[Sephora VIB Sale] Time to grab my most Coveted Beauty Essentials

I've been waiting all year for this.  It's time for the annual Sephora VIB event. Once a year, Sephora rewards admitted beauty junkies (who've met their yearly spending requirement) by offering 20% discount on everything in their inventory.  Unlike Ulta Beauty, Sephora doesn't exclude any items from this 20% off event.  So it's essentially a free for all for every beauty item you've ever wanted.

The minute I received notification of the event, I rubbed my hands together and began compiling a list of my absolute must-haves.  I've made several beauty purchases in the past few months so my lust list isn't as long as it could be. Especially since I have a couple of pricey items on my radar.  But with 20% off, now is the time to go big and save on high-end items that I've always wanted to try.

Aqua Gel Mist // With winter on the horizon, I'm preparing the strategies to keep my skin moist despite the dry air.  The most obvious solution is to mist regularly with a facial spray.  I thought I knew everything I needed to know about facial mists until I learned there's such a thing as "gel facial mists."  Apparently, gel-based mists have the ability to keep the skin hydrated for longer periods of time.  The thicker consistency prevents the water from evaporating too quickly which is what we all want.   I scrolled down the list of the countless facial mists available on Sephora and Aqua Gel Mist was one of the higher rated items so I need to try it for myself.

Sunday Riley Power Couple Duo // Honestly, I've been waiting the entire year to finally get my hands on Sunday Riley's Good Genes.  It's been on my wish list for way too long.  Last week, while in New York, I popped into a local Sephora and, to my surprise, a representative from Sunday Riley was on site to answer questions.  He explained that Good Genes uses a lactic acid that is formulated to retain it's low pH level. Other acid based products, he claims, are a lower grade and lose their potency during formulation.  Their proprietary process is what creates a product with the ability to refine our skin like never before.  Everyone keeps talking about the amazing wonders of Good Genes serum.  Can't wait to finally try it.

Dyson Hair Dryer // Ok so, you might remember when I talked about the upcoming release of the Dyson hair dryer.  Well, it's finally here and available to us at 20% off retail prices.  At $400.00 per unit, this hair dryer is quite an investment.  I've been paying close attention to online reviews from early adopters and, for the most part, people are very happy with their purchase.  Out of 145 reviews on Sephora, the Dyson Dryer has received 113 five star ratings.  I keep reading about how drying times are drastically reduced.  If that wasn't enough, reviewers keep raving about how healthy their hair looks after using this dryer.

Ah-mazing

-11.01.16

 This blowdryer is stupid expensive. There, I said it.

HOWEVER, I've never used anything like it. My hair is always thicker, straighter and shinier than I've ever seen it!

I couldn't talk myself into returning it, even though the price is ridiculous.

Rolls Royce of Blowdryers

-11.01.16

Look no further...your blowdryer is right here! I took this bad boy for a test drive tonight on my naturally curly hair, and it was love at first sight! It's the first time I have been able to diffuse my curls, and have them be beautifully frizz free! MY curls are beautiful, spiral, ringlets like I have never seen before! Not to mention it's also stunningly shiny! The price is a bit hefty but as a professional stylist it is definitely an investment, and worth every penny...based off this first use. Well done Dyson.

amazing investment

-10.13.16

I've never written a review for any 'beauty' product in my life, but this dyson dryer is totally worth the time. I have THICK WAVY/KINKY hair and I just used it....amazing. It generally takes me about an hour and 10-15 mins to get my hair straight and dry. I used this and in 25 mins my hair was dry! It was not stick straight (I usually blow out then use a flat iron) but it still looked great. I'm so happy with this purchase.

OUTSTANDING!

-09.15.16

QUICK TAKE: amazing

I'm a woman of color and I relax my hair every 3-4 months. (For reference, I have 3C hair that is relaxed and colored.) I also workout 5 times a week, and blow dry my hair after the gym on all except the hottest of days.

I've used professional dryers for decades now. I've tried them all. This dryer blows them all away (see what I did there?).

Now, it normally takes me about 30+ minutes for a salon-like blowout (rough dry to about 70% then section off and dry with a round brush) I blowdried my hair using the same exact technique and products to minimize any variables.

I started at 6:41pm and my hair was completely dry by 7:01pm. That's 20 minutes. Now factor in the new equipment variable (had to find the buttons as I was moving along) and it's really more like 18-19 minutes.

So it's FAST. But "fast" isn't the only thing I worry about. Too much heat and my relaxed hair becomes dry & brittle and starts to break. The Dyson is nowhere near as hot as my BaByliss Volare (which has an ionic function) but dried my hair much faster. (I did use the hottest setting for the rough dry part.)

I know some people are saying that this left their hair dry, but I suspect that they were simply not stopping when their hair was already dry - I had to check myself because I found myself on autopilot and continuing to dry my hair when it was already dry.

The design of this little machine also make it MUCH easier to hold, as the motor os located inside the handle rather than the top. The air intake is located at the very bottom of the handle and is designed to prevent hair from being sucked in.

This morning I woke up and my hair was still soft and looked like I had just finished drying it. Moreover, it still smelled freshly washed, which is something that never happened with my other dryers.

I don't know what sort of sorcery Dyson used to make this thing but I know you'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands. I may even get a back up. (This one was partly a belated birthday gift.).

Look, I don't even remember that last time I used a blow dryer.  Probably because it's such a long, cumbersome process and I really don't like the end result.  To this day, I still can't execute a decent looking blow out because I don't have the patience.  When I go to the salon, they charge me extra because my hair requires more man hours than a typical client.  But, if this dryer can possibly save on drying time (and leave my hair intact), then I will happily give these people my money.  I'd love to experiment with "air drying" again by using the dryer on a low heat or the cool setting.  And, if this dryer doesn't perform like I imagined, I'll simply return it.  But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out to be everything I ever wanted and more.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer // My all time favorite skin concealer.  I stocked up on these so I'm good for now. But this VIB sale is the perfect time to try these if you haven't yet.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation  //  This foundation has been on my wish list since the dawn of ages.  My current foundations are great but this one makes my skin look amazing. No wonder why celebrities such as Kim Kardashian & Rihanna swear by this foundation to create their flawless finishes.

BlackUp //  Lastly, I would love to use this extra discount to try various BlackUp products.  I've got my eye on their beautiful chocolaty nail colors and contour sticks.  I've searched high and low for a contour stick deep enough to show on my skin tone.  BlackUp was the only one that complimented my skin perfectly.  The creamy consistency was to die for which meant that it would blend easily and create a natural contour.

Part of me is cringing when I think about how much my total charge will be, but, at the same time, I'm excited when I calculate how much I'm saving.  I probably would have purchased all these items eventually and paid full price.  At the very least I'm definitely buying the blow dryer, Good Genes and Giorgio Armani foundation because of the potential savings.  Looking forward to sharing some first impressions posts in the future.