the eternal allure of sephora (and a haul)

I ain’t never gonna stop lovin’ you, makeup emporium of dreams.

A few weeks before we went to Barcelona, my friend Leah relayed some important information pertaining to our trip: The closest Sephora was an eight-minute walk from our hotel. This was good news. We had planned only a couple of things to do while we were there, and those things were: going to Primavera, maybe seeing some Gaudi stuff, eating tapas, and Sephora. 

I like to make a Sephora visit an official part of my holiday itinerary, should it exist in that particular country. I really put my all into this part of the planning — Google Mapping how to get there, making a list of products I would like to try ahead of time, identifying places nearby for my boyfriend to put himself while I browse. 

I first became aware of Sephora when I started watching beauty YouTube way back in the early 2010s. The gurus were always mentioning it offhandedly as if we should all know what it was. I think I assumed it was some sort of pharmacy — so when I Googled and discovered it was a dedicated beauty shop, I very nearly passed out. I had to get to one! It seemed to be the only place you could get the BRANDS. Anastasia Beverly Hills! Kat Von D (yike but at the time guys, at the time)! Too Faced! Becca (RIP)! 

I finally got my chance in New York in 2014, where I purchased an Anastasia Dipbrow (still love!) and a Clarisonic (she’s long in the bin god bless her). Two years later in San Francisco, I was beating down the door to get the Kat Von D Shade and Light eyeshadow palette and Lolita liquid lipstick. Since then, if we’re away and I know there’s a Sephora nearby, you will not keep me from it.

Nowadays, most of those coveted American brands are available over here. Boots, Cult Beauty, Space NK, and Brown Thomas have all stepped up their respective beauty games. We don’t “need” Sephora like we used to, but I still love it. I love seeing everything in one place. I love walking around really slowly with my stupid little basket. I love causing a bottleneck at the tills because I’m rifling through all the minis. I love when the sales assistants ask me if I need help because most of the time I DO. I’m getting misty-eyed just thinking about it.

So naturally, I did a little damage in Barcelona’s enormous Sephora. I need to stress that I was not a well woman when I entered the store that day, having been at a music festival until stupid o’clock that morning. As such, I cannot be blamed for any of this. Like, even in the fullness of health, I cannot resist a Sephora. Here we go.

Don’t zoom in to look at me taking the photo in the mirrored lid of the blush. Don’t!

Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum

This has been in my Saved Items on Cult Beauty for ages, but seeing it IRL made me finally pull the trigger. It describes itself as “hydrating, long-lasting makeup wear,” which… sign me up. The last time I was in a Sephora (July of 2019, sob) I bought the Milk Hydrogrip primer, which advertises itself similarly — but it left my foundation a patchy mess and I absolutely hated it. This skincare-makeup hybrid, on the other hand, is SO nice. I’ve used it a few times now and each time, my base has looked smooth, my skin is radiant, and my makeup has lasted. I’m really into priming lately after never really paying much attention to it before, and I think my foundation looks the better for it? Or it could be just my skincare and I’m swizzing myself. Either way, I look nice, so I win.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Encourage

I already own a Soft Pinch blush in Joy, a screamingly bright coral, so when I saw the Rare Beauty stand I decided to pick up a new shade. Yes, this is another celebrity brand, but Selena Gomez has actually delivered the goods. This blush is incredibly pigmented (a tiny dot will do for both cheeks) and lasts forever. I’ve noticed that the formula for this dusky pink shade is slightly less “sticky” than my coral one, if that makes sense — there’s more time to apply and blend out before it sets down. The only other thing I’ve tried from Rare is their Lip Soufflé, which reminds me heavily of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. I’ve heard the mascara and concealer are both excellent, so those products will probably be my next stop.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm

I don’t need to tell you again about the Laneige Lip Sleeping Balm. You KNOW I love it. Naturally, I had to pick up the tubular version of it for handbag purposes. It practically leaped into my basket. 

Don’t look at the dust on the lid of the concealer. I don’t know how it even got there omg

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Endless Cacao

Katie Jane Hughes hive rise! It’s very hard to find MUFE in Ireland these days, so when I saw the stand I knew instantly that I must hunt for Endless Cacao. I can say with a certain amount of confidence that Katie Jane Hughes has used this as lip liner in pretty much every makeup look she’s ever done? It’s a neutral brown shade that acts almost like a contour for the lips, embiggening and defining them. I don’t usually go for a darker liner so I am very much intrigued by what it can bring to the table. It’s designed to be used as an eyeliner or brow pencil or whatever the hell you want, so if I don’t end up loving it as a lip liner, I’m sure it’ll still get play.

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red

I have thought about it long and hard and I do believe that this is my favourite red lipstick. I’m so excited to have it back in my life. Liquid lipsticks are passé now in the beauty industry but this one is still perfect — light, soft, easy to apply, great wear time. The shade makes my eyes, skin, and teeth look amazing. A wedding day lipstick, perhaps? We shall see. 

Ouai Wave Spray

God help me, I cannot walk past a product that claims to encourage natural waves. I’m very loyal to the Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, but this one looked so different from what I normally consider to be a “wave spray” that I had to give it a try. And it is different — it replaces the salt with “rice protein” (don’t ask me to tell you what that is exactly) so your hair feels super soft instead of salty and crunchy. I don’t happen to mind a salty, crunchy feel, but I understand it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It also smells really good. I need a little more time to evaluate what it specifically does for my waves, but I’m happy to continue trying it out. (Just realised I forgot to photograph this but I’m sure you’ll live!)

Bonus duty free buy: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer

I thought I was done with the beauty shopping, but then at the airport I was compelled to go to the Lancome stand to find this concealer, which has been highly recommended by all my go-to beauty YouTubers. My favourite concealers all have a good amount of coverage while looking and feeling light, and this one slots right into that categorisation. I don’t know if it will be knocking the Sculpted by Aimee Brighten Up concealer off the top spot, but it’s nice to have options, y’know?

I hadn’t bought any makeup for six months before this Sephora blowout, and I will not be buying any more for another six months at least. Hold me to that, please.

Thank you for reading Vanity Project! Are you also still obsessed with Sephora after all these years? What was your first Sephora purchase? I’m dying to know.