Sleigh your look—and list—this holiday season at Sephora!
The retailer is the “North Pole” for beauty lovers. No other (work)shop can compete with Sephora’s impressive collection of makeup, skincare, hair care and fragrances. But let’s face it—having too many options can also be overwhelming.
To save you time and stress, we put on our Santa hat and picked out gifts we think you’ll like. This buying guide contains a mix of Sephora best sellers and TopCashback favorites. Yep, we did a little snooping into what items are popular with our members, and we can honestly say they have great taste.
Just make sure to shop through our free portal to earn 4% cash back on your Sephora purchase. And keep checking the blog for more holiday shopping tips.
Skincare
TopCashback members trust The Ordinary to treat their facial flaws, particularly the brand’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Situation ($9.50), Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum ($6) and 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder ($6.40). If you’re battling dry skin, give the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum ($8.90) a try.
Sephora Collection’s Hydrating Face Mask ($6) was favorited over 16,000 times by customers who love its price, effectiveness and smell. It comes in six different scents, including coconut, watermelon and lychee. Buy a whole bunch as stocking stuffers. The Sephora Collection’s Clean Charcoal Nose Strip ($3) and Cleansing + Exfoliating Wipes ($6) are worth every cent, too.
Combat dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles with Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Gel-Cream ($72), which previously won a Best of Beauty award from Allure magazine. Also dependable is The INKEY List Peptide Moisturizer ($15.99) which, as you can see, is far more budget friendly. For skin hydration in a bottle, look no further than Dior’s La Mousse OFF/ON Foaming Face Cleanser ($50).
Lips
Indulge in luxury lip wear, such as Yves Saint Laurent’s Vinyl Cream Lip Stain ($45), Tom Ford’s Gloss Luxe Lip Gloss ($59) and Dior’s Addict Lip Glow ($40). The latter has nearly a million “likes” from Sephora shoppers and an average 4.3-star rating. Cheaper but no less flattering is Lancôme’s L’Absolu Lacquer Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick ($32), which also appeared in our Macy’s holiday buying guide.
Aragon, the red chestnut shade from NARS’ Afterglow Lip Shine Gloss ($26), is a top lip color. And Charlotte Tilbury’s Mini Pillow Talk Lipstick and Liner Set ($25) beautifully enhances your pout. But you can achieve a similar effect for less money with the Sephora Collection Outrageous Plumping Lip Gloss ($13).
Dry, cracked lips are no longer the norm, thanks to Sephora Collection’s Vegan Hydrating Lip Balm ($5). Available in clear, rose, cherry and berry, this handbag staple is your secret to the perfect winter smile.
Eyes
Trade your faux lashes for Benefit Cosmetics’ Fan Fest Fanning & Volumizing Mascara ($28), which packs a punch. For extra “oomph”, Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler ($24) will do the trick. Don’t forget to show your brows attention with Benefit Cosmetics’ Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer ($26).
Maintain a natural look with Urban Decay’s Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette ($33). Or snatch up Makeup By Mario’s Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette ($68) to play with shimmers and metallics. You can always take things to a whole other level with Urban Decay’s 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow ($24).
Fragrances
Enjoy the smell of fresh florals with Dior’s Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet ($135). You’ll catch a whiff of flowers and fruit from Chanel’s CHANCE EAU TENDRE Eau de Toilette ($110). Prefer something warm and spicy? Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium Eau de Parfum ($155) delivers.
Earthy and woody, Chanel’s BLEU DE CHANEL Eau de Toilette for Men ($105) is a girl magnet. And Valentino’s Uomo Born in Roma Intense Eau de Parfum for Men ($110) succeeds in turning vanilla into a powerful, masculine scent.
Face
Lancôme’s UV Expert Defense SPF 50+ Primer & Moisturizer ($38) is the 3-in-1 formula you’ll never want to go without again. Need a top-notch foundation? Check out NARS’ Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation ($50) or Dior’s Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation SPF 15 ($55) that costs slightly more.
For quick touch-ups throughout the day, you can’t go wrong with the Hourglass Mini Vanish Airbrush Concealer ($18) or IT Cosmetics Mini Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer ($14).
There’s no blush taking the beauty world by storm quite like Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($23). It’s amassed over two million “likes” from Sephora shoppers alone. And it’s currently ranked number one on Sephora’s fast sellers list. Rare Beauty’s Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush ($22) isn’t half as popular, but still boasts a respectable 4.3-star rating from 1,000+ reviews.
Once you’ve decided on your blush, snag Make Up For Ever’s Artist Longwear Skin-Fusing Powder Highlighter ($32) to put the finishing touches to your cheekbones. Then apply a layer of security with KVD Beauty’s Lock-It Refillable Mattifying Pressed Finishing Powder ($35). This will ensure your makeup stays pristine all day long.
Body
The men’s Acqua Di Gio Deodorant from Armani Beauty ($28) will make BO a thing of the past, as will Dior’s Sauvage Deodorant Stick ($35). Ladies, lather yourself up with Chanel’s COCO MADEMOISELLE Moisturizing Body Lotion ($64) for soft, perfumed skin. And for dry, clean hands on the go, grab the pocket-sized Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer from Touchland ($10). It won a Best of Beauty award from Allure magazine just last year.
Hair
Gisou’s Honey Infused Hair Oil ($46) went viral this year as a miracle worker for frizz-prone hair, although it faces stiff competition from Moroccanoil’s Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil ($48).
Did you know that hair needs just as much moisturizing as skin? amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask ($32) will bring shine and elasticity back to your damaged mane. Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner ($28) can also rescue your hair from frizz, heat damage and split ends. Finally, add dae’s Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream ($28) to your routine for salon-like blowouts and healthy curls.
Tools
Get your hands on beautyblender’s ORIGINAL BEAUTYBLENDER Makeup Sponge ($20), the all-purpose applicator that’s earning praise from thousands of users. Do you style your hair before bed? Avoid mussing it up with Slip’s Silk Pillowcase ($89). It’ll even prevent sleep creases on your face! And if you want affordable microdermabrasion treatments at home, then PMD’s Personal Microderm with Hand & Foot Kit ($159) is your answer.
The sought-after Dyson Airwrap Multi Styler ($599) needs no introduction. But there are two limited edition colors currently for sale at Sephora: Ceramic Pop and Blue Blush.
Value Sets
Get a bigger bang for your buck with Sephora value sets, which are always welcome gifts. They’re available in every category, too. Kiehl’s Home & Away for the Holidays Ultra Facial Cream Duo ($69), Glow Recipe’s Dewy Skin Goals Kit ($62) and Tatcha’s Plumping Dewy Skin Essentials for Dry to Combination Skin ($87) are three of the best in skincare.
The uber-popular Lip Sleeping Mask from LANEIGE now comes in five flavors, and your recipient can try them all with the Midnight Minis Set ($20). Rare Beauty’s Mini Blush & Glow 4-Piece Set ($34) features the aforementioned Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and Positive Light Liquid Luminizer in cool new shades. As for perfume, there’s nothing better than the Hermès Mini Fragrance Discovery Set ($60).
Although it’s out of stock online, you can still place your order for COLOR WOW’s Dream Coat Anti-Frizz Treatment Duo Hair Set ($28) and pick it up in store. Meanwhile, the Olaplex Vibrant Shine Healthy Hair Kit ($38) is sporting a near-perfect rating because it can tackle scalp build up, breakage, split ends and damage.
Tell us, what are you buying from Sephora for the holidays? Sound off in the comments. And remember—you can get 4% cash back on your Sephora purchase.
Editor's Note: Promos were correct at time of publication.
Related Posts: Holiday Buying Guide: Macy's | Holiday Buying Guide: Walmart | Holiday Buying Guide: Nike
by Diana Oliveira
Diana Oliveira is the senior copywriter at TopCashback.com. After beginning her copywriting career at a paper company, where she harnessed her creative chops writing about…paper, this self-described “bargain shopper” has felt at home talking about our many stores, deals and money-saving tips the last few years.
