Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know by now that Sephora’s Holiday Savings Event has arrived and our beauty team is absolutely losing it over all the deals and steals. Whether you’re looking to get your holiday shopping done early or you just think you deserve a treat (I encourage both), now is the time to save big on all your Sephora purchases.
If you aren’t in the know quite yet, starting today, Sephora will be offering Beauty Insiders 10% off their entire cart through November 15. Rouge Beauty Insiders will receive 20% off, and VIB Beauty Insiders will receive 15% off. Use the promo code YAYHOLIDAY in-store or online to take advantage of this colossal savings event while you can. Oh yeah, there’s also the part where all Beauty Insiders can save 30% on Sephora Collection products through November 15—no code necessary.
Besides our beauty team, you know who else can’t wait to get their hands on Sephora’s best buys right now? Makeup artists! Yep, they shop at Sephora too, and they can’t smash that buy button fast enough. Because I’m nosy, I just had to take a peek at what’s in their carts. Celeb makeup artists Melissa Hurkman and Cara Lovello happily obliged and let me sift through their top picks. See what we’re all investing in below.
I’ll be first to admit I need to clean my brushes more often, and you probably do too. Let’s all take a leaf from Hurkman’s book and snag some brush cleaner while it’s temporarily cheap. “This is the best brush-cleaning soap I’ve used,” says Hurkman. “This removes all grime and bacteria from your brushes quickly while leaving them smelling fresh. It’s also convenient because of the tin it comes in, making it perfect for travel. There is also a little rubber scrubbing mat included in the tin, which is great for really working out the stubborn product in your brushes.”
Lovello loves this shadow for the lid or inner corners of the eyes. She’s now snagging it in this gorgeous champagne shade. “It doesn’t budge and goes on smoother than a regular shimmer shadow,” she says.
For a good cream contour, Lovello has her eye on this gem from Huda Beauty. To her, you can never have enough of them stocked. “This is actually one of my favorite cream contours currently in my kit. It has a skin-like finish, does its job without adding an extra-thick layer, and never gets cakey or muddy.”
If you’ve been searching for that perfect nude shade, look no further than Anastasia Beverly Hills’ liquid lipstick in Naked. “It’s the best nude,” says Lovello. “Plus it lasts super long on the lips because of the liquid formula.”
“This is hands down one of the best glosses,” Lovello shares. “It also plumps the lips, making them look super hydrated and luscious.”
Hurkman is also stocking up on glosses this savings event because, let’s be honest, you can never have too many glosses. “This formula has more of a honey-like texture,” she shares. “The way these feel on the lips when you are applying with the applicator is so soft. You won’t want to stop applying. The colors I use the most are Mahogany and Rosewood. Both are neutral and give a sheer wash of color to the lips.”
For the perfect everyday liner, Hurkman is throwing this Make Up For Ever pencil into the mix. ” [This shade is perfect because] it’s not too brown, and it’s not too pink or rosy,” she tells me. “That makes it great to pair with almost any lip combo. PS: This shade goes great with the Dior Glow Lip Oil in Mahogany (to deepen) and Rosewood (to match the rosy tone).”
Yes, there’s a finishing powder out there that can create the most flattering light, not just catch it. Hurkman always hoards this one from Hourglass. “I use the shade Luminous Light the most, but all of the shades are incredible,” she declares. “This is a very mild highlighting powder that helps bring a soft, pearly glow to the skin while blurring the pores. I love using this as a topper to makeup application over areas you want more glow.”
To Hurkman, you can never have too many bronzers, especially one like Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer because it comes in a great variety of shades. “If you are looking for a bronzer for deep skin tones, look no further,” she says. “The shade Toasted is my favorite to carry in my kit. It’s the perfect warm, hot chocolate shade to add dimension to any makeup look. This is also a beautiful color on the eyes, too.”
Hurkman loves this eye, cheek, and lip combo from Nudestix and will be buying a few extra this holiday savings event. “This is the perfect neutral, rosy-toned blush and lip cream. It has been a staple in my kit for two years!”
Of course, like just about everyone else, Hurkman is stocking up on Makeup by Mario products because they’re just that good. “A little goes a long way with these so you’ll get a lot of use out of them,” she says. “They are super smooth and silky, so they blend seamlessly. The shade ranges are also great for all skin tones.”
Lovello will snag another of this palette to have on hand because it has such a wide range of wearable shades. It’s a must-have.
Looking to invest in a solid everyday foundation? Hurkman has you covered. “This foundation is similar to a tinted moisturizer as far as how it feels and applies on the skin but with a much longer wear time. You can build up from a very light coverage to about a medium coverage with this when layering. It’s a very natural finish—not too glowy and not too matte. It’s perfect for day-to-day use.”
For all-day wear, Hurkman loves this foundation and will be buying a full range this time around. “When you want great coverage and for your makeup to last all day, this is the foundation for you. This is a spray foundation, so you spray it on your brush or on the back of your hand and pick it up with your brush or sponge and apply it to the skin. (That’s my favorite way to apply it.) Pro tip: Do not spray it directly on your face, no matter how tempting it may be. I use this on the clients who love a more glam look with their makeup. It’s great for anyone who will be on video or shooting for long hours. I also recommend it for brides or special occasions. The finish is a soft matte, so if you have dry skin or want more of a glow out of the foundation, apply an extra bit of moisturizer before to really hydrate the skin.”
In terms of skincare (and makeup removal), Hurkman will be stockpiling these Facial Radiance Pads from First Aid Beauty. “These pads gently remove dead skin and debris off the surface of the skin. They’re different from other peel pads and exfoliators because they’re intended for sensitive skin. When you use these, you will instantly feel cleaner, smoother, and brighter. Use them after you cleanse on dry skin. I use these in my makeup kit on just about everyone. It helps the makeup look super smooth.”
Makeup goes on much smoother with this Magic Cream from Charlotte Tillbury—Lovello can personally attest to it. “It’s such a rich cream that absorbs quick and isn’t greasy!”
“I’ll basically never use another cleansing oil,” Lovello states. “It’s the best facial cleanser and remover. It gets all my makeup off so quickly and so gently.”
As for moi, I’m eyeing this serum from Tatcha because it has absolutely no pore-clogging ingredients—somewhat of a rare feat I’ve come to realize. If you have acne-prone skin, this serum is safe to use. It utilizes ingredients like hyaluronic acid and lactic acid to visibly plump and resurface the skin.
Obviously, I’ll be stocking up on my beloved C-Firma. It’s hands down one of the best vitamin C serums I’ve ever used. My skin looks instantly brighter after applying it, which really comes in handy on winter days when my complexion is looking a little dry or dull. It also helps calm inflamed zits—a real asset when you have acne-prone skin.
On days my skin needs a little extra hydration, I’ll be opting for SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence. It also softens the skin’s texture, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and helps bring out your most youthful glow.
Celeb makeup artist Sam Fine made me do it. After hearing what an incredible foundation this is for Black and Brown skin tones, I’ll be adding this creamy formula to my cart for sure.
For a super-cute (and affordable) gift option, try Sephora Collection’s Face Mask Magic.
I love this complexion-perfecting stick for those no-makeup makeup days. It has such a natural finish and is completely noncomedogenic. Now is the perfect time to stock up—it just might end up replacing your OG foundation and concealer.
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