If you thought I was done talking about beauty products, you were wrong; I have a bunch more recommendations and no-go products I want to share with everyone. So welcome to Is It Worth It? Insider Knowledge from a Former Sephora Employee Part II! Again, Sephora divides its products into four “worlds,” Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and Haircare. Last time I focused on Makeup and Skincare, so this time, I will expand and include Haircare and Fragrance. Again, this is up to personal preference and trends I’ve noticed when working at Sephora. Enjoy!
MAKEUP
NARS – Orgasm Oil Lip Tint: $34 – YES
I love this product so much. I think it is the perfect balance between a lip tint (without being too harsh and staining, colour-wise) and a gloss that gives you a beautiful shine. To top it all off, it is not sticky. I first tried it when it was given to me in sample size and I still use it to this day. It is long lasting and perfect for going over other lip products. It’s chic and cute!
Glamnetic – Magnetic False Lashes: $39 & Soo Future! Magnetic Eyeliner Pen: $56 – NO & NO
No. You may think this is cool, and while I get the vision, it is not cool. It sucks. Luckily, I did not purchase these products; I was given a sample version. The eyeliner dries out quite quickly and is not magnetic! The lashes… they do not even try to conceal the fact that there are little square magnets attached to them. Here is why I have such a vendetta against Glamnetic: on a night out I decided to wear these lashes. Big mistake. In every single picture we took, you can see the magnets on the lashes and the fact that the lashes did not stick to my eyelid. By the end of the night, I had lost one of them and the other was half off my eye and no one told me until we left the restaurant. It was not great. I recommend saving your money and going with the traditional false lash and glue combo, maybe the Sephora brand, Velour lashes or even the Shoppers Drug Mart brand QUO because they have never let me down.
IT Cosmetics – Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+: $55 – YES
If you are a fan of lightweight products, I recommend this, especially in the summer. This is a full-coverage, colour-correcting foundation with SPF and Hyaluronic acid (skincare and makeup in one!). This has worked to cover all my imperfections while leaving me with a natural, non-cakey finish. I absolutely adore this product, and it makes my skin feel great instead of dry and inflamed like other products have. If you want a quick, natural-looking foundation that you do not need to pair with other products like concealer, primer, setting spray or setting powder, I recommend this!
SKINCARE
Dr. Dennis Gross – Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads (five treatments): $22.50 – YES
This is next on my purchase list; everyone who has tried these has said they worked wonders, and it shows. For those dealing with acne, like myself, these are two-step AHA/BHA peel pads with five acids and 12 antioxidants to smooth texture, shrink pores and reduce the look of fine lines. If you haven’t seen the result photos yet, please go look; they are amazing. I know a lot of skincare products that claim to do this; however, this is not a placebo, since this brand is medical-grade. This is a universal product since there are extra-strength and gentle versions depending on your skin type. While this product is on the pricier side, it is convenient and fast-acting. Completely worth it.
Supergoop – Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 +: $47 – YES
I LOVE this product. This is a lightweight, not oily, invisible daily primer with SPF. Although it is marketed as a sunscreen, it doubles as a primer. I have yet to come across another product like this. If you have had issues with sunscreen being too oily or layering it with makeup, this is a product worth investing in. SPF is a necessity in your skincare routine and this product will ensure that you have no excuses!
Peace Out – Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots (20 pack): $25 – NEUTRAL
I have tried a lot of acne patches, and these were nothing special. I think there are much cheaper options at Walmart that are much better and more affordable than these. They did work, but I was finding myself having to use two dots for one pimple. Also, the grip was not great on these. I would put moisturizer on my face and the dots would immediately fall off. When I would sleep with these on, they would come off during the night. I think there are better products elsewhere but these are not the worst options.
HAIRCARE
OUAI – Detox Shampoo (300 ml): $39 – YES
Since living in Waterloo, my hair has gotten significantly greasier and duller from the water here, so this shampoo has saved me. This is a clarifying shampoo that cleanses away dirt, oil and any additional product buildup. This can be used as an every-wash shampoo; however, I typically use it once a week and continue with my normal haircare because I find my hair does not need to be detoxed constantly. But since using this shampoo, I have found my hair has been restored to its natural shine and strength once again. I recommend trying out the smaller size to see if it is worth it, as every hair type is different. I have thick, straight hair so I tend to have more flexibility with the type of hair care products I use.
K-18 Biometric Hairscience – Mini Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask: $36 -YES
This was another product that restored the damage from the Waterloo water. While on the pricier side, you only need the mini size. I find it lasts six months and typically you only need to use it once every two weeks. It is the shortest leave-in treatment mask; you leave it in for four minutes and it not only restores damage from hard water but also colouring, heat and bleach. This was one of the fastest acting treatments, as I noticed results immediately after my first use.
Moroccanoil – Mini Moroccanoil Treatment: $20 – NEUTRAL
I have used this Moroccanoil Treatment since I was 12 and I really haven’t noticed much. It smells great, don’t get me wrong (I could literally bathe in it), but I haven’t noticed it does anything for my hair. It claims to prevent heat damage, yet I am not fully convinced that it does. Also, it states that it makes your hair shiny, and it does for about an hour, then it becomes greasy and heavy. I would only recommend this if you liked the smell and for occasional use. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either.
FRAGRANCE
Fragrance has to do with personal preference so I cannot tell you which fragrances to avoid, BUT I do have some recommendations for ones that I like and are crowd favourites!
Sol De Janeiro – Mini Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist (90 ml); $26 – YES
A million times yes! This is a very popular body and hair mist. It is made by the same company that makes Brazilian Bum Bum cream and it has the same scent but in body mist form. There are different types of scents, but Cheroisa No. 62, Pistachios and Salted Caramel remain my favourites. This mist is long lasting in that it stays on your hair and body for hours AND in that, I have owned the same bottle since February, and it has lasted me with consistent use. This is the body mist that I’ve gotten the most compliments on. If you are a fan of Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, this is a must-have.
Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) – Libre Eau De Parfum (50 ml): $138 – YES
This is my old roommate’s signature scent, and it smells so good! This is a great perfume if you are looking for a scent that isn’t too light and floral or too heavy. I think it is right in the middle of the floral scents. It is long lasting, bold and very feminine. If you are looking to have a signature scent that is good for everyday wear, I would recommend checking this out.
As a former Sephora employee, I hope my insider knowledge can help you figure out if products are worth it! Since some products are on the pricier side, it can be important to know if they’re worth it before you splurge. I hope this list helps you with that!