Nobody likes spending their hard earned cash on beauty products that don’t live up to expectations. If you agree, pay attention to this list of the best Sephora products. Not only will you save money by purchasing tried and true products, you’ll also look good doing it.
No doubt about it, I love me some beauty products. What I don’t like is spending money on beauty products that I feel aren’t worth their price tag. Because seriously, we’ve all had that moment where we get to the bottom of a $50 moisturizer and find that our skin is still dry and irritated.
So annoying, right?
If you’re on board with me, I wanted to share my picks for the best Sephora products (i.e. the ones that I’ve actually felt are worth repurchasing). While I know that not everyone will have the same list of “favorites”, this list is less about these being my favorite products, and more so about products that I feel are worth purchasing over their drugstore counterparts.
But hey, if you’re not interested in spending an arm and a leg on beauty products at Sephora, check out this list of all the best drugstore makeup and all the best drugstore makeup removers. There’s some real gems on both of these lists.
For now, though, if you’re ready to check out some of my top picks for the best Sephora products, I’m going to break them down by skincare, makeup, and haircare. Feel free to jump ahead to the sections you’re most interested in.
Please note that this post does contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you choose to purchase one of these products through my link. Just know that these are all products I use and would recommend to my closest friends.
Best Sephora Skincare
When it comes to spending money on beauty products, I’m more inclined to spend on skin related products.
Why?
Because I feel these are the products that you see the biggest difference in quality.
Having said that, as mentioned above, I get so frustrated when I spend money on a fancy cream that lasts me only a couple weeks. It honestly ends up feeling like I paid more for the packaging than the actual product.
These are the three Sephora skincare products that I have purchased more than once, and they just happen to include a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a serum, making this the perfect trio to purchase if you’re looking for a new high quality skincare routine.
So first, to start…
The Fresh Soy Cleanser
I originally received a sample of the Fresh Soy Cleanser in a gift box for Christmas, and after trying it, I had no problem purchasing a full sized bottle.
In fact, I actually specifically purchased it for a vacation I had at the time, which worked out perfectly because it conveniently acts as both a makeup remover and a cleanser (yes, you can use this cleanser on your eye makeup and it doesn’t burn or sting at all).
The Fresh Soy Cleanser also tones your skin, so if you want to add that toning step, you can simply use this cleanser and you get the benefits of cleansing, makeup removing, AND toning.
Other skincare benefits include: tightening, soothing, and balancing. Trust me, it’s the perfect cleanser, especially if you have sensitive skin like me.
First Aid Beauty Ultra-Repair Cream
I’ll be honest right off the bat, this is a very thick moisturizer that might seem a little too intense for the face, but as someone who has sensitive skin, I can say with confidence that this product has never broken me out. In fact, it’s made my skin less red, more bright, and totally blemish free.
I love that it’s available in an extra large size that lasts for months, and can be used from head-to-toe. I actually used this after vacation when my skin starting peeling because of the sun, and it made the peeling skin SO much less flaky and dry. Even my boyfriend used it!
In my opinion, you get the most value out of The Ultra Repair Cream. The fact that it lasts for over a month is just a really nice bonus.
Ole Henriksen Vitamin C Truth Serum
While a serum might not seem like an essential step for an effective skincare routine, if you want your skin to glow, you DON’T want to skip out on a serum. A basic moisturizer can really only do so much. A serum, on the other hand, has the ability to penetrate your pores more deeply and really deliver hydration.
In particular, the Vitamin C Truth Serum by Old Henriksen is my personal favorite.
While I’ll be upfront and say that I haven’t tried as many serums as I have cleansers/moisturizers, I can say that just one use of this product instantly made a difference in how my skin looked.
Add on top that Vitamin C is well-known for its ability to boost collagen, brighten skin, increase elasticity, and deliver hydration, and it’s hard to resist this skincare gem.
Check out this article on how to use a jade roller if you’re looking for the most effective method for applying a serum.
Best Sephora Makeup
As mentioned, skincare is where I spend the majority of money when it comes to shopping at Sephora. While I certainly wish I could spend more on makeup, oftentimes, I just can’t justify spending $50 on blush when I don’t see that much of a difference between blush at Sephora and blush at the drugstore. Do you know what I mean?
Anyway, where you spend your money is obviously totally up to you, but if there were only two Sephora makeup products that I could recommend, it would be the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream and the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
I use both these products on a daily basis, and I have purchased both on multiple occasions.
Read on to discover why I consider these the best Sephora makeup products…
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
I’ve been singing the praises of the Your Skin But Better CC Cream for quite some time, but I truly don’t think I’ve ever used a better foundation.
Not only does it have great coverage, it’s also SO easy to apply (I just use my fingers), it stays on all day, and it has so many skin loving ingredients in the formula that help make my skin even more dewy and glowy (you generally won’t get that out of your standard foundation).
For instance, as someone who loves the sun, having SPF 50 in the formula saves me from sun spots and wrinkles. In addition, there’s an anti-aging serum incorporated directly into the formula so that even if you don’t want to purchase a separate serum, you can use this CC cream and you get all the benefits of a serum. In particular, this formula really targets anti-aging, which, as someone who just passed her 29th birthday, I appreciate.
If you’d like to learn more about this CC Cream, you’ll find my full, in-depth review here.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
I went through a phase where I didn’t use concealer, and now, looking back, I don’t know what I was thinking.
If I could pick only one makeup product to have with me for the rest of my life, concealer would probably be it. It just brightens up my eyes SO much and makes me look more awake (check out this article on how to apply concealer for the best results if you need a refresher).
Having said that, there’s only concealer out there that I’ve found does the job when it comes to really brightening up my eyes and covering up those dark circles: The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
This concealer never cracks or cakes under my eyes, it’s super easy-to-apply (in case you haven’t noticed I favour makeup that lets me use my fingers), and there’s so many shade ranges to choose from that you’re guaranteed to find the perfect match that makes it look like you’re not even wearing makeup. It’s a win, win, win!
I have a full review on all the things I love about this best-selling concealer, if you’re interested in learning more, but in general, this concealer works wonders and is HIGHLY recommended.
Stila Extreme Huge Mascara
If you’re familiar with my blog then you probably know that I’ve never been picky about what mascara I use. I’m usually much more concerned about the products that I’m putting directly on my skin…
Having said that, things changed after I received the Stila Extreme Huge Mascara in a sample package, and I just had to include it on this list of best Sephora products.
I started using this mascara simply because I had it, and boy was I surprised by what a different it made!
Not only does it give my lashes length, it also provides volume without that clumpy look. To me, there’s nothing worse than mascara that looks clumpy and goopy. I prefer a more “natural” mascara that still provides volume and length. And honestly, achieving all three of those things has always been difficult. Natural mascara tends to not do much, and bold mascara tends to look clumpy.
But not with Extreme Huge Mascara by Stila. It gives me the volume and length that I want, but it still looks relatively natural. I mean, obviously you can tell I’m wearing mascara, but it doesn’t look like I have spider legs crawling out of my eyes, ‘ya know what I mean?
If you’re also on the hunt for a “natural” mascara like this, while this product is more expensive than your basic drugstore mascara, I definitely think it’s worth the price, especially if you have an event coming up where you want your makeup to look great.
Best Sephora Haircare
I’m not super big on spending a ton of money on my hair. I’m that girl that will take a pair of scissors to her hair before she’ll schedule a hair appointment. BUT if there is one haircare product that I have purchased multiple times and that I haven’t been able to find a good drugstore dupe for, it is the…
Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray
So much better than your typical sticky hairspray, and an amazing alternative to traditional dry shampoo, this texturizing spray instantly gives volume to my hair and makes it look so much more “beachy,” even on days where I don’t have time to style it. It’s not exactly cheap and I don’t consistently buy it, but when I know I have something coming up, like a wedding, where I want my hair to look good and stay in place, I always go for this texturizing spray.
Also, while we’re on the subject of being someone who’s a little lazy with her hair…
If you’re looking for some easy hair tutorials for hot days, you’ll find all my favorites here. Also be sure to check out this guide to washing your hair once a week. The texturizing spray really comes in handy if you’re reducing the number of times per week that you wash your hair.
And there you have it: those are all the best Sephora products that I think are worth the money.
Like I said, this list will probably look a little different for everyone, but if you’re hoping to save some money on your beauty products, I would highly recommend reserving your beauty budget for skincare and makeup that you use directly on your skin (i.e. foundation and concealer). To me, this just tends to make the biggest difference in terms of my overall look.
To review, here are the best Sephora products that I personally think are worth the money:
2) First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
4) It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
5) NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
6) Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara
7) Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray
And don’t forget, I have a full review of both the It Cosmetics CC Cream and The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer if you’re interested in those products.
Be sure to let me know some fo your favorite Sephora products and why you love them so much. As much as I like saving money on beauty, I’m always up for trying out new beauty.
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Love your lists! Crazy how much we seem alike (product-wize). On your drugstore list, I literally use almost all of those products lol. Because of that, I’m trying out your suggestions for sephora skincare products. I too have tried insanely expensive products from sephora that are useless. Because of a situation just like that, I have a bunch of sephora credit to use up from returning useless stuff lol.
Anywho, thanks for your lists!