This year, I decided to treat myself to a few repurchases and also one or two new makeup items that I’ve had my eye on for a while. Every time the Sephora VIB sale comes around, I always use the opportunity to save some money on the items that I use in my routine every day and maybe try out something fun and new.

Skincare

First up, I repurchased my ride-or-die Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner. This is my second bottle and it’s absolutely huge (over 8 ounces). I love that this toner feels so soothing and gives my skin an initial layer of hydration right after cleansing. With ingredients like squalane and and avocado oil, this is super calming and hydrating for sensitive, dehydrated skin like mine. Even better if you use some harsher active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, or any chemical peels.

Next, another repurchase of the Innisfree Daily UV Defense SPF 36. I love this one because there’s no white cast and it feels almost like a moisturizer. It’s also perfect for layering makeup on top because it’s so smooth. I’d usually do SPF 50 but for the winter when the UV index barely reaches 2, I feel okay about an SPF 36 every day. This one does go quickly though, there’s only 1.7 ounces but for $15, I don’t mind the smaller size.

I also picked up another one of my favorite Sephora Collection Hemp Face Mask which is a 5 minute mask for blemish-prone skin that isn’t drying or harsh at all. I do this mask most mornings while I make my morning tea and I feel like it’s been helping keep my skin clear.

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane is one of my favorite skin products I’ve ever tried. I use it as a final layer in my nighttime skin routine, acting almost like an oil. Squalane provides a ton of surface hydration to the skin and it’s exactly what my dry and very dehydrated skin needs overnight. I wake up glowing every time I use this product and will continue to repurchase.

A new one for me, The Inkey List Brighten-i Eye Cream is a super affordable eye cream with a metal applicator to help tighten up any under eye bags. I’ve found the best way to apply this is to spread it out with my ring finger then go in with the metal applicator to massage it in. While this isn’t super moisturizing, it definitely does the trick! Also, I didn’t get it from Sephora, but I’ve finally found the eternally sold-out CeraVe eye cream that I’ll be using at night while I use the Inkey List one in the mornings.

Makeup

Onto the fun stuff! I picked up two new items during the sale that I’ve been eyeing forever. First, the Tower 28 gloss in Coconut. It’s a super smooth, glossy formula that doesn’t feel sticky or uncomfortable at all. I’m not usually a gloss-wearer but this one I reach for most days. And second, the Lawless The Little One Palette. I was really looking for a palette that had a light cream color to set concealer, a black, and a few brown shades to help create an everyday or more formal look. I also love these shimmer shades and have found all of these shades to be super pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. There’s a reason this palette has been sold out! These 8 shades are going to be staples in my collection and only $25 to support a women-owned, clean beauty brand.