What says springtime quite like a fresh, smooth complexion? They say that all good things in life start with the right foundation, and there’s no better place to put that theory into action than your beauty regimen. When it comes to finding the perfect complexion perfectors, Sephora is the ultimate beauty heaven!
Photo: Byrdie
Whether it’s foundation, finishing powder, concealer or highlighter, you can find the crème de la crème of beauty at Sephora. That said, there’s nothing quite as disappointing as buying a raved-about beauty product, only to realize it’s not all it was cracked up to be. Before you shell out the cash for a pricey product, you want to make sure it will give you most beauty bang for your buck and that’s where this handy list can help!
Today I’ve rounded up 12 beloved beauty buys at Sephora that are ACTUALLY worth the expensive price tag…and all the hype! These are the products you really don’t want to miss.
1. Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint SPF 15 ($56)
This gives my skin exactly what it needs — moisture, coverage and broad-spectrum UV protection — in one easy step. Although it’s called skin tint, this is not a sheer coverage formula and provides great medium coverage that’s just perfect for every day.
If you have fairly uneven skin tone like me (thanks to acne scars and sun damage!), you’ll love how this formula glides over and makes your skin look beautifully even. It has a natural-looking, soft matte finish that makes skin look fresh and healthy — not done up. If you haven’t found a fuss-free foundation with impressive yet natural coverage, this one deserves serious consideration!
2. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30)
This concealer truly lives up to its hype! The formula is impressively long-wearing and does an excellent job of concealing dark circles, discolorations and red marks from breakouts. It’s creamy yet very lightweight and blends easily providing medium to full coverage with a satin-matte finish.
What I really love about this concealer is that it doesn’t crease into fine lines under the eyes and stays put all day without fading. Also, the shade range is fantastic with options for very fair to deep skin tones, so you can easily find a nearly perfect match.
3. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation ($43)
I have never met a stick foundation that offers such great natural-looking coverage! The creamy smooth formula is so easy to work with, blends seamlessly and feels super lightweight on the skin. It layers easily for medium to almost full coverage but can also be sheered out for light coverage.
Also, it doesn’t cling to the dry spots on my face.I love it especially for spot application or layering over trouble areas that need a little more help. With a light swipe, it covers redness and uneven skin tone…perfect for travel too!
4. Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Mineral Primer Oil Free SPF 15 ($54)
Honestly, I wasn’t always a big fan of using makeup primers. It always felt like an extra, optional step but after discovering this gem, there was no looking back! Prep is everything if you want a long-lasting, flawless finish from your foundation and that’s where this silky, weightless primer excels in creating a super smooth canvas for makeup.
I LOVE how it blurs my large pores and makes them look much smaller than they really are! My foundation glides on effortlessly, looks so much better and stays on all day. In short, this primer really helps your makeup look go that extra mile! It also comes in a travel-sized bottle that’s only $19, so you can grab that one to give it a try first!
5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($62)
This trio of light-diffusing finishing powders is the easiest way to add a soft-focus glow to your skin! It adds a natural-looking subtle radiance that blurs imperfections and livens up your complexion. What’s particularly lovely about these powders is their smooth, buttery soft texture that just glides effortlessly over the skin.
And it’s difficult to overdo this…you get a lit-from-within luminosity that is natural enough for daytime wear. Give it a try and thank me later!
6. BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector ($30)
No sleep? No problem! This creamy salmon pink colored brightener reduces the intensity of dark circles under the eyes impressively on its own, and when topped with concealer (as it’s designed to be used), nearly makes them disappear.
It looks natural on the skin and you just need to apply a sheer layer of this concentrated product, so even though it seems on the pricey side, it will last quite some time. This is a must-have for anybody with pesky dark circles!
7. COVER FX Custom Enhancer Drops ($42)
This is such a versatile product that’s easy to use however you want! Available in nine shades, including seven illuminators and two satin matte bronzers, these liquid pigment drops can be used in a variety of ways to create a buildable highlight or naturally sunkissed tint.
Simply add them to your foundation, primer, serum, or moisturizer for a soft lit-from-within glow without appearing overdone. They can also be used alone to get a strobing or bronzing effect even on top of powder. My favorite shade is Rose Gold, a pearlescent pink copper with a luminous finish.
8. Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid ($28)
If you’ve ever tried UD’s Naked Skin Concealer, this has almost the exact same formula and consistency! It comes in five color-neutralizing shades to target every skin concern: Green reduces redness, yellow corrects dullness, peach masks dark circles/spots, lavender decreases sallowness, and pink brightens dark areas.
The lightweight fluid blends easily and dries to a soft satin finish while correcting the discoloration it’s designed to treat. The beauty of these correctors (other than the easy to use sponge-tipped wand applicator) is the subtle pearlescent pigments that diffuse light to blur flaws even more. And you can see the shade through the clear tube, so it’s easy to find the right one in your bag!
9. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter ($38)
Highlighters come and go, but this one is a truly a gem! It’s one of the most finely-milled powder highlighters with a luxe smooth texture that’s easy to pick up with a brush and gives a silky finish. You get a luminous glow that doesn’t look frosty or sparkly. It’s highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way! My favorite shade is Rose Gold.
And if you prefer a liquid luminizer, Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter ($41) is just as amazing as the pressed powder! The lightweight, creamy-fluid formula blends beautifully to add a dash of radiance (not obvious shimmer or glitter), whether applied on its own or mixed in with your foundation or moisturizer.
To get the best bang for your buck, grab the Glow on the Go Highlighter Set (only $20!) that comes with a duo of travel-sized powder and liquid luminizers in the universally flattering golden pearl shade Opal.
10. Laura Mercier Silk Crème Photo Edition Foundation ($48)
As much as I love dewy finish foundations for my dry skin, most of them do not offer enough coverage for my acne scars and dark spots. And those with full coverage often feel thick or caked-on. But this foundation by Laura Mercier is like a dream come true!
The highly concentrated formula provides almost full coverage with just one layer and doesn’t feel the least bit thick, heavy or greasy. It blends impeccably and sets to a satin finish with a subtle dewy glow, no shimmer here.
What I love the most is its natural skin-like finish! Also, it doesn’t settle into my fine lines and (huge) pores. Basically, it delivers full coverage without looking as if you’re wearing a full coverage foundation…what’s not to love?
Like its counterpart for dry skin, Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation ($48) also gives you a flawless face, but with a silky powder-like matte finish that’s best for normal to combination or oily skin.
11. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30 ($29.50)
If you are all about convenience with moisture and sheer coverage plus reliable sun protection, this tinted moisturizer is your best bet! It has an elegant gel-cream texture that blends easily and hydrates dry skin while providing broad-spectrum sun protection and natural-looking sheer to medium coverage.
Because of its subtle dewy finish, those with oily skin might need some powder for their shine-prone areas. But overall, it’s the perfect pick for a fresh-faced look!
Last but definitely not the least, the one that deserves a special mention…
Photo: Sephora
12. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($64)
There’s a reason you’ll find it in every celebrity makeup artist’s kit and why many beauty editors rave about it! It really is a beautiful foundation that enhances rather than masks skin for the perfect your-skin-but-better coverage! It also happens to photograph really well.
What makes the product unique of course is the silky, ultra-smooth lightweight formula that feels like a lap of luxury on your skin! It offers buildable light to medium coverage with a satin matte finish that works for most skin types. Like a good friend, you can always count on this foundation on a bad skin day!
What’s your favorite face makeup from Sephora? Sound off in the comments below!
Leave a Reply