4 Beauty Writers Go Shopping at Sephora—Here’s What They Bought

When it comes to finding the latest and greatest beauty products, Sephora is our one stop shop. From the rows and rows of makeup to the gorgeously displayed skin care products, our beauty editors consider it paradise. We recently stopped by the beauty mecca to pick up some must-try products for summer. See what we bought, ahead.

JACKIE

“I think I speak for all ladies when I say a trip to Sephora is akin to a trip to heaven. With some of the best beauty products in the biz lining the shelves, it’s easy to spend hours on end—and an entire paycheck—in the store. When I head in I usually have one product in mind that I need—a new beauty blending sponge, a face mask, a foundation because mine ran out, you get the idea—but, by the time I’m through checkout I typically have a full on beauty haul in tow. On my last trip I left Sephora with the following goodies. I went in with the intention of just getting a YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-in-Stick Lipstick—my go-to is 44 Nude Lavalliere a gorgeous pinkish brown that is universally flattering. But, after snagging the lipstick, the It! Cosmetics section caught my eye. I’ve been dying to try a cleansing balm after writing about them for Skincare.com and It! Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm has some seriously rave reviews. It’s a cleanser, makeup remover, and anti-aging serum in one and I have to say I’m obsessed! My last purchase was Lancome’s Visionnaire Crescendo Progressive Night Peel. After we reviewed this 28-night peel on I knew I had to try it for myself.”

KATE

“Heading into Sephora, summer skincare was my mind. I was looking for a complexion-enhancing serum and an illuminating under-eye product light enough to wear through New York City's unbearable humidity. After browsing through a few rows, I was drawn to Lancome's DreamTone Ultimate Dark Spot Corrector— a serum that can target the look of dark spots and discoloration. I've been noticing a few sun spots on my face, and these harsh summer rays are only making them more visible.

Next on my list was an easy-to-use illuminator. Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen with star packaging caught my eye for obvious reasons, and I've heard so many amazing things about this product that I figured it was time to give it a try. This product isn't a concealer but can work in a similar way— it's filled with light-reflecting pigments that help give the appearance of radiant, fatigue-free skin. During the hot summer months, I love switching out my heavier concealers and foundations for lightweight, illuminating products. Touche Eclat was just what I was looking for.”

JESSIE

“I consider browsing the aisles of Sephora my weekly (okay, bi-weekly) cardio. With so many products to choose from, the beauty store is every girl’s dream come true and I can’t help but walk up and down the endless rows of makeup and skin care spritzing and swatching every product that catches my eye. On this trip to Sephora, I was on a mission to find some skin care-inspired makeup items for summer. The first item I picked up was IT! Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+Illumination Cream with SPF 50+. I have been on the hunt for a CC cream with skin care benefits and it looks like I may have found it with this one. In addition to the gorgeous, millennial pink packaging (so sparkly!) and the promising name, I was drawn to this full-coverage, color-correcting CC cream for it’s radiance-enhancing technology and broad spectrum SPF 50+. While I never apply makeup without my trusty physical sunscreen, it doesn’t hurt to double up on protection… especially in summer!

Next up:IT! Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment. No matter the season, I am always in need of a lip emollient that can hydrate my pout and I chose this one from IT Cosmetics because it also offers a natural-looking flush color—perfect for my no-makeup makeup days (i.e. every day). Once I had my skin care-inspired beauty finds taken care of, the last thing on my list was a cooling setting spray that can lock my beauty looks in place during the dog days of summer. I went with Urban Decay’s Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray because it has a weightless, moisture-resistant formula with a cooling time-release… exactly what I need to beat the heat!”

JESSICA

“Like a true beauty lover, I know the aisles of my local Sephora like the back of my hand. (Don’t judge me.) But even though I’m a seasoned pro at navigating through the seemingly endless supply of beauty goodies stocked on the shelves at Sephora, each trip to the beauty mecca starts with the intention of being “quick” but can easily last over an hour. Whether I’m discovering a new product or reaching for one that’s tried-and-true, time always seems to get away from me. Like they say, time flies when you’re having fun.

During my most recent trip, I headed straight for the Urban Decay section to stock up on their Urban Defense Complexion Primer Broad Spectrum 30. The hydrating gel formula is one my all-time favorite primers to not only protect my skin with Broad Spectrum sunscreen, but also provide a longer lasting hold to my makeup. Especially in the summer when the mix of sweat, heat, and humidity can do a number on my painstakingly-applied makeup, I like to prep my skin with primer beforehand and follow up with a setting spray afterwards…which brings me to my next purchase. While still convenient located in the Urban Decay section, I then snagged a bottle of the brand’s All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. The weightless mist helps keep foundation, concealer, eyeshadow—you get the idea—in place for a makeup look that lasts all day without melting, cracking, or settling into fine lines. Before heading to checkout, I made a quick stop by the Lancôme aisle to grab one of my favorite moisturizers, Lancôme Bienfait Multi-Vital Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I recently ran out and couldn’t wait to restock!”