sephora sale spring 2023 savings event
Sephora

What to Buy at the Sephora Sale According to Our Beauty Director

Save big on the best in skincare, makeup and more

Attention shoppers, this is not a drill! Sephora’s highly anticipated Savings Event officially kicks off today and from now until Monday April 24, we are in for some very sweet deals. 

Here’s how it works: Rouge members get 20 per cent off starting today, and then from Tuesday April 18 onward, VIB card-holders get 15 per cent off while Insiders get 10. And for the entire duration of the sale, all Beauty Insiders can enjoy a 30 per cent discount on Sephora Collection products. Just type code SAVENOW at checkout (online or on the app) to take advantage of the promotions. (Not yet a member? Sign up now for free and get 10 per cent off starting April 18, plus complimentary shipping on all orders.)

As The Kit’s beauty director, I get to try a lot of products. And because I wouldn’t ever want you wasting your money, I thought I’d put together a list of the top things I recommend adding to your cart, from the buzzy and new to the tried and true. Happy shopping!

Kosas concealer

sephora spring sale kosas concealer
Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream, $40, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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You know that viral video of Hailey Bieber applying just a single dot of concealer on each of her cheeks? This was the concealer. As Bieber knows, a little goes a long way. The super creamy, crease-proof formula serves up phenomenal coverage in a gorgeously radiant finish. Seriously, it makes your skin look amazing! But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The product also doubles as a daytime eye cream thanks to caffeine and pink algae to de-puff bags and minimize dark circles, as well as hyaluronic acid and peptides to hydrate and plump. There’s also panthenol and arnica to help calm blemishes and redness. Can your concealer do all that?

Paula’s Choice BHA liquid exfoliant

sephora sale savings event paula’s choice bha liquid exfoliant
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $47, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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This product has reached cult-status on social media because not only does it work, but it works fast. Powered by two per cent BHA (a.k.a. salicylic acid), the liquid leave-on exfoliant does away with dead cells, unclogs pores and noticeably smooths— practically overnight. Use it daily (soothing and hydrating ingredients prevent it from being irritating) and you’ll see blemishes clear up, your skin’s texture become more even and the look of pores and wrinkles be reduced. It’s the closest thing to magic in a bottle and lucky for all of us, it recently (finally!) became available at Sephora Canada.

Dyson Airwrap

sephora sale spring dyson airwrap
Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Long, $750, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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If there was ever a time to take the Ariwrap plunge, it’s definitely during the Sephora sale. I don’t want to be dramatic here, but this hair tool has changed my actual life. I am very lazy and tragically unskilled when it comes to doing my hair (mostly, I’m just incredibly impatient) and this do-it-all device gives me salon-worthy blowouts—or bouncy curls or smooth, shiny strands—in less than 10 minutes. Never in my life have I received more compliments on my hair. I really can’t take any credit though, it’s all the Airwrap. 

Summer Fridays mineral sunscreen

best sunscreen for winter summer fridays
Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen, $47, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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A good SPF is non-negotiable, every day, all year long, but especially now that the sun’s finally out and we’re spending more time outside. A lot of derms recommend using mineral formulas, meaning ones with filters that deflect rays instead of absorbing them (as in the case of chemical sunscreens), because they’re safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin. The downside for a long time was that mineral sunscreens were thick and a pain to apply and also left a pesky white or blue cast. Not the case with Summer Fridays’ mineral SPF. It’s light and fluid and disappears into all skin tones in seconds. The finish is beautiful—natural and a wee bit dewy—and the skin-caring ingredients—squalane and antioxidants—protect and nourish. I’m on my second bottle and use it every single morning.

Kérastase heat protectant

sephora sale spring kerastase ciment thermique
Kérastase Resistance Heat Protecting Leave In Treatment for Damaged Hair, $60, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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It’s the absolute best blowdry primer, bar none. This lightweight cream safeguard against heat while also strengthening to both prevent and repair breakage. Hair feels so silky afterward, you’ll find yourself randomly petting it (I’m telling you: It will happen). Plus, the shine and smoothness are out of this world, even when you’re long overdue for a trim. Not only does it make my hair look way better and healthier, but it actually makes it healthier by fortifying it and fending off damage. It’s simply a must-have.

Drunk Elephant vitamin C serum

sephora sale drunk elephant c-firma vitamin c serum
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum, $103, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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There are two things you should slather on your face every morning to stave off signs of aging: a vitamin C serum and sunscreen—in that order. The powerful antioxidant not only defends your skin against free radical damage—UV rays, air pollution, cigarette smoke, etc.—but it also has proven brightening and firming benefits. And it helps bolster the effects of your SPF, which is why the two make the perfect skin-protecting duo. The tricky thing with vitamin C, though, is that it’s highly prone to oxidation, so it can go bad really quickly, like even before you take it home from the store and open it. This one from Drunk Elephant circumvents the problem by coming in two parts you mix together the first time you use the product. That way, you’re guaranteed maximum freshness and results. No wonder it won our ShopSmart award for best vitamin C serum.

Glossier Boy Brow

sephora sale spring glossier boy brow
Glossier Boy Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade, $22, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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It’s famous for a reason: It makes your brows look so damn cool. Like you were simply born with the full, fluffy arches some people pay good money to replicate. The tiny spoolie brush grabs every last little hair while the gel-pomade thickens and sets brows in place without (and this is key) stiffening or flaking. There’s also some collagen and oleic acid thrown in to condition the hair fibres. If you’ve never tried it, prepare to be blown away by the difference it makes. It’s like you’ve just had your brows laminated but also like you’ve done nothing at all and these are just your God-given glorious arches.

Sunday Riley Good Genes

sephora sale spring savings event sunday riley good genes
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One AHA Lactic Acid Treatment, $112, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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I got my first bottle nearly a decade ago and to this day, this best-selling serum is a mainstay in my routine. Its star ingredient, lactic acid, is a touted multitasker, exfoliating skin to reveal a smoother, more luminous complexion. It’s at once super potent and extra gentle, safe to use even on sensitive skin and during pregnancy. Coupled with brightening liquorice extract, the formula fades the look of dark spots and discolouration and softens lines and wrinkles. The results are truly astonishing. My skin looks post-facial level glowy every time I use it. 

L’Occitane shower oil

sephora spring sale l'occitane shower oil almond oil
L’Occitane
Cleansing And Softening Refillable Shower Oil With Almond Oil, $34, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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This isn’t your regular old shower gel. Laced with sweet almond oil, this iconic body cleanser from Provencal brand L’Occitane smells so good, it’ll transport you to the south of France. As it makes contact with wet skin, the luscious oil transforms into a milky lather, nourishing and softening all over. It’s so heavenly it makes morning showers feel like a luxurious spa treatment. And because it gets nice and frothy, you can even use it as a shaving gel. Even better: The bottle is refillable so you can help reduce plastic waste.

Ilia lengthening mascara

sephora sale spring ilia limitless mascara
Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara, $37, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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This mascara from Canadian brand Ilia delivers Disney princess lashes. Think: ultra-long, fanned out and oh-so fluttery. It does such a good job lifting and curving, you can get away with forgoing your eyelash curler. I for one especially love the dual-sided brush, which really gets into lashes to perfectly separate them. Translation: no clumps! The formula also contains keratin to fortify over time and is safe for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. It’s an ideal everyday mascara (just the thing for a no-makeup makeup look), beautifully framing the eyes and yielding a flirty, alluring gaze without looking heavy or fake.

K18 leave-in hair treatment

sephora sale spring k18 hair mask
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience
Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, $89, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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A high profile New York City hairstylist turned me onto this hair mask, swearing it was the best on the market, and he was totally right. It’s a veritable time-machine for hair, reversing damage caused by heat, colour, bleach, life—you name it. In a clinical study, its trademarked key ingredient—K18Peptide—was shown to restore damaged hair by up to 82 per cent. Out of the shower, work a dime-sized amount from roots to ends, let the treatment activate for four minutes then style as usual. (It’s a leave-in and no, it won’t weigh your hair down.) You won’t believe how soft and bouncy your hair is afterward. Now, it’s definitely not cheap, which is why the Savings Event is the perfect time to try it. (There’s also a $36 mini size if you want to make sure you like it before investing in the large bottle.)

Rare Beauty lip oil

sephora sale spring rare beauty lip oil
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil, $26, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora
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This recently launched lip oil has been getting such rave reviews, a few of the shades have already sold out. The texture is really neat, starting out as a sort of gel and then melting into lips and bathing them in moisturizing jojoba seed and sunflower oils. It feels divine and the finish is so pretty: juicy and glossy but not at all sticky. Every hue is buildable: Apply a single slick for a sheer wash or layer it on for a punchier look. I’ve been keeping a tube in my handbag and reaching for it whenever I want a quick hit of shine and colour. It’s impressively long-wearing and keeps my lips happily hydrated all day long. 

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