Beauty Haul {Part 1}: Sephora

Clockwise from top left:
Sephora by OPI 'Only Gold For Me' Top Coat - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Flurry Up' Top Coat - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Seeing Pink Elephants' Nail Polish - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Leotard Optional' Nail Polish - $9.50
Tarte Amazonian Clay 'Blissful' Blush - $25.00
Tarte 'EmphasEYES' Inner Rim Brightener - $18.00
Urban Decay 'Eden' Eyeshadow Primer Potion - $19.00

I mentioned in this post that I had a gift card for Sephora and finally placed an order last week. The gift card was valued at $100 and I earned it by redeeming some credit card points that I had been saving for several months. Buying + furnishing a new home = major credit card points lately. (Just make sure you never charge more than what you can pay off each month!)

Anyhoo, these are the items that I settled on when placing my order. My total came to exactly $100 by coincidence and so the only cost to me was $8.45 in sales tax. The thing I love about using gift cards is I'm more likely to try some new products versus just stocking up on my regulars. I am especially excited to try the Tarte blush. I've had my eye on it for months!

I also got several freebies with my order as well. First, every online order at Sephora comes with 3 free samples. I chose a perfume sample of 'Stella' by Tocca (love!), Perfekt 'Blushed' Cheek Perfection Gel, and Smashbox Photo Finish 'Targeted Pore & Line' Primer.

Next, I had enough points in my 'Beauty Bank' for a free deluxe sample and chose a .14 oz sample of the new Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara.

And last but certainly not least, I received a free full sized 8.5 fl oz bottle of both the Ojon 'Damage Reverse' Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner using a coupon code that I received via email. Because these truly are full sized bottles (valued at $24 for the shampoo and $25 for the conditioner), this may be one of the best freebies I've ever received from Sephora!

I try to stretch gift cards as far as I can whenever I have them. My original plan was to hold onto it until the next 'Friends & Family' or 15-20% off type of sale but I got sucked in by the shampoo/conditioner offer and I don't regret it! I like to swim laps at a nearby pool during my lunch hour so this will help keep my hair from getting too damaged from all of the chlorine and chemicals.

Here are some tips for shopping at Sephora:

• Order online to receive 3 free samples. The samples change often and there are generally about a dozen to choose from. Plus, shipping is free once you hit the $50 minimum. I hate paying for shipping so I use it as an opportunity to stock up on things I use regularly.
• Check the 'Weekly Specials' page for additional free samples (coupon code required) and special promotions. Most of these apply to online orders only. Just be aware that Sephora only allows 1 coupon code per order so choose wisely!
• Become a 'Beauty Insider' to earn points for shopping. You can have your card scanned for in-store purchases and/or create an online account. Every $1 spent at Sephora earns you 1 point. Once you've earned 100 points you can redeem for a deluxe product sample or keep saving until you reach 500 points and receive a limited edition product for free. Plus, you'll receive a free birthday gift each year and be notified of sales/special promotions regularly via email.
• Become a 'VIB' (Very Important Beauty Insider) to earn even more benefits for shopping such as a 10% welcome offer, exclusive gifts, invites to special events, and access to not-yet-released products. There's a catch though - you must spend at least $350 at Sephora in a calendar year to qualify and you must re-qualify each year.

If you can resist the urge for instant gratification I think ordering online is worth the wait. I definitely don't get free samples as often when I shop in-store. If you're a little nervous about buying online or thinking about purchasing some new products it's always a good idea to browse a nearby store first so that you can see, touch, and test the products you're thinking of ordering.