As we emerge, bleary and bedraggled, from our long winter hibernation, now is a great time to stock up on cosmetics, skin care, hair care, and more to prepare for the warmer months ahead. Thankfully, Sephora is throwing us a bone, as the brand’s spring sale is now open to all members of its (free-to-join) Beauty Insider loyalty program.
To take advantage of the sale, enter the code SAVESPRING at checkout through April 11. Rouge-level members (who spend upwards of $1,000 at Sephora per year) get a discount of 20 percent off their total purchase. VIB-level members (who spend at least $350 at Sephora per year) get a discount of 15 percent off their total purchase. And entry-level Beauty Insiders get a discount of 10 percent off their total purchase. (Additionally, all Sephora Collection items are 30 percent off for all levels with no code.)
You can also get free shipping with the code FREESHIP — no minimum spend required. We’ve spotted discounts on everything from exciting new products to tried-and-true favorites, and we’ve rounded up many of them below. Get excited to spring-clean those musty makeup drawers and make room for a refresh.
[Editor’s note: We’ve applied the 10 percent Beauty Insider-level discount to all of the products below, so if you have Rouge or VIB-level status, your price will differ slightly.]
Our beauty columnist, Rio Viera-Newton, first tried this honey-based Farmacy skin salve after an over-enthusiastic application of tretinoin left her face flaky and peeling — and found that her skin responded “remarkably well.” Since then, it has saved her “on multiple occasions … a quick drop was able to eradicate any dryness while also calming any inflamed, pissed-off skin,” she says.
Skin-care start-up Topicals launched in summer 2020 and quickly became a staple in many a skin-care obsessive’s beauty routine thanks to its skin-inclusive ethos, cute packaging, and highly effective products. Opt for the fan-favorite Faded Serum, or pick up the Faded Body Mist, which Viera-Newton says is incredibly effective at minimizing her eczema scars.
Sephora’s 30 percent discount on its in-house brand, Sephora Collection, includes this eyeliner pencil, which makeup artist Janice Kinjo told us comes in an array of great colors and lasts a long, long time.
Or pick up one of Sephora Collection’s waterproof brow pencils, a go-to of veteran beauty writer Linda Dyett. According to Dyett, the auburn shade adds a soft accent to her hair and “deposits just the right amount of tint.”
Viera-Newton reports that this dry shampoo from Living Proof is “without a doubt the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used” for how it can “quickly mattify and remove shine from my oily roots.” Plus it doesn’t leave any stickiness or tackiness, just clean, refreshed hair that “feels just as it would if I had showered that morning.”
Clinique’s heavy-duty Take the Day Off is a Best in Class makeup remover that can dissolve everything from cement-like liquid lipsticks to long-wearing foundation. Makeup artist Misha Shahzada loves how it “removes everything without irritating the eyes and does not leave a greasy residue.”
Sunscreen is essential all year long, but it’s even more important during the spring and summer as you start to spend additional time outside. Supergoop!’s Unseen formula is a Strategist favorite — it conveniently doubles as a makeup primer and is a good option for oily skin. Plus it dries clear, so you don’t have to worry about a white, pasty cast.
To double up on sun protection, look for a foundation with SPF. Dermatologist Caroline Robinson recommends this Ilia one because it comes in a wide range of shades and features ingredients typically seen in moisturizing and brightening serums. “It’s lightweight with just enough ‘skinlike’ coverage and has mineral SPF to protect against the harmful effects of UV rays,” she says. “The addition of squalene for hydration and niacinamide to support the skin barrier are great.”
Milk’s makeup artist–approved vegan Kush mascara has become a cult favorite for how dramatic and volumizing it is. Viera-Newton reaches for it to top off her glam night-on-the-town looks because it makes her lashes “look really big and fluffy.”
Vitamin-C serums are a skin-care workhorse; they can fade dark marks, fight free radicals, and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a co-founder of Modern Dermatology of Connecticut and skin-care company PURE BioDerm, likes Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Day Serum; it contains L-ascorbic acid, as well as pumpkin-ferment extract and pomegranate enzyme, which attack dead surface skin cells and help to exfoliate.
Tower 28 makes some of writer Tembe Denton-Hurst’s favorite beauty products, including this radiant cream blush that gives your skin “that sun-kissed, back-from-vacation glow.” It comes in an array of hues that work on a wide variety of skin tones, and it’s a makeup artist and makeup enthusiast favorite. Teen Vogue director of development Mi-Anne Chan says it’s “everything you want a cream blush to be.”
Kosas’s natural deodorant uses alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to reduce odor rather than sweat-absorbing ingredients like starch or baking soda. The star ingredient in this formula is shikimic acid; its exfoliating properties adjust the pH of the armpit, making it an inhospitable place for bacteria to thrive. It also helps to prevent ingrown hairs.
The Sephora sale is the ideal time to take the plunge on any pricey luxury items you’ve been eyeing. Anything from Tatcha is a splurge, but at least this ultra-moisturizing Silk Peony eye cream pulls double duty as a primer, helping makeup apply as smooth as, well, silk. “Silk extract forms a protective seal over the skin to enhance barrier function, improve hydration, and protect the skin from the environment,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner.
Or if you really want to treat yourself, this NuFace device sends microcurrents through the skin to increase the body’s cellular energy. This helps to tone and sculpt facial muscles over time. It’s a favorite of dermatologist Corey Hartman, who says he’s “yet to see anything surpass the efficacy and design of NuFace Trinity” in terms of defining and contouring the face.
Dyson’s cult-favorite blow-dryer, beloved by people with all hair types, now comes in a (very giftable) limited-edition set that includes five styling attachments and a pretty blue storage case. The dryer reduces the potential for heat damage thanks to its ultrafast dry time, and it’s impressively quiet too. We suspect this set will sell fast — so if you’re thinking of grabbing it, don’t dillydally.
Jennifer Zuccarini, founder of lingerie brand Fleur du Mal, spritzes on Tom Ford’s Santal Blush when she gets ready for weekend dates with her husband. “It feels special and seductive because it has that little bit of smoke to it, which smells so intoxicating. Even if the plan doesn’t include anything that special, sometimes you still need that bit of oomph,” says Zuccarini.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
