Happy almost-weekend, lovebugs!! If you’re a beauty junkie, then today’s post is your jackpot!! I’m sharing every single product in my hair and makeup arsenal, and almost everything is on sale!
In the span of the last year, I’ve gone from fairly ambivalent about make-up, to almost passionate about it! Living with a 13-year-old daughter obsessed with beauty bloggers, it was bound to happen! Combine that with several sessions with an award-winning make-up artist, and I love nothing more than browsing the aisles of Sephora!
Little Miss and I love going together, she usually points out the newest products I need to try, while I stock up on my tried-and-true favorites… especially when the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event is happening!
To help you navigate this huge event, I rounded up every essential hair and makeup product in my bathroom. Hopefully you’ll find some new faves, too!
If you’re not familiar, the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event is a site-wide and in-store event happening NOW, and open to all Beauty Insider Members for unlimited use. Not a Sephora Beauty Insider member? No worries, simply sign-up for immediate access to the offers as a Beauty Insider (it’s fast and free!). But hurry, this Event ends Monday, November 11!
- Rouge Members get 20% off purchases in store and online. Use code HOLIDAYSAVE
- VIB Members get 15% off purchase in store and online. Use code HOLIDAYSAVE
- Insiders get 10% off. Use code HOLIDAYSAVE
Update: Use code ‘SPRINGSAVE’ if you are shopping the April 2020 Spring Savings Event!
Hair Tools
one // Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer. Yes, it’s an investment. Yes, I think it’s worth it… especially for color-treated hair! It cuts down on drying time (less heat on your hair!), and leaves it so much smoother than any other dryer I’ve tried. For super-smooth styles, or taming my aggressive cowlick, I can literally place the nozzle against the brush without damaging my hair.
two // Drybar Full Pint Medium Round Brush. I’ve amassed a collection of round brushes over the years, but this is a fave because of excellent grip it has on the hair, making it easier to get a smooth finish in just a few passes of the dryer.
three // Drybar Lil Lemon Drop Mini Detangler. This brush is an amazing detangler and smoother for wet or dry hair. This small one is great for everyday, but also tucks easily in my purse for travel.
four // Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers. Velcro rollers and I go waaaay back, they’re a Texas girl’s staple! I place a few around my crown and one in my bangs after blow-drying for a little extra smoothness and volume.
five // Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer. If the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer isn’t in your wheelhouse, the Drybar Buttercup dryer is an incredible option, too! I’ve had this baby for years and it’s perfect for everyday and a great size for travel.
Hair Products
one // Moroccanoil Treatment. The best thing I do for my hair, honestly!! I apply it first to damp hair, and it works as a miracle detangler (especially with this brush), softener and anti-frizz protection. After styling, I rub a little through my hair to seal the ends and smooth the curls. It’s especially great on second-day hair, when ends start to fray a bit.
two // Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo. This is hands-down the best dry shampoo I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried a lot!). It works almost too well, and sometimes I actually lose count of how many days I’ve gone between shampooing. Plus, it smells amazing, and it doesn’t leave any powdery residue.
three // Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast. Spray it throughout your dry, styled hair for more fullness, or concentrate it on the roots for lift. This Volume Blast smells like heaven and adds so much volume and texture, without weighing down your hair or leaving it feeling sticky.
four // St Tropez Tanning Essentials Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. This self-tanner not only gives an immediate bronze glow, but it’s a super-natural shade and develops in just 1-3 hours!
five // Kiehl’s Since 1851 Amino Acid Shampoo. I started using this shampoo over the Summer and have been really happy with it. It’s a creamy formula with good lather, but extra gentle for fragile hair like mine. It’s also free of sulfates and parabens, and smells incredible!
six // Kiehl’s Since 1851 Amino Acid Conditioner. Since I don’t shampoo daily, I always condition my hair with every wash, and this one is gentle enough for every day. It softens my hair and is so easy to comb through, plus it’s free of parabens and silicone.
Makeup | Face
one // Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. This is the newest addition to my makeup routine, and I’m really impressed with it! It’s an ultra-fine setting powder that also blurs imperfections and reduces shine. I brush it lightly under my eyes and on my T-zone.
two // Too Faced Born This Way Super Cover Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer. Another new-ish product for me, I love this concealer! It’s a super-creamy and moisturizing formula that provides good coverage, while also brightening. The light formula is easy to blend, and a tiny bit goes a long way, so it’s a ton of product for the money!
three // NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. My holy-grail concealer for years, this creamy formula provides full coverage, but doesn’t leave your skin crepey or dry. It’s especially good for those of us 35 and up!
four // Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Highlighter. I use the darker shades as a bronzer along my hairline, jawline, and to contour below my cheekbones. The multiple shades gives a natural glow and doesn’t look striped on my face.
five // Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer. I added this product after my last session with Suzie… she swears by this primer, especially for T-Zones. It smooths my pores and creates an even, blurred surface for makeup.
six // IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination with SPF 50+. A go-to product for me and Mama Sugarplum, it’s incredible coverage, plus 55 SPF! We love the illumination formula for duplicating a youthful glow. When applied with a flat brush or beauty blender, it leaves an airbrush finish.
seven // NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Broad Spectrum SPF 30. A lighter formula for day-to-day, this provides medium coverage and SPF. It’s moisturizing, as well, and goes on easily.
eight // NARS Blush in ‘Amour’. My fave shade for years, it gives a natural flush.
nine // Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Twinkle Highlighter. I whip this product out for special occasions and photoshoots, the perfect hint of highlight for a natural glow.
ten // Beautyblender Beauty Defender Protective Case. Beautyblender sponges are intended to be used damp, so I store mine in this case between uses (and especially travel!). It allows it to dry, while protecting it from grime and germs.
Makeup | Eyes
one // Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette. This gorgeous palette has shades for everyday and jazzy nights out, and the pigment is so pure so a little goes a long way.
two // Lancome CILS BOOSTER XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base. Little Miss insisted I needed a lash primer, and this formula has the highest reviews! It goes on easily and adds an extra ‘plumpness’ to my lashes. I apply it mostly to the outside edges to make my eyes appear wider. The only caveat is you must apply mascara immediately after, before the primer dries.
three // Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil. I’m a firm believer that darker, fuller brows will easily take 10 years off your face! As we age, our brows get thinner and lighter, so filling them with a pencil brings back some of the youth. This is my go-to brand for both ease of use and natural colors, and this medium tip is more foolproof for me (as opposed to a more exacting thin pencil).
four // Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer. Similar to the brow pencil, this one has a wider, angled retractable tip for adding more color to the fronts of your brows. I like a defined edge to my brows, and this helps attain that more naturally. I love the firm spooley for blending, too.
five // IT Cosmetic Lash Blowout Mascara. LADIES, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION!!! If you only add one product from this post, I promise you want it to be this mascara. If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I was a hard-core fan of Bobbi Brown’s Eye Opening Mascara. So much so, I currently have 3 unopened tubes because I stocked up every time it went on sale, for fear it would someday be discontinued. A few months ago, I was intrigued by the incredible reviews of this product, so I gave it a whirl. And was immediately OBSESSED. Truly addicted.
It’s hard to describe, but the formula is wet and glides on easily from root to tip… coating your lashes with a thickening and lengthening formula that dries and sets quickly, and stays all day. It’s magic, and the reviews are spot-on!
Makeup | Lips
one // NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in ‘Dragon Girl’ A soft red with blue undertones.
two // NARS Satin Lipstick Pencil in ‘Yu’ My go-to bold pink for year-round.
three // Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in ‘Punch’ A great pinky-red that goes with everything.
four // NARS Audacious Lipstick in ‘Claudia’ The perfect bubblegum pink, especially for Spring and Summer. Great for layering over darker shades year-round.
five // Tarte SEA Color Splash Lipstick in ‘Ocean Drive’ A bold and bright pink that stays put all day.
six // Tarte SEA Color Splash Lipstick in ‘Miami Vice’ Deep, fire engine red, perfect for holiday.
seven // Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I never leave home, or go to bed, without this miracle balm! I use it as a mask at night, and wake with soft lips, or as added shine over lipstick. Never have chapped lips again with this stuff! It’s a great little gift, too… I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gifted it to everyone from my mom to my hairdresser.
Don’t miss out on this great chance to splurge, restock your current favorites, or discover something new! They also have an incredible selection of gift sets and stocking stuffers, perfect for holiday gifting. I give the Drybar Shower Cap to just about every girl on my list!
What are your Beauty Must Haves? Are you shopping the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event? The Event ends November 11!
Update: Use code ‘SPRINGSAVE’ if you are shopping the April 2020 Spring Savings Event!
*Disclaimer: Discount is available for multi-use online and in-store. Discount does not apply to taxes, shipping, or other fees. Some limitations apply, see store for details. Available in the US and CA.
More Hi Sugarplum beauty posts:
Beauty Q&A | Answering Your Top Questions
Five Best Makeup Tips from a Pro
More Makeup Tips from a Pro
My Five Minute Face
How to Create Beachy Waves
Five Makeup Tips to Help You Look Younger
Tips for Applying Self-Tanner
Dyson Dryer – Worth the Hype?
Holiday Makeup – Prettiest Shades for the Holiday
*This post is created in collaboration with Sephora and ShopStyle, but all product selections, reviews, and obsessions are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*
Which do yo like better the Nars concealer or the Too Faced? I am in my mid 40’s as well and my skin does not have the elasticity is use to!
That’s a tough call, both are really good products. I find myself reaching for the Too Faced more often bc I like the brightening effect it has…and theres a ton of product in that little bottle!
Hey there! Wondering how you like the Dyson dryer and Velcro rollers as compared to the amazon pink roller dryer/brush combo device you had purchased awhile ago? That thing is magic for a bouncy blow out!
I really like that Revlon dryer, but think it’s too strong for fragile hair like mine! I try to use less heat, so the Velcro rollers is better for me.
Ohh. Good info. It does get pretty dang hot. Are you noticing breakage? Or texture changes in your hair with it?
And does the Dyson get it just as smooth but less heat? I think my texture is similar to yours as well as thickness.
Of course my dream is thick coarse hair but we all know you can change a lot of things with product but your genetic lot isn’t one of them! 🙄
My hairdresser made a comment about the section of hair at my crown looking a little fried, so I panicked and stopped using it! But i know 1000s of people LOVE it! But yes, the Dyson gets my hair super smooth without that damaging heat! I guess you get what you pay for :/
I am looking at getting my 12-1/2 year old daughter some makeup for Christmas, and would love a post on fun but appropriate makeup for the early teen years (including budget-friendly options)!
I love this!! My daughter mostly sticks to mascara and lip gloss. She LOVES the it cosmetics mascara, too. She likes the benefit highlighter for days when she wants to wear more.
What color do you get in the too faced brightening concealer? I use the shape tape, but feel it settles into my fine lines.
I use Vanilla
What shade do you use for the CC cream by IT Cosmetics?
I use fair in winter and med in summer!
What color do you use for the eye brow pencil and definer? Thank you..love your posts!
Thanks so much, Heather! I use ‘Taupe’