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The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is upon us!
For my recommendations this year, I wanted to focus on products that were released in 2022 (or that I discovered this year). It’s been a great year for new beauty releases and I’ve discovered so many new holy grail-status products. If you’d like to see these products in action, you can check out my YouTube video. Also check out my Sephora Skincare Shopping Guide.
I also stand by all of my past Sephora shopping guides, if you’d like to check out my holy grails and longtime favorites.
Rouge members – 20% off 10/28 -11/7
VIB members – 15% off 11/1-11/7
Insider members – 10% off 11/3-11/7
For all tiers, use code SAVINGS at checkout
As always, please remember to spend responsibly and don’t get into debt for beauty products. Enjoy!
PRIMERS
Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder in Universal – The only primer I’ve reached for since I picked it up last month. This is a balm that melts down into a thin, spreadable texture as it hits the skin. For my oily/combo skin, this helps makeup last longer while remaining skin-like. It blurs over the appearance of pores and texture, and also works as a fantastic eyeshadow primer on my oily eyelids. I think the trick is to use this sparingly. A little goes a long way! I’ve only used the Universal shade as a translucent primer, but there are also tinted shades of this that can be used as a foundation or bronzer. I use it here!
iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Face Glaze – For those seeking an illuminating glow, the Face Glaze is such a unique glowy primer. It has a slightly grippy gel-like texture that imparts a skin-like, glow without being overwhelmingly shiny or glossy. Because it does set down to a skin-like finish, it’s an illuminating primer that works well for all skin types. I use it here.
Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Mattifying + Blurring Primer – A mattifying primer that smooths over pores without the use of silicones. I don’t know how they did it! It’s a gel texture that feels cooling to touch and spreads out in a very thin way. Extends my makeup wear throughout the day while remaining weightless on the skin. I do an all-day wear test with it here!
BASE MAKEUP
Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint 3/4 – The glowy skin tint of my dreams, this somehow is somehow radiant but also long-wearing and filtering on my skin. It has a blurring effect over pores and texture, and although it remains luminous, it doesn’t slide around on my face throughout the day. A great option for an everyday, fool-proof sheer base. Shade 3 is my winter shade and Shade 4 is my current shade. I review it here!
Merit The Minimalist Complexion Stick in Bisque – The only stick concealer I’ve ever really loved, this works well as an all-over foundation, a spot concealer, and even an under-eye concealer. The texture is thin and spreadable for a natural finish. Shade Bisque is a great match for me year-round. Light to medium coverage. I use it here, and I have a full brand review of Merit Beauty, where you can see a demo of this.
Merit 01 Brush – A perfect pairing with the Minimalist Complexion Stick, this is a dense but very soft brush that has just enough give to blend out the stick foundation. I also use this with liquid and cream products and it blends like a dream with no streakiness left behind. I use it here.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation in 6N – This gives me creamy-looking skin. I don’t know how else to describe it. A medium buildable coverage foundation that is luminous but not overly emollient or heavy. I love to wear this one for special occasions because I know it will last and make my skin look good all day long. I demo and review it in my Charlotte Tilbury Brand Review.
Very Valentino Foundation in MN2/MN3 – This foundation surprised me, I won’t lie. It’s a medium coverage foundation with a slightly self-setting quality that helps filter over the skin. Once it sets down, it’s very long-lasting. It’s similar in texture to my forever favorite Dior Backstage Foundation (shade 2WO), with slightly higher coverage. Like many luxury foundations, this one is fragranced, just FYI. I just recently tested it out here.
Haus Labs Triclone Foundation – A higher-coverage option for drier to normal skin types, this is one I’ve tried recently and really enjoyed with a few caveats. Because of the luminous finish, I do need to pair this with a magnifying primer. Once I do, this imparts a luminous skin-like finish with blurring qualities. The 51-shade range is also impressive, with lots of various and pretty unique undertones. I opted for shade 260 but will probably exchange for 190 as it did get deeper and warmer on me after application. Note that the shade range adopts the MAC scale in which cool = yellow and warm = pink. I test it out here.
CONCEALER
Dior Backstage Concealer in 2W – This has been on regular rotation for me this year, a medium to high coverage concealer with a lot of stretch. A little goes a long way. I love the brush applicator because it prevents over-application. This looks skin-like all day long without settling into fine lines.. Shade 2W is a great match for me. I demo it here.
Milk Makeup Future Fluid Concealer in 10W – A creamy medium coverage concealer that’s also in my everyday rotation. Milk calls this an “all-over concealer,” meaning the texture works well for under-eyes as well as face. 10W is my perfect match. I test it out here and do an all-day wear test here.
NARS Soft Matte Concealer in Custard – The only spot concealer I’ve used for years and years, this is a high-coverage concealer that really sticks to those stubborn acne scars and pigmentation while remaining skin-like. Not my favorite for under-eyes but an essential for the face. I discuss how I use it in-depth here.
POWDER
Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Powder in Translucent – This is updated, talc-free version of their classic powder. I find this extremely blurring over pretty much any base makeup. It really does make the skin look filtered and poreless. Great for mattifying and locking in makeup all day long. It also comes in shades Honey and Medium-Deep. I use it here.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder in 2 Medium – I finally tried this cult classic this year, and I get it. Such a soft, silky powder. I like this smooth texture best for under-eyes. I find the shade to be a bit brightening too. Not mattifying enough for me for my face, but I can see why this works for so many different skin types and ages. I review it in my Charlotte Tilbury Brand Review.
BRONZER AND CONTOUR
Charlotte Tilbury Cream Bronzer in Medium – The cream bronzer for those who want a long-lasting finish. This is one of the more matte cream textures I’ve used, which creates a very diffused and airbrushed final look. I think it’s a great cream bronzer for normal to oily-skins. Dry skin folks might want to apply over a dewy base or opt for a more emollient texture. I demo and review it here.
Makeup by Mario Transforming Skin Enhancer in Medium (worn on left) – A dewy, radiant cream bronzer with a radiant sheen. This formula is definitely emollient and does not set down, but it somehow stays in place and intact on my combo skin. I think dry to combo skins will love this as long as you are aiming for a more radiant, skin-like shine. I love that this is a sheer formula so it never looks overdone. I review it in detail here.
Danessa Myricks Contour Balm in Medium 1 – The newest cream contour addition to my collection, this is a very thin balm texture that blends out for a very natural contour effect. I love that I can use this for both natural and glam looks as it’s sheer but buildable. Medium 1 is a great shade for me, but this has a great range from light to deep. I use it here.
HIGHLIGHTER
Milk Makeup Bionic Glow in Virtual – This has been another year of liquid illuminators for me, and this is a lovely, weightless texture. The Bionic line is comprised of gel cheek products with a thin texture that apply in a beautiful, sheer layer and set down. It’s a great way to add glow without adding too much emollience to the skin. I also love the Bionic Bronzer and the Blushes. I demo it here.
BLUSH
Rose Inc. Cream Blush (shade Azalea on the right) – What I like to call a sturdy cream blush formula, this has some density to it, which makes it long-lasting on my skin. Despite its thicker texture, I find that it blends out beautifully and evenly. Azalea is a beautiful cool-toned berry shade that creates a flushed wintry cheek look. I use it here.
Danessa Myricks Vision Flush – The longest-lasting liquid blush. This is a formula I’ve loved for years. Uber pigmented, this formula works best by applying to the back of the hand and picking up with a brush then applying to cheeks. I’ve loved the shade Ballet Slipper for years, but I also tried Nutcracker (a neutral beige-y rose) and Sunset (a coral orange) this year, and I love them both. Nutcracker is a fantastic fall/winter blush shade; I test it out here.
Gucci Luminous Matte Blush in Rosy Beige – Powder blushes are coming back in 2023, and this is a great indication of the sophisticated formulas we can expect. This is a pressed powder blush with a satin sheen, buildable and pearlescent on the cheek. And of course, the weighty, luxe Gucci Packaging does not disappoint. I use it here and here.
Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Blush in Peach Poison – This dual-pan blush compact does not disappoint. It creates a skin-like, refined sheen. For the high price point, you’re basically getting two blushes in one in this compact. I love the shade Peach Poison for a warm-toned blushy bronze look, but there are a range of shades in this range from cool to warm and light to deep. I use it here.
EYESHADOW SINGLES AND QUADS
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize – If you get one single eyeshadow in this sale, get the new Eyes to Mesmerize in Exagger-eyes. The creamy, whipped moussey texture is perfect for this warm mid-toned peachy brown with a wet-looking sheen. I wear this multiple times a week because it’s just that easy to wear. Goes with everything, and daytime-appropriate too. I also enjoy the new Sunlit Glow shade, a rosy pink with a gold duo chrome flip. I wear both of them here.
Tom Ford Creme Quad in Tiger Eye (swatches on left) – A quad of creme-to-powder eyeshadows, this is the newest Tom Ford eyeshadow formula. These apply best with fingers to warm up the formula and blend out with fingers or a brush to impart a super smooth sheen.
Because this formula is so smooth, it would flatter all eyes, including mature eyelids. I use it here.
Dior Backstage Palette in Khaki Neutrals – I just recently picked up this eyeshadow palette from the Dior Holiday 2022 collection. It’s a perfect blend of neutrals and three different green shades: emerald, olive, and pine. These eyeshadow palettes create a soft, sophisticated eye look. I think Khaki Neutrals is a perfect palette to dip your toe into greens, if that’s of interest. I review it here with three different eye looks.
Patrick Ta Major Dimension I and II (II swatched on the left) – I used these eyeshadow palettes a lot this year, and I understand why they are so loved. The matte shades in the bottom row are silky and blendable; the metallics and toppers are twinkly and varied in texture; and the two cream eyeshadows in each palette make great singles or bases for the powder eyeshadows. Major Dimension I is great for warm neutrals.
Major Dimension II is full of roses and pinks, swatched on the left and here.
Danessa Myricks Lightwork Vol. IV (swatches on the right) – The best eyeshadow palette release of 2022, as far as I’m concerned. This is a palette for makeup lovers, full of rich jewel tones, metallic multi-chromes, pressed chrome flakes, and water-activated aqua chromes. A playground of textures and finishes. This palette inspires me to try new looks and explore creatively, and I love that. I have a dedicated palette review with 7 different eye looks.
Pat McGrath Mothership Palettes – Pick one, any one. I have and love almost all of the Mothership Palettes and year after year, I continue to treasure them as a work of art. My personal favorite (and most-used) is Mothership V, but this year I’ve also loved Mothership I.
Despite my disappointment that the most recent Mothership X (swatched left) does not contain the usual baked astral shades, I still think it’s a beautiful palette in its own right, especially if you love rosy cool tones. Check out my Mothership X review and my Mothership IX review.
Natasha Denona Palettes – Pick one, any one. If there’s a color story you love, you will not be disappointed. My personal favorites are the Bronze and Biba palettes, which I continue to reach for year after year.
BROWS AND LASHES
Tower 28 Make Waves Mascara – The one mascara to rule them all. This has quickly become my go-to. An extremely buildable formula that separates, lengthens, and builds volume without ever weighing my lashes down. The curved wand is the perfect size for distributing product through the lashes without ever over-applying. If you love a fluttery lash, you’ll love this. It’s also not a waterproof formula technically, but it never smudges on me. I review it here!
Benefit 24-Hour Brow Setter – I’ve returned to this one this year. It’s one of the few clear brow gels that helps me achieve a lifted, laminated eyebrow look without dropping or falling throughout the day. I share my in-depth brow routine here.
Lawless Brow Pencil – A new release, this is an oval-shaped micro-pencil with a fantastic shade curation from blonde to auburn to brunette. The soft, powdery formula is very blendable, and the micro-tip creates realistic hair-like strokes. I use it here.
LIPS
Rare Beauty Lip Pencil in Talented – A retractable gel lip liner that is creamy but very long-lasting with a matte finish. The Rare Beauty lip line release this year is full of beautiful curated “nude” lip shades from cool to warm and light to deep, so if there’s a shade you like I really don’t think you can go wrong. Talented is a great cool-toned nude lipliner shade on me. I use it here.
Natasha Denona Lip Crayon in Calla – This is a creamier gel pencil that requires a traditional sharpener. The finish is slightly more satin than the Rare Beauty Lip Pencil with a bit more glide. Calla is a beautiful peachy pink nude on my skin tone. I use it here.
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils in Anywhere Caffeine and Endless Cacao – Eternally sold out, these have been my go-to lip pencils for years. Anywhere Caffeine is a beautiful brown-toned nude, while Endless Cacao is a cool-toned sculpting shade. Think contour for lips. I use Anywhere Caffeine here!
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm – One for the no-makeup-makeup lovers, this is a yummy, creamy liquid balm in a tube. Vanilla Beige has a lovely rosy beige tint. I use it here.
Dior Lip Glow in Mahogany – An elegant tinted lip balm, the Dior Lip Glow has been a go-to of mine for years. Mahogany imparts a rosy brown glow to the lips, though it looks deep in the tube. Think Clinique Black Honey but a bit rosier. This lives in my purse because it’s so easy to apply and looks good whether I’m wearing makeup or not. I use it here.
Merit Signature Lipstick – One of my favorite products from Merit, the Signature Lipstick is a bullet lipstick with an ultra-modern buildable sheerness. The edited shade range feels sophisticated with a range of nudes, roses, browns, and berries. I always say this is a lipstick that even people who don’t like lipstick will love. An elevated step up from a tinted lip balm. I swatch all of my shades here!
Gucci Lipsticks – The ultimate lip indulgence, I simply can’t not mention these. My everyday go-to formula is the Shine formula (creamy, balmy) or the Sheer formula (a bit waxier and less balmy). The Satin formula and Matte formula are both full-pigment but extremely comfortable. Gucci also introduced the liquid lip formula this year, which is more of a blurring lip stain in my opinion.
Armani Lip Power (swatched right - top to bottom 109, 110, 206, 507)– Armani extended this shade range this year, including the shade 108 and 110, two beautiful nudes. 108 is a warm rose and 110 is a beautiful slightly orangey rose, a very face-brightening shade. I get compliments on 110 especially all the time. These are technically a satin lipstick, very creamy, but somehow they last all day long even without retouching. I lip swatch all of the shades here!