Sephora Sale: Skincare Recommendations
I thought I’d share some of the top-performing formulas across various categories with Sephora’s spring event kicking off today for Rouges, and this post includes recommendations for skincare products, from moisturizers to cleansers to treatments.
Starting today, April 1st, through April 11th, Rouges can save 20% off with code SAVESPRING. VIBs can save 15% off beginning April 5th, while Insiders will get 10% off beginning April 7th. (For more details, see Sephora Spring Savings Event.)
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Skincare Recommendations
Below, I’ve broken down my skincare recommendations for shopping Sephora’s spring event by moisturizers, cleansers, and targeted treatments.
Moisturizers
- belief True Cream Aqua Bomb — intense hydration without greasiness
- Dr. Jart+ Moisturizers — love pretty much everything I’ve tried; I have repurchased and used multiple tubes of the Cicapair Gel/Cream and Ceramidin Cream.
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair — this is a go-to for hubby, though I usually snag a few during Ulta’s 10x day.
- Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Cream — cooling, gel-like but hydrating
- Tatcha Indigo Repair Cream — luxurious & intensely hydrating
Cleansers & Toners
- Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant — good everyday cleanser
- Dermalogica Precleanse Cleansing Oil — good for breaking down makeup
- Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm — breaks down makeup well
- First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser — smooth, effective daily cleanser for light makeup or less
- Fresh Soy Face Wash — good for second cleanse, morning cleanse, and light makeup removal
- Lancome Bi-Facil — excellent for removing eyeliner, long-wearing lip products
- Paula’s Choice 2% BHA
- Tatcha The Deep Cleanse — good for second cleanse, morning cleanse, light makeup days
- Tower28 SOS Spray — particularly good for acne-prone skin in my experience
- Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser — good for daily cleansing for lightweight makeup/no makeup
Masks & Treatments
- Dr. Jart+ Masks — It’s hard for me to go through tubs of masks, so I have been trying to use sheet masks so I don’t waste ALL of the product in a jar.
- Fresh Masks — I generally have had good experiences across their range of masks, though I tend to use Black Tea and Rose the most.
- Sunday Riley UFO — effective for helping me keep acne away
- Topicals Faded — effective but on the stinky side (so those who can’t tolerate funky smells should be cautious!)
Do you have any skincare-related recommendations for those shopping the sale this month?
I really like the tower 28 sos. Got the small spritz and the refill bottle ?last sale. Readers should check out the benefits of hypochlorous acid. Google it. Made from vinegar, salt, and water. Electrolyzed, if that’s the right word. Very gentle acid, marketed as for sensitive skin. It’s not only good for maskne, it can sterilize masks, which is good for those with fashion masks. It might be a good intro to acid actives.
I will have to recommend the spray to my daughter. Her acne is unrelenting and getting worse all the time. She is 28 and what acne I had was gone by the time I was 20. Her father has had chronic acne for his entire life. She has tried every thing imaginable under the sun from drugstore to high end. Nothing has worked. I have suggested she see a dermatologist and see about trying Accutane. She had been reluctant to try it but I think even she is at the end of her rope. I am sure some of it has been aggravated by wearing a mask all the time and while Seattle stopped their mask mandate, her office still requires them to wear it and their patients also. She loves makeup and has stopped wearing it as her self esteem is really low. She still has not even unpacked her makeup since moving to Seattle in October. Again, that is unheard of for her. I think both she and I need completely new skin care routines.
Deborah, my youngest son had bad acne when he was a teenager and I took him to a dermatologist and he was put on a course of Accutane – which really did work and he has never had the acne back again (a few pimples yes, but not acne). It made such a difference to his self esteem.
There may well be other procedures/treatments around too. I think acne is one of the most soul destroying problems because you see it every day in the mirror.
My twin sister had terrible acne and she wouldn’t go to a doctor and now she has quite a few scars – which is why I took my son when his started flairing up.
The trick is to find a really nice, caring dermatologist too.
Genevieve, would you be willing to contact me via my email? I have a request to make! Thank you for your always generous comments.
My email: dsorenson001@att.net
Good to hear from you. I agree with your daughter about the cons outweighing the pros on Accutane. Wasn’t there an accutane defense as well as a Twinkie defense? Too risky. Hope she has tried Differin. At 73 and still acne prone, I use primarily Cosrx and Purito products and Klairs Midnight blue calming cream as a sleeping mask. I try for watery texture and to avoid occlusives. It’s no fun at all when it’s a never ending grind. My m/u has been packed since Thanksgiving and I haven’t even moved anywhere yet! I relate.
Yes, we tried Differin when it was still prescription and it did nothing. At the time it was super expensive, like $156 a month but we persevered for 6 months and when we both agreed that we didn’t see any difference, we stopped it. Then after we moved up here to Montana, she had her first really super bad flair up and I took her to a dermatologist and they told us to try Differin. It was over the counter by then. I told the dermatologist that we had tried it without any improvement but she insisted we try it again and to add ab ABX, tetracycline. So we did it for another 6 months without improvement. I sincerely have tried everything under the sun from Korean/Asian skincare, all of the current high end brands and everything from the drugstore and Ulta. The people that I know who have used Accutane, have all sworn by the performance and 99% of them have no reoccurrence of the severe acne after using it. I tried to get the dermatologist to order lab work, namely hormone levels as I believe she may have a high testosterone level. She also has a lot of body hair. Not like you would notice it but certainly more than the average person. The dermatologist wouldn’t order the tests!! So, she is an adult now and can make her own decisions. We will see what she does now that her health insurance has kicked in at her job in Seattle.
Hi! Have you checked out the Omnilux Clear mask for acne? I believe it’s called Clear. I have their Contour mask. Also, have you ever read about Strep bacteria being one of the possible causes of acne and certain foods that could be worsening it? I could help send you in the right direction if you’re interested in reading about that medical info that offers actual answers to finally clearing it up. I hope she’s feeling alright! I know how terrible it can make one feel about themselves.
Thank you so much for the recommendations. I will look into both of them.
No problem. I understand the struggle. I’ve been through dermatologists, estheticians and other types of doctors who were unable to heal anything but tried almost everything. This may stray from the original subject but I hope it helps your daughter… For chronic skin problems check out Medical Medium + healing acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes and whatever else you may want to explore such as the Do Not Eat Foods List (which explains why each food is on that list).
Fresh celery juice is going to be 1 of the answers, of course. It’s a miracle for skin and overall health! I was a skeptic but when you have nothing to lose, why not try? 🙂
Thank you, Vittoria. I will send it to my daughter.
I really like a few products from Youth to the People including their facial oil (Macqui?? I think that’s what it’s called) and their Superberry Dream Glow overnight mask.
I will have to look it up!
I have used a couple of Youth to the People products in the past and can’t remember why I stopped using them. I will have to revisit the product line. As far as the Superberry Dream Glow mask, what effect do you see from it? What has it done for your skin? Thank you, Mariela.
Not unlike a Shiseido sleeping mask I’ve used in past or the REN Wake Wonderful (no longer available in Canada), my skin seems more plumped and firm when I wake up, to the point where I almost don’t want to wash it off. Their cleanser is really nice too, though some people aren’t wild for it. I don’t wear a lot of makeup most days so I find it effective enough and very nice for morning use.
Thank you. When you are 68 anything that firms the skin is a no brainer for me!! I will give it a try.
Hahaha….I’ll be 70 in October so I know what you mean!
Their Airwhip moisturizer is phenomenal for really oily skin/ very humid climates
All excellent choices Christine – I would be using some of these if they weren’t so incredibly expensive here in Aus. I would try the Farmacy and First Aid products.
Also Inkey List – another great brand.
Agree w Paula’s Choice 2% BHA and FAB beauty moisturizer for my body. For face I’m currently using
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. Very moisturizing but not greasy.
FYI, the BHA is not drying my skin, it was dry before I started that.
I have dry, sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. I use a lot of Paula’s Choice products in my skincare routine. Some of them are not carried at Sephora, but the ones that are are the PC 2% BHA liquid exfoliant that I use on my acne-prone back, the RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner, the 10% Azelaic Acid, the Omega+ Complex Serum, the Omega+ Complex moisturizer, and the Hyaluronic Acid+Peptide Lip Treatment Booster. I also really like the Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser and the Bite Agave+ Nightime lip therapy.
I’ve always heard lots of great things about PC! 🙂