I Worked as a Beauty Advisor for Two Years—Here’s What I’m Buying During the Sephora Savings Event
Updated: May 22, 2023
Stock up on items from the Sephora Collection and popular brands like Sunday Riley and Shark during the Sephora Savings Event. Here's what a former beauty advisor is buying.
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As Reader’s Digest’s Sales Editor, the Sephora Savings Event is basically a holiday for me—especially since I used to work at a beauty counter. It’s the perfect excuse to stock up on skincare staples like sunscreen and face wash. The semi-annual sale event is so good, that it strengthens the age-old Sephora vs. Ulta debate.
When is the Sephora sale 2023?
Sephora’s Savings Event begins depending on your Beauty Insider status. Discounts for Rouge members, the highest at 20% off, begin on April 14, while VIB members see 15% savings starting on April 18. Insiders—the free-to-join status—save 10% from April 14-24.
Each discount works multiple times. Place as many orders as you’d like during the sale. All Beauty Insiders, regardless of status, save 30% on the Sephora Collection from April 14-24. Unlock the sale using promo code SAVENOW.
What time of year is the Sephora Savings Event?
Only two Sephora Saving Events take place during the year—once in the spring and once closer to the holidays—these deals are rare. Sephora has smaller sales throughout the year, but the Savings Event is the best time to score bestsellers and finds from the Sephora collection. Because the discount applies to your entire order, it’s the best way to save on items that don’t normally have markdowns.
Take it from someone who used to work a beauty counter: the key to shopping big sale events like this is to prepare. Read up on bestsellers that are rarely discounted and snag those as soon as the event starts. They’re usually the first to sell out. Another tip is to use the deal to stock up on favorite beauty must-haves, like your go-to vitamin C serums or moisturizers.
The best Sephora Savings Event deals
Shark FlexStyle
Our Shopping Editor recently wrote a review on the viral Shark FlexStyle, and she gives it high marks across the board. This Dyson Airwrap dupe is nearly half the price of the coveted styler and performs just as well. Advanced technology helps avoid heat damage, and each styler arrives with barrels for the left and right sides for perfect curls.
Olaplex No. 3
Calling all heat tool addicts! There are so many benefits to using Olaplex No. 3 that we had to write an entire review of the product. This cult-favorite hair system boasts incredible before and after photos, and stylists and shoppers across the globe laud Olaplex’s damage-repairing properties. Use the No. 3 as a pretreatment before shampooing to relink broken disulfide bonds and regain soft, shiny hair in a single step.
Laneige lip sleeping mask set
Level up your lip routine by popping the Laneige lip sleeping mask set into your cart. Our Senior Shopping Editor swears by it in her extensive review of the mask, noting that, “with just a few seconds worth of work on my end, I get to wake up feeling like I beat winter.” This set includes the original mask in three different scents: Butter, Permission to Dance and Dynamite.
Sunday Riley ice ceramide moisturizer
Even the best facial serums require a good moisturizer to build off of, and Sunday Riley’s Ice ceramide moisturizer offers a myriad of benefits for aging skin. Vitamin F addresses multiple concerns, such as loss of elasticity, dryness and dark circles. Use it to strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Plump and prep skin and enjoy a baby-soft feel with this single holy grail product while it’s on sale during the Sephora Savings Event.
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant
Doing a chemical peel at home sounds scary, but the 2% BHA liquid exfoliant from Paula’s Choice makes it easy (and safe) to secure soft, glowing skin. Swipe on this leave-on exfoliant with a cotton pad before layering on moisturizer and sunscreen. Salicylic acid removes dull, dead skin for a healthy glow while green tea soothes skin, reducing redness and discoloration.
Tatcha the silk canvas protective primer
Use the Sephora Savings Event as an excuse to stock up on bestsellers, like the popular The Silk Canvas protective primer from Tatcha. It’s the perfect base for the best foundations since it includes silk extracts that make skin butter-soft. Surprising ingredients like pink and gold pearl, green tea, rice and algae provide a protective layer against pollutants. Plus, the silky primer prevents foundation-clogged pores.
Ouai cleansing scalp and body scrub
There’s no better way to prep skin for Isle of Paradise tanning drops than by using the Ouai cleansing scalp and body scrub. Sugar granules gently buff away dry skin and uneven texture, and the addition of coconut oil hydrates skin for a supple, soft appearance. Plus, this stuff smells just like a luxury vacation with hints of bergamot, lychee, cedarwood and white musk—yum.
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue hair oil
Extend the results of your TikTok hair slugging sessions with the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue hair oil. This nourishing and protective hair oil is lightweight enough for thin strands but boasts UV protection for beach days and Japanese-sourced camellia oil that smoothes and hydrates hair. Add shine and minimize frizz in one simple step.
Dior Addict lip glow
Dior’s bestselling Addict lip glow is just like a hydrating lip balm, but even better. Not only is it made from 97% natural ingredients, but the hydrating blend of cherry oil, shea butter and rice wax protects against drying and adds unreal shine. Not sure what color to try? Don’t worry—each shade contains color-reviver technology that adapts to the pH of lips to give each person a custom glow.
Replica Coffee Break eau de toilette
Coffee Break eau de toilette from Replica isn’t just one of the best fragrances on Sephora’s site—it’s also the perfect gift for a coffee lover. Warm coffee and milk mousse accord blend with a splash of vanilla for an upscale cafe scent. Tantalize tastebuds with a surprise hint of light musk while the fresh spearmint and lavender uplift and invigorate the senses.
Trust us—you won’t find another perfume like this one in your collection.
Originally Published: March 29, 2022
