets, in total, check out our Best of Holiday 2020 Palettes & Gifts, which automatically updates the rankings as new reviews go live.

Sephora’s holiday shopping event kicks off October 30th for Rouges, who have early access to the event.  Rouges get 20% off all purchases online and in-store with code HOLIDAYFUN.  Starting on November 3rd, VIBs get 15% off and Insiders can save 10% off with the same code, HOLIDAYFUN.  Insiders get 10% off beginning November 5th with code HOLIDAYFUN.  The event ends November 9th for all tiers.

Also, for those at 10% off and 15% off, always cross-reference the brands/products you have your eye on to see if they’re likely to go on sale for 15-25% off in the next few weeks.  Many brands participate in Black Friday/Cyber Monday offerings at least better than 10%.

Eyes

Makeup by Mario Master Metals

Makeup by Mario Master Metals 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a new, five-pan palette featuring a gel-powder formula that can be used... Read full review.

Natasha Denona Zendo

Natasha Denona Zendo Mini Eyeshadow Palette ($25.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new, permanent mini five-pan palette that features three shimmery eyeshadows... Read full review.

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes

Makeup by Mario Master Mattes 12-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00 for 0.36 oz.) is a new, permanent all-matte eyeshadow palette that featured a mix of... Read full review.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Crayon

Natasha Denona Sunrise

Natasha Denona Sunrise 15-Pan Small Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00 for 0.67 oz.) is a new, permanent palette designed to complement the original Sunset... Read full review.

Melt Cosmetics She's in Parties

Melt Cosmetics She's in Parties 8-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00 for 0.58 oz.) is a new, likely-permanent palette that takes the brand's original stack... Read full review.

Dior New Look (599)

Dior New Look (599) 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a new, smokier neutral color story that had one matte eyeshadow with... Read full review.

Natasha Denona Bronze

Natasha Denona Bronze 15-Pan Small Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00 for 0.67 oz.) is a new, seemingly-permanent warm-toned palette that includes five matte... Read full review.

Milk Makeup Flex Highlighter

The formula is supposed to apply "seamlessly" to skin and hydrate skin with a "weightless pearlescent base" that gives "next-level glow." There's no specific description about coverage, but the promotional swatches showed all shades as opaque. The formula is as smooth and as silky as described; it felt like a thinner, powdery cream than it felt like a true powder. Read more...

Natasha Denona Biba

Natasha Denona Biba 15-Pan Eyeshadow Palette ($129.00 for 1.2 oz.) is a new, permanent palette that features three Metallic eyeshadows, four... Read full review.

Kaja Orange Blossom

Kaja Orange Blossom Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio ($21.00 for 0.09 oz.) includes three, ultra-sparkly "cream-powder" eyeshadows that are... Read full review.

Pat McGrath Bronze Seduction

Pat McGrath Bronze Seduction Mothership Eyeshadow Palette ($125.00 for 0.47 oz.) is a new, permanent palette that contains an assortment of... Read full review.

Face

Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick

The formula is supposed to be an "air-whipped lip cream" with "rich, melted-in color" paired with "nourishing hydration." It's a liquid lipstick with a more velvety consistency and satin to matte finish--some shades seemed to turn matte very quickly while others were a bit denser and creamier. Read more...

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush

The formula is supposed to give a "fresh wash of color" that is "effortless" to blend with a "natural-looking" finish. The coverage is designed to be "sheer, buildable" with a "sweat- and water-resistant formula." The brand recommends to apply with fingertips or their 125 brush (which is a fairly dense, angled brush). Read more...

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

The formula is supposed to be "non-greasy," "sweat-resistant," "easy to blend" cream bronzer (or contour) with "sheer, buildable" coverage that has a "natural-looking" finish. The brand called out two shades specifically as contour shades--Amber and Toffee Tease--though they can certainly be used as applicable to one's skin tone and undertone. Read more...

Pat McGrath Divinyl Lip Shine

The formula is supposed to offer "mirror-esque" shine with "rich color" that has a lot of "hydration." It's part of the brand's Lip Fetish range, which is a lip balm-based formula, but these appear to be the higher coverage offering within the various finishes available. They have a smooth, balm-like feel--light glide but not overly slippery, lightweight, and comfortable to apply and to wear. Read more...

Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color - Blush

The formula is supposed to have "intense color payoff" with a "long-lasting finish." The range is split into three types--Highlighters, Sculpting Powders, and Blushes--that is easy to determine by the first letter of the shade name (H for Highlighter, S for Sculpting, and B for Blush). Read more...

Lips

Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick

The formula is supposed to be an "air-whipped lip cream" with "rich, melted-in color" paired with "nourishing hydration." It's a liquid lipstick with a more velvety consistency and satin to matte finish--some shades seemed to turn matte very quickly while others were a bit denser and creamier. Read more...

Sephora Rouge Lacquer

The lipstick is supposed to have a "silky smooth melting formula" that yields "intense long-lasting color and high-shine" with "instant hydration." Most shades were creamy without being so slippery that they felt that way or went on unevenly. They do melt quickly, though, so if they are left in a warmer area (with all my photography lights running) and applied, they feel substantially creamier than at room temperature (about 72 degrees). Read more...

Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipstick

The formula is supposed to have "high levels of pigment" for "cushiony, comfortable, weightless color" that lasts for "six hours." They had rich color coverage in a single stroke, just as promised, and they were creamy and emollient, which made them comfortable and easy to apply on my lips. Read more...

Sephora Lipstories Lipstick

The formula is supposed to be "lightweight" with "full-coverage color in one swipe." The majority of shades were pigmented with semi-opaque to full color payoff in a single layer, as described. The more shimmery shades tended to be a bit sheerer overall, while the mattes and creams were usually closer to opaque in coverage. Read more...

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer

The formula is supposed to have a “peach-vanilla” scent (I’d agree–sweet, lightly fruity) and be “conditioning.” It was designed to be worn alone or layered over other lip products. The consistency was very smooth, light-to-medium in weight, non-sticky, and comfortable to wear. It had a plusher consistency that helped it stay out of most of my lip lines. The shimmer was moderate but noticeable, and it distributed evenly across the lips. They last about three hours on my lips but are hydrating.