Ah, Sephora – the hallowed halls of beauty heaven. Wall-to-wall lipsticks, lotions, and luminisers… what’s not to love? And don’t even get us started on the feeling we get when we receive a black-and-white box with the Sephora logo on it.
The retail giant carries some of the biggest names in beauty, but how much do you know about their bestsellers? And how many of them have you actually tried?
Well, to see if the claims of their top eight bestsellers really hold water, the Daily Vanity team put them to the test and share our honest opinions.
Skincare
Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum
Packed with 97% natural ingredients, this serum boasts a powerful blend of vitamin C, E, and natural peptides that work together to hydrate, brighten, and tone the skin.
It promises an instant boost in hydration and radiance with just one application, granting you a supple and smooth complexion, but does it actually live up to its claims?
“I was surprised and impressed to find that the Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum worked quickly to hydrate my skin! I’ve been seeing dry patches of skin at my cheeks and around my nose, but after applying the serum, the dryness improved overnight,” writer Zile raves.
“My skin also felt a lot softer and looked slightly more radiant. The serum feels sticky on the skin at first, but once I let it dry and apply moisturiser over, I have no complaints about the texture. I’ll be keeping this one in my skincare routine.”
Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum retails for S$31 (30ml) and S$43 (50ml) at Sephora.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Drawing inspiration from Queen Isabelle of Hungary’s renowned elixir of youth, this mist provides an instant burst of radiance while tightening the appearance of pores.
Loved by A-list celebrities and makeup artists all over the world, Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir doubles as a primer and setting spray between layers of makeup, leaving you with a long-lasting and smooth finish.
Crafted with a blend of essential oils and plant extracts, the Beauty Elixir clarifies and brightens the complexion, leaving you with a healthy, glowing appearance.
“This toner refreshes skin instantly and feels very nourishing. I feel that it hydrates my skin and I especially love using it as a mid-day perk-me-up,” editorial director Kristen says.
“However, it also has a rather strong smell of essential oils that I suspect some may love while others hate. It also leaves a cooling sensation that’s similar to menthol – probably because of the peppermint oil in its formula – which once again, I think will divide the crowd,” she lets on.
“My take? You’ll love it if you can get over or even enjoy the smell and sensation because of how nourishing this is. But I don’t see myself reaching out for it very often because I stand at the other side of the fence.”
Caudalie Beauty Elixir retails for S$27 (30ml) and S$75 (100ml) at Sephora.
Tatcha The Water Cream
The star of this oil-free, anti-ageing cream is its unique blend of Japanese wild rose and Japanese leopard lily, which help to balance your skin and make pores appear smaller.
It’s also infused with Uji green tea, Okinawa red algae, and Akita rice to hydrate and brighten the complexion. This multi-tasking moisturiser not only hydrates the skin, but also helps to protect it from environmental stressors and improve its overall appearance.
I like how luxurious yet lightweight this moisturiser feels. It hydrates my parched, sensitive skin without leaving it feeling greasy. All I’m left with is a subtle, healthy glow that isn’t heavy on the skin. It plumps up my skin, which is always a bonus.
After two weeks, my skin felt bouncier and more balanced. However, I didn’t observe a difference in terms of brightening.
Tatcha The Water Cream retails for S$120 (50ml) at Sephora.
Makeup
KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Liquid Eyeliner in Trooper
A quick search on the best liquid eyeliners would no doubt lead you to KVD Beauty’s bestselling Tattoo Liquid Liner.
Inspired by tattoo artistry, this award-winning, waterproof liquid liner boasts a pigmented vegan formula that’s resistant to smudges.
“I love how the pen allows me to make precise and fine lines, which makes this eyeliner easy to use, probably even for makeup beginners,” Kristen praises.
“I also like the dark and bold pigment and how it stays intact for the entire day, even on my oily eyelids. The formula is also waterproof yet easy to remove with a good makeup remover.”
KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Liquid Eyeliner in Trooper retails for S$36 at Sephora.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Rihanna created the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer to be the perfect gloss that you want to keep putting on, and she may have succeeded in doing so.
Gloss Bomb has an extra-large wand that gives your pout a fuller and smoother look in one swipe. It has shea butter to condition your lips too. The formula is super shiny, non-sticky, and has a peach-vanilla scent that’s addictive.
“It is not as sticky or tacky as I expected the lip gloss to be, and it glides on so smoothly and evenly. It leaves my lips looking fuller and smoother instantly, and it does not make my lips feel dry as the day continues,” said social media designer Swee Qi.
“I love the juicy, high-shine finish and it works well on its own and over any lipstick shade.”
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer retails for S$35 at Sephora.
Beautyblender® Original Blender
We’re no strangers to the original pink Beautyblender makeup sponge. Created by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva in 2003, the sponge has since become a popular tool among makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts alike.
The unique shape of the sponge lets me get into hard-to-reach areas, such as the sides of my nose and right under my eyes. Plus, it deposits the right amount of product on my skin for a smooth, even finish.
I’ve been using it to apply concealer almost daily for the past two weeks, and gently patting the sponge on my face allows me to blend out the product seamlessly without any unsightly streaks. Pinpoint concealing to hide my blemishes has never been easier too.
However, each time I wash the sponge, the water rinses pink, which can be quite alarming to some. And while it hasn’t caused any skin irritation, the dye could be triggering for sensitive skin types.
Beautyblender® Original Blender retails for S$32 at Sephora.
Haircare
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector Treatment
Did you know that our hair’s structure features millions of disulfide bonds between the proteins that comprise our strands, giving them strength and elasticity?
The bestselling Olaplex No. 3 contains the brand’s patented bond-building ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which penetrates the hair and rebuilds those damaged bonds, granting you tresses that look and feel healthier.
“My hair feels smoother after using this product, and I noticed less hair fall after showering or combing,” social media designer Swee Qi mentions. “My hair is more manageable now and doesn’t get tangled as easily.”
“However, I found the whole routine a bit of a hassle. My hair had to be towel-dried first before I could apply the product. Then, I’d have to wait around 15 minutes before washing and conditioning my hair.”
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector Treatment retails for S$51 (100ml) at Sephora.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
This popular hair mask is designed to nourish and strengthen damaged, dry, and brittle hair. Made with a blend of natural and organic ingredients, such as rosehip oil, algae extract, argan oil, and keratin, it works to restore the health and vitality of your hair.
It also strengthens every strand and boosts shine and silkiness, so you’ll see and feel the difference from the very first use – perfect for dry, brittle, coloured, or over-processed hair.
“The Briogeo Don’t Despair Deep Conditioning Mask has a light texture and smells a little coconutty,” writer Zile commented.
“Over two weeks, it did help to maintain my hair’s softness and shine, but the results are a tad less impressive than other conditioning products I’ve used.”
“Verdict? It does work to nourish, condition, and soften the hair! However, I prefer a product that’s easier to adopt into my haircare routine.”
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask retails for S$26 (59ml), S$68 (236ml), and S$209 (946ml) at Sephora.
