You Can Only Have One, Sephora Edition.
Desert Island beauty recs from one of my favorite sales of the year.
Hi + happy Friday!
I feel like I am just coming up for air after a jam packed week of family stuff and a work dinner last night… I’m planning on melting into my couch tonight with a book, a movie, IDK what (if anyone’s watched anything great lately, drop it in the comments!).
Last month,
had a really great post, around the theme of “You Can Only Have One.” I thought it was a creative, fun way to share her essentials. It also got me thinking about what mine would be. I love trying and testing new products, I spend a lot of my own money buying things to try, and I am also on several brands PR lists. So, it probably goes without saying that I have a lot of stuff! But what if I were forced to throw everrrrything else out and just have… one! Just one mascara, one eye shadow, one moisturizer, and so on and so forth. It makes for some pretty tough decisions. As Sephora’s big sale kicks off today, I thought it would be timely to do a little beauty “you can only have one.”Also: Today on the blog I have my usual (very) big guide to shopping the sale. It has anything and everything you could want to know, all broken down by category. This sale is my Super Bowl in a way, and also one of my biggest earning times of the year, so I put a lot of effort into my guide. I really hope it’s helpful.
Below, my beauty “you can only have one,” which edits things down a bit more. Paid subscribers: head on over to chat where I will be sharing more personalized recs (just pop your questions into the chat and I’ll answer them today and tomorrow as I have time!).
Mascara: It’s going to be the Armani Mascara. This really is just so good. It’s lightweight and never clumpy but gives you the prettiest, feathery lashes. Longer and thicker but never spidery. Kinda like if you got those Minx extensions (but less dramatic of course as it’s just a mascara).
Eyeliner: Ilia’s gel eyeliners are the best and the easiest (I struggle with liner!).
Eyeshadow: This one was not a hard choice at all! Bobbi Brown’s shadow sticks are amazing! They are so pretty and in my opinion, very hard to mess up. Whether you want a little shimmer or a full on molten eye, it is easy. My favs are the Golden Amber, Golden Bronze, and Golden Pink. So pretty and SO easy!
Lipstick: I’m taking the Kosas lipstick in Daydream. The formula is light but hydrating; the color is like lips just a little better. Fun fact: when Kosas rebranded their lipsticks, Daydream replaced Rosewater.
Brows: It has to be Kosas Airbrow. Nothing fills AND tames brows quite so well. My color is taupe!
Blush: For years it would have been the Westman Atelier (in Petal) but I’m actually going to go with this from Rare Beauty (in Worth). Why? It stays on forever, it’s really pretty, and it’s a much better price. You literally need maybe one dot per cheek, it is very pigmented.
Bronzer: A tough call but we’re going with Saie Beauty’s cream bronzer here. (I wear the lightest shade). This is so lovely and stays on so well. I recommend getting the brush to go with it!
Foundation: It has to be Bobbi Brown’s long wear foundation. This feels like nothing, covers up what you want it to (without feeling or looking heavy), and “warm beige” is pretty much my exact skin tone.
Highlighter: This wand from Charlotte Tilbury. Pretty and easy (are you sensing a theme here?) I love them all but Spotlight is my personal fav.
Cleanser: Since Sephora does not stock Elemis (that’s my tried & true fav!) we are going to do the Farmacy Green Clean (also an incredible cleansing balm). I know I’m only supposed to get one but if I do a double cleanse I’m using this gentle cleanser after (it smells faintly of honey, love!). EDITED TO ADD: a kind reader let me know that Sephora now carries Elemis. So we are taking this instead.
Moisturizer: Obviously it is Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. I joke that this is my own little personal fountain of youth it’s just so good and leaves my dry skin ultra hydrated and dewy. A personal MUST, and I know so many of you agree. Pro-tip, buy this set for extra savings! Note: Sephora carries the INNBEAUTY Extreme Cream I always rave about - the closest Bader “dupe,” and it’s just $48 before the sale.
All Around Serum: This is another really, really hard one! I am bringing Clarins’ Double Serum as it is so effective (and it layers well under the Bader). It kind of does everything which is important if I only get one serum!
Exfoliating Product (think acids, scrubs, etc): It’s going to be the Biossance Lactic Acid. This is ultra gentle (thanks to the squalane) but also ultra effective. It is one of those rare products that makes you look pretty much immediately (or at least overnight) better! My skin is noticeably smoother and glowier the next day.
Eye Cream: Definitely the Strivectin. I am a big fan of products that tackle “everything,” and that is this. Fine lines, puffiness, 11 lines, dark circles, all of it!
SPF: Another easy one: Unseen Sunscreen. The very very best - it’s silky, it’s matte, it feels like nothing but provides fantastic protection.
Face Mask: OK this is very hard as face masks all do such different things (hydrating, exfoliating, etc.). If I can have just one though, I’m going to pick the Clarins Cryo Mask. This does it all - firms, depuffs, tightens pores… and it feels amazing as we get into the warmer months.
Body Wash: The Necessaire Eucalyptus. Hands down. It smells amazing, it’s super gentle and never irritating… the best!
Body Lotion: Another really hard one. I am not monogamous with body lotion, I have SO many. Too many! But if I can only have one, I’m bringing my beloved Bum Bum Cream. It’s hydrating, it’s firming… and that salted caramel scent is to die for.
Bath Product: It has to be these Breathe pebbles from Kate McLeod. I realize I talk your ear off about these but wow just wow they are heavenly! If you are a fellow Eucalyptus lover you will love these. I drop two in the bath and when I get out my skin is so soft that I can skip moisturizer. They are also lovely in the shower (just rub one pebble all over your skin.
Deodorant: The Necessaire Eucalyptus/Acid Deo. Smells great, not irritating, the 5% acid formulation kills bacteria (Bacteria is the root of B.O… it’s what makes you smell).
Home Fragrance: Another tough one but it has to be the Maison Louis Marie No. 4 candle! This is a dead ringer for Le Labo Santal 26, at a fraction of the price. Smoky and sexy and soft… it’s too good! I buy a few extra every sale to have on hand as a gift.
On The Stripe (my blog!) this week.
We started the week with a little recap of everything I read last month. Eight books; a solid month of reading.
An important category of clothing, at least for my wardrobe: Inside Clothes, aka the pieces you wear at home but not to sleep in.
Strawberry Szn: an update on what I did with all those strawberries from last week.
Our spring shoe edit. I am a bit obsessed with this post!
Today’s big guide to the Sephora Sale. Happy shopping // tell me what you get!
This Week in Reading:
I finished Rabbit Hole and honestly didn’t care for it. Very sleepy, nothing happens for a huge chunk of the book… meh ending. I’d heard really good things and the writing IS very good but if you are a plot person (me!) you can skip this one!
After that, I started The Other Valley, by Scott Alexander Howard. This is a little bit literary, a little bit dystopian. To be totally honest it’s a little slow so far. It came highly recommended by someone whose taste I usually jive with so I’m going to continue reading (but if you’ve read it, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments section!).
And on audio I am listening to Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See, by Bianca Bosker. This is excellent so far. It’s Bosker’s journey to learn about the art world and hone her eye. I’m learning a lot so far. If the art world is something that confuses or intimidates you, this book is for you!
Thank you so much for this super helpful list! Any “only one” vitamin c serum rec?
This is a fantastic list. I bought elemis cream on amazon and it was expired (smelled terrible). I'll try your cheaper DB option. thanks! xx