Off the Page: Sephora Summer Bonus Recommendations

Yes, yes, this is totally different from a book review, but we are multi-faceted over here at She’s Full of Lit! We’ll be back tomorrow with our normal Friday Reading List and another review. That said, it’s one of our favorite times of year! Sephora Sale time!

Beauty products go on sale all too rarely, so this is one of our favorite times to stock up. Use the code “SUMMERSAVE” and Sephora will handily apply the appropriate discount.

Before we get into our recs, we’d be remiss if we didn’t disclose that Shannon is (and has been for more than 6 years) an employee of The Estée Lauder Companies, which manufactures and distributes a number of brands. We’ve starred the ELC brands/products below, and want to be sure to note that Shannon does get a discount on them.

Shannon

*Clinique Take the Day Off: I will die on this hill: this is the best makeup remover of all time. Comes in oil, milk, balm, and wipe form. (Also a bi-phase formula which is insanely good for mascara and eye makeup.) I recently left the a pack of the wipes at my boyfriend’s apartment and he doesn’t know what he’s in for (...me crashing at his place more often).

Fresh Soy Cleanser: cleansers are tough because, should you really spend that much? You just rinse it off your face! This one manages to be non-stripping, gentle, and hydrating all at the same time.

*Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair: This serum has been my holy grail for as long as I’ve worked for ELC. I’ve been applying it am and pm, and I’m now almost 32 years old. God knows what I’d look like without it at this point. It’s hydrating, reduces the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation, and just all-around the holy grail of serums.

*Clinique Fresh Pressed Vitamin C Booster: Vitamin C is great for so many things: our immune systems, shortening the length of common colds (allegedly), staving off scurvy, and a daily dose is recommended by many doctors. But, it’s also great for your skin. Brightens, retexturizes, reduces the appearance of fine lines—who WOULD’NT want that?! This booster contains a solid 10% of Vitamin C; add a few drops to your moisturizer am and pm and get ready for brighter skin. Also, there are other Vitamin C serums on the market but this one is my personal favorite because the packaging keeps the formula from degrading.

*GlamGlow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment: this was recommended to me by a colleague 2 years ago and I’m not sure how I lived so long without it. It includes hyaluronic acid which holds up to 1000x its weight in water, meaning it’s insanely hydrating. Also, it smells like almonds, which I happen to love. I use this more in the winter, and also on long-haul plane trips. (ICYMI, the air on planes is seriously dehydrating.) Yes it’s marketed as a “mask” but I apply it like a moisturizer at night and wake up glowing (or so I tell myself).

*Bumble and bumble Tres Invisible Dry Shampoo: who doesn’t love a good dry shampoo? This one is an aerosol, and it’s actually—I swear to you—invisible. I have dark brown hair and if you follow the directions and spray this shit 10 inches away from your hair, there is zero residue, and subsequently, zero grease. There is also a more nourishing/moisturizing version for those of you with coarser hair. You’re welcome.

*Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer: yes, this product has the longest name ever. Yes, it also does the most ever. Got color-treated or coarser hair? It softens and silkens. Blow-dry your hair every day? It has heat protectants. Spend a lot of time in the sun? It has UV filters to protect against the drying effects of the sun. Basically, this product does everything. Why don’t you have it yet?

*Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation: I worked at Clinique for 4.5 years, and I am still insanely loyal to many of its products. As such, its foundations are insanely underrated. Even Better Glow comes in 30 shades and contains Vitamin C to help brighten while it makes your skin literally glow. It’s medium coverage but pretty buildable. Better for those on the drier side. More matte? Try Stay Matte Makeup instead.

Drunk Elephant Babyfacial: I have convinced at least six of my friends to buy this product, so now I would like to influence you all. It’s so good. It’s an insane blend of AHAs and BHAs and if you have sensitive skin or are pregnant, please look elsewhere. But if you want to seriously retexturize the hell out of your skin—makeup will apply more easily, your dark spots will appear to fade—leave this on for 20 minutes 1-2x a week. You’re welcome.

Ole Henricksen Banana Bright Eye Cream: I get it. Eye creams can seem gimmicky. But, hear me out. The skin around your eyes IS thinner than elsewhere on your face, and thus, can require special care. This cream is brightening, moisturizing, and lightweight all at the same time. Dot around your eyes in the am and cover with your fave concealer to look more awake.

Which leads me to...

Cle De Peau Radiant Corrector For Eyes: full disclosure, I have a friend who works at this brand and I got this product for free. That said, I had tried Cle De Peau’s concealer before (in the pot packaging) and preferred it for blemishes, not undereyes. The stick is way more moisturizing and still brightens/conceals my dark circles.

*Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip — my shade is Mango Mood. I can’t count how many people complimented me on this lip this summer. (Not joking, this is not one of those “no one ever asked” memes.) It’s the perfect wash of color: liquid, not matte, not glossy, not sticky, long-lasting.

*Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eyeshadow: I don’t have a ton of Tom Ford stuff just because it feels way fancier than I actually am. But, this packaging is awesome—the cream is in the bottom and the powder is up top, and, Tom Ford’s eyeshadows are great. So much pigment, easy to apply, non-creasing.

*Tom Ford All Over Body Spray in Soleil Blanc: if you want to be bougie as hell, apply this dry spray over your arms and legs before going out. You’ll smell like the best, sexiest parts of summer and also be seriously glowing. (Does not contain SPF so apply sunscreen first.)

Fenty Beauty highlighter: if anyone knows how to make a highlighter, it’s one Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Enough said.

Elizabeth

Summer Friday Jet Lag Mask: Sometimes, I feel like I have the driest skin on the planet, and the Jet Lag mask is an absolute life changer in that regard. I use it almost like a moisturizer in the winter, and this time of year, I use it to follow up with other masks like Babyfacial or this Korres resurfacing one. It makes a huge difference in my skin appearance, and I think it makes me look younger and brighter. If you have sensitive skin, this may not be for you, just a FYI.

Drunk Elephant Rise & Glow Brightening Duo // NightBright Resurfacing Duo: At the start of this year, I started to get really afraid that I was looking old. So in the last Sephora VIB sale, I impulsively threw both of these sets of mini serums in my cart (I love Drunk Elephant generally), and they have made a huge difference in skin smoothness and brightness. I also like that the upfront cost isn’t too intense, which is a big disqualifies with me.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo: While I do love the Bb dry shampoo that Shannon mentioned above, this is currently my holy grail dry shampoo because it actually cleans your hair (of oil and sweat) when you apply it. I probably only use it 1-2 times a week, but it’s a nice complement to the rest of my lazy girl hair care routine.

*Bumble and bumble Surf Style //Don’t Blow It (Thick Hair): I have naturally wavy hair that is at times quite unruly — and since I’d like to veer more towards Renaissance princess hair than sea witch, I use these two interchangeably every day I don’t dry my hair. The surf style creates perfect beachy waves, and the Don’t Blow It actually makes my waves look like curls. Both are wonderful.

NudeStix Bloom All Over Color: This is a multipurpose product - it can be used on eyes, cheeks, or lips - but I mostly use it as a sheer-ish lip balm to make me look more alive! When the weather is cooler (i.e., I’m less red-faced flushed), I do love a quick swipe on my cheeks. I love the Poppy Girl and the Tiger Lily Queen.

*Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara: This is my favorite mascara, ever, and I always buy a tube of it during the sale. The color is intense, as is the volumizing - it lasts all day, but it’s also easy to remove. It would only be better if it was waterproof tbh.

Nest Candles and Diffusers: I live in a small studio with a smallish dog and I love to cook, so I’m a big fan of anything that makes said small space smell more like a spa. I’m also a millennial, so it goes without saying that I’d rather spend my money on bougie candles than a down payment for a house (it’s up there with avocado toast!) — this time around, I chose the Linen candle and diffuser, and it may actually be what I’m most excited about arriving.

Finally, it goes without saying that I’ve been influenced by both Shannon and Moira here, as I have the *Bobbi Brown Crushed Lipstick (in Peach & Quiet) and the Sunday Riley Retinol Luna Sleep Oil in my cart to try right now.

Moira

St. Tropez Purity Self-Tan Bronzing Mist: I have the same complexion as Snow White if she had pernicious anemia, which is to say—no one envies my tan. I love this light and yummy-smelling spray on my face and decolletage for a noticeable but subtle warm glow.

Derma E Essentials Microdermabrasion Scrub: This mild microdermabrasion scrub is a great exfoliator. It's like a grown-up version of St. Ives Apricot Scrub, which Shannon assures me will ruin my skin for life.

Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser: I know that rosewater is an old lady scent, but I just love this oil-to-foam cleanser. It is super hydrating and turns to foam when you splash a little water on your face. I put it on before I get in the shower and then wash it off while I'm in there.

Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleep Oil: I've written about this in a previous Reading List, but it deserves a second mention. This oil smells like green tea and goes on blue until you rub it in, which fills me with childlike wonder. It makes my skin feel super glow-y the next day. Burn away all my wrinkles, I say!

*Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Roomiest Rose: I love this color so much that I had my florist incorporate ribbons in the same shade into my wedding bouquets. It's a natural, warm pink. And in case you were wondering, it's not the same color as my nipples.

Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel: My sister gave me the hot tip on this more than ten years ago, and I just love it so much. It's a gentle, feminine (whatever that means), yet lasting scent. I'm a snob and wouldn't use it as shampoo, but it's a great shower gel.

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer: I'm worried they're phasing this out, as I can't find it on Sephora and it's on sale, but I've been wearing this for a decade and love it. It gives you a warm and rosy glow and evens out your complexion.

Also, just a FYI - none of these are affiliate links. We’re just sharing for the love of beauty — and the sale.