sephora haul – Adventures in Polishland

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Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More!

Posted on January 13, 2016January 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m back with a Sephora Haul! I typically shop at Sephora a few times a year – my birthday, the holidays, and the spring. Every holiday season, Sephora gives a coupon to Beauty Insiders at a value of $15 off a $50 purchase. I knew this coupon was coming, so I splurged on a few items that I needed, and a few others that I wanted to try. Of course, I made sure to shop through Ebates, and earned 8% cash back on my purchase during a Double Cash Back event. I also had a gift card, so I saved quite a bit! Let me go ahead and show you what I picked up at Sephora!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! First up are the items that I purchased! I usually try to aim for $50 even, but this time I went a bit over that amount. I just decided to get some extra goodies!

First Aid Beauty Fab to the Rescue Sampler Kit – I’m traveling this month, so I decided to pick up this skincare sampler kit so I could take it with me on the plane. This kit includes the Ultra Repair Cream, Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask, Face Cleanser, Ultra Repair Lip Therapy, and Ultra Repair Wash. I’m really excited to use these products because I’ve had good luck with the First Aid Beauty brand in the past. I’ll be sure to do a full review on this kit when I can!
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea & Blackberry – I picked up this lip balm because I didn’t own any lip balms that weren’t tinted! I ended up destashing a lot of my old balms, and so a new one was in order. I’ve heard so many beauty gurus rave about this lip balm, so I figured it would be great to have. I’ve been using this for a few weeks now, and really love it!
NARS Pencil Sharpener – I’ve had the worst luck with pencil sharpeners, and I needed a new one yet again. Ingrid Nilsen recommend this NARS one in a recent favorites video, and I trust her opinion. Hopefully this sharpener will last for a while!
Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette – My big splurge in this haul is a new eyeshadow palette. Now, I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but I’m trying to reach for it more. This palette is absolutely tiny, but holds eight shadows. Four of them are shimmers, and the other four are mattes. This is perfect for travel, and I’ll definitely be packing it when I’m on the go!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! Next up, I used a coupon code from the Weekly Specials page to score this little makeup bag filled with sample products. While I’m not the biggest fan of foil packets, they are great for travel. I am really excited for the makeup bag, though! I use pouches for everything in my purse and luggage – cords, pens and pencils, accessories, and more. Always make sure to use a coupon code when you shop at Sephora!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! Last but not least, I got my three free samples. I love Atelier perfume samples, and I’ve heard great things about Rita Hazan hair care. The last sample on the right is a Peter Thomas mask, so that will be fun to try, too. I have entire drawer of samples in my makeup collection, so these will be added to the pile.

That’s all for my Sephora haul this time around! I always love sharing the new products I picked up with all of you. Shopping at Sephora is special to me, and splurging a few times a year is very fun. Please let me know in the comments what you picked up from the Beauty Insider Loyalty sale! I would love to know!

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December PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing! | $60 Value for $10

Posted on January 6, 2016January 5, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m here to share what I got in my PLAY! by Sephora subscription for December. I talk all about what PLAY! by Sephora is in my November Unboxing, so if you want to learn more please see THIS blog post. I was really looking forward to this box after an awesome first month, and I was a bit disappointed when it arrived. Nonetheless, it does have an amazing retail value! Let me show you what was inside my December PLAY! by Sephora box!

December PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing! | $60 Value for $10

The December theme was Oh What Fun! in celebration of the holiday season, but to be honest I don’t really see a cohesive theme with the products. Just like last month, I got a mix of makeup, skincare, and fragrance products. As I show you each product, the dollar amount listed is the retail value of each sample size, which I calculate in proportion to the full size product.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb – $4.00

I am once again disappointed to get a perfume sample in this month’s box. Perfume samples are free at Sephora, both online and in-store. Nonetheless, I understand that Flowerbomb is an iconic perfume, and many people love it. This sample would be great for travel, or if you wanted to test out this luxury scent. Unfortunately, I cannot use it at all because floral scents really bother my allergies. I know I’m a unique case here, but this product is a bust for me.

Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil – $5.00

The next product is a face oil, similar to the argan oil I received in last month’s PLAY! I really love the brand Fresh, and am always excited to try out different products from the company. I do tend to have bad luck with face oils, as they don’t work well with my combination skin. I’m still going to try this out, though, just because I’ve had good luck with Fresh in the past.

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette – $6.92

The next sample is one that is really awesome, and that is a mini eyeshadow palette from the brand Smashbox. I love that this sample comes with two eyeshadows, and that you get a mirror with it. The shadows can even be worn together! Unfortunately for me, I just purchased the Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette, and both of these shades are included. That is definitely a risk you take if you are a regular Sephora shopper!

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Black

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Black – $11.88

The other makeup product in the December box is a black eyeliner from Make Up Forever. This is another awesome sample in general, but for me it is disappointing. I received an eyeliner last month, and I don’t wear eyeliner often at all. I’m glad this is a black shade, because it is the easiest to wear and use. I’m not sure if I’m going to keep this for myself, or pass it on yet.

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator – $7.25

I received two more skincare samples, and the first I am really excited about! I absolutely love Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion, and use it on a regular basis. However, because it is so expensive, I wouldn’t be able to repurchase it when my bottle is empty. Now I have a backup, or a travel sized bottle. I’m so glad I got this sample!

NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum – $27.30

The last sample is definitely the most perplexing one in the box! I got seven foil packets of the NUDE serum. At first I was annoyed to get foil packets, but then I realized that I could try out the serum for an entire week to see how I liked it. When I calculated the retail value, I was absolutely floored. These foil packets do not have any sort of size marking on it, but I did some research and most foil packets are 0.05 fluid ounces. I used that for my calculations, and cannot believe how much these samples cost! While it is annoying that these are free samples that could be given out at any Sephora (I’ve even had one before!), the value is definitely impressive.

Overall, my December PLAY! by Sephora box has an approximate retail value of $62.35. That is amazing considering I only spent $10 on it! However, I’m very disappointed that the box is quite similar to last month’s. In both boxes I got a perfume sample, eyeliner, and oil – all things I don’t typically use. The only item that I am particularly excited to use in the December box is the PoreDermabrasion. Thus, despite the high retail value of the box as a whole, it is a flop for me. I’m going to be trying out January’s box to see how it compares, but if it is repetitive I will most likely cancel. For more information on PLAY! by Sephora, see the official website HERE.

Do you subscribe to PLAY! by Sephora? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the December box!

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Huge Sephora Haul | Basics Stock Up & More!

Posted on October 26, 2015October 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday, and welcome to Haul Week here at Adventures in Polishland! I’ve done a lot of shopping lately, mainly because October is my birthday month and I wanted to take advantage of all the sales and coupons I received. Plus, I keep my eye on sales all the time, so I shop when the prices are lowest. I asked on my Facebook Page HERE if you wanted me to do a week filled with haul posts, and many of you said yes! Today I’m kicking things off with my biggest Sephora Haul of all time. I had to stock up on a lot of my basic products, but of course treated myself, too. Let me show you what I picked up!

First things first, I made this purchase because I was out of a lot of basic products that I use regularly. I also wanted to get my free birthday gift. I waited until Sephora was on Ebates for double cash back, and then made my purchase. Ebates is a website that allows you to earn cash back on many of your online purchases. I’ve used it for years now, and LOVE it! Sephora is typically 4% cash back, but it is often doubled for 8%. Always wait for the double cash back if you can. If you’re not an Ebates member, sign up for free HERE and you’ll get a $10 gift card when you join!

While I am normally all about the fabulous and affordable beauty products, there are a few things I am always willing to spend more on because of the amazing quality. I ran out of BeautyBlender Cleanser a few months ago, and my normal brush cleaner is just not cutting it. I decided to get the big size of of the cleanser, because I know it will last me a long time. Plus, it has a pump top that I can keep on the sink! I also grabbed the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I used a sample last year and fell in love with it. I waited until my other primers ran out before I picked this up! Finally, I grabbed my favorite setting spray, Urban Decay De-Slick. I only need a new bottle every 8-12 months, depending on how often I use it, and it is 100% worth the price. This is the third time I’ve purchased it now!

I decided to pick up a few extra goodies for myself. I’ve wanted the Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Highlight from the brand BECCA since it came out, and I finally decided to grab it. I am so in love! It is a stunning gold highlight, and I’ve been wearing it every makeup day since it arrived. I’m planning on doing a full review of Champagne Pop so you can see up-close swatches of this product. I also purchased the Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip value kit. It has 15 high end lip products, mainly in deluxe sample sizes, but there are a few full size products as well. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try some high end lip products. Plus, I plan on using some of the lippys for gifts and giveaways. It’s just so fun to try out so many goodies!

Of course, no Sephora order is complete without a few freebies! First, I have the Beauty Insider Birthday Gift, which is a NARS lip duo. I think that is an amazing freebie! I then got the three free samples that come with every order. I picked the Fresh Black Tea Lotion, First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, and Dior Lip Addict Lip Plumper. I always love getting these extras!

All in all, I did spend a pretty penny at Sephora, but I was able to grab a lot of products I use regularly, plus some treats for my birthday. By shopping during double cash back at Ebates, I got over $14 back on my purchase. I’ve already started putting many of these products to use, and I plan on showing in-depth reviews in the coming weeks! If you’d like to shop for anything you see here, you can use the widget below, which helps support my blog. Make sure to stay tuned for more hauls all week long!

What is on your Sephora Wish List? Let me know in the comments!

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How to Get the Most for Your Money at Sephora – Part 2

Posted on October 31, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! After posting a spoiler of my recent Sephora haul on my Facebook page, I knew I had to share more about the products I purchased, and the great deals I got. Back in March, I shared with you six simple steps to get the most for your money at Sephora (you can see that post HERE). Today, I’m going to change those steps up just a bit for even more savings. Let’s get started!

1. Start at Ebates.com and shop online!

For a long time, I thought that Ebates was some sort of gimmick or spam website, but now I’ve been a member for a few months, and it is totally legitimate! Sign up, and you’ll earn cash back for almost all of your online purchases. I’ve already received my first check, so I know it’s safe to use. Sign up HERE. All Sephora purchases get 4% cash back!

2. Spend $50 to get free shipping!

I only shop at Sephora a few times per year, so I think it is fine to splurge and spend the big bucks! To get to the $50 limit for free shipping, I got the Sephora Collection Base Coat at $6, Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shower Gel at $16.50, and Too Faced Primed & Poreless at $30. I am running out of Primed & Poreless, and it is easily a holy grail product for me (see a full review HERE). I also love the Sephora base coat, and the Philosophy Shower Gel was my bonus product. It will last me a very long time, and I’ve been hearing so many beauty gurus talking about it lately that I needed it in my life!

3. Add on the bonus products!

The bonus round is definitely my favorite part of shopping on Sephora’s website! This is the key to getting the most for your money. There are three ways to get bonuses added to your order:

The annual birthday gift: Every Beauty Insider member gets a free birthday gift! This year is was the Benefit Real Birthday Turn-Ons duo with a mini They’re Real mascara and Watt’s Up highlighter. This set retails for $14.41!
Weekly Specials promo code: You can always add a promotional code to any order over $25 – a true bonus that you cannot claim in store! The specials change weekly, and feature amazing deluxe samples of high end products. I got the Clinique Acne Solution Cleansing Foam, which has a retail value at $7.89!
Claim a perk: Use your Beauty Insider points to grab a freebie! Perks start at 100 points, and feature great deluxe samples. I grabbed a mini Sephora X nail polish in the shade Pyrotechnic. Its retail value is $4.20! Don’t forget, the Beauty Insider program is free, so there is no reason not to join!

4. Grab your free samples!

Every Sephora order comes with three free samples! They rotate all the time, but here’s what I grabbed with this order: Flash by Jimmy Choo perfume, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, and REN Hydra-Calm Day Cream. These three samples together have a retail value of $8.29!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $87.29

TOTAL SPENT (including tax!): $57.16

SAVINGS: $30.13 + $2.29 cash back from Ebates

All in all, I am really happy with my latest Sephora haul! I got great savings and some amazing products. When you’re on a budget, it’s definitely difficult to shop at Sephora on a regular basis, but by using these steps you can make each haul worth it. I hope you find this post helpful. Let me know what deals you’ve gotten at Sephora lately!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.