What to Buy at Sephora for $100 Total: A Frugal Sephora Sale Guide

The Sephora Sale is here, which means it’s the most wonderful time of the year, particularly if you’re Rouge with 20% off. And it’s across the entire store, and 30% off Sephora Collection.

Being Rouge is definitely a vicious spending cycle, encouraging people to spend over $1000 a year to secure Rouge each year to get the 20% discount. But it’s a cycle I am unfortunately stuck in as well. Side note: if you’re looking for a way to get Rouge for cheaper, check out how I use FSA for pre-tax spending on beauty.

This blog will cover 3 different bundles (skincare, makeup, and the all-around), each under $100 total. And you can use this for a little treat for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

And the $100 will be after the 20% discount and not inclusive of sales tax because I have no clue how much your tax rate is where you live.

So let’s get into the $100 bundles!

Sephora Skincare under $100

Rationale

$100 doesn’t go too far at Sephora, especially if you’re trying to avoid The Ordinary, Inkey List, or Sephora Collection (which are all solid, affordable options). Instead of going for the more affordable products, I wanted to challenge myself to give a selection of full-size staples: a solid cleanser and an awesome sunscreen. Everything beyond a cleanser and SPF is the cherry on top.

But the cherry on top can be a fancy one!

What to buy

  • Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser ($39, 8 oz)

    • Why: If you like a squeaky clean without feeling stripped, this is the one for you. It’s a no-frills product that performs exceptionally well. It gets everything off your skin without making you feel like you immediately need a moisturizer. I have no clue how many awards this cleanser has won, but that’s honestly enough for me to continue purchasing this cleanser.

  • Option for Dry Skin (Daytime): Skinfix Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream ($20, 15 ml)

    • Why: While I do not have dry skin, I love this cream as an overnight cream. It always restores my irritation and it gives me such a radiant glow. But if I had dry, irritated skin, this is the cream I would trust for daytime purposes as well. Trust me, your skin will drink it up. And it has a nice slightly dewy finish to it.

  • Option for Oily Skin (Daytime): Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream ($17, 15 ml)

    • Why: The way that this cream just absolutely disappears into your skin is a testament to how good it is for oily skin folks like me. I love how hydrating it is, so that your skin does not need to overcompensate with extra oil. And it plays well under sunscreen and makeup.

  • Nighttime: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer ($26, 1 oz)

    • Why: This might be one of my most recommended products simply because it will work for any skin type (dry, oily, combo). I’ve relied on it as my only step when I travel for work and am exhausted. And if I feel extraordinarily decadent, I’ve used this on my elbows to remedy any dry patches. And Jet Lag Mask can even be used as a daytime cream if you’re in a super dry environment or you have super dry skin. It’s such a versatile product.

  • Summer Fridays ShadeDrops SPF30 ($36, 1.7 oz)

    • Why: This is my favorite American-made sunscreen. It’s mineral (zinc oxide), but my friend, Dr. Julian Sass, says that it is a suitable mineral SPF for him. So for those with deeper skin tones, proceed with caution. And if you’re interested in something with a very similar fluid-like formula but at a higher SPF, the Caudalie one is right up your alley (but it’s more expensive).

  • Total (after 20% discount): $97

Sephora Makeup under $100

Rationale

I’ve been on my Project Pan journey as of late, meaning that I’ve discovered I don’t use nearly as many makeup products as I purchase. I’ve also noticed I don’t use complexion products to their fullest extent (i.e. I throw them away after they’ve been open for too long). Instead of a foundation or concealer, I’ve been using sunscreen that has a slight tint in it to give the slightest bit of coverage.

Because if I spend so much time on my skincare to perfect my skin, why would I cover it in foundation? It’s going to shine!

In selecting this bundle, I looked for products that would give the most bang for your buck but also hit all of the categories you would need (besides complexion). These are also products that would work for every single person.

What to buy

  • Sephora Favorites Gleamy Dreamy Makeup Value Set ($52 for $158 value)

    • Why: This little set hits all of the staples you need in a makeup routine. And as someone who has been trying to minimize how many makeup products I buy, these little minis are the perfect amount to actually finish the product. In here, you’ll find lip products (Tower28 LipSoftie, Prada Lipstick, Benefit Benetint), blush (Rare Beauty, Huda Beauty), eyes (Too Faced Tubing Mascara, Kosas Air Brow), and highlighter (Refy). You’ll also get things to prep your skin (Milk Hydro Grip and Saie Glowy Super Gel, which I use as a base product as well).

  • Ciele Sculpt & Protect SPF 30 ($34)

    • Why: The Sephora Favorites kit was missing a contour, and while this is technically a bronzing product, I’ve found it to be cool on me. So I use it as a contour. And this has been a daily driver for me, as an FSA-eligible purchase. And yes, this is one of the products I personally will be stocking up on as well.

  • Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Minis ($25) or Tower28 LipSoftie Set ($20)

    • Why: Both of these brands have been heavy in my lip rotation lately. They both have great feel on the lip and are actually moisturizing to the lips, instead of just sitting on top. Summer Fridays has a slightly lighter feel on the lips, applicator, and scents. But Tower28 is AAPI owned, has more pigment, and is glossier. And it also has the Red Bean Mochi shade, which has been my go-to product this month.

  • Makeup by Mario Moistureglow On-The-Gow Plumping Lip Serum ($14, 1g)

    • Why: I like this in addition to the Summer Fridays or Tower28 products because it has a slight plumping effect (aka your lips tingle). I would say that out of all the products, this one is probably the lightest weight. And I like the format of a twist lipstick (even though it is a serum) in specific contexts, compared to the lip balm applicators of Summer Fridays and Tower28.

  • Total (after 20% discount): $100

Sephora Crowd Favorites under $100

Rationale

For this section, I wanted to focus on getting products that please everybody. It’s less focused on specific concerns and more about treating yourself. Or treating others for a holiday gift!

There are some fragrances, some bodycare, some skincare, some makeup. Truly something for everyone.

And one of the most decadent everyday products: bougie hand sanitizer.

What to buy

  • Sephora Favorites Holiday Must Have Value Set ($69 for $229 value)

    • Why: This is the perfect stocking stuffer by itself or breaking it up to gift for multiple people. It features the Touchland Hand Sanitizer (Watermelon) that I use everyday! And it has skincare (Kiehl’s, The Ordinary), makeup (Ilia, Glossier, Danessa Myricks), haircare (Kerastase), and bodycare (Sol de Janeiro). It’s great if you’re gifting this to someone you know loves beauty but you don’t know what they need. And it’s also great to repackage and take some of the things you love out and gift the rest (I won’t tell). And you also get a cute little pouch with it!

  • Sephora Favorites Fruits & Flowers Travel Spray Perfume Discovery Set ($35 for $57 value)

    • Why: First off, you need to know that this comes with a voucher redeemable for a travel size (10 or 15 ml) fragrance. So you get your little 2 ml sample guys but you also get to choose a more substantial-sized one of the fragrance you enjoyed. I chose this set because it has a great set of brands: Commodity, DedCool (which I am going to use my voucher on), Ellis Brooklyn, Jo Malone, Kayali, and more. And I’ve recently only been allowing myself to purchase the travel size fragrances because I cannot commit to a larger size. I’m just a little disappointed there is no Sephora Favorites kit for the candles. Those used to be such a good deal!

  • Living Proof Mini Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo ($18, 2.4 oz)

    • Why: The way this dry shampoo smells is so nostalgic for me because I’ve used it for so long. And yes, the newer Ouai ones are also amazing, but I just can’t get over how good the Living Proof one performs. It cleans, it gives volume, it texturizes. And it’s the perfect product for traveling and not having access/time to do a whole hair wash routine and also for the lazy days at home when you don’t want to do all of that.

  • Total (after 20% discount): $98

Reminder: Buying Directly from Brands Can Be Cheaper

Every year, I’m hit with the conundrum of should I purchase this at Sephora or buy it on the brand’s DTC page. And it’s a complicated question only you can answer.

Why buying from DTC is better than Sephora

I’ve seen brand websites have even better discounts than the Sephora sale (25-50% off). I’ve also seen them run promotions for full-size products as free gifts with purchase.

And yes, I’ve fully fallen for these promotions because the price or value is too good to pass up. I’ve gotten a full Necessaire body serum for just buying 2 body washes. That’s a great deal, especially when it’s something you use frequently.

To be transparent, most of the promotions include little mini size gifts with purchase, so don’t get your hopes too high up. But as an example, I’ve spent around $100 at Summer Fridays and came out with a 3-piece deluxe sample set, 2 sample sachets, and 3 more deluxe samples. And that’s in addition to the discounts they have on the actual products I paid for.

Because the brand doesn’t have to pay the “Sephora tax,” they’re more incentivized to give a steeper discount or a better gift with purchase when you buy directly from them either in store or online.

Why buying from Sephora is better than DTC

The biggest benefit of buying from Sephora lies in the loyalty structure. If you’re gung-ho about reaching Sephora Rouge, the only way to get there is spending your money at Sephora. Each purchase you make at a brand’s website does not count towards your Sephora status (or Ulta status, for that matter).

Sephora often has more sample size or mini products for sale than the brand’s websites do. And that’s a combination of having the Sephora Favorites sets for sale at Sephora but also there are more of those freebies in the Sephora rewards bazaar, should you choose to use them. But like I mentioned before, the brand websites can have better gifts with purchase (either full size or minis in sets).

Also, the Sephora sale happens before Black Friday (when you’ll see the best deals at the brand websites). That means if you’re risk averse and want to go with something that you know for sure, the Sephora sale would make more sense than hedging your bets the brand will have a solid promotion.

What to Spend $100 on at the Sephora Sale

Whether you’re looking to spend the money on yourself or as a gift, there’s a little something in this guide for everyone. And every dollar that you spend at Sephora helps get you closer to the Rouge status so that you can maintain the 20% off at next year’s sale or any of the other benefits.

Sephora Favorites kits are typically my go-tos when it comes to this sale because they have a mix of full-size and mini-size products at a steep discount. And sometimes (like with fragrances), they come with a voucher for a full size one.

And last but not least, don’t feel pressured to buy anything at the Sephora Sale. I use it as a technique to save money, but I plan my yearly purchases around this specific sale. And don’t forget that Sephora has consistently had a 20% off sale a few weeks after the fall Sephora sale… And everyone gets 20% off one transaction. And that’s kind of sus, since VIB and Beauty Insiders only get 15% and 10% off during the Sephora sale, respectively.

So do with all of that information what you will. Happy shopping!

Skincare List ($97 total):

Makeup List ($100 total):

Everybody List ($98 total):




Thanks for reading!

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