SEPHORA LOYALTY REWARDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS - DEC 2015

Sephora Loyalty Rewards are finally arriving so start checking the mailbox and/or your email! The loyalty rewards are redeemable starting today, Dec 2nd and consist of $25 off purchase of $50 for VIB Rouge, $20 off purchase of $50 for VIB and $15 off purchase of $50 for BI (Beauty Insiders). The loyalty reward is good for a one-time use and doesn't expire until Dec 13th for BI and Dec 14th for VIB Rouge and VIBs (they're given an extra day to redeem theirs).

Here is a roundup of several beauty recommendations to use with your loyalty reward and a few items I am considering purchasing as well.

My latest makeup brand obsession is Burberry; especially their wet / dry silk shadows. I recently purchased three and am currently testing them. So far they have exceeded my expectations. These shadows have a silky texture and are incredibly soft to the touch. There are a total of eighteen to choose from and I am eager to purchase more. If you plan on purchasing any of these I recommend you do so now as they tend to sell out rather quickly.

For those that crave a subtle eye look I highly recommend the Lancome Auda(City) in Paris eyeshadow palette. The color selection in this palette is not over the top or super bright. It is more of a subtle wash of neutrals with a slight punch of color. This highly underrated palette houses sixteen gorgeous shadows with amazing staying power. See my full review and swatches here for reference.

A few lip products I have been dying to try are the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro lip colors. They are a matte lip stain with a velvety soft texture. These are quite popular and over half the colors tend to stay sold out. I am most interested in trying 507, a mauve rosy pink and 508, a pink nude. Hopefully Sephora will restock these before the loyalty rewards end.

This next item launches on the Too Faced website Dec 8th, the Chocolate Bon Bons eyeshadow palette. The palette IS available online at Sephora during their loyalty rewards period. I have the original Too Face Chocolate Bar palette and it contains a mixture of warm and cool toned eyeshadows. While this new palette is rumored to be all cool toned shades. I've seen a few online swatches on Instagram and it seems to house quite a few pink shades.

My last two recommendations are the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette and the Marc Jacobs The Sofia Five Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Creme Collection. The first item, the UD eyeshadow palette, is limited-edition so I would purchase this now as it will definitely sell out. The palette itself was created and developed with Gwen Stefani. It houses 15 of her must-have shades with the majority of the palette being somewhat neutral. The Marc Jacobs Sofia lipstick collection is available in store at Sephora and consists of five gorgeous mini Marc Jacobs lipsticks. I own several of his lipsticks and this is such a great value for your money!

UPCOMING SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT - AUG 3rd, 2014

Start making those shopping lists! Sephora is hosting a special 2 hour VIB Rouge event this Sunday, August 3rd, 2014. Shop during the closed-door party or if you can't make the event then shop anytime from Aug 3rd to Aug 10th to earn 4 times the beauty points. Not a VIB Rouge member? No worries, during this week-long event VIB insiders will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double the points. 

VIB Rouge Members please be sure to RSVP for the VIB Rouge event by Aug 1st and check with your local Sephora store because they will have different times for the event depending on their specific location.

Here is the RSVP link: SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT RSVP

For those VIB Rouge members attending this exclusive event, a special makeup bag full of samples will be available for those making a $35 or more purchase. This kinda sucks that we have to make a purchase just to receive the makeup bag. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate Sephora hosting a VIB Rouge event and I know I will rack up a ton of points - but seriously? We have already spent well over 1K to become VIB Rouge members and now we have to make a $35 purchase just to get the makeup bag. It just seems a bit extreme is all I'm saying. Anyway, keep reading for the disclosures below.

DISCLOSURES (fine print)

*Select Sephora stores will have different hours; only select Sephora inside JCPenney stores will have closed-door shopping events. Check this site for participating stores and exact times. Sephora locations in Canada will be holding this event on Wednesday August 6th from 7-9pm. Click here to RSVP to a location in Canada.

**Qualified VIB Rouge will earn quadruple points, VIBs will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double points on merchandise purchases made Sunday August 3, 2014 thru Sunday August 10, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.Bonus points will be automatically credited to your BI Accounts the same day of purchase. Points not earned on sales tax, shipping, Sephora gift cards, eGift certificates and prior purchases. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.

† Sephora Cosmetic Bag with samples and Rouge Tote Bag are only available in Sephora stores during the VIB Rouge Reception with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more. Limit of one of each offer per VIB Rouge client, non-transferable. Guests of VIB Rouge that are Beauty insiders are also eligible to redeem the Sephora Makeup Bag with samples with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more, limit one per client. Valid while supplies last, quantities are limited, sample bag assortment may vary. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates and gift cards. Sephora employees are not eligible for offers. No returns or exchanges. These offers are subject to change, alteration or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

AZALEA SMASHBOX BE LEGENDARY LIP GLOSS - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

One of the items I purchased online during the Sephora 15% off discount period was the Smashbox Be Legendary lip gloss in Azalea. It is a brightened pink fuschia gloss that is non-sticky and applies easily. The gloss kept its shine and color with a wear time of about five hours before I needed to reapply. When you first apply the gloss it may look more sheer but within a matter of minutes the color pigments in the gloss really intensify the wash of color on the lips. 

The Azalea gloss currently retails for $20.00 USD and contains .20 fl oz. of product. There are a total of sixteen glosses to choose from and they are all available on the Smashbox website and online at Sephora. When I went to Sephora at the Northlake mall on Saturday they hadn't received the glosses in store yet. So for now you may want to purchase these online but I do expect them to pop up in store at Sephora within the next few weeks.

SEPHORA 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODES - LET'S GET SHOPPING!

Sephora is offering all beauty members 15% off your entire purchase (in store and online) and it can be used multiple times! Please see below for the specific dates and codes pertaining to your particular beauty level.

If you are a BI (Beauty Insider) then starting April 4th use code: TICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 10th.

If you are a VIB (Very Important Beauty) then starting April 3rd use code: VIBTICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 11th.

If you are a VIB Rouge (Very Important Beauty Rouge) then starting Mar 30th use code: ROUGETICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 11th.

HELPFUL TIPS / WISHLIST: 2013 SEPHORA 20% VIB HOLIDAY EVENT

HELPFUL TIPS:

The first day of any Sephora 20% VIB event is always crazy; especially when it is around the holidays. Folks stock up on their everyday staples while others start shopping for gifts. Whichever category you fall under there is always a sense of urgency with these types of sales. If you are contemplating a gift set for a special someone my best advice is to buy now and return later. YES, I'm serious.

The really cute and affordable gift sets ($30.00 or less) are the first to sell out quickly (typically within the first 24 hours). Next are the mid-range sets (over $30.00 but less than $55) these include fragrance sets as well. Those will be the next to go. Finally, the higher end sets usually sell out by the end of the event. Typically to those who procrastinated and now don't want to get caught around the holidays without a gift for someone.

So if you are undecided, just buy it - you can regret it later! Keep in mind Sephora does have an excellent return policy if you do need to return anything.

WISHLIST:

1. MAKEUP BRUSHES: On my Sephora wishlist I have several different brands of makeup brushes that I would like to try out - think Sephora Prestige Sets, Marc Jacobs, MUFE, etc. 
2. PERFUME: I love the fragrance samplers! These gifts sets are a great way to try out a variety of fragrances without spending a fortune for just one tiny bottle.
3. LIPGLOSSES: I don't have a particular brand in mind but I typically purchase from a brand that I have never used before. If I end up liking the brand / formula then I will add it to my Christmas list.
4. GIFT SETS: YEP, I'm a sucker for those bundled gift sets. Especially the sets with a variety of makeup / skincare products - those are AWESOME. I can try a multitude of items without breaking my wallet! Then if I fall in love with something I can always purchase a full size later.
5. SALE ITEMS: This year in September I qualified for VIB Rouge status so trying to spend $50 for free shipping doesn't apply now. However, in year's past, I would peruse the sale items ($15.00 or less) to try and boost my total purchases over the $50 free shipping threshold. Surprisingly you can find some really great items!   

So, tell me what do you have on your wishlist for the Sephora VIB Event? Any "MUST HAVE" items?

Starting TODAY, Thursday, November 7th through Monday, November 11th, Sephora is hosting a 20% VIB HOLIDAY EVENT for all VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) members. This will be a five day 20% off online and in store celebration and all you do is simply enter the code: VIBTOPIA at checkout when shopping online. For in store purchases just simply present your voucher or a printout of the e-mail from Sephora at the register during checkout.

**Some Sephora stores will allow the use of smartphones to display the barcode in lieu of the paper printout.

SEPHORA DISCLOSURES

* 20% off promotion valid for Sephora VIB's on November 7-11, 2013 11:59pm PST. To redeem online: Use promo code VIBTOPIA when prompted at checkout. To redeem in stores: Present this voucher at the register. VIB friend offer is only valid on a single purchase and is limited to one friend per VIB. To redeem in stores: VIB friend must be with a registered VIB. To redeem online: VIB friend will be sent a unique, one-time use promo code. Offers not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates or of gift cards. Valid in Sephora stores and online. May not be combined with any other offers, be sold or otherwise transferred. Coupon has no cash value and may not be altered. These offers are subject to change, alteration or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time. Cannot be combined with employee offers or discounts. Learn more about the VIB program at any Sephora store or online at Sephora.com/VIB.

** Free Sephora Limited-Edition Tote (15"x12"x4.5") valid in stores or online with any merchandise purchase while supplies last. Must be a VIB to redeem.
Not valid on previous purchases or purchases of gift cards. May not be combined with any other offers or employee discounts. Coupon has no cash value and may not be altered. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

† Online and in stores. While Supplies last. Quantities of each reward are limited, sample substitutions may occur. Offers are valid with 100 Beauty Insider points or 250 Beauty Insider points in stores and online with a purchase. Non-transferable. Must be a registered Beauty Insider to redeem offer. No returns or exchanges.

2013 SEPHORA LOVES V.I.B.s - 20% off GIFTOPIA CELEBRATION (Nov 7th - Nov 11th)

Starting Thursday, November 7th through Monday, November 11th, Sephora is hosting a "GIFTOPIA" celebration for all VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) members. This will be a five day 20% off online and in store celebration. Simply enter the code: VIBTOPIA at checkout when shopping online. For in store purchases just simply present your voucher at the register during checkout.

SEPHORA VIB ROUGE STATUS

NEW! Spend a $1,000 in a calendar year to qualify for Sephora's new VIB ROUGE status.

When I first heard about this concept of a VIB Rouge membership from my local Sephora I was really skeptical and thought for sure it was just a rumor. Then I saw on Twitter today, several people discussing this same thing. So I contacted a Sephora customer service rep and asked about the program. At first the Rep denied any knowledge of the program. When I pressed even further by offering up details she relented and stated that there is indeed such a program in the works.

Just last week Sephora's Marketing department notified their Customer Service department about this new marketing ploy - VIB Rouge. The concept behind VIB Rouge is to encourage consumers to spend even more than the $350 threshold that is required for the regular VIB status. With VIB Rouge, if you spend at least a $1,000 or more in a calendar year you will receive all the perks of the regular VIB status, unlimited access to the beauty studio, free shipping on ALL orders, exclusive invites to Rouge Events, and special surprise gifts.

Personally, I think this is a smart move on Sephora's part. This year I had managed to attain VIB Beauty status by April (read my post here) and I had stopped spending at Sephora. Instead, I had focused my efforts (and money) on Sephora's competitors beauty rewards programs. However, now I can redouble my efforts to try and attain VIB Rouge status at Sephora. So far this year I have spent about $641 so I still have a way to go but I'm pretty confident that I will be able to attain it. Even if I only qualify for one year it would still be nice to experience this status just to see what it is all about.

Read more about this new status here: SEPHORA VIB ROUGE

SEPHORA BEAUTY INSIDER CHIC WEEK EVENT - (VIB starts APR 11th) APR 12th to APR 22nd, 2013

Every year Sephora gives back to their Beauty Insider members with a 15% off event and this year it starts April 12th. For those who are VIB's (Very Important Beauty Insiders) you get to start shopping a day early - April 11th.

The VIB festivities usually start around 6PM on Thursday and typically wrap up around 8PM later that night. Although my Northlake Mall location has been known to keep the party going until well past closing time depending on the turnout. 

Normally I don't make VIB status for the next year (2014) until much later in the current year (2013) and it's around October / November time frame. However this year I have been on a hot-streak (shopping spree extravaganza) and I have already managed to rack up enough dollars / points to cover me for VIB status through 2014. Now, if only I could use the rest of my dollars / points to earn VIB status for 2015 I would have it made! LOL

Anyway, I already have a shopping list of items that I really, really want. A few of those items are makeup brushes, skincare products, and maybe an eyeshadow palette or two...maybe three.... I might get a couple of the higher end nailpolishes as well. It all depends on what is available and if I can fit it all in my budget.

To see the details (the rules and regulations) continue reading below...

SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH - CHIC WEEK 15% OFF EARLY ACCESS STORE EVENT*

You're invited to an exclusive VIB in-store event to celebrate Sephora's Chic Week. Bring a friend and share your savings, get makeovers, take home free samples, and more.**

* Online, use promo code VIBCHIC. VALID APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 22, 2013, AT 11:59 PM PDT for VIBs only. May be used in Sephora stores and sephora.com on any merchandise purchase. Offer not valid online in Canadian checkout. Offer limited to Sephora VIBs only. Voucher must be presented at time of redemption when used in store. No minimum purchase required. May not be combined with any other promotions or employee discounts. Not valid on previous purchases or purchases of gift cards. May not be sold or otherwise transferred. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Not responsible for lost or stolen promotion codes. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time. Not valid for Sephora employees. Learn more about the Beauty Insider program at any Sephora store or online at Sephora.com/VIB.

** Select stores will have different hours; check your local store for exact times. Free tote and sample gift bag valid only during the in-store event on Thursday, April 11, 2013 or while supplies last, with any merchandise purchase. Sample bag contains one-time use samples from Algenist, Shiseido, Ole Henriksen, NUDE skincare, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Bumble and bumble, Smashbox, Josie Maran and D&G or Gucci. Must be a VIB to redeem. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of gift cards. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.