Sephora Guide

February 19, 2016

During a trip to the bay area a few years ago, I popped into the Sephora on Powell street and became fast friends with a vivacious store employee named Katie, who was finishing up a biomedical degree program. Despite working at a store where pretty much no ingredient was verboten, she was vehemently anti paraben or any suspect ingredients. That, along with her science background and obsession with good, effective cosmetics made her my Sephora guru. She even wrote out a list for me of ingredients to watch out for under the title "Hell no!" We continued an email correspondence for some time afterwards, and I'm grateful to have benefited from her expertise.

For those without a personal Sephora sherpa, I'm happy to be your guide. Below are the best options from the iconic beauty mecca:

NuFACEWhite Rose Mini Facial Toning Device — NuFACE
White Rose Mini Facial Toning Device

Herbivore Lapis Oil Balancing Facial Oil

Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex

Sunday RileyJuno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil — Sunday Riley
Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Candy Shop

LAVANILAFresh Vanilla Lemon Fragrance — LAVANILA
Fresh Vanilla Lemon Fragrance

TweezermanPink Perfection Pointed Slant Tweezer — Tweezerman
Pink Perfection Pointed Slant Tweezer

Clarisonic Mia3 Sonic Skin Cleansing System

NUDE Skincare Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers

Colorescience Loose Mineral Sunscreen Brush Broad Spectrum SPF 50

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I've tried a few clean lash serums and two weeks in, this bottle ($19) has been the best by far. Applied with a lash spoolie, my lashes are softer, fluffier, and less apt to break from curling. While I don't necessarily believe it creates new lash growth, it definitely boosts the lashes you have. I am realizing how brittle and stumpy my lashes were from overenthusiastic curling and dry, crunchy mascaras that hold the curl We condition our hair, why not our lashes?

These days, my self-care has been all practicality. Enter another one of those does-it-all products: cleanser, moisturizer, cheekbone gleamer and body oil.

What all lip balms should look, taste and feel like. This one is courtesy of @livinglibations

It smells like honey, gives pretty, polished lashes, but ultimately flaked on me by the afternoon. I so wanted to love this, but it's sadly not a repeat buy for me.

Signal boosting my favorite clean beauty discovery of the year so far. @josephinecosmetics from makeup artist + entrepreneur Sholayide Otugalu (shown in last photo) makes the BEST liquid eyeliner I've found. Will post on that later. For now, check out her luxe, solidly formulated line. And please, stockists, add @josephinecosmetics to the list of brands to consider carrying.

Made body scrub with the little ones. Expired ground coffee, cardamom, cloves, along with almond oil, and a few drops of vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils. One could add sugar or sea salt as well, but a great way to utilize expired pantry items. Thrifty as it was, this kitchen sink project smelled divine.

Swatches of @kosas liquid eyeshadows. Unique formula dries to a powder, and does a decent job of locking in. The flamboyant colors, however, take some time and skill.

Gucci Westman came out with a mascara and I was thrilled to try a sample. Its a maximum volume kind of mascara, holds a curl better than most, but by afternoon, I have a smattering of flakes beneath my eyes. I so wanted to love it, but at $62 a pop, I'm somewhat relieved I don't.

@hereticparfum continually satisfies my thirst for luxe, unusual scents. This duo doesn't disappoint, and bonus: it's on sale at @credobeauty . i Pretty is a polished, fizzy citrus. Somehow ladylike and unisex simultaneously. And Dirty is just pure sex. Think Thierry Mugler Angel without all the candy notes.