Sephora is by far the most prolific luxury beauty store in the world. They stock dozens of brands, and countless products on their shelves and shiny displays. With all of the variety, it can be overwhelming trying to find the perfect product worth the time spent browsing, and, more importantly, worth the money you’re paying. If you’re like me, and think out your purchases sometimes weeks in advance, then this is the list for you!
- First Aid Beauty – Weightless Liquid Mineral SPF 30
-
Price: $34USD
This sunscreen sits super well under makeup and has a slight tint so there’s no whitecast. For TikTok lovers, this mineral sunscreen is also Hyram approved: it’s cruelty free and considered reef safe (most chemical sunscreens in the US are dangerous to coral reefs; mineral sunscreens are considered safer overall). Even while most of us are staying home, it is still important to slather on that SPF every day. The better you take care of your skin now, the less you’ll have to worry about it later.
- Milk Makeup – Hydro Grip Primer
-
Price: $30USD
The Hydro Grip Primer didn’t win Allure’s Best of Beauty award in 2019 for nothing: this is powerful stuff. I got a free sample of it a while ago and made it last for as long as I could until I finally bought the full size. I have really dry skin, so silicone or mattening primers would make my skin feel really tight and foundation wouldn’t sit well. I don’t have that problem with this primer at all, it helps my makeup last without dehydrating my face. When first applied, it feels a little like you’re putting hair gel on your face, but don’t fret, the initial stickiness goes away after about a minute. Whether you’re a simple concealer and powder or a full beat kind of person, this primer is definitely worth it.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills – Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette
-
Price: $45USD
I’ve had this palette for four years and it’s definitely the most used palette in my measly collection. I use this palette almost every time I do eye makeup and I’ve even hit pan on three of the colors. I love warm shades (either in the orange or purple family) and the Modern Renaissance palette has the perfect range of those colors. The shadows themselves have some kickback and fallout (basically small amounts of shadow going where it’s not intended) but the quality and blendability of the formula outweigh those downsides. The palette is overall super versatile and certainly worth its price point.
- Buxom – Full-On™ Plumping Lip Cream Gloss
-
Price: $45USD
I’ve had this palette for four years and it’s definitely the most used palette in my measly collection. I use this palette almost every time I do eye makeup and I’ve even hit pan on three of the colors. I love warm shades (either in the orange or purple family) and the Modern Renaissance palette has the perfect range of those colors. The shadows themselves have some kickback and fallout (basically small amounts of shadow going where it’s not intended) but the quality and blendability of the formula outweigh those downsides. The palette is overall super versatile and certainly worth its price point.
- Bite Beauty – Agave+ Daytime Vegan Lip Balm
-
Price: $14USD
This is my favorite lip balm for before bed; I’ll apply it liberally and it will still be there in the morning. The ratings for this product on Sephora’s website are too low in my opinion, but I would make sure that you keep it in a fairly cool area because the ingredients are prone to melting. They also have a different lip mask that I wear during the day; it comes in a squeezy tube, so it’s slightly inconvenient, which is why it’s not on this list. This is also the perfect small gift for someone because everyone can use a good lip balm.
Just because I love these products does not mean that you have to go out and buy them, everyone has their preferences; these are just my favorites. I do think that for someone who regularly wears makeup and wants to dip their toes into the world of Sephora, that these are some staples worth your hard-earned cash. Happy shopping!
*Note: All of the brands mentioned are cruelty free!
If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email hc.mtholyoke@hercampus.com.